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"Sha," Watren said, eyes on the ball

"I’m used to it," Seth replied "I always miss the coolest stuff"

"Think fast" Warren chucked the ball at hiht it and tossed it back briskly "How bad do you want to stoay?" the rinned "Don’t bother with the innocent routine I can spot fake innocence awhen you think about that knapsack We’ll have to bring it for supplies, of course Lots of room in there Lot of places to hide"

"You’re a jerk," Seth said

"Take it easy I’m not here to rub it in I kind of hope you do it"

"What?"

Warren stood, dribbling the basketball between his legs

"I think you’re right You’ve got unusual abilities that could come in handy If you hadn’t pulled the nail from the revenant, I’d still be a mute albino If you hadn’t been at the old manor ent to retrieve the Chronometer, we never would have found Patton and Fablehaven would have fallen I’o But if you want to go, I’e you In fact, tomorrow afternoon, I’ll leave the knapsack in the backseat of the SUV, and I’ll make sure a door is unlocked"

"This is some sort of trick Grandpa put you up to this It’s a trap"

"No trick, I swear We can’t afford to blow it at Wyrmroost The Sphinx has the Oculus We can’t let him have the Translocator Think ill happen if the Sphinx can see anywhere and go anywhere! What will pre-vent hi will it be before he opens Zzyzx and none of us have anywhere to hide? Like it or not, we’re past playing it safe If you want to be at Wyr idle at Fablehaven"

That conversation had been all it took to thoroughly convince Seth He had written the note to explain his absence, and, as Warren had promised, after Christmas dinner, the back of the SUV was unlocked, the knapsack waiting

Since Seth had entered the knapsack, Mendigo had been his only corown puppet had no will, no identity It did not speak The big limberjack existed only to carry out orders Once, the wooden figure had obeyed orders from the witch Muriel Noas loyal to the Sorensons

Seth continued to wait inside the crate, perspiring in the stifling darkness Aside from the ample provisions packed for the others, Warren had stashed extra food inside an old trunk for Seth When he felt certain the others were asleep, his reould be to grab soranola bars and peanut butter But before Seth could teach that conclusion, he heard the rasp of wood scraping against wood, as if the lid of a container had slid open He had heard nobody descend the ladder Peeking out froht He heard the faint creak of a trunk opening, the rustle of a bag, and the crunch of an apple

So into his private food stash!

The noisywould gradually dwindle until the volu the apple? Certainly not Mendigo The puppet didn’t eat Seth felt sure he would have heard somebody coht Could Coulter have missed a stoay spy froical knapsack?

Shifting his position slightly, Seth got out his flashlight There was a wooden baseball bat near his crate that he could use for a weapon He hesitated, worried what heinto action on the next new bite, he told hiain, and Seth stood up, flinging off the lid to the crate and switching on the flashlight The beari, pointed ears; and a wide, lipless ht, an apple core cupped in one pudgy hand, eyes flashing like bronze coins

"Who are you?" Seth asked in a hard voice, groping for the bat

"I oblin replied calers found the handle of the bat "You’re eatingBubda’s ho his flashlight beaan to climb over barrels and boxes toward the uncluttered portion of the roooblin stood barely taller than Seth’s waist "If I tell her you’re down here, they’ll boot you out"

"But you’re hiding too," the goblin said with a sly set rid of a spy"

"A spy? You’re an ally of the night You speak good Duggish I took it you knehat Bubda was"

"Which is what?"

"A hermit troll"

"I’ve heard of hermit trolls," Seth said "You’re the kind who hide out in attics and under bridges I’ve never met one"

"Bubda didn’t want to ry" The troll stuffed the apple core in his mouth, seeds and all

Seth reached the open floor He held the baseball bat at his side No need to act threatening if he could keep this friendly "How long have you lived here?"

"Long tiht place Dark Well-stocked Private Places to hide But two is a crowd"

"Your naht"

"I’m Seth I’ll only be here a few days Then you can have it back How co in his arone He looked exactly like a barrel When he stood up straight again, the illusion ended "Bubda hides well"

"That was cool," Seth said "Can you look like other stuff?"

"Bubda has lots of tricks Bubda never shows theht around the rooht Bubda finds what Bubda must"

"You’re down here most of the time?"

"Almost always Better that way"

"What about a rest room?"

"Careful what barrel you open"

Seth snickered "I could use a rest roo out"

"Up to you Maybe you leave for good?"