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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28813-8.txt b/28813-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e59e40 --- /dev/null +++ b/28813-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6667 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Electronic Mind Reader, by John Blaine + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Electronic Mind Reader + +Author: John Blaine + +Release Date: May 14, 2009 [EBook #28813] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the + U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + [Illustration: _Horrified with fear, the men threw themselves + to the deck_] + + + + A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY + + + + THE + + ELECTRONIC + + MIND READER + + + + + BY JOHN BLAINE + + + + + + GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS + + NEW YORK, N. Y. + + + + + © BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1957 + + * * * * * + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I THE MILLION-DOLLAR GIMMICK 1 + +II THE INVASION OF SPINDRIFT 10 + +III A SYSTEM WITHIN A SYSTEM 24 + +IV A HAIRCUT AND A WINK 33 + +V JANIG RUNS A SECURITY CHECK 45 + +VI A CALM PRECEDES A STORM 55 + +VII THE PERIPATETIC BARBER 65 + +VIII THE MIND READER STRIKES 74 + +IX DAGGER OF THE MIND 86 + +X SEARCH FOR STRANGERS 94 + +XI THE DANGEROUS RESEMBLANCE 105 + +XII THE COAST GUARD DRAWS A BLANK 119 + +XIII THE MEGABUCK MOB ACTS 130 + +XIV SURVEILLANCE--WITH CEREAL 148 + +XV A MATTER OF BRAIN WAVES 154 + +XVI THE VANISHING MERMAIDS 164 + +XVII POINTER TO DISASTER 179 + +XVIII THE ONE-MAN BOARDING PARTY 186 + +XIX TAPED FOR TROUBLE 194 + +XX JANIG CLOSES IN 202 + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + +CHAPTER I + +The Million-Dollar Gimmick + + +Rick Brant stretched luxuriously and slid down to a half-reclining, +half-sitting position in his dad's favorite library armchair. He +called, "Barby! Hurry up!" + +Don Scott looked up from his adjustment of the television picture. +"What's the rush? The show hasn't started yet." + +Rick explained, "She likes the commercials." + +A moment later Barbara Brant appeared in the doorway, hastily +finishing a doughnut. Rick cocked an eyebrow at her. "If you're going +to eat, you might at least bring a plateful, so we can have some, +too." + +Barby gulped. "Sorry. I didn't intend to have a doughnut. I went to +the kitchen to see if Mom and Dad wanted to watch the show, and they +were having doughnuts and milk." + +"Never mind," Scotty said. "We forgive you. We'll get ours later. Are +Mom and Dad coming?" + +"Maybe later. Now be quiet, please, so I can hear the commercial." + +Dismal, the Brant pup, wandered in and paused at Rick's chair to have +his ears scratched before taking up his favorite position, under the +TV table. Rick obliged and the shaggy pup groaned with pleasure. + +"Why all the interest in a breakfast-food commercial?" Scotty asked. + +"The announcer is cute," Barby stated. + +This made no sense to Scotty. He stretched out on the rug in front of +the set, then rolled over on his back and looked up at the girl. "I +don't get it. Then why do you eat Crummies for breakfast instead of +the hay this guy sells?" + +"The Crummies announcer is cuter," Barby explained patiently. + +The boys grinned and fell silent as the cereal salesman went into his +spiel. Barby perched on the edge of a chair and listened attentively. + +Rick watched his sister's expressive face, chuckling to himself. Barby +always listened to the commercials. It was only fair, she insisted, +and the boys went along with her wishes. Come right down to it, Rick +thought, listening to commercials was the price that had to be paid +for entertainment. Not listening meant not paying the price. He didn't +think that the point was particularly important, but there was a small +element of justice in Barby's view. + +Their Sunday evenings on Spindrift, the private island off the New +Jersey coast, usually ended with this particular program. The members +of the Spindrift staff were not TV enthusiasts at best, and they cared +little about the program. Mr. and Mrs. Brant sometimes watched, more +for the sake of being companionable than for the sake of the program. +But usually the three young people watched alone. + +The program was a typical quiz. Contestants who were expert on a +particular category returned week after week on their build-up to a +grand prize, which was a quarter of a million dollars. This quiz, +however, had elements that the younger Brants liked. In the first +place, the contestants were ordinary people. The producer didn't seem +to go in for odd characters as other programs did. + +For the past few weeks the hero-contestant had been an +eighteen-year-old coal miner from Pennsylvania. There was nothing +unusual about him, except for one thing: he had become interested in +the mining of precious stones, and from there he had studied their +history. He was an expert on historical gems. + +Now, as the master of ceremonies greeted the miner, Barby said with +admiration, "He has a wonderful personality. And imagine him knowing +so much about gems!" + +Rick draped a leg over the chair arm. "See, Scotty? The perfect +reaction." + +"What do you mean?" Barby demanded indignantly. "He absolutely does +have a wonderful personality, and I think it's amazing that a coal +miner should know so much about gems." + +Scotty grinned up at her. "Rick means people can't get on quiz shows +unless they have good TV personalities. And how much appeal would the +show have if a gem expert answered questions on gems?" + +"I see what you mean," Barby agreed. + +"That's it," Rick nodded. "Anyway, I agree that the miner has a swell +personality, and he certainly knows his gems." + +The three fell quiet as the quiz began. The questions were really +tough, filled with the kind of detail no one could be expected to +remember, but