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The group crossed a small park and found the steel door in the sidewalk that Momma told them led into the ancient subway station. There was no one out in the harsh weather, so they didn't have to worry about being seen when Canis pulled the door open, revealing a flight of steps that led down into darkness. Mr. Hamstead insisted that he go first, claiming his police training prepared him for any kind of danger. It was obvious his boasting was for Bess's benefit, but Sabrina held her tongue.
Hamstead led the group down the steps and when everyone was inside, Canis pulled the door closed, plunging them into darkness.
"Creepy," Daphne said.
"Just be patient, liebling.
Your eyes will adjust," Gra
"Man, it smells foul down here," Bess said.
"I believe that is the girl," Canis said.
"Uh, hello? I'm standing right here!" Sabrina said.
Before long, their eyes adjusted, and Mr. Hamstead was leading them along a damp concrete passageway lined with huge pipes and electrical wiring. Every once in a while they would pass under a dingy, flickering lightbulb, which helped them see a few feet ahead.
"We are close," Canis said, sniffing the air. "I smell them."
The tu
"Hello?" Gra
"They have obviously abandoned this station," Moth said.
Something flickered in the corner of Sabrina's vision. She spun quickly and thought she saw movement in the shadows along the far wall. She turned to Mr. Canis, whose senses were much more acute than hers. He held his finger to his lips to let her know he had seen something, too, and to be quiet.
"What are we waiting for?" Moth continued as she headed for the train car. "We should take their train and search the tu
Before she could step into the car, the station erupted with movement as five tiny men bore down on them, flipping and jumping, shouting and screaming. They stopped just short of the group, surrounding them like tiny ninjas from a martial arts film.
The door to the subway car opened and a sixth little man with a long, white beard stepped out and eyed the group angrily through round glasses. He wore a blue uniform jacket with a patch that said MTA. Sabrina knew what the letters stood for-
Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The little man worked for the subway.
"You're trespassing in the domain of the six dwarfs," he said, signaling to the others to close in on the group. "Invaders get a beating."
Sabrina watched as one of the little men slipped a set of brass knuckles on his hand.
Gra
A second dwarf clenched his fists. He had greasy little half spectacles on his nose. "These are our tu
Mr. Canis growled. Sabrina could see he was losing his patience, again.
"We're looking for someone and we were told you could help," Sabrina said quickly. "A fairy flew down here last night. We think he's hiding in the tu
"A fairy!" cried the dwarfs in horror. "No fairies in the subway! Your kind isn't welcome here."
"We're not fairies," Daphne said. "Well, except for her," she added, pointing at Moth. "We're detectives."
Suddenly, the white-bearded leader of the group cried out. "My oh my, it's you! It's Veronica's girls."
The little men immediately lowered their fists and smiled. They crowded around Sabrina and Daphne, offering up praise for their mother.
"Veronica was a gem."
"A real inspiration!"
"We loved her."
"What charisma!"
The men smiled and introduced themselves. Each had a different story about Sabrina and Daphne's mother. They all seemed to idolize her and regretted the day she had disappeared. The day of the "big speech," they added. It was clear they thought the speech would have changed their lives.
When it grew quiet again, the leader, who called himself Mr. One, spoke. "What are you doing down here?" he asked.
"We're looking for Cobweb," Daphne replied.
"Just like your mother," Mr. One said with a chuckle. "Veronica was always taking on other people's troubles. She wanted to help, even when it put her in some sticky situations. Your mother introduced me to my wife. Anything we can do to help you would be an honor."
"Can you help us search for Cobweb? We think he went underground in these tu
"Nobody knows these tu
"What do you say, boys?" Mr. One asked his companions. "Up for a fairy hunt?" He pronounced the word fairy as one might the word rat.
It was clear that dwarfs and fairies weren't fond of each other.
"Can we keep the train windows open?" Mr. Two asked, pointing his thumb at Sabrina. "Someone's a little funky."
Sabrina scowled.
Nevertheless, the other dwarfs cheered and raced for their subway car. The girls and their group followed. As they climbed aboard, Mr. One opened the conductor's door at the front of the car and stepped inside the control room. The rest of the dwarfs hurried to different parts of the train car. Mr. Two and Mr. Six made sure everyone got into a comfortable seat while Mr. Five and Mr. Three opened a couple panels on the wall. Inside each panel was a bright yellow handle. The dwarfs each pulled one down and suddenly there was a loud hiss and the train doors closed. Mr. One's voice came over the loudspeaker. "All passengers, welcome to the D train. Please, no eating, drinking, or playing loud music while onboard. Next stop… well, I guess we're just going to have to see. All right, everyone. Hold onto something! We're going express."
The train car suddenly surged forward, sending the little men tumbling and skidding across the floor. Sabrina and Daphne helped them to their feet, then grabbed onto the pole in the center of the car to steady themselves. They looked out the windows and saw they were rocketing through the tu
"You wouldn't happen to know a Mr. Seven would you?" Daphne asked Mr. Two.
"He's my brother," the dwarf said.
"We know him. He lives in Ferryport Landing," Sabrina said.
Mr. Two frowned. "Well, next time you see him, remind him he owes me twenty bucks."
"What's with the balloon?" Mr. Five asked Sabrina as he lifted his little blue toboggan hat out of his eyes.
"It is King Puck's medicinal vessel!" Moth said indignantly.
"Smells like the N train coming back from Coney Island," Mr. Four grumbled.
Mr. Six snatched a walkie-talkie off his belt and held it to his mouth. "Ke
A voice on the other end grunted. "You mean like six little people driving a stolen subway car through the system?"
Mr. Six scowled and turned to the group. "Ke
We trust him-helped get him the job with the MTA-but he's a pain in the morning."
"Especially when he hasn't had his coffee," Mr. Four added.
"Ke
There was silence on the other end and then Ke