CHAPTER THIRTEEN
We never went back to the hotel. The helicopter took us straight from the ruins back to the airport, and then Uncle Scrooge showed us the bedroom we would stay in.
It was interesting that Uncle Scrooge had a house-sized hotel to himself, but even though he had so many rooms he still made us triplets share one together. There was a bunk bed and a normal bed just like the bedroom on Uncle Donald's house, but bigger. It was probably the biggest sleeping room I'd ever seen...at least, that's what I thought until Uncle Scrooge showed me the room he slept in, and the other room that Uncle Donald was going to use.
But why would someone really need rooms that big just to sleep in them?
Uncle Scrooge also showed us where the kitchen and living rooms were, and how to work the elevator. For some reason, my brothers knew where the theater room was even though Uncle Scrooge was going to skip over that door. They were more excited about the theater room than I was about the kitchen. The kitchen is amazing. The fridge has a hole in it where you can get cold water, as much as you want!
Anyway, when Uncle Scrooge was done showing us the rooms Uncle Donald came in the door with four suitcases-one big black one and three smaller ones colored red, blue, and green. When did he leave the house to go get them?
"So that's it then. Yer all settled here. Hopefully ya didn't forget anything, because I'm putting the mansion on lockdown." Uncle Scrooge said to Uncle Donald.
"So, how are we going to solve the mystery of the Drakes if we have to stay inside?" Dewey asked.
"Why don't we start with the study?" Uncle Scrooge suggested, "I've been pouring over this fer ages, but maybe there's something I missed. And then we have to see how the new clue fits into all this."
Even though Uncle Scrooge just gave us a chore, it seemed like he wanted to do it with us. So while Uncle Donald took the suitcases upstairs, he led us to a new room and opened the door...
Books. It was full of books! Books, books, and more books...I had never seen so many books at once, not in real life!
This room was so special, and the carpet so clean. Was I even allowed inside? What if anything got dirty?
Dewey and Louie were already inside, lifting a big book off the table in the center of the room and moving it to the corner. Uncle Scrooge grabbed some beautifully worn old books from various shelves and set them down on the table.
"Now, here's all the information I have on the Drakes," he said. "Let's concentrate on deciphering the clue first."
"Those Drakes who seek that which we have hidden, go to the head of the mighty." Said Louie, "When you are at the head, remember your children. Then you will find the way to the Forgotten."
"So, it's definitely directions." Dewey said. "That much we know for sure. And we know that the Forgotten means the Robots, so it must be telling us how to find them."
"Aye." Uncle Scrooge nodded, "So, we need ta figure out what their culture means by 'head of the mighty' and by 'your children'. I think we need to start-"
Suddenly he looked up, and interrupted himself.
"Huey, what are you still doing out there? Come inside, lad."
The three of them-Scrooge, Dewey, and Louie-all turned to look at me. I really would have liked to stay where I was, just outside at the door. But since I was told to come inside, I took a breath and stepped into the room.
It was even more amazing once I stepped inside.
"Are ye alright, lad?" Uncle Scrooge asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." I said. But there were still too many books. I wanted to look at all of them, but...there were too many!
"Are you really ok?" Dewey asked, looking at me funny.
"Yes." I said.
"Then why don't you look in this book for clues?" Louie asked, handing me a book. "Dewey, you take this one, and I'll take this one. Uncle Scrooge, this one's in Latin so you can take it."
It was kind of amazing that he so easily told an adult what to do. But it was even more amazing that Uncle Scrooge actually did what he said and took the book.
"Alright," Uncle Scrooge said, "Lads, each of you find a comfortable chair. Let's get this puzzle solved!"
"Huey? Wake up, lad."
Someone shook me awake. I guess I must have fallen asleep. I thought I had been too excited to do that though, since I was in the library. But whatever fur was on this chair was so soft, that it must have just happened by accident.
Was it just me, or have I been falling asleep way too much lately?
