Spirits in the Park (19 page)

Soka collapsed backward, and Rory leaped forward to steady her. Bridget heard Fritz whistle in awe as Rory knelt down beside her. She was shocked to see tears running down his cheeks.

“Am I all better?” she asked him weakly.

“See for yourself,” he answered, smiling through his tears.

She pushed herself up to a seated position and looked down at her wrist. A new hand waved back at her. But this hand was not paper. Instead, it was rough brown wood, as if someone had carved her a new hand from a fallen branch. A glance at her ankle revealed a foot made of the same wood. She was now part papier-mâché and part chestnut tree. A look at her wrist revealed that Rory's wampum bracelet had fused itself into the wood.

“I ruined your bracelet!” she cried. Rory shook his head.

“Don't be stupid. It looks better on you anyway. How do you feel?”

“Better,” she replied, running one fake hand over the other.

“Then let's go home,” he said.

But it was not that easy. Once they reached the barrier, Bridget could not step through. Something prevented her from leaving. And there could only be one explanation.

“I'm sorry, Bridget,” Soka said, her face stricken. “I did not think of this. Your hand and foot are made from the chestnut tree, bound to you by our magic. Those parts of you cannot leave the park, just as we cannot. So long as you are inside that body, I fear you cannot pass the barrier.”

“Don't worry. I'll bring back your real body,” Rory said. “You can put your soul inside and then we'll both leave.”

“I'll stay with Bridget,” Fritz said. “The watch will help you bring back Bridget's body.”

“Stay right here,” Rory said to Bridget. “I'll be right back.”

“You bet,” she said, smiling gamely. “I'll be rooted to the spot like a tree.”

Rory rolled his eyes before running through the entrance out onto the sidewalk, disappearing behind the wall. Bridget turned to see if Soka knew any word games to pass the time, when a new voice broke through.

“Here they are,” it said. “And as you can see, they are harboring an abomination.”

Bridget felt a scream catch in her throat as the Munsee with the snake tattoos stepped into the clearing, followed by a large group of Indians and, last of all, Tammand. Soka gasped beside her.

“I can't believe you did this, Tammand!”

Tammand looked away as the Munsee with the snake tattoos stepped forward, reaching out toward Bridget, who cowered beneath his dead gaze.

“Time to take care of this little demon once and for all.”

Bridget waited, wincing . . . but nothing happened. Soka was laughing grimly beside her.

“Stop your chortling, little cousin,” Askook spat at her.

“I've altered her body a bit,” Soka explained belligerently. “You can't harm her.”

Askook's eyes narrowed, making Bridget gulp.

“Oh, I'll be the judge of that.”

Rory had just finished filling in Alexa and Simon on the eastern sidewalk by Central Park when Fritz and Clarence scampered out of a hole in the wall.

“What are doing here!” Rory said. “You're supposed to be with Bridget!”

“That snake Munsee has her,” Fritz said. Rory felt the blood drain from his face. He turned to run back into the park when he felt someone grab his shoulder.

“Whoa, kiddo,” Simon said, holding him back. “Even I know that isn't a good idea.”

“But Bridget . . .”

“Hear me out,” Fritz said. Rory waited, though inside, his heart was hammering away.

“What happened?” Alexa asked.

“There's a large group of them, led by the snake guy,” Fritz said. “They're standing around, trying to figure out what to do with Bridget. And if Rory runs in there, he'll get caught, too.”

“We've got to rescue her!” Rory shouted.

“Hold on,” Fritz said. “Let me finish. The snake guy tried to do that unraveling trick again, but apparently whatever Soka did with that tree bark made Bridget impervious to his magic spell. They can't harm her. But they can harm you. We won't let you do it.”

“I don't even know who could go in to rescue her,” Alexa said, clearly frustrated. “We're stuck out here! And she's alone.”

Rory stared at them for a moment, thinking about how scared her sister would be all alone, then turned away to kneel down by Tucket, putting a hand on the dog's neck.

“Go find my sister,” he said to the spirit dog. “Protect her.”

Tucket whined, refusing to even look at the park.

“I know you don't like the way it feels when you can't feel the island,” Rory said. “But you are my spirit dog, and I need you to help me. Please. She needs someone to look after her.”

Rory and Tucket locked eyes for a moment, and Rory tried to communicate how badly he needed this. Finally, Tucket let out a bark, licking Rory's face once. Then the dog leaped to his paws and quickly ran across the sidewalk, disappearing through the entranceway to the park. Rory felt his heart lighten just a bit, knowing the dog would be there to protect his sister.

“That may work out better than you know,” Fritz mused. “Those Munsees haven't seen a spirit dog in a hundred and fifty years. It might help Bridget to have one on her side. I'll follow him and see where things stand. Wait here, I'll be back soon.”

He raced off into the park. Rory began to pace back and forth while Alexa and Simon watched and waited anxiously.

An hour passed, with agonizing slowness, before Fritz and Clarence reemerged.

“She's okay,” he said, and Rory's chest relaxed. “They're not going to harm her.”

“Did you talk with her?” Rory asked.

“Yes, and she's fine,” Fritz answered. “I think this could work to our advantage. Someone needs to follow Abigail's trail to see what happened to her. I think Bridget will be in the unique position of being able to do just that.”

“She can't do it on her own!” Rory cried.

“She has Tucket, she has her paper body, and I believe she will have Soka's help. This might be our best shot to track down the Mayor's daughter.”

Rory looked like he wanted to argue, but then he deflated.

“Shouldn't we at least get her the necklace?” he asked.

“That's a funny thing,” Fritz said. “I mentioned the necklace before I slipped away and she said she didn't want it. She thought we should get the necklace to the one it was intended for, to Abigail's father. And I think she's right.”

“How are we going to do that?” Simon asked.

“We'll have to figure that out, won't we,” Fritz answered. He looked thoughtful. “It was impressive, you know, to see Bridget so calm. She's really growing up.”

“We aren't leaving her with only a dog, though, are we?” Alexa asked.

“I'll send in one of the boys from my patrol,” Fritz continued. “She won't be alone.”

Rory nodded, barely listening, praying Bridget would be okay. His heart felt so heavy it had fallen into his shoes. In a strange way, he was the one who felt alone now.

IN THE RAMBLE

F
ritz sat astride Clarence, staring down the tunnel deep underneath the Dyckman Street playground. Just around the bend waited M'Garoth village, his home, as well as his wife, Liv. He wished he could go to her and ask for her help, but he knew she would have to say no. She was charged with the protection of their clan, which she took very seriously. The clan had long ago decided to turn its back on Mannahatta, so Liv must as well. Fritz couldn't do that, however. Which left him here outside the gates instead of home with the roach he loved.

“Why can't they see they can't hide from what's coming,” Fritz muttered.

He heard a sound and he spun to see Hans scampering down the tunnel.

“They're morons, boss, most of 'em,” Hans said. “If they'd bother to risk their necks and take a look topside, they'd see everything isn't happiness and light up there! And when things go bad up there, it always runs down here.”

Fritz nodded, his heart heavy. Hans took off his helmet and wiped his sweaty face.

“Do you want to hear my report?” Hans asked. “It's interesting.”

Fritz perked up. “You found something.”

Hans smiled broadly. “Kiffer and I found something. It wasn't easy, but we finally caught a break . . .”

As Hans gave his report, Fritz felt the fire returning. Here was where he was making a difference, he thought. Once Hans finished, Fritz gave his shoulder a pat.

“Good job, Hans. Good job. Now I have another job for you, if you'll take it. There's a little girl all alone among the Munsees except for a dopey dog. Can you help her out?”

“I'm on it,” Hans replied, saluting. Fritz wished all his fellow roaches could be as open as Hans. As he turned his back on his village to return to his duty, he pushed down the sadness. They'd appreciate him in the end, he knew it.

Bridget climbed over the rocks, struggling to keep up with the more sure-footed Munsee warriors surrounding her. Askook stayed close by. She really wished she could kick the sour-faced Munsee in the shin, just to get him back for trying to unravel her. But even though the Munsees were treating her with some respect, she could tell they'd have no problem making her pay if she attacked one of their own. Ahead, Bridget spied Soka being led forward by two guards. Tammand walked close by, but every time he tried to speak to her, Soka turned her head, refusing to even look at him. Even though Bridget was steamed at Tammand, she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. He was so obviously hurt by his sister's anger. Ah well, she thought. Served him right for turning them all over to the enemy, the big poophead.

The forest seemed to get more dense as they pushed farther into a part of Central Park called the Ramble. Originally built to resemble a wilderness where one could wander along winding, secluded paths, the Ramble had never really appealed to Bridget. Not when she had a real wilderness right by her home in Inwood Hill Park. But even to her unknowing eye, this Ramble seemed to go much deeper than it had any right to. They'd been walking for hours.

As she stumbled forward, Bridget noticed the Munsees stealing glances at Tucket, padding along happily at her side. They'd been treating the silly pooch with a healthy dose of awe ever since he'd burst into the clearing where Askook's war party was trying to figure out what to do with her. Tucket had knocked her over to cover her with big, sloppy kisses. When she'd finally gotten the huge dog under control, Bridget realized that the mood of the Munsees around her had definitely changed.

A whisper had run through the warriors. Spirit dog.

“Where did he come from?” Askook had demanded, towering over her.

“Wampage gave him to Rory,” Bridget answered haughtily, not liking his tone. “And I guess Rory sent him to me, because even a great fighter like me needs a friend to keep her company. Tucket likes me better, anyway. Rory doesn't know how to look after dogs, and he never pets Tucket enough. But I'm like a dog wizard. Tucket always listens to me and gives me kisses and sleeps next to me on my bed and everything. If Mom could see him, then she'd make him get down, but she can't, so I get a warm puppy to cuddle with all night long. What's wrong with your face, Mr. Askook? If you keep frowning like that, then you'll stay that way; it's scientifically proven.”

Bridget's voice rang with bravado, but inside she was terrified. Askook looked like he wanted to eat her alive and it scared her to death. But she wouldn't let him see it; no, sir.

At the mention of the name, “Wampage” replaced “spirit dog” on the lips of the Munsees.