Heroes of the Dustbin

  “It’s hard to miss,” Spencer said. “Just follow the big glowing beam of magic.”

  “There are three nests,” Sach said. “Each one is releasing a steady flow of energy. About twenty feet up, the beams twist together into a brain stem, and that’s where we need to strike.”

  “You think the scissors are strong enough to cut the stem?” Penny asked.

  “They’re pretty powerful,” Spencer testified. “I cut the Hoarder’s dwelling in half just by closing them. We can probably snip the brain stem from a distance.”

  “The scissors are strong,” Aryl agreed, “but we can’t take any chances with the brain stem. Whoever cuts the beam will have to be right there, closing the blades directly around the stem.”

  “But none of that can happen until we close the Glop source in Welcher,” Rho reminded them.

  “How many fighters does the BEM have guarding the school?” asked Penny.

  “From the looks of it,” Olin said, “there are about five hundred. But the Witches have set up squeegee portals all throughout the school. They can call in reinforcements in less than a minute.”

  Penny mused for a second. “We have about a thousand Rebels ready for combat.”

  “And we have Thingamajunks.” Daisy turned to Bookworm. “How many are willing to help us fight?”

  Bookworm flashed all ten of his fingers twice. Twenty Thingamajunks had been so impressed with Bookworm’s victory that he’d convinced them to aid the Rebels in a fight.

  “Will the Thingamajunks leave the landfill?” Bernard asked the trash figure in the corner.

  Bookworm shook his head and frowned. Apparently, their newfound loyalty to Bookworm was limited to the landfill they called home.

  “If the Thingamajunks won’t leave the landfill,” Rho said, “then they won’t be much help in closing the source.”

  “A thousand Rebels,” Penny mused. “We might be able to take the school in a quick blitz.”

  “Won’t work,” said Marv. “Mobilizing a thousand troops will draw attention. BEM will see us coming and call reinforcements. They’ll shut us down before we even have a chance to surround the school.”

  “We missed our chance,” said one of the Auran girls from the back of the room. “We should have moved to close the source the moment we got the Witch’s hair.”

  “They had their wands by then,” Aryl said. “The Witches were already moving into Welcher to protect the source.”

  “Seems funny,” Daisy said. “We finally make it to the end and we can’t even get back into our school.”

  “Yeah,” said Dez from his perch. “I spend most of my time trying to get out of school.”

  “So, what’s our plan?” Penny pressed.

  “We don’t have a plan,” Alan stated.

  Spencer looked around the conference room. Even with all their heads combined, they couldn’t come up with a decent plan to attack Welcher. Marv was right; an all-out blitz would result in too many Rebel casualties.

  “You know who could probably come up with a great plan?” Daisy said. Everyone turned to her. “Min Lee.”

  At the mention of the genius boy, Dez groaned from the rafters. “Not the know-it-all again . . .”

  “Who’s Min Lee?” asked one of the Aurans.

  “He’s a friend of ours,” Spencer answered.

  “Does he happen to be a tactician?” Bernard asked.

  Daisy shrugged. “I know he plays a lot of online strategy games.”

  Unclipping his walkie-talkie, Spencer tuned in to channel 28, the usual frequency he used to reach Min. Lifting the device, he pressed the button and spoke. “Min? Are you there? I hope you’re not at your cello lesson, because we need you now more than ever.”

  Quicker than Spencer expected, Min’s voice replied through the walkie-talkie. “At your service.”

  “We need to get inside Welcher, but the BEM has taken over,” Spencer explained. “We have about a thousand Rebels willing to fight and a group of Thingamajunks that are on our side but won’t leave the landfill.”

  “Hmmm,” Min said. Spencer could imagine him stroking his smooth chin. “You won’t likely succeed if you fight by the BEM’s terms. You need to bring the fight to you.”

  “That’s not an option,” Spencer said. “We’re trying to get to the Glop source. It’s a drinking fountain in the hallway of the school.”

  “So, the source can’t move?” Min clarified.

  “Not unless all of Welcher Elementary School moves with it,” Spencer said.