which good contestants always did. Then, at a crucial +moment, the miner hesitated over identification of a date in the long +and bloody history of the Koh-i-noor diamond. + +"If only we could help him," Barby wailed. + +"We don't know, either," Scotty reminded. + +But Rick suddenly realized that they did know--or, at least, had the +answer available. He was certain it could be found in one of his +father's books, if not in the encyclopedia. But even if they had time +to look it up, which they didn't, the contestant couldn't hear them in +a soundproof booth. Or could they get a message to him if they were +part of the studio audience? Or was there some other way? It was +typical of Rick, when faced with an apparently insoluble problem, to +look for an answer. + +The miner finally remembered, and the three breathed a mutual sigh of +relief. But the ordeal was not yet over, because the questioning had +several parts. Next came a quiz on the Star of Africa. + +The questions asked, the camera began switching from the contestant's +face to the tense faces in the audience. A woman, probably the miner's +mother ... a man with a beard ... a man with a hearing aid ... + +Rick suddenly sat up straight. He had it! He knew how the information +could be handed to the contestant! At least he knew in theory. He sat +back and started to work out the details. + +The miner made it. Limp and happy, he came out of the booth, shook +hands with the MC, and staggered off with an armload of books +containing answers to next week's series of questions. The announcer +went into the final commercial, with Barby and Scotty listening +attentively. Rick didn't listen. He had a wonderful idea on which he +was putting the finishing touches. + +As programs shifted, Scotty reached up and turned off the set. Dismal +left his place under the table and trotted off to the kitchen. + +"Me for a doughnut," Scotty announced. + +Barby was still spellbound by the miner's success. "It's just +fantastic, utterly, how much he knows." She shook her smooth blond +head. "I wish I knew that much about something." + +"Want to win a million?" Rick asked. + +"Who doesn't?" Barby returned dreamily. Suddenly she stared. "You +have a Look on your face," she stated. "Rick Brant, you're cooking up +something!" + +Rick grinned. "I can win the quiz," he said casually. "It's easy. Let +me know if either of you want to win. Of course you might end up in +jail if you're not real careful, but I think it'll work." + +Scotty looked his disbelief. "Easy, huh? What are you expert on?" + +"Nothing," Rick said airily. "And anything. Of course we all know +you're an expert on eating, but that's not a category, it's a +capacity." + +Barby gave what might be described as a lady-like sneer. + +Rick shook his head. "It's terrible the way people in this house have +no faith in genius. Just terrible." He sighed heavily. + +Scotty watched him suspiciously. "All right, Doctor Brant. Give with +the great idea." + +"Okay." Rick waved at the encircling shelves of books. "Pick a +subject. Any subject, so long as it is contained in a very few +references. Like the life of the bee, or the Adventures of Sherlock +Holmes, or the Life of Dickens." + +Barby said obligingly, "All right. I pick Ben Franklin. Now what?" + +"We get the major books on old Ben, plus the copy of the encyclopedia +we need. Then we set up an index, and we put principal categories of +information on file cards. For Ben, we'd need the Sayings of Poor +Richard, and the dates they appeared, and where. And we'd need a list +of his inventions, plus dates. And so on. Generally, we fix things so +we can find any answer in a few seconds." + +Barby shook her head. "That would be awfully hard. It would take +weeks, and whoever operated the file would have to know it nearly by +heart." + +Rick agreed. "But isn't a million bucks worth a few weeks of effort?" + +Rick's famous father, Hartson Brant, walked into the library in time +to hear the last comment. His eyebrows went up. "What's all this +megabuck talk?" + +That was a new word to Barby. "What talk?" + +"In the metric system, 'meg' means million. So a megabuck is a million +bucks, if you'll pardon the slang." + +"Oh--well Rick is going to win a megabuck." + +Rick explained rapidly about choosing a subject that could be +cross-indexed for ease of reference, then went on. "After we get the +subject all set, we choose the contestant. It has to be a real person. +We'd need several contestants, because the gimmick could be worked on +every big money quiz. Maybe more than once on each. Of course the +contestants would have to be members of the Megabuck Mob, as we'll +call it." + +"I like that," Barby said enthusiastically. "That would make me a +Megabuck Moll, wouldn't it?" + +"Yep," Scotty agreed. "And Rick can be the Megabuck Mole." + +"And you can be the Megabuck Moose, you big ox," Rick finished. He was +warming up to his subject now. There had to be a hole in it somewhere, +but he hadn't found it yet. "Anyway, we have Ben Franklin on file +cards and Barby has studied carefully to be the first contestant. Then +what?" + +"Someone asks who Ben Franklin was, and I say that he started a chain +of department stores," Barby said helpfully. + +"Not you," Rick denied. "You know all the right answers. And why? +Because the Megabuck Mob is behind you. The Megabuck Moose is going +through the cards, and the Megabuck Mole is feeding the answers into +the Megabuck Memory Machine, and the Megabuck Moll in maidenly modesty +mumbles madly--" + +"Help him," Scotty interrupted. "His lips are stuck together. He can't +say anything but mmmmm." + +But Barby was interested now. "And how does the Memory Machine madly +machinate and murmur the answers?" + +"Mmm," Rick murmured. "That is the secret!" + +Hartson Brant threatened his son with a handy volume of the Physics +Handbook. "Out with it, young man. This is no time to keep secrets, +now that we're all