The School for the Insanely Gifted (15 page)

Chapter 27
Two Landings

T
hough Daphna had left Kilimanjaro only a short time earlier, it seemed like a lifetime since she had last seen Billy. Excited, she waved wildly out the window. Billy saluted in return and made a funny face. Daphna stuck out her tongue.

“What are you doing here?” she called, even though she knew he couldn't hear her. She turned to Harkin. “I wonder what he wants.”

“Isn't it obvious?” Thelma asked. “He caught wind that Ignatious had the X-Head.”

Daphna knew Thelma was probably right, but she had hoped that Billy's reason for traveling back across the world was more personal. Maybe it had something to do with her?

“We'll find out soon enough,” Harkin said.

Heart pounding, Daphna gave Billy a final wave, then turned to the street. A sea of people was looking up at the two strange flying contraptions. The police tried to wave them off, but as soon as they saw that the flying car and balloon were both determined to land, they helped clear a short runway on 14th Street. Daphna saw the street rushing toward her, growing larger and larger before they hit the ground with a sharp bump. Harkin slammed on the brakes and the car skidded to a halt by the studio door. Daphna rolled down the window and took a deep breath. Reporters and onlookers pressed up to police barricades. Across the way, a group of vendors sold anything they could.

“Special X-Head contact-lens solution!” Daphna heard a man call. “Get it here! See those websites more clearly!”

The minute Daphna set her feet on the street, reporters began shouting questions from behind the barricade. Harkin winked at Daphna and Thelma.

“This'll shut 'em up.”

He pressed the button on the Thunkmobile's left hubcap.

Scrinch!

The car collapsed, then rolled into a narrow space between two police cars. As the crowd whistled and cheered, Harkin took a bow. But he was about to be shown up. Daphna looked over just in time to see Billy bring Balloon-Top to the ground twenty feet down the street. Billy and Cook-Top bounded out of the balloon's basket. Grinning mischievously, Billy typed a command into Balloon-Top's keyboard. With a blinding flash, the balloon deflated, then rolled back into the basket, which then collapsed into an ordinary orange laptop.

The square was stone silent. But when Billy picked up the computer and waved to the crowd, wild applause filled the street. Even reporters and police cheered long and loud.

“I get it!” someone called. “He's a magician!”

“It's Ignatious Blatt in a fat suit!”

“No! The Wizard of Oz!”

Billy laughed, then ambled over toward Daphna.

“You came,” she said.

Billy nodded. “That I did, Daphna.”

Daphna's heart began to pound wildly. Billy's hazel eyes seemed to be dancing in their sockets. He shambled back and forth like a great, big, nervous bear.

“Why?” Daphna said. “Is everything all right?”

As Billy began to answer, the reporters broke through the police barricade and charged forward.

“Let's get to the bottom of this!” one cried, waving his microphone in front of Billy's beard. “Who are you? What's the story on this crazy balloon? Are you part of a circus?”

After twelve years of solitude, the microphones, questions, and people were overwhelming. But he was soon spared the spotlight.

“Who is this?” Harkin said, stepping squarely in front of the microphones. “This man is the true inventor of the Hat-Top, that's who. The true inventor of Blatt-Global and Peabody-Pitch. And the true inventor of the X-Head. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Billy B. Brilliant!”

“Inventor of the Hat-Top?” a policeman cried. “Impossible!”

“Of Peabody-Pitch?
Him?
Never!”

“The kid's insane!”

“It's absurd!”

“Ridiculous!”

“How dare he?”

Then a familiar voice rang down the street.

“It's true, my friends! It's all absolutely true!”

Daphna wheeled around, then nearly fell over. Stepping out of a black limousine was the last person on Earth she ever thought would defend Billy B. Brilliant:
Ignatious Peabody Blatt himself!

Chapter 28
The Triumph of Ignatious

W
earing a suit of light lavender, Ignatious walked calmly toward the crowd. His vest was bright red. His sideburns were dyed a pale shade of copper.

“Can you believe it?” Harkin whispered. “He changed again!”

As reporters furiously scribbled notes and photographers snapped pictures, Ignatious smiled broadly at Billy.

“There he is! My long-lost friend!”

Ignatious locked him in a quick embrace. Billy patted his back hesitantly.

“Yes, and I see you've made quite a name for yourself, Iggy.”

