Part 8 (1/2)

”It must be the cage,” said Jesse in a low growl.

104.

But all the same, he put Emmy in the cage. It was the hardest thing he had ever had to do. Emmy seemed to understand, because she didn't lash out at him or spit at him. She only went limp and dull. Even her eyes had lost their glow.

”Good-bye, my sweet little Emmy,” said Daisy with a feeble wave of her fingers. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her nose was running.

”Sorry, Emmy,” Jesse told the little dragon. He wanted to add, Don't worry. We'll think of something. Don't worry. We'll think of something. But at the moment he had no idea what that something would or could be. But at the moment he had no idea what that something would or could be.

St. George was staring at both of them, as if they had just burst into flame. ”What did you just call it?” he whispered.

”Wh-what do you mean?” Jesse asked.

St. George's eyes pinned Jesse to the wall like a pair of darts. ”You heard me. What name did you just call it?” What name did you just call it?”

”We call her Esmeralda,” he said. For some odd reason, Jesse felt it was important to keep Emmy's real name from St. George.

Daisy caught on immediately. ”Yeah, after Cinderella's ugly stepsister,” she added. ”You know, because she's not really very beautiful.... Although to us, she is....” Daisy's voice trailed off miserably.

Jesse held his breath. Cinderella's stepsisters 105.

were Anastasia and Drizella, but maybe St. George wouldn't know that.

St. George's eyes narrowed, and he said, ”Hmmm. Well, I have to be going now. I have tests to do.”

”Wait a minute,” said Daisy. She pulled up the hem of her T-s.h.i.+rt and wiped away her tears. Then she took the purple kneesock out of her pocket. ”She needs this.”

St. George stared at the sock suspiciously. ”Why?”

”It's far too complex for a mere grown-up grown-up to grasp,” Jesse said through his teeth. ”She just needs it, St. George.” to grasp,” Jesse said through his teeth. ”She just needs it, St. George.”

”That's Dr. Dr. St. George,” he said. ”And where I come from, one p.r.o.nounces St. George,” he said. ”And where I come from, one p.r.o.nounces it Sin it Sin George.” George.”

”Does one?” said Jesse, dearly wis.h.i.+ng he would go back to wherever he came from and leave them their dragon.

Daisy pushed the purple kneesock between the bars of Emmy's cage. The little dragon grasped it in her forepaws and buried her face in it.

St. George fastened the latch. He lowered the cage into the box and snapped it shut. ”Good day to you all,” he said, lifting the case. Then he walked out the door, his coattails flapping behind him like a cape.

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Uncle Joe stared at him. Then he took off his ROCK STAR cap and tugged thoughtfully at his pony-tail. ”Did you guys happen to notice that the man never even said thank you?”

The moment Jesse shut his bedroom door, Daisy exploded. ”You what?” what?”

Being the target of Daisy's wrath was not comfortable. She sat down hard on Noah's bed, and he sat on Aaron's. On the carpet between them there were still bits of green and gold sparkling in the pile.

Jesse repeated what he had said to her on the way up the stairs: ”I saw St. George's car parked outside-our house the night before last.”

”And yesterday, on the way to town ...you saw it again?” again?”

Jesse nodded, bowing his head. ”Outside Miss Alodie's. And the day before, earlier, I saw him up on High Peak. I guess you and Uncle Joe were too busy to notice him. But I did. I knew he was following us.... Well, I did and I didn't.... I thought he might be, but I just wasn't sure.”

”But why didn't you say say anything to me?” she said. ”If I had known, we could have come up with a plan!” anything to me?” she said. ”If I had known, we could have come up with a plan!”

Jesse knew Daisy was right. It all seemed very 107.

obvious to him now, but at the time ... ”I guess I didn't want to worry you if it was nothing,” he said. ”And all this stuff was happening ...the thunder egg, and Emmy hatching, and getting her fed, and Professor Andersson--”

Daisy interrupted him. ”We're supposed to tell each other everything! everything! Isn't that what we pledged we'd do if we ever had a magical adventure? Keep the faith and tell each other Isn't that what we pledged we'd do if we ever had a magical adventure? Keep the faith and tell each other everything? everything? Jesse Tiger, I swear, you're worse than Edmund.” Frowning, she folded her arms across her chest and looked away from him. Jesse Tiger, I swear, you're worse than Edmund.” Frowning, she folded her arms across her chest and looked away from him.

Jesse shook his head sadly. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lucy's brother Edmund had been horrid, at least when he first entered into Narnia. Jesse wondered if he was really being Lucy's brother Edmund had been horrid, at least when he first entered into Narnia. Jesse wondered if he was really being that that bad. Having a magical adventure was turning into a much more serious business than he had ever imagined it would be. bad. Having a magical adventure was turning into a much more serious business than he had ever imagined it would be.

Daisy pounded her fists on her knees. ”Oh, all right! right! I'm sorry I said you were worse than Edmund. That was mean.” She sighed. ”You're not horrid. And it's stupid for us to fight. We need to help Emmy, not fight about her. Let's ask Professor Andersson what to do.” I'm sorry I said you were worse than Edmund. That was mean.” She sighed. ”You're not horrid. And it's stupid for us to fight. We need to help Emmy, not fight about her. Let's ask Professor Andersson what to do.”

Jesse bit his lip. He knew she was right.

He went over to the desk, dropped into the 108.

chair, switched on the computer, and waited stonily for it to boot up. As soon as the professor's stern and ancient face came up on the screen, Jesse steeled himself, clicked the mouse, and began to tell him everything, starting with ”There was this big black car....” He spoke quickly, and he told the truth about how he had ignored the car, how they had put up the signs, how they had played right into the hands of the Dragon Slayer, and how they had lost their baby dragon.

The screen remained still and silent for such a long time that Jesse wondered if Professor Anders-son had abandoned the site, leaving only his picture behind. The cousins watched his face nervously.

”Maybe you were speaking Slurvian,” said Daisy. ”Maybe he didn't understand you. Maybe you need to enunciate succinctly.”

Jesse took a deep breath and began again. ”There was this big black--”

”I HEARD YOU!” the professor thundered at them.

Jesse and Daisy shrank from the screen.

”We're really, really, really, really sorry,” said Jesse in a small voice.

Professor Andersson scowled and said, ”Do not waste precious time on self-recrimination.”

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”On what?” what?” Jesse whispered to Daisy. Jesse whispered to Daisy.

”Do not feel too badly,” the professor explained. ”No doubt you meant well. Saint George is a formidable opponent, and now at least you know what and whom you are up against.”

Jesse said, ”But he's a grown-up and we're just kids.”

”YOU ARE DRAGON KEEPERS!” Professor Andersson roared. ”Now stop sniveling and find a way to get her back. It is Saint George's intention to slay your dragon and drink her blood.”

Daisy gasped.

”You have some time,” the professor said. ”He will not slake his thirst until she has attained a certain size.”

”What size?” Jesse asked.