  It was silent for a moment, and then Min replied, “Now, that would be interesting, wouldn’t it?”

  Chapter 39

  “Do they look convincing?”

  It was Thursday evening at the landfill. Spencer stood on the concrete dumping pad, watching the sun set over the mounds of trash. The endless fire still raged in the gorge, but all reports stated that the Pluggers had given up. They’d most likely been recalled to fortify Welcher with the rest of the BEM’s strike force.

  It was strangely quiet. Spencer’s family was locked securely inside the Auran building with Mr. and Mrs. Gates and a few other noncombatant prisoners who had been rescued from the storage unit. His mom had put up an argument, of course, but Alan had told her they needed a leader to stay behind in case something went wrong. Alice had finally agreed, accepting specific instruction on how to use the dumpster portals to get home if they hadn’t heard from the Rebel army by morning.

  Marv had moved the army of Rebel Janitors into the preplanned position, anxious to be ready when the fighting began. They had taken the demoted General Clean, sitting caged in a Glopified rake. Toting him to the battle hadn’t seemed like the best idea, but the alternative was leaving him behind with the Zumbros and the Gateses. Alan simply wouldn’t let the ex-Sweeper near his family.

  The Aurans had all gone with the army, including Olin, Sach, and Aryl. Even Daisy had already moved out with Bookworm. Spencer was proud of the Thingamajunk. He’d beaten the Hoarder that morning and spent the afternoon making special deliveries to the Monitors. If Bookworm was tired, he didn’t show it, since Daisy’s praise kept her pet Thingamajunk going.

  Spencer thought it was strange not to have Daisy by his side. He wondered what the conditions would be like when they saw each other next.

  That left Spencer, his dad, Penny, Bernard, and Dez standing on the concrete pad with the dumpsters. It was muggy and hot. Over the landfill, Spencer saw storm clouds rolling in. Of course, there had to be lightning.

  “I thought your genius friend would be here by now,” Dez said, flying in anxious circles above the dumpsters.

  “Me too,” Spencer admitted. “I guess it was harder than he thought to get all the Monitors together.”

  “We shouldn’t keep the dumpster open much longer,” Penny said. They were taking a risk by throwing back the lid and opening the portal. But Spencer felt it was necessary.

  Just then, something stirred in the trash of the nearest dumpster. Min Lee appeared, tumbling with little coordination onto the stained concrete.

  “Greetings,” he said, trying to regain a look of dignity as he stood up. Immediately behind him, the trash moved again. Then, one after another, young students began pouring through the dumpster portal.

  Spencer recognized most of them, though many looked different since that wild day when the school bus had flown off a cliff near New Forest Academy. The Organization of Janitor Monitors had grown as the original Monitors had brought trusted cousins and friends into the group. The network of students had spread, each member spying on the school janitor and sending reports of suspicious activity to Min.

  The Asian boy shook Spencer’s hand. “The Monitors are at your service.”

  “Took you long enough,” Dez retorted.

  To soften the statement, Spencer said, “It was probably tough to get everyone together.”

  Min shook his head. “That was not the problem. The moment I gave the word, everyone squeegeed over to
my house. Bookworm’s deliveries made the process quick and simple.”

  Spencer nodded, glad to know that the Thingamajunk’s efforts had helped. Bookworm had used his unique ability to travel between trash piles in order to deliver squeegees to all the Monitors who were willing to participate. Dela’s truck was already in California, so a quick drive moved it into position for Min and the Monitors to get to the landfill.

  “What was the holdup, then?” Penny asked.

  “The problem was finding the right costume shop. I had to visit five different stores to gather enough wigs for all fifty-seven Monitors.”

  “Do they look convincing?” Spencer asked.

  Min made a face. “They look ridiculous,” he answered. “But I’m hoping the disguise will be sufficient in the rush of battle.”

  “I’m sure it will be great,” Alan said, though Spencer wondered how much his dad really believed in this crazy plan.

  Alan put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “You should get on your way,” he said. “I’ll close the dumpster behind you and move the Monitors into position. Give us about an hour to get set.”