Ignatious laughed and looked around at the teeming crowd. “Yes, I have, haven't I? By using some of your work, I'm afraid. I do hope you'll forgive me. When you left college, you left behind your notes. I couldn't resist.”

Daphna was confused. Was Ignatious admitting everything he had done?

“Wait a second,” a reporter said. “Is that true?”

“It is!” Daphna cried.

“And he didn't even try to share the credit,” Harkin said.

“That's where you're wrong,” Ignatious called, directing his words to the crowd. “I did try.”

Thelma blinked. “You did?”

Reporters pushed closer. The event was being recorded on everything from TV cameras to cell phones.

“Of course I did,” he said. “I tried to find Mr. Brilliant for years. But he had disappeared. Isn't that right, my friend?”

“It is, actually,” Billy admitted. He tugged on his beard. “I've been out of touch for a while.”

“You heard it here first, folks!” a reporter shouted. “Blatt tried to share credit! He tried to share the credit!”

The crowd cheered. Daphna felt a twinge of panic.

“Wait a second,” she said. She turned to Ignatious. “You said that Billy tried to steal from you. You said he was living in a hut making a living by hosing down giraffes.”

The crowd quieted. Reporters pushed their microphones closer. Ignatious chuckled. “Oh, yes. I suppose I did. Got me on that one.” He shrugged and turned again to the swarm of reporters. “You see, when I was first starting out, I wanted to share my success with him. Make him my partner. I looked for Billy far and wide.”

“Over the past year, you've been looking far and wide to get his formula for the X-Head,” Daphna said.

“Right,” Thema said. “And once you found it, you made me make it work.”

“And you had Myron steal Gum-Top!” Harkin cried. “Which was my idea!”

“Yes, yes,” Ignatious said with a laugh. “Guilty as charged. On all counts!”

Reporters shouted into microphones. Onlookers murmured wildly, amazed by the news. Daphna had never been more confused. Had Ignatious been suddenly stricken by a guilty conscience? Why was he admitting everything?

“I suppose you might say that my success has gone a bit to my head over the years,” he went on. “Where I once tried to include Billy, I'm a bit more greedy now. Power mad, some people say. I don't deny it. Which is why I so wanted to find the X-Head.”

Billy narrowed his eyes. “I know why. For mind control.”

Blatt grinned widely, then held a finger to his lips. “
Shhh
, old friend. Not so loud.” He glanced at his watch, then went on at a whisper. “But since you mentioned it, in about four hours' time I should have control of the entire city.”

He snapped his fingers. The back doors of his limousine opened. Out stepped a group of teachers from school. Bobby D'Angelo, Horatio Yuri, and Josie Frank walked onto the street. A moment later, Wilmer, Wanda, and Jean-Claude popped out of a back door. To Daphna's horror, the very last person out of the car was none other than Mrs. Zoentrope. Each of them carried a bag that read:
BLATT SCHOOL.
Daphna could see from their vacant stares that they were all wearing the X-Head.

Ignatious laughed and called out: “Thank you, students and teachers. Please distribute the product.”

On cue, the students and teachers walked directly into the crowd.

“X-Heads!” Josie Frank called. “Get your free X-Heads!”

“Put the X in your eyes!” Wilmer called.

“You and the Great Blatt!” Jean-Claude announced. “Perfect together!”

Anyone in the crowd who wasn't already wearing an X-Head pushed close to get one.

“See this little scene?” Ignatious told Daphna. “Other students and teachers are doing the same throughout the city. Sure, it's expensive to give away all my X-Heads for free. But think of the benefits.”

Billy turned to the crowd and yelled at the top of his lungs.

“Don't put them on! They're not safe!”

Ignatious laughed harder. “Gallant try, Brilliant. But I'm afraid your X-Head is simply too popular now.”

Daphna was about to shout herself, but another limo pulled up to the front of the TV studio.

“Ah, excellent!” Ignatious said. “She's finally here!”

“She?” Daphna said. “Who?”

Ignatious grinned wildly. “You'll see soon enough!”

Daphna knew. She turned back to the limo just in time to see her old friend step onto the street. Gone were her customary jeans and cardigan sweater. In their place, she wore a flowing red gown. Her hair was up in an elegant bun. Her fingernails were painted bright blue.

Cynthia
.

