question.
"Can the false modesty. Amanda told us what you did to Rizzo in your Travel's
class."
"Oh that." Carole said, as she rubbed the fatigue out of her neck.
"Take on Hotspot's sidekick like it was nothing? You got guts, girl. Course we already
knew that."
"The man gets into trouble once in his life and swears off leaping for good. He's
supposed to be preparing us for transdimensional travel, not scaring us off it with all his horror
stories."
"But you're the only students who've ever made a real jump, Carole," Amanda said. "The
rest of us haven't even faced Point Puke, yet."
"That's my point. Rizzo makes it seem like every leap will be your last. So he was
attacked by a bunch of crabs, big deal. If he treated them like he treats us, it's no wonder they
turned on him. Heck, we made it here without any training at all."
"How did you do it?"
A look of alarm crossed Lilly's face.
"Ah...it was a fluke." Carole wished she'd kept her mouth shut. "They say it was because
of an overlap of the fluxing dimensions. Something similar happened to Professor Philamount.
That's how he found me in the first place."
"Oh, I see." Amanda looked thoughtful. "So that can't happen anymore."
"Not since the tunnels have all been reconnected and the dimensions have stopped
wobbling."
"Too bad. I'd really like to see another dimension."
"You'll get your chance after graduation."
"Only if I pass the 'Dive of Destiny'."
"I'm sure you'll do that," Zack said.
Lilly gave her brother a piercing glance. "Oh really, and you have a crystal ball?"
"I'm just saying, it's obvious Amanda can think for herself."
Lilly snorted. "Right."
"So what've you got for me?" Carole said quickly.
Amanda reached into a folder. "Just two pages for now. Lilly and Zack have already
finished."
"Some good questions, too," Zack said. "Interesting the local eggheads didn't think to ask
them."
Carole picked up the papers and began to read.
"So, are we still going?" Zack said into the silence a short time later.
Lilly's foot bumped Carole's as she kicked him under the table.
Carole pretended not to notice. "I suppose so." She spoke with deliberate disinterest, as
if Zack's question was of no great concern.
Amanda regarded Zack with obvious curiosity. "Going where?" she finally said.
"To--" he began.
"To help Carole do a little History research for Melamine's class." Lilly smiled and
caught Carole's foot again as she gave her brother another solid whack on the shin. "We're really
just keeping her company so she won't be so bored."
"Here?"
"No, in the archives," said Carole.
"Oh, you're doing real research. I could help if you'd like?"
"Why'd you want to do that?" Lilly said, a little too sharply.
"Never been to the archives. Besides, you're helping me out."
"You don't mind being seen in public with monobrains?"
Amanda looked a little embarrassed. "Multitaskers used to pride themselves on linking
with beings from different dimensions."
Zack snorted. "So long as it isn't us."
"Well Professor Hotspot says we have to be careful not to trigger another Conundrum,
and it was a ,monobrain who caused the first one."
"And you agree?" Lilly said.
"No. At least not totally. I suppose we do need to be careful, but I want to visit different
dimensions, and so do my friends. It's just... Professor Hotspot does have a lot of influence."
"But, of course he doesn't scare you?" Lilly said, almost like a challenge.
"I never said that." Amanda clasped her hands together and stared at them for a time. "I
wouldn't be much of a leaper if I couldn't even talk to you guys, but it's hard. People are becoming
more rigid. You know...the virus. And like I said, I'm not the only one. My friends would love to get
to know you."
"So long as it isn't in public."
"Take it easy, Lil," Zack said.
"Why haven't we seen her at any of Professor Seafeather's gatherings. Aren't they
considered respectable?"
Amanda looked uncomfortable. "You weren't here before. You don't know what it
"Can the false modesty. Amanda told us what you did to Rizzo in your Travel's
class."
"Oh that." Carole said, as she rubbed the fatigue out of her neck.
"Take on Hotspot's sidekick like it was nothing? You got guts, girl. Course we already
knew that."
"The man gets into trouble once in his life and swears off leaping for good. He's
supposed to be preparing us for transdimensional travel, not scaring us off it with all his horror
stories."
"But you're the only students who've ever made a real jump, Carole," Amanda said. "The
rest of us haven't even faced Point Puke, yet."
"That's my point. Rizzo makes it seem like every leap will be your last. So he was
attacked by a bunch of crabs, big deal. If he treated them like he treats us, it's no wonder they
turned on him. Heck, we made it here without any training at all."
"How did you do it?"
A look of alarm crossed Lilly's face.
"Ah...it was a fluke." Carole wished she'd kept her mouth shut. "They say it was because
of an overlap of the fluxing dimensions. Something similar happened to Professor Philamount.
That's how he found me in the first place."
"Oh, I see." Amanda looked thoughtful. "So that can't happen anymore."
"Not since the tunnels have all been reconnected and the dimensions have stopped
wobbling."
"Too bad. I'd really like to see another dimension."
"You'll get your chance after graduation."
"Only if I pass the 'Dive of Destiny'."
"I'm sure you'll do that," Zack said.
Lilly gave her brother a piercing glance. "Oh really, and you have a crystal ball?"
"I'm just saying, it's obvious Amanda can think for herself."
Lilly snorted. "Right."
"So what've you got for me?" Carole said quickly.
Amanda reached into a folder. "Just two pages for now. Lilly and Zack have already
finished."
"Some good questions, too," Zack said. "Interesting the local eggheads didn't think to ask
them."
Carole picked up the papers and began to read.
"So, are we still going?" Zack said into the silence a short time later.
Lilly's foot bumped Carole's as she kicked him under the table.
Carole pretended not to notice. "I suppose so." She spoke with deliberate disinterest, as
if Zack's question was of no great concern.
Amanda regarded Zack with obvious curiosity. "Going where?" she finally said.
"To--" he began.
"To help Carole do a little History research for Melamine's class." Lilly smiled and
caught Carole's foot again as she gave her brother another solid whack on the shin. "We're really
just keeping her company so she won't be so bored."
"Here?"
"No, in the archives," said Carole.
"Oh, you're doing real research. I could help if you'd like?"
"Why'd you want to do that?" Lilly said, a little too sharply.
"Never been to the archives. Besides, you're helping me out."
"You don't mind being seen in public with monobrains?"
Amanda looked a little embarrassed. "Multitaskers used to pride themselves on linking
with beings from different dimensions."
Zack snorted. "So long as it isn't us."
"Well Professor Hotspot says we have to be careful not to trigger another Conundrum,
and it was a ,monobrain who caused the first one."
"And you agree?" Lilly said.
"No. At least not totally. I suppose we do need to be careful, but I want to visit different
dimensions, and so do my friends. It's just... Professor Hotspot does have a lot of influence."
"But, of course he doesn't scare you?" Lilly said, almost like a challenge.
"I never said that." Amanda clasped her hands together and stared at them for a time. "I
wouldn't be much of a leaper if I couldn't even talk to you guys, but it's hard. People are becoming
more rigid. You know...the virus. And like I said, I'm not the only one. My friends would love to get
to know you."
"So long as it isn't in public."
"Take it easy, Lil," Zack said.
"Why haven't we seen her at any of Professor Seafeather's gatherings. Aren't they
considered respectable?"
Amanda looked uncomfortable. "You weren't here before. You don't know what it
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