"I feel a bit weak, but I'll be ready to go after I rest." "I'm up next," Ivy said. Mom and Dad looked at each other. Dad turned to my sister. "All right, kiddo. You get the next one." "I'll go tell Pixie and the others the good news," Shelton said. "I'm sure they're eager to come home." "A splendid idea," Bella said. "We'll be back soon." "Please thank Ann and Viola for the delicious food," Elyssa said. Shelton tipped his hat. "Will do." He and Bella walked through the portal and stepped out of view. "You know he only volunteered so he could eat more brownies," Adam said with a grin. I chuckled. "Ain't that the truth." Elyssa called her father and gave him the good news. She grinned and nodded as they spoke, but a frown drew down the corners of her mouth. She ended the call and gave me a grim look. "Four crystoids exploded over the past twenty four hours. One in Greenland, another two in separate parts of the Middle East, and one in Morocco." "Yikes." Shelton grimaced.
