“You’resodisappointing,Kari.Allthisfalsebravado.Webothknowyou don’thavethestomachforit.”Thistimethestonedidflash.Molegirlshrunka fewmoreinches,untilshewaspracticallyatoddler.Shewobbledonherstubby legsforamomentbeforetheweightbecametoomuchandshecollapsedwitha
thudthatshookthedeckbeneathJeri’sfeet.SheriandTerigiggledatthesight ofMolegirlsplayedonherbacklikeaturtle.
“Thisdoesn’tchangeanything!”Molegirlshouted.“I’mnothelpingyou.”
“Well,Iguessweneedtoemployadifferentformofmotivation.”
TheStoneofChangeflashed.JeriwaitedtoseeMolegirlshrinkintoa baby,butinsteadshefoundtheroomswellingagain.Beforelongshewasjustas littleasKariandthenevenlittler.Hertinylegsgaveoutbeneathhertosendher crashingdownbesideKari.Jerilaythere,herbreathcomingoutingasps.Her chestfeltasifsomeoneweresqueezingitinavise—asifshewerehavinga heartattack.
ValbentdowntopatJeri’stummy.“PoorlittleJeri.She’stoofatnowfor herorganstosupporther.Itwon’tbemuchlongeruntiltheybegintogiveout.
Shemightbetheonlytoddlerinhistorytodieofaheartattack.”
“Leaveheralone!”Karishouted.“She’snousetoyou.”
“Thenitwon’tmatterifshedies,doesit?”
Jeri’svisiondimmed.Thepressureonherchestincreaseduntilshecried outinpain.“Vaw…pwease,”shepleaded.
“Stopit!”Karishouted.“I’llhelpyou.JuststophurtingJeri.”
“That’sbetter,”Valsaid.
TheStoneofChangeflashedagain.Jeriwaitedforherbodytochange,but itdidn’t.Instead,shewatchedasKaribegantogetolder.Thefatmeltedaway asshestretchedoutfirstintoalittlegirlandthenintoascrawnyteenager.Very littleofthefatmigrateduptoherbreaststogiveherthesamekindofmosquito bumpsasthetwins.Hershorthairbecameaglossyhelmetthatbrightenedtoa prettyorange-red,crownedbyamintgreenheadband.Herfloralprintdress becameagreenblousethatmatchedtheheadbandandadarkergreenskirtwith brownpolka-dots.ThemostwelcomechangewasthatKari’seyesdarkenedtoa brightgreen,thoughtheyweresoonobscuredbycat’seye-shapedglassesthe colorofherblouseandheadband.Asthefinaltouch,frecklessimilartoVal’s dustedherface.
Sheheldoutherhandandblinkedafewtimes.“I…Icansee,”she mumbled.ThenshelookedpastherhandtoJeri.“Youpromisedtostophurting her.”
“Oh,ofcourse.Howsillyofme.”
Thestoneflashedagain.ThepaininJeri’schesteasedasthefatmelted away.Theroombecamesmalleragain,thoughnotasmuchasshe’dhaveliked.
Shedidn’tevengetmosquitobumpslikeKariandthetwins;herchestremained steadfastlyflatexceptforarolloffatthatremainedaroundhermidsection.Her t-shirtandjeansbecameamintgreendressthatmatchedKari’sexceptforthe
whitelaceandbowatthecollarthatwasmorelikewhatthetwinswore.Itwas onlywhenValheldupamirrorthatJerisawherhairwasasredasKari’s.Itwas abitshaggier,butsimilarlycrownedbyaheadband.Shestillworethickglasses thatrestedonherfreckledcheeks.ThebiggestdifferenceinherfacefromKari’s wasthathereyeswerestillblue.
“There,nowyourbabysistercantagalong.”
Jeristampedaplainblackshoe.“Idon’twannabeherbabysister!”
“Oh,howcute.Kidstodaywanttogrowupsofast,don’tthey?”Valsaid withasneer.
