House of Secrets

“Oh!” Will yelled. “How do I get him?”

“Do you really think it’s a good idea for him to play… Red Dead Redemption?” Cordelia asked.

“He likes it! Gaming is good for people in pain. What’s it called? Tempur-pedic?”

“Therapeutic.”

“Whatever.”

“Give me that.” Cordelia snatched the PSP from Will and turned it off.

“Beg pardon!”

“Bren, you need to preserve the batteries in this thing.”

“Why?”

“We may need them. And how about you, Will? How are you feeling? Still think you’re in France?”

“I’m not sure where I am, Miss Walker.”

“I have an idea.”

Cordelia opened Savage Warriors to page 17.

“Listen: ‘They came forth from the forest then, seven men. Born majestic but transformed by time and blood into rootless killers. They rode on great steeds in armour that covered them as casts of steel. They were the Savage Warriors, who lived to sow mayhem and reap plunder. They killed men quickly… and women specially.’ Remind you of anyone?”

“Yeah, the dudes who just almost murdered us!” Brendan said.

“That’s not all. I knew those warriors seemed familiar. Their leader in the book… his name is Slayne.”

“Like the guy whose face I messed up!” exclaimed Eleanor.

“Guys: we’re trapped in a Denver Kristoff book.”

“The writer who built this place,” Brendan said to Will. “Wait – Deal, shouldn’t you have figured this out before? Didn’t you read that book?”

“I skimmed it, Bren, OK? I have a lot of books to read.”

“This is preposterous,” said Will. “Whoever heard of being trapped in a book?”

Instead of answering, Cordelia handed Will another book.

“The Fighting Ace,” said Will. “What’s your point?”

“Open it and read. Out loud.”

Will started with page 1: “‘He was destined to end up as rugged as they come, but as he walked across Farnborough Airfield on April 22, 1916, Officer Cadet Will Draper was nothing more than a boy who wanted to fly.’ Now hold on a minute! What’s the meaning of this?”

“Uh, you?” Cordelia said.