The Devil and Jimmy Neutron
by Gary D. Snyder
Part 10:
Not knowing what else to do, Jimmy deactivated the force field cube and knelt down to speak with Cindy. "Cindy?" There was no answer but muffled sobs. "What's wrong? Why are you crying? I mean, I know I'm not Nick or even Jacques, but…"
"That's not it," Cindy answered faintly. She wiped her eyes and sniffled. "It's just that…that…"
"…that she has to go now," finished a voice. "Isn't that right, Cindy?"
Cindy looked up in fear and Jimmy turned to confront the speaker. It was a boy who appeared to be a little older than Jimmy whom he had never met before. Even so something about the boy seemed familiar. "What do you mean?" Jimmy demanded.
"I'm afraid I really don't have time to answer that," the unknown boy replied. "Ready, Cindy? Not" he added, "that it really matters."
Under some mysterious hold Cindy rose, her expression blank. "Yes," she answered tonelessly. "I'm ready." She took the boy's hand and began walking with him towards the exit, either ignoring or not hearing Jimmy's demands for an explanation.
"See you around, Neutron," the boy called back.
Usually Jimmy was used to being snubbed by Cindy but somehow he knew that something was not right. He again activated the force field, this time enclosing Cindy and the strange boy in the invisible cube. "Now wait one Neutronic minute," he said. "I want to know who you are and what the devil is going on with Cindy."
Despite being trapped the boy gave Jimmy an odd sort of smile. "Funny you should put it that way, Neutron," he said.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Are you going to let us out?"
"Not until I get some answers," Jimmy answered grimly.
"That's not really standard operating procedure."
"I don't think you have a choice."
The boy considered it and sighed. "All right. Tell you what. Let us out and Cindy and I will explain what's going on."
Jimmy hesitated. He didn't really trust the stranger but it seemed that the situation was a standoff. Warily he deactivated the field and waited for an explanation. "Pretty impressive stuff, Neutron," the boy said as he reached out and verified that the field was gone. "Unified field theory derivation?"
"Not quite," Jimmy replied. "More of a practical application of stabilized neutrino resonant standing waves. But you were going to give me some answers."
"Oh, yes. Well, first of all, my name is Cipher. Lou Cipher. I guess Cindy can give you the gist of our arrangement, and I can fill in any details you might want. Cindy?" He turned to Cindy and it seemed to Jimmy that she was waking up from a deep sleep. Seeing Lou she shrank back, although her expression told Jimmy that she had no hope of escaping him. "Fill Neutron here in on what's going on."
Although Cindy didn't want let Jimmy know what had happened she didn't see that there was and recourse and her shoulders slumped in despair. "Well," she said in a small voice, "you know that test you …flunked…on Monday?"
"Yes," Jimmy replied.
"Well…that was kind of my doing. Or rather, I asked Lou to do it and he agreed for something of mine. And now he's collecting."
"What?"
"It's all here in black and white in the contract," Lou answered, producing the thick form and offering it to Jimmy. "Read it for yourself."
Jimmy took the document and leafed through it, instantly committing each page to memory. When he had finished he looked at Cindy. "You sold your soul to show me up in a test? Cindy! How could you do that? Do you know what this means?"
"I know, I know," she said miserably. "But I thought that the escape clause would break the contract. I really didn't think that any of those things would ever happen, much less all three of them."
"They were pretty farfetched," Jimmy admitted grudgingly.
"Well, now that that's settled," said Lou, "Cindy and I will be going."
"No she's not," said Jimmy. "You're not taking her anywhere!"
"I don't see that either of you have any choice in the matter," replied Lou. "I have binding contract that would stand up in any court."
That's it! thought Jimmy. "You think so?"
"I know so."
"Then prove it!" Jimmy demanded. "I demand that this contract be reviewed and upheld in a court of law."
Lou actually seemed amused at this. "And why should I do that?"
Ideas wheeled through Jimmy's exceptional mind. "Because Cindy is an American citizen and this contract was signed within the legal jurisdiction of the United States. She has a Constitutional right to a trial by a jury of her peers."
Lou began to scoff but seemed to think better of it. "Although I'd like to see you try to enforce those rights, I suppose I could agree to a trial. With three conditions."
"And those are…?" Jimmy asked.
"First, I choose the judge. Second, I choose the jury. And third, if you lose, I get your soul as well as Cindy's." Lou smiled his shark-like smile. "Take it, or leave it."
Seeing Lou's smile Cindy was hit by a sudden realization. This isn't about me, she thought. Maybe it never was. He's after Jimmy! "Don't do it, Jimmy!" she cried. "It's too late for me, but it's you he wants! Don't do it!"
"Just say where and when," Jimmy answered to Cindy's untold exasperation.
"All right. How about your lab, tonight, at 8:00 PM?" replied Lou.
"8:00 PM?" Jimmy repeated in surprise. "Not midnight?"
"No," said Lou, noticeably irritated. "Do I have to go that every single time? The trial will be at 8:00 PM tonight in your lab. And just remember this. If you aren't there, my judge will see that you lose the case by forfeit."
Jimmy's voice was determined but surprisingly calm. "Bring it on."
End of Part 10.