Sato—A fourteen-year-old Realitant recruit from Japan. He has a dark secret that makes him very reluctant to ever trust another Realitant.

Shockpulse—An injection of highly concentrated electromagnetic nanobots that seek out and destroy the tiny components of a nanolocator, rendering it useless.

Snooper Bug—A hideous crossbreed of birds and insects created by the mutated power of the Chi’karda in the Thirteenth Reality. Can detect any known weapon or poison and can kill with one quick strike of its needle-nosed beak. Pet of Mistress Jane.

Sofia Pacini—A twelve-year-old Realitant recruit from Italy. From an extremely wealthy family, she is tougher than nails and has no problem displaying it.

Sound Slicer—A small device that shoots out a heavily concentrated force of sound waves, almost too low for the human ear to register but powerful enough to knock something senseless if caught in its direct path.

Tick—Nickname for Atticus Higginbottom.

Tingle Wraith—A collection of microscopic creatures from the Second Reality, called spilphens, that can form together into a cloud while rubbing against each other to make a horrible sound called the Death Siren. After thirty seconds, this sound does unpleasant things to a human, but has never been known to actually kill one. Chu Industries has developed a way to train and program the Wraiths to form into the shape of a creepy old man’s face (for fright effect) and appear to a certain individual based on a nanolocator, DNA, or blood type.

Windbike—An invention of Chu Industries, this vehicle is a motorcycle that can fly, consuming hydrogen directly out of the air for its fuel. Based on an extremely complex gravity-manipulation theorem first proposed by Reginald Chu.

Winking—The act of traveling between or within Realities by use of a Barrier Wand. Causes a slight tingle to a person’s shoulders and back.

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Discussion Questions

1. Tick meets many strange people while solving the Twelve Clues, like Mothball, the tall and lanky woman with an unfortunate name, and Rutger, the short fat man from the Eleventh Reality. At first, Tick is scared of them both but soon learns to like and trust them. What lessons can we learn from that?

2. After his first fright with the Gnat Rat, Tick is tempted to burn the first letter from Master George. After much deliberation, he makes the choice to continue on, knowing that some important cause must exist behind it all. What does this teach us about courage and sacrifice? Would you have burned the letter?

3. When Tick and his dad travel to Alaska to investigate the postmark of the first letter, they find that Norbert Johnson has retreated to his home, scared to death that Mistress Jane will return to seek vengeance. They help him confront his fear and return to society and to the job he loves. How do you think that applies to your own life?