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Sophronia said, "So we are thinking that theprototype ?"
Vieve nodded "Which explains the dodechedron shape you said you saw Multifaceted for multiple directions and to sympathize with the aetheric humors, which we have always hypothesized are trapezoidal"
Sophronia looked at Soap and Pillover "You understand any of that?"
Soap shook his head
Pillover shrugged
Sophronia said, "Well, I understand I can clean that glove of ain?" Pillover looked at her in confusion
"Long story, you were in it, and it was all for naught"
"Sounds exciting"
"Only if you’re interested in the postal services"
Pillover looked as though heto worry about the ti!"
"Yes, well, that said, we had better return to the airship, now that we have a bit of a better idea what’s going on"
"Yes, I think we better had," Soap agreed He was looking at the position of the moon, clearly concerned
They h Bunson’s--well, mostly
About halfway down, they rounded a corner and ran smack-dab into a ainst her with an oof and stu on Soap’s foot This did not give theh time to do the little dance of obscurity, nor for Vieve to use her obstructor The maid identified Sophronia as feh-pitched whistle This, in turn, triggered a schoolwide alert
Unlike the bells of Mademoiselle Geraldine’s, Bunson’s alar saw, only louder It was an ae building The hallere instantly filled with mechanicals, and one or two humans as well Sophronia leapt for a nearby door, opened it, and dove inside The other three crowded after, only to find they had trapped themselves in a broom closet with no possible avenue of escape
"Simply marvelous What do we do noondered Pillover
"Quiet," said Sophronia
He ignored her, continuing gloo achieved only discourteous What will father say? No Pluenius The fa with us for?" Soap wanted to know "You’re allowed to roahtened out of his slouch and rabbed his ar place"
"It’s only a matter of time" Pillover was unsympathetic "They’ll do a schoolwide sweep" Then he pointed to a nearby broohtful Noe’re trapped in a closet with puns" Sophronia gave him a dirty look "Wait, of course--you are meant to be here Perfect! Everyone turn away from me for a moment"
The three others looked at her in confusion
"Si crowded into the closet, the other three all ed to turn their backs on her
Sophronia shimmied out of one of her two petticoats "All decent"
They turned back around
She handed the undergarh What’s this for?"
"If you put it on and go out there, they will think it was all a false alarm"
"Absolutely not!"
"Oh, co her eyelashes
Pillover appeared to be inity of it!"
"We could co it Would that help?" wheedled Sophronia
"Justification for ar with a openly at the very idea of Pillover in a skirt Pillover stood holding the petticoat between thuer as if it were contaminated with some dreaded cheo out there," Sophronia urged
"You could say you were running soested Vieve
"You could say you were testing the response tiested Sophronia
"You could say you like lady’s undergarested Soap
"I’m doomed" Pillover rolled his eyes and flapped the petticoat
"Oh, go on, Pill," Sophronia pushed
Pillover, gru, pulled the petticoat on and all the way up to his ar for him Sophronia handed hi in laughter Pillover took a deep breath and straightened upright with great dignity and aplomb
Sophronia listened at the door, hand up to keep the others quiet Then, when there seemed to be a lull in the activities outside in the corridor, quick as she could, she opened the door, dragged Pillover forward, and thrust hi in the hallway escalated for a minute and then quieted Into the silence a deep voice boon?"
They heard Pillover reply querulously, "A petticoat, Headmaster"
"So I see You had better have an excellently malevolent explanation as to why"
"Well, you see, sir," Pillover started to say, then, "Ouch Please, sir, not the ear"
"Come with me!"
"Yes, sir"
A clatter of mechanicals on rails and the thud of footsteps followed, leaving the hallway in silence