The Mysterious Benedict Society

The team climbs a hill to survey the island and encounters two Helpers. Reynie recognizes one and calls him Mr. Bloomberg. With great distress, the Helper says his name is Harry Harrison. Reynie asks how long he has worked at the Institute. Neither Helper can remember. Reynie tries to question the Helpers further, but they are both desperate to be dismissed.

Reynie tells the team that he is positive that the Helper is Mr. Bloomberg, the school facilities inspector, whom Reynie met at the orphanage. Sticky says that the Helper’s sad eyes remind him of Milligan.

Reynie realizes that Mr. Bloomberg’s memories have been stolen. Mr. Curtain reprogrammed him to serve as a worker at the Institute, so that he could not report back about the school. Reynie thinks the special recruits had also had their memories erased, though not their complete histories. They seemed confused at first but do not appear sad.

The team knows that they must prove their discovery. They report back to Mr. Benedict via Morse code and receive the reply that what is lost may yet be found.

The team goes to bed. Reynie tries to calm his mind by mentally composing a letter to Miss Perumal.