Part 3 (2/2)
”Steve lost a tail thisRemember?”
Rick looked at him doubtfully ”Of course Why?”
”Soains,” Scotty replied cheerfully ”Don't look behind you, but we've found one!”
CHAPTER III
The Shadow
The two scientists had been walking ahead of Rick and Scotty, but Zircon's keen ears had overheard the boys' remarks However, he was too wise to roup passed a store with a large display, then stopped, as though to exa a collection of tools for the do-it-yourself addict
”What's this about Steve and a tail?” Zircon asked He pointed at a power-drill set, as though discussing it His normally loud voice couldn't have been heard five feet away
Rick shook his head, then pointed at a different drill set Anyone watching would have thought the tools were the subject of conversation
Rick quickly outlined what had happened and concluded, ”Scotty spotted a tail on us a few uy?”
Scotty bent down for a closer look at a series of wood power bits His voice was scarcely audible ”Not the sain Islander Looks like a farht on by
He's out of sight now But he'll pick us up as soon as we start”
Tony Briotti, to whom this kind of adventure was new, asked, ”What do we do about it?”
”Nothing,” Zircon answered ”Steve Aet rid of his shadow and the boys helped hiet rid of ours Let hiot interested when they saw hi us”
”And it's one less for Steve to contend with,” Rick added
Scotty straightened up ”I have to ad to bore ed ”I have nothing in ht check in at the hotel”
”I'd rather swim,” Rick said
”Same here” Scottyto do so ”No sign of our friend He's probably in another doorway”
”Then Hobart and I ested ”I'd like a swim, but frankly I'm a little sleepy fro in for us?” Rick asked ”Then we could get right into the water No need for all of us to go to the hotel”
The scientists agreed, and at Scotty's suggestion hailed a taxi As the car rolled off toward the boat where their luggage was stored, Scotty grinned ”This was the only taxi in sight Wonder how our friend will e to follow us?”
He had his answer at the pier While Zircon was piling their overnight bags into the taxi, a farmer rode past on a bicycle He didn't look at theoes,” Scotty said ”Pretty easy after all Guess the town is s us”
”We'll give him a choice to make when Tony and I leave” Zircon smiled
”Let's see whether he stays with you, or follows us”