Quest for the King Read Free

get to Anthropos. But I
can't think of any right now. We'll have to play it by ear."

    For a while they sat with worried frowns on their faces. Finally Kurt
said, "If they really have gone to Anthropos, mebbe we'll go too."
    Wesley shook his head. "How would we get there? In any case, he
goes to a different time in Anthropos history than we do."
    Lisa said slowly, "Oh, I don't know, Wes. If Gaal arranges the trips
I don't see any reason why he can't send us, or him, anywhere he
wants to."
    Wesley's voice got squeaky, a sign that he was irritated. "Yes, yes,
yes! But how? When Uncle John went the second time he could choose
whether to go or not."
    Kurt shook his head. "He had no choice the first time. He opened
a door-and hey, presto!-there he was in some sort of never-never
land. An' even the second time he wouldn't have had a choice if Gaal
hadn't provided him with one. All that happened was he realized the
opportunity had presented itself."
    "O.K, clever sticks! So how do we follow him there?"
    Kurt shrugged his shoulders. "I don't see how we can unless Gaal
gives us the chance. If we're to go, then he will."
    "I'd like to get to go," Lisa said, longingly.
    Wesley drew in a deep breath. "Well, it's a worry. Dad will go crazy.
He'll search Hong Kong by telephone, then start on the various islands. I wouldn't put it past him to go to Macau, or even into mainland
China."
    Lisa grinned. "Just don't any of us say Anthropos!"
    Kurt said, "Yes, but Mary will."
    "Oh, shucks. You're right. There'll be no stopping her. I can just
hear the two of them-Dad and Mary-hard at it right now!"
    There was another long pause. Then Kurt said something that
proved prophetic. "I have the horrid feeling that something pretty
frightful-or mebbe merely frightening-is going to happen, an' we'll
just be whisked into Anthropos whether we like it or not."

     

    The storm abated during the night, and by morning the Friesens were
able to fly to Hong Kong. Aunt Jane Friesen called from the hotel
lobby as soon as they arrived.
    "Hello! Is that Mary? This is your Aunt Jane-you know-Lisa's
mother. We're here in the hotel. Just got in. Darling, we've been so
worried about you! How are you, dear?"
    "Oh, hi! I'm O.K., thanks."
    "Did they come back?"
    "You mean Uncle John? No, Aunt Jane."
    "Oh, you poor dear! What a nightmare you've had! Never mind,
darling, we're here now. We're just going to the restaurant for lunch.
Would you like to join us?"
    "Aunt Jane, are the kids with you?"
    "Yes, darling, we're all here. Cathay Pacific called us from the airport early this morning. It was a rough flight, but we're fine."

    Mary heaved a sigh. Her aunt and uncle would not understand, but
the kids would. It was a comfort, an enormous comfort, to have someone she knew nearby. "Thank you, Aunt Jane, I'll be right down."
    Lunch was a bit of a strain. The Friesens were tall and thin, and
Mr. Friesen was "picky"-a stickler for "doing things properly." (Wesley's polite but slightly fussy frown was a reflection of his father's.)
Throughout lunch Mr. Friesen never wore any other expression. Mrs.
Friesen spent her time smoothing down any ruffled feelings after her
husband upset them.
    "I still cannot comprehend what got into them!" he exclaimed. "You
just don't turn your nose up at your own wedding reception. What
happened at the reception, Mary?"
    "I don't know, Uncle Fred. I didn't go. Mrs. Choi put me to bed. I
wasn't feeling well."
    "You poor darling! I don't blame you a bit." Her aunt, who sat next
to Mary, reached over and squeezed her hand.
    "It was a totally unacceptable thing for them to do," he continued.
"You just don't snub the guests at your wedding reception. And to
abandon a child like that, without the slightest warning-" He
stopped suddenly and looked hard at Mary. "You're sure they didn't
tell you where they were going? You're not trying to keep their secrets
for them, are you?"
    "Darling, please! Of course she's not!" his