partners in the deal." + +Rick sighed. He waved at Barby. "Look at her. So young, so smart, so +pretty. But the poor girl has a very slight handicap. She has to wear +a hearing aid...." + +Scotty got it then. "Hey! Rick, that's great! The hearing aid would be +a radio receiver!" + +Barby got it, too. She finished in a rush, "And the Megabuck Mob would +be watching on TV, and digging out the answers, and the Memory Machine +would be a radio transmitter ..." + +"It wouldn't matter about the soundproof booth," Scotty chimed in, +"because radio will go right through the walls!" + +Hartson Brant held both hands to his head in mock horror. "To think +that my only son should turn out to be a halfway criminal genius!" + +Rick glanced up at his father suspiciously. "Halfway?" He knew from +the word that the scientist had immediately spotted some reason why +his gimmick wouldn't work. + +"Never mind, son." Hartson Brant put a hand on Rick's shoulder. "The +Megabuck Moll can bake you a cake with a file in it, so you can break +out of jail. I'm sure you won't mind being a fugitive from justice." + +A harsh growl from the doorway caused them all to whirl around, +startled. "He'll never get a chance. The Megabuck Mob is pinched as of +right now. The federal government is taking over this island!" + +Crouched in the doorway, submachine gun cradled in his arms, was an +officer of the United States Coast Guard! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Invasion of Spindrift + + +Hartson Brant reacted first. He said severely, "I've tried to teach +Rick that one never points a firearm at people. You're setting him a +bad example." Then the scientist smiled and held out his hand. "This +is an unexpected pleasure, Steve. Why didn't you let us know you were +coming? And why the disguise?" + +Steve Ames, a chief agent of JANIG, the Joint Army-Navy Intelligence +Group with which Spindrift had so often worked, straightened up and +grinned. He winked at the astonished young people. "Hi, gang." + +The trio chorused, "Hi, Steve." + +Steve shook hands with Hartson Brant, then explained, "I'm not really +setting a bad example. If you'll look closely, you'll see that the +bolt of this chopper is open, the safety is on, and there isn't a +round in the chamber." + +"But why carry it at all?" Barby demanded. + +Rick closed his mouth. He had been about to ask the same thing. He +felt a tingle of excitement. When Steve Ames showed up on Spindrift, +adventure wasn't far off. The federal agent came to Spindrift only for +help, and then only when his usual sources had failed. + +The first time, in the case of _The Whispering Box Mystery_, the +Spindrifters had worked with Steve in Washington. Recently, quite by +accident, the boys had become involved in a JANIG case while +vacationing in the Virgin Islands. As the case of _The Wailing +Octopus_ came to an end, Steve had warned them that he might see them +soon. And now here he was. + +"The reason for the chopper is a long story," Steve answered Barby. +"But the reason for the uniform is simple. It's mine." + +Then Steve, who had never before appeared as anything but a civilian, +was actually a full Commander in the Coast Guard! Rick marveled at how +little they really knew about their friend. He certainly excelled at +keeping his mouth shut. Probably he was a reserve officer. + +"I think you look handsome in it," Barby said dreamily. The boys had +kidded her before about getting all misty-eyed when Steve showed up. +Actually, Steve was a very handsome young man, so Barby's mild crush +was understandable. + +"That makes it worth wearing," Steve said gallantly. Barby beamed. + +Hartson Brant detached a key from his chain and handed it to Steve +with a flourish. "You said you were taking over the island, I believe? +You'll need the house key." + +Rick smiled. That was his father's way of leading the conversation +back to Steve's reason for coming, without taking the edge off their +delight at the unexpected reunion. But Steve was not to be pushed into +business talk so easily. He looked at Rick. + +"You and your schemes! I think I'll poke it full of holes just to show +you that crime doesn't pay." + +Scotty asked curiously, "How much did you hear?" + +"The whole plan. I've been casing the joint, as we say. Okay, Rick. +You must have considered that a rash of winners wearing hearing aids +would attract attention and comment. How are you going to prevent it?" + +Rick answered automatically, his mind not really on his Great Idea any +more. So Steve had been "casing" the island! He replied, "Not all the +hearing aids would be visible. For instance, I could make a receiver +for Barby that would be an ornamental plastic band to wear the way +girls wear barrettes, or whatever they call them. Or, I could fit a +receiver into a special pair of glasses. There's one type of hearing +aid that's built into glasses, you know." + +"I do know," Steve agreed. "All right. I'll try again. Each contestant +that looks good to the program people gets a thorough quizzing on the +chosen subject before being accepted. That's to find out if they're +really experts. How are you going to handle it?" + +Rick hadn't known about that. He pondered for a moment. "That means +we'd have to prepare a hidden transmitter, too, so we could help out +during the examination. It could be done. The contestants could wear +the gadget strapped to their legs, under their skirts or trousers." + +Steve was enjoying Rick's ready responses. His eyes twinkled. "You'd +have to use very limited range on your Megabuck Mob transmitter, and a +very high frequency. Otherwise, the Federal Communications Commission +would pick you up, use a direction finder, and move in on your +operation. They might locate you, anyway, even on low power and +ultra-high frequency. How are you going to lick that?" + +Rick held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not. I can't take a chance +of getting the