The Order of the Unicorn Read online

  “What?” Ben asked.

  Dr. Woo looked like she was in pain. She slowly crumpled the paper. Pearl’s mind raced. What could happen to a unicorn if it got lost? What was waiting in the forest that might hurt it? A terrible thought occurred to Pearl. “Unicorns have horns,” she said. “Is that what everyone is worried about? Is the human the same man who took the rain dragon’s horn?”

  Violet’s head popped out of the bag, and she blinked rapidly.

  For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Dr. Woo let the note fall to the floor. “Yes,” she said. “Maximus Steele is on the prowl.”

  9

  Pearl tried to remember everything she and Ben had learned about Maximus Steele. He was a hunter, and he trapped the rain dragon in order to steal one of her horns. According to Dr. Woo, Mr. Steele was extremely dangerous, but she hadn’t told them anything else.

  “Is he mean enough to hurt a unicorn?” Pearl asked.

  “He would do anything for a prized horn.” Dr. Woo picked up the crumpled note and tossed it into a wastepaper basket. “But there’s no time to discuss that right now. I must visit the unicorn king and find out what has happened.”

  “Good luck,” Ben said.

  “Please take us with you,” Pearl pleaded. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. She had to go! “We can help.”

  “I don’t think…” Dr. Woo paused. Then she pressed her fingertips together and gazed at Pearl. “In any other situation, I would be hesitant. Mr. Tabby has not yet trained you in certain procedures. But in the case of a unicorn, Pearl, you might be of great value.”

  “Really?” Pearl beamed.

  “While the kelpie preferred Ben’s scent, unicorns prefer the company of young girls. In fact, only a girl can summon a unicorn.”

  “Hey!” Ben cried. Violet had found the yellow knitted hat in his back pocket and was nibbling on the yarn. He pulled it free. “How come you keep eating my clothes?”

  She blinked rapidly. “I can’t help myself, little darlin’. I just love to eeeeeat.”

  “Goats like to eat everything,” Pearl said. “I saw a show once where a goat was eating a tin can. Am I right?” She smiled, but then realized that Dr. Woo and Violet were looking at her as if she’d just said the most horrid thing in the world.

  Violet put her hands on her wide hips and scowled. “I’m no goooooat,” she said huffily. “I’m a satyress. Goats are simple, domesticated critters from the Known World. I am descended from a Greek demigod, not from a faaaaarm animal.” She grabbed a bag of ivy and began chewing on a vine.

  “Sorry,” Pearl said. She hadn’t meant to insult anyone.

  Dr. Woo cleared her throat. “I must attend to the unicorns. Violet, while I’m collecting my supplies, please have the apprentices watch the Portal training movie.” She began to walk toward the stairwell.

  “We have to watch a training movie?” Pearl complained. “That sounds boring. Can’t we just learn on the job? My dad says that’s the best way to learn.”

  “Will we be back by three?” Ben called. “My grandfather wants me home because he’s making brisket for dinner. It’s his favorite.”

  “I will make every effort to return you by three o’clock,” Dr. Woo said. Then she left the tenth floor, the door closing behind her.

  Pearl poked Ben’s arm. “If we’re late, we won’t have to go to Victoria’s award ceremony. I’d rather feed sardines to that kelpie than watch someone put a crown on Victoria’s big, bloated head.”

  Violet wiped a few bits of green leaf from her mouth, then motioned with her hand. “Follow me, little daaaaarlin’s.”

  A side door opened into a room that looked exactly like a miniature theater. Six red velvet chairs sat in a row facing a white screen. The walls and ceiling were painted black. An old-fashioned projector stood in the back of the room.

  “Wow,” Ben said as he looked at the contraption. The film was wound onto one reel, which fed it through the projector, then onto a second reel. “This is really old.”

  “Have a seeeeeat,” Violet said, her hooves click-clacking as she walked to the projector.

  Pearl and Ben chose the two middle seats. Even though the hospital theater was small, it was so much better than the one in Buttonville, where the seats leaked stuffing and the metal springs poked into your back. The old popcorn machine always overcooked the kernels so that you had to spit out the little burned bits. That was why the floor was crunchy and sticky at the same time.