Jericrossedherarmsoverherflatchest,butsaidnothing.Sheknewifshe arguedanymore,shewouldonlyenduplittler.BeingKari’sbabysisterwas betterthanbeingMolegirl2.ShetookKari’shandtogettoherfeet;hercheeks warmedassherealizedshecameuponlytothebottomofKari’stinybreasts.
“Whataboututh?”Sheriasked.
“Whydowehavetothtaylikethith?”Teriadded.
“Haveyougirlslearnedyourlessonnow?”
“Yeth,ma’am,”theysaidinunison.
“Good,becausewe’llneedsomeonetocarrytheequipmentunderground.
Thatwillrequireacoupleofstrongyoungladies.”
JeriwatchedasSheriandTeribegantochangeinunison.Theygained aboutthirtycentimetersinheight,whichmadethemseemevenscrawnierthen before.Thatdidn’tlastlong,astheirframesfilledoutwithmuscle,untiltheir bicepsweresobigthattheysplittheseamsoftheirdresses.Thosedressessplit horizontallyaswell,thebottomhalfturningintoblackleatherwhilethetophalf becameatightT-shirt.SherihadapurpleshirtwhileTeri’swaspink.Jerisoon sawthereasonforthisastheirhairlengthenedslightlyandthenchangedto matchthecoloroftheirshirts.
Astheyeachgainedablackleatherjacket,tattoos,andringsintheirnoses, lips,andeyebrows,Jerigasped.Shehadlookedlikethisherselfbackwhenthey hadworkedatthestripclub.Shehadsportedthesamepurplehair,unnaturally whiteskin,blacklipstick,tattoos,andmultiplerings.Taihadmadeherthatway sothemalecustomerswouldlaveheralone;shesuspectedValhadadifferent reasoninmind.Forthefinishingtouchtheylosttheirglassesandfreckles.Jeri backedawayslightlyfromthehulkingyoungwomen.
“Feelmybicep,”Sherichallengedhersister.
“No,youfeelmine,”Terisaid.Beforelongtheywerearm-wrestlingona console.Theygruntedandstrained,butweretooevenlymatchedforeitherto win.
Thetwinsmighthavekepttryingindefinitely,butValclearedherthroat.
“OK,kids,it’stimetogetready.SheriandTeri,fetchtheequipmentfromthe cargobay.Meetusattheairlockintenminutes.”
“Yes,ma’am,”theysaidasmeeklyasiftheywerestillgeeks.
ThenSheriturnedtohersisterandsaid,“I’llbeatyouthere!”
“Thehellyouwill!”
Afterthetwinshadracedoff,ValturnedtoKariandJeriwithasmuggrin.
“Let’sgetmoving.Wehaveadiscoverytomake.”
Chapter6
ThebrushclawedattheskirtofJeri’smintgreendress.Shetuggedatitfor afewsecondsbeforetheskirtfinallycamefree,losingadecorativebowinthe process.Shetookafewstepsbeforesherealizedshecouldn’tseetheothers anymore;theyhadgoneonwithouther!
Shelookedaroundatthejunglethatsurroundedher.Branchesoverher headrattledfromagustofwind.Thoughsheknewitwasonlythewind,she stillwhimperedlikethesmallchildshewas.Shewaslost!Lostinthisstupid jungleallbyherself.Andshewassotinynow,soweakwiththesepunymuscles andthickglasses.Thetreesweresomuchbiggerthanher,bigenoughtoblot outallbuttheoccasionalshaftoflight.
Shetriedtoholdherselftogether,butcouldn’t.Atfirstafewtearsleaked frombeneathherglasses;thesesoonmultipliedintoafloodasshesobbed.She launchedherselfalongthepathwaytheymusthavecut,butshecouldn’tsee anyone.Afterwhatseemedlikeafewkilometersshewasoutofbreath.“Kari!
