Page 75 of Aru Shah and the End of Time

Mini bit into the second half of the cookie. “The Golden Compass.”

“Never read it.”

“Really?” asked Mini, shocked. “I’ll loan you my copy when we get home.”

Home.A home that was full of books Aru had never cracked open because her mother always read to her. Aru had trouble remembering things she read herself, but if sheheardsomething, she’d never forget it. Maybe that’s why her mom had told her so many stories. Her mom might have left her in the dark about being a Pandava, but at least hearing the stories about them had prepared Aru somewhat.Mom, thought Aru,I promise I’ll thank you as soon as I get home.

“Oh no,” said Mini.

“What? What is it?”

Mini held up her palm to show the symbol there:

“Another doomsday squiggle?” asked Aru. “Okay, well, it looks like a two, which would bereallybad news, but maybe it means four?”

“It means two.”

“Noooooooo!Betrayal!”

Only two days left?And the entirety of the Kingdom of Death left unexplored?

Mini ate the rest of the wisdom cookie.

“Feel any wiser?” asked Aru anxiously.

“No?”

“What about warmer? Or bloated? Like you’re full of hot air?”

But Mini wasn’t paying attention. She was staring at the three signs.

“Deign,” she whispered. “That’s the answer.”

“Why?”

“It’s kinda like a riddle,” said Mini. “The worddeignmeansto look down on. The arrow pointing up is a trap, because the whole point is that we have to look at what’s beneath us. It’s like when you have to make a choice you don’t want to make and you feel like you’re reluctant to do it.”

“Whoa,” said Aru. “You got all that from a cookie? Sure there isn’t any left?”

She grabbed the box from Mini and shook it. Nope. Not even a crumb. Mini stuck out her tongue.

At the edge of theDEIGNsign, a hole formed in the marble floor.

“Why is it only opening now?” asked Aru.

“Probably because we’re looking down and not up?”

Both girls peered down the hole. Something glittered far below. A strange fragrance wafted up. It smelled uncannily like Aru’s apartment in the museum: musty fabric, chai, lavender candles, and old books.

Mini frowned. “Let’s go in alphabetically,” she said.

“No way! My name starts withA. It’syourkingdom, sorta;yougo first—”

“I’mthe one who made sure we could get even this far.”

“Only becauseIlet you eat the cookie!”

“Chitrigupta gave it tome—”