Bubble Gum and Monsters

  Chapter 5

  They landed at the MacDonald-Cartier international airport shortly after 3:00 am on a private jet. The crew and staff must have been forewarned, since many of Daea’s favorite snacks were served. Eli was impressed with the big screen TV and game console. They enjoyed the five hour flight eating and playing.

  The airport was small compared to L.A.X. They bypassed customs and went down a series of escalators to the arrivals area. Large monitors showed no airplanes were expected or taking off for a few hours. The restaurant, gift shop, and coffee shop were closed. Only a handful of janitors and security guards worked through the night. As they stepped off the escalator, the Childaar were met by two statues—a man sitting on a bench and another standing beside it.

  “I wonder who they are,” Daea said.

  “You don’t know?”

  “Do you?”

  “Of course. The one standing is Jacques Cartier, the first European explorer to discover Canada. The man sitting is John A. McDonald, the first Canadian Prime Minister.”

  “Oh.”

  “Didn’t you read anything about Ottawa in those travel books we were given?”

  Daea laughed. “No.”

  “Don’t you think that would have been a good idea?”

  “First, I’m sure everything I need to know I can learn here. Second, you can answer any questions I might have.”

  Eli shook his head and muttered, “Why am I not surprised?”

  A man approached them. He told them that he was their driver. He already had their bags on a luggage cart.

  Fourteen large flags were painted on the parking garage across from the airport exit.

  “What are those?” Daea asked.

  “Well, you should know the Canadian flag. It’s the one with the red maple leaf. The others are for the provinces and territories, which are kind of like our states.”

  Daea patted Eli on the back. “See.”

  “And what if I wasn’t here?”

  “I’m sure the driver could have answered my question.”

  “You’ve got it all figured out.”

  “Yep.”

  The drive into the city was pleasant. The autumn air was cool, and Daea was struck by the beautiful trees, which were beginning to change color. She spotted red, orange, purple, brown, and yellow amongst the shades of green. Branches swayed back and forth in the strong gusts of wind. Daea asked the driver where they were going. He informed them that they were headed to the National Gallery of Canada.

  The drive into the city was straightforward. They drove down the Airport Parkway, past Carleton University, and onto Bronson Avenue. Old brick houses and small shops lined the street. The smaller buildings turned into high-rises as they entered downtown. They took a couple of quick turns and were met by a rectangular building with hundreds of beady windows.

  The driver turned right, onto a road lined with Canadian flags and lots of Suffering. Eli said, “This is Wellington Street. It was one of the first roads built in Ottawa—back when it was called Bytown, and many of the city’s most important buildings can be found here.”

  “It’s a lot smaller than Los Angeles.”

  “Most cities are.”

  “What’s that?” Daea asked, pointing at the strange windowed building.

  Eli pointed at a sign. “That’s Library and Archives Canada. Can’t you read?”

  Daea scrunched her nose and stuck her tongue out at the boy.

  He pointed at two big, rectangular, smooth stone buildings that were connected by a colonnade. “Those are the East and West Memorial Buildings. They were built after the Second World War to service the many Canadian veterans who returned.

  “And that”—Eli pointed toward a magnificent square building—“is the Supreme Court of Canada.”

  To their left, two massive, gothic stone buildings, with tall windows and green copper roofs, eclipsed the night sky. Eli said that they were the Justice and Confederation Buildings. Across the street, the Bank of Canada resided in a classical, granite building enclosed by a large glass edifice.

  Before they got much further, Daea gasped. “Look! I didn’t know they have castles in Canada.” She bent her neck so that she could see the top of a tall tower upon which flew the Canadian flag. The tower was part of a great building made of old, shadowy stone. It too had a green copper roof. It was flanked by two similar large stone structures. The buildings, which surrounded an open grass courtyard, were connected by pathways. Open gates allowed public access to the area. The Suffering swirled around aimlessly.

  Eli took a moment to appreciate the scene and then said, “Those aren’t castles; they’re the Center, East, and West Blocks of the Parliament of Canada. That is where the government makes the country’s laws. It’s kind of like our Congress and White House put together. The stone buildings are considered Gothic-revival, but—”

  “Yeah whatever,” Daea said. “They look like castles to me.”

  “Do you even know what a castle is?”

  “Do you?”

  “Do you?”