federal government into the act. Gosh, I'd have the +FCC, the FBI, and maybe a dozen others on my trail. I quit. The +Megabuck Mob is hereby dissolved." + +Steve looked disappointed. "And I was hoping your plan was foolproof. +I was about to buy stock in the Mob." The amusement in his eyes belied +the words. + +Hartson Brant laughed. "I'm glad you're the one that stuck a pin in +his bubble, Steve. The way Barby bakes cakes, I'm not sure Rick could +ever break one to get the file out." + +Steve chuckled. "The records are full of foolproof get-rich-quick +schemes like this one. And the jails are full of halfway criminal +geniuses, too. But don't overlook the advantages of an eat-proof cake. +It might come in handy to throw at the guards during the getaway." + +The young people laughed, too, then Barby sobered suddenly. "Rick, +could you really put one of those things in my hair?" + +He had an image of the gadget in his mind, and he knew it would work. +"Sure, Sis. Why?" + +"An idea I want to talk to you about later." She turned to Steve and +asked anxiously, "You do know Rick was only fooling, don't you, Steve? +He wouldn't steal anything from anyone, honestly." + +Steve nodded. "I do, Barby. I won't throw him in jail this time. I +might need him." + +"Is that what you're here for?" she asked. + +"I need you all," Steve said. He motioned to chairs. "Let's sit down. +Can Mrs. Brant join us?" + +Hartson Brant went to get her while the young people started to deluge +Steve with questions. He held up a hand in protest. "Wait until the +whole family's here, please." + +In a moment Mrs. Brant had joined them and greeted Steve cordially. +Then the young agent got serious. + +"I was only partly joking when I said I wanted to take over Spindrift. +I really do, in a way. Here's why. We've had a team of scientists +working on a project that's of the greatest importance to national +defense. There were four in the team, all topnotchers. Hartson, I'm +sure you'll know some, if not all of them, by reputation." + +Steve removed the ammunition clip from his submachine gun and sighted +through the barrel, then let the bolt ram home with a sharp click. "It +was my job to guard the project. As you know, I had to go to the +Virgin Islands, but I left one of my best men in charge, and he did +his job thoroughly. I'm satisfied about that. No unknown person has +been near the project office. And no unknowns have been in close +contact with any of the team. Yet, two of them are in the hospital." + +"Sick or wounded?" Scotty asked. + +"Neither, really. We don't know what's wrong. Their minds suddenly +ceased to function." + +Hartson Brant leaned forward. "You mean they're unconscious?" + +Steve shook his head. "Not in the usual sense. It's as though all +their thoughts and memories had suddenly been scrambled. Did you ever +see a teletype machine in operation, particularly one that suddenly +went haywire?" + +Rick had. "The news machine did that over at the Whiteside _Morning +Record_. It was typing out clear copy, then suddenly there wasn't +anything but gibberish." + +"That's it," Steve agreed. "And it's the best analogy I can think of +for what happened to the two scientists. When a teletype goes haywire, +one moment everything is clear and perfect, the next everything is +scrambled. All the letters are there but they no longer make words. +The scientists talk words--common, everyday words--but the words don't +make thoughts or sentences. Just sounds." + +"How awful," Mrs. Brant murmured. Barby looked horrified. + +Rick searched his memory for anything similar he had ever read about +or heard of, but there was nothing. From the expressions on their +faces, his father and Scotty were equally puzzled. + +"Well, even though I have absolutely no evidence of foul play, I +decided not to take chances," Steve went on. "I got one of the +scientists to go along with my plan. He shares my concern, simply on +the basis that no known disease would affect human beings in this way, +and two scientists of the same team being stricken with an unknown +ailment is too much coincidence." + +"He's wise," Hartson Brant agreed. + +"He also has a family. The other scientist does not. He's a crusty old +bachelor who thinks the whole thing is nonsense and insists on staying +right where he is." + +"How do we fit in?" Scotty asked. "You said you needed all of us." + +"That's right. I want to relocate the project at Spindrift." + +"Using the co-operative scientist as the basis for a new staff?" Rick +inquired. + +"Yes. We went through some of the most complicated maneuvers you ever +saw to got him out of Washington with his family. I'm certain his +movements cannot be traced. So his presence here will be a complete +secret. But it isn't just the scientist. I'm also asking you to take +in his family, consisting of his wife and daughter." + +"Of course we will," Mrs. Brant said warmly. + +Steve turned to Barby. "I think you'll enjoy it, because the girl is +just your age, and she's a very friendly and pleasant young lady." + +Barby looked pleased and excited. "What's her name?" + +"Janice. Janice Miller." + +"Is the scientist Dr. Walter Miller by any chance?" Hartson Brant +asked quickly. + +"Exactly right. Do you know him?" + +"Not personally. We've never met, but a few years ago we carried on a +very extensive correspondence on the subject of energy levels in +nuclear isomers." + +Steve grinned. "I won't pretend to know what you're talking about. But +I'm glad you'll have something in common. Will you and your staff join +him to make up a new project team?" + +"I think we can," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "Some of us can put +aside what we're doing. I'll have to know a little more about the +project, of course." + +The federal agent nodded. "Dr. Miller can give you the details +personally." + +Rick expressed a thought that had been on his mind. "We're sort of +isolated here, but we're certainly