Part 9 (2/2)
She buckled it on, and added her weight belt The fins were last
A flun of exhaustion, told Rick that Jan was tired Probably the mental strain more than the exercise had left her too weak for further swi the camera from a belt hook, took her hand and shook it solemnly, then led the way back to the beach
After a short rest the others were anxious to go back in again, but Rick vetoed the idea ”We could,” he admitted, ”and probably no har in the world to overdo Jan is tired And she's excited, even if she doesn't look it This afternoon, after we've had a little rest, we can coain and just have fun There won't be any strain on Jan then, because she passed the last test with flying colors So she can sithout worrying whether she's ht to be done”
He grinned at the girl ”I knoas a strain Reh it, too”
Jan had a nice sht,” she admitted ”I was so scared I wouldn't do it correctly! Then, when I knew that it was all right, I sort of fell apart”
Barby arose ”Coe” She smiled with false sweetness at the boys ”Now that you're through testing Jan, I' your oork 'Bye, now” And she left theear and truck it back to the laboratory building where it was kept
Rick got to the shower first, then stretched out on his bed to wait for Scotty It's a fine day, he told himself All is well JANIG has the island covered like a blanket The project tea fun Jan is just the coht with the world
He turned over on his stomach and bunched his pillow up more comfortably Then why, he asked himself, did he still feel funny?
Scotty ca you?” he demanded
Rick turned over and stared at his pal ”Is it that obvious?”
”It is to me What's up?”
”I don't know,” Rick ad is? It's like the day before a hurricane lassy, and there isn't any wind, and you're aled a breath ”
”'The calm before the storm,'” Scotty quoted ”Maybe it is I feel it a little, too But what can we do?”
Rick shrugged as expressively as one flat on his back could irls, and we can keep working on the radio units But there isn't a single thing to do so far as the project goes I wish there were I feel left out”
Scotty grinned ”You're never really happy unless we're up to our hips in trouble or ayou A fine, fat mystery is afoot and you haven't a shred of it you can call your own”
Rick had to grin back There wasas the mystery of the two scientists remained unsolved, he wouldn't be really happy
CHAPTER VII
The Peripatetic Barber
”We're trapped here,” Barby said stor about it, Rick Brant! If you don't call Steve Ao to the hed He had tried to point out that Barby was being illogical
Neither the Morrisons nor the Brants were trapped anywhere It was just that common sense required the Morrisons to be careful