“No breaking!” she shouted.

“That’s a good rule. What else?”

“Only use one at a time!”

“And … ?”

“Put them right back in the box—right in the same spot!” She squealed happily and ran up the stairs. Halfway up she stopped and turned to him. “Can I use your pencil sharpener?”

“No.” Some things, like his Iron Man pencil sharpener, were strictly off-limits.

Brianna bounded up the stairs, not willing to push her luck any further. Henry smiled. She wasn’t such a bad sister. He just wished she wasn’t around so much.

His mother didn’t emerge until almost six. “Oh, is it dinnertime already?” she said absently. “Guess we’ll order pizza.” This time she stayed out of the studio long enough to tuck Brianna in for the night.

She got as far as the doorway to the basement when Henry finally worked up the nerve to ask Brianna’s question. “Mom?” Perhaps it was only his imagination, but her shoulders and back seemed to stiffen. “I was … that is, Brianna was asking about Dad.”

“What about him, honey?” She smiled, but it looked strained.

“Well.” Henry rubbed his head, realizing he probably should have thought it through before asking. “He’s been gone a long time. Is he okay?”

“What an odd question!”

Henry blinked in surprise. The way she’d answered was … weird. Like fake happiness with a dash of nervousness.

“Oh, Henry. Everything’s fine.” She playfully rubbed his hair. “I really appreciate how you watched Brianna today. Why don’t you go enjoy some free time and tuck yourself in when you’re ready.” A quick kiss to the top of his head and she was gone, but not before one last nervous glance over her shoulder.

It took a minute before Henry realized his luck had changed. He could finally get down to business!

Just as he’d suspected, the four symbols on the cover of the guidebook matched a symbol on each of the other four books. The ulexite didn’t work on the symbols, but he was able to find one of the symbols repeated on the inside, next to a foreign word that the ulexite could translate.

“Yes!” He clamped his hands over his mouth as soon as the word escaped. His eyes blazed with triumph. The symbol meant fire! Knowing where to look now, he quickly solved the key to the remaining three.

Earth.

Air.

Water.

Now if he only knew what they were for.

The hours stretched well past his usual bedtime, but Henry wasn’t the least bit tired. When he heard his mother humming her way up the stairs to go to bed, he quickly turned off the light and scuttled beneath the covers. A short time later, he was back at it.