If This Wall Could Talk, IV.
Linka took a breath. What she was about to say, she wanted to say right. He deserved that. Six years later, since the day they'd first met, and they were finally saying all they ever meant to say …
Early that next morning, there was a tentative knock at Linka's door.
"Linka? Linka wake … up."
Sohvi stood gaping at the open doorway. Linka and Wheeler – together. Linka and Wheeler together in the same bed! Linka woke and sat up, looking drowsily towards her cousin. It took her a moment to realise why Sohvi was gaping at her. Linka turned from Sohvi to Wheeler, who was sleeping soundly to her left.
It did not look good.
"Linka!" Sohvi hissed, a smile now on her face.
"It's not what it looks like!" Linka blurted out, waking Wheeler in the process.
"Shme – wha?" Wheeler grumbled inaudibly; half sitting up with his eyes squinted and his red hair sticking up all over the place.
Sohvi and Linka retreated downstairs to the kitchen, leaving a very tired Wheeler to fall back to sleep. Linka then spent the next half-hour explaining to Sohvi what actually happened between her and Wheeler last night. Her account of events left Sohvi severely disappointed.
"So you're telling me," Sohvi began, while boiling a kettle of water, "that you and Wheeler spent the whole night together in the same bed without anything happening? Not a single thing?"
"Da!" Linka sat at the breakfast table. She weighed her head against her hand and yawned. "I did not sleep so well. I don't think Wheeler did either … "
"Of course you didn't sleep well. All that restraint, for the entire night … trying to stop yourselves from giving into the overwhelming desire for wild, animal se – "
"Sohvi!" hissed Linka, deeply embarrassed. "Wheeler could come down here and hear you!"
"I hope he does!"
Sohvi went over to the breakfast table, sitting herself down across from Linka.
"I'm not interested in being with Wheeler for only … the physical reasons," Linka spoke in a hushed voice. "There's more to it than that. A lot more … "
"I know, Linka. I am just teasing. So how did Wheeler end up in your bed exactly?"
Linka shrugged awkwardly. "He was … scared."
Sohvi lifted a suspicious eyebrow.
"I was scared too! You know how we were almost attacked by that creepy man on the road yesterday, as we were driving home? We were both … how you say? Shaken up? And then there was all this howling during the night. Wheeler kept talking about that guy Jake and how he was a 'wolfman'."
"I see," said Sohvi, reflecting upon this a moment. "Though I think there's a lot more to it than that. Do you want to hear why?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"You and Wheeler want to be close to one other, but neither one of you is willing to be direct about it. Letting him sleep in your bed because you were scared?" Sohvi giggled. "Please! You're kidding yourselves."
"It is true!"
"Partially true, you mean. It's like there's a constant wall between the two of you. The only way you're going to get past it is to talk to him, Linka. Tell Wheeler the truth."
"But what if he doesn't – "
"He does!" Sohvi interrupted. "He does."
Feeling stifled in the house all of sudden, Linka offered to go outside and shovel some snow. However, as Linka realised once she was out there in her winter coat and boots, a shovel was not really necessary.
"Wind!"
A blue-white spiral of light erupted from Linka's Planeteer ring, collecting the snow up off the driveway and into the air like a blizzard. She hoped this activity would keep her mind off her conversation with Sohvi.
Talk to him.
"Why does it have to be so difficult?" she wondered out loud, staring down at her feet and digging her boot heel stubbornly into the ground. "Why can't he be the one to talk to me … "
Something suddenly made Linka stop talking … stop breathing. She'd sensed a presence sneaking up behind her; even before she saw their looming, dark shadow cast in the snow before her feet on the snow. She swiftly turned round, looking directly into their eyes.
Linka was about to scream, but there was a sudden sensation on her neck and before she could react or figure out what was going on, she'd fallen to the ground. Unconscious.
Meanwhile … in Berlin, Germany …
Kwame, Gi and Ma-Ti were standing inside the central exhibit hall of the Natural History Museum. Gi was trying to get Kwame to take a picture of her and Ma-Ti in front of the Brachiosaurus brancai dinosaur skeleton, which was over forty feet tall. Kwame however, was busy talking to a Japanese girl who'd asked him for directions.
"What does she need directions for? She's holding a map!" said Gi snappishly, staring at Kwame and the Japanese girl from afar. Mat-Ti peered up at her, worried.
Great. First Wheeler and Linka, now these two …
"Sorry!" said Kwame, rushing towards Gi and Ma-Ti. "She was very lost."
"I'm sure," said Gi, a tad snobbishly.
All of sudden, Ma-Ti doubled over and winced. Pressing his hand against his forehead.
"Ma-Ti!" said Kwame and Gi in unison, concerned.
"Ma-Ti, what is it? What's wrong?" Gi asked him, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Linka," Ma-Ti said painfully, his head throbbing. "Linka's in danger … Wheeler doesn't know … "
"What kind of danger?" said Kwame fearfully.
