Gavin didn't get a chance to share his theory with Jupiter and Jud until after school the next day.
"It's a pretty big stretch," commented Jupiter once Gavin had gone over the details.
"I agree with Jupiter," said Jud. "You're reaching, Gavin."
The three friends sat together under Aurelia Limpit, whose branches were lush with leaves and provided a modicum of cover from any prying eyes that might see them from within the school. Gavin had drawn them out on the pretense of sharing something important, but his declaration had not gone over nearly as well as he would have liked.
"Come on, just think it through. Why else did Downpour come to St. Hibbard's?"
"He holed up with Mrs. Gruber for a couple of hours after the assembly," said Jud. "Whatever they were talking about was probably the real reason why he was here. The assembly was just for show."
"Or cover," added Jupiter. "Make a big, public spectacle of himself at the assembly so nobody questions why he's really here."
Gavin shook his head. "No, I'm telling you, he came here to try and cut off any possible retribution someone might be planning against Lord Thumbledown's."
"Then he's wasting his time," said Jud. "Even if we wanted to attack Thumbledown's, how could we? Have you ever been there? Do you even know where it is? How would we get there? We don't have anyone here who can teleport or create a gateway between two places. Anyone from St. Hibbard's who wanted to go to Lord Thumbledown's would have to take the bus."
It was a valid point, but Gavin refused to give up on his theory. It just made too much sense. It was either that or Downpour, who was notoriously good at public speaking and self-promotion, had given the least motivating speech of his life. Gavin was about to argue this point, when he froze.
"It's him!" he whispered fiercely.
The mysterious older boy from the library had just exited the school and was walking away from where Gavin and his friends were sitting.
"Him who?" asked Jupiter.
Gavin pointed the boy out. "Do you guys know who he is?" he asked.
Jud and Jupiter looked after the retreating kid, but neither could get a good look at him. "I don't recognise him," said Jud. "But he's too far away to really tell. Who is he?"
Gavin related the scene he'd overheard the other day in the library.
"Barry Zipper?" asked Jupiter. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"It's just... I don't see the Zip doing anything nefarious."
"He's the kid that throws up after every busride, right?" asked Jud. Gavin nodded. "Yeah, then I'm with Jupiter again. You're seeing conspiracies where there aren't any."
"Then why didn't he shake my hand when I introduced myself to him?" asked Gavin.
"Maybe he's a jerk. Like Mitchell," offered Jud.
Gavin frowned. Despite what his friends were saying, he knew he was onto something. This kid, whoever he was, was up to no good. Maybe it had something to do with the attacks, maybe not, but whatever it was, it wasn't on the up-and-up. "I'm going to follow him," he announced, getting to his feet.
"Follow him where?" asked Jupiter.
Gavin chuckled. "Wherever he's going. You coming?"
Jud shook his head. "I'm not interested in following you down your little rabbit hole," he said. "I've got homework." So saying, he stood and walked back toward the school building.
Gavin turned to Jupiter, and she sighed. "Fine. Let's go chase your imaginary demons."
The two set off, following the strange boy as he rounded the corner of the building and walked out of sight. They put on a burst of speed until they reached the same corner, then carefully peeked around the edge.
"I don't see him," said Jupiter.
Gavin was confused. How could they have lost him? There really wasn't anywhere to go, and it wasn't feasible to think the boy had reached the next corner of the school already. "He's got to be out here somewhere," he said, scanning the area.
A movement in the bushes off to his left away from the school caught his attention. "Get back!" He grabbed Jupiter and pulled her back around the corner.
"Hey! Watch it!" she whispered.
"Sorry, but I think I saw him. He's in the line of bushes leading out to whatever's on the other side of that grove of trees."
Jupiter looked at him, surprised. "You mean you don't know?"
"Don't know what?"
She gestured toward the trees. "That's where the hedge maze is."
"We have a hedge maze?" Gavin asked, suddenly excited. He loved mazes in general and had always wanted to wander through a proper hedge maze. There was just something cool about getting lost amongst walls of green towering over your head.
