After dinner on Sunday, the scouts lounged in their tree fort. On the floor, Megan and Ella were stretched out on their backs, their heads resting in their hands. Richie was at the table, probing at the electrical remains of a long-dead gadget, his hopes set on resurrecting it. Noah was staring out the window toward the zoo. As evening began to dim the day, a tiny blue bird streaked through the window and touched down on Noah’s shoulder.
“Marlo!” Richie called out.
The scouts jumped to attention. Noah took a seat on the floor, and his friends huddled near him. In Marlo’s beak was a folded slip of paper, a message from someone in the Secret Society, likely Mr. Darby. The scouts called these messages IMs—Instant Marlos. Noah plucked the note from Marlo’s beak, opened it, then read it out loud.
Dearest Scouts,
Due to the recent sasquatch sighting outside the inner borders of the Clarksville Zoo, Tank and I would like to divert the focus of your crosstraining to the Grottoes. Please reply if you can meet Tank in Butterfly Nets tomorrow after school. More will be explained then.
Best wishes,
Mr. Darby
“The Grottoes?” Megan said. “Things sure have changed, huh?”
The other scouts knew what she was referring to. Up to this point, the four of them had been warned to keep out of the Grottoes—to use only tunnels that opened directly to the Secret Zoo. Noah had once ventured into the Grottoes, got lost in the exhibits, and been nearly spotted by zoo visitors. The Descenders had been furious.
“Yep,” Ella said. “Looks like they might be rethinking their defense strategy. Guess that happens once sasquatches start shopping in your gift shops.”
Noah snatched a pen from Richie’s pocket, flattened the letter against the floor, and wrote, “We’ll be there.” He folded the paper back into a tiny square, then held it up to Marlo, who plucked it free with a peck of his beak. The kingfisher dove into the air and flashed out of sight.
They traded glances, each trying to read the emotions coded in one another’s stares.
“The Grottoes?” asked Ella.
“The Grottoes,” answered Noah.
“Here we go,” said Megan.
“Oh boy,” Richie said.