“The big important holograms.”
“The thing is, when we’re holograms not much can hurt us.”
“So it’s safer.”
“Much,” he said.
“I know the big theater really well. It’s crazy back there. Different levels, dressing rooms. Prop storage. I could be your guide.”
“Or maybe just talk us through it.”
“Because I’m not one of you,” she said. “You don’t want me along because I’m not one of you.”
“It’s a safety thing.”
“I get it. If you need me for the GPS…or for anything else, I’m up in the Vibe—outside, actually, giving a demo tonight.”
“Good to know,” Finn said. “And what about this stateroom we’re in? We could use a room or two that won’t get looked at.”
“Philby knows the empty rooms. I can get key cards to him.”
“That would be great.”
“Done. You heard about the stowaways?”
“Philby told me. Have they caught them?”
“Not that I’ve heard. There’s a lot of weird stuff going on on this cruise.”
“Tell me about it. It seems to kind of follow us around,” he said.
“Lucky you.”
“Not always.” He made her laugh. “Not even often.” Another chuckle from her. “How do I reach you?”
“I don’t trust the Wave Phones,” she said, “just so you know.”
“I do now.”
“I leave notes at the door because no one pays the slightest bit of attention to them. The crew leaves hundreds of them around each day: invitations, spa confirmations, concierge. The one or two I put up at a door hardly stand out.”
“Just so you know…” he said. “I saw something on the island. Not everyone on the crew can be trusted.”
“Like who are we talking about?”
“I’m not sure.”
“That narrows it down.”
“At least one officer,” he said, thinking of the man following him on the staircase. “In case your sources are crew members or Cast Members.”
“No,” she said sarcastically, “it’s Chip and Dale. I only deal with chipmunks.”
“I’m just saying…it was dark. I didn’t get all that good a look.”
“Guys and girls?”
“Yes.”
“You know you’re freaking me out now?”
“I can see that. Yes. It’s dark, and I don’t know you that well, but you do kind of look freaked.”
“You know me better than a lot of guys. We’ve kissed, after all.”
He said nothing. She didn’t have to remind him of that.
Finally, he managed to say, “I should take off.”
“If you need me, fold your Navigator into a triangle and put it in the note holder outside your door. I’ll find you.”
“Who…are…you?”
“Go on,” she said, giving him a slight but playful push. “Get out of here.”
* * *
In a reversal of roles, Philby turned the controls of the DHI server over to Willa, who ran things from the Radio Studio. He did this in order to have her cross him over so that he might gain access to the security recordings while Charlene, also crossed over, would explore wherever he directed her. It was an ambitious plan, but one that required quick execution in case the Overtakers had a means to erase or replace security footage and hide their tracks.
He couldn’t tell his mother he wanted to go to bed early because it would tip her to their plans, and Mrs. Philby was one of the parents who did not approve of Kingdom Keeper activity. Instead, he told her he wanted to watch TV in Finn’s room. He shut the connecting door, left a note for Finn in the hall, and turned off the lights and lay down. With the activities of a long day behind him, he fell quickly to sleep.
* * *
Finn was a good ways down the endless Deck 8 starboard-side hallway when a voice from behind him stopped him.
“Why would you do this to me?”
Not just any voice.
He didn’t know whether to turn around or to run. But he felt the power she had over him affect him like gravity. He turned.
From this distance, she looked just like the mom he knew her to be. He wanted to run and hug her, but his feet knew better and remained planted on the hallway’s spongy carpet.
“Mom…”
“We were supposed to room together.” She sounded crushed.
Had the green-eye curse only lasted a matter of hours—a day? Was she his real mom again? Again, temptation pulled him toward her. Again, he resisted.
“You’re not…yourself.”
“Don’t you talk to me like that, young man.”