MVP
Magellan Voyage Project
Douglas Evans
f_Yjkh[iXo
John Shelley
OBNFMPT
mmm$dWc[bei$Yec
Part I
North America
“Home is where the battle lies.”
-ADAM )°M !DAM )°M TWELVE YEARS THREE MONTHS
AND TWENTYFOUR DAYS OLD "UT THIS STORY STARTS ON MY
BIRTHDAY -AY WHEN ) TURNED TWELVE /N THAT DAY MY
LIFE CHANGED
) WAS SITTING OUTSIDE THE !FTER3CHOOL #LUB SURFING
THE )NTERNET ON A SCHOOL LAPTOP WHEN ) HEARD FOOTSTEPS
BEHIND ME 4URNING ) FOUND A SHORT PUDGY MAN WITH
A FLABBY NECK STANDING THERE (E HAD BLACK HAIR AND
WORE A BLACK TURBAN WITH A HUGE BLACK JEWEL SET IN THE
MIDDLE 4HE REST OF HIS OUTFIT WAS BLACK AS WELL¬BLACK
PANTS A BLACK SILK SHIRT AND A BLACK CAPE DRAPED OVER
HIS SHOULDERS
­7HO WEARS A CAPE NOWADAYS® ) ASKED MYSELF ­/THER
THAN MAGICIANS SUPERHEROES AND $RACULA ) MEAN®
4HE !FTER3CHOOL #LUB BUILDING WAS ONE OF THOSE
TRAILER CLASSROOMS AT THE EDGE OF THE PLAYGROUND )
STAYED THERE EVERY DAY UNTIL MY MOTHER WHO WORKED AT
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COULD PICK ME UP /N MY BIRTHDAY
-OM WAS RUNNING LATE ) WAS THE ONLY STUDENT LEFT THE
ONLY WITNESS TO THIS ODD VISITOR
4HE MAN WAS ALL NODS AND GRINS AS HE SAT AT THE PICNIC
TABLE (E STARED AT ME WITH INKY BLACK EYES THAT NEVER
BLINKED (IS LARGE NECK GAVE HIM TWO CHINS THE TOP ONE
RIMMED WITH A THIN BLACK BEARD
­(APPY BIRTHDAY !DAM 3TORY® HE BEGAN (IS %NGLISH
ACCENT REMINDED ME OF ACTORS ON EDUCATIONAL 46 ­)T°S
CERTAINLY GOOD TO MEET YOU AT LAST 4ODAY THE DAY YOU
TURN TWELVE WE HAVE CERTAIN IMPORTANT ISSUES CERTAIN
URGENT TOPICS TO DISCUSS 4HIS IS AN HISTORIC DAY !DAM
3TORY 4HAT°S FOR CERTAIN®
5SUALLY ) AVOIDED TALKING TO STRANGERS AND THIS MAN
SURE SEEMED STRANGE 7ITHOUT A WORD ) BEGAN POKING
THE KEYS ON THE LAPTOP
4HE MAN REACHED INSIDE HIS CAPE (IS HAND CAME
OUT CRADLING A LONG SLENDER ANIMAL WITH A POINTED FACE
)TS FUR MATCHED THE COLOR OF A DRY PLAYGROUND 4HE CREA
TURE°S PINPOINT EYES OGLED ME LIKE ITS MASTER°S )TS WIDE
MOUTH HELD A SLIP OF PAPER A SCHOOL VISITOR PASS
­)S THAT A WEASEL® ) ASKED
4HE MAN STROKED THE CREATURE ­#ERTAINLY NOT -EET
-ARCO 0OLO MY MONGOOSE (E°S SHOWING YOU THAT WE°RE
OFFICIAL VISITORS AT YOUR SCHOOL 9OUR PRINCIPAL WAS CER
TAIN YOU°D BE OUT HERE®
4HE MONGOOSE TURNED SCURRIED UP THE MAN°S ARM
AND SAT ON HIS RIGHT SHOULDER )TS DOT EYES NEVER LEFT
ME
­7HO ARE YOU 7HAT DO YOU WANT® ) ASKED FEARING
THAT THE MAN WAS ANOTHER SCHOOL COUNSELOR EAGER TO
KNOW WHY ) NEVER SPOKE IN CLASS WHY ) NEVER JOINED IN
PLAYGROUND GAMES OR WHY ) SPENT SO MUCH TIME ALONE
AT THE CLASSROOM COMPUTER
%XCEPT THAT THIS MAN DIDN°T LOOK LIKE A SCHOOL DISTRICT
EMPLOYEE
4HE VISITOR SNAPPED HIS FINGERS 4HE MONGOOSE SPRANG
OFF HIS SHOULDER AND DOVE INTO THE CAPE POCKET THEN
REAPPEARED WITH A BUSINESS CARD IN ITS MOUTH 4HE CARD
SHOWED A LOGO OF A WOODEN SAILING SHIP WITH THE LETTERS
­-60® PRINTED ACROSS IT AND SOME WORDS UNDERNEATH
Prince Olioli Oh XL
Project
Producer, Magellan Voyage
4HE LOOK ON MY FACE BETRAYED MY DOUBT
­9ES !DAM 3TORY® THE MAN SAID ­!S CERTAIN AS
HOMEWORK )°M A REAL PRINCE®
­7HY DOES IT SAY YOU°RE 8, EXTRA LARGE®
­)°M 0RINCE /H THE FORTIETH ) COME FROM A LONG
LINE OF ROYALTY AN ANCIENT DYNASTY THAT RULED OVER THE
KINGDOM OF "ABABABAD®
­"ABABABAD 4HERE°S NO SUCH PLACE® ) SAID CON
VINCED FROM MY WEB SURFING THAT ) KNEW ALL ONE HUN
DRED NINETYSIX COUNTRIES AND KINGDOMS IN THE WORLD
­4O BE CERTAIN MY DOMAIN NO LONGER EXISTS® THE
PRINCE SAID ­-ANY CENTURIES AGO A CRUEL CONQUEROR
'UNTER THE (UNTER CAPTURED "ABABABAD AND MADE
IT PART OF HIS EMPIRE 4WO CENTURIES LATER A %UROPEAN
POWER INVADED THE EMPIRE AND TURNED "ABABABAD INTO
