The Pillars of Ponderay by Lindsay Cummings Page A

gun, ten rock pillars shot out of the holes, stretching so high that Albert had tosquint to see their tops.
    â€œWhoa,” Albert said, his mouth hanging open.
    â€œSweet molasses,” Leroy added.
    From overhead, Tussy spoke into a MegaHorn.
    â€œToday’s task is straightforward. At the tops of these pillars—which I’m sure you know are stand-ins for the Ten Pillars of Ponderay—are ten large Tiles. You want your team to collect more Tiles than the other team, plain and simple.”
    â€œWhat are the rules?” Birdie called up.
    Tussy smiled like a shark again. “There are none.”
    â€œNice,” Albert said, bouncing on his toes.
    Across from him, he saw Hoyt sneering his face off.
    â€œBalance Keepers, are you ready?” Tussy yelled into the MegaHorn.
    Six voices answered. “Ready!”
    The whistle blew and the madness began. “Let’s split up!” Albert said to his friends. “Each of us take a different pillar, and try to work our way to the top.”
    â€œHow?” Birdie asked. “We can’t just shimmy up a pillar that size!”
    Leroy, who had been busy staring at the pillars, shrugged like he’d figured out a plan ages ago. “There are holds in the pillars, every four feet or so. We can use those to scale the sides.”
    Albert turned to stare at the pillars. Sure enough, he saw the holds Leroy was talking about, little divots inthe rock formations. Perfect for putting a hand or a foot inside. It was just like a rock-climbing wall.
    â€œHe’s right.” Albert grinned. “Let’s go. Move fast. And watch out for Hoyt. I have a feeling he’s not going to take this lightly.”
    â€œGot it, boss.” Leroy nodded. He turned his hat backward.
    â€œLet’s cream them!” Birdie clapped her hands.
    His friends both raced away. Albert sprinted across the Pit floor, losing sight of them as he zigzagged between pillars. Albert heard someone scream and looked up to see Slink falling through the air. He smacked the ground next to Albert, only to be sucked under and shot right back up again.
    â€œNice one, butterfingers!” Hoyt screamed.
    Albert looked up. Hoyt was already halfway up a pillar, using his Speed Tile to scurry like a Hexabon. Across from him, Birdie was just starting the climb.
    Leroy was nowhere to be seen.
    Move fast, Albert.
    He reached an empty pillar, and started the climb. It was tough work, especially after having been away from the Core for so many months. It couldn’t hurt to practice with my Tile. Albert closed his eyes for a second. He pictured the symbol that he’d studied back in his room in New York. It sort of looked like a dumbbell. Iron Grip.
    Still focusing on the symbol, Albert made his wayslowly up. Iron Grip was working, because even though Albert’s arms and legs were tired, his fingertips never slipped from the pillar. He was climbing fast, and in seconds, he was halfway up.
    â€œJust a little farther!” Albert told himself when he saw a handhold about a foot over his head.
    He reached for it, was about to grab a hold, when it simply disappeared.
    There was nothing Albert could do.
    He fell, fast, toward the bottom of the Pit. When he hit the floor it sucked him under like a soft blanket, then shot him back up in the air.
    Iron Grip! Albert thought, focusing on the dumbbell symbol again, and as he soared past a pillar, he reached out and grabbed hold.
    â€œHey!”
    Albert looked down to see Birdie a few feet below him on the same pillar, clinging to its side like a spider.
    â€œThe handholds disappear, be careful!” Albert said.
    Birdie nodded, a fat bruise on her forehead. “I learned that the hard way! Keep going, I’ll move to another pillar!”
    Someone screamed, and Albert saw Leroy and Hoyt fall off opposite pillars across the Pit.
    â€œMove, Albert!” Birdie cried from below him. It spurred him back into