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the others crossed the room. He pulled each of the drawers open, and a moment later came back with the augmenter gun in his hand. He passed it to his leader, who brandished it in front of Dr. Hughes.
    “This? This is it?”
    Dr. Hughes nodded. “Now let them go.”
    The man studied the device in his hand. “Show me how it works.”
    “It doesn’t,” Dr. Hughes said. “Not reliably.”
    “Show me!” His hoarse voice became a tortured growl.
    Ben felt the grip on his arms relax a little. His captors had become distracted by the augmenter gun. He closed his eyes and started gathering his thoughts. Calming his breathing. A lightning bolt. He would summon a lightning bolt. He pictured the oxygen atoms in front of him; he imagined a disturbance in the air, bouncing the atoms off one another, knocking electrons loose. He gathered these electrons in front of him, charging them up. He held them there, and opened his eyes.
    Dr. Hughes was pointing at something on the augmenter gun in the Dread Cloak leader’s hand. Everyone in the room was looking. Now was his chance.
    Ben yanked his arms free and leaped backward into the circle. He focused on the nearest Dread Cloak and, without thinking, let the actuation go with a single clap of his hands in front of him.
    A searing arc of light shot forward and struck the Dread Cloak in the chest. He bolted upright onto his toes, stiff, and then collapsed to the ground. Ben closed his eyes to try to summon another, but the attackers were on him instantly.
    “Get him out of there!” their leader shouted. “And make sure Riggs is still alive.”
    Ben fought and kicked and wriggled, but he couldn’t break free. Two men dragged him from the circle, across the floor, and forced him to his knees next to Dr. Hughes.
    The leader bent down close. Ben could see his eyes were blue through the slits in the ski mask. “Hello, hero boy. That was a devilish trick. Care to try it on me?”
    “Too easy,” Ben said.
    “Defiance. I like that.” The leader stood and looked back at the man Ben had struck. “Well?”
    “He’s alive,” came the reply. “He’s coming around.”
    The Dread Cloak leader returned his focus to Ben. “A fine little playpen you have here, with your toys. But you’ve just toddled into the grown-up world, and I think you will find it a painful place.”
    “Don’t hurt him,” Dr. Hughes said. “Please. I beg you.”
    “Leave him alone!” Peter shouted.
    Ben looked at his friend. Something had finally roused him.
    “We have two hero boys?” The leader coughed. “Bring him here.”
    They hauled Peter over and threw him down next to Ben.
    Dr. Hughes tried to lean toward them. “I’m sorry, boys, I —”
    “Silence, Doctor.” The leader looked around the room. “Quite clever to have built all of this. But in the end, of what use is it?” He held up the augmenter gun. “But this. This I can make terrible use of.”
    “I told you, it doesn’t work reliably!”
    “Then I will need you to continue working on it.” The leader turned to Ben. “But devilish children must not be left to run amok. Kill the boys.”

BEN’S mind burned hot, but gave him nothing. He looked at Peter. He looked at Dr. Hughes. What could he do? He had never actuated without any equipment. He didn’t think he could do it now, but he closed his eyes to try for another lightning bolt.
    “None of that, hero boy!”
    Something knocked the side of his head. Hard. Ben felt a sharp pain, and the actuation broke apart in his mind with a shower of sparks.
    “How should we do it?” one of the Dread Cloaks asked.
    Their leader paused. “I have an idea. Take them over there.” He pointed at a spot on the ground several feet away.
    The Dread Cloaks holding them shoved Ben and Peter across the floor to the spot, then let go of them and backed away.
    Ben looked at the doorway. It wasn’t too far. His head throbbed, and he closed his eyes. He couldn’t think straight. He considered running,