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leaders of the various Science Orders. Who were currently pointing at the kids and snickering.
    Simon nervously checked to see if something was hanging out of his nose while Alysha ran her hands through her hair, which was matted down under her raincoat hood.
    Gilio Skidowsa, Keeper of the Order of Biology, removed his wire spectacles to rub his eyes. “It’s nice to see you young science warriors again.” He gestured to the ground. “But you’ve got a man down.”
    Simon and Alysha looked to the ground in front of them and saw Owen sprawled in the gravel. As they helped him up, he blushed. “I expected a rougher reentry!”
    A lanky man stood next to Gilio; he wore glasses with thick lenses that magnified his eyes to look the size of half dollars. “Don’t be so hard on him,” he said with a smile. “I was nervous the first time I went through a Gateway.”
    Owen nodded in thanks, and the man grinned. “I’m Olvero Lombaro, hello! I’m the Keeper of the Order of Chemistry.” He paused, looking concerned. “You do like chemistry, don’t you? Why, it’s the most fascinating science of all! It’s closely related to physics, you know. We get to use beakers and pipettes and we wear goggles . . .”
    Allobero Foreedaman, Keeper of the Order of Astronomy, came up next to Olvero and clapped him on the shoulder. “Calm down there, Ollie,” he said in a scratchy voice. “I don’t think she really cares about that right now. Maybe we should just focus on why we’re all here.” He gestured to Simon. “That one.”
    Ralfagon clapped his hands. “Wonderful! Let’s make it official for young Simon so we can get on to the best part. I believe we have ice-cream cake!” Ralfagon gestured past the Gateway, which sank into the ground and vanished at that moment.
    The Gateway’s disappearance revealed a huge structure with angles and curves of various styles that didn’t fit well together. It looked as if a bunch of architects had designed separate buildings and merged them into a single one in order to give people the worst possible headache. At the top, hundreds of feet aboveground and arguably the worst fitting in style, was an arch. While most of the building was made of an extremely shiny metallic substance, the arch was so dull it seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
    Above the metallic entry doors hung a wide placard with various symbols, each of different colors, etched into it. Simon recognized the blue squiggle for the Order of Physics and guessed the other shapes and symbols represented the other groups within the Knowledge Union. Surely this was the Board of Administration’s headquarters.
    â€œI think that archway is new,” Ralfagon said. “Something odd about it. In any event, once a Board member makes it official, our Council will have another member!”
    â€œIt is more complicated than that, Ralfagon,” a slow, firm voice said from behind.
    Simon and his friends turned to see a very thin man; his crisply pressed slacks, dress shirt, and tie hung loosely off his body. His gaunt face seemed almost impossibly smooth, and his mouth, eyes, and eyebrows looked to be manually attached in a Mr. Potato Head sort of way (without the mus tache or glasses) rather than naturally grown.
    Something about him made Simon feel like backing away, but he knew that would be rude. This man was clearly someone important.
    â€œYoung friends,” Ralfagon said, “this is Janathus Misht, an official from the Board of Administration. He oversees the Science Orders and is here to witness Simon’s induction into the Council as co-Keeper of the Order of Physics.”
    â€œThat is incorrect,” Janathus said. “This boy will not be a Keeper with you.”
    Janathus’s expression did not change as he spoke. To be more accurate, he hadn’t been showing an expression