"Huey? You alright?" Someone asked, and I quickly stood up. If you get up quick enough, no one will hit you.
Although, come to think of it, no one here has hit me recently. Maybe that's why I've been sleeping so well lately?
"Huey? Are you feeling ok?"
"Yes, I'm alright." I answered while yawning. At least I was awake now, so I shouldn't need to sleep for a while.
Uncle Scrooge put his hand to my head. "Be sure to drink plenty of water during dinner, lad. I think ye may be dehydrated." He said.
I nodded, even though I wasn't sure what he meant by the dehybernated part.
"Come on, it's time for dinner." Louie said, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the library.
In a few minutes, we found the kitchen. Uncle Donald was doing something at the stove, but when we walked in he turned around and smiled at us. He was wearing an apron on that said "Hold the kisses, just give me beer".
It was really weird, since I hadn't seen him drink beer even once. I didn't know he liked it so much. But if I found any beer, I would certainly give it to him.
"Dinner's almost ready," he said. "Did you find out how Ratmeat is connected to the treasure?"
"No, we're focusing more on the phrase first." Dewey said, sitting down at the table. I sat down next to him. "We think the 'head of the mighty' could be an ancient statue. Something that would have been a landmark."
"But we can't find any records of a statue that special." Louie said, "Actually, the civilization didn't really leave anything behind."
They must have been discussing that while I was asleep in the library.
"Is it really a head?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" Dewey asked while yawning, just as Uncle Donald set a plate down in front of him.
"The Drakes didn't like leaving statues behind." I said, "Except for the Forgotten, and they didn't like to remember them."
"That's a good point." Louie said, "If their robots looked like they did, would they really want to build statues too? It might remind them of the robots. Unless the statue was there first." He yawned just as Uncle Donald scrapped some more food onto his plate. "Uncle Donald, do I have to eat this?"
"It's good for you." Uncle Donald replied.
I reached for a plate of green vegetables on the table before Uncle Donald could put them on my plate. He always put such a small amount on that it was better for me to do it myself. Why were Dewey and Louie purposefully leaving these behind? Fruits and vegetables were so, so very tasty.
"I think the Head of the Mighty is talking about something else." I said.
Suddenly I stopped. Why did I speak up like that? They had already changed the subject. What if they got mad at me?
"What do you mean?" Uncle Scrooge yawned.
They weren't mad. That was a good thin.
"I think the Head is talking about-" I stopped to yawn. Wait. "Why are we all yawning?"
"Huh?" Uncle Donald asked, half asleep.
Dewey slumped over, already asleep on his plate.
"Uncle Scrooge," I said, suddenly standing up, "Something's wrong!"
Dewey was asleep, Louie was nodding off, and Uncle Donald was laying back in his chair with his eyes closed. We had only just started eating. Why were they so tired? And I had already slept in the library, so why was I so tired?
"Uncle Scrooge!" I said, shaking him in his chair. I don't think he was asleep yet, just drowsy.
Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. "Uncle Scrooge!" I shouted again.
He snapped out of it, whatever it was, and turned to look at me. "Huey, are ye crying?" He asked, more awake than before.
"Wake up," I said, "Everyone else is asleep!"
He grunted and stood up. I felt really...relieved? Uncle Scrooge was awake, and he was going to fix this.
I closed my eyes for a second, then opened them to realize Uncle Scrooge was no longer standing across from me. Where did he go?
"We've been sabotaged!" He called out, his voice coming from somewhere across the room. "The security was breached."
Uncle Donald snored. Since everyone else was asleep, was Uncle Scrooge talking to me? If so, was I supposed to answer him? What did he want me to say?
I swayed, and suddenly realized I was lying on the ground. I don't remember falling.
Uncle Scrooge came up next to me, and laid a hand across my head. It felt...really comfortable.
"It's alright not ta fight it, lad." He said. "Get some sleep. I'll take care o' this."
So, I closed my eyes.
To Be Continued...