Endangered

3: Not For Sure

"Dm you hamm a planm?" [Do you have a plan] asked Kate through her gag. She was smushed up against Reynie on the Ten Man's right shoulder, Sticky and Constance slung over his left.

"Notm fom surm," [not for sure] replied Reynie. He'd smelled a plan, but it hadn't come to him just yet.

She scowled at him. "Well, it's no time to have a mind block, Muldoon" her tape had slipped off and she was speaking more clearly. Reynie was startled. Kate was usually so good natured…the confusion on his face must have been evident – Kate burst into laughter and Reynie realized she was just pushing his mind for a good scheme.

Rushton heard her and redid her gag. "This is quite revolting," He said in a nasal voice and with a disgusted face. "We're made to do it the old-fashioned way, with these damned gags!" he shook his head. "I cannot believe these so-called Ten Men are so primitive!" the children looked at each other. Apparently, Rushton, second in size to the colossal McCracken, was a newly hired Ten Man and extremely aware of his sudden importance.

Garrotte, who rather resembled a goat in daylight and a bat in the dark (He had pointy ears, was bearded, and his nose was of unusual flatness), Tsked at Rushton and wagged a finger at him. Slumped over his shoulder like a sack of moldy cornmeal was the unfortunate official who'd been targeted by Kate's marble.

"Rushton, Rushton." Garrotte sighed drearily. "Do understand that McCracken doesn't hold with swollen-headness. He might have to pierce your skull with a pencil to let the excess air out."

Rushton grunted in reply. Garrotte was a foot shorter than him and half as narrow. He could easily knock him out – but then, there were the factors: One, He would have to carry the downed official – not a big task, but considering he had four pesky children on his hands as well…Two, Garrotte was more experienced in the Ten Man business than he, and so – disregarding his size, would be considered more important than Rushton?

Rushton snorted, shook his head. Garrotte was not one for messing with. But, that teaser – Crawlings – was always asking for a taking down a peg. He'd see to it that he'd replace the careless Crawling's post and place…

Meanwhile, Reynie Muldoon was having some sort of a plan. Unfortunately, with the Ten man's dignified yet bouncy step and stride, it was rather difficult to think with cuffs chafing his wrists and his chin forever banging against a hard shoulder blade. Kate was rolling her eyes at him.

At that point, the children were blindfolded, thrown in the back of a fast-moving truck, and told to keep themselves quiet and still.

Constance began transmitting thoughts to Mr. Benedict – but couldn't seem to do so. Her words and images were bouncing back, like a handball thrown against a wall. Constance, having never experienced this difficult frustration, was severely confused and not a little pleased. The dissatisfaction on her face must have been evident, for McCracken and Rushton – garrote was driving – snickered hideously and McCracken said, in an awful leering voice, "Dear, dear, ducky. Don't you think old McCracken is smart enough to know your tricks? This is something a scientist developed for us – a telepathy wall-block. Now, now, don't look so alarmed, considering it's also soundproof from the outside and your pathetic screams shan't be heard, but really, trust old McCracken to put you to good use."

Constance fell silent, but knowing her, the three older children knew she was working up a fury.

However, she could not speak, and instead began saying things muffled, in hopes that Rushton, in his curiosity, would yank off her gag. He did.

"Let me guess where you got that scientist!" she screamed.

McCracken laughed. "Oh, dear, but there are just so many industries we could have borrowed him from. I'm afraid it shall take you some time to locate it from an extremely long list of possibilities."

"You think you're smart? You make a worm look brilliant!" yelled Constance.

Since Sticky was the one cuffed to Constance, he reached his free hand out and clapped it over her mouth. Constance started to protest but Reynie nudged her quiet. Her gag was replaced. And it was in this predicament that they fell asleep.