A COLONY 4HREE CENTURIES AFTER THAT AN EVIL DICTATOR TOOK
OVER THE COLONY AND A CENTURY HENCE CIVIL WARS SPLIT IT
INTO TWENTY SMALL REPUBLICS 4HROUGHOUT THE TWENTIETH
CENTURY "ABABABAD CONTINUED TO SHRINK FROM TAKEOVERS
AND LAND DEALS UNTIL ONE DAY A CREW SIMPLY PAVED IT
OVER FOR A PARKING LOT )NDEED !DAM 3TORY ALTHOUGH MY
KINGDOM CANNOT BE FOUND ON CERTAIN MAPS YOU CAN BE
CERTAIN THAT MY ROYAL TITLE HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN TO ME
THROUGH FORTY GENERATIONS®
) REREAD THE BUSINESS CARD )N /CTOBER MY FIFTH
GRADE CLASS HAD LEARNED ABOUT &ERDINAND -AGELLAN THE
EXPLORER WHO LED THE FIRST FLEET OF SHIPS THAT CIRCLED THE
WORLD "UT WHAT DID &ERDINAND HAVE TO DO WITH A PRINCE
SHOWING UP AT MY SCHOOL
­7HAT°S THE -AGELLAN 6OYAGE 0ROJECT® ) ASKED
4HE MAN FOLDED HIS HANDS ON THE TABLETOP (E WORE
THREE SILVER RINGS BEARING GEMS AS BIG AS THE ONE ON HIS
TURBAN
­&OR THE PAST YEAR )°VE TRAVELED THE WORLD ON BEHALF
OF A CERTAIN ORGANIZATION CALLED ,/2$ THE ,EAGUE OF
2OYALTY WITHOUT $OMAINS® HE BEGAN ­)°VE SEARCHED THE
EARTH FOR A CERTAIN TWELVEYEAROLD BOY OR GIRL TO JOIN MY
PROJECT THE -60 )°VE INVESTIGATED THOUSANDS OF YOUTHS
ON EVERY CONTINENT 4HE IDEAL CANDIDATE IS SOMEONE WHO
HAS EXCELLENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD SOMEONE WHO IS
BRAVE BUT NOT FOOLHARDY CUNNING BUT NOT CRUEL AND CUTS
A UNIQUE PATH WITHOUT WANDERING TOO FAR -OST IMPOR
TANT !DAM 3TORY )°VE SEARCHED FOR A TWELVEYEAROLD WHO
CAN STAND BEING ALONE WITHOUT BEING LONELY )°M CERTAIN
THAT )°VE FINALLY FOUND A YOUTH WHO FITS THAT DESCRIPTION
9OU !DAM 3TORY 9OU ARE THE CERTAIN TWELVEYEAR OLD®
) SCREWED UP MY FACE AGAIN ­#ERTAIN ABOUT WHAT® )
ASKED ­(OW DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME®
0RINCE /H TURNED HIS HEAD (E APPEARED TO SHARE A
KNOWING NOD WITH THE MONGOOSE ON HIS SHOULDER
­&OR MANY MONTHS -60 HAS MONITORED YOUR COM
PUTER ACTIVITY !DAM 3TORY® HE SAID ­7E KNOW ABOUT THE
GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL WEB SITES YOU VISITED 7E ACCESSED
YOUR LIBRARY USE AND KNOW THAT EVERY BOOK YOU CHECKED
OUT WAS AN ADVENTURE STORY 7E VIEWED THE LIST OF $6$S
YOU RENTED AND MAGAZINES YOU BOUGHT &ROM THE SCHOOL
COMPUTER WE LEARNED THAT YOUR MOTHER IS EMPLOYED AS A
COOK IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETERIA 4HAT°S WHY YOU CAN
ATTEND SCHOOLS IN THIS UPPERCLASS SUBURB EVEN THOUGH
YOU LIVE IN ANOTHER TOWN ONE WHERE THE SCHOOLS AREN°T
SO GOOD 7E ALSO KNOW THAT YOUR GRADES AT THIS SCHOOL
ARE OUTSTANDING BUT YOU°VE HAD A TOUGH TIME MAKING
FRIENDS®
­7HAT OF IT® ) SAID ­9OU HAVE NO RIGHT TO HACK INTO
MY LIFE®
-ARCO 0OLO LEFT THE PRINCE°S SHOULDER SCURRIED AROUND
HIS TURBAN AND PERCHED ON THE OTHER SIDE
­)°M HERE TO OFFER YOU A CHALLENGE !DAM 3TORY¬AN
-60 BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE IF YOU WILL® 0RINCE /H SAID
HIS BLACK EYES SPARKLING ­7E KNOW YOU LONG FOR TRAVEL
AND YEARN FOR ADVENTURE 7ELL !DAM MY CHALLENGE IS
ONE OF THE GREATEST TRAVEL ADVENTURES EVER OFFERED TO A
TWELVEYEAROLD BOY 4HAT°S FOR CERTAIN®
! CHALLENGE ) HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS PRINCE WANTED
ME TO DO 2EAD A BUNCH OF BOOKS 2UN A RACE 0ARTICIPATE
IN ONE OF THE DUMB ­ATHON® FUNDRAISERS MY SCHOOL HAD
ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
0RINCE /H REACHED INTO HIS CAPE POCKET AND TOOK OUT
A 0$! A PORTABLE DIGITAL ASSISTANT ONE OF THOSE HAND
HELD GADGETS (E PRESSED SOME TINY BUTTONS AND SAID
­#HECK YOUR COMPUTER !DAM®
) LOOKED DOWN ! PAGE FROM THE
%NCYCLOP›DIA "RITANNICA APPEARED ON
THE LAPTOP SCREEN 4HE ENTRY BEGAN
3TORY !DAM BORN -AY #ONCORD #!
