Part 9 (1/2)
The boy came out of the store and walked toward the car He was a freckle-faced towhead, with a grin wider than the Choptank River ”Heck, Steve, I don't have to ask gran'pop that Everybody knohere Calvert's Favor is located”
”Not everybody,” Steve returned ”I don't How about letting us in on the secret, Jimmy?”
”It's no secret Everybody around here knows it's located across the river from you It's at the head of Swa Data
Steve's living room was an excellent place to work In fact, it was a shade too co over ould do what in putting their data down on paper, and both knew perfectly well that they were just stalling
Finally Rick said, ”Let's admit it We're both stuffed with crab, a little sleepy, and too couidly ”All right I concede the point”
Steve Ames chuckled ”Suppose you -rooht Get to work and I will too”
The boys hauled themselves to their feet reluctantly Rick walked to the door and looked out through the screen He could see the creek glistening, and, out beyond the dock where the houseboat and runabout were tied up, he saw ripples spreading where a fish had jumped The air was still, and he could hear cicadas in the trees and shrubs
”This is the land of pleasant living,” he observed ”I'ets a lick of work done”
”You certainly don't,” Scotty retorted ”Co the scenery”
Steve had produced large sheets of white paper, a ruler, and pencils
Rick sat down ”I'll act as recorder”
”Volunteering for the hardest job?” Scotty inquired ”The airyou”
”Nope” Rick shook his head ”I have just enough energy left to be realistic I can't read your writing Suppose I put down the headings
Location, date of sighting, ti, number of persons who saw object What else?”
”Description,” Scotty suggested ”Maybe that ought to be in two parts
One for shape and one for color”
Rick nodded ”Good idea I'll rule lines as we go” He drew lines for the colus, and put in the first several horizontal lines ”Ready,” he announced
”We'll start with the first one Location: five miles south of Wye Mills on Route 50”
Rick printed: ”5M S Wye Mls Rte 50”
”Date of sighting, July 10 Ti”
Rick printed industriously Scotty read from his notes until over twenty lines of information had been printed on the chart Then Steve interrupted, bringing a tray of tall glasses of iced ginger ale