“Perhaps you need to imagine a little,” Beth said.
He blinked slowly, giving her a look absolutely overflowing with imagination, and she trembled as if he’d reached out and caressed her.
“Ahem,”said the man. Remembering his existence, they tore their attention from each other and back to him.
“Who are you?” Devon demanded.
The man’s eyes shifted nervously. “I’m with the Protection and Rescue of Enchanting Species, um, Service. We’re trying to rescue the caladrius, and you’re our only hope.”
“I’ve never heard of that group,” Devon said suspiciously.
“We’re a secret organization,” the man explained. “My colleague and I have just come from Professor Gladstone’s house—”
“Your colleague?” Devon looked around, reaching for his concealed gun before realizing he must have left it in his suitcase.
“Yes, he’s watching the road to be sure no one comes upon us.”
“Such as whom?” Beth asked, looking around now herself as if she expected half a dozen rival ornithologists (and their servants) to appear from behind the greenery. “I extrapolate the chances of—”
“Please.Listen.” Such was the man’s anxiety, he scrunched the brim of his hat in his fists. “There isn’t much time! Be prepared, what you are about to hear will shake you to the core.The Birder of the Year competition is rigged!”
He paused dramatically, but neither Devon nor Beth evidenced any shaking. “You seem awfully calm about that,” he remarked, miffed.
“We already guessed it,” Beth said.
“I see. Well, Professor Gladstone, as the chairman of the International Ornithological Society, has possession of thecaladrius. And—and he has made a deal with a wicked doc—no,an evil pharmaceutical organizationthat plans to experiment on the bird. The competition is a sham; they intend to simply make their secret agent their winner.”
“Why did they even bother holding a competition?” Beth asked. “Why not just hand over the bird?”
The man blinked at her. “Because…to cover their tracks.”
“How exactly?” Devon asked.
The man’s blinking accelerated. “Who can say? It’s a secret, evil plot.”
“Where did IOS find the caladrius to begin with?” Beth asked.
“Er…Transylvania, I think?”
“Who discovered it?” Devon asked.
“And why have other magical birds been attacking people?” Beth asked.
“And how do you know about this secret plan?” Devon asked.
The blinking reached force 6 on the Beaufort scale, threatening to do the man an ocular injury. “Look, the point is, someone needs to rescue the caladrius and take it to London.”
Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Why London?”
“And how did a conservative thinker like Gladstone get involved in something like this?” Devon asked.
“And why areweyour only hope?” Beth asked.
The man began fanning himself desperately with his hat. “I-I-I will answer all your questions when there’s time. But we need to hurry now! The caladrius must be rescued from Gladstone’s house before anyone else discovers it there and tries to steal it for themselves.”
Beth and Devon exchanged a sober glance. “Oberhufter,” Devon said.
“Hippolyta,” Beth said at the same time.
