Part 6 (1/2)
”You mean because we turned the tables on the shadow?” Scotty asked
”No Because you're adventure-prone Did you ever hear of people who are accident-prone?”
Zircon chuckled ”A good observation of these two I agree absolutely, Tony They are adventure-prone”
Rick sighed ”All right What's the joke?”
”None I'lass ”Insurance statistics show that certain people are accident-prone Accidents happen to the! A streetcar jumps the tracks and hits them Or they step into open e to be walking under things orkmen drop tools”
”And you,” Zircon concluded, ”are adventure-prone in the same way
Consider this Had you walked down the street either ayou would not have seen Steve Ames It's quite likely that you would never have known of his presence in town But what happens? You walk right into an adventure One thing leads to another, and suddenly a stranger is trying to run you doith a motorboat”
”That's what bothers me,” Rick replied ”There's no pattern It just makes no sense”
”It doesn't have to,” Tony Briotti said with a grin ”The Golden Skull pattern ot us into more excitement than I kneas possible You're just adventure-prone”
”And for the sake of ray hair, stay out of trouble,” Zircon pleaded
”Stay close to us until we get to Clipper Cay”
”It will be a pleasure,” Rick assured hih to shower, please I'm sticky”
”We'll stay in the hotel,” Scotty promised
”Fine I'll feel better about it if I knohere you are Suppose you come by in an hour and we'll have a quiet dinner at the Ernsts'”
Dinner was quiet but interesting The Ernsts were excellent hosts, and both Dr and Mrs Ernst had ood doctor had promised, the boys enjoyed the wonderful variety of sea life Mrs Ernst had collected to keep in salt-water tanks She identified for the clowns, demoiselles, and even the deadly scorpion fish
The party broke up early, since the start for Clipper Cay was to be made at dawn by the scientists The plan was for Zircon and Tony toover in the Sky Wagon
That way, both the plane and boat would be available Zircon thought that fast trips to St Thoht be necessary to replenish supplies, and he added that he would be happier if the plane were available in case of accident That way, the patient could be in Charlotte Aht to the scientists and started up the stairs to their rooht?”
”Nope Guess Steve's friends--or eneht As long as Steve ordered us to stay out of the case, I'll be glad e get to the cay and get underwater We have to find that precious gadget even if it takes two solid weeks of diving If we don't, Barby will never let us forget it”
This last was uttered as Rick turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open He flicked on the light, then gave a sudden gasp
The shadow and a stranger--in their room!
The boys looked into the muzzles of 38-caliber pistols