Kendra scooted across the floor so she could lean against her bed. The stingbulb expanded so gradually that she could not discern the change unless she looked away for a few minutes and then looked back again.
Should she invite Haden and Cody to run away with her? If they ratted her out, she would lose her only opportunity to escape. The prematurely aged men were bitter about what Torina had done to them, but they seemed resigned to their fate. They might have no interest in breaking out. After all, Torina was providing them with a free retirement home, an option they might not find elsewhere.
But was it fair to deny them the option to decide for themselves? The men might quietly long to rejoin normal society. They could certainly fit inside the capacious knapsack, although Haden might have a tough time getting down the ladder. They had both treated her well. It would be wrong to simply abandon them.
She didn't need to share the specifics of how she planned to flee. She could wait to tell them how the escape would be accomplished until they agreed to join her. If they chose not to accept the offer, she didn't have to mention the duplicate or the knapsack. They wouldn't even know she had escaped--they would assume she had changed her mind.
The stingbulb continued to slowly grow. Kendra wondered at what point it would begin to look human. So far it looked like a big purple yam. Settling back against the bed, Kendra rested her eyes, assuring herself that she would not doze. How could she sleep with the prospect of a desperate escape looming? But it sure felt nice to close her eyes! Before long, the silent house, the dim room, the eventful day, and the late hour conspired against her, and she slipped off to sleep.
Kendra was aroused by a crunching, cracking sound like green wood splitting. Still an irregular shape, the stingbulb was now larger than Kendra. Fingers had broken through the purplish husk of the fruit and were peeling it away. Kendra crawled over to the oversized fruit and helped widen the hole as quietly as she could manage.
Soon Kendra sat back and watched an identical copy of herself squirm out of the fibrous husk. The duplicate was even wearing the same clothes Kendra had been wearing when she was pricked!
"I'm Kendra," Kendra informed the newcomer.
"I can't see you," the duplicate said.
"Can't you see in the dark?"
The duplicate paused before answering. "Nope. I should be able to. I can remember seeing in the dark. Now I can't."
"I guess my powers aren't transferable," Kendra mused. "Apparently not," the duplicate agreed. "What am I to do?"
"I've been imprisoned by an evil lady," Kendra said. "I need you to pose as me."
The duplicate thought about this for a moment. "No problem."
"You know you're a fruit," Kendra said.
"I'm perfectly aware of what I am."
"Where did you grow?" Kendra asked.
"Far from here. I couldn't think very clearly back then. I love this body!" She flexed her fingers, then took a deep breath. "So many sensations!"
"Can you remember being a fruit?" Kendra wondered.
The duplicate furrowed her brow. "Vaguely. Nothing was as sharp or immediate as it is now. There was an awareness of light and heat, a sense of growing, of being nourished by the mother tree. And later a sense of being separated from the tree. A tenuous connection remained until I exited the husk. By that connection the mother tree nourished me from afar so I could grow into a replica of you."
"You even have my clothes. How is that possible?"
"Who knows? Magic, I guess. The same way I started thinking like you from the first instant I sampled you."
"Weird," Kendra said.
"So all you want me to do is imitate you?"
"I guess I have a few more instructions."
"I exist to follow them," the duplicate pledged.
"First, don't divulge any sensitive information to the
Sphinx, Torina, or anyone. Keep the secrets you know at all costs. Second, learn what you can about their plans, and then try to escape and notify me." She recited Grandpa's cell phone number. "The Sphinx will take you away from here in the morning."
"I remember."
"Keep your eyes and ears open. Take whatever opportunities you can to harm the Society of the Evening Star."
"I will. You can count on me. Are you going to invite Haden and Cody to join you?"
"What do you think?"
The duplicate shrugged. "Seems like you think you should."
"Right," Kendra said. "When I return, after I'm inside the knapsack, I'll need you to put it through the window bars and toss it to the ground."
"Gotcha."
"You'll only follow my instructions, right?" Kendra verified. "The others would love to find you out and change your allegiance."
"I'll only obey you. I'll do a good job. Unless you mess up, the Sphinx will never know I'm an impostor."
"Unless they try to get you to use my powers," Kendra said. "You'll have to make up excuses."
"Leave it to me."
"What time is it, anyhow?"
"I can't see, remember? Isn't there a clock on the desk?"
"Oh yeah," Kendra realized. "It's almost 3:30 A.M. I'd better hurry." She went to the door. "I'll be right back."
Tiptoeing into the hall, Kendra crept over to Haden's room. She tried the door and found it unlocked. Easing it open, she slipped inside and crossed to the adjustable bed where Haden snored softly. She shook his bony shoulder. "Haden, wake up," she hissed.
Haden bunched up his covers and rolled away from her. She gave him another shake. Huffing and sniffing, Haden sat up. "What is it?" he asked.
"It's Kendra."
"Kendra? What time is it?" He was gazing in her general direction, but his eyes weren't quite looking into hers, a reminder that although she could see, he could not.
"Late. Haden, I think I have a way to sneak out of here. I'm wondering if you want to come with me."
He considered the proposition for a moment. "You're serious."
"Yes. I discovered a sure way to escape. Something safe and reliable."
"When?"
"Now or never."
He cleared his throat. "I'd better stay. I would just slow you down."
"You really wouldn't slow me down. Don't stay behind for my sake."
He scratched the side of his nose. "I never expected an opportunity like this." He patted his chest, frowning. "All things considered, I think I'd better stay. I'm not sure where else I'd go, what else I'd do. I guess I won't be able to complain about being held captive anymore."
"You're sure?" Kendra checked.
"Yes, I'm sure. I wish you the best. Do you need my help?""Just for you to keep quiet about this," Kendra said. "My lips are sealed. Good luck."
