The Reality Bug Read Online Free Page B

I kidding? Does any of this make sense? There was only one thing I knew for sure: All this thinking about multiple dimensions was ruining my cool flume ride. I had to lighten up.
    Too late. The jumble of notes grew more furious, which signaled I was nearing Veelox. A few seconds later gravity kicked in and I was gently set down. The first thing I saw was Gunny’s back. He stood at the mouth of the flume a few feet in front of me. The second thing I saw was …
    Saint Dane.
    Whoa.
    â€œHello, Pendragon,” the demon said with an oily smile. “Welcome to Veelox.”

    S aint Dane stood facing us in the dark room.
    His sharp blue eyes cut through the gloom like cold fire. He was in his normal form, standing seven feet tall with long gray hair that fell over his shoulders. To say I was shocked to see him doesn’t cover it.
    â€œI’m surprised, Pendragon,” Saint Dane continued. “After your embarrassment on First Earth, I thought you would have given up your foolish pursuit.”
    I couldn’t talk. I was in total brainlock.
    â€œNo matter,” he continued. “My work here is complete. Veelox is on the verge of crumbling. I must say, I didn’t expect Veelox to be the first territory to fall, but in the end it won’t matter, since all of Halla will ultimately meet the same fate.”
    â€œVeelox is about to crumble?” Gunny asked, stunned.
    â€œI don’t believe you,” I said, finally kick starting my brain.
    Saint Dane smiled from one corner of his mouth and said, “You say that as if I should care. Now, please, step aside. I have business elsewhere.”
    â€œYou’re not leaving,” I announced defiantly.
    Gunny gave me a quick, nervous look. That was a pretty bold threat, especially since I had no idea of how to back it up.
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” Saint Dane chuckled. “Hold me here?”
    â€œIf we have to,” I said, trying not to let my voice crack. I meant it too. If Saint Dane ran for the flume, I was ready to tackle him. We had to know what happened on Veelox.
    â€œIsn’t that a little unimaginative?” Saint Dane said. But the words didn’t come from his mouth. They came from our right. Huh? Gunny and I both turned quickly to see …
    Another Saint Dane was standing there. There were two of them! “Certainly you can be more creative than that,” the second Saint Dane said.
    â€œOr maybe you’ve reached your limit for resourcefulness,” came another voice.
    Uh-oh. Gunny and I spun to our left to see a third Saint Dane.
    â€œPress would be so disappointed in you.”
    We turned to see yet another Saint Dane behind us, standing in the mouth of the flume. “They’re not real, Gunny. They’re holograms,” I said. “Like movies.”
    â€œCorrect!” Saint Dane announced. The fifth Saint Dane. We were now standing in a circle of Saint Danes. There were twenty of them, all the exact duplicates of one another. They started to move together, circling us.
    â€œThe question is,” they all said in unison, “which one of us is real?” They let out a chilling laugh. “What to do? What to do?” they sang together.
    Gunny and I stood back to back, trying to spot any sign that would tell us which was the original. It was impossible. They were perfect clones. Then, in one unified voice, they all shouted, “ Eelong! ”
    Uh-oh. The flume came to life. If we were going to do something, it would have to be fast. Gunny made the first move. He jumped forward and wrapped his arms around the closest Saint Dane. But all he got for his trouble was an armload of air.
    The Saint Danes laughed. This was fun for him. Or them, or whatever.
    Light from the flume lit up the room and the musical notes were nearly on us. Gunny lunged at another Saint Dane, but his arms swept through the hologram like it wasn’t even there. Because it wasn’t. In