ATTACK OF THE KILLER RADISHES—THIS SATURDAY!!!
The banner hung over the entrance to the Timbers Public Library across the street.
“What on earth doesthatmean?” Opal said. She wondered if she’d forgotten something. Had they conjured up walking vegetables at some point? Was she losing her mind?
“It’s a horror movie.” Emma gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “They’re showing it the night of the festival, after the pageant.”
“Killer radishes?” Nico squinted at the banner. “I thought it was tomatoes.”
“That’s actually the movie,” Emma said. “But I’m goingto have a live mic, and every time anyone in the movie says ‘tomatoes,’ I’m supposed to shout ‘RADISHES’ over it.”
“Wow.” Tyler shook his head.
Emma nodded sagely. “It’s lucky I know the lines so well.”
They were sitting on the school steps. On every lamppost, smiling radish signs beamed at the residents of Timbers. But many of the adults seemed worried, like they were convinced the fate of Timbers was riding on the success of the festival. Almost everyone was involved in some way, including the kids. Most weren’t as laid-back about it as Emma.
“We should meet again,” Opal said. “That robot-ogre gave me nightmares. Things are bad, you guys.”
“I know, but I can’t right now.” Nico rubbed his temple as if to ward off a headache. “My dad got home before I did last night and yelled at me for being late. Plus I have a costume fitting for the parade.”
“Could be worse.” Opal squeezed her eyes shut. “I have a private dance rehearsal. My mom wants to see my routine.”
Nico snorted. “What about you, Ty? What have they roped you into?”
“The radish-eating contest.” Tyler covered his face. “My mom’s in charge of it.”
Emma cringed. “That’s disgusting. Everyone’s gonna be sick.”
Tyler chuckled grimly. “Somebody bring the barf bags, is all I’m saying.”
Opal laughed. It was all so ridiculous, wasting time on this nonsense after what they’d seen yesterday. What they’dmade.
“This festival is doomed,” Emma said cheerfully. “So many bad ideas at once.”
Opal undid the rubber band at the end of her braid and started fixing it again. “I mean, radishes are fine, I guess. They’re a pretty color. I know Timbers ships a lot of them to restaurants in Seattle. But this was thebestidea the town could come up with?”
“Whatisthe best thing about Timbers?” Nico asked. Opal detected a current of bitterness in his voice.
“All of it,” Opal answered, surprising herself. When Nico glanced at her, she searched for the right words. “The radish farmers, the mill, everything.” Opal held out her arms, trying to encompass the whole town. Main Street and its old-fashioned streetlights. Overlook Row, with its beautiful painted houses facing the sea. The chalkboard sign outside the coffee shop listing the daily specials. The slumping pier, the green parks, the redbrick library. The mountains, the sky, the fields and woods.
If this isn’t enough, what is?
“It’s just a really nice place to live.” Opal felt a sudden swell of pride in her hometown. And panic that it might be in danger. She looked at Nico, and wondered if he was thinking the same thing.
“So here’s what we need to do.” Opal scooted closer to theothers so no one else could overhear. “First, we should go back to the houseboat and keep searching those books. Find out what we’re dealing with.”
“No more Darkdeeping,” Emma said sadly.
Opal nodded. “Not until we know more.”
Nico folded his arms. “And second, we need to decide what to do about Logan.”
“Right.” Opal sighed. The concrete steps chilled her legs through her jeans. A crumpled leaf skittered across her sneaker. “I’ll talk to him.” She was the only one he might listen to.
Logan had run off in a total panic last night. Who had he told? What would he do next?
Opal had been half-relieved when he didn’t show up at school that morning—he couldn’t blab to his friends if he wasn’t there. But he might be at home right now, talking to his parents. Or the police. The FBI. Anyone. What if a SWAT team was motoring toward Still Cove right now, to investigate what Logan said?
