The Book of Fatal Errors by Dashka Slater

Author:Dashka Slater
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

20

REFLECTIONS

It was hard to wake Iris from her nap. She staggered out of the backpack and collapsed on the living room floor with her head in her hands. “Everything hurts,” she groaned. “How do you glompers stand being mortal?”

The sound of clattering dishes and running water drifted from the kitchen, punctuated by Grandpa Jack’s spirited humming.

“I guess we’re used to it,” Rufus said. “Listen—we need a plan of action.”

“Grandpa Jack got attacked again,” Abigail said. “Somebody’s got to persuade the All-Outers to calm down before he gets really hurt.”

“We found out something else,” Rufus added. “Grandpa Jack said he remembers Mr. Diggs from when he was a kid. So he definitely did meet Carson Collins. Except he doesn’t look old enough for that.”

“Goblins live about 150 years,” Iris said slowly. “So it’s perfectly possible. But I still don’t understand why they want—” She broke off and clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh no. No, no, no, no, no.”

“What?” Abigail said. “What’s wrong?”

“Why didn’t I see it before?” Iris wailed. “How could I have been so stupid?” She buried her face in her hands and began to sob.

“Hey now,” Abigail said. “Don’t cry. It can’t be that bad.”

“Not that bad?” Iris said between sobs. “The goblins—they’re planning—to invade the Green World.”

“Invade the Green World?” Rufus asked, not sure he’d heard correctly. “Why?”

“And how?” Abigail added. “Even you can’t get there—”

“Without the complete train,” Iris said. “But with the train, anyone can.” She rocked back and forth, moaning. “They’ll kill every last one of us, even the ones we thought were safe at home.”

A puddle of fear settled deep in Rufus’s chest. Iris was always dramatic, but he’d never seen her look so defeated. “Why?” he asked.

“They’re greedy, that’s why.” Iris’s voice was barely a whisper. “Greedier than I ever imagined.”

Abigail looked at Rufus as if expecting him to say something. The clatter of dishes had ended, but they could still hear Grandpa Jack humming to himself in the next room.

“They haven’t won yet,” Rufus said. He tried to think of a plan of action. “You said there are seeds we can use to guard the train from Mr. Diggs.”

Iris slumped on the floor, weeping into her fists. “There’s no point.”

“Iris. Look at me.” Rufus lifted the feyling by the back of her dress and held her at eye level. Iris remained limp, drooping from his fingers like a wet sock. “I’ve traipsed all over town, made an enemy of a goblin, and been turned into a fish. It’s a little late to announce you’re giving up.”

Iris raised her head and met his gaze. “Well, I am giving up,” she said. “I’m too sick and too scatterbrained and whenever I try to fix anything it just makes everything worse. Leave me to die in peace.”

Abigail snorted. “Fine,” she said. “I guess we have the afternoon to ourselves. What do you want to do, Rufus?”

Rufus carried the coach car to Grandpa Jack’s coat closet, stuffing it into an enormous wicker picnic basket.

“Let’s

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