­(OW°D YOU DO THAT® ) ASKED
­2EAD ON® THE PRINCE SAID
3TORY !DAM BORN -AY #ONCORD #!
&AMOUS WORLD TRAVELER AND ADVENTURER !T AGE TWELVE
!DAM BECAME THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE
THE GLOBE BY LAND AND SEA ONLY AND WITHOUT ADULT
ACCOMPANIMENT
) LET OUT A SNORT OF LAUGHTER ­7HAT GIVES®
­4HE CHALLENGE !DAM 3TORY® 0RINCE /H SAID
PRESSING MORE BUTTONS ­(ISTORY IS FULL OF CERTAIN INDI
VIDUALS WHO MET A CERTAIN CHALLENGE AND BECAME FAMOUS
FOR A CERTAIN TRIP 3ALLY 2IDE IS REMEMBERED FOR HER FIRST
JOURNEY IN SPACE #HARLES ,INDBERGH BECAME FAMOUS
FOR ONE FLIGHT ACROSS THE !TLANTIC /CEAN AND EVERY FIFTH
GRADER LEARNS HOW ,EWIS AND #LARK HIKED TO THE 0ACIFIC
/CEAN ONE TIME®
.OW THE LAPTOP SHOWED THE FRONT PAGE OF THE 3AN
&RANCISCO #HRONICLE 4HE DATE WAS !UGUST OF THIS YEAR
MORE THAN THREE MONTHS INTO THE FUTURE ! NEWSPAPER
HEADLINE READ
"/9 9/5.'%34 4/ #)2#,% 7/2,$ !,/.%
#OMPLETES #IRCUMNAVIGATION IN $AYS
) SHOOK MY HEAD CONVINCED THAT THIS MAN WAS A
LOONY
­(ERE IS THE -60 BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE !DAM® 0RINCE
/H SAID (E SOUNDED VERY OFFICIAL ­4HE -AGELLAN 6OYAGE
0ROJECT CHALLENGES YOU !DAM 3TORY TO TRAVEL AROUND THE
WORLD WITHOUT AN ADULT ESCORT USING SURFACE TRANSPORTA
TION ONLY®
­2IGHT® ) SAID
­)N ADDITION WE CHALLENGE YOU TO DO IT IN FORTY DAYS
OR LESS®
) SHOOK MY HEAD AGAIN ­#OME ON )SN°T THAT IMPOS
SIBLE®
4HE MONGOOSE TURNED A CIRCLE ON THE PRINCE°S
SHOULDER
­!DAM 3TORY TODAY YOU°RE TWELVE YEARS OLD )F YOU SUC
CEED IN THIS ENDEAVOR YOU WILL BE THE YOUNGEST HUMAN
EVER TO DO SO 9OU WILL BE FAMOUS WORLDWIDE 4HAT°S
FOR CERTAIN %VERYONE FROM !LASKA TO !USTRALIA FROM
!RGENTINA TO !FGHANISTAN WILL CERTAINLY KNOW ABOUT
YOUR FABULOUS FEAT®
) STARED AT THE LAPTOP .EITHER MAN NOR MONGOOSE
MOVED
­"UT THE WORLD IS OVER TWENTYSIX THOUSAND MILES
AROUND® ) EXCLAIMED ­)°VE BEEN NO FARTHER FROM HOME
THAN $ISNEYLAND AND THAT°S LIKE FOUR HUNDRED MILES
FROM HERE -OM AND ) DROVE DOWN )NTERSTATE SPENT SIX
HOURS IN THE -AGIC +INGDOM AND CAME STRAIGHT HOME
4HAT°S IT ) KNOW NOTHING ABOUT TRAINS OR SHIPS OR WHAT
EVER TRANSPORTATION IS NEEDED TO CROSS CONTINENTS AND
OCEANS "ESIDES ) DON°T HAVE ANY MONEY®
4HE MAN REACHED INTO HIS POCKET AGAIN (E WITHDREW
A BLUE CELL PHONE AND A '03 UNIT ALSO BLUE
­-60 WILL SUPPLY YOU WITH ALL THE MONEY YOU NEED®
HE SAID ­-Y STAFF HAS WORKED OUT A COMPLETE BUS TRAIN
AND SHIP SCHEDULE FOR YOU 7HEREVER YOU NEED TO SPEND
A NIGHT YOU°LL STAY AT A FIRSTCLASS HOTEL 7HENEVER YOU
NEED ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PRESS THE LETTERS -60 ON THIS
PHONE AND AN -60 GUIDE WILL ANSWER )T°S A SATELLITE
PHONE THAT WILL WORK ANYWHERE ON EARTH WITH CERTAINTY
&URTHERMORE IF EVER YOU WISH TO QUIT THE CHALLENGE
-60 WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE QUICKEST AND SAFEST TRANS
PORT HOME TO 3AN &RANCISCO 4HAT°S FOR CERTAIN®
0RINCE /H HELD UP THE OTHER BLUE GADGET ­9OU WILL
ALSO BE CARRYING THIS '03 TRACKING UNIT $O YOU KNOW