"She's been taken … I'm not sure where, I can't see anymore. It's gone."
Ma-Ti's vision ceased. He took his hand away from his forehead and stood up straight.
"Taken like … kidnapped?" said Gi. Ma-Ti nodded.
"Yes, but I don't know by who or to where! She's unconscious. I can't reconnect with her … "
"And Wheeler doesn't know?" Kwame clarified. "Then we must warn him at once!"
"C'mon, let's go!" Gi lead the way out of the museum. They needed to go some place private, where Ma-Ti could communicate with Wheeler via his Heart ring.
"Wheeler … Wheeler!"
"Whassa!" Wheeler spoke in surprise, flipping upright in Linka's bed. He'd been fast asleep. "Ma-Ti? Ma-Ti is that you?"
"Yes!" came Ma-Ti's familiar voice. "Wheeler, Linka's been kidnapped!"
Wheeler blinked multiple times, and rubbed his eyes. "Kidnapped?" he repeated. "What do you mean Linka's been kidnapped? She's sleeping in bed next to me … "
He looked over at the empty space beside him, where Linka had been laying. It was then Wheeler vaguely recalled her going downstairs about an hour ago with Sohvi.
"She was outside in the snow," Ma-Ti continued to explain. "Somebody came up behind her and knocked her out. I can't see where she is now but she's gone, Wheeler!"
The hairs on the back of Wheeler's neck suddenly stood on end. Panic set in. Without another moment's thought, Wheeler tore himself out of bed and bolted down the stairs – wearing only a T-shirt and white boxer shorts with love hearts on them.
"Wheeler?" Sohvi called out to him from the lounge room. "Wheeler, what are you doing? You can't go outside like that, it's freezing!"
But Wheeler didn't get very far. After he opened the front door, he stopped in his tracks. At his feet was a white envelope. On top of the envelope was Linka's Planeteer ring. She was never without it.
"LINKA!" Wheeler called out in vain, running out into the freezing cold. He ran through the snow bare foot, until he reached the road. "LINKA!"
Ma-Ti was right. Linka was gone.
The envelope on the porch was addressed specifically to Wheeler. Now back inside the house, Wheeler opened the envelope and retrieved a letter from inside, instructing him to go to the exact place where Kwame and the others had dropped him and Linka off two days before. It also instructed him to come alone, and to bring Linka's Planeteer ring with him.
Wheeler suddenly had a very disturbing thought …
"They want me to go the place where the Geo-Cruiser dropped me and Linka off," he said to Sohvi. "Whoever this letter's from … they must've been watching us all this time."
"But who?" wondered Sohvi, fraught with worry for her lost cousin. "Who would be watching you guys?"
"We're Planeteers, Sohvi. We've got our pick of enemies."
With that established, Wheeler charged up the stairs to dress in warmer attire. The letter did not specify when Wheeler was meant to meet 'whoever' it was, but he figured if he was being watched they would know of his arrival.
There was not a second to lose.
Back in Berlin …
Kwame, Gi and Ma-Ti were huddled together at the side of the Natural History Museum, away from prying eyes. Ma-Ti had just finished his 'transmission' to Wheeler, and the others were keen to know what had happened.
"What did Wheeler say, Ma-Ti?" asked Kwame.
"He did not believe me at first. He was asleep in bed. He thought Linka was sleeping beside him … "
"What!" said Kwame and Gi in unison, stunned. Ma-Ti, who'd been previously innocent, suddenly realised what he'd just said.
"Oh," he mouthed lowly. "Um … maybe he'd been dreaming?"
"It does sound like a dream Wheeler would have," noted Kwame thoughtfully. "Or … "
"Or they finally … " said Gi, not needing to finish her sentence for the others to know what she was talking about. "But we can't think about this now. We've got to get to the Geo-Cruiser and fly back to Finland! We have to help Wheeler find Linka."
"He is trying to find her, right?" Kwame asked Ma-Ti. "He did eventually believe you?"
"Yes, he believed me in the end," Ma-Ti confirmed. "He became very panicked. I could feel his heart beating out of his chest. I'm certain he's gone to search for her."
The three of them made their way back to the Geo-Cruiser, bound for Finland.
Wheeler arrived at the place – the wide, snowy field where the letter had told him to go. The place he and Linka had first set foot on in Finland. He'd driven Sohvi's red four-wheel drive off the highway and to the centre of the field. From here, he got out of the car. Then he waited.
He didn't have to wait very long.
Rising from the line of trees ahead was a large, purple aircraft. It had been waiting for him … like an eagle waiting to strike its prey. Wheeler recognised the aircraft immediately – it belonged to none other than Dr. Blight. It glided towards him, until it hovered directly overhead.
"So Dr. Blight's the culprit!" Wheeler sneered up towards the aircraft, his hands balled into fists. "I swear if she's done anything to hurt Linka, I'll … "
"You'll what? Call Captain Planet?" came Dr. Blight's sarcastic voice over a loudspeaker. "Woops! Can't call Captain Puns-A-Lot without the cute little blonde Planeteer, can you?"