  “Do you?”

  Eli left the argument alone and pointed to the right, at a sandy stone building across the street from Parliament Hill. Small lights illuminated each of the decorative blue windows. “That’s the Langevin Block, home to the Prime Minister’s office.”

  Having passed Parliament, a tall, monumental arch sat in the middle of the intersection of Wellington and Elgin. It covered a cluster of marching bronze soldiers. Two winged characters, one holding a wreath and the other a torch, perched atop the National War Memorial.

  The road bent slightly left as they passed the monument and crossed the Rideau Canal. Daea’s eyes widened as she pointed at a spired, white stone building. “What is that?”

  “That’s the Chateau Laurier hotel.”

  “That’s a hotel!”

  “Yes…”

  “I hope we are staying there. It’s amazing!”

  “We won’t be staying at a hotel.”

  The driver turned left onto Sussex Drive. Ahead of them loomed a huge gray behemoth that looked more like a battleship than a building. American flags flew around the large fenced structure.

  Before Daea could ask, Eli answered, “That’s the United States’ embassy. It’s where our ambassador to Canada works.”

  Impressed, Daea nodded.

  Just past the embassy another remarkable building appeared. It was made of flame-finished rose granite and glass. Sparkling in the night, a crystal pyramid rose from its backside. As they got closer, the Childaar saw a large spider statue in front of the entrance.

  Eli said, “This is the National Gallery of Canada. This is where we are going. That spider is named Maman, and the artist created it in honor of her mother.”

  “What if it gets stolen?”

  Eli laughed. “Look how big it is. How would you steal that?”

  They were met by a sandy haired boy who looked like a mouse and smelled like a wet dog. His gold eyes watched the rookies intently as they exited the car. He wore a gray zip up sweater over a black T-shirt, which was tucked into his olive cargo pants.

  “Who are you?” Daea asked.

  “Chuck,” the boy growled. “And I can’t believe I’ve been stuck with two rookies. Follow me.”

  Daea scrunched her nose and blurted, “Well, I can’t believe we got stuck with someone who stinks.”

  The boy, who looked about thirteen or fourteen years old, turned and walked toward the girl. He lowered his head to look her in the eyes and growled, “What did you say, little girl?”

  “I said you stink like a smelly dog.”

  Eli closed in behind his friend and pulled at her jacket. “Ummm, Daea, maybe we should just follow him to where we need to go.”

  “You should listen to your boyfriend, squirt.”

  Daea jumped away from both boys and screamed, “He’s not my boyfriend!”

  “Yeah, that’s gross,” Eli said.

  The old
er boy turned and entered the building. The main entrance was magnificent and exciting. A large walkway led visitors up into the gallery, but Chuck took them down a stairwell.

  Just like the Getty Museum, they walked down and through a series of hallways to a large, spacious home.

  “We wait here,” the older boy said. He went to the TV area, plopped on the sofa, and turned on sports highlights.

  “Yippee,” Daea shouted as she ran to the kitchen.

  Eli followed Daea, who was already eating chocolate chips out of a bag she found in the refrigerator. He jerked his head toward the TV area. “I wonder what his problem is?”

  “He stinks. That’s a pretty big problem if you ask me.”

  “No, I mean, why is he so angry?”

  Daea shrugged and continued to throw handfuls of chocolate chips in her mouth.

  “Hey! Rookies, one of you bring me a pop.”

  “Get it yourself, dog breath,” Daea yelled.

  Chuck turned in his seat. “Don’t make me have to get up. You won’t like it if I have to get up.”

  “You won’t like it if I have to get up,” Daea imitated annoyingly.

  The door to the playroom opened. A beautiful, tall, blond girl entered. She wore a white blouse and a green plaid skirt. She smiled and said something incomprehensible.

  “What?” all three Childaar said.

  She laughed heartily and walked to the middle of the room. “Aye, my apologies. I must remember to speak a little slower for ye Americans.”

  Chuck raised his hand and smiled goofily. “Actually, I’m Canadian.”

  The beautiful girl regarded the boy. “Aye. I should have said North Americans.”

