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looking in the direction that Walker was pointing.
    â€œEddie, please stop that,” Walker pleaded. “How can you take her to the Kingdom if she can’t see or hear you?”
    â€œI’ve changed my mind,” said Eddie.
    â€œWell, I haven’t,” Walker assured him. “So if you’d just go away please and leave us alone, we have things to do.”
    Frankie looked quite bewildered, but not nearly as confused as she did when she suddenly saw Eddie standing right next to her.
    â€œAll right, then. If that’s the way you’re going to be,” said Eddie, “we’ll all go.”
    â€œOh wow!” cried Frankie. “How d’you do that? That is amazing! I’m Frankie, by the way.”
    â€œNo kidding!” said Eddie. “I kinda guessed that. You’re the only skinny girl around here that I can see.”
    â€œAnd I’m kinda guessing that you’re rude, and it’s not cool to be rude to people you just met,” said Frankie.
    â€œOh, I’m so sorry.” Eddie smirked. “If I upset you that much maybe you’d prefer to stay here and not have to be in my company.”
    â€œNice try, buster,” said Frankie, “but I don’t upset easily.”
    â€œWill you two stop?” yelled Walker. “You’re making me remember why I never wanted friends.”
    Much to Walker’s surprise they both fell silent.
    â€œAre we going to the Kingdom or not?” he demanded.
    â€œYes,” grumbled Eddie. “We’re going.”
    The three of them made their way back to the hole in the ground and stood on its edge.
    â€œNow hold hands and don’t let go until we’re in motion,” Eddie said sternly.
    â€œHow will we know we’re in motion?” asked Frankie.
    â€œYou’ll know because you’re moving,” replied Eddie. “That’s what motion means.”
    â€œIs he always this nasty?” Frankie asked Walker.
    Walker just sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and took hold of her hand. He felt Eddie’s hand close around his other one.
    â€œOn the count of three we jump,” Eddie commanded. “One—two—three!”
    They leaped into the air, and instead of the jarring sensation on their feet and ankles, they were enveloped in the smooth, silky blackness and strange floating feeling that Walker now knew meant they were on their way to the Kingdom. After what seemed both forever and no time at all they found themselves standing upright, only this time they were in the courtyard of the Palace.
    â€œOh—my—God!” Frankie cried. “That was totally awesome—I mean absolutely, completely the most amazing thing that ever happened to me, way better than snowboarding.”
    She looked around in wonder, staring at the people, the buildings, and the silver birds high above her head.
    â€œThis,” she said in an unusually hushed voice, “is the most beautiful place I’ve seen anywhere.”
    Walker looked at her with admiration; she seemed to have no fear. He also noticed for the first time how pretty she was. She glowed, not just in the way that everybody in the Kingdom glowed, but also because of excitement and anticipation. Then anxiety overtook him. He knew that by coming back he could be walking into a trap. Even though the king had let him return to the Outerworld before, there was no guarantee he would again, and bad as it would be to be captive himself, it would be far worse to know that Frankie was caged because of him.

Chapter 9
    W alker was still a little anxious as they mounted the steps to the Royal Apartments. But he also found he was feeling surprisingly at home. It was fun to be here with Frankie. He was wary of strange things himself, but all the way to the castle she had been exclaiming with wonder and delight.
    â€œLook at that cute dragon!”
    â€œWow, what a weird instrument! How great would it be to have