“I have been,” said Phil. “Let’s be reasonable. From what we’ve both seen, most of the big curses are outside to keep people from getting in. We’ve made it all the way here with no casualties, so I think I’m going back to the Stink Missile and play Crazy Eights with Morty.”

“You’re not getting out of my brain until we’re out of this house. Now look around for traps.”

They both gazed around the room looking for trip wires and electronic sensors.

“See anything?” said Coop.

“Wait. Have you got a pencil or something? Toss it inside.”

Coop took a pen from his waist pack and threw it end over end through the door. Twin swords swung down from overhead, snapping the pen in half. They landed with a clatter on the floor.

“Okay. Is there anything else?”

“Nada,” said Phil. “Bupkis.”

Coop took a deep breath, trying not to think about the bisected pen in front of him. “I’m going in.”

“Relax, Pacino. It’s just me here. You don’t need to chew the scenery.”

Coop took a step. The floor squeaked.

“Stop!” screamed Phil. But it was too late. Coop’s body weight carried him forward onto the rigged board. There was a brief sound of gears winding in the walls, then a crack . . .

And then the whole floor fell away beneath them, dropping desks, tables, chairs, and potted plants down into what looked like a bottomless void. The only reason Coop hadn’t followed the mess down into the abyss was that he twisted and grabbed a wall sconce at just the last minute. He hung there now, too far from the hall to swing back, and there was nothing to jump onto but the safe, which was too far away.

“Get us out. Get us out. Get us out,” screamed Phil.

“You’re the one who got us into this. Where are we supposed to go?”

“Get us out. Get us out. Get us—”

“Pipe down. Why don’t you try helping?”

“You’re the one with all the Batman gear. You think of something.”

Coop reached into his backpack and took a small water pistol. He held it high and shot a stream toward the floating safe. The water evaporated before it got halfway there.

“Okay. If I follow that line, it looks like there’s just a heat curse. I can handle that. Do you see anything else?”

“I’m having a moment here, Coop. Can I catch my breath?”

“You don’t breathe, and this sconce isn’t going to hold forever. Are there any more traps?”

“I can’t see anything, but I get the feeling there are. Try something else.”