  Daea bounced over to the girl and said, “I’m American. My name is Daea. I’m nine. I am from Los Angeles. I only recently had my Awakening. I don’t know my Dynasty yet. All I know is that I have Tuffness, so that means that I will be either a Charm or a Hardy.” She took a deep breath and pointed at Eli, who made his way bashfully into the center of the room. “That’s Eli. He’s also nine and from L.A. His Awakening was the day before mine. He’s a Smart and has Wizardness 1, which means he can make fireballs. We both do kung fu—”

  The tall girl cut her off when she paused for a breath. She knelt and gave Daea a hug. “Now, aren’t ye a wee little lass. It is my pleasure to meet ye both. My name is Jesi-Sera, and I will be leading the Ottawa B-team. My home is Edinburgh, Scotland. I’m sixteen and have been working mostly in Europe the past six years. My martial art is aikido. I am excited that I get to come and see the new world—and meet all of you.”

  Eli sidled up to the blond Childaar and slid his hand into hers. The older girl smiled and gave their arms a swing. Chuck crept into the middle of the room. The leader looked at the older boy and said, “And this striking lad must be Charles.”

  Chuck smiled awkwardly and said, “Yes, ma'am ….”

  Jesi-Sera put her hands on her waist. “Who are ye calling ma’am?” She looked around. “I don’t see my ma.”

  “Sorry, ma’am, umm, I mean Jesi-Sera.” Chuck shuffled nearer to the group. “My name is Charles, but you can call me Chuck. Like I said, I’m from Canada. My hometown is a small village in the Rocky Mountains. I’m fourteen years old and have been in Ottawa since my Awakening three years ago. I’m an L4 Sight with Seeingness 1, Hideness 1, and Animalness 2. Karate is my martial art. My best friends are two dogs named Buddy and Whiskers. They sometimes come with me on missions—that is, if it’s OK with you.”

  “I’m sure the help and company will be much appreciated.”

  “What Dynasty are you?” Daea asked.

  Chuck and Eli both answered, “Charm.”

  Smiling, Jesi-Sera said, “Aye. I am an L5 Charm. I have Speedness 1, Tuffness 1, and Adoreness 3. I think we will make a pretty good team, aye?”

  “Yes,” Eli answered.

  Chuck said, “You bet.”

  “Aye,” Daea yelled.

  Jesi-Sera looked at her watch. “We have to go meet the A-team, but first, Chuck, what can you tell us about Ottawa?” She indicated that everyone should sit down in one of the oversized beanbag chairs.

  Chuck plopped down and said, “It’s a tough city. There is a lot of Suffering here because it’s a capital. The previous A-team recently had two members get knocked out permanently, so two members from the old B-team, Marion and Cameron, were promoted. Our other member was sent to Auckland.” He lowered his head. “I was left behind.”

  Daea jumped out of her seat and went to the kitchen. “Does anyone want something to eat? I feel like chips.” Nobody answered. Jesi-Sera and Eli sat and listened intently to Chuck.

  The Sight continued, “The A-team’s job is to work downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods, as well as Gatineau, Quebec, which is on the other side of the river.”

  Daea returned and loudly opened chip bags.

  “We are responsible for everything else, including the tunnels.”

  “Tunnels?” Eli asked.

  “Yeah, Ottawa has a vast network of tunnels under the city. We mostly find Crawlies, but you have to be careful. I’ve seen some scary things down there.”

  Jesi-Sera nodded her head while Daea stuffed her face. The leader looked at her watch and said, “We’d best be off to this meeting.”

  The newly formed team walked through the gallery. The rooms were large, well lit, and full of paintings and sculptures.

  Chuck spoke as they walked. “Owen is the leader of the A-Team. He’s an L8 Sovereign and regimentally minded. This gallery is their HQ. Ours is the Museum of Nature, which is in my opinion better. Liam is the second in command. He’s an L6 Hardy. Marion is an L5 Smart and Cameron is an L4 Charm.”

  They entered a room where four Childaar stood lined up at ease in front of a very tall painting that consisted of two dark blue stripes on the outside and a red stripe down the middle.

  A deep, French-accented voice boomed, “Attention!” The sound came from a tall Childaar with onyx colored skin, who looked more man than boy. The other members of the A-team quickly brought their feet together and stood up straight.

  Chuck looked worried. “Hurry up,” he whispered to his group. Eli looked to Jesi-Sera, who smiled, took his hand, and moved into the room. Daea followed and stood by Eli. Chuck pushed the Sight so that he was next to Jesi-Sera. The end result was the two teams facing each other.

