these kinds of clues. We had our ways of spotting the few of us who remained, and nothing Longdaddy had done was in line with those ways.
He wasn’t a telepath or telekinetic, because Ciarissa had taught us how to tell if we were being read, and we weren’t, and no one had tried to make our bodies do something we didn’t want. Sure, he could be hiding either trait, but I just didn’t think he was. So, did that mean he was referring to Roy and Kyle?
Polliworld, like most of the inhabiteds, had a long history. It had gone through turmoil several times before the Diamante Purge, but had survived because the Underground were already in power.
The answer came to me. “Polliworld used to be ruled by kings. But the Underground preferred a propped-up democracy over a monarchy because that gave them more ways to have power, especially if the current ruler was against them. The royal family disappeared. The general story is that they were smuggled off-world. But that’s not the truth, is it?”
Longdaddy wouldn’t have been born, or maybe was a tadpole, when the Underground took over Polliworld, because that had happened well before the Diamante Purge. Meaning he had a grudge against the Underground and the Diamante Families both. Just like Monte did. But unlike Monte, Longdaddy apparently had more to think of than himself. Just like Roy.
Longdaddy smiled. “It’s good that we understand each other. You have proven yourself trustworthy to those in hiding,” he said to Bullfrog. “I hope for the same trust for myself.”
Bullfrog had lost his Polliwog stone face—awe and shock had taken over his expression—but he nodded. “Yes…sire.”
Longdaddy shook his head. “Not now. Not officially. And not until such time as what your ‘scientific team’ truly works for is done.”
“You’re why we were able to come in so easily undercover!”
Longdaddy chuckled. “It helps to have friends in low places.”
“And high ones. Okay, we’re all on the same side, at least in grand, general terms. But if we’re going to fix what’s going on, we need more information.”
“What else do you need?”
“A better understanding of just what’s been going on, especially what Monte’s done and promised. And safe passage back to our ship.”
“Anything else?” Longdaddy asked.
“Yeah. Any suggestions you might have for how to solve your problem without getting exposed or killed, either you or us.”
Longdaddy’s smile widened. “I sense the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Getting back to the Stingray involved more long walks through the underground hut path, but I’d been right—we were much closer to the Space Center than when we’d first entered No Frog’s Land.
Bullfrog and I left Longdaddy well before the Space Center and were handed off from one Polliwog guide to another until we were back at the Stingray . Sure, we came into the docking bay via the employee’s entrance, but otherwise it was a relatively normal return.
We were only going to be alone for a few seconds. “Bullfrog, did you tell Longdaddy about us? I won’t be mad at you if the answer’s yes, by the way.”
“No, I didn’t. I didn’t know who he really was until we both found out today.” Bullfrog rarely bothered to lie, and I was pretty sure he wasn’t lying now.
“Huh. Okay. Well, good.” Longdaddy knew who we were and what we were working for. And while all royalty knew or knew of each other somewhere and somehow, I doubted that King Oliver of Andromeda had been the one telling tales out of school.
Which meant someone else had told Longdaddy about us.
I considered this as we walked casually on board and were greeted with a lot of relieved expressions.
“Ciarissa said you two were okay, but I wasn’t sure,” Roy said as he hugged me tightly, even though I hadn’t changed out of my Polliwog form.
“We’re fine. We don’t have a lot of time. Some big things need to happen, very publicly, in a short
He wasn’t a telepath or telekinetic, because Ciarissa had taught us how to tell if we were being read, and we weren’t, and no one had tried to make our bodies do something we didn’t want. Sure, he could be hiding either trait, but I just didn’t think he was. So, did that mean he was referring to Roy and Kyle?
Polliworld, like most of the inhabiteds, had a long history. It had gone through turmoil several times before the Diamante Purge, but had survived because the Underground were already in power.
The answer came to me. “Polliworld used to be ruled by kings. But the Underground preferred a propped-up democracy over a monarchy because that gave them more ways to have power, especially if the current ruler was against them. The royal family disappeared. The general story is that they were smuggled off-world. But that’s not the truth, is it?”
Longdaddy wouldn’t have been born, or maybe was a tadpole, when the Underground took over Polliworld, because that had happened well before the Diamante Purge. Meaning he had a grudge against the Underground and the Diamante Families both. Just like Monte did. But unlike Monte, Longdaddy apparently had more to think of than himself. Just like Roy.
Longdaddy smiled. “It’s good that we understand each other. You have proven yourself trustworthy to those in hiding,” he said to Bullfrog. “I hope for the same trust for myself.”
Bullfrog had lost his Polliwog stone face—awe and shock had taken over his expression—but he nodded. “Yes…sire.”
Longdaddy shook his head. “Not now. Not officially. And not until such time as what your ‘scientific team’ truly works for is done.”
“You’re why we were able to come in so easily undercover!”
Longdaddy chuckled. “It helps to have friends in low places.”
“And high ones. Okay, we’re all on the same side, at least in grand, general terms. But if we’re going to fix what’s going on, we need more information.”
“What else do you need?”
“A better understanding of just what’s been going on, especially what Monte’s done and promised. And safe passage back to our ship.”
“Anything else?” Longdaddy asked.
“Yeah. Any suggestions you might have for how to solve your problem without getting exposed or killed, either you or us.”
Longdaddy’s smile widened. “I sense the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Getting back to the Stingray involved more long walks through the underground hut path, but I’d been right—we were much closer to the Space Center than when we’d first entered No Frog’s Land.
Bullfrog and I left Longdaddy well before the Space Center and were handed off from one Polliwog guide to another until we were back at the Stingray . Sure, we came into the docking bay via the employee’s entrance, but otherwise it was a relatively normal return.
We were only going to be alone for a few seconds. “Bullfrog, did you tell Longdaddy about us? I won’t be mad at you if the answer’s yes, by the way.”
“No, I didn’t. I didn’t know who he really was until we both found out today.” Bullfrog rarely bothered to lie, and I was pretty sure he wasn’t lying now.
“Huh. Okay. Well, good.” Longdaddy knew who we were and what we were working for. And while all royalty knew or knew of each other somewhere and somehow, I doubted that King Oliver of Andromeda had been the one telling tales out of school.
Which meant someone else had told Longdaddy about us.
I considered this as we walked casually on board and were greeted with a lot of relieved expressions.
“Ciarissa said you two were okay, but I wasn’t sure,” Roy said as he hugged me tightly, even though I hadn’t changed out of my Polliwog form.
“We’re fine. We don’t have a lot of time. Some big things need to happen, very publicly, in a short
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