HOW IT WORKS®
) NODDED ) KNEW A LOT ABOUT THE 'LOBAL 0OSITIONING
3YSTEM /UR GOVERNMENT SENT TWENTYFOUR '03 SATELLITES
INTO SPACE AND POSITIONED THEM AROUND THE WORLD 7ITH A
'03 UNIT SAILORS ON THE OCEAN PILOTS IN THE AIR AND HIKERS
IN THE MOUNTAINS CAN TELL THEIR EXACT LOCATION ) GLANCED AT
THE ,#$ SCREEN ON THE '03 THAT 0RINCE /H HELD
­2IGHT NOW WE°RE SITTING AT DEGREES MINUTES
LATITUDE DEGREES MINUTES LONGITUDE® ) RECITED
­!ND METERS ALTITUDE®
0RINCE /H NODDED ­7HEN YOU CARRY THIS DEVICE
!DAM 3TORY YOUR LOCATION WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO -60
HEADQUARTERS 7E CAN TRACE YOU METER BY METER ANY
WHERE YOU ARE LAND OR SEA WITH CERTAINTY®
­3O WHAT ABOUT MY MOM® ) ASKED .OT THAT ) WAS
CONSIDERING ACTUALLY GOING ON THIS GOOFY TRIP ) WAS
JUST CURIOUS ­-OM°S NOT ABOUT TO LET ME TRAIPSE ACROSS
%UROPE AND !SIA BY MYSELF 3HE GETS NERVOUS WHEN )
WALK TO THE MALL ALONE®
­9OUR MOTHER HAS SCHEDULED THREE BACKTOBACK CAMP
SESSIONS FOR YOU THIS SUMMER® 0RINCE /H SAID
­/H RIGHT® ) SAID REMEMBERING ­4WO WEEKS AT
SOCCER CAMP TWO WEEKS AT WILDERNESS CAMP FOLLOWED
BY TWELVE DAYS AT 9 CAMP 3OUNDS LIKE TORTURE )T°S AS IF
MY MOM IS TRYING TO GET RID OF ME ALL SUMMER 4HAT°S
FORTY DAYS OF CAMP®
0RINCE /H CONSULTED HIS 0$! ­4HE FIRST CAMP SES
SION BEGINS ON *ULY ® HE SAID ­)F YOU BEGIN YOUR
JOURNEY ON THAT DAY YOU°LL RETURN HOME ON THE LAST DAY
OF CAMP -60 WILL MAKE SURE THE CAMPS NEVER MISS
YOU 9OUR MOTHER WON°T KNOW ABOUT THE GRAND DETOUR
UNTIL YOU°RE FAMOUS AND RICH®
­2ICH® ) ASKED
0RINCE /H GRINNED SPREADING OUT HIS TWO CHINS
­#ERTAINLY® HE SAID ­) HAVEN°T MENTIONED THE PRIZE YET
!DAM 3TORY )F YOU BECOME THE FIRST TWELVEYEAROLD TO
TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD SOLO CROSSING LAND AND SEA ONLY
AND YOU DO IT WITHIN THE FORTYDAY LIMIT -60 WILL REWARD
YOU WITH FOUR MILLION DOLLARS 4HAT°S FOR CERTAIN®
4HAT°S THE NUMBER OF OUR THIRDFLOOR APARTMENT
.UMBER HAS TWO SMALL BEDROOMS ONE MOLDY BATH
ROOM AND A DINGY LIVING ROOM NEXT TO A NARROW KITCHEN
WITH A DRIPPING SINK AND GREASY WALLS 4HE FRONT WIN
DOWS LOOK OUT ONTO A PARKING LOT 4HE REAR OF A RESTAURANT
SCREENS SUNLIGHT FROM COMING THROUGH THE BACK ONES
4HE APARTMENT BAKES IN THE SUMMER BUT WITH THE RES
TAURANT SMOKE IN THE AIR WE RARELY OPEN THE WINDOWS
7HEN ) ARRIVED HOME THAT DAY ) GRABBED MY LARGE
ATLAS A BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM -OM AT BREAKFAST ) DROPPED IT
ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR AND FLOPPED IT OPEN TO THE WORLD
MAP $ISPLAYING THE WORLD THIS WAY ON SHINY DOUBLE
PAGES WITH CRISSCROSSING LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE LINES
MADE IT APPEAR SMALL ) SEARCHED FOR THE SHORTEST ROUTE
FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MAP TO THE RIGHT
0LACING MY FINGER ON 3AN &RANCISCO ) SLID IT ACROSS
THE 5NITED 3TATES UNTIL IT POKED .EW 9ORK #ITY &ROM
THERE SEVERAL ROUTES WERE POSSIBLE 9OU COULD CROSS