  Spencer nodded as Bernard and Penny moved toward Gia’s dumpster. Dez wasted no time, folding back his wings and diving like a falcon into the trash. Alan pulled his son close for a brief hug. Part of Spencer was surprised that the Rebels were letting him play this role. But he was the obvious choice since the Witches had encountered him twice.

  Alan counseled his son to be safe, and Spencer followed the others through Gia’s dumpster.

  A second later, Bernard, Penny, and Spencer were climbing out of the truck and onto the Gateses’ driveway. Dez was already perched on top of the cab. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go already!” Spencer wondered if the Sweeper’s impatience would ruin the whole operation.

  “Alan and the Monitors won’t be in place for at least an hour,” Penny reminded.

  “And besides,” added Bernard, “it’s going to take me some time to rig up Big Bertha.” The garbologist had a smile on his face as he moved past Gia’s vehicle toward his old garbage truck parked on the street.

  They probably could have used either truck, but Big Bertha was a better choice. Not only was Bernard more comfortable behind the wheel, but Big Bertha’s portal to the landfill was broken. Even if things went terribly wrong, the BEM wouldn’t be able to use Big Bertha to reach the landfill and find Spencer’s family.

  Bernard rummaged through Mr. Gates’s mechanics garage, finding all the tools he would need. A moment later, he fired up a work light and ducked under the back of Big Bertha, only his yellow rubber boots in sight.

  Penny seated herself on the steps to the house, the front porch light illuminating her project as she unclipped a squeegee from her belt and ripped off a thin strip of duct tape.

  Spencer reached into his belt pouch, feeling the pointy object resting just out of sight. The responsibility felt heavy, and Spencer was a little unnerved to be carrying the Glopified scissors. He tried to reassure himself by remembering that he only needed to make one cut. And it wouldn’t be where the Witches were expecting.

  Chapter 40

  “Quite demanding, isn’t he?”

  At half past ten, Spencer Zumbro walked up the sidewalk toward the front door of Welcher Elementary School. Unlike the stormy weather brewing over the landfill, the Idaho night was clear and crisp.

  The school looked a bit different since the Witches had remodeled. Spencer could see duct tape across the doors and windows. The walls looked like they had been freshly painted, surely similar to the paint Garth Hadley had used to lock Marv out when they were in the Dustbin. The whole school had been retrofitted into a defensible fortress. Seeing it firsthand, a nagging piece of Spencer’s mind doubted that they would ever get inside.

  He had thought about rushing the building and using his spit sponge and left hand to de-Glopify some of the Witches’ defenses. But that was foolish. The enemy would be on him in a heartbeat, and any fortifications he managed to disarm, the Witches would instantly re-create with their wands.

  Spencer paused at the bottom step, just ten feet from the front door. “Hey!” he shouted. “Tell the Witches I’m here to talk!” His heart was racing, but his voice actually came out with confidence.

  It took only a second for his call to be answered. The intercom speakers positioned all around the exterior of the school crackled in reply. “We see you, dearie.”

  Spencer swallowed hard. That was Ninfa’s voice. In Welcher’s dim front-door light, he saw a cluster of shimmering soapsuds just above the door.

  “I’m here to negotiate!” shouted Spencer.

  This time the answer through the intercom was laughter from all three Witches. “You want to close the Glop source,” Ninfa said. “Not going to happen.”

  “Let me close the source,” Spencer said, “and in exchange, I’ll give you these.” He pulled the antique Glopified scissors from his belt and held them out so the Witches would have a clear view through the soapsuds.

  After a moment of silence, Belzora’s voice came through the intercom. “You’re alone,” she said. “What’s to stop us from sending our Sweepers out to collect those scissors from your lifeless body?”

  “I’m holding the most powerful tool in the history of Glop,” Spencer answered. “If anyone comes to the front door besides you, I start snipping.”

  “You wouldn’t dare,” said Belzora. “If you damage the Glop source, you may never be able to close it.”

  Sach had warned them of the same thing. Were it not for that risk, the Rebels might have snipped their way into Welcher. But the only hope they had of closing the source meant the Glop drinking fountain must remain intact.

