Now That You're Here (Duplexity, Part I) by Amy K. Nichols

Author:Amy K. Nichols
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2014-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

Warren sets up the tubing while I dish out the custard powder. The chemistry lab whirs away with all fourteen ventilation hoods running, which is good. Missy’s lab station isn’t far from ours and we can’t risk her listening in.

“Indicators definitely point to an EMP detonation,” he says.

“And others on the underground agree?”

“Dark Web, Solomon.” He tightens the lid on the jar. “The Underground is the subway system in London.”

“Whatever. They agree?”

“They not only agree, they’re spinning theories left and right. Some think he’s Edgar Cayce returned. Others, that he’s escaped from a mental hospital. The Dark Web’s all abuzz with ideas about the parallel boy.”

Mac holds up his hands (the universal teacher signal for Your attention, please) and the noise level in the room drops. If there’s one teacher at Palo Brea who gets respect, it’s Mac. “Everyone, please be sure your venting hoods are turned on. Robert and Logan here just turned theirs off and nearly caused the school a code violation. When all stations are ready, we’ll start the show.”

The noise level rises again. I clamp the funnel to the stand. Warren pours in the custard powder. “Most of the theories are ridiculous, of course. One guy suggested he was the time traveler in that Charlie Chaplin film.”

“Are you serious?”

“He even posted the video so I could decide whether or not the traveler looked like Danny.”

“Did it?”

“Sure. If at some point Danny gains about two hundred pounds and starts wearing dresses.”

“And you listen to these people?”

“Some of them.” He attaches the hose to the Bunsen burner. “Oh, and I talked to Jordan. He made us an appointment for Monday afternoon.”

I groan. “Now I just have to tell Danny.”

“You haven’t told him?”

“That we’re going to turn him into a pincushion? Sorry, I haven’t really found the right moment yet.”

“We’re not turning him into a pincushion.” Warren checks the burner’s setting. “It’s just a routine physical assessment at a community-college health fair. No big.”

I scratch the sparker across the burner but the flame doesn’t ignite. “You’re not the one on the examination table.” Warren shrugs. “What else is out there on your Dark Web?”

“Some think he’s an escapee from a secret government experiment, especially with all his talk about resistance.” Warren tries the sparker, too, then rechecks the burner, hose, knob.

“That’s creepy.”

“I know, but there’s no harm in looking at it from all angles.” He puts the burner back on the table and makes a grumpy face. “We must have missed something.”

“Like what? Clearly, it’s not the same world we’re in now.”

“No, I mean with the burner.”

I walk through the setup again. Everything looks right.

“How’s it going?” Warren asks.

“Well, I don’t see what we’ve done wrong here.” I crouch to check the lines running under the table.

“I mean with him.”

“Oh.” My tongue trips me up and all I can get out is a squeaky “Fine.” I stand again. “This should work. Is anyone else having problems?” I look around the room. The other tables are set up and ready.

Warren pulls the gas line from the burner and reattaches it.

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