The Golden Rectangle by Gillian Neimark

Author:Gillian Neimark
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

ROUND PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES

Lucy and Flor were trapped. Square Man had decided that with a bit of time Lucy would change her mind and choose a more appropriate substance to manufacture rectangles.

“I am setting my timer,” he said. “I am giving you two hours. During that time your wizard and your ice maker will be in the square chamber alone. And it will start to get smaller. Smaller and smaller. I am sure you will change your mind when you think about Dr. Pi and Mr. Moon stuck in a marble room that is slowly shrinking.”

“I don’t believe you,” Lucy lied. “That room doesn’t shrink. You’re just trying to scare us. So go ahead. No water, no rectangles. That’s the deal.”

Square Man looked extremely annoyed. “You’ve seen the reach of my powers, and you still don’t believe me? Fine. Anyway, both you girls can think this over together. It’s well known that girls your age rely on each other for everything and get so close you can’t possibly make a decision alone. So, Red Eye, take them off, please.”

Red Eye carted them off to another room, and when he put them down, they suddenly found themselves standing not on the floor but in the floor. More precisely, they were both caught inside square holes about four feet deep. Their feet were fastened to the bottom of the holes, as if by an invisible force field. Their heads and shoulders stuck out—Lucy’s just barely.

“I’ll be back,” said Square Man. “Meanwhile, Red Eye will watch over you with the greatest devotion. Right, Red Eye?”

The lobster nodded and crawled close to the girls.

“We weren’t going to try to escape,” said Lucy.

“Well, just in case.”

“The way I see it, this is your time-out, not mine,” Lucy said.

“How’s that?”

“When you come back, you’ll tell me I can make rectangles out of water.”

Square Man sighed. “You are truly a determined little girl. See you soon.”

And with that, he was gone. After a minute of silence Flor turned to Lucy. “We’re stuck. This is hopeless. Dr. Pi’s a wizard, but he basically said he’s not allowed to help us. It’s our adventure.”

“Don’t worry. My dad will think of something.”

“Like what?”

“He can charm the shirt off your back,” said Lucy. “And he’s super strong. He can tear up railroad tracks with a rubber hammer. He’ll just talk his way out of this, and before you know it, he’ll be back to rescue us.”

Flor rolled her eyes. “Right. Well, until your dad saves us, what do you plan to do?”

“I don’t know. I need water.”

Flor shook her head. Lucy was clearly a bit stubborn. No use in arguing with her. “Why do you want water anyway?”

Lucy looked around her carefully. “Why do you think?” she whispered.

“I have no idea,” Flor whispered back, annoyed.

“When you freeze water,” Lucy whispered, “you get ice. Get it? Duh. Like, a thousand blocks of ice a day. . . . ”

“Yeah, I get it, really I do, but that’s at your dad’s ice factory.

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