THE !TLANTIC CUT THROUGH %UROPE TO 4URKEY THEN CROSS
SOME OF THE ­STAN® COUNTRIES ALL THE WAY TO #HINA /R
YOU COULD SAIL INTO THE -EDITERRANEAN 3EA THROUGH THE
3UEZ #ANAL AND ON TO )NDIA ) STUDIED THE MAP SOME
MORE -AYBE CUTTING THROUGH !FRICA WOULD BE FASTER
/R HOW ABOUT THE NORTHERN ROUTE OVER 3CANDINAVIA AND
2USSIA
-Y FINGER LANDED ON THE EAST COAST OF !SIA )T MADE A
BEELINE ACROSS THE 0ACIFIC /CEAN TO #ALIFORNIA
­4HAT°S IT® ) SAID ­,ITTLE SWEAT TO BECOME WORLD
FAMOUS AND FOUR MILLION DOLLARS RICHER®
"UT WHAT WAS ) THINKING $ID ) REALLY INTEND TO
DITCH SUMMER CAMP AND TAKE A FORTYDAY TRIP AROUND
THE WORLD .O WAY ) GET NERVOUS RIDING "!24 TO 3AN
&RANCISCO BY MYSELF
­"IRTHDAY BOY QUIT PLAYING WITH YOUR MAPS AND COME
PEEL POTATOES® -OM CALLED FROM THE KITCHEN 3HE WAS
COOKING FISH FINGERS &OR DINNER WE TEND TO HAVE THE
SAME DISHES SHE SERVED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR
LUNCH THAT DAY LOTS OF TURKEY g LA KING SLOPPY JOES CORN
PUPPIES AND MEAT LOAF SURPRISE
!FTER WE ATE -OM BROUGHT OUT A CHOCOLATE CAKE SHE°D
BAKED AT WORK
­3ORRY WE COULDN°T HAVE DONE MORE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY
!DAM® SHE SAID ­-ONEY°S TIGHT AS ALWAYS )°LL NEED TO
WORK AGAIN THIS SUMMER FOR THE CLEANING SERVICE®
­4HE ATLAS AND THE CAKE ARE GREAT -OM® ) SAID
4HE CLEANING SERVICE WAS MY MOTHER°S NAME FOR
GOING INTO THE HUGE HOUSES OF MY CLASSMATES TO SCRUB
THEIR FLOORS AND SQUEEGEE THEIR WINDOWS 4HE OTHER FIFTH
GRADERS ALREADY LOOKED AT ME AS SOME SORT OF CHARITY
CASE ON ACCOUNT OF -OM°S JOB AND ME BEING ABLE TO
ATTEND THEIR FANCY SCHOOL 4HE CLEANING JOB MADE THINGS
WORSE
­!T LEAST YOU°LL HAVE A GOOD SUMMER AT CAMP !DAM®
-OM SAID ­) WANT YOU TO MAKE FRIENDS JOIN IN THE
GAMES AND STOP BEING SUCH A LONER 7E°RE LUCKY THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT GAVE YOU GRANTS TO ATTEND CAMP®
!LTHOUGH ) NEVER SAID SO THE THOUGHT OF CAMP
DEPRESSED ME "EING STUCK WITH CABIN MATES SWIM
MING BUDDIES AND CRAFT PARTNERS AND HAVING TO PARTICI
PATE IN TEAM GAMES DINING HALL SINGALONGS AND GROUP
CAMPFIRES WAS NOT MY IDEA OF FUN
) LAY IN BED THAT NIGHT RESTLESS %VEN WITH THE WINDOW
CLOSED WHIFFS OF GRILLING STEAKS AND FRYING FISH FILTERED
IN FROM THE RESTAURANT OUT BACK
-Y MIND FILLED WITH THOUGHTS OF ADVENTURE /NE
MOMENT ) WAS SAILING IN A SCHOONER ACROSS THE SEVEN
SEAS .EXT ) WAS RIDING IN A ,AND 2OVER SEARCHING FOR
RHINOS ON THE !FRICAN SAVANNA ) DREAMED OF HIKING IN
THE (IMALAYAS EXPLORING TROPICAL ISLANDS SKIING DOWN
SNOWY GLACIERS AND GORGING ON CREAMFILLED mCLAIRS IN
&RENCH CAFmS
4HE BLAST OF A CAR HORN BROUGHT ME BACK TO MY SMALL
CRUMMY WORLD
­.O THIS MOLDY APARTMENT IS MY WHOLE DOMAIN® )
SAID BEFORE DRIFTING OFF TO SLEEP ­4HE ONLY WAY )°LL EVER
EXPLORE THE WORLD IS THROUGH THE 7ORLD 7IDE 7EB ON A
SCHOOL COMPUTER (APPY TWELFTH BIRTHDAY TO ME !DAM
3TORY 4HIS IS THE WAY LIFE IS AND THIS IS THE WAY IT WILL
ALWAYS BE®
(ERE IS A LIST OF PLACES ) VISITED ON THE )NTERNET THAT )