"If he goes in there, we'll never find him," observed Jupiter. "I've never been in there myself, but from what I've been told, it's a serious labyrinth. We're actually not supposed to go in there, but every year one or two kids venture forth--usually on a dare-- and get totally lost. Then the teachers have to come out with the map and fetch them."
This seemed wrong to Gavin. What was the point of having a hedge maze if nobody was supposed to try it out? "What's in the center of the maze?" he asked.
Jupiter shrugged. "I have no idea. Probably a fountain of some kind. That's what's usually at the center of those things, right?"
Gavin wasn't sure, but it sounded right. In any case, they had to hurry or they'd lose the boy. He took another peek around the corner, decided the coast was as clear as it was going to be, and then ran to the grove of trees marking the edge of the field. Jupiter followed.
They reached the grove without incident and paused, hidden in the shadow of the trees. Looking out, all they could see was a massive wall of green, easily ten feet tall. The hedge maze.
"Yikes! It's huge!" exclaimed Gavin. "I mean, I know it's meant to be a maze and the walls are going to be tall and all but... wow."
"You can see how students get lost in there," commented Jupiter. "The walls block the sky. There's your mystery man."
She pointed at the outline of a figure slowly making their way around the edge of the maze, stopping every couple of feet and poking at the outer wall. It was strange, almost like he was testing the walls, or looking for something. The actual entrance was not far from where Gavin and Jupiter hid. It was impossible to miss, which made Gavin think the boy was looking for something else entirely.
"Do you recognise him yet?" he asked.
Jupiter peered out from between low-hanging branches, her face scrunched up in thought. Finally, she shook her head. "I don't think he's a student. Or, if he is, he's new."
"Newer than me?"
She shrugged. "It doesn't really add up, though. I mean we hear about new students pretty much the day they arrive. Word spreads quickly."
Gavin nodded, remembering. "So we have an unknown kid whispering conspiracies or something to Barry Zipper and laying hands on the walls of the school's forbidden hedge maze."
"That pretty much sums it up."
They remained silent a moment more, watching the unknown figure push at the edge of the maze. After a moment, Gavin wanted a better look, so he carefully made his way down the length of the grove, stepping ever-closer to the mysterious student. The light sound of the boy pushing his hand in and out of the hedge became the only sound in the world, and Gavin watched in fascination as the pattern continued. He was definitely looking for something. The question was, what was he looking for? Something hidden in the wall?
He took another step forward, barely daring to breathe for fear of giving himself away. He was now less than fifteen feet from the boy. He turned to look behind him, but Jupiter remained a ways back, not having followed Gavin's clandestine approach. He was about to return his focus to the boy when he noticed that his friend was urgently shaking her head. Confused, he tried to mouth "What?" but doubted she could see him. She was definitely trying to tell him something, however, and the panic on her face caused a pit to form in his stomach. Something was wrong. But what could it-
"The hedge maze is absolutely off-limits, Mr. Mallard," snapped the crisp voice of Mrs. Gruber. Gavin jumped, startled, and turned to find the headmistress standing right next to him, a deep scowl on her face.
"Mrs. Gruber! I... I didn't..."
"And you had better not. You are already on my radar thanks to your very inappropriate sneeze the other day." Gavin's eyes widened and she nodded. "Oh, yes, I am well aware that you started the chain reaction that resulted in our little rabbit infestation. Do not think for one moment that anything can happen within the boundaries of my school of which I am not aware."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gruber," stammered Gavin. "I wasn't trying to..."
"To enter the forbidden maze? I am aware of its alluring appeal, but you must resist the temptation. Not a student has entered that labyrinth that hasn't become utterly and hopelessly lost. Not to mention, received a severe punishment as a result of their crime against this school."
She stood there, hunched over, a permanent frown pasted onto her face. Gavin was frozen in irrational fear. Finally, she raised a single arm and pointed back toward the school. "Go."
Gavin dropped his head and walked away from the maze. Before he left, however, he snuck a single look back at the wall.
The unknown boy was gone.