CHAPTER SIX

Key to Life

Baru climbed. It was wet, slippery, and difficult, but he climbed up the side of the broken window. Much of the stained glass had fallen out, but the metal framework still stuck out of the surrounding stone. Baru gripped the thin metal bars, using them as a ladder. He made his way higher and higher.

Baru glanced over his shoulder. Down below, he saw his friends and the authors do their best against the zombie monks. Javier and the authors pulled down shelves and laid them across the top of the stairwell as a barrier, even as the zombies climbed the stairs toward them.

I need to hurry, Baru thought. He hoped what he’d seen earlier was truly a kite and not just something he had imagined. If the kite meant what Baru thought it meant, his plan just might work.

He reached the top of the cathedral’s roof and pulled himself up onto the slick surface. Clouds flickered and flashed with lightning. Jagged bolts of electricity shot down from the sky and hit nearby trees. Baru was glad he hadn’t told his friends what his plan was. They would never have let him go.

“Get out of here!” came a voice. “Don’t you see we’re in the middle of a terrible storm?”

Baru turned around and saw a short and pudgy old man. He wore short pants with white socks pulled up high. His black shoes each had a large buckle on top. He wore a purplish coat over a button down shirt. But what gave him away were his circular glasses and his long, rain-soaked hair. And also the fact that he was flying a kite in the middle of a lightning storm.

“Benjamin Franklin?” Baru asked, standing up.

“Of course I am,” Ben said. “Do I know you?”

“Probably not,” Baru said. “My name is Baru, and I need your help.”

“Apologies,” Ben said. “But as you can see, I am terribly busy.”

Ben steered his kite, tugging at the roll of string in his hands. It seemed he was trying to guide it into the flashiest of clouds. Baru looked up and saw that, sure enough, a large skeleton key was tied to the string.

“Have you caught anything yet, Mr. Franklin?” Baru asked. “Any electricity?”

Ben’s eyes widened in surprise. “How do you know . . . ?”

“There’s no time,” Baru said. “I just need to use your key once lightning strikes it.”

“For what purpose?” Ben asked. “I fear it’s much too dangerous a task.”

Baru saw there were two pairs of metal tongs on the roof. The handles were covered with what look like rubber. He guessed Ben planned to use the tongs to safely handle the electrified key.

Two tongs, Baru thought. If they managed to put two neck bolts into the monster . . .

“I’m going to need two power sources,” Baru said. “If only I had another . . .” He reached into his pocket and felt the familiar metal shape inside. “. . . key,” Baru said, pulling the small key for his bike lock from his pocket. “Any chance you could tie this one up there too?”

After quickly explaining his plan, Baru knew Ben Franklin’s curiosity had gone through the roof. In a matter of minutes, Ben had tied Baru’s key next to his and sent thekite back up. As the storm raged above them, Baru grew anxious. Lightning was crackling everywhere, but none of it struck their keys.

“This isn’t going to work,” Baru whispered. He glanced down again and saw his friends were nearly surrounded by the undead invaders. They needed his help—and quickly.

Baru was about to thank Ben for trying when the sky exploded. A jagged bolt of lightning raced from the churning clouds. It struck both keys in one shot.

ZZZAAAASHHHHHHHHHH!

The keys glowed white with energy. Wisps of electricity crackled along their metal surfaces.

“Reel them in!” Baru cried. “I’ll grab them with the tongs!”

Ben pulled the kite down from the storm, and Baru took a deep breath. Please don’t let me get zapped, he thought. He squinted, preparing for a shock as he grabbed the keys with the tongs. Thankfully, the rubber handles protected him. The arms of the tongs vibrated with energy as Ben cut the string away.

“Now I just need to get down there,” Baru said.

Ben Franklin gazed down at the weird battle below them. “How quickly?” he asked with a smile.