342.

Erec grabbed the Hermit's nose--the only part of him he could reach. The Hermit gave him a knowing nod, like a respectful salute.

"Olwen Cullwich!" Erec shouted, before his father, King Piter, carried him away.

Clio was beyond apologetic when the king returned Erec to the playroom. "Maybe it's best if someone else takes over for a while," the king said sternly. Clio ran from the room in tears.

Erec felt terrible about Clio. But at least her replacement was June.

"Mom!" He ran to give her a hug when he saw her. June had a big smile and a squeeze for him but said, "Just call me June, Erec. Save 'Mom' for your mommy, okay?"

"Okay. Mom? I mean, June?"

"Yes, Prince Poo-Poo Head? I mean, Erec?"

"I want Olwen Cullwich. I need Olwen."

Every chance he got over the next day he asked for Olwen Cullwich. Everyone seemed to think it was amusing, and they took turns speculating why he was fixated on that name. Nobody thought he had a clue who Olwen really was. Erec felt like a talking monkey--interesting, but not capable of making sense to anyone.

Finally he gave up. He stood against one of the toy shelves, arms crossed, a bitter look on his cherub face. Everything was going wrong. He was here, in the very spot he lived when he was little, seeing everything he always wanted to know about. He now knew exactly who his father and birth mother were. He saw June in action--no more questions about what she used to do in Alypium. He was in the same city as Olwen Cullwich, who still had the Twrch Trwyth. Everything was in place for him to make a clean sweep and fix everything, but nobody would pay attention to him. He was helpless.

343.

He kicked a small wooden duck into a pile of toy animals, sending them flying. That was it. He was not going to let other people stand in his way. It was time to take care of things himself. Even if it meant wandering through Alypium in a three-year-old body to find Olwen Cullwich.

He told June that he wanted a hat, and she found a floppy denim one for him to wear. Then he waved his brother over. "C'mere. What's your name again?"

"Prince Muck-Muck!" the blond boy shouted, running around like a maniac.

"What's your real name?"

"Prince Muck-Muck!" the boy shouted louder, raising a plastic sword over his head.

"All right, put that down." Erec said. "Come here, Prince Muck-Muck. You know that girl? Our sister? What's her name?"

"Princess Pretty Pony!" The boy sped to his sister, zoomed around her awhile, knocking her crayons over, then ran back.

"All right," Erec said, "I have a secret."

Prince Muck-Muck's eyes lit up. "Tell me."

Erec whispered in his ear. "Throw Princess Pretty Pony's crayons and markers all over. Very funny." He flashed him a smile.

Prince Muck-Muck looked delighted. He laughed and clapped his hands, jumping on his toes. "Mess, mess!" Then he spread his arms out and raced to his sister with a demonic face. "Mess, mess!" he shouted.

Erec didn't wait one second. As soon as Prince Muck-Muck began to destroy Princess Pretty Pony's work, making a mess, mess, June headed over to intervene, and Erec darted out the door.

Once he was out of the west wing, it was easier to move around. People seemed busier, talking in groups or heading somewhere in a 344.

hurry. He pulled his hat tight over his head to hide his blond curls. A few people threw him funny looks when he darted out the front doors of the castle, but they must have figured he was running to a parent, as he smiled so confidently.

The front of the castle looked the same as Erec remembered from ten years later. The six stone statues of monsters looked immense now that he was small. Seeing them reminded him of how they would crumble in the future, unless he figured out how to stop Oscar--and himself.

The agora had changed a lot, though. Cloud Nine, his favorite cloud-cream shop, was not there, nor was Tricksters, the magic shop where Mr. Peebles had bought him his first remote control. He figured out a system to get around on the streets. As soon as he saw someone staring with a concerned look, he would wave wildly and start to run toward some other passerby, as if he had just found the person he was looking for.

He got pretty far this way. Soon he found a police officer gazing wistfully into a store he did not recognize. When he got closer he saw that its sign read VULCAN. Large wooden feet stuck out from the building's foundation at each corner. Erec noticed they twitched every once in a while.

The only other time he had seen a Vulcan store, it had been prancing and running wild in Otherness. They were rarely seen in Alypium and Aorth. Erec was surprised to see it sitting nicely in a row with the other stores, letting people wander in and out, although he did notice its toe was beginning to tap impatiently.

He approached the police officer, not thinking about his age. "How long has this been here?" Hearing his own slow and squeaky voice instantly reminded him how young he appeared.

"Well, hello there, little guy." The officer smiled down at him. His dark brown hair trailed down into a mustache and beard that 345.

surrounded his friendly smile like a halo. A badge on his uniform read, "Mark McMac, PC." He looked around. "Who are you out here with?"

"You," Erec's little voice said. He knew that would generate some interest.

"Hmm..." The officer picked him up. "I think we better find out where you live. Somebody's probably missing you right now."

