Fenzy (28 page)

“Phemus,” David said, stunned.

The big man growled. He pounded on the locker, making the metal boom like thunder.

“The pull’s got him,” Jesse said. “Time for him to go home too.”

The locker began trembling. It flipped onto its top and tumbled end-over-end toward them.

“Look out!” Dad said. Everyone leaped out of the center of the hallway, pushing themselves against the wall or the banister overlooking the foyer.

The locker cartwheeled past them, thumping and bumping. David heard Phemus’s deep-throated wail, like a frightened Incredible Hulk on a never-ending roller coaster going way too fast. At the end of the hall, it turned the corner, heading for the portals. It crashed and banged against the walls, then thudded up the third-floor stairs.

David smiled and felt his heart soar at all the smiles his family and Keal returned to him. He took a deep breath and thumped the two-by-four into his palm. Turning to head for the portals, he said, “Let’s do it!”

The end . . . ?

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

[[to come]]

R
OBERT
L
IPARULO

R
EADING
G
ROUP
G
UIDE

[[to come]]