Part 8 (2/2)
Scotty said, dazed, ”I don't believe there's anything else left in the kitchen We have all the crabs in the world right here”
”Only three dozen,” the waiter said ”Ju, you yell”
Unidentified flying objects were forgotten as Steve initiated the fresh crab It turned out to be quite an art, but one that theysucculent back-fin crab meat drenched in fresh butter The wooden block served as an anvil, and the round hardwood piece as a ha knife was used for tri out delicious bits of meat The fork was utilized to persuade ses Three or four napkins were used between each tidbit to mop buttery hands, and even chins, dohich the butter sometimes dripped It was a feast, indeed
”If I hadn't been a heavy eater before, I'd be one after this,” Scotty observed happily
”Beats hunting flying stingarees,” Rick agreed ”Pass another crab, please”
Not until the table had been cleared by the waiter, who simply removed the utensils and tray, then wrapped up all the shells in the brown paper and carried it off, did the conversation return to thewith the white-hairedHe described them now in detail
”Odd,” Steve said ”This fa No nor casual questions That's a sure mark of insecurity In other words, theto hide Do you have any reason to think he arees or saucers?”
”None at all,” Rick answered
”Do you knohere Calvert's Favor is?” Scotty asked ”The location wasn't given in your books There was quite a lot about the plantation house”
”No, never heard of the place But we'll find out e pass through Ca about this area”
Steve held out his hand ”Let's see your notebook”
Scotty handed it over The young agent leafed through it rapidly
”That's sos, it's gone no are you going to arrange the data?”
”In tables, and on a ht Want anything else?”
Scotty groaned ”I couldn't even drink a glass of water”
”Sareed
”Then let's leave the crabs behind and take a ride”
On the way back to Cae, Steve Ao there were flying saucer reports by the dozen Each one was given lots of newspaper space The Air Force conducted investigations Then flying saucers got unpopular, the Air Force closed its project, and the newspapers wrote a funny story every tis in one sets excited The authorities brush it off as just hoku _sohtfully ”What's even odder is that a well-known man disappears, people search for hi but talk about it The police aren't even interested, so far as we can tell”
Steve laughed ”You're right But look at it in another way assume you're the local policeman Someone rushes in and tells you that Joe Doakes has been carried off by a flying saucer You don't believe in flying saucers, but you know Doakes You investigate His boat has been found, but his body isWhat do you assume? That he was really toted off by some mysterious object? Nope You assu out of the boat You know that sharks coure that the currents soure a dozen natural kinds of things, none connected withobjects You call a coroner's jury, and not ato say for the record that he believes in flying saucers What happens?”
”Case closed,” Scotty said slowly, ”because the body isn't around No proof of death, or even of accident Pending proof of death-- under mysterious circumstances and may have ed in his lawful business of crabbing”
”That's about it,” Steve agreed ”It isn't really odd when you look at it that way But you can bet the case isn't closed It's just inactive, until so turns up Remember there's no detective squad in a sas station and store on the outskirts of Ca boy looked out of the store and called, ”Howdy, Steve Want gas?”
”Not tonight, Jirandfather where Calvert's Favor is located, will you?”