Kingdom Keepers IV(102)

For how much longer, neither of us knows. Let’s not worry about me. Tell me what you want.”

“Who said I want anything?”

“We all want something.”

“What do you want?” Finn asked.

“To hear what you want,” the old man answered.

Finn sighed. There was no arguing with Wayne. Why had he tried?

“I’m listening,” Wayne said.

“Jess drew this place. I think she did.…I need to see if it’s what she drew.” Finn unfolded his computer printout of Jess’s diary drawing. “Something is going to happen before morning.”

“It has been quite the eventful evening,” Wayne said. “I would doubt much more will happen before morning. They tried and they failed.”

“The blackout,” Finn said.

“Yes. Ingenious. We lost power like everyone else. Normally…well, there’s a system in place, but my understanding is that’s what they sabotaged. Quite brilliant, actually. But thankfully, it failed.”

“You know this because…?”

Wayne took hold of a television remote and worked the device. A flat-panel screen came alive, divided into four quadrants. Four jail cells. Two contained Maleficent and Chernabog. Two others were empty.

Finn gasped. Maleficent’s cell was identical to Jess’s drawing. He tapped the printout.

“You have to take me there,” Finn said.

“Have to?”

“Please take me there.”

Moments later, a guard led them through another series of electronic doors.

“They’ll admit us, Finn. But by rule, we won’t be allowed out until the shift change at seven am. You need to understand that before going in.”

“Seven am?” Finn said. He told Wayne about Cruella’s mention of the exact time. “It’s less than an hour.”

“Even so. We won’t be leaving.”

“I’m good,” Finn said.

They entered and were passed off to a burly guard with shoulders as wide as a doorway, and a nose that looked like it had been flattened by something unnatural. Two gates later, they were passed off to yet another guard, and now Finn recognized the jail cells from the video.

He and Wayne stopped in front of Maleficent’s cell. The prisoner slept peacefully.

Finn whispered to Wayne, “Please ask them to turn off the security cameras.”

Wayne said back, “Protocol dictates twenty-four-seven coverage.”

“They’re counting on that.”

Wayne viewed him curiously.

“Let me guess,” Finn said. “During the power failure, it was pitch-dark down here. I’m guessing a fire alarm during the blackout.” Wayne looked impressed; Finn knew he had scored. “Because that combination—power failure and fire—would mean the cells opened automatically for the prisoner’s safety.” Most of this had come from Philby’s extensive research following Finn’s proposal of a variation to Maybeck’s theory.

“There are measures in place,” Wayne said, not disagreeing. “That’s about all I’m allowed to tell you. Suffice it to say, not even a moth left this building at that time.”

“No,” Finn said. “But if you don’t turn off the cameras, you’re going to lose your prisoners.”

“That’s an oxymoron,” Wayne said. “The cameras show us the prisoners.”

“How much do you know about augmented reality?”

“I’m quite familiar with it. We use it a great deal for interior projections.”

“DisneyQuest?” Finn asked.

“Do I know about DisneyQuest? Of course,” Wayne answered.

“Is Downtown Disney wired for DHI projection?” Finn asked, already knowing the answer. Philby had been knocked sideways by his earlier discovery.

“It’s on the sheets. It’s in planning.”

“I witnessed two DHIs projected inside DisneyQuest. Outside, as well.”

Wayne was about to tell him that was impossible.

“AR technology. Security video cam projection.”

“I understand the technology, as I’ve said,” Wayne said, continuing to whisper.

“TURN OFF THE SECURITY CAMERAS!!!” Finn shouted into the cell.

Maleficent didn’t stir. Didn’t twitch.

Wayne looked back and forth between the sleeping fairy and Finn.

He shuffled over to a white wall phone, lifted the receiver, and spoke. The guard wouldn’t take his eyes off Finn, punishing him for the intrusion and inconvenience.

Wayne rejoined Finn and pointed to the nearest security camera. It had a red light atop it. There were cameras for each cell, and several more for the hallway.

Finn didn’t watch the camera, but the prisoner.