  Violet darkened the room, then switched on the projector. A beam of light shot through the lens and onto the screen.

  “Should we take notes?” Ben asked. “Is there going to be a test?”

  Pearl groaned. She hated tests. No matter how much time her teacher gave her to study, she always seemed to forget something.

  “Y’all pay attention and there’ll be no need for a teeeeest,” Violet said as she left the room.

  The movie began.

  10

  The movie was black-and-white, and covered in dust and scratches. A whirling tornado appeared on the screen.

  A narrator began to speak. The voice was high-pitched and squeaky.

  “Hello and welcome. We here at the Portal have produced this film to help you prepare for interdimensional travel. Our safety record is better than bad, and we want to keep it that way.”

  Better than bad? Pearl and Ben looked at each other.

  The sasquatch appeared on-screen. It held a small suitcase and wore a fanny pack around its waist. The narrator’s voice continued.…

  “Welcome, Mr. Passenger. I see that you have packed for your trip. It is important to be prepared in case your visit runs longer than expected. Extra underwear, a toothbrush, and a container of water are all good to bring should something go wrong and you get stuck for a day or two, or a year.”

  “A year?” Ben said. He sat up straight. “But I have to be back by three.”

  “Always double-check to make certain you are carrying a vial of fairy dust. It is the only way to summon the Portal for the return trip.”

  The sasquatch reached into its fanny pack and pulled out a vial. It sparkled yellow.

  “Very good. We will now instruct you in the correct way to enter the Portal.”

  The camera shot widened to show the sasquatch standing next to the swirling tornado. The wind rustled the ends of its fur.

  “It is important to walk directly into the Portal. Do not run, skip, or jump, as this could create a disruption in the magnetic field, causing the Portal to hyperextend or collapse upon itself, wreaking havoc on the space-time continuum. Go ahead, Mr. Passenger. Please enter the Portal at a steady pace.”

  The sasquatch pointed to the tornado. The camera moved up and down, as if nodding. The sasquatch shook its head. A hand holding a chocolate bar appeared from the side of the screen. Then it tossed the bar into the Portal. The sasquatch smiled and bounded into the wind.

  Pearl and Ben had learned, during their sasquatch-catching adventure, that the furry beasts love chocolate.

  The next scene showed the sasquatch standing in a calm space, wind swirling at the perimeter. It had set the suitcase at its feet and was happily eating the chocolate bar.

  “Once you are safely inside the Portal and have given the captain your destination, you will prepare for takeoff. Most Known World beings experience discomfort during travel because Known World beings usually travel in only three dimensions—up and down, side to side, and back and forth.”

  The room suddenly moved up and down, side to side, then back and forth. The sasquatch looked up from its eating and growled.

  “The Portal, however, travels in all dimensions at once. Let us show you what we mean.”

  Suddenly, the sasquatch turned into a giant blur. When it came back into focus, all of its fur was sticking straight up and its suitcase had toppled over. After teetering from side to side, it bared all of its teeth and growled so loud that the camera shook. The sasquatch reached out and swatted at whoever was sta
nding behind the camera. The screen went black.

  Pearl frowned, remembering how she’d felt a bit queasy during her first ride. She didn’t blame the sasquatch for getting mad.

  The movie resumed. There were more instructions about seat belts, oxygen masks, and not littering inside the Portal.

  “This is a weird movie,” Pearl said.

  “It beats the one we had to watch in health class,” Ben told her. “It was called Your Changing Body, and it was all about pimples and BO.” Both he and Pearl shuddered.

  The Portal appeared on-screen again, only this time it was empty except for the chocolate bar’s wrapper and the suitcase on the floor.

  “This brings us to the most important safety rule of all: Never leave the Portal until the captain gives the orders to disembark. There’s no knowing where you’ll end up.”

  The next shot showed the sasquatch sitting at the very top of a snow-capped mountain, shivering.

  “But as long as you have your vial of fairy dust, you’ll be fine. Thank you for your attention, and we hope to see you in the Portal.”