WISHED TO VISIT FOR REAL SOMEDAY
0YRAMIDS OF 'IZA %GYPT
) WANT TO CLIMB THE HIGHEST ONE
'REAT 7ALL OF #HINA ) WANT TO WALK ALONG THE TOP
.ILE 2IVER LONGEST RIVER ON EARTH
!MAZON 2IVER SECONDLONGEST RIVER ON EARTH
'RAND #ANYON ) WANT TO HIKE TO THE BOTTOM
-OUNT 2USHMORE
-OUNT %VEREST .EPAL HIGHEST MOUNTAIN ON EARTH
4HE -ATTERHORN
THE REAL ONE IN 3WITZERLAND NOT $ISNEYLAND
-OUNT &UJI *APAN LOOKS COOL
7HITE (OUSE 7ASHINGTON $#
%MPIRE 3TATE "UILDING .9#
THE MOVIE +ING +ONG IS GREAT
4AIPEI BUILDING
FEET WORLD°S TALLEST SKYSCRAPER
3EARS 4OWER #HICAGO
TALLEST BUILDING IN 5NITED 3TATES
4AJ -AHAL )NDIA
3OUTH 0OLE
.ORTH 0OLE
9ELLOWSTONE .ATIONAL 0ARK SEE /LD &AITHFUL ERUPT
-ASAI -ARA 'AME 2ESERVE +ENYA
-ACHU 0ICCHU 0ERU
ANCIENT CITY IN !NDES -OUNTAINS
%IFFEL 4OWER 0ARIS
$ISNEY 7ORLD $ISNEYLAND 0ARIS 4OKYO AND (ONG
+ONG )°VE BEEN TO $ISNEYLAND #ALIFORNIA
,AS 6EGAS LOOKS WEIRD
6ENICE )TALY
*ERUSALEM
0RIME MERIDIAN %NGLAND ) WANT TO STAND ON IT
4HE EQUATOR ) WANT TO STAND ON IT
.IAGARA &ALLS .9 LOOKS COOL
6ICTORIA &ALLS !FRICA WORLD°S TALLEST WATERFALL
-AJOR ,EAGUE "ASEBALL STADIUMS
) WANT TO SEE EVERY ONE
4HE )NTERNATIONAL 3PACE 3TATION WHO KNOWS
-AY PASSED QUICKLY 3CHOOL WAS A TOTAL BORE &IFTH
GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES COVERS !MERICAN HISTORY STARTING
IN 3EPTEMBER WITH #HRISTOPHER #OLUMBUS "Y MID
-AY WE HADN°T YET REACHED THE #IVIL 7AR SO OUR TEACHER
CRAMMED ALL THE STUFF ABOUT SLAVERY THE #ONFEDERACY
AND THE 'ETTYSBURG !DDRESS INTO A FEW WEEKS
­&UNNY HOW !MERICAN KIDS CAN GET THROUGH FIFTH
GRADE AND KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER
® ) TOLD MY TEACHER ­!ND THEY KNOW EVEN LESS ABOUT
THE REST OF THE WORLD®
3HE GAVE ME HER LOOK
/NE DAY IN !FTER3CHOOL #LUB JUST FOR FUN ) PLANNED
AN IMAGINARY CIRCLETHEEARTH JOURNEY ON A LAPTOP !LL
THE TRAIN AND SHIP TIMETABLES WERE AVAILABLE ON THE .ET
) PRETENDED TO BE A BILLIONAIRE SO COST DIDN°T MATTER
(ERE°S MY LIST
3AN &RANCISCO TO #HICAGO !MTRAK TRAIN DAYS
#HICAGO TO .EW 9ORK !MTRAK TRAIN
DAYS
.EW 9ORK TO &RANCE CRUISE SHIP
DAYS
&RANCE TO -OSCOW TRAIN
DAYS
-OSCOW TO 0ACIFIC 4RANS3IBERIAN 2AILWAY DAYS
!SIA TO 3AN &RANCISCO SHIP
DAYS
4OTAL DAYS
­/NLY THIRTYSIX AND A HALF DAYS TO CIRCLE THE WORLD®
) SAID ­)F THE WEATHER IS GOOD IF THE TRAINS ARE ON TIME
IF A WAR DOESN°T BREAK OUT ) COULD MAKE IT HOME LONG
BEFORE THE FORTYDAY DEADLINE®
4HROUGHOUT THE FIRST WEEKS OF *UNE 0RINCE /H AND
THE -60 CHALLENGE RARELY LEFT MY MIND 4HEN ONE
MORNING MY TEACHER CALLED ME TO HER DESK
­! VISITOR ASKED ABOUT YOU YESTERDAY® SHE SAID
) FROZE ­7AS HE WEARING A BLACK TURBAN AND CAPE®
­.O HE WORE A GREEN SUIT (E SAID HE WAS FROM THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE AND HE LEFT A LATE BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR
YOU (E SAID YOU°LL NEED IT FOR A TRIP
YOU°RE TAKING THIS SUMMER®
-Y TEACHER HANDED ME A BLUE
BACKPACK )T WAS THE BEST
KIND WITH AN INTERIOR
FRAME AND LOTS OF OUT
