"Riddles"
A heavy, unnatural silence hung in the air. No one spoke or even breathed as the seconds ticked by. Everyone tried to think of something to say, but they were all silent. A child's teddy bear coming to life, thanks to the supernatural power of a ghost, is enough to make anyone rigid with fear.
Kevin was the first one to speak. "D-Dr. Stromwell? What have you done to my parents?"
When Leonard Stromwell spoke, the bear didn't make any facial expressions except the one, simple look upon his face. He could move around as much as he pleased though. Mr. Furry waved a paw as Dr. Stromwell said, "Do not fear, Kevin. They will all wake up when the sun rises. It's merely a spell I picked up from a very famous magician."
Kevin smirked. "Who, Merlin?"
Stromwell's voice sounded surprised. "Very good, Kevin! Katie's told me quite a bit about your gifted mind."
Unimpressed by the comment, Kevin looked at Agent R, who said, "How do you know Merlin the magician?"
Stromwell sighed. "When you've spent as much time as I have on the other side, you tend to pick up little things like that."
The initial shock of the spirit was beginning to wear off for everyone, but they were still very nervous.
"Other side?" asked Katz.
"Of course!" spoke up Stromwell. Mr. Furry waved his arms in the air. "Where else do you think I've been for those five unaccounted years?"
"I knew it!" proclaimed Agent R. "The gateway you talked about is really…"
"A portal," interrupted Stromwell. "It has been my life's work! My ultimate dream! To open a doorway to the afterlife!"
"What for?" asked Doc Gerbil.
"What for??!!" exclaimed Stromwell. "I'll tell you what for! Ever since I was a lad, I was fascinated by where we go after we pass away. It was only after college that I started taking it seriously. I came to this very town in order to keep my obsession secret. I even took up a job as a mild-mannered doctor, as you can see in those pathetic little bios you're holding."
"And you succeeded in finding a doorway, correct?" asked Shirley.
"Yes, but Abigail and myself became trapped inside. I eventually managed to escape from the realm of spirits, but in a fit of anger, someone far more evil than me retaliated."
"What?" asked Kevin, confused.
"I'm sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself," apologized Stromwell. Mr. Furry's paw pressed against its forehead as if to show embarrassment. He turned to Kevin and said, "I'm also sorry I gave you the wrong impression of being evil. All of you. My excitement of being free from my dead body as well as my sometimes mischievous nature must've been a frightening ordeal for all of you."
Katz now knew why Stromwell's ghost had been messing around his motel. All for fun! He wasn't very pleased by this information.
Courage remembered when Mr. Furry whacked him in the nose a couple nights ago. Stromwell must not have liked being picked up.
Stromwell continued. "When I entered the body of this bear, I began holding conversations with Katie. She was startled at first, but we began talking like we were best friends. She needed one, y'know." Kevin was about to protest, but Stromwell said, "But I know that you and Katie have patched things up since then."
"This is all very interesting," announced Katz sarcastically. "But we would like to know the whereabouts of your treasure, if you don't mind."
"Yeah," said the other bad guys.
Stromwell said nothing for a moment. He knew darn well that Katz and his cohorts wanted the treasure all for themselves. He also knew that these agents reminded him of the government agents that had tried to take his money in the first place. Fortunately, he knew deep down that these four agents were not going to divulge his information.
"So what was it like on the other side?" asked D.M.
"Who is this thing that you said was more evil than you?" asked Zalost to the side.
"And what happened to your wife, Abigail?" asked Barsby.
Amidst all these questions, Stromwell finally knew what to do. Mr. Furry held up his paws and said, "All in good time, my friends! I realize now that you all must come to my secret underground laboratory. Once you are all there, I will tell you where the treasure is right after you all do me a quick favor."
Some started asking what the favor was, but Stromwell spoke up again. "Now listen. There are four secret ways to enter my lab. They are hidden and slightly dangerous to traverse, but I have created a riddle for each to help me remember where each entrance is. Are you ready to write them down?"
Agent R got out a tape recorder as the other three agents used the back of the bios to write down the riddles.
"Ready? Here is the first riddle." Agent R pushed the play button. "At midnight, when the North Star's high…watch it through the rooster's eye…Standing with a rose and wreath…you'll find the doorway underneath…But heed my words once you are in…for the rushing waters will begin."
"What does that mean?" asked Katie.
"My dear Katie," said Stromwell. "Riddles are meant for one to say and for the listeners to find out. Now, riddle number two: When the red flag's waving high…planks of wood will fall nearby…They will point across the street…to a ladder 'neath your feet…Look for pepper without pep…And watch out for your very last step."
"This is most enjoyable," said the green duck brother.
"Yeah," said the little toe on the Foot Fungus. The big toe knocked the little toe again, via the other toes. "OW, what I say? What I say?"
"Now, riddle number three," announced Stromwell. "In the window, high above…a souvenir, a simple glove…points the way to NYC…and underneath, a tapestry…Tear it off and once inside...be prepared to slip and slide."
"What is zees 'window?'" asked Le Quack.
"SSSHHH!" said everyone.
"Thank you," said Stromwell. "Now, the last riddle and fourth way into my lab: Where the water heater waits…lays a pile of empty crates…Beyond that lays the hidden path…that's led me to my pain and wrath…Beware of the sand that's quick…and look for hands that turn and tick."
"There's one last thing I need to ask," said Agent R, for he had a feeling that Stromwell would leave again once he was through. "Where is your house? The one that you lived in when you were living in Nowhere?"