  Daea looked at the boy across from her. She figured he was probably a little older than her, but not by a lot. He had styled red hair, green eyes, and flawless ivory skin. With a twinkle in his eye, he gave her a wink. She stuck her tongue out at him. Eli stood across from a long-haired Asian girl. Daea whispered to Eli, “Let’s switch spots.”

  “Silence in the ranks,” Owen roared. The sound echoed loudly off the walls. Daea looked down the line and saw the Sovereign speak to her leader. He indicated to his watch and said, “You are late, Mademoiselle Jesi-Sera. I do not tolerate lateness.”

  “Aye. My team and I were making our acquaintances.”

  “No excuses, Mademoiselle. You are in my city now, and you will follow my rules. First rule, never be late.”

  Jesi-Sera’s smile vanished.

  Owen stepped out of the ranked order and walked behind the B-Team. Daea and Eli turned to look, but were quickly admonished. “Turn around,” he snapped. “Next rule, you do what I say. I give the commands, you follow them. Oui?”

  The members of the A-team and Chuck all declared in unison, “Yes, sir!”

  Jesi-Sera stood straight, Eli was stunned, and Daea rolled her eyes.

  The young girl felt a looming presence behind her. She looked up out of the corner of her eye and saw Owen. He leaned in. “What was that, mon petite? I couldn’t hear you.”

  Daea looked around as though perhaps he was speaking to Eli or someone else. She saw Chuck mouth the words “Yes, sir.” She looked back at Owen and squeaked, “Yes, sir?”

  “It’s not a question.”

  “Yes, si
r,” Daea replied.

  “Louder,” commanded the Sovereign.

  “Yes, sir!”

  Owen turned his attention to Eli and asked, “What are the rules?”

  Eli cleared his throat. “Don’t be late and do what you say.”

  “Sir,” Owen added.

  Quivering, Eli said, “Don’t be late and do what you say, sir!”

  Owen nodded. “It is very important that you understand these rules, oui?”

  “Yes, sir,” Daea and Eli replied.

  “Louder!”

  “Yes, sir!”

  “That’s better.” Owen then walked behind the Sight. “How are you today, Chuck?”

  “Very good, sir!”

  “Do you like your new team?”

  “Yes, sir! Very much, sir!”

  “I’ve got some good news. You have been working hard and doing a good job on the B-team. I’m giving you extra duties.”

  The Sight stood expressionless, eyes straight ahead.

  “You are now responsible for these new Childaar. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Owen then moved back to the rookies. “You will listen to and learn from Chuck. If you disobey him, it’s like disobeying me. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” Eli and Daea replied.

  “Trés bon.” He walked back to his place at the head of his team. He scrutinized the Scottish girl. “Mademoiselle Jesi-Sera, I have looked at your portfolio. You’ve done a lot of good work.“

  The Charm watched Owen with cool eyes.

  “I trust you will be as effective here now that you are a team leader. I trust that you will do your jobs as assigned and not overreach your boundaries.” He left the questions hanging in the air.

  Jesi-Sera quietly said, “Of course, sir.”

  “If your team keeps the outsides of this city clean of Suffering and you don’t enter our territory, then we won’t have any problems.”

  The room was silent.

  Owen concluded the meeting. “I expect regular updates. Chuck will now take you to your headquarters.”

  Outside the gallery’s front door, next to the giant spider statue, a black SUV sat parked.

  “That’s our ride,” the team leader said, shaking a set of keys.

  Daea shouted, “You can drive?”

  Jesi-Sera smiled and said, “Aye, I have a special international license that allows me to drive in any country.”

  “How can I get one of these licenses?” Daea asked.

  “I think ye will have to wait a few years yet.”

  Dawn neared, and people began their workday. Chuck gave directions to Elgin Street, which took them back to the National War Memorial and past the British High Commission, National Arts Center, and Lord Elgin hotel. The tall buildings gave way to shops and houses.

  After ten minutes, they arrived at the Canadian Museum of Nature, a rough stone building. Short towers on the corners connected the low ramparts encircling the roof. Animals and plants were carved into the doorways and windows. High above the entrance, in a big glass encasement, hung a life-sized replica of a blue whale.