"What is PC?" Erec asked.

"Primo Creator. Just a side business I'm starting up."

Erec nodded. "Can you tell me something?" he squeaked out.

"Why, sure." The officer smiled. "Why don't you just call me Officer Mark. Or Mark, if that's too hard."

Erec repeated himself slowly, hoping this time to get an answer. "How long has this store been here?"

"This one?" Officer Mark pointed to the Vulcan shop. "Pretty sure it just got here today. It's been sitting a long time for one of its kind. If I wasn't on duty, I'd go in. But I can't risk it now. This thing might hop away at any minute. I could end up miles away if I'm not careful." He looked at Erec warningly. "Don't you go wandering in there, understand? Vulcan shops usually won't leave when there are people inside them. But if shoppers take too long, or if the store's been waiting awhile to go, forget it."

Mark gazed through the open door of the shop. "I've got some great ideas, young fellow. One of these days I'm going to talk to Heph Vulcan about them. You see," he smiled, "I could take or leave working for the police department. It's okay, I guess. But I'm an inventor. As soon as I get a few more ideas lined up, if I just can get Heph Vulcan's ear, I'll be set."

"What are you inventing?" Erec asked.

Officer Mark looked at Erec and hesitated, but he must have felt confident that telling a three-year-old was safe. And he looked like 346.

he was bursting to talk about it. "All kinds of things. Some of them are simple. I make a mean chocolate cheesecake. But other things I'm working on are pretty complicated, kid. You wouldn't understand. I've been to Upper Earth recently, and they're doing some pretty neat things with computers there. Computers are these things that let people--"

"I know what computers are," Erec said.

"Good!" Mark was impressed. "I'm creating a kind of magic computer that we can use here. But I'm not sure what to call it. It will let people talk to each other, like the e-mail on Upper Earth. I know it's complicated."

Erec said, haltingly, "Call it the MagicNet. On Upper Earth they have the Internet. You can make it the same. Do it so people can buy things through it and look up things. They could search for something, like a lion hair, and a bunch of screens will show vendors selling it. They can bid with one another for the sale. Or it could connect to a library to read the books there. Or hook to a school to talk to an expert in something." It was tedious getting the words out, but Erec enjoyed the amazement on Mark's face as he spoke. Then he remembered these ideas must seem completely new to him.

Mark was fascinated. "You've got some gift, kid. Those concepts are incredible. Wait a minute." He searched for a notepad and began scribbling, "Vendors on screens...bidding war...colleges and libraries..." He grinned at Erec. "You're amazing. I thought I had some good ideas before, but now I'm back to square one again before I even approach Vulcan. I know how I can make this work. This is wonderful. Thanks, kid!" He laughed. "The MagicNet. I like it. I will call it that, as a tribute to you." Mark scratched his chin. "What's your name, kid? I better get you home."

"Cullwich," Erec said. "My name is Erec Cullwich. My father is Olwen Cullwich, in Alypium."

347.

Officer Mark gave a nod. "All right, young Mr. Cullwich. Let's find out where you live."

"There must be some mistake," Olwen Cullwich said in surprise. "I don't have a son."

He looked so much like he had the last time Erec had seen him, ten years later, with perfectly combed, neat hair, sharp clothing, and kind blue eyes. Only now his hair was auburn, with streaks of gray. Seeing him made Erec sad. He tried not to think about what would happen to Olwen in the future. Well, if he set things right here, maybe Olwen would have a chance.

Officer Mark looked suspicious. "This kid here says you're his dad." He peered past Olwen into the house. "Your wife around?"

"I'm not married," Olwen said.

This was when Mark turned his questioning gaze to Erec. "You sure this is your dad, kid?"

Erec nodded and reached for Olwen. "Dad," he called to him.

Olwen did not reach back. "I'm sorry. There must be some mistake."

Erec became worried. He could not afford to mess this up too. He said to Olwen, "The Twrch Trwyth. I'm here about the Trwyth Boar."

Olwen's face turned white as a sheet. He looked like he couldn't believe his ears. "Th-that's just a story. It's not true." He turned to Officer Mark for support. "Everyone knows that story isn't true."

The officer shrugged. "Yeah, it's some fairy tale. You read it to your kid?" He asked, frustrated. "Aren't you gonna take him?"

Erec reached toward Olwen again. "I came from the future to warn you. Let me come inside."

Mark patted Erec on the head. "This little guy is pretty smart. He's a great kid. You're lucky."

Olwen looked back and forth between the officer and Erec. "You 348.

want the Twrch Trwyth? How do I know you're not going to turn into something terrible in there and try to--"

"Try to what?" Mark asked. "He's just a kid. All kids are terrible sometimes. You want me to take him back to the station because he's been misbehaving?" He threw Olwen a reproving glance.

