14

It was warm in the basement, the air thick with the scent of mentholated arthritis rub and wiener dog. Gladys certainly didn’t appear to be worried about killer bees. She was fast asleep in her armchair, knitting needles on her lap. Sweetness and Light were asleep, too, curled beneath knitted blankets on the couch. There was so much snoring going on that it was possible none of them had heard the police siren or the screams for help.

Because this was a basement apartment, the windows were set high in the walls. Pearl climbed onto a chair and pushed one of them open. Then she and Ben climbed out. The dogs didn’t stir, nor did Aunt Gladys. Pearl quietly closed the window. “Mrs. Mulberry said the swarm headed down Main Street. Let’s go.”

In order to stay out of Mrs. Mulberry’s line of vision, Pearl and Ben darted behind the Dollar Store. Then they crossed Cherry Street, cut through the park, and hurried down Fir Street. Nearly out of breath, they peered around the corner of the bookstore.

There was no sign of the swarm up or down Main Street. In fact, there was no sign of anything. The crowd was gone. The police car was gone. The door to the Buttonville Cinema stood wide open, as did the diner’s door. The only sign of life was a flock of pigeons enjoying Maybell’s spilled popcorn. “It looks like a ghost town,” Pearl said as an empty soda cup rolled down the street.

Ben wiped nervous sweat from his forehead. “Maybe the fairies got enough sugar and went back to the hospital.”

“Maybe…” Pearl narrowed her eyes. “What’s that?” A whining sound had arisen in the distance. She smiled. “Is it—?”

“Yeah, it’s the fairies,” Ben said, his eyes widening.

That high-pitched hum was definitely the swarm, but where was it coming from? Pearl and Ben turned in slow circles, scanning the nearby rooftops, the trees, the sky. But as they searched, another sound arose—a rhythmic chugging—and it came from the entrance to town, where Main Street joined the highway.

Keeping well out of view, Pearl and Ben ran toward the sound. They stopped at a sign.

The chugging grew louder. “What is it?” Pearl said, looking toward the highway.

Ben poked her shoulder. “It’s Victoria.”

“Don’t be silly. Victoria’s rude and annoying, but she doesn’t sound like an engine.”

“No, I mean, Victoria is right behind us.”

Pearl whipped around. Victoria’s frizzy pigtails bounced as she rushed toward them. Pearl was so furious her face went as red as Victoria’s overalls. “What are you doing?”

Victoria skidded to a stop. “How come you’re out here? Officer Milly said we couldn’t go outside until the Town Hall bell rang.” She put her hands on her hips. “Are you going to meet the dragon? I want to meet it, too.”

“We’re not meeting a dragon,” Ben insisted. “We’re out here because…” He paused for a moment, gathering a story. “We’re out here because I lost my inhaler, which I need in case I have an asthma attack. Asthma attacks can be very serious, and they can be brought on by stress. And this whole killer bee thing is very stressful. So I’m sure Officer Milly would give us permission to search for it. That’s why we’re out here.”

“I didn’t know you used an inhaler,” Pearl whispered in his ear.

“I don’t,” he whispered back. Pearl sighed with relief, happy that they didn’t have to add an asthma attack to their growing list of things to worry about.

“Go away before you get in trouble,” Pearl said.

Victoria leaned against the welcome sign and folded her arms super tight. “I’m not moving, and you can’t make me. I want to meet the dragon.”

“Oh yeah?” Pearl took a step toward her. What was she going to do? Pick her up and carry her? Why was Victoria always getting in the way? Why did she have to be such a pest? They stared at each other, steely-eyed. It was like an old western movie, where the bad guy and the good guy got ready to draw weapons. Except this was Buttonville, and the only weapon Pearl had was words. Anger welled and spewed out like a volcano. “I hate you!”

Three small words, when put together, were the most terrible Pearl had ever spoken. They echoed off the welcome sign.

Victoria’s arms fell to her sides. She looked a bit stunned, as if someone had tossed cold water in her face. Pearl took a step toward her. “Uh, gee, I didn’t—” Pearl started to say, but that chugging sound suddenly grew louder. Ben grabbed her arm.

“It’s coming closer,” he warned. Pearl whipped around.

A black truck had turned off the highway and was speeding toward them. Its brightly painted logo read, BYE-BYE, BUGS.