  “Welcome home,” Chuck growled.

  Chapter 6

  Daea marveled at the Museum of Nature and said, “Now that’s a castle.”

  Eli shook his head. “Just because something is big and made of stone doesn’t make it a castle. This building is not designed to repel an attack. There are no battlements, fortifications, or even a moat.” The Smart sidled beside the Charm and continued, “Hey, Jesi-Sera, did you know that three hundred Scottish stone masons were brought to Canada to help build this place? Its architectural style is called Scottish baronial.”

  “I didn’t. Now that I do, my new home will remind me of my homeland. Thanks, Eli.” The Charm turned to Chuck and asked, “So what can you tell us about our territory?”

  The Sight replied, “See that road behind the museum? That’s the Trans-Canada highway. It goes coast to coast across the country. Technically it’s the King’s Highway 417, but it’s usually called the Queensway or simply referred to as the Highway. We use it to get to the east and west neighborhoods, or link us to roads which take us south. We have a lot of territory, but at least we don’t have to deal with downtown.

  He showed them how to access the museum from a back door. A long stairwell took them deep underground. Chuck pointed at a large metal door and said, “This leads to the tunnels. We could have used them to get here from the gallery if we hadn’t driven.”

  They followed a hallway and arrived at a door, which opened into a familiar looking room. It had nearly the same layout and features as the Childaar homes in the Getty and the National Gallery.

  Daea was about to sprint to the kitchen when Jesi-Sera said, “Hold up. I want to talk to all of ye.” She motioned them toward the oversized beanbag chairs in the middle of the room. “Have a seat.”

  “Owen came off hard back there,” she began. “But he has a job to do, and from what I have heard, he does it well. Is that correct, Chuck?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jesi-Sera laughed and said, “Don’t call me ma’am.”

  “Yes, Owen is a very good leader. He is organized and gets results. His teams really bring the fight to the Suffering. He’s strict but fair. He has never had a team member get permanently knocked out until last week.”

  Jesi-Sera’s voice grew serious. “But his team is not my team. I’m not one for the military structure. I prefer to think of us as a family. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We help each other when we can. And what’s for certain is that we are stronger together. I hope ye are all looking forward to being a part of this family.”

  Chuck, Eli, and Daea all proclaimed their enthusiasm.

  “Right then. Class doesn’t start until next week. Get some rest, and we can explore our new city at sundown.”

  Daea spent the day eating junk food and watching movies, Eli transcribed Tomes, Chuck watched sports, and Jesi-Sera stayed in her room reading and writing reports. After sunset, the team headed outside to explore the city. Wool jackets kept the Childaar comfortable on the cold autumn evening. Kinedaar children ran around the museum’s lawn screaming and shouting.

  Chuck took one look at the ground as they exited the museum and said, “There’s a mission tonight.”

  “How do you know that?” Daea asked as she inspected the Suffering.

  “I have Perception, the first level of Seeingness. It gives me insight into the Suffering’s behavior. I’d guess it’s an Operation since it looks like it will happen near Little Italy, which isn’t too far from here. Anyone hungry? There are lots of restaurants over there.”

  Daea’s hand shot into the air.

  “Aye, I am a wee bit peckish,” Jesi-Sera said.

  Chuck pointed down the road. “Follow me. I know a good diner on Preston. It’s about twenty minutes away.”

  The team walked down a residential street lined with maple trees. The houses were big multi-unit brick buildings. Inside, people were beginning their evening routines.

  As they walked, Jesi-Sera asked, “So, what do ye two know about Operations?”

  Eli spoke. “Where we fight the Suffering directly on Stomps, Operations are indirect. We have to solve a mystery or resolve a situation involving Kinedaar.”

  “So we have to fight normal people?” Daea asked.

  Jesi-Sera answered, “Sometimes, but that’s a last resort, and only an option when dealing with the Contaminated. It’s always better to find the source of the problem and resolve it without violence. For example, my last Operation had us find a missing mortgage contract. A family was going to get kicked out of their house if they couldn’t produce proof that they actually owned it.”

  “Did you find it?”

  “Aye, the computer records had been deleted, but we found a paper copy hidden at the bottom of a drawer in the bank’s basement.”

  “So the family got to keep their home?”

