Kingdom Keepers III(108)

Word soon came over the phone intercoms that Willa had found the pickup near some cream-colored containers behind China. Finn and Amanda caught up to her quickly, followed a few minutes later by Philby, who brought a tarp with him that he’d borrowed from another vehicle. Charlene arrived out of breath, saying she’d seen Maybeck and Jess heading in the opposite direction, toward America.

“I think Maybeck might have gotten turned around,” Charlene said. “I don’t think he knew where he was going.”

It didn’t surprise Finn. It was not only dark but the back of the park was totally unfamiliar. All the buildings looked the same, and there were very few signs.

Finn was about to check on Maybeck when a man appeared from a trailer who Finn recognized as the driver. The man moved toward them and the pickup truck.

“Turn your radios off,” Finn whispered, fearing they might be overheard if Maybeck suddenly called.

“What do we do?” Willa asked.

“We’re too late,” Finn whispered. “We needed to be in the back of that—”

The man patted his coat and turned around, returning to the trailer.

“This is our shot,” Philby said.

The moment the man entered the trailer, the kids took off running. They climbed up into the truck bed and pulled the tarp over them. It was dark enough out, and early enough, that Finn hoped the guy wouldn’t notice the tarp. Less than a minute later, he felt the truck rock as the driver climbed in and started the engine. Again Amanda found his hand and held on.

There was still the chance that Maybeck and Jess would find their way to the Studios. Finn considered calling Wanda and asking her for help, and the more he considered this, the more he thought it a good idea. Wayne had mentioned his daughter on the video Charlene and Maybeck had seen. Maybe she would know something about Fantasmic! or be able to help them in some way.

Finn couldn’t see much in the darkness under the tarp. He texted the others, warning them that once out of Epcot they would be in DHI shadow and would remain so until near or inside Disney Hollywood Studios.

As the pickup arrived at the Hollywood Studios Security checkpoint Finn’s warning proved critical: the guard pulled back the tarp to have a look. The Kingdom Keepers held their breath and remained perfectly still.

“Funny,” a guard said, presumably to another guard, “the way it was bunched up like that I could have sworn there was something underneath.”

“You think too much,” a lower voice said. “I’ve told you that before: don’t think so much.”

“We’re supposed to think, you jerk,” the first guard said. “How are we supposed to keep this place safe if we’re not thinking?”

“You’re trying to trick me. Just by asking me that, you’re making me think. I know your type.”

The guard left the tarp in a heap at the back of the truck, exposing Finn and the others. Finn understood the risk that presented: at any time they could come within range of the DHI projectors; when they did they would reappear, and if the driver happened to look back…

The truck rumbled and rolled slowly out of the gate.

“Jump,” Finn said.

“What?”

“No time to argue. Jump!” He stood and leaped over the side. As he was in midair, his DHI sparkled, first in black and white and then in full color. He landed feet first on the pavement, but was thrown off balance by his forward momentum and went down hard. Like salmon leaping from a mountain stream, the other DHIs jumped: first Amanda, who had not questioned Finn for a second. Then Charlene and Willa and finally Philby.

The brake lights on the pickup truck lit up bright red—the driver had felt something and was stopping.

“The ditch!” Finn called out, as he rolled off the asphalt into the grass and down into a dry ditch meant to carry off rainwater. The others quickly did the same. He didn’t dare lift his head to see if the driver was coming over toward them. All he could do was stay perfectly still and hope.

And hope.

Through the chirping of cicadas and the hum of electric power, Finn thought he heard the sound of the tarp being moved around. The driver knew he hadn’t put the tarp in the truck in the first place. Maybe he hadn’t felt them jump from the truck; maybe it had just finally registered that Studio Security had looked under a tarp in the back of his truck. If he’d seen them and now pursued them over to the ditch they would have no choice but to run. It would create big problems for them—park Security would be alerted, and with the testing at Fantasmic! being the only event that was probably taking place at this early hour, their ability to infiltrate the attraction would likely be compromised.