Free The Never War by D.J. MacHale Page A

doing here, it’s definitely got something to do with these mob guys. I don’t know if it will have anything to do with the war, but it’s where we gotta start.”
    â€œRight,” Spader said. “With the gangster-wogglies.”
    Gunny stood up and straightened his suit. “That’s where I come in. I’ve got friends in a lot of places; not all of them are good. I can ask some questions to get us started.”
    I had no idea where any of this would lead, but I felt confident that we were starting in the right place. Where it would take us was anybody’s guess.
    â€œGet some rest,” Gunny said. “I’ll come get you in the morning when it’s time for work. Be ready early.”
    Gunny took the cart and wheeled it toward the door. “Oh, one more thing. Before work, we’ll stop by the barbershop in the lobby. We can’t have you two working here looking like ladies.”
    I hated to admit it, but Gunny was right. My hair was getting long and shaggy. Spader’s black hair was almost to his shoulders. These were definitely not 1937 cuts.
    â€œWhat’s a barbershop?” Spader asked.
    â€œG’night, gentlemen,” Gunny said. “Sleep tight.” He opened the door, then turned back to us and said, “How’s this?” He rapped twice on the door, then once, then three times.
    â€œThe perfect secret knock,” I said.
    â€œI always wanted to be a G-man,” Gunny said with a smile. He closed the door and we were alone.
    â€œWhat’s a G-man?” Spader asked again.
    â€œIt’s not important,” I answered.
    â€œThen tell me about this World War Two. Is it really the natty-do you’re saying?”
    â€œWorse,” I answered solemnly. “I don’t know the words to describe how bad it was. If there’s a chance we could stop it, it would be beyond incredible.”
    Spader stood up and smiled. “Right then! I have a sudden urge to pee. Not that I’m nervous mind you. I’m just…scared to death.” He went for the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
    The ideas we were throwing around were too huge to comprehend. Was it possible that we might find the trigger here in New York that would start a chain reaction to prevent World War Two? A horror like that war was right up Saint Dane’s alley. Of course, that meant Saint Dane would be doing his best to make sure we wouldn’t find that trigger. That would be the challenge. Same old, same old.
    Then three knocks came at the door.
    I got up to let Gunny back in, figuring he had forgotten to tell us something. I hoped it was about breakfast. I was stuffed, but the thought of bacon and eggs was a sweet one.
    â€œI can’t believe you forgot the secret knock already,” I called out as I headed for the door. “You’d make a lousy G-man.”
    I opened the door and instantly got shoved back into the room. I fell down on my butt, hard. At first I didn’t get why Gunny would have done that. When I got my wits back and looked up, I had my answer.
    It wasn’t Gunny.
    Standing over me were the two gangsters from the subway station. The nasty one had a black revolver pointed right at my nose.
    â€œAin’t no G-man around to help you now,” he snarled.

JOURNAL #9
FIRST EARTH
    I was on my butt, looking up at two guys who only a few hours before had tried to kill me. They didn’t even bother covering their faces with handkerchiefs this time. They were a couple of gnarly-looking dudes too. The nasty one was, well, nasty looking. He had a pudgy face and dark, wild eyes. He was one of those guys who had to shave every hour or he’d have a Fred Flintstone thing going on.
    The other guy, the tense one, looked a little less tense than before. I’m sure that was because he didn’t have an audience now. He had thin features and a sharp, beaklike nose. He still didn’t look all too happy