Dr. Blight cackled wickedly with laughter. From the base of aircraft, a hatch opened and a rope ladder dropped down. "Climb up! If you want to see her alive," she ordered.
Grabbing onto the ladder, Wheeler did as he was told. He knew he was climbing into a trap, but he didn't see any other choice in the matter. Linka needed him.
"Welcome aboard!"
It was far from a warm greeting. While Dr. Blight's aircraft flew in autopilot, Wheeler was now sitting in what looked like a dentist's chair with Dr. Blight herself standing before him. MAL – Dr. Blight's servile, wisecracking computer sidekick was in front of him as well. He had a laser gun attached to his computer monitor, aimed directly at Wheeler's head.
"No funny business," MAL threatened. "Or I'll burn a hole right through your eco-ridden brain!"
"Speaking of burning stuff … "
Wheeler had made to strike MAL with his ring, until Dr. Blight intercepted.
"Uh uh! Don't even think about it, hotshot. Hand over the ring like a good boy or you can say goodbye to wind girl!"
"Her name is Linka!"
"Your ring!" Dr. Blight demanded sternly, holding out her palm. "You either hand it over nicely, or I'll have MAL remove your finger."
"Oh goodie!" said MAL, sounding as if the removal of one of Wheeler's digits would be a real treat.
Relenting, Wheeler removed his fire ring from his finger and passed it over to Dr. Blight.
"And the other one," Dr. Blight made sure to add.
Fishing inside the pocket of his pants, Wheeler retrieved Linka's wind ring and handed it over to Dr. Blight as well. Dr. Blight slid both their rings onto her pinky finger, while admiring them fondly.
"That's two out five. Not bad for a day's work!"
"Where's Linka?" Wheeler demanded to know, glaring angrily at the two of them from beneath his brow. "I've held up my end of the bargain, Blight! I've given you our rings and I came here by myself. I've done everything you've asked!"
"Who said anything about a bargain?" Dr. Blight mocked him. "Honestly, who do you think you're dealing with? You think because you've obeyed my every command I'll give you what you want? HA! You have much to learn."
"Where is she!" Wheeler said again, much more forcefully this time. Dr. Blight laughed at him, and then turned to MAL.
"He'll make an excellent test subject. Don't you think MAL-ikins?"
"Indeed I do, doctor!" agreed MAL wholeheartedly. "He's already got quite a nasty temper. Just think what a good dose of your patented brand of anabolic steroids will do!"
"Anabolic steroids?" Wheeler repeated. "What are you … "
Realisation suddenly dawned upon Wheeler's face.
"You've been behind this whole thing," he began to accuse Dr. Blight. "The wolves becoming infected … and the people. It's been you the whole time!"
"Well duh!" said Dr. Blight, as if it were all so incredibly obvious. "I've been in Finland for weeks, formulating my brilliant scheme to perfection. And then, just when things were becoming interesting, who do you think I spy on my turf? Sticking their noses into other people's business like they always do? Planeteers!"
"Why?" Wheeler questioned. "Why are you doing this?"
"Did Dr. Jekyll have a motive when he created Mr. Hyde? I'm a scientist. I experiment, it's what I do. If I wake up one day and decide to engineer some 'werewolves', so be it!"
"You're crazy," snarled Wheeler, his temper at boiling point. "You're out of your mind! Where's Linka you crazy – "
Wheeler was about to leap up in rage, until MAL pressed his laser into his forehead. Forcing Wheeler back into his seat.
"Down boy," said MAL with a satisfied smirk.
"Strap him to the chair," Dr. Blight commanded MAL, turning away from them and over to the aircraft control panel. "He'll be in lockdown with the other one soon enough."
"As you wish, doctor!"
Two seatbelt-like straps were suddenly unleashed from Wheeler's chair, tying around his torso and legs like a pair of snakes. Wheeler struggled to break free, but his efforts were useless.
"What do you mean you'll have me in lockdown soon enough?" Wheeler shouted over to Dr. Blight. "Where's lockdown? Is that where you're keeping Linka? Answer me!"
Dr. Blight was losing her patience.
"Gag him for me, will you MAL darling? I'm trying to concentrate here!"
"It'd be my pleasure, doctor!"
Another strap appeared out from Wheeler's seat – this one tying itself tightly around Wheeler's mouth. He could no longer speak, only mumble inaudibly. Dr. Blight sighed serenely.
"Ah, that's better!"
Seeing as Wheeler couldn't speak, he had no choice but to wait and see where Dr. Blight took him. He only hoped that wherever she did end up taking him, Linka would be there.
To be continued ...
At last, I'm writing on this site again! At last, the next chapter has been released! I'm happy to be back. I have nothing else to say except I hoped you liked this new and very delayed addition to the story, and I'll get the next (and what my be the last) chapter up as soon as I possibly can.