  “A
ye, it was a happy ending.” The Charm paused then said, “The thing to remember is that Operations are time sensitive. If we don’t do enough, they pop. If we do too much, they pop. If we fail, Kinedaar lives are left worse off. Operations are more art than science. Luckily we have Gifts like my Adoreness and Chuck's Seeingness and Hideness that can help.”

  Chuck added, “My Animalness can also be useful. As if on cue, two large dogs ran out from behind a house. They leapt at the Sight, who laughed and played with his friends. He introduced the team to Buddy, a rottweiler with a big head and bushy tail, and Whiskers, a German shepherd with a black and tan coat. The friendly dogs ran around and licked at the teammates. Before they reached Preston Street, he barked at the dogs and they barked back before running off into the night.

  Chuck led them to a greasy spoon diner. The vinyl booths by the window offered a nice view of the street. A work crew sat at the counter, where a dozen stools ran down the side of the restaurant. They looked tired and happy to be eating their meal in silence. A group of teenagers sitting in the back laughed and cajoled as they took advantage of the bottomless cups of coffee. The team chose a seat by the window. The waitress brought menus and glasses of water.

  Daea turned her menu straight to the desserts page.

  Chuck raised an eyebrow. “Hey, Daea, have you ever had maple syrup?”

  “Syrup,” she repeated. “Like on pancakes? Yeah, lots of times.”

  “Was it real? There is a big difference between the stuff your parents buy at the supermarket and the stuff they make around here.”

  The waitress returned and asked what everyone would like.

  Without hesitation, Daea said, “I’ll have two orders of waffles, but could you put them both on one plate. I don’t want anything on top except for extra maple syrup.”

  Jesi-Sera put the menu down gracefully. “A vanilla milkshake for me.”

  “I’ll have a milkshake too,” Daea added, “but make it chocolate.”

  The waitress turned to Eli, who said, “I’ll have a hamburger with fries.” She asked if he wanted to make the fries a poutine.

  “What’s poutine?” Daea asked.

  Chuck said, “It’s fries, with gravy and cheese curds.”

  Before Eli could respond, Daea said, “We’ll both have a poutine.”

  The waitress looked dubiously at the small girl before asking Chuck if he was having the usual.

  “The usual,” he replied.

  Daea squealed when the food arrived. She noticed that her waffles had no syrup on them, and then clapped her hands when the waitress took a full bottle from her apron and placed it in front of her.

  “You were right,” she told Chuck. “This syrup really is better.” She tried to pour it directly from the container into her mouth, but Jesi-Sera stopped her and told her not to be rude.

  “Do you like the poutine?” the young girl asked Eli. “I think it’s great. I love how the cheese melts on the gravy.”

  “It’s pretty good,” he replied.

  Daea finished her meal by loudly slurping the bottom of the milkshake. She leaned back in her seat, patted her belly, and asked, “So, anyone want dessert?”

  Before she could get the waitress’s attention, Eli pointed out the window. “Look at the Suffering; it’s rising and swaying.”

  Chuck looked and said, “Dow’s Lake.”

  They left the restaurant and walked south on Preston Street. A wide tunnel took them under the Queensway. It was filled with pictures celebrating Italian life in Canada.

  Chuck pointed at two twelve story, glass towers. “Those are corporate buildings. All kinds of businesses have offices in there.” He then waved his hands toward a vast building complex behind the towers. “Those belong to the Department of Natural Resources.”

  The team crossed Carling Avenue and arrived at a small lake surrounded by a park. The lake’s water level was low, and thousands of geese rested around the muddy edges. A large pavilion filled with restaurants and shops sat at the edge of the lake.

  “In the summer, I like to come here to kayak and paddleboard,” Chuck told the team.

  “Can we paddleboard now?” Daea asked.

  The older boy growled at the girl. “Not only is it too cold and the water level too low, but we’re on a mission. Think before you speak.”

  Daea stuck her tongue out at the Sight. Jesi-Sera shot him a stern look.

  Eli broke the tension. “Did you know that this is a human-made lake and part of the Rideau Canal system? Boats can travel from the Great Lakes to the Ottawa River, then, if they want, to the Atlantic Ocean. Also, in the winter, people can skate from here to downtown. It’s the largest skating rink in the world.”

  “I want to go skating,” Daea said.

  “We will,” Chuck conciliated.