Erec leaned toward Olwen. "I won't hurt you, I promise." He laid a baby hand on Olwen's shoulder.

Officer Mark rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you're afraid of your tiny son. What's wrong with you, guy? This is some bright kid you got here."

Erec whipped his hat off, letting his golden curls bounce around his face. "I'm your prince. Now let me in."

While Mark seemed to think that "prince" was Erec's nickname, Olwen recognized him in an instant. "O-okay. I'll take him, officer."

Once they were inside, Olwen Cullwich paced nervously while Erec sat on a tall chair and watched him. Finally Olwen brought out some cookies and milk.

Erec said, "This is very important. You need to give me the Twrch Trwyth. I'll take it to the future with me and hook it to the five Awen. I have them ready. We need it to fix the Substance."

Olwen gulped in shock. "I don't know what you're talking about. The Awen is a myth. A story. I'm sorry."

Erec tried to make his baby eyes look stern. "I know you have it, Olwen. There's no use pretending. I'm from the future. Something really bad will happen to you." He shuddered, thinking about it. "You have to get rid of it to protect yourself. I know people have already been bothering you for it. It's putting you in danger."

Olwen nodded in agreement, but the situation was still too odd for him to believe. "If you're really from the future, prove it. Tell me something that nobody else knows will happen."

Erec had to consider. He should have been prepared for this.

349.

What had the king told him about Olwen, again? There was a story about his birthday party and twelve pies....

"Is your birthday soon?" Erec asked.

"In three days." Olwen crossed his arms. "You could have found that out anywhere." He rubbed his head. "Do you realize how strange it is talking to a tiny kid like this? Could you change your shape to look like an adult, at least?"

"I wish. Too bad I'm stuck this way. Here's some proof. At your birthday party at the castle--"

"I'm having a party at the castle?"

"You will. The king is going to surprise you by having twelve kinds of pie since you like pie so much. But he hires a clown, and one thing leads to another, and you end up with most of the pies smashed all over you."

Olwen looked like he didn't buy it. "I suppose now that I know, I won't be inclined to start a food fight."

Erec shrugged. "Just do whatever you would have anyway. King Piter told me about the pies ten years from now. It stuck in his memory that long. We'll see, I guess. I wish I knew more things to prove I'm from the future. The only other thing I know isn't very pretty. It's what will happen to you if you don't do something different with the Twrch Trwyth."

Olwen walked Erec back to the Castle Alypium. Seeing it from the outside reminded Erec that he had to figure out how to save it, and soon. When Olwen dropped him off in the west wing, Erec said, "Find me on your birthday. I'll show you where to put the Trwyth Boar."

Erec spent the next three days talking about going to Olwen's birthday party. Everyone was amazed that he even knew about it. They were sure they had not mentioned it to him.

"Maybe I'll sneak you down," Clio whispered, "since you're so 350.

interested in him. I suppose it wouldn't hurt for you to meet the man. He'll probably be flattered."

If you only knew, Erec thought.

He also tried on a few more occasions to warn King Piter and Queen Hesti about what would happen in their future. Queen Hesti's hair was a different length and color each time Erec saw her--short and black, long and red. But she still looked just as beautiful, her grayish green eyes laughing and joyous. Even though it was obvious she loved Erec, she could not bring herself to believe a word he said with his stumbling baby voice.

Erec even told the king that he would put the castle on its side to protect the Time Bender. The king looked at him like he was a mixture of crazy and brilliant, but then just reminded him never to use the words "Time Bender" again.

Out of spite, Erec repeated, "Time Bender," a few times before the king left the nursery. Then, after he was gone, Erec felt sick. His stomach rumbled and shook, until he realized he was about to start sobbing. He fought it, but his toddler body could not control the dam of emotion that burst inside of him.

Tears covered his face as he crumpled onto the rug. He had come here to change things, to save Aoquesth. And he couldn't do anything. If only they would listen to him, everything would be different. Erec would not end up going on the quests alone, and Aoquesth would live. But nobody would pay attention. He tried and tried, but the best he could do was make them think he was trying to sleep in his parents' room.

If he could not save Aoquesth, this trip would be a failure.

It didn't seem to matter anymore that he might get the Trwyth Boar from Olwen Cullwich and save the Substance. Aoquesth had given his life for him, and he was powerless to change that.

351.

After he reminded her all day long, Clio took Erec to the hall where the surprise birthday party for Olwen Cullwich was to be held. But she'd made him eat dinner first and get cleaned up for bed. Then she waited awhile so they wouldn't interrupt Olwen's dinner.

She walked in with Erec on her hip--he was getting used to being carried, and it certainly got him places faster--when he spotted Olwen at the head of the table. Blue smudges, red stains, chocolate, and whipped cream covered his hair, clothes, and the parts of his face he had not wiped clean.