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berries. Spencer couldn’t tell if any of the shiny devices throughout the kitchen were actually used for cooking, but decided that with the BEAR-COMs, state-of-the-art culinary equipment would fit right in here.
    Through a curved doorway on the far side of the room, Spencer could just make out a set of broad steps leading down, deeper into the ground.
    Of course! The bears’ home was built down, not up. The rows of rounded roofs that had looked so small from above were just the beginning. He’d only seen the very surface of Bearhaven.
    Professor Weaver stepped back from the blazing fire. “Why don’t you come sit down, son,” he said. “I’m sure that Bunny wants to get you straight to bed, but something tells me you’re not going anywhere until your uncle arrives.”
    Spencer nodded, glad that he wouldn’t have to wait in some guest room alone, and went to settle himself on a couch patterned with overlapping leaves. Kate followed and flopped down onto the carpet in front of the fireplace, stretching out on her back.
    “You must be starving, Spencer,” Bunny said, but before Spencer could answer her, a sharp knock rattled the door. Spencer jumped, his bare arms and legs suddenly covered in goose bumps as the memory of Yude’s cold stare raced into his head. Professor Weaver rose on his hind legs, his head only a few inches from the ceiling when he stood at his full height, and Bunny bustled to the door.
    Spencer reached for his jade bear, pushing Yude’s image out of his mind. There was nothing to be afraid of. He was safe here, he told himself, with a stone bear in his hand and a real one standing between him and whoever was out there.
    “Spence!”
    Uncle Mark stood in the threshold, a duffel bag in one hand and Spencer’s backpack in the other. He winked at Spencer. “I see you found the place.” He dropped the bags, crossed the room, and pulled Spencer up from the couch into a hug.
    Stepping back, Uncle Mark looked him over. “I’m glad to see you’re still in one piece. I know I’ve got some explaining to do.” Some explaining to do? That was an understatement.
    “How are Mom and Dad?” Spencer blurted out.
    “Why don’t we all sit down,” Uncle Mark said, dropping onto the leafy couch. “Professor, Bunny, you’ll need to hear this, too.”
    Spencer sank back down onto the couch next to Uncle Mark, Professor Weaver reclined on a couch facing them, but Bunny, crossing the room, suddenly cried, “Kate! That’s not yours!”
    Everyone turned to see Kate pull her head out from the depths of Spencer’s backpack, a brown paper bag hanging from her mouth. Ignoring her mother’s glare, Kate trotted over to Spencer. She dropped the bag in Spencer’s lap.
    “I smelled it!” she told him cheerfully.
    Surprising himself, Spencer laughed. “My lunch!”
    He was exhausted and anxious to hear news about his parents, but he was also starving. He’d forgotten all about the extra peanut butter sandwich that Evarita had tossed into his backpack that morning. “Fuel for the rope,” she’d called it.
    “Thanks, Kate,” he said.
    “You said he was hungry!” Kate bounded out of the room before Bunny could reply.
    Unwrapping his crushed, soggy sandwich, Spencer saw Bunny shoot Professor Weaver a look as she sat down beside him. The professor stifled a chuckle, then turned his attention to Uncle Mark, an expression of total seriousness on his face.
    “What can you tell us, Mark? How are Jane and Shane?”
    “Where are they?” Spencer asked through a mouthful of sandwich. Uncle Mark ran a hand through his hair and turned to face Spencer. And at that moment, Spencer knew. They hadn’t pulled the emergency brake as a precaution. Something was really, really wrong.
    “Spencer, your dad’s been captured.”

“Spencer, dear, are you all right?” Bunny exclaimed.
    Spencer was coughing, choking on bread and peanut butter. Gulping for air, he finally managed to swallow. “Maybe it’s too much,”