Free Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge Page A

clicking her fingers together. “Your partner in theGrey group is waiting to get started.”
    There’s only one other person in Class 6 who hasn’t rushed off already to explore the museum.
    Standing next to Miss Benjamin, Wesley MacNamara is wearing a sly smile on his face. That’s when I realise I really hate this stupid universe.
     
    “Where are we going?” I ask nervously as I follow Wesley along the empty gallery that skirts the edge of the entrance hall. “All the cool stuff is back that way.”
    “I’ve found it,” he replies, tapping the side of his nose as if keeping a big secret. “We can put the plan into action.”
    “What plan?” I ask, feeling even more confused as I look around the deserted space. There are no dynamic demonstrations, electrifying experiments or interactive exhibits anywhere to be seen in this corner of the museum. I don’t know how we’re going to find out the answers to any of Miss Benjamin’s questions here. I glance back over my shoulder to see my antique teacher deep in conversation with one of the museum staff, his bright-red jacket emblazoned with the logo of the C.E.B. Foundation.
    At the back of my mind I can’t help worrying that Wesley is trying to lure me to a lonely part of the museum so that he can subject me to a grisly science experiment. But at least he hasn’t given me a dead arm – yet.
    “Operation Platypus,” Wesley replies with an evil grin. “Don’t try and pretend you’ve forgotten our brilliant plan.”
    Oh no, don’t tell me that the Wesley MacNamara in this parallel universe is as crazy as the one I’ve left behind. I’d forgotten all about his failed science project to dissect a duck-billed platypus. I remember the pictures of the stuffed animals I’d seen on the website of the Clackthorpe Museum of Natural History and Mechanical Wonders. Surely there’s no space for a pickled platypus in this high-tech theme park?
    The sign above the frosted glass doors at the end of the gallery gives me the answer to this question.
    THE MONTAGUE WILKES WING
    HOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST COLLECTION OF ANTIQUARIAN ANIMALS
CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT
     
    “Come on,” Wesley grins, pushing the door open. “Let’s go and catch a platypus.”
    I freeze, trying to think of a way to get out of Wesley’s crazy scheme as he slips inside the Montague Wilkes Wing. Looking back along the gallery I can see the rest of Class 6 having fun inside the museum. I spot Kiran bouncing inside what looks like a giant hamster ball in the Atomic Zorb Zone, while Victoria Barnes is taking a selfie with her friends in front of an erupting volcano. Even Miss Benjamin is getting in on the action as she stands inside a Clone Zone pod as the curator presses a button to print an instant 3D copy. How have I got caught up in a platypus kidnap? If Miss Benjamin finds out…
    This is the moment when something clicks inside my brain. Since I arrived in this parallel universe I’ve been gaffer-taped to a chair, bad-mouthed by my best friend and even forced to hold hands with Victoria Barnes. I don’t belong here and the first chance I get I’m climbing back inside that cardboard box to escape from this crazy place.
    So what does it matter if I help Wesley MacNamara steal a stupid stuffed platypus? If I get caught, the only person who’s going to get the blame is theAlbie Bright in this universe. Suddenly I don’t feel scared any more. I can do what I like here and get away with it scot-free.
    “Albie?” Wesley’s voice floats out into the gallery. “Come and look what I’ve found.”
    With a last glance over my shoulder to make sure nobody is watching, I quickly slip through the door.
    Wow.
    That’s the only word I can use to describe what’s inside.
    The large room is lit by bright fluorescent lights and filled with stuffed animals of every kind. There are lions and tigers, leopards and bears, monkeys, zebras and crocodiles. And they’re just the ones that I can see straight