Sheri!Teri!Whereareyou?Comeback!”Snifflespunctuatedeach exclamation.Foramomentshestoodthereandwipedathernosewiththeback ofonehand.
Shehatedthisplace.Shehatedthestupidjungle.Itwashotanddarkand scary.Shehadn’tseenany,butsheknewtherehadtobeanimalsaroundhere, onesthatcouldeatalittlegirlinonebite.Thisthoughtpromptedhertorun again.
Shekeptrunninguntilshetrippedandfellface-firstintothedirt.Mud stainedherglasses,leavingheralmostblind.Apartofhertoldherselftogetup andkeepgoing,butshecouldn’tanymore.Shesankbackdownintothemudto cry.Theyhadleftherheretodie.Allofthem,evenKari,theclosestshehadto afriendontheship.TheyweresupposedtobesistersnowandKarihadlefther todie!
Whensomethingtouchedherback,Jeriflailedatitfeeblywithonearm.
Thatwasuntils
heheardKarisay,“Takeiteasy.I’mnotgoingtohurtyou.”
JeritookthehandKariofferedtohelpheruptoherfeet.Notcaringifshe gotmudalloverKari’sprettyclothes,Jericlutchedheraroundthewaist,just likeascaredlittlesisterwoulddo.ShecriedintoKari’sdresswhileKaristroked hermuddyhairandwhisperedthateverythingwouldbeallright.
“Whathappened,Jeri?Areyouhurtatall?”
Jerishookherhead.“IgotcaughtonabushandwhenIgotunstuckyou wereallgone.IlookedandlookedbutIcouldn’tfindyouanywhere.Whydid
youleaveme?You’resupposedtobemybigsister!”
“I’msorry.Iwasn’tpayingattention.I’llbemorecarefulfromnowon.”
JeripulledherselfawayfromKariandlookedaroundthejungle.“Thisis stupid.Valcouldusethestupidstonetomakethisallgoaway.Shecouldhave madeitsowecouldlandrightatthemouthofthecaveifshewanted.”
“Iwouldn’twanttodothat,”ValsaidfromthetreestoJeri’sleft.“I wouldn’twanttowipeoutanycluesofsignificanceforyourbigsister.”
“Youjustwannawatchusstruggle,”Jerisaidwithahuff.
“That’sanaddedbonus.”ValpinchedoneofJeri’sfreckledcheeksbefore Jericouldduck.“It’snotmyfaultyoucan’tkeepup.”
“Istoo.Ifyou’dmademeolderlikeKarithenIcouldkeepup.”
“Couldn’tyoumakeherjustabitolder?Soshewon’tslowusdown?”Kari said.
ValconsideredthisforamomentandthenpattedJeri’shead.“You’remuch toocutelikethis.Ihaveabetteridea.HowwouldyoulikeTeritogiveyoua piggybackride?”
Jeriweighedwhichoptionwasworse:strugglingafterthegrown-upsor enduringthehumiliationofridingonTeri’sshoulderslikeababy.Looking downathermuddydress,shedecidedtheformeroptionwaslessappealing.
“Yes,apiggybackridesoundsfun.”
“Goodgirl,”ValsaidandpattedJeri’sheadagain.“Teri,giveyourpackto Kari.”
Terinodded.SheshruggedoffherpackandthenswungitintoKari’s midsection.Theslightteenagergruntedatthis.Herbodybowedforwardlike anoldwoman’soncesheputonthebackpack.Withanequallackofsensitivity, TeriscoopedJeriupbythewaist.Itwasgoodtobeabletolookdownonthe grown-ups.
Astheysetoutagain,itwasKariwhostruggledtokeepupnow.Her musclesweren’tthatmuchstrongerthanJeri’s,especiallynotwiththeheavy packonherback.Afterjustafewminutesherfacewasflushedandcoveredin sweat.