not cut off from the world. Our +friends visit us, and we go to the mainland almost every day. How do +we explain who these people are? I'm sure you don't want their names +to get out." + +"I'll give you a cover story. Their name is Morrison. You met them +through Dr. Ernst while you were in the Virgin Islands. They were very +hospitable, and you're simply returning their hospitality. They know +the Islands well from vacations spent there, so no one will trip them +up on details." + +"How about details of our trip?" Scotty asked. + +"They've been briefed thoroughly, by me. You can check them and fill +in any missing details." + +Barby giggled. "I'm glad that you didn't have any doubts about our +taking them in, Steve." + +"Steve knows we're available any time he needs us, and for anything we +can give," Rick said. + +Steve smiled his thanks. "Well, now you can guess why I showed up with +a hunk of artillery under my wing. I had to be sure there wasn't a +reception party waiting. You never can tell about information leaks, +no matter how careful you are, so I landed at the back end of the +island with a squad of men and we went over the place with a +fine-tooth comb. I didn't walk in until I was certain there wasn't a +stranger on the island--including strangers you might not have known +about." + +Hartson Brant rose. "Well, I think we've settled all initial details +except where we put the Millers--or rather, the Morrisons. Can you +bring them tomorrow?" + +Steve rose, too. "As Rick and Barby said, I didn't have any doubts. +How about tonight?" + +"Tonight!" Barby gasped. "Are they here?" + +"Almost. They're on a cutter offshore. If it isn't convenient, I can +keep them overnight." + +"Of course it's convenient," Mrs. Brant said firmly. "We'll put Mr. +and Mrs. Morrison in John Gordon's room. He's still out West. And +we'll take the spare twin bed out of Hobart Zircon's room and put +Janice in with Barby. Bring them ashore right away, Steve. Barby and I +will get busy, and Rick and Scotty can move the spare bed." + +"Wonderful." Steve walked out to the porch and coughed twice. Rick +hurried to his side just in time to see one of the trees in the +orchard yield up a dark shadow that turned out to be a Coast Guard +petty officer, carbine at the ready and a walkie-talkie slung over his +shoulder. + +"Let me have your horn, Smitty," Steve requested. + +The coastguardman gave Rick a curious look as he handed Steve the +phone. + +The agent said, "Nevada, this is Texas. Deliver the goods." + +The reply was, "Texas, this is Nevada. The package is in the mail." + +Steve handed the phone back to the coastguardman and ordered, "Get the +boys together and return to the ship, Smitty. Repeat their +instructions. They don't know where they've been, and they don't know +what they've been doing." + +Smitty grinned. "Aye-aye, sir. That won't be hard. None of us really +know where we've been or what we've been doing." + +"Life is easier that way," Steve said. "Shove off, now." + +"Aye-aye, sir." The guardsman faded off into the night. + +"Let's move furniture," Steve suggested. + +For the next few moments the house was a flurry of activity. Rick and +Scotty dismantled the twin bed in Zircon's room, explaining only to +the big scientist that unexpected company had arrived. Zircon, +engrossed in a theoretical problem, scarcely noticed. + +By the time Mrs. Brant was satisfied with arrangements and had counted +the towels for the third time, Steve called from downstairs that the +boat was arriving. + +Rick, Scotty, and Barby ran to Steve's side and walked with him toward +the landing where the Spindrift boats were moored. Dismal had paid +little attention to the proceedings, but now, fearful of being left +behind, the pup raced ahead of the group. + +[Illustration: _The coastguardman gave Rick a curious look_] + +The boat carrying the Morrisons--for so Rick was already conditioning +himself to think of them--was approaching the dock. As the group +hurried to meet the unexpected guests, two coastguardmen leaped from +the big motor whaleboat and made it fast. + +Dismal got there first. He barked furiously, trying to frighten off +the invaders, then his barks suddenly changed to an anguished howl as +a new voice joined in the racket. It was a feline voice, and a highly +indignant one. + +"Great grandma's ghost!" Steve exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you they +have a cat!" + +Dismal shot by them, followed by an enormous creature with glowing +eyes that yowled at the top of its lungs, in what was probably very +coarse language to anyone who spoke cat talk. Dismal had at last met +his match, and was beating an inglorious retreat. + +Just as Rick was about to take up the chase and rescue his pup, the +cat decided to break off the engagement. The ruffled fur subsided +slightly as the animal turned from the chase and approached the four +who had been hurrying to the pier. In the beam of Steve's flashlight +Rick saw that the cat was a huge blue Persian, and though he knew +little about cats, he recognized that this was an aristocrat of its +kind. + +The Persian gave a meow of greeting, then walked up and rubbed against +Barby's legs. It gave out a noise that reminded Rick of a wood rasp +rubbing over a piece of broken pine. The cat was purring! + +Barby had stamped her foot angrily at the sight of Dismal being +forced to retreat to the house, but the cat was too much for her. "You +beautiful thing!" she exclaimed, and picked the creature up. It +responded by purring louder. + +Rick grinned. On the pet level, at least, the Morrison invasion was +off to a fast start. He hoped the incident wasn't symbolic. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A System Within a System + + +When Rick came down to breakfast the next morning, the day was already +hours old for his father, Steve Ames, Julius Weiss, Parnell Winston, +and Dr. Walter Miller alias Morrison. The scientists had been closeted +in the library with Steve since dawn, their talks interrupted only by +Mrs. Brant serving coffee to the group. Steve, too, had remained +overnight. + +Barby and Scotty were around the island somewhere with Janice. Mrs. +Brant and Mrs. Morrison were in the kitchen, getting acquainted and +finding that they had friends in common. + +It wasn't that Rick had slept late; he was on time. Everyone else had +gotten up early. Rick told himself that he was the only calm member of +the family, but underneath he was a little chagrined. If he had arisen +earlier, he might have been able to take part in the talks now going +on in the library. + +The Morrisons had been so tired from the strain of getting out of +Washington undetected, and from the trip in the confined quarters of +the Coast Guard cutter that they had gone to bed almost immediately. + +Dr. Morrison turned out to be a tall man with a kind, tired face, +steel-rimmed glasses, and a shock of curly white hair. Mrs. Morrison +was a pleasant, stylish woman whose reaction was a mixture of pure +pleasure at finding herself in the comfortable Brant home and +embarrassment at the circumstances that had forced her to impose +herself on strangers. Rick had liked both the Morrisons immediately. + +His reaction to Janice was favorable, too. He admitted that she was a +remarkably pretty girl, as dark as Barby was fair, and of about the +same height and slimness. She hadn't said a great deal, and he decided +at once that she was shy. Barby had taken to her immediately, and she +to Barby. The last thing Rick had heard before falling asleep was the +two of them talking and giggling in the room down the hall. + +He walked into the dining room, hoping he wasn't too late for +breakfast, and stopped short, stifling a laugh at the sight that met +his eyes. + +The Morrisons' cat, whose name was Shah, was crouched on one of the +dining-room chairs. Dismal was sniffing around beneath the chair, +obviously looking for the cat. As Rick watched, Dismal gave up the +search and walked from under the chair. Instantly he was batted on the +nose from above by a paw that moved with supersonic speed. Rick +laughed as Dismal gave a cry of pure frustration and headed for the +kitchen at a trot. The cat had been playing, since the blow was struck +with claws sheathed. If Shah had wanted to hurt the pup, raking claws +could have torn deep furrows. + +Rick stroked the silky fur and Shah purred hoarsely. He hadn't had +much experience with cats, but he liked this one. The Persian had a +sense of humor. Rick went into the kitchen and consoled Dismal, after +bidding good morning to his mother and Mrs. Morrison. The pup rolled +over on his back and played dead, his only trick. The boy scratched +Dismal's stomach until the pup's hind leg flailed in delighted +ecstasy. + +"Am I too late for breakfast?" Rick asked his mother. + +"Of course not. We'll be ready in ten minutes." + +Rick wandered out to the screened front porch that was the Brants' +summer living room. The ocean was calm this morning. He searched the +horizon for some sign of the Coast Guard cutter. There was none, which +didn't surprise him. Steve was too old a hand to attract attention to +Spindrift by having a government craft waiting offshore. + +Barby, Jan, and Scotty were walking from the long, low gray laboratory +building on the southeast corner of the island, past the place where +the Sky Wagon, his plane, usually was staked down. His landing strip +ran along the seaward edge of the island, from the lab building to the +front of the house. However, the plane still carried the pontoons +with which it had been fitted for the Virgin Islands trip, and for the +time being, it was drawn ashore at Pirate's Field. + +Presently the trio joined him on the porch. Jan smiled and said good +morning in her soft voice. Scotty said, "I thought you were going to +sleep all day." + +Barby came to Rick's defense. "He was tired. After all, it's hard work +to get wonderful ideas like the one he had last night." + +Apparently Barby had told Jan all about it, because the girl asked, +"Can I be a member of the Megabuck Mob?" There seemed to be just a +touch of wistfulness about the way she added, "You always seem to be +having adventures of one sort or another at Spindrift." + +Rick answered, "Please don't believe everything Barby tells you. She +exaggerates, sort of." + +"I do not," Barby answered emphatically. "We do have adventures. +Besides, Jan already knew about some of them, because she read about +Spindrift in the papers. And she's already a member of the Mob, +because I invited her!" + +Rick interpreted Barby's glare correctly. It said that if he wasn't +gracious and nice to their new guest, he would have his sister to +reckon with, and, as he knew full well, she was no mean adversary. + +"Fine," he said. "Welcome to the Mob, Miss Morrison. We'll assign you +the subject of economic history." + +"Jan, please," she answered, then smiled shyly. "But couldn't I have +another subject? I'm just not the type to know much about economics, I +guess." + +"That's just the point," Scotty explained. + +Barby had a serious look on her pert face. "Of course Rick's idea +about stealing a million from quiz shows was just a joke. But, Rick, +you gave me an idea--if you'll co-operate." + +"It depends on the idea," Rick answered warily. + +"Oh, don't be so cautious. I'm not trying to trap you into taking me +on any trips." Barby referred to the promise she had once wangled out +of her brother that she could go on the next expedition, a promise +that had gotten the Spindrift young people entangled in a hazardous +adventure in the far-off South Seas. + +Rick perched on the arm of a sofa. "Okay. Let's have it." + +"Well, I was thinking about the Harvest Moon Show at school." She +explained, in an aside to Jan, "Every October the high school puts on +a big variety show in the city auditorium to raise money for