  Eli continued, “Dow’s Lake is also host to Ottawa’s annual tulip festival. During World War 2, Canada protected the Dutch Princess Julianna and helped liberate her country. After the war, as a token of their gratitude, the Netherlands sent Canada one hundred thousand tulip bulbs, and have sent another ten thousand every year since.”

  Jesi-Sera said, “The Netherlands is a wonderful country, and I can’t wait to see the tulips in the spring, but we have a job to do. Keep your eyes open for suspicious activity.”

  A lone raccoon’s fur bristled as it searched for food in the otherwise empty park. The Suffering covered the lake as black and gray waves emanated from its center. They walked into the Pavilion restaurants, but they too were near empty. Jesi-Sera spoke to a hostess who told her that it had been a terrible day. A kitchen fire had disabled their grills. The chef ordered the cooks to use microwaves for everything. Many patrons refused to pay, and walked out with the food still on the table.

  Daea pointed and asked, “What’s that?”

  Two people stood outside at the end of the pier, which was strange since all the boats had been taken in for the year. The Childaar rushed outside to get a better view. They arrived just in time to see a man with a crew cut and muscles bulging inside his expensive suit take a brown manila envelope from a tall, brown haired woman. She wore black rimmed glasses, a beige trench coat, and red, high-heeled shoes.

  “Well, let’s get that envelope,” Daea said as she stepped toward the pier.

  The Suffering raged and flared. Chuck grabbed the back of her coat and pulled her in.

  Just as he was about to scold her, Jesi-Sera spoke. “We can’t be so direct. Remember, to complete an Operation, we have to solve the situation without arousing suspicion.”

  The woman gave the man a kiss and then left the pier. The muscular man left a minute later.

  Jesi-Sera said, “Let’s split up. Daea, ye come with me. We’re going to follow the woman. Chuck, ye and Eli follow the man. Unless something happens, we’ll rendezvous here in thirty minutes.”

  Jesi-Sera and Daea caught up to the woman. She had crossed Carling Avenue and was headed into the Natural Resources complex. She entered the Sir William Logan Tower, a tall, brown, modern, twenty-one floor high-rise.

  Upon entering the building, the girls were stopped by a pair of security guards. Jesi-Sera poured on her Charm, but was rebuffed by the guards, who told her that she needed to be in the computer to system to access the building. The Suffering surged. Jesi-Sera thanked them for their time.

  Once outside, Daea asked, “Why didn’t your powers work? They should have let us in.”

  “While we can affect the Kinedaar, our Gifts don’t work on procedures and policies. They are especially troublesome when backed up by technology.”

  “We should climb the building and enter from the roof,” Daea suggested.

  Jesi-Sera laughed and said, “Let’s see what else we can find first.”

  The girls scouted the area. Many of the buildings looked different but were actually connected by shared walls. They met the boys back at the Highway.

  “Find anything?” Jesi-Sera asked.

  “Nothing,” Chuck re
plied. “We followed that guy to the corporate towers. We tried to get in, but security stopped us.”

  “Same thing happened to us.” The Charm scanned the area. “The Suffering is rising. Let’s split up and look for clues. If you find anything, gather the team. Chuck, you stay here. Eli, you watch those big buildings on Lebreton Street. Daea, patrol the middle area around that tall smokestack. I’ll watch the Logan Tower and everything behind it.”

  Daea walked to her post. She buttoned her red wool coat as high as it would go and put her hands in the pockets. The buildings assigned to her were surrounded by fences, and bars covered their windows. A few cars remained in the parking lot, but it looked as though most people had gone home for the night.

  She spotted a heavy, bald man leave the Logan Tower. He wore only a golf shirt and corduroy pants. He hurried through the cold and entered a side door. “Bureau of Mines, Industrial Minerals Laboratories” was inscribed in stone above it. It reopened, and he wedged a piece of newspaper in the hinge to keep it open.

  The girl looked around to see if anyone was looking, then walked up and slid through the crack. An open doorway radiated fluorescent light near the end of the otherwise dark hall. Crouched, she placed one foot carefully in front of the other as she moved down the hallway. Each door was a laboratory entrance. The Suffering rose to her knees.

