Seth nodded. "I think I played Foosball against the Sphinx on this table when I first met him. Or one just like it. Kendra did too."
"This room is our best evidence that the Sphinx knows we sneak around down here," Bracken said. "In fact, with what you mentioned about the Foosball table, we can consider it a certainty. He uses this room to incentivize good behavior. If we act up, things disappear. Sometimes the room is left empty. As we behave, items show up. It has never been openly acknowledged that this place exists. Welcome to the dungeon rec center."
"Does the TV work?"
"Everything works. The TV gets lots of channels."
"How did he get electricity down here?"
"Wires?"
"Right." Seth walked over to a pinball machine. He tapped the flipper buttons.
"The yellow button starts the game," Bracken advised. "Who has the high score?"
"Me. On all of them."
Seth turned to face Bracken. "I'm going to take you down."
"I'd like to see that," Bracken chuckled. "I have pretty good reflexes, and I've been playing them for almost forty years."
Seth frowned. "I bet you're pretty good at pool."
"I've had a little practice."
Seth shrugged. "I can live with getting schooled. It would sure beat sitting on my cot listening to the water drip."
"Agreed."
Seth ran a hand along the pool table. "If we start a riot, all of this will go away."
Bracken crossed to a rack on the wall and selected a cue. "This room will be empty for years. And they'll do their best to seal up as many passageways as they can find."
Seth selected a cue for himself. "Do we have a chance of succeeding?"
Bracken chalked the tip of his stick. "Not much. But I'm not willing to let the world end without a fight so I can keep playing ping-pong."
"Then we should probably enjoy this room while we have it."
Bracken twirled the cue stick expertly. "My sentiments exactly." He crouched over the table and sent the cue ball rocketing into the others.
Chapter 11 Vanessa's Secret
Kendra swam in a shallow, syrupy lake. The viscous liquid made it a challenge for her to keep her head up, but she didn't want to touch the bottom, either, populated as it was with slimy, squirmy creatures that might bite or sting. The brownish scum on the surface pulled and wrinkled as she carved a slow path through it, arms and legs churning awkwardly. She could not see the shore. Her only landmarks were dead limbs protruding from the mire.
Grandma jostled her shoulder, and Kendra jerked awake, relieved to be free of the uncomfortable dream, but somewhat confused because she saw no evidence of daybreak. A glance at the clock on the nightstand confirmed that it was 3:22 A.M.
"What's going on?" Kendra asked, fear dispelling her drowsiness.
"No great emergency," Grandma soothed. "We're about to learn Vanessa's secret."
Kendra bolted upright. "What is it?"
"Visitors," Grandma said. "Stan, Tanu, and Warren are meeting them at the gate."
"It could be a trick," Kendra warned. What if they admitted a pair of dragons in human form? Or that wizard Mirav?
"Vanessa whispered the secret to Stan about an hour ago," Grandma said. "Apparently she has been in communication with somebody important, and that person is coming here tonight. Stan was satisfied with her explanation. He'll be careful. You should get dressed."
Kendra slid out of bed and started changing her clothes. "You don't know the details?"
"Not yet. The plan is to discuss the situation back in time."
"And I get to come?" Kendra asked hopefully.
"Vanessa suggested that you should be there."
Kendra felt delighted to be included. Who were these mysterious visitors? Kendra could not formulate a reasonable guess. Dare she hope it might be her parents? Or Seth? Would that need to be a big secret?
Dressed in jeans and a comfortable top, Kendra followed Grandma down to the entry hall. The door opened as they arrived. Grandpa entered, followed by a masked figure of medium height wearing a loose, hooded cloak. The cartoonish rubber mask depicted a scowling man with squinty eyes, fat lips, and fleshy cheeks. A shorter person, perhaps a young child, entered as well, wearing a mask like a grinning dog with the tongue lolling out. Warren and Tanu brought up the rear.
"I'm glad you're up, Kendra," Grandpa said. He gestured to the stairs. "This way."
Kendra and Grandma joined the procession to the secret side of the attic. Kendra still had no guess regarding the identity of the disguised visitors. She hoped Grandpa knew what he was doing, letting these masked strangers into the most secretive room in the house.
When they reached the attic, Coulter awaited them with the Chronometer. "We're set for a night ten years ago. The attic should be empty."
"Well done, Coulter," Grandpa said. "Kendra, Warren, and Ruth will be joining me and our taller visitor. The other visitor will await us here."
"Won't be much of a wait for the rest of us," Tanu said.
"Right," Grandpa said. "Our conversation will seem like a blink to those who remain behind. The advice from Patton helped Coulter crack the code for setting the Chronometer. We'll do as many sessions in the past as it takes to bring everyone up to speed."
Kendra felt excited to be part of the first group to learn the secret, although she wasn't overly eager to have the breath knocked out of her again. She, Grandma, Grandpa, Warren, and the mystery guest gathered around the Chronometer.
"For the sake of modesty," Grandma said, "I submit you all keep your eyes shut while I track down some blankets."
"Sounds sensible," Grandpa agreed. "Everybody place a hand on the device."
They complied. He slid a symbol along a groove and flipped the switch.
Kendra braced herself, tightening her abdominals, but it did nothing to thwart the alarming sensation of the breath rushing out of her lungs. Eyes shut, Kendra clutched her midsection, shoulders heaving as she tried to jump-start her breathing. After a weak cough, air began to flow in and out.
She heard Grandma moving around. The stranger would be completely uncovered. Kendra resisted peeking. She would know soon enough.
She heard and sensed a light click on. From behind, Grandma placed a soft comforter over Kendra's shoulders. Kendra wrapped the comforter around herself.
"Okay," Grandma said after a moment. "Open your eyes."