"Maria, what's going on?" Ernie whispered quietly once the entered the air duct.

"We're using the air duct to escape so they'll think we snuck out through the back door." Maria explained.

"No, I mean what did they kidnap me? Why did they ask me crazy questions?"

"Ernie, I'm afraid that some powerful people are angry with Bert," Maria responded, "they want to use you as bait."

"Why would anyone be angry at Bert?" Ernie asked, "He has no enemies."

"It isn't what he did so much as what people he knows did. As in other members of the Association of W Lovers."

Ernie felt his head spinning. "What? The W Lovers have nothing to do with this!"

"Is that what you really think?" Maria asked.

"Yes," Ernie replied fiercely.

"Not so loud Ernie! I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but many of your friends aren't who you think they are."

"Then who are they?" Ernie asked.

A loud screaming noise came from below. It seemed Abby had just learned they escaped.

"Almost at the very end," Maria announced.

They had reached the end at last.

"Now what?" Ernie asked.

"We run like there's no tomorrow!" Maria responded.


Ernie still isn't back, Bert realized as he returned to his apartment. It had been two days since Ernie left to get groceries. Ernie had never been gone this long before. Could it be...

No, he wouldn't even consider the possibility. Ernie would be back.

Bert shook as he realized someone else was inside his house.

Feeling braver then he probably should have, he decided to confront them. "All right, who are you?"

The intruder shook then made a shushing noise.

"Rosita?" Bert asked in shock.

"Shh, not so loud, Bert!" Rosita whispered, "I'm here to deliver a secret message from Maria!"

"A secret message? From Maria?" Bert asked in surprise.

Rosita nodded. "But it won't be secret if people hear us!" Rosita then pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Bert.

Bert,

Thank you for saving Cookie Monster. I would like to assure you that Ernie is safe- I saved him from Abby's henchmen earlier today. There is much that you need to know, but first I have to request you preform a difficult task.

The nurse you meet at the hospital, Joy, is not just another nurse. She is a paid assassin on the part of the ring that Abby Cadabby works with, and has instructions to kill Cookie Monster. You must return to the hospital and do what it takes to prevent her from doing this at all costs.

DO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE SEE THIS NOTE! Burn it once you have finished reading it.

Wishing you well,

Maria

Bert gulped. How was he going to save Cookie Monster from Nurse Joy? And how did Maria know all this?

"Rosita?" Bert asked, but he was all alone. She must have snuck out while I was reading the note.

Bert walked over to the cabinet where they kept candles, and found a matchbox. He light a candle, then placed the note on the flame, and it dissolved into ash. He then blew out the candle, and made his way to the alley again.

He didn't know what he was going to do. He just knew he needed to do something.


"All right, Maria, what's going on here?" Ernie asked. "Where are we? Who lives here? Why did you have Rosita give Bert a secret note? Why is the National Association of W Lovers under attack from Abby?"

Maria sighed. "It's a very long story, Ernie. I can tell you who owns this apartment, but it's a hideout for people who are fighting back against Abby."

"Nobody has ever fought against Abby," Ernie responded dismissively.

"Openly, no. But in private an intense movement to take back Sesame Street has been occurring for years now."

"And I didn't know of this because why?"

"Well, Ernie, I'm afraid you've been tainted by your ties with Bert," Maria explained, "it took us a while to determine those allegations were false."

"What allegations?" Ernie asked, "Bert never did anything wrong!"

"We know that now," Maria said, "but early on, we weren't sure what his motives were."

"Why not?"

Maria sighed. "Perhaps I should show you outright.'

Maria walked Ernie over to a computer, and then pulled up a website from the favorites page.

"Bert-is-evil-dot-tv?" Ernie read in confusion. He read some of the most recent articles.

Bert shoots Cookie Monster!

Bert role in the Oscar Grouch shooting revisited!

How Bert terrorizes Sesame Street from the shadows -An Analysis

"This is just - I don't even," Ernie had never felt so outraged in his life, "This is insane, Maria. Insane. Who believes this stuff?"

"Unfortunately, most of Sesame Street does at this point," Maria answered sadly, "It's clever. By scapegoating Bert, Abby can deflect the blame on her activities."

"How can anybody believe this nonsense!" Ernie cried, "Bert was here for ages and ages before Abby showed up! He's never hurt a fly! Everyone knows him!"

"They did, once. But paranoia is a powerful weapon, Ernie. Have you noticed distance from old friends?"

"Well, yeah, but I thought that was Abby driving people apart. Apparently, it was actually people thinking I was helping Bert commit vicious crimes! How could they do this, Maria? How could our friends betray in such a terrible way?"

"Don't be too hard on them, Ernie," Maria said gently, "Pain makes people think things they otherwise wouldn't."


Nurse Joy carefully hid the poison tablets in her bag as she got ready for work. It would be a breeze to hide these in Cookie Monster's food. In fact, she knew exactly what to mix them in.

A delicious chocolate chip cookie.