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“Cover me. I’m going in.”

“Cover you?” Peabody gave her a quizzical look. “I don’t understand.”

“Never mind.”

Lucy hurried through the doorway and around the corner. Theglowing walls illuminated a small train that was already in motion. She caught a glimpse of Gabriel and Otis in the front seat.

She opened her mouth to shoutCome back here, but it was too late. The train was picking up speed, rumbling forward, about to round a corner. Unable to think of anything else to do, she managed to jump aboard. The train jerked. She lost her balance and half fell onto the last bench seat.

The train clattered into a glowing purple chamber. A full-sized figure of a bearded man dressed in a pointed hat and flowing robes hovered over a laboratory workbench. The robes were decorated with stars and ancient alchemical symbols. Sylvester Jones, no doubt.

Sylvester appeared to be intent on a chemical reaction that was taking place in a purple crystal vessel. A leather-bound notebook was on the workbench. It was open to a page filled with what looked like a formula. The symbols were all handwritten. There were more leather-bound books on a nearby shelf. A large glass case filled with dried herbs and small, dark green bottles that appeared to contain mysterious powders stood against the wall.

“Meet my ancestor, Otis,” Gabriel said. “The old man is said to have invented a unique formula back on Earth in the seventeenth century, Old World Date. They say it affected his DNA. The Jones family hasn’t been the same since.”

The train came to a stop. Gabriel and Otis got out and headed for the workbench.

“Don’t touch anything,” Lucy ordered. “Get back on board, both of you.”

Otis chortled and held up a small object he had found on the workbench.

“Put it down,” Lucy said. “I mean it, Otis.”

“Better do as she says,” Gabriel said. “We can take a closer look some other time. Right now we’ve got bigger problems.”

Otis put down his treasure and bounced back to the train. Gabriel gotin beside him. The vehicle lurched into motion, heading for another curve.

Gabriel turned in the seat and looked back at Lucy. “I didn’t know you had come along for the ride.”

“Dr. Peabody is very upset,” Lucy said. “But he was afraid to try to order you off this ride.”

“Being a Guild boss has its privileges,” Gabriel said. “Besides, it’s a carnival ride.”

“These are valuable and possibly dangerous artifacts. This isn’t an amusement park, it’s a museum.”

“I guess it depends on your point of view.”

The train clanked down a short corridor and came to a halt. A sign announced the end of the ride. Gabriel and Otis got out of the front seat. Lucy stepped down from the rear bench.

“This is so embarrassing,” Lucy said as they walked out of the purple cave. “I can’t take you two anywhere.”

Peabody was waiting anxiously. “Did the dust bunny break anything?”

“No,” Lucy said. “I apologize on behalf of Mr. Jones and Otis.”

Peabody flushed. “I’m sure there was no harm done.”

“Very interesting exhibit,” Gabriel said. “I’d like to come back and take a closer look one of these days.”

“Certainly, Mr. Jones,” Peabody said. “Anytime.”

Lucy thought his tone of voice lacked enthusiasm.

***

The big utility vehicle was parked in a narrow lane in the Shadow Zone. Night had fallen. The shabby neighborhood, with its low-end casinos, cheap motels, and discount wedding chapels, took on a noir glamour after dark.

Gabriel opened the door for Lucy. She grabbed a handhold andvaulted up onto the passenger seat. Otis perched on the back of the seat. It gave him a good view out the front window.