"Thanks, Haden."
"Did you invite Cody?"
"Not yet."
He looked troubled. "Okay. Okay. Even if he goes, I had better stay. That is my final word."
"Who knows," Kendra said, backing toward the door, "maybe it won't work out. But I think I have a solid plan."
"From what I hear, either way you'll be moving on tomorrow."
"Which is why I have to duck out tonight."
"Good luck."
"You too."
Kendra exited and closed his door, then slipped down the hall to Cody's room. She quietly eased the door open. "Who's there?" Cody called, alarmed. "It's just Kendra."
"Kendra?" Cody repeated, his voice only somewhat quieter.
Kendra shushed him gently. "Not so loud. I don't want to get busted. I have to ask you something that couldn't wait until morning."
"Sure, come in," he whispered. "Sorry. You startled me."
"I have a sure way out of here. I'm leaving tonight. You could come if you'd like. Should be easy."
Sitting up, Cody switched on a reading light. He shielded his eyes until they adjusted. "I know you're worried about leaving with the Sphinx tomorrow. But there is no way out of this place. Trying to bust out will only make matters worse in the morning."
"It isn't wishful thinking," Kendra insisted. "I've had some outside help, and I now have a guaranteed way to escape. I'm talking immediately. You won't slow me down and it shouldn't be too tough. Do you want to come or not?"
"Have you asked Haden?"
"He turned me down."
Cody picked up a mostly empty glass of water from the low table beside his bed. He took a sip and set it down. "I suppose if the getaway is as sure as you make it sound, I wouldn't mind leaving this place behind. If I manage to find a comfortable place for Haden on the outside, I could always come back for him."
"So you'll come?" Kendra said.
"If I agree that your method of escape looks sensible, yes, I'll join you."
"Get dressed and come to my room. Be quick and quiet."
Cody slid his legs out from under the covers. They looked white and thin. "I'll be close behind you," he assured her.
Kendra jogged down the hall. The disappearance of Cody would raise questions. There was no stingbulb to replace him. They would certainly interrogate Haden, since he and Cody were so close. Could it lead them to suspect the authenticity of the Kendra duplicate? Possibly, but if Cody wanted to come, leaving him behind was not an option.
Returning to her room, Kendra found her duplicate sitting on the bed. The husk from the overgrown fruit was gone. "What did you do with the husk?" Kendra asked.
"I cleaned it up and dropped it into the knapsack," the duplicate replied. "Are the old guys coming?"
"Cody," Kendra said. "His disappearance will raise questions. You'll have to be ready to act oblivious."
"I'll make you proud," the duplicate said. "They won't suspect."
Kendra felt confident that she could rely on the duplicate. It was like relying on herself. "Thanks, I'm sure you'll do great."
Kendra sat down on the bed next to her duplicate. She had to wait longer than she liked for Cody to show up, and was just getting ready to return to his room when he entered quietly. Diffused light from his room illuminated him faintly. He wore a dark green topcoat and a matching homburg hat with a brownish band and an upturned brim.
"You look sharp," Kendra remarked.
"Torina got me the outfit," Cody said. "You're right about Haden. I went by his room and gave it a shot, but he's set on staying. How do we escape?"
"We climb into this knapsack," Kendra said.
"The knapsack?" Cody said incredulously. "I'm sorry, Kendra, I can't see a thing in here."
Kendra clicked on a light.
"Two of you?" Cody gasped.
"Long story," Kendra said. She lifted the flap of the knapsack. "This backpack has a magical compartment. Climb down the ladder. I'll take care of the rest."
"Now I've seen everything," the old man muttered, peeking into the knapsack.
It took some twisting and some steadying from Kendra, but eventually Cody got his feet onto the rungs and started down. The generous mouth of the knapsack stretched as his shoulders squeezed through. Had Cody been a heavyset man, he might not have fit very easily.
"Just chuck the bag out the window," Kendra reminded the duplicate. "I'll call up from the bottom when I'm ready."
"I'll wait for your signal," the duplicate confirmed.
'"Bye," Kendra said. "Thanks."
"I exist to execute your will. Thanks for the intriguing mission."
Kendra descended through the mouth of the knapsack into the unlit room below. When she reached the bottom, she gazed up at the duplicate peering down at her. Kendra gave a thumbs-up. "We're ready."
The mouth of the knapsack closed. Kendra waited. There was no sense of motion.
"What's happening?" Cody asked. "I can't see my hand in front of my face in here."
"She'll throw the knapsack out the window."
"Out the window? We're three stories up!"
"We won't feel it in here." She hoped it was true.
From up above, Kendra heard the window slide open. A
moment later, she heard the knapsack hit the ground. The room didn't tilt or tremble.
Kendra retrieved the damaged wicker chair from among the goods heaped against the wall. "You can sit here," she offered.
The wicker creaked as Cody took a seat. Despite the numerous broken, missing, and protruding fibers, the brittle chair looked like it would hold him fine. Kendra rushed over to the rungs in the wall and climbed up to the closed mouth of the bag. Reaching up, she pushed open the flap.
"Where are you going?" Cody inquired.
"I'm going to take the knapsack someplace safe," Kendra said. "Sit tight."
"You're the boss."
Kendra climbed up through the opening, into the side yard of the big house. Above her, the bedroom window she had fallen from was dark. The house remained quiet. There was no sign of pursuit from the whisper hound. Kendra closed the knapsack, picked it up, and hurried away across the crunchy snow. Fortunately the snow looked pretty chewed up, so leaving footprints probably wouldn't be a problem. Just to be sure, she dragged her feet so that whatever footprints she did leave would look misshapen.