Chapter 17
Seven Problems, One Answer
White Doors
Inside the Heartlight chamber, seven bridges led towards the cracked sphere. Each bridge was a different colour. Between them was empty darkness.
The floating table jammed against the entrance.
“We need to reach the centre,” Paul said.
“The bridges no longer connect,” said Ronnie. “Each Ponco powered only his own section.”
Paul looked around. The water pouring from the Rainbow Room vanished into the darkness below. The bridges flickered.
“Then we join them.”
He pointed at Ponco Red. “We need warning lights along every safe edge. Not just the red one.”
Ponco Red hesitated, then removed the glowing buttons from his coat. He threw them across the gaps, where they floated like bright stepping stones.
“Orange, turn it into a game everyone can play.”
Ponco Orange studied the pattern. “Step only when the next two lights match. No changing the rules.”
“Yellow, we need the Go-Go-Pole.”
“It only goes one way.”
“Then point it towards the Heartlight. We’ll worry about coming back after we get there.”
Ponco Yellow extended the pole across the first gap.
“Green, can your vines hold us?”
Larry scattered seeds onto the pole. Vines spiralled along it, forming a handrail.
“Blue, tell us when the bridges are about to disappear.”
Ponco Blue watched the pulses. “Every nine seconds. Or eleven. Possibly seven.”
“Look at what they are doing now, not what you expect them to do.”
Ponco Blue removed his useless spectacles. “Nine, then eight, then seven. They are accelerating.”
“Indigo, how was the Heartlight originally joined?”
The old Ponco closed his eyes. “Seven beams entered seven lenses. The lenses turned towards one another and formed white.”
“Violet, can your submarine glass replace the broken lenses?”
Ponco Violet opened her tool belt. “If someone holds them in place.”
“We all will,” Paul said.
They crossed together.
When a bridge vanished, Ponco Red’s lights showed the next step. When the Go-Go-Pole bent, Larry’s vines held it. Ponco Blue counted the pulses. Ponco Indigo remembered the path. Ponco Violet cut seven pieces of curved glass. Ponco Orange called the movements like a game, but every rule remained the same.
They reached the Heartlight.
Each Ponco stood before one crack and held a glass lens in place.
“What now?” Ronnie asked.
The timer showed:
08:14
Paul studied the seven beams. They still pointed away from one another.
“The Poncos must redirect their power into someone else’s lens.”
The silence was enormous.
“Give up our own colour?” Ponco Red asked.
“Share it,” Paul said.
“What if someone takes more?” Ponco Orange asked.
“Trust them.”
Ronnie held out his right arm.
This time Paul PoncoPatted him.
The Poncos formed a circle and crossed arms. One by one, the beams turned inward.