SIDE POCKETS )NSIDE ONE OF THE POCKETS ) FOUND A CARD
BEARING A SINGLE WORD
!$6%.452%
­4HE PACK MUST BE FOR MY SUMMER CAMPS® ) TOLD
MY TEACHER
"UT ) KNEW IT WASN°T )T CAME FROM THE -60 PRO
DUCER
! MONTH LATER ON *ULY ) USED THE BACKPACK TO
PACK FOR SOCCER CAMP 4HE CAMP BUS WAS LEAVING AT
NOON FROM MY SCHOOL PARKING LOT -Y MOTHER WOULD
DRIVE ME THERE ON THE WAY TO HER CLEANING JOB 7HEN WE
ARRIVED DADS AND MOMS WERE HUGGING THEIR SONS AND
DAUGHTERS GOODBYE "EHIND THEM A YELLOW SCHOOL BUS
BELCHED BLACK DIESEL FUMES
­,OVE YOU® -OM SAID KISSING ME ON THE FOREHEAD
­$ON°T FORGET YOU PROMISED TO EMAIL ME EVERY OTHER
DAY FROM CAMP®
) LEFT THE CAR LUGGING THE BLUE BACKPACK 7ITH ALL
THE PEOPLE AROUND THE BUS ) DECIDED TO SIT AT THE !FTER
3CHOOL #LUB PICNIC TABLE UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE !
SURPRISE AWAITED ME THERE /N THE TABLE LAY THE BLUE CELL
PHONE AND '03 UNIT FROM -60 !S ) APPROACHED THE
PHONE BEGAN TO CHIRP
) SAT DOWN AT THE PICNIC TABLE 0RINCE /H WAS ON THE CELL
PHONE WHEN ) ANSWERED IT
­'OOD SHOW !DAM 3TORY 9OU CERTAINLY MADE A BOLD
DECISION®
­7HAT DECISION® ) ASKED
­! CERTAIN -60 CHALLENGE® SAID THE PRINCE ­9OU°RE
ABOUT TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD !DAM 3TORY THAT°S FOR
CERTAIN®
­(OW DO YOU KNOW )°M NOT GOING TO CAMP TO MAKE
LANYARDS ALL SUMMER® ) SAID
0RINCE /H REPLIED WITH ONE WORD ­!DVENTURE®
!DVENTURE 4HAT WORD HAD BEEN RINGING IN MY HEAD
SINCE MY BIRTHDAY ) HAD EVEN LOOKED IT UP IN THE DIC
TIONARY
ADVENTURE NOUN AN UNDERTAKING USUALLY INVOLVING
DANGER AND UNKNOWN RISKS
3URE THE PRIZE MONEY WOULD BE GREAT FOR -OM AND
ME 3URE FAME WOULD WIN ME SOME RESPECT FROM MY
CLASSMATES "UT THE THOUGHT OF ADVENTURE¬THAT WAS
WHAT TEMPTED ME TO TAKE UP -60°S OFFER
­!NYWAY THEY°RE EXPECTING ME ON THE CAMP BUS® )
SAID INTO THE PHONE
­-60 WILL HANDLE THE DETAILS® SAID THE PRINCE
) LOOKED TOWARD THE PARKING LOT ! MAN WEARING
GREEN SHORTS AND A GREEN 4SHIRT WAS TALKING TO THE BUS
DRIVER
­3O WHAT IF ) DID GO ON THIS TRIP® ) ASKED ­(OW
WOULD ) START®
­&IRST WALK TO THE "!24 STATION 4AKE THE TRAIN INTO
3AN &RANCISCO AND ALIGHT AT THE %MBARCADERO STOP
&OLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE 'REYHOUND BUS TERMINAL "E
CERTAIN TO CALL -60 WHEN YOU GET THERE $ID YOU RECEIVE
THE BLUE BACKPACK®
­3URE 4HANKS® ) SAID
­!ND ) TAKE IT YOU°RE WEARING THE BAGGY BLUE JEANS
YOU USUALLY WEAR FOR SCHOOL AND PLAY®
­3URE !ND ) HAVE ON A WHITE 4SHIRT IF THAT MATTERS®
) SAID ­"UT ) LEFT MY APARTMENT THINKING ) WAS GOING TO
CAMP ) DIDN°T BRING MUCH MONEY®
­!S ) EXPLAINED !DAM 3TORY -60 WILL FINANCE YOUR
ENTIRE TRIP AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE AROUND THE WORLD®
0RINCE /H SAID ­2EACH UNDER THE PICNIC TABLE®
) PLACED MY HAND BENEATH THE TABLETOP -Y FINGERS
MET WADS OF GUM GOBS OF JELLY AND OTHER GROSS STUFF
BEFORE FINDING IT A SMALL "AGGIE DUCTTAPED TO THE WOOD
) YANKED IT OFF AND CHECKED THE CONTENTS A PASSPORT AND
TWO BLUE PLASTIC CARDS
