THE SECRET SEA: EXPANDED EDITION

30

Roaring brown water rushes past us as we stand on the bank of the Amazon. The air is so humid I feel as if I'm trying to breathe air through a wool blanket. I turn and see a wall of towering green trees with trunks wider than a suburban home. Branches and vines dip from the canopy in an array of tangled patterns. A choir of screeching birds and howling monkeys blare a delirious song across the river basin.

"This way," says Eve, pushing through a wall of wide leaved plants into the tree line. "VarnLiqn, can you shred us a path through this mess?"

"I bite! I rip!" says VarnLiqn with enthusiasm. He takes the lead and starts clearing the foliage with gnashing teeth and claws.

I shake my head. "It's like having your own personal Tasmanian Devil."

"Shut up and get the lead out," says Eve, barreling forward.

"Wait!" I protest, tripping over a girthy root.

My legs threaten to give out after hiking a few miles over uneven terrain. Wearing swapped shoes forms an assortment of interesting blisters on my feet. "Is this it?" I whisper to Eve as we finally reach a clearing.

Eve wears an intense look. Even VarnLiqn has gone still. "Yes. Remember, stay strong. We don't have to defeat her, just take what we need and leave."

"Right," I nod, trying to muster some confidence.

Eve twists her head. "She's here...I can feel her presence."

I look over Eve's shoulder at the largest toadstool I've ever seen. The cap is bright red and covered with lumpy white protrusions. The stalk is at least five feet tall. While I'm staring, the front of the fungus tears open and forms a ragged smile. After hanging out with a sentient umbrella, it's not so shocking.

"That's her...Danica. Whatever you do, don't laugh," whispers Eve through her teeth.

"Por que a galinha atravessou a estrada?" says the mushroom. Its voice is feminine and sweet.

"Mushroom talk!" says VarnLiqn, obviously taken aback.

"I think that's Portuguese," I whisper to the raccoon.

"Para chegar ao outro lado," responds Eve. "inglês, por favor?"

"What a classic," says the mushroom, grinning even more. The white lumps on its cap roll back, revealing tiny black pupils. They're eyes. So many eyes. "Are you here to laugh?" The leaf litter stirs. Brown tentacles attached to the mushroom's stalk rise from the ground and slither closer.

"No!" says Eve with authority. "Danica, we need your help."

The mushroom seems annoyed. "How can you know my name?" Its collection of eyes starts to blink. "You...you confound me. I can't see you clearly. Come closer."

I wonder if our backwards clothing is actually doing anything. I grit my teeth as the tentacles swirl my ankles. VarnLiqn crawls up my arm.

"We'll stay where we are," says Eve. She reaches in her bag slowly and pulls out the pen. "The world is in trouble. We're here on behalf of Queen Suzerain. We wish to activate the Scroll of the Secret Sea."

"Amma's courier is here? After so long?" asks Danica with surprise. "I can't see him. Does he like jokes?"

"No jokes, please," says Eve. I can tell our distraction is wearing off.

"Courier, why shouldn't you write with a broken pencil?" asks Danica.

"I...I don't know," I squeak.

Eve glares at me. "Don't respond!" she orders with a hush.

"Because it's pointless."