  The film reel made a flapping sound as it spun around and around. Ben hurried to the projector and turned it off. “That movie made me feel worse,” he said. “I mean, what happens if I fall out but you’ve got the vial? Or if you fall out but I’ve got it?”

  Pearl considered this for a moment. “I guess we just have to make sure that we don’t fall out.” She’d been on dozens of rides at the Milkydale County Fair, including the Whirl-a-Tron, the Freaky Frisbee, and the Loop-de-Loop, and she’d never fallen off a single one. “Besides, we’re not going alone like last time. Dr. Woo is coming with us, so we’ll be safe.”

  “Y’all ready?” Violet asked, poking her head into the theater.

  “Yes,” Pearl said, jumping out of her seat.

  “Y’all excited about your trip?”

  “I’m definitely excited,” Pearl said.

  “I’m wondering…” Ben shuffled in place. “Has anyone ever actually fallen out of the Portal?”

  “Don’t you worry, little darlin’. Dr. Woo will take good care of yooooou.”

  Pearl noticed that Violet hadn’t actually answered Ben’s question. But that didn’t stop her from wanting to go. She’d be sure to stand right in the middle.

  Dr. Woo was waiting outside the theater, her medical bag in hand. Violet blinked rapidly. “I’d feel a lot safer if Mr. Tabby were here,” she said. “My nerves are all aquiiiiiver.”

  Dr. Woo patted Violet’s shoulder. “Should there be any problems, Metalmouth is in the lobby.”

  After eating a handful of oats, Violet climbed onto her stool and pushed a large yellow button. A clap of thunder sounded in the distance. Then a roar closed in, as if the storm of the century were heading right for the hospital. A small tornado appeared in the center of the tenth floor, so tiny Pearl could hold it in her hand. Then it grew and grew, expanding until it touched the ceiling. Pearl and Ben stepped back as wind blew across their faces. Fairy dust lifted off the floor, turning the tornado yellow. Pearl wanted to plug her ears, the wind was so loud.

  “Follow me,” Dr. Woo ordered.

  Even though this was the second time Pearl had stepped into a tornado, it still felt shocking. She expected the wind to pick her up and toss her around like a kite, but she walked right through and into the Portal. Ben followed, then stood next to her. It was too loud to talk, too loud for Pearl to tell him that everything would be okay. They wouldn’t fall out. They wouldn’t get lost. They’d have another wonderful adventure, and he’d be home in time for brisket dinner.

  Pearl’s ponytail came loose, and her hair whipped her neck and cheeks. A blurry image of Violet eating more ivy vines was the last thing she saw before everything went black.

  11

  A light flicked on above their heads. The tornado had widened, creating a calm space in its center. Pearl, Ben, and Dr. Woo stood on a solid floor, but the walls and ceiling were composed of swirling wind.

  “Welcome to the Portal. This is your captain speaking.” The high-pitched squeaky voice came from above. Pearl wondered what sort of creature that voice belonged to. She imagined a little grasshopper dressed in a captain’s hat and uniform. “Destination, please.”

  “The Tangled Forest,” Dr. Woo said as she set her bag next to her feet.

  “Hello, Dr. Woo. Nice to see you again.” The overhead light grew a bit brighter. “The runway on the south end of the Tangled Forest is currently under repair because of damage sustained during the migration of the giants. Will the northern runway suffice?”

  “Yes, that will be fine.”

  Giants? Pearl mouthed at Ben, who was chewing on his lip again. He was probably imagining a herd of gigantic feet crushing everything in their path.

  “Please fasten your seat belts,” the captain said.

  “There aren’t any seat belts,” Ben pointed out, “because there aren’t any seats.”

  “We’re having them reupholstered,” Dr. Woo explained. “Interdimensional travel can be hard on fabric.”

  “Prepare for takeoff,” the captain announced.

  Takeoff was the part Pearl didn’t like. The last time she traveled in the Portal, it had seemed like her insides were being scrambled. Was that how it felt on an airplane? Pearl had never been on one. In fact, she hadn’t traveled much outside Buttonville.