­9OUR PASSPORT CONTAINS THE VISAS YOU°LL NEED TO ENTER
CERTAIN COUNTRIES® 0RINCE /H EXPLAINED ­/NE PLASTIC
CARD IS AN !4- CARD )T WILL WORK AT ANY AUTOMATED TELLER
MACHINE IN THE WORLD 9OU MAY WITHDRAW THREE HUN
DRED DOLLARS° WORTH OF LOCAL CURRENCY DAILY FOR SPENDING
MONEY 4HE 0). CODE IS 4HAT SPELLS %!24(
4HE SECOND CARD IS AN -60 CREDIT CARD 4HIS CARD HAS
NO SPENDING LIMIT®
­+ACHING® ) SAID ) HAD NEVER IMAGINED HAVING THAT
MUCH MONEY 4AKING THE JOURNEY SEEMED EASY 7AS )
REALLY GOING TO DO IT 7HY NOT
­$URING THE SUMMER THE PLAYGROUND BELL CONTINUES
TO RING AT YOUR SCHOOL® 0RINCE /H WENT ON ­4HE TWELVE
O°CLOCK LUNCH BELL IS YOUR START SIGNAL -60 HAS WORKED
OUT A TRANSPORTATION SCHEDULE THAT YOU MUST BE CERTAIN TO
KEEP IF YOU°RE TO COMPLETE THE WORLD TOUR IN FORTY DAYS -Y
STAFF HAS DRAWN UP THE SAFEST ROUTE FOR YOU ONE THAT AVOIDS
COUNTRIES AT WAR REGIONS EXPERIENCING OUTBREAKS OF CONTA
GIOUS DISEASE AND SEA ROUTES PRONE TO TROPICAL STORMS®
) PANICKED 3TORMS $ISEASE 7AR !ND WHAT ABOUT
CRIME !ND TERRORISTS
0RINCE /H MUST HAVE SEEN THE EXPRESSION ON MY FACE
­"E CERTAIN TO FOLLOW -60°S CHOSEN ROUTE AND YOU°LL BE
SAFE !DAM 3TORY® HE ASSURED ME ­4ODAY IS *ULY 4O
WIN THE -60 PRIZE MONEY YOU MUST BE BACK AT THAT PICNIC
TABLE ON !UGUST BEFORE THE NOONDAY BELL RINGS®
­"UT WHAT IF ) GET SICK® ) ASKED ­7HAT IF THE POLICE
STOP ME 7HAT IF ) MISS A CONNECTION 7HAT IF ) LOSE
THE BLUE CARDS®
4HIS TIME THE REPLY WAS A DIAL TONE
) DROPPED THE PHONE AND THE '03 UNIT INTO AN OUT
SIDE POCKET OF MY BACKPACK 4HE CARDS WENT INTO MY
WALLET
7HEN ) STOOD SOMETHING RATTLED IN MY PANTS POCKETS
0OKER CHIPS 4HROUGHOUT FIFTH GRADE MY TEACHER GAVE
US A POKER CHIP EACH TIME WE DID SOMETHING ­POSITIVE®
IN CLASS LIKE CLEANING OUR DESKS OR LINING UP WITHOUT
TALKING 7E COULD CASH THE CHIPS IN FOR FREE TIME STICKERS
STUFF LIKE THAT !T THE END OF THE YEAR TWO DOZEN POKER
CHIPS REMAINED IN MY POCKETS .OW THE CHIPS ALONG
WITH SOMETHING WE HAD LEARNED IN SOCIAL STUDIES GAVE
ME AN IDEA 0IONEERS HAD CARVED THEIR NAMES ON ROCKS
AND TREES ALONG THE /REGON 4RAIL SO PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE
WOULD KNOW THEY HAD BEEN THERE 7HY NOT ANNOUNCE
MY OWN PRESENCE
­4WENTYFOUR FREETIME POKER CHIPS ARE IN MY
POCKETS® ) SAID TO MYSELF ­!ND THERE ARE TWENTYFOUR
TIME ZONES )°LL LEAVE ONE CHIP IN EACH ZONE 0ROOF THAT
!DAM 3TORY WAS THERE®
4HE FIRST POKER CHIP ) PULLED OUT OF MY JEANS WAS
WHITE ) STUCK IT TO THE GUM ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE
PICNIC TABLE
­/NE FOR 0ACIFIC $AYLIGHT 4IME® ) ANNOUNCED
)N THE PARKING LOT CAMPERS WERE CLIMBING ONTO THE
BUS -OTHERS AND FATHERS STILL STOOD THERE WAVING GOOD
BYE AND BLOWING KISSES 4HE MAN IN GREEN HAD LEFT
2IIIIIIIIIIIING
4HE PLAYGROUND BELL GAVE ME A JOLT ) HOISTED THE BLUE
BACKPACK ONTO MY SHOULDERS 0RESSING A TINY BUTTON ON
MY BLACK DIGITAL WATCH ) SET THE TIME TO THE RING
NOON
­/+ )°M OFF TO CIRCLE THE WORLD® ) SAID ­3EE YOU ALL
IN FORTY DAYS®