Chapter 29
A Rhapsody for the City

I
n Daphna's mind, none of Cynthia's performances lived up to the one she was giving now. At least, Daphna
hoped
that Cynthia was giving a performance. If her old friend felt at all badly about what she had done, she wasn't acting it. Cynthia strutted to the front of the limo and waved twice to the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Ignatious cried, “I give you the winner of the Insanity Cup!”

As the crowd cheered even louder, Cynthia bowed. Daphna's legs felt like two sticks of rubber. Had her friend—the girl who had flown with her all the way to Africa—really gone over to the dark side?

“Cynthia!” Daphna shouted.

The actress finally looked her way. As the two friends locked eyes, a small ray of hope burned through Daphna. Yes, Cynthia was a superb actress. But underneath the confident and polished veneer, Daphna thought she saw a twinge of guilt. Maybe her old friend would listen to reason?

“Please,” Daphna said. “Tell us it isn't true.”

“It isn't as bad as it looks,” Cynthia said. “Ignatious explained it all to me.”

“Ignatious?” Harkin said.

“The X-Head is good for the world,” Cynthia went on. “It'll allow people all over the world—poor people—to have access to computers. Billy was keeping the technology to himself. Ignatious is doing a good thing.”

“Ignatious wants to control everyone's mind,” Daphna said. “And he's already halfway there. Look!”

She waved at the crowd. At first glance, the onlookers appeared perfectly normal, innocently cheering Ignatious. With a closer look, Daphna saw it. The vacant stares. The incurious expressions. It was as though the populace of New York had been turned into ghosts of their real selves, partly aware of their surroundings but mostly lost in a world of websites.

When Daphna looked back at Cynthia, she saw that no amount of theatrical training could keep the alarm out of her friend's eyes.

“See?” Daphna said.

“They're already zombies!” Thelma cried.

“Not zombies,” Ignatious said, waving his hands. “They're merely online, enjoying the multitudinous benefits of the X-Head.” He rustled in his pockets and pulled out a small package. “In fact, Cynthia dear, isn't it time that you tried on a pair?”

“Get those away from her,” Harkin said.

Cynthia took a step toward the crowd, realizing for the first time what she had done.

“Listen,” Daphna said. “I know how much your one-woman
Macbeth
means to you. But I also know that you aren't a person who wants to be remembered for helping Ignatious Peabody Blatt take over the city. Just hang in there. You'll find another producer.”

“You can still make this right,” Harkin said.

Ignatious grabbed Cynthia's arm. “Enough of this idle chitchat. The girl has a performance to give.”

“Not so fast.” Cynthia pulled herself away. “I need to think.”

“Think?” Ignatious cried. “There's nothing to think about. We had an agreement, Miss Trustwell. Don't you want to see your show on Broadway? Now come! Cody Meyers is waiting!”

He pushed Cynthia toward the studio, but Harkin cut her off.

“You know what you have to do.” He leaned close. “Remember what happened on the Thunkmobile?”

Cynthia wrinkled her brow. “The Thunkmobile? When?”

“On the way to Kilimanjaro.”

Daphna was just as confused as Cynthia.

“When Daphna played her music,” Harkin said.

Cynthia's eyes widened. “Oh,” she said. “You mean . . . ?”

“Enough!” Ignatious called.

“That'll never work!” Daphna said.

“Yes, it will.” Harkin gestured to the crowd. “Look at them!”

Daphna turned in a slow circle. The free X-Heads had done their work quickly. Nearly everyone in the crowd was multitasking, looking at the confrontation between Ignatious and the children but reading or scrolling through websites at the same time.

“And you think that
I
can fix this?” Daphna asked.

“Maybe not,” Harkin said. “But after I woke out of the trance your music created, I had never felt better. Never.”

“Me neither,” Cynthia said.

“Mrs. Zoentrope is right,” Harkin went on. “Your music has the power to heal.”

Daphna looked helplessly to the crowd. “But heal an entire city?”

“Why not?” Harkin said.

Ignatious blinked nervously. “This is absurd! Hurry, Cynthia!”

Cynthia walked right by Ignatious and stepped directly up to a reporter's microphone.

“An announcement, if you please,” she said. “Yes, I was declared the winner of the Insanity Cup. It's true. But it's also true that I didn't win it fairly. So I would hereby like to give my opportunity to perform on
Cody Meyers
to the student who really deserves it. The most insanely gifted of them all. The greatest composer in the city. Give a big round of applause to Daphna Whispers!”