the +school athletic fund. Rick said he could make me a radio receiver that +I could wear in my hair." + +"He can," Scotty interjected. "Remember the control radios we made for +the Tractosaur? He could make one for you the same way." + +The Tractosaur was a "thinking bulldozer" the Spindrift scientists had +designed. + +Barby continued, "I know you can make a small transmitter that will +fit in your pocket, because that's all the Tractosaur control was, +really. Well, if I wore a receiver that no one could see, and if you +carried a transmitter that no one could see, we could put on the most +wonderful mind-reading act in history!" + +Rick's quick imagination elaborated on Barby's words. It was a great +idea! He could work among the audience, while Barby sat blindfolded on +the stage. He would choose a person in the audience and ask for +something from wallet or purse, and whisper: "Please let me have your +driver's license. Thank you. Mr. Charles Rogers, is it?... Where is +3218 Newark Drive?... Oh, over by the airfield. Well, Mr. Rogers, let +me see if I can transmit all this information telepathically to my +sister." Then he would hold up the driver's license and say loudly, +"What have I here?" And Barby, who had heard every whispered word, +would answer. He would coax the information out of her, and the +audience would be baffled. + +"Sensational," he complimented her. "We'll do it." + +"Brant and Brant," Scotty intoned, "the marvels of the universe! See +the living proof of the science of parapsychology! Mystifying, +terrifying, a scientific phenomenon without parallel that has baffled +the leading minds of the world!" Scotty's quick mind also had caught +the implications of Barby's idea. + +Jan Morrison was a scientist's daughter, too, and printed electronic +circuits were no mystery to her. She said enthusiastically, "You could +even do mind reading at a distance." + +"How?" Barby asked. + +"Well, if there were two transmitters, Scotty could have one, too. He +could go to someone outside the auditorium, like the mayor, or some +other official, and have him write a sentence on a sheet of paper, +which Scotty could read over his shoulder. Then Barby, on the +auditorium stage, would ask everyone to look at their watches, and say +that the mayor had just written so and so on a sheet of paper, then +burned it. Scotty would bring the mayor to the auditorium, and Barby +would tell him what she had said, and at what time, and ask him if it +was right. Of course it would be." + +Rick looked at the girl with new respect. It was a very good gimmick +indeed. He said as much. + +Barby put her arm around Jan's waist. "We'll be sure to invite you to +the show. Won't it be fun?" + +"If it's safe for us to let people know where we are by then," Jan +said somberly. + +They fell silent at the reminder that Jan's presence was far more +serious than a casual visit. Finally Rick said, "We'll get to work on +the sets this afternoon." + +"Make it tomorrow," Barby said quickly. "I sort of promised Jan +something...." + +Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. + +"I said you and Scotty would teach her how to use the aqualungs." + +Rick breathed a sigh of relief. That would be no hardship. He and +Scotty needed practice, anyway. They had hardly used the lungs since +returning from the Virgin Islands. + +Mrs. Brant summoned them to breakfast and they walked in to find Steve +and the scientists gathered at the big table. + +"Got everything settled?" Rick asked. + +"Just about," Steve replied. "We have a job for you, though." + +Rick's pulse quickened. "What is it?" + +"Your father and Weiss will need to pay a quick trip to Washington. I +want you to take them in the Sky Wagon." + +"When?" Scotty inquired. + +"Tomorrow morning. You'll come back tomorrow afternoon." + +Over breakfast, Rick tried to get more information from the agent. +"Exactly what are we working on, Steve?" + +Ames sipped steaming coffee thoughtfully. "Ever hear of a weapon +system?" + +Rick had. "It's a weapon so complicated, with so many parts, that it's +actually a system instead of just a simple weapon. I think the term is +used mostly for missiles." + +"You think right. Well, Winston, Weiss, and your father will help Dr. +Morrison do the basic design work on a system to go into a weapon +system." + +Scotty had been listening, too. "How complicated can you get?" he +asked. + +Dr. Morrison answered. "When it comes to missile work, you can get +fantastically complicated. In fact, some missile systems are so +complicated it's a wonder they ever work at all." + +The telephone rang. Barby, who served when necessary as the island's +switchboard operator, ran to answer. In a moment she returned. "It's +for you, Steve. From Washington. I plugged it in on the library +extension." + +Steve excused himself. A few moments later he returned. "Hartson, I +just took the liberty of ordering a scrambler placed on your phone +switchboard, in case we need to hold any classified conversations +between here and my offices. The phone man will install it today, if +you have no objection." + +"Of course not," Hartson Brant said. "I think it's a sensible +precaution, especially with one member of the team remaining in +Washington." + +"What's a scrambler?" Barby asked. + +"A special device that turns phone conversations into jumbled +gibberish so no one can understand them. You talk normally, and sound +normal to the person listening. But anyone tapping in on the line gets +only sounds that mean nothing." + +The agent's face turned grim. "Speaking of gibberish reminds me of the +reason for the call. The _Washington Post_ carried a story in one of +its columns this morning hinting that two scientists working on a +supersecret project had been driven insane. It also hinted that the +insanity was an effect of the gadget they were working on!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A Haircut and a Wink + + +Rick held the Sky Wagon at the altitude to which he had been assigned +by the control tower at Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington. He +was a little nervous because there was more air traffic around him +than he had ever seen before. + +Across the Potomac River, so close that the traffic patterns almost +interlocked, was busy Washington National Airport. Below him along the +Anacostia River were two military airports; Anacostia, at which he +would land, and Bolling Air Force Base. And to complicate matters +slightly, Andrews Air Force Base was only a short distance away. + +A thousand feet above his head a tremendous Air Force Stratocruiser +circled patiently. A thousand feet below him a flight of Navy Banshee +fighters awaited clearance for landing. And climbing through the +pattern came a division of Air Force F-80's. + +Rick's neck ached from swiveling around. Scotty was helping him watch +for other aircraft. But in the rear seat, Hartson Brant and Julius +Weiss talked a steady stream, as they had ever since taking off from +Spindrift. Rick wished he were as oblivious to the traffic. Actually, +he didn't know what they were talking about. Good as his scientific +training was, they were in a realm where his young mind hadn't even +probed. + +His earphones gave out: "Tower to Spindrift Flight. You are cleared to +land. Approach from Northeast." + +Rick glanced down in time to see the Navy fighters peel off in a +precision maneuver that was lovely to watch. Then, on their heels, he +stood the Sky Wagon up on a wing and slid down toward the muddy river +below. + +A short time later Rick called for instructions and was told to beach +at Ramp Three. He located it without difficulty. Scotty climbed out on +the pontoon and caught the rope thrown by a seaman. In a few moments +they were beached. + +A stocky young man who might have been a government clerk approached +and introduced himself as Tom Dodd. The identification folder he held +out bore the familiar JANIG imprint. "Steve phoned ahead," he said. +"Do you need anything for your plane?" + +"We'd better top off the tank," Rick said. "Everything else is all +right." He described the kind of gas his plane used, fearful that the +Navy might use either a higher or lower octane that would not be +suitable. + +Dodd gave instructions to a Navy petty officer, then led the +Spindrifters to a waiting sedan. Rick got into the back seat and +slumped back between his father and Weiss. The little mathematician +looked at him in some alarm. + +"Rick! You look done in. What on earth is wrong?" + +He smiled feebly. "I'm a sissy, Professor. The only other times I've +flown into Washington I landed at light-plane airports outside the +city. This morning I got right into the middle of the big kids. +Honest, the traffic was worse than Times Square. I was so scared I'd +lose position and bang into someone that I almost swiveled my head +off." + +Tom Dodd looked back and grinned sympathetically. "Don't feel badly. +Even the commercial pilots sit up straight and keep bright-eyed on the +Washington approach. Airwise, it's one of the most crowded cities in +the world." + +As Tom steered the big sedan expertly through the traffic en route to +downtown Washington, Rick asked his father, "What were you and +Professor Weiss talking about? You lost me just about the time we got +air-borne." + +The scientist shook his head. "This time, Rick, I can't help much. Ask +me again when you've completed your undergraduate work in college." + +"I'm afraid your father is right," Weiss agreed. "When one gets deeply +into the physical sciences there are no longer simple mechanical +analogies; there are only equations that I'm afraid are beyond you for +now, Rick." + +Rick sighed. "A lot of help I'm going to be on this project!" + +"You're not supposed to help," his father corrected. "The project is +entirely for the purpose of developing principles for the system. The +final product will be the equations with which the technologists can +begin actual system design. In other words, we are working only on the +first theoretical step." + +"But the newspaper article said the scientists were affected by a +gadget," Scotty objected. + +"The article was wrong. Paper covered with mathematical computations +can scarcely affect anyone," Hartson Brant said decisively. + +Rick stared through the window. The sedan was moving down Constitution +Avenue toward 14th Street. "But how did the newspaper find out +anything in the first place?" + +Dodd swung the sedan around a truck, then shrugged expressively. "We'd +like to know. Columnists have their sources of information. Usually +the source isn't close to the inside dope, so most of the columns are +pretty inaccurate. A good thing, too, otherwise the enemy would be +getting our top-secret information in print all the time. Probably +this leak came from someone in the hospital where the team members +were taken." + +Conversation lapsed until Dodd swung the sedan into a restricted +parking place near the corner of 15th and K streets. Then he led the +way into an office building. Rick looked around him as they walked to +the elevators. It was a typical large office building with an +arcade-type lobby. He noticed a haberdashery shop, a barbershop, a +florist, a newspaper-tobacco stand, and the entrance to a drug store. +The building directory was loaded with names. + +In the elevator, Dodd said, "Four, please." + +The Spindrifters were the only ones that got off at that floor. As the +door slid closed, Rick saw that a man was seated in an alcove, just +out of sight of anyone who got off the elevator. Dodd greeted him, +then said, "Remember these faces, Sam." + +Sam nodded without speaking. + +Dodd led them down a hall. Rick had to satisfy his curiosity. "Is this +a government building?" + +"No. It's a regular office building. We leased this floor under the +name of a phony corporation. It's entirely ours, but the rