You. Headmasters office. Now.

Oliver gulped. H…headmaster? he stammered.

Coach Finkle crossed his arms, looking thoroughly unimpressed. You heard me, Blue. Go.

I dont know where the headmasters office is, Oliver admitted.

Take the elevator to the top floor. Its through the door into the sixth dimension, Coach Finkle said, irritated. He turned and marched away from Oliver, calling out to the others, Someone get the nurse!

Oliver got to his feet. Over on the other side of the court, the rest of the kids were landing and dismounting their ostreagles, crowding around Edmund to see if he was okay. Vinnie glowered at Oliver. He wasnt going to let him get away with this.

But whatever retribution Vinnie and Edmund would line up for him, it was going to be nothing in comparison to the headmaster. This was not how Oliver had wanted things to go. With a mixture of disappointment and terrified anticipation of his punishment, Oliver scurried away.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Oliver rode the elevator up to the very top of the School for Seers. He looked around for the headmasters office and found a door with a big number six on it.

He went to knock but the door opened before his knuckles had even collided with the surface. Cautiously, he stepped inside and called out, Hello?

The second Oliver crossed over the threshold, he began to float. It was dark inside the room, like the vacuum of space. Light came from a galaxy of multicolored orbs floating about the place. Oliver reached out and touched one as he passed. It spiraled away from him just like an object in zero gravity would.

Oliver, is that you? a voice called.

Oliver looked all about him. He couldnt tell from where the voice had spoken. There wasnt anyone around, as far as he could see.

Up here, Oliver. Coo-ee!

Oliver looked up and saw, floating with his arms and legs outstretched, a very kind-looking man. He had a broad smile and was wearing a shiny orange two-piece suit. If this was the headmaster of the School for Seers, he wasnt anything at all like Olivers imagination had conjured. And he didnt seem to be about to punish Oliver for his fight with Edmund, either.

Confused, Oliver watched as the man floated toward him, propelling himself like a swimmer through a pool. He reached Oliver, floating to his side. They shook hands.

Im Professor Amethyst, he said, his smile growing ever broader.

Im Oliver Tu

I know who you are! Professor Amethyst interrupted. Since I can see the past, present, and future of every timeline, Ive gotten to know all about you.

Oliver blinked with surprise. You have?

It was very difficult to maintain a conversation while he was floating around, and it didnt help matters that at times hed spin so that he was facing away from the headmaster.