“Good girl!” Billy called.

“Wait!” Ignatious cried. “No!”

“You heard it here, folks!” a reporter yelled above the noise of the crowd. “Trustwell gives away her spot!”

Daphna looked at Cynthia.

“Really?”

Her friend nodded. “Do your thing.” Cynthia glanced at the crowd, then back at Daphna. “Just promise you'll try to forgive me when this is all over?”

Daphna knew that what her friend had done was unspeakable. On the other hand, her instincts told her that Cynthia was truly remorseful.

“I promise,” she said.

“Good,” Cynthia said. “Now go play.”

Ignatious was there, blocking her path.

“Not so fast,” he said. Daphna could see a thin trickle of sweat on his forehead. “You've forgotten that Cody Meyers will never let anyone perform without my permission.”

“Very true,” a reporter cried. “Meyers has to okay the winner!”

“Who cares?” Billy bellowed.

Daphna wheeled around. The large man was staring Ignatious straight in the eye.

“She doesn't need Cody Meyers. She can play right here!”

Ignatious blinked. “What?”

Daphna was just as confused as Ignatious.

“What will she play on?” Thelma asked. “The curb?”

“No, I got it!” a police officer cried. “She'll play a fire hydrant!”

“No,” Billy announced. “She'll play on this.”

With that, the great man reached into his long coat and pulled out what appeared to be a twisted piece of metal.

“You heard it here, friends!” a reporter shouted. “Daphna Whispers will play an eggbeater!”

“No,” Billy said. He reached back into his pocket. “I meant this!”

He pulled out a small blue laptop.

“What is it?” Daphna asked.

“It's a Frisbee!” someone shouted. “Whispers is going to play a Frisbee!”

Billy chuckled and flicked a switch on its side. With a bright
brrrring
, the computer sprang four legs. The crowd gasped. Then with three loud
beep
s, the computer opened and the keypad began to stretch.

“Run for your life!” a reporter cried. “It's alive!”

As onlookers pushed, shoved, screamed, and pointed, Billy's contraption hissed twice. Then, with a final
brrrring
, the numbers and letters on the keypad turned into the eighty-eight keys of a keyboard.

“Meet Piano-Top,” Billy called.

“I told you!” a reporter cried. “He is a magician!”

“No,” Harkin said, laughing. “He's Billy B. Brilliant!”

Everyone began pushing and shoving even harder, not to get away but to get a better view. While the police held the crowd at bay, Billy turned to Daphna.

“You can do it,” he said. “Free the city from the spell of the X-Head.”

Daphna swallowed hard. “You really think I can?”

Billy nodded. “I know you can. Just like your mother used her sax to break us out of our little funk back in college.”

Daphna sat at the piano and looked out at the crowd. What she saw took her breath away. Before her was the future, at least as Ignatious Peabody Blatt wanted it: a horde of people looking at Daphna vacantly while simultaneously distracted by websites—a city full of citizens hours away from being under Blatt's total control.

The reporters jabbered away, more concerned with being loud than getting the facts straight.

“That's right, folks! Her name is Daphne Sisters!”

“We hear her mom recently disappeared in a tragic skateboard accident!”

“She lives in a studio apartment that morphs each night into a spaceship!”

For a moment, Daphna was too amazed to move, awed by the task before her. Could her music really snap an entire population out of the X-Head's spell? Terrified, Daphna thought of the person she cared about most: her mother. Wouldn't she want Daphna to gather her courage and do her best?

As TV cameras zoomed closer, Daphna sat up as straight as she could and heard the opening strain of her music in her head.

Baa, baa, de, duh!

Then, with a final look at the seemingly endless crowd, Daphna remembered something: She had never given her piece a title.

“I call this
Rhapsody for the City
.”

Daphna cleared her throat.

She looked at Billy for support.

She lifted her hands to play . . .

. . . when a shadow fell over Piano-Top and a deafening whir filled the air. With a sharp gasp, Daphna looked up. Looming overhead was the red helicopter. A rope ladder dropped to her side.

“Not so fast, Daphna Whispers!” Ignatious cried.

And then she was in his arms. With a quick jerk, up the ladder flew. Billy, Harkin, Thelma, Cynthia, the reporters—everyone in the crowd—grew very small. Ignatious threw Daphna into the backseat of the mighty helicopter.

“Fly!” Ignatious shouted to the pilot. “Fly!”