"Ah, yes," laughed Stromwell. "A search is no good without a place to start. In that case, my house is still standing a half a mile north of Nowhere. It's the big Victorian house, you can't miss it. So, pay attention to the riddles, and I'll see you in my lab."
"Wait!" said Kevin, but it was too late. The teddy bear fell over on its face, proof that Dr. Stromwell had left the bear and traveled back
Katie slowly got up and walked over to Mr. Furry. Cautiously, she walked over and scooped up the bear in her hands. Kevin got up and came up behind his sister.
"He's gone," said Katie.
"Did you get all the riddles down?" asked Shirley to the agents.
"Yep," said Agent R. "Now, everyone?" Everyone turned and looked at the agent. "One of the riddles says to look for the North Star at midnight. According to my watch, it's 11:50 PM, so I suggest we get moving. Let's go!"
As everyone walked out of the house, Katie groaned and held her head.
"What's wrong?" asked Kevin.
"I'm…so tired," yawned Katie.
"You've been through a lot," said Kevin affectionately. "And it's real late too. Why don't you go sleep in the basement where it's safe?"
"The basement? Alone?" asked Katie with wide eyes.
"Don't worry," reassured Kevin. "Mom and Dad are upstairs. And there'll be no sand vortexes to get you this time." At least I hope not, Kevin thought to himself.
At the door of the basement, Katie held up her bear. "What about Mr. Furry?" she asked.
Kevin smiled. "I've got a feeling that Mr. Furry isn't gonna be an 'evil' chatterbox anymore."
Katie smiled weakly. She felt confident that her big brother was telling the truth. "See you in the morning," she said. Katie gave Kevin and Sandy a big hug as she walked down the steps and closed the door behind her. Kevin and Sandy then walked out of the house, locking the door behind them.
Three vehicles zoomed through the town of Nowhere.
Leading the way was a government-issued recreational vehicle. Agent Barsby was driving while D.M. sat with the villains. There was barely any bickering or arguing on the way over, not as long as D.M. held that bat in her hands. Besides, the underground laboratory and treasure were the main things on everybody's mind. Behind it was the Henderson's station wagon. Driving it was Agent R. Kevin was in the passenger seat with Courage sitting in his lap, as Sandy, Shirley the medium, and Eustace's Ma sat in the rear. Ma kept blabbering about her lazy son all through the trip, which put a smile on the other passengers' faces. The third vehicle was Eustace's truck. Gammon was struggling to drive it, as Zalost kept telling him how to drive it correctly. Gammon said he was doing just fine until he ran into a ditch ("Stupid stickshift!") Zalost ended up driving the rest of the way. The Duck Brothers, by the way, were sitting in the back of the truck, trying not to get motion sickness.
The vehicles followed the vague directions as best they could. Finally, after driving a short distance northward, away from the town, a tall building could be seen beside the road. Even from a distance it made Courage whine with worry.
It was a century-old Victorian house. It was elaborately decorated with wooden ornaments and had a dark blue hue to it all. It looked dark and foreboding, especially at night. Surrounding the house were gardens and a white picket fence. The mailbox read "L. Stromwell" and looked like it had been out of service for a very long time.
The vehicles parked across the street, everyone slowly filed out and crossed the street. All eyes were on the house. It loomed over the visitors like a giant creature ready to swallow. Courage shivered with fright and held onto Sandy's paw.
"OK," said Agent R. "The way we're gonna do this is if we all split up and go through each entrance."
"How come?" someone asked.
Agent R sighed. "So that we can see if all the passageways lead to the same place! Now, here's how it'll work. We'll split up into four groups of five. Each one will get a different riddle and follow the instructions. If all goes well, we should all arrive in the lab."
"And get the treasure," added Cajun Fox.
"…yes. And get the treasure," muttered Agent R. "Now then, the first group will solve the 'North Star' riddle. That will be me, Katz, Le Quack, Doc Gerbil, and Foot…thing."
"I'm a Fungus, see?" responded Foot Fungus.
"Going with the 'heavy-hitters', huh?" laughed Agent Gammon.
Agent R turned to Gammon. "Okay, just for that, I'm partnering you with Zalost and the Duck Brothers."
"Aww, why do I gotta get stuck with the alien ducks?" whined Gammon.
"Get used to it," said Agent R, who gave a paper with a riddle on it to Gammon. "You're gonna solve the 'red flag' riddle."
Gammon muttered something under is his breath as Agent R walked over to Barsby. "What was that?" asked Agent R over his shoulder.
"I said, 'Man, I can't wait…which chipmunk?"
"…Right," said Agent R, rolling his eyes. He turned to Agent Barsby. "You, Barsby, are gonna solve the 'window' riddle with Eustace's Ma, Cajun Fox, the Weremole, and the Queen of the Black Puddle."
Barsby gulped. He wasn't crazy about any of his new partners at all. The Queen almost did him off during his interview, and he shuddered to think what would happen if the Weremole bit him. But, he took a deep breath and said, "Sure thing, Agent R."
Finally, Agent R turned to D.M. and Kevin. "You two will take Shirley, Courage, and Sandy to go solve the 'water heater' riddle."
D.M. and Kevin looked at each other. "Okay," said Kevin and D.M. to Agent R.
"Alright then," said Kevin as his watch struck midnight. "Let's, split up gang!" (Yeah, I know, Scooby Doo parody. Like you didn't see it coming.)