  She peeked into the open room and saw the man talking on his phone. He sounded frantic. Daea couldn’t hear what the other person said, but could tell that it was a woman’s voice. He said that they had to get out of town because they were in big trouble and that they could spend the rest of their lives relaxing on beaches. He insisted that she come see him—the door was open. He put the phone in his pocket and left the room.

  Daea froze against the wall. The Suffering spiked and churned. Luckily for the Childaar, he turned away from her and entered a washroom at the end of the hall.

  The girl darted into the lab. The room was filled with large pieces of equipment and boxes of rocks. She searched the room. A computer sat upon an organized desk filled with reports on mineral deposits. Inside the desk drawers, she saw pens, pencils, printer paper, a package of large brown envelopes, and a box of staples. The stapler was on the desk. Daea heard the washroom door swing open and the scientist’s approaching footsteps. She ducked under a table. The Suffering was above her head.

  The man sat at his computer. If he turned around, however, he would definitely see the girl. He selected a report on gold deposits in Northern Canada and printed the report.

  Footsteps clacked down the hallway. Daea could only see a pair of red high-heeled shoes as a woman entered the room. She leaned out expecting to see the woman from the pier, but instead saw a woman with red, curly hair who wore a black coat over a long black dress. The Suffering swirled turbulently. The Childaar hid back under the table, and the swirls simmered. The man stood, and the couple kissed.

  The woman asked for the report. The man told her that she didn’t need it. He said that they had everything they needed to run away. She insisted on the report and promised that it was the last one. He opened his desk and inserted the recently printed papers in an envelope. The woman said she would return soon.

  After she left, the man returned to his computer and browsed beaches from around the world. The Suffering was like water about to boil. Daea crawled out from under the table, placing each hand and knee down as quietly as possible. The girl was right behind the man’s chair when he sneezed. Daea rolled forward into the hallway. She ran down the corridor and exited the building.

  She found her teammates in the parking lot in front of the smokestack. They looked worried.

  “Where have you been?” Chuck screamed. “It’s going to pop because of you!”

  Eli stepped in and said, “That man we saw on the pier is selling government secrets for that woman he was with. He loves her and wants to marry her, but she told him that he has to sell more secrets to pay for their wedding, honeymoon, and life of travel.”

  Jesi-Sera knelt and put her hands on Daea’s shoulder. “Where were ye? Did ye find any information?”

  Black and gray swirls began to wash over the Childaar. “Here we go,” Chuck said angrily.

  “Hey. Look at that,” Eli said, pointing.

  The brunette woman from the pier walked out of the Logan Tower toward the parking lot. At the same time, the muscular man rounded the corner from the corporate towers. He had a big smile; she looked determined.

  “I have an idea.” Daea pointed at the Bureau of Mines’ entrance. “Jesi-Sera, run and bang that door. Then hide.”

  “It’s going to pop,” Chuck said.

  “It’s our last chance,” Jesi-Sera replied as she used her Speedness to zip away and pound on the door with both fists, before hiding behind a bush.

  The door opened, and the bald scientist stepped out.

  The brawny, suited man held open the door to a small car for the woman. Before she could get in, however, Daea dashed across the lot, leapt, and grabbed the woman’s hair, pulling off a brown wig, exposing a luscious head of red, curly hair. The Suffering eased and lowered.

  The muscular man stood shocked and confused. The scientist ran to the parking lot. The two men called the woman by different names. The men realized at the same time that the woman had used them and that she loved neither. The scientist angrily took out his phone and called the police. The woman tried to run, but the burly man caught her and held her until the police arrived. Both men agreed that they were in trouble but didn’t want to be a part of her schemes any longer.

  The Suffering reduced to its normal state when a police car arrived. A confused officer tried to understand what was happening. The constable handcuffed the Kinedaar and called for backup. Two more police cars arrived and the three Kinedaar were taken away.

  Jesi-Sera clapped her hands. “Brilliant. That was a close one. How did you know it was the same woman?”

  “I saw a package of envelopes in the scientist’s office that reminded me of the one we had seen on the pier,” explained Daea. “Also, even though the woman was disguised, she hadn’t changed her red shoes. It all came together when Eli told me about how the man in the suit was in love with her—just like the scientist was. All I had to do was expose her to the men.”

  Eli patted Daea on the back. “It worked. Nice thinking.”

  Chuck also patted her on the back. “Yeah, nice one, rookie.”