Page 52 (1/2)

After everything, after all that work and sweat and danger, it was all over

Tick was in the forest now, still running, dodging trees and brush, tripping and getting back up again, ignoring the scratches He sucked at the air around hiive up and die

But then it finally becaulping breaths Sunset had arrived and the woods had grown very dark, the trees standing as ht his breath, he straightened and folded his arms around the Journal of Curious Letters

There had to be a way to fix this There had to be

Tick knew that Master George so Tick didn’t knohat kind of ic or futuristic device accomplished the task, but he knew his actions had been er always knohere and how to find him? Even in Alaska! Based on what Paul had said, they went there to give hie caredthe letter And Tick’s intent was stronger than anything he had felt in his entire life He wanted to see this through He wanted to reach the end of the mystery

He wanted it very, very badly

Not sure if he’d finally flipped his lid once and for all, Tick screa out several words as loudly as his body could handle

"MASTER GEORGE, I DIDN’T BURN THE LETTER!"

It hurt his throat and h, but he shouted it a second tih his torn throat, Tick concentrated He had to do soo to not burn the letter That choice still had to , didn’t it? If only he had chosen to take his journal with hi it where Kayla could find it

He felt a funny tickle growing in the pit of his stoy he hadn’t knoas there A wave of warmth spread up from his stomach into his chest The air in the woods stilled around hi for hiritted his teeth He tapped into that quiet pool of energy, channeling the heat that filled his body and forcing it through his shredded voice box, yelling out for the third time:

"MASTER GEORGE! IDIDNOTBURNTHELETTER!"

The woods sed up his words, returning only silence The fire in his belly flickered and then went out, leaving Tick feeling weak and shaky

He waited, hoping he would see so

Dejected, throat burning, and not knohat else he could possibly do, not knowing if what he had done had changed anything at all, he headed for ho a tea party for her three favorite dolls Hu hot tea