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TheFireball Mystery
by
MARY ADRIAN
Copyright © 1977 by Mary Adrian
Published by Wildside Press LLC www.wildsidepress.com
CHAPTER ONE
The Mysterious Lights
TIM SWITCHED on the light in his room, tumbled out of bed, and with arms resting on the windowsill, looked out at the dark river. He was spending his first night in his new home—a floating house resting on logs anchored to pilings along the river-front.
Tim was thrilled with the idea of living in a different kind of house. Especially since they had bought the island just across the river. Dad said in five years the land would be worth twice as much. Then he might think of selling it. But until then—
Until then, the island was theirs. And Dad said it would be perfect for stargazing.
The trouble was, Tim dreaded going over there. As he stared at the island, a long strip of land with trees towering toward the starlit sky, a cold shiver ran through him. Tim had a secret that he shared with no one, not even with his sister, Vicki, who was nine—two years younger than he was.
He was afraid of the dark.
Lots of times Tim had stargazed from the front lawn of their old home with his dad. It was clear enough to see lots of stars and he had felt safe there. But to stargaze from an island, a big dark island, with only his sister for company, would be a different matter.
If Dad had not had to go away on business, he could have counted on him to come along. But Dad’s last words to Tim and Vicki were, “That island should be a great place to see some of the planets. Why, you might even spot a comet.”
Dad’s words were ringing in Tim’s ears. A comet! Boy! He’d sure like to see one. How could he wait a week or two for Dad to come back? But that island—it would be really dark there tomorrow night.
Tim was about to go back to bed when he saw lights blink on the island. That was strange. What was a person doing on their property in the middle of the night?
Just then someone nudged Tim in the ribs and said in a loud whisper, “Boo!”
Tim jumped and glared at his sister.
Vicki put her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle.
“Very funny,” Tim whispered.
“I’m sorry,” Vicki answered. Then she grinned, a wide grin that showed the braces on her front teeth. “I just had to. Move over,” she added. She squeezed next to Tim and looked out at the river. “I couldn’t sleep! I’m so excited!”
“Do you see what I see on the island?” Tim asked her.
“Hey!” whispered Vicki. “Somebody is flashing different colored lights. They’ve gone out now. There they are again. That’s funny. Who do you suppose is on our island? And what’s he doing?”
Tim shrugged. “I wish I knew.”
Vicki cupped her chin in her hands. “Dad said there was an old house on the island. Maybe somebody’s poking around over there.” Her eyes grew wide.
“Uh-oh,” Tim sighed. “Here she goes again.”
But Vicki was lost in her daydream and didn’t seem to notice her brother.
“It could be a real mystery.” She plucked excitedly at his pajama sleeve, “And we can go investigate tomorrow night when we stargaze!”
“Tomorrow night!” Tim drew back. “What’s wrong with the daytime?”
“We have to investigate, silly.”
“What’s to investigate?” he asked, a little nervously.
“Everything! We can spy around that old house, for one.” She peered out at the dark strip of land. “Those lights are gone now. I can’t see a thing. I wonder what the island looks like? Do you think there’s lots of animals? Or maybe a cave? What do you think?”
Tim shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out,” he answered, thinking, “And she’ll probably find out I’m afraid of the dark!”
Vicki sighed and laid her head against her brother’s arm. “I’m getting sleepy now,” she yawned.
They waited. All was quiet except for the river lapping against the front of the floating house. Suddenly they heard a sound from the next room.
“I hope I didn’t wake Mom,” Vicki whispered. “I’d better go.”
She tiptoed out of the room. Tim watched the mysterious lights until finally they stopped blinking and the blackness of night made the island look like a long, dark shadow. Then he slipped back into bed.
The next morning the children forgot about the strange lights on the island. They were too excited about exploring their new home. They couldn’t wait to get out and look around. They did their chores as quickly as they could and dashed out the door.
Tim and Vicki ran across a small, wooden bridge onto the dock where their dad had left a canoe for their use. It was an old canoe, but Tim was eager to paddle to the island. After all, it was daytime now, and there was nothing to be afraid of.
Or was there? Tim suddenly remembered the mysterious lights.
Just then a boy about his own age, with dark brown hair and glasses, came onto the dock, marched up to them, took a deep breath and said,
“Hi, I’m Joey Baker and you’re the new kids. Mom told me you were coming. I live three houses down in a house like yours. There are ten floating houses here, but hardly any other kids so I’m really glad you moved here.” He put his hands in his pockets and beamed at them.
Vicki was smiling back, but Tim blinked in surprise. Never in all his life had he heard anyone talk so fast and wave his arms at the same time. And he wondered what was making the front of Joey’s shirt move up and down.
Suddenly a head peeked out of Joey’s red striped shirt—a head with unwinking eyes and a flickering forked tongue.
“A snake!” shrieked Vicki.
Joey proudly pulled out his pet and swung him over his shoulders. Both Tim and Vicki took a few quick steps back.
“Don’t worry!” Joey laughed. “Bobo is a harmless garter snake. I found him this spring. Dad doesn’t like snakes in the house, so I built a wooden cage with a window in one side for Bobo. We put in dirt and weeds and some flat stones. I feed Bobo worms. In the fall I’ll turn him loose so he can hibernate like other snakes in the winter.”
Tim was impressed, but Vicki knew she wouldn’t want a snake for a pet. She backed away when Joey came closer and said, “Bobo feels with his tongue. He won’t mind if you touch him.”
“Well I would!” Vicki shuddered.
“I’ve touched snakes,” said Tim. “They’re not dirty or slimy the way some people think.”
“You’re right.” Joey fondled Bobo and let the snake crawl along his arm. “You’ve got to handle Bobo gently, though. Otherwise he’ll give off an awful smelly liquid from a gland near his tail. All garter snakes do that.”
“Yuck,” Vicki said. “Why don’t you get a cat or a dog?”
Joey grinned. “I like creeping, crawling creatures. I like all kinds of animals and I like to spy on them at night. There are lots of them on the island, but I can’t go there anymore because your dad has no trespassing signs all over the place.” Without a breath he added, “Of course, I guess I could go with you.”
“Are there really lots of animals there?” Vicki asked.
“You bet! Owls, raccoons, deer—you name it! I could show you all kinds of things.”
“Sure,”