Floors #2: 3 Below Read Free

Powell with big, round eyes.

    “Secret things.”
    “But those are the best kind!” complained Remi. “And besides, we can keep a secret. Can’t we, Leo? Tell us just one thing he’s working on, won’t you?”
    Leo wasn’t going to beg. If Remi wanted to, that was fine. But Leo would sooner dance the cha-cha than grovel for information. George Powell asked about the finances and the guests and the state of things at the hotel, but he would say no more about wacky inventions.
    When the dance ended, Merganzer hugged Pilar and walked around the roof, taking a moment to talk to each and every guest. The blimp seemed to be pulling harder in the wind as Merganzer tapped a special key card and blasted more hot air inside to hold it steady. Everyone gasped with delight when the blimp lit up. They all wished he would stay, but it was becoming clear he would be leaving them again, and soon.
    Leo and Remi left Mr. Powell with Blop and joined Merganzer at the rope ladders.
    “Can I look inside?” asked Remi. The cab was way up in the air and Remi was short and round, so seeing inside would take some effort. Merganzer studied the boy carefully.
    “I think maybe not,” he said. “There are complicated controls in there. This is no ordinary blimp.”

    “How so?” asked Leo. He pretended as if he only cared a little.
    “Can’t say, too perilous,” Merganzer replied. Leo loved the way Merganzer always made everything sound dangerous .
    “You have to go again, don’t you?” Leo asked. He was feeling sorry for himself as he thought about all the fun he and Merganzer had shared in the past.
    “I’m afraid so,” said Merganzer, crouching down beside Leo and Remi. “Very important work to do, can’t wait. Tonight will have to be enough for now.”
    “For now?” asked Leo, a rise in his voice at the idea that maybe a day was coming when they might be together on an adventure again.
    Merganzer only smiled, but the smile was enough to cheer the hearts of the two boys. It told them all they needed to know: Someday they would spend entire days with Merganzer D. Whippet.
    “I may have a need or two,” said Merganzer, standing up and staring down at Leo and Remi. “Rather soon, in fact.”
    “We’re ready now!” said Remi.
    “I do like your enthusiasm. Await my instructions; it won’t be long now.”
    Mr. Powell was already climbing up one of the rope ladders, like he was late for an important meeting.He was unexpectedly swift for an older man with a potbelly.
    “Come along, Merganzer,” he yelled down from the cab. “The wind has shifted to our advantage. It’s time to go.”
    Merganzer took one last look around, tapped Betty on the head, and raced up the ladder with alarming speed and efficiency. Just before he reached the top, he turned once more to the crowd.
    “It’s the loveliest wedding I’ve ever seen. You’ve done the Whippet proud.”
    “Merganzer, we really must be off,” said Powell, reaching down toward his companion of so many years.
    When Merganzer D. Whippet was in the cab, the rope ladders were released and the blimp began to rise. Against all matters of science and nature, it moved against the wind, but it didn’t surprise Leo or Remi one bit.
    “He can go wherever he pleases in that thing,” said Leo. “He’s not fooling me.”
    “Me neither,” said Remi, folding his arms across his chest. He paused a moment, glancing at Leo out of the corner of his eye. “When do you think he’ll need us?”
    Leo shrugged. He had no idea. Soon could mean hours, days, years. One never knew with Merganzer D. Whippet.

    Merganzer leaned out of the cab as it sailed away, and yelled one more thing to Pilar.
    “Look inside the hat!”
    He waved and was gone, the blimp passing behind a building and up into the night sky on its way to secret places only Merganzer and Mr. Powell knew.
    “Maybe it’s taped to the inside,” Leo heard his dad say. They were having trouble finding a gift inside the top