Ridley Pearson - Power Play

“I haven’t spent a lot of time here,” Maybeck said. They remained just outside the entrance to the country’s courtyard, across the main path that encircled the lake. “I have this thing about robes. Priests. Witches. Doesn’t much matter to me. I hate them all.”

“Robes? Seriously?”

“I don’t know where it came from or why it bugs me so much. For some kids it’s clowns. Or sharks. I don’t love snakes or spiders, either. But guys in robes-girls, not so much-give me the creeps.”

“And they wear robes in Morocco? I’ve never noticed,” Willa said.

“Sometimes they do. Yes, sometimes they do,” he said defensively.

“Well, if I see a robe I’ll warn you,” she said.

“Besides,” he said, “I like hanging with you better.” He looked away as if watching for Overtakers. “Charlene’s way too happy and cheerleader for me most of the time.”

“And I’m not happy?”

“I didn’t say that. But you and me, we’ve got similar energy levels. I’m not talking about smarts, I’m talking about…energy.”

“You…you know I kinda like Philby, right?”

“Kinda?” Maybeck said.

Willa blushed.

“Everyone knows you like Philby except Philby.”

“Yeah, well, that’s Philby. Maybe that’s what makes him so easy to like.”

“Are you saying I’m not easy to like?” Maybeck said.

“I did not say that. You’re very easy to like.”

“You’ve got that right,” he said.

Willa bit back a smile. “So tell me something: Do you like to be called Donnie or Terry better?”

“I couldn’t care less,” he said.

“You must have a preference.”

“Sadly, no. Call me whatever you like, just don’t call me-”

“-late to dinner,” she said, interrupting. “That’s a very old joke, Donnie.”

He shrugged. “I’m an old soul.”

People were already positioning themselves around the lake, reserving prime spots for the upcoming fireworks display. The Keepers planned to use IllumiNations to their advantage.

“Do you think we’re wasting our time with this spindle thing?” Maybeck asked, since it had been largely his idea.

“I…ah…You and I have both been trapped in the Syndrome, so I don’t have to explain to you why I’d do anything to break the spell on Amanda.”

“That doesn’t exactly answer my question.”

“I can see how it makes sense.”

“You think we’re wasting our time.”

“I have no other plan,” she said. “No one had any other plan. ‘Reverse the curse,’ Donnie. It makes sense. It really does.”

“I just don’t want to be the one wasting our time.” He sounded younger all of a sudden, apologetic.

“Finn and Philby make a lot of the tough decisions,” she said. “Especially Finn.”

“You’re holding out on me, girl,” Maybeck said, catching an expression passing across her face.

“I…it’s something someone told me when I was in SBS. If you’re nice to me, maybe I’ll share it. Or maybe I’ll just share it with the girls.”

“I can be very nice.”

“That’s for me to judge.”

“Weaver spindles,” Maybeck reminded, the crowd inside Morocco thinning as the fireworks neared.

“The gift shop. Yeah.”

“There’s a gift shop in the World Showcase? Now there’s a surprise,” he said sarcastically.

“They sell small rugs. There’s a rug loom on display. Spindles. I’ll create a diversion. You grab one of the spindles. Simple,” she said.

“Why does the black kid have to be the thief?”

“That’s awful. That’s not it at all , and you know it. First of all, you’re just Maybeck to me, ’kay? Second, you’re not a thief, but you are a boy. You’re better at this stuff.”

“Boys are better at stealing?”

“If you’re chicken, I’ll do it,” she said.

“Okay, good. You do it. I’ll create the diversion.”

“You’re serious?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay,” Willa said reluctantly, clearly unhappy with the arrangement.

As the Disney voice announced the start of Reflections of Earth, Park guests rushed the lake in droves, forming a human ring fifty people deep around the entire lake.

Maybeck said, “If we get separated, we meet outside the bathrooms by the train display at Germany. It’s just around the-”

“I know where it is.”

“You’re mad at me.”

“Am not,” she said, clearly lying. “It’s just I’ve never stolen anything in my life, and that was a record I was hoping to keep.”

“And I have?”

“I didn’t say that!”

“We can flip a coin if you like.”

“I like.”

“You got a coin?” he asked, checking his pockets.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “Just don’t say I never did anything for you.”

“You won’t get caught because my job’s to make sure you don’t get caught.”

“You never quit, do you?”

“Hey, if you don’t believe in yourself, then who will?”

Finn hip-checked Charlene, turning her down the wide, curving jungle path between Mexico and Norway. It dead-ended into a wide wooden gate, a Cast Members- only entrance to the right. In the soft shadow of darkness appeared the shape of a woman, and Charlene startled.

“It’s okay,” Finn said, encouraging Charlene forward. “It’s Wanda. She’s expecting us.”

Wanda Alcott greeted them both with hugs, holding on to Finn like she might a nephew. Her gratitude for his bailing her out of jail was written all over her face.

“It’s all arranged,” Wanda said. “They added the extra show. It starts any minute. Better from here on if it’s just us girls.”

Finn nodded.

Charlene knew the plan, but not Wanda’s involvement.

“Should anything go wrong, and Lord knows it can,” Wanda said, “I’ve arranged a way out for you; and for the other two, for that matter. The characters are all on your side,” Wanda said.

“The Cast Members,” Charlene clarified.

“Some of them, too,” Wanda said. “But no, Charlene, I mean the characters. They have been supportive of all of you from the beginning.”

“But, that means…From the beginning ?” She felt overwhelmed. Their support could change everything.

“My father was reluctant to organize them-quite honestly, not knowing whom to trust. But the dust has settled. Hmm? And there’s every indication now that they’ve come together as a group. It’s tremendous progress, and it’s in large part because of the example you’ve set. For so many years-decades-they’ve been individuals; they’ve enjoyed the flattery of daily attention. Like with movie stars, that creates some interesting personalities-just read the tabloids. But so many of them want the magic to remain in the Parks. Their very existence is at stake. If the Overtakers have their way, they’ll all be wiped out. Gone. Hard to imagine a world like that.”

“I don’t want to imagine a world like that,” Charlene said.

“It’s not just the Overtakers we have to worry about,” Finn said. “There are Security guys who’ve come after us before. It’s not like we can trust just any Disney employee.”

“No. There are definite pockets within various groups to watch out for. The poison has spread.”

“To the Imagineers?” Finn said.

“I spoke with your mother. In any war there is the threat of double agents.”

“And we’re at war?” Charlene said.

“We will be soon. Darkness descends,” Wanda said, looking up into the night sky.

She grabbed Charlene by the hand, nodded to Finn, and led the girl through the Cast Member doorway.

Charlene looked back at Finn through the gloom, her face a mask of worry and concern.