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49 pages 1 hour read

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2008

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Chapters 21-26Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 21 Summary: “Pandora’s Box, or Things Best Left Closed”

The Ten Man, whose name is McCracken, threatens the children with a laser while he opens the doors to let in three other Ten Men and Martina Crowe. Martina bosses the Ten Men around and orders them to handcuff the children. When Martina taunts Kate, Kate headbutts her and takes the handcuff key, though McCracken soon gets it back. To buy time, Reynie claims that Risker brought them to the island and is awaiting their return. Martina is worried that Risker will go to the authorities if the children do not return, so she takes the Salamander to warn Mr. Curtain, leaving McCracken and two other Ten Men to guard the children.

Kate suddenly declares that she is going to throw up. She turns away and surreptitiously shows the others a small hole in the wall, through which Milligan has sent a note. The note instructs them to stay where they are and run for the door as soon as he appears. Kate then regurgitates the key for their handcuffs, having swapped it out for one of her own farm keys. The children use the key to adjust their handcuffs so that they can slip out of them. Suddenly, the door to the storm shelter is ripped away entirely.

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