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galaxy? To make sure . . . our planet is still there?”
    Officer Erard waved his hand vaguely. “Radiation.”
    â€œThat sounds bad!” Sarah shrieked.
    â€œBut don’t worry,” Officer Bosendorfer said cheerfully. “These things usually clear up in a couple thousand years.”
    Dexter had a sudden coughing fit.
    Officer Erard’s handheld device squawked to life. “Officer Bosendorfer and Officer Erard, come in. Officer Bosendorfer and Officer Erard, come in. Please respond immediately to a code brown.”
    Suddenly it was Officers Bosendorfer’s and Erard’s turn to look pale. Officer Erard gasped for breath. “Do you . . . do you mean . . .”
    â€œMick Cracken is headed your way. You must give chase!”
    â€œMick Cracken?!” Officer Bosendorfer shuddered. His bottom lip began to quiver and he looked as if he might cry. “Do we have to?”

CHAPTER 10
    J acob had read that outer space is completely silent because there’s no air or water or anything else to transmit sound, just one big vacuum of nothing. That didn’t apply to the insides of spaceships, of course, because they were filled with air, but still, Jacob never would have guessed that the quietest moment he would experience in outer space would have involved two space officers stunned into silence by the name Mick Cracken.
    Officers Bosendorfer and Erard were slumped in their chairs staring out the cockpit window, radiating an acute sense of panic. Officer Bosendorfer sniffed once and rubbed his eyes. Officer Erard stared straight up at the roof and shook his head. Jacob, Sarah, and Dexter looked around at one another and shrugged their shoulders.
    Finally, Sarah Daisy broke the quiet. “Who’s Mick Cracken?”
    Officer Bosendorfer waved his hand at her. “Young lady, this is no time for bravery,” he said.
    Officer Erard sighed. “You know I can’t even say his name?”
    â€œI can say his name,” Officer Bosendorfer said. “But it makes me shudder every time. Watch this. Mick Cracken.” Officer Bosendorfer didn’t shudder. “Well, that time I didn’t shudder, but usually I shudder. It’s not usually something I can control, I . . .” Officer Bosendorfer shuddered. “Oh. There. See? Delayed shudder that time.”
    â€œI just never ever want to even think about—”
    â€œWho is Mick Cracken?!” Sarah asked again. This time the officers looked over at her.
    â€œYou mean you’re not afraid of him?” Officer Bosendorfer said.
    â€œI don’t even know who he is.”
    â€œWell, don’t tell him that.” Officer Erard shook his head. “He hates that more than anything.”
    â€œMick Cracken,” Officer Bosendorfer said with a shudder, “is the most rotten, black-hearted buccaneer this side of the Big Dipper.”
    â€œHe’s dangerous,” Officer Erard said.
    â€œHe’s tough.”
    â€œHe’s strong.”
    â€œHe’s crazy.”
    â€œHe once stole the hair off of the princess’s cat.”
    â€œAnd the cat didn’t even notice.”
    â€œHe’s dangerous.”
    â€œYou already said that,” Sarah said.
    Officer Erard turned to Officer Bosendorfer. “You have to admit, he is clever though.”
    â€œToo clever.”
    â€œHe’s—”
    A loud, piercing alarm sounded on the officers’ uniforms. Officer Erard slumped farther down in his chair. “He’s here.”
    â€œHe’s here?!” Sarah shrieked.
    Officer Bosendorfer patted Sarah on the back. “We can only hope he doesn’t steal you,” he said gravely.
    â€œHa,” Sarah said, “I’d love to see him try.” But then she swallowed nervously.
    Jacob Wonderbar jumped out of his chair and stood in front of the group. He didn’t know what he planned to do, but he wasn’t going to sit around and wait