ApartofJerithoughtitwouldserveKarirightifshefellbehindnowand gotlost.TherestofherrememberedhowKarihadhelpedheroutofthemud andhuggedher,justlikearealbigsister.JerikickedatTeri’ssidewithone shoe.“Slowdown.WegottawaitforKari.”
“Shutup,youstupidbrat,beforeIbashyourheadintoatree.”
“Nuh-uh.Valwouldn’tlikethat.”
“So?”
“Sothenshe’dmakeyouageekagain.Oralittlebratlikeme.”
Terigrumbledunderherbreath,butsheslowedherpacetoletKaricatch up.ThenshesnatchedthebackpackfromKariwithonehand.Shemanagedto carrybothJeriandthebackpackwithoutevenbreathinghard.Karicontinuedto laborasshetriedtokeepup.ValandSheriwerebarelyinsightaheadofthem.
JerilookedbackatKariandasked,“Haveyouseenanycluesyet?”
“No.Justalotofjungle.Whatwewantwillbeunderground,justlike before.JustlikeonPhera.”
“What’sinthisplacewhereyoufoundthestone?”
Karidescribedatemplemadeofstonewiththeimagesofagodcarvedin thewalls.Inthecenterwasafountain,atopwhichhadsattheStoneofChange.
Ithadapparentlybeenmuchbiggerthen,morethesizeofJeri’shead.Ithad onlyshrunkdowntoamoreusablesizeafterTaiLecaucommunedwithitfor severalhours.
“Whatdidhetalktoitabout?”
“Idon’tknow.Itwasprobablytestinghim,toseeifhewasworthy.”
Jerisnorted.“Hewasn’tworthy.Hewasabigmeanie.”
“That’swhyhewasworthy,”Karisaid.Shetookadeepbreathandthen continued,“Thestoneisevil.Itwascreatedbyatrickstergod.That’swhyonly someonelikeTaiorValcanuseit.”
“Youcan’tuseit?”
“No.ItshockedmewhenItriedtouseitandthenitmademeyounger, almosttheageIamnow.”
“CouldIuseit?”
Karishrugged.“Idon’tknowifbeingselfishandvainisevilenoughfor it.”
“Oh.WellifIcouldusethestone,I’dmakeeveryonepretty.ButnotVal.
I’dmakehertheugliestpersononPhera.Souglyshecouldn’tevergooutor everyonewouldlaughatherandthrowstuff.”
“Maybeyou’llgetthechance,”Karisaidwithasmile.
“Thatwouldserveherrightforbeingsomeantous.”Itdidn’tsurpriseJeri whenshesawhertummygetlarger.Itpushedoutuntilherdresswasatthe breakingpoint,butshestillwasn’tasfataswhenshe’dbeenMolegirl2.She thoughtthiswasall,untilsheheardKarigasp.“What?What’swrongwith me?”
thelookofanugly,stupid-lookinggirl.“Nowwho’dbetheugliestgirlon Phera?”
JeriturnedfromthemirrortosobintoTeri’spurplehair.ValpattedJeri’s head.“Now,sweetie,don’tcry.You’reevenuglierwhenyoucry.”
“Youpoopyhead!”Jerishoutedback.
“Val,stopit,”Karisaid.“She’sjustalittlegirl.”
“Youwanttobenext?”Valhissed.“This childneedstolearnsome respect.”
“I’msureJeri’ssorryaboutwhatshesaid.Shedidn’tmeanit.Didyou, Jeri?”
Jeriwantedtostandbyherstatement,butifshedid,thenshewouldbe stucklikethis.Shewouldbescaredtoeverlookinamirrororevenapoolof watereveragain.Sheshookherhead.“I’msowwy.Ididn’tmeanit.”
ThestonewinkedatJeri.Afewmomentslater,shewasbacktohowshe hadbeen,stillnotbeautiful,butnotuglyeither.Valglaredather.“You’dbetter becareful.Imightnotbesoforgivingnexttime.”
ThenValstompedahead,tocontinueontowardsthetemple.
***
Thecaveentrancedidn’tlookanydifferentthanthelasttimeKarihadbeen there.ForamonthshehadpracticallylivedinthatentranceafterTaihadused thestonetochangeherintoMolegirl.Shehadscurriedoutofthecavemouth forwhatfoodandwatershecouldforagebeforeshereturnedforshelter.Bythe timeValhadfoundher,Karihadbeendeliriousfrommalnutritionanddisease.
ThistimeshewasascrawnyteenagerandValwaslikelytokillherafter shefoundoutwhatshewantedtoknow.Andshehadher“littlesister”clinging toher,shiveringatthesightofthedarkcavemouth.“Dowehavetogoin there?”Jeriasked.
“Yes.Itwon’tbesobad.I’msureValbroughtflashlights.”
“Areyouscaredofthedarktoo?”Valteased.
“I’mscaredofsettingoffthetrapstheyleftbehind,”Karishotback.One oftheburlytwinsslappedaflashlightintoKari’shandhardenoughtomakeher wince.Sheshoneitintotheentranceofthecave.Thepiecesoforangetape she’dstuckonthegroundtoindicatetrapswerestillthere.Shepointedoneof theseouttoJeri.“Becarefularoundthosepiecesoftape.That’swherethetraps are.”
Withthat,Karigotdownonherkneesandbegantocrawlintothe
cave.It wouldhavebeeneasierwithapairofpantsinsteadofthebulkyskirt,butshedid thebestshecouldandtriedtoignorethepaininherknees.Everyfewseconds shelookedbacktomakesureJeriwasstillwithher;itwouldonlytakeone
wrongmoveforthegirltogetrunthroughwithspikes.
Onthewaydown,KarirememberedhowimpatientTaihadbeen.In hindsight,sheshouldhaveletthefoolblunderintooneofthetraps.Itwould havesparedhertwoyearsofheartacheandsavedthewomenofPheraalotof grief.Therehadbeennowayatthetimeforhertohaveknownwhatsortof horrorshewouldunleash.Shehopedthistimethingswentdifferently.
ShelookedbackatJerijustintimetoseethelittlegirl’srighthandsnatcha pieceoftapefromtheground.Jeri’seyesmethersforamoment,asifdaring Karitosaysomething.Butshedidn’t.MaybeitwastoolateforTaitoblunder intoatrap,buttheremightstillbeachanceforValtodoso.
Karicontinuedtocrawlaheaduntilsheheardascream.Asecondscream soonfollowedthisone.Kariturnedandhadtostifleagroan.InsteadofVal,the spikeshadrunthroughSheri.Despitethattheywerethousandsofyearsold,the spikesdisemboweledherwithease.Sheristaredatthecavewall,onehandon hermidsection.Hertwinkneltatherside,screamingandclutchingSheri’s hand.
ValshovedTeriasidetokneeldown.“It’sallright,sweetheart.You’re goingtobefine.”TheStoneofChangewinkedandsecondslaterthemortal woundhaddisappeared,aswellastheblood.Sherilookeddownatwherethe woundhadbeenandthenatherhand.Thensheandhertwinhuggedeachother joyously.
ValglaredatKariandJeri.“Whichoneofyouremovedthetape?”she demanded.
“Whattape?”Jeriaskedwithasweetlittlegirl’svoice.
“Thetrapdidn’tgeteitherofyou,soitmusthavebeenmarked.”
“Maybewewerejustlucky,”Karisaid.
“Oneofyouremovedit.Whowasit?”JeriandKarilookedtoeachother, butdidn’tsayanything.Kariknewifshedid,Jeriwouldbeinalotoftrouble; shemightevendie.“Emptyyourpockets.”
“Whatpockets?”Jeriasked.Itwastrueherdressdidn’thaveanypockets.