The Next Page 6

Alex put on the computer and allowed it to boot, while he told his two companions about his plan.

“This console here will most likely be connected to the library’s network,” he said, “even if it’s not connected to the internet. I can tweak the network parameters of this system to bypass the library’s network and connect directly online.”

“How will that help?” Dru asked.

“In so many ways,” came the reply. “For starters, we can call the police, and have them distract Wizard by their presence outside, while we see if we can utilize Lincoln’s plan to take out Wizard.”

“How do we alert the police? That system doesn’t have any browsers or such with which we can send out a distress signal,” Lincoln protested.

Alex rose. “The fire alarms still work, right? Well, if we’re connected to the internet, and the alarms go off, we can be sure the fire department and the police will arrive.”

Dru sighed. “Mack is in the other room, if it’s fire you need.”

Alex shook his head with a smile. “We don’t need that brute,” he said. “You’re going to make a fire, Dru.”

“How?” she asked, confused.

Alex took off his spectacles. “Do you know what lasers are? They are simply very, very concentrated beams of light. With the thick lens of my glasses, we might be able to concentrate your light even more, much the same way we use sunlight to burn paper with a magnifying lens.”

“That might work…” Dru agreed.

While Alex sought to bypass the library’s network, Lincoln and Dru found a number of scrap papers and set them in a stack. Then, focusing as well as she could, Dru emitted a beam of light from her finger, needle-thin and white. It fell through the lens of Alex’s glasses, which were being held by Lincoln, on the scrap paper.

Initially, nothing seemed to happen, but soon, smoke began to rise from the paper, as Dru intensified her focus on the light. Soon, a little flame sprang up, and quickly caught on the paper scraps. Dru snatched one unlit end of one of the papers, and held it up to one of the fire sensors installed on the ceiling.

A loud alarm set off, as the electronic locks of all the doors in the library disengaged. This was the perfect distraction the kids were hoping for. They dashed out of the cubicle, as Lincoln brought his powers to bear on a small, hardcover book.

Wizard spotted the teens, but as he was about to respond to them, Dru fired two beams of light directly into his eyes, disorienting him long enough for the hardcover book, directed by Lincoln’s powers, to spin straight into the side of his head.

The result was akin to a well-placed punch in a boxing match, and Wizard was out cold on the floor. “So much for underdogs,” Lincoln announced exultantly.

“I think we were successful because we were simply underestimated,” Alex replied, as the boys found duct tape with which to restrain the villain. “Now to tie him up and leave.”

“You may go if you like,” said Dru, “but I have business with three idiots over there.” Her gaze fell on where Wizard had flung Mack and company.

“What do you want to do to them?” Alex asked, as the girl began walking towards them.

“Oh I don’t know… yet. But I’m having ideas, and there’s this one I think I like….”

The End...

Thanks for coming!

That little boy,

@pearlumie