  A rumbling sound arose, like an engine revving its motor. Pearl braced herself, stiffening her legs and holding out her arms for balance. There were no windows in the wall of swirling wind, so she couldn’t watch the houses grow smaller or the forest disappear as they headed into the clouds.

  Suddenly, the Portal began to move in every direction at once, just like in the training movie. Maybe not having windows was a good idea, because Pearl wasn’t sure if she was upside down, sideways, or inside out.

  Ben groaned. Pearl closed her eyes. Just when she thought she might break into a million pieces, everything went still and quiet. She opened her eyes and wiped her sweaty palms on her basketball shorts. “Are we here?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Woo said.

  Huge exhales of relief came from the apprentices. “Remind me not to eat a pancake sandwich before going on another Portal ride,” Ben said, pressing a hand over his stomach.

  Dr. Woo smoothed her hair, then turned and faced her apprentices. “Listen very carefully,” she said in her calm, soft voice. “Before we step into the Imaginary World, there are a few important safety rules. Do not eat anything without checking with me first. Do not touch anything without checking with me first. And, the most important rule of all, do not make unnecessary noise.”

  “So we won’t disturb the unicorns?” Pearl asked.

  “So we won’t disturb other things.” The word other echoed throughout the Portal.

  Ben scratched behind his ear. “Uh, what do you mean by that? We aren’t going to run into another kelpie, are we?”

  Dr. Woo picked up her medical bag. “One never knows.”

  An exit light illuminated. “Welcome to the Tangled Forest. We would like to thank you for flying with us today,” the captain said. “We hope you will choose the Portal for your next interdimensional journey. Please refrain from pushing as you disembark.”

  “ ‘One never knows’?” Ben whispered to Pearl as they followed the doctor. “She should know, don’t you think? I mean, this is her job.”

  Pearl wasn’t worried about the not-knowing. She didn’t mind surprises, as long as they didn’t want to eat her for breakfast. She stepped through the Portal’s windy exit, hoping she wouldn’t be disappointed. The Land of Rain hadn’t been much to look at. Before landing there, Pearl had imagined purple trees, polka-dot clouds, and rainbows made of floating jelly beans. But it turned out to be a barren wasteland, parched and cracked as far as the eye could see. Would the Tangled Forest be nicer?

  The wind swirled around and around. “I can’t see anything,” Pearl complained, her hair flying. She took a few more
steps.

  Then the Portal disappeared, the wind blew away, and Pearl took a long, deep breath.

  “Wow,” she and Ben both said.

  They stood on a hilltop. A carpet of lush lime-green grass sloped gently to the edge of a forest. Pearl turned in a slow circle. The forest surrounded the hill, spreading out in all directions. The trees were twice as tall as the ones in Buttonville. A buttery sun warmed Pearl’s face. A light breeze kissed the blades of grass. “It’s beautiful,” she said.

  “Keep your voice low,” Dr. Woo warned. Then she gazed toward the forest, her eyes searching.

  What is she looking for? Pearl wondered.

  A butterfly flitted past Pearl’s face and landed on Ben’s head. “Don’t move,” she whispered, wanting to get a better look.

  Ben froze. His eyes rolled upward. “Is something crawling in my hair?”

  Pearl leaned close. The butterfly’s wings were pink and sparkly, like the lipstick Mrs. Petal sometimes wore. “That’s the prettiest butterfly I’ve ever seen,” she whispered.

  “It’s not a butterfly,” Dr. Woo said matter-of-factly. “Stand very still, Ben.” She opened her medical bag and took out a magnifying lens, which she handed to Pearl. Pearl looked through the thick glass.

  “Whoa. What is that?” The butterfly’s body was green and fuzzy like a caterpillar’s, but its tiny head looked exactly like a dragon’s.

  “It’s a dragonfly,” Dr. Woo explained. “But not like any you’ve ever seen. It’s what’s known as a hybrid creature—half one thing, half another.”

  “You mean it’s half butterfly and half dragon?” Pearl asked. Dr. Woo nodded.