  “Maybe that’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Spencer said. To prove his point, he opened the scissors wide, angling the splayed blades directly at Welcher Elementary. He was committed now, remembering what had happened last time he closed the scissors, back in the Hoarder’s dwelling.

  “Let’s not be hasty!” Belzora all but shouted through the intercom. “I will come out alone and we can talk about this.”

  Alone? Spencer’s heart rate quickened. It would never work if Holga and Ninfa remained behind.

  “No!” Spencer shouted. “I want the three of you together.”

  “Quite demanding, isn’t he?” Holga’s voice said in the background.

  “I don’t hand over the scissors until I see all three of your faces in the window,” Spencer negotiated. “Then you let me in to close the Glop source.”

  The Witches would never hold up their end of the deal, and Spencer knew it. The moment he stepped foot inside Welcher, the Witches would take the scissors and finish him. But Spencer didn’t intend to keep his end of the deal either. He just needed to get the Witches away from their sink full of soapsuds. He had to give Dez a blind spot, even if it was only for thirty seconds.

  “We accept your terms,” Ninfa said, her voice artificially sweet. “We will meet you at the front door in just a moment.”

  The intercom clicked off, and Spencer fidgeted nervously on the sidewalk. He resisted the urge to look up, trusting that Dez was moving into position high above. He wanted to glance over his shoulder to the darkened street where Big Bertha was idling nearby.

  Instead, Spencer faced forward, his eyes fixed on the reinforced glass of the front door. His hand was sweating, fingers still holding the Glopified scissors dangerously open.

  In the dim light, Spencer saw a face press up to the glass. He recognized the wild hair of Belzora immediately. Flanking the Witch, Spencer saw Holga and Ninfa slip into view, beckoning with crooked fingers for him to approach.

  With a wave of Belzora’s bronze wand, the school’s front door was unimagined, disintegrating to fine dust.

  “No tricks, boy,” she called. “Bring us the scissors.”

  “I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans,” Spencer said. “We’ll be taking the school by force.”

  The Witches thr
ew their heads back and cackled. “You’re going to need a bigger army!” Ninfa shrieked in hysteria.

  “I’ve got one,” Spencer muttered. “It’s time to send you over to meet them.”

  Crouching low, Spencer placed the open scissors against the sidewalk, angling the tips just slightly into the ground. Before the Witches could react, he snipped the blades together, cutting off the foundation of Welcher Elementary School. The thunderous rumble was like a terrible earthquake, and Spencer saw the entire school shift violently.

  At the sound of Big Bertha’s diesel engine, Spencer whirled around to see the vehicle peeling down the street. Squealing, it veered into the school parking lot as Bernard pressed a button, engaging the new feature that he’d installed at Mr. Gates’s mechanic shop.

  Glopfied Windex sprayed out the back of the garbage truck, misting half the parking lot and turning the ground to glass. Penny dangled nimbly off Big Bertha’s back bumper. She had duct taped a series of squeegees together, operating them all simultaneously by holding onto one handle. She dragged the long squeegee behind Big Bertha, ripping a massive sizzling portal into the glass parking lot.

  Through the magic portal, Spencer saw the dark storm clouds of the landfill. He hoped everyone was ready, because this was it!

  Dez dove out of the dark sky, a Glopified plunger in one hand. He did a touch-and-go, clamping the red suction cup onto the roof of Welcher Elementary. With the school’s broken foundation, there was nothing to stop the plunger from working its magic. Dez’s wings bore him upward as he easily lifted the entire school off the ground. Enemy Sweepers began swarming the roof, but Dez needed to carry the building only a short distance.

  Turning the structure sideways in midair, Dez Rylie dropped Welcher Elementary School through the freshly squeegeed portal in the parking lot.

  Spencer watched as the whole school vanished into the ground, sliding onto a perfectly prepared spot of the landfill.

  Big Bertha swiveled around, and Penny brought her squeegee handle down to shatter the glass parking lot, eliminating any possible chance of a return journey.