Part 11 (1/2)
Dr Miller smiled ”No, dear We drink the water from the pipe This sample came from the pool”
”But if the ani!”
The scientist shook his head ”The spring water is pure It probably has a lower bacteria count than our well But the pool water is exposed to the air, and provides an excellent breeding place Most of these aniate froht, Mrs Miller When I want a culture I just put some water with a little broth in it out in the open for a day or so, then put it out of direct sunlight Within seventy-two hours I have a bigger mob of animals than this in every drop”
”Then the Blue Ghost didn't hurt the water of the pool?” Scotty asked
”Can't tell,” Rick explained ”There was no permanent haret a collection like this in three days, and it's been that long since the ghost appeared So these animals would be in the pool by now, even if the Blue Ghost had done so to adulterate the pool teust of wind that rattled the s
”It's getting worse,” Mrs Miller exclaie the little apples on the trees They're so good We're planning to have bushels shi+pped to Spindrift when they ripen”
Jan Miller brought them back to the subject ”How could chemicals be harht kill off those in the pool, but the constant dropping of spring water would soon dilute the solution Or, soen in the water to for to think of ways the ghostway from an answer, I'd say Even if your old chemicals could make the white h the business of getting shot!”
”Too true, Sis I' So far we have only so ice-crea ces Old ones, too”
Barby had to shost, I'll type up your science project for free, and as rinned ”And if I don't?”
”I won't be surprised, but you can get ain” Rick turned to Dr Miller ”There's one bit of inforet for us that none of the rest of us can get That is, do the real-estate agent and the ice-cream man know each other, and in particular, are they friendly?
He could ask around toithout causing suspicion”
”I'll ask hiht now,” Dr Miller replied He went to the telephone in the big farm kitchen and dialed After a moment he said, ”Clara?
Is Tim there?” He waited, then said, ”Ti a casual question around town
Ti up and turned to the others ”The phone went dead”
Rick saw that his substage illumination was out, too ”So did the electricity”
Dr Miller frowned ”It's unusual for both the phone and current to go out at once That must mean a tree is down across the lines Both lines cross the creek within a few feet about half afor it but to wait the storm out
Rick and Dr Miller resu an iame that can be played almost anywhere, under nearly any circumstances At its simplest, the Yoot board can be scratched in the dirt with a stick, and the Yoot throwing sticks that take the place of dice--or a spinning arrow--in si Scotty sketched the board on a piece of cardboard froroceries had been carried anda piece of cane from an ancient cane chair in the woodshed Checkers were used as counters, where in the outdoors pebbles would have served
”It's like parcheesi,” Scotty explained to the girls ”You try to beat your opponent around the spaces on the board The four sticks get thrown into the air, and you can move one space for every stick that lands flat side up If all four land flat side up, that's a 'yoot' and you get another throw on top of the four moves You start, Barby, and I'll show you the other rules as we go along”
At lunchtirill out in the woodshed, which connected to the kitchen Then she used the glowing coals to rounds directly into the pan of boiling water Since the family coffeepot was an electric percolator, this was the only hly were it not for his ihost into operation It was certain by now that the affair at the picnic grounds was called off, but with radio and TV silent, there was no way of checking
The stor Dinner was broiled steak, with a tossed salad If the storet as fat as Collins fro
Over coffee he outlined the plan that had been stirring in his host's appearance yet We don't kno he appears, either But unless I' to do with it”
”I don't see how you can say that,” Barby objected