The noise of the helicopter was deafening, and the wind it created in Pam’s garden threatened to throw Spencer off his feet. He ran straight at the helicopter anyway. Uncle Mark reached the helicopter first. A big door in the side was open. Uncle Mark leaped into it, then turned to help B.D. in.

Mom reached the helicopter next. She climbed in, then turned back. Spencer could tell she was yelling his name, but he couldn’t hear her. He was a few paces away from the helicopter when suddenly the waterfall stopped flowing, just like it had on the night of Pam’s auction. This time, though, when the waterfall stopped, it didn’t reveal Pam at the bottom of the slick black marble slab. It revealed a bear.

“Aldo!” Spencer screamed. His voice was drowned out by the helicopter. Spencer ran faster. When he reached the helicopter, he slipped the backpack off and handed it to Mom, who was leaning out, reaching for him. She grabbed Darwin, then called for Spencer to get in. “Aldo’s over there!” he yelled back, pointing to Aldo’s slumped body.

Spencer raced toward the bridge. As he ran, he realized his sneakers were splashing through water. The moat around the marble courtyard was rising. Pam must have sent the water from the waterfall into the moat! If it got too high too quickly the helicopter would get trapped here!

“Spencer!” Dad yelled right behind him. Spencer didn’t turn back. He wasn’t leaving without Aldo. Even if that meant he wasn’t leaving tonight. When he reached the bear, he knelt beside him.

“Aldo!” he yelled. Aldo blinked groggily at Spencer.

Dad fell to his knees beside them. “He’s tranquilized!”

“We have to get him to the helicopter!” Spencer looked over his shoulder. Uncle Mark was running toward them.

“We have to get out of here!” Evarita yelled over the Ear-COMs. “The water’s getting too high! I don’t have more than a minute!”

“We’re coming!” Spencer got to his feet and hooked an arm under one of Aldo’s legs, trying to pull the bear. Dad took the other side, and then Uncle Mark was beside them, grabbing hold of the bear.

“Come on, Aldo!” Spencer screamed as he, Uncle Mark, and Dad dragged Aldo forward. They pushed and pulled him as fast as they could. The water on the marble made it easier. Aldo’s body skimmed across it, and in just a few seconds, they were at the door to the helicopter. But the guards were almost there, too. Four of them had already crossed the rising moat and were wading through the water, shouting.

“Ten seconds!” Evarita yelled.

B.D. reached his head down and grabbed Aldo by the scruff of the neck. Dad and Uncle Mark pushed from the ground, hoisting Aldo into the helicopter.

“STOP WHERE YOU ARE!” someone shouted.

Spencer spun around. One of the guards was racing straight at him. A scream got choked in Spencer’s throat. He wished he could reach for his jade bear now for strength, and bravery—

Then Spencer remembered the stone bear in his pocket. He grabbed it and in one smooth motion pulled it out of his pocket, wound up, and chucked it hard at the approaching guard. It hit the guard square in the nose. He let out a yell and stopped where he was. Spencer turned back to the helicopter.

Mom leaned out of the open door and grabbed Spencer’s arm, pulling him into the helicopter. Dad and Uncle Mark turned, fighting two more guards. The guard attacking Uncle Mark fell to the ground. Uncle Mark turned and joined Dad in his fight.

“I’m leaving. Now!” Evarita yelled.

“Dad!” Spencer screamed. They were starting to lift from the marble courtyard.

“Now!” Dad yelled. At the same time, both Dad and Uncle Mark turned and launched themselves into the rising helicopter. The guard beside them reached for Uncle Mark’s leg through the open door, but Mom kicked his hand away.

Evarita propelled the helicopter straight up. As they rose, Spencer caught sight of Pam. He was standing on the top of the waterless waterfall. A guard was on one side of him. Dora was on the other. Pam’s arms were crossed. His long claws curved into view, and his face was stony as he glared furiously at the helicopter. Dora rose onto her hind legs. Spencer guessed she was huffing and baring her teeth. She raised a clawed paw, striking out into the air toward Bearhaven’s escaping team.

Spencer smiled. To Pam, Dora’s gesture would look like a threat, but Spencer knew she was really giving them a victorious wave good-bye.