The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet

Before leaving to help King Zello, Galen gives Eric an invisibility cloak to use in rescuing Keeah. He warns the children not to take anything from Droon back to their world and not to leave anything from the Upper World in Droon. If they leave anything behind, something from Droon will appear in their world—and it could be something bad, like a Ninn, “or worse” (49).

As the children and Max ride on Leep and head toward the Forbidden City of Plud, they see a white falcon circling above them. Eric thinks it is the same bird that he saw following Keeah in the forest. Just as they arrive at the gates of Plud, they hear a car and realize that Sparr is approaching. The sound of the car frightens Leep, who bolts away. Max rushes off to retrieve Leep, but the children realize that when Sparr’s car enters the gates, this will be their only chance to sneak into Plud, so they reluctantly leave Max behind and enter the gates after Sparr’s car passes by. 

Ninns come outside to meet Sparr. They tell him that Keeah is being held in the main tower. Eric, Neal, and Julie covertly follow them inside the fortress, hoping to sneak up to the tower and rescue Keeah before Sparr gets there.