Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)(71)

"Hard to say," Doren said. "The demons of Fablehaven are bound or gone. The swamp hag gets older and battier every day. The dark creatures will lack leadership. The minotaurs could cause trouble if they decide to leave their territory, but I doubt the centaurs would allow it. Without a leader, the goblins, hobgoblins, and imps will probably lie low. The fog giants love their swamp. The few trolls will skulk and look for advantages in the upheaval. Many of the darkest creatures hibernate except for on festival nights. You'll know better than anyone if the undead are on the move."


"I don't sense anything," Seth said. "That's a relief," Doren said.


"What about you guys?" Seth asked.


"We wanted to get a grasp of the situation," Newel said.


"And now that you know ...?"


"It would be fun to catch a movie," Newel mused. "Do you know any theaters that allow goats inside?"


"No theaters will let goats in," Seth affirmed.


Newel frowned. "Maybe we could slip the ticket guy some of Viola's milk." He glanced at Doren. "We could wear boots and baggy pants."


"Or you could help me try to save the world," Seth said.


"You have a plan?" Doren asked.


"Best not to meddle in human affairs," Newel interrupted, grabbing Doren by the elbow. "I just remembered, we have some women and children to evacuate."


"The end of the world would mean an end to television," Seth reminded them.


Newel froze. It took him a few seconds to recover. "We'd have reruns."


"Not if people stopped running the TV stations," Seth said solemnly. "Your portable TV would be useless, even with the digital converter. On the other hand, if you helped me, there would be nothing to stop me from getting you guys a gas generator."


"A generator?" Newel said. "I'm listening."


"You'd need a reliable, long-lasting power source for your new flat-screen television and DVD player."


Newel licked his lips apprehensively. "What's the plan?"


"It's a work in progress," Seth explained. "First I need to get to the old manor. Patton left a message for me there."


Newel brightened. "So we get you to the manor, and you provide the gadgets?"


"I would need you guys to help me until this crisis is over," Seth said. "I'm not going to lie. It will be really dangerous."


"We can handle danger," Doren said stalwartly.


"Not so fast," Newel blurted. "We reserve the right to abandon you to your fate at any moment."


"In which case the deal would be off," Seth clarified.


The last major portion of the barn collapsed, a fiery wave breaking on a blazing shore. Newel folded his arms. "A gas generator needs a supply of gasoline."


"Two hundred gallons," Seth promised.


Newel was unreadable. His eyes shifted to Doren, who nodded. Newel sniffed. He swallowed. Then he spat in his palm and extended a hand. Seth shook it. Newel grinned. "You just acquired a crack commando backup unit."


"Who might abandon me at any time," Seth said, wiping his palm on his pants.


"In which case you won't have to spend your life savings on entertainment equipment," Doren added.


Newel rubbed his hands together. "I'm glad we've reached an accord. You know, it might be refreshing to embark on an actual adventure again."


"Adventures tend to be uncomfortable and deadly," Doren reminded his friend.


"Don't get me wrong," Newel said. "I've developed a keen preference for vicarious thrills. But nothing ventured, nothing gained."


Doren punched Seth playfully on the arm. "It saddened us to think we might have lost you. It will be good to help a friend."


"And to help yourselves," Seth stressed. "The end of the world sort of affects everybody."


"Hoping that these types of crises will somehow sort themselves out has served us well in the past," Newel muttered.


"Valid point," Doren seconded. He stared at Seth. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather find a place to hide and just see what happens?"


"I have to fix this," Seth said. "It's me or nobody. Sometimes I don't get you guys. You talk as if you don't have little adventures all the time!"


"Little is the operative word," Newel said. "Nipsie-sized. It's one thing to swipe a meal or filch some gold. That's just sport. It's easy to keep well within your limits. It's quite another decision to get involved in an actual cause. Causes have a way of tainting your reason until a person takes much bigger risks than sanity would otherwise allow."


"Which is why you reserved the right to bail," Seth said.


"Exactly," Newel said.


"Seth did save you from the influence of Ephira and Kurisock," Doren reminded him.


"I know," Newel snapped. "No need to dredge up the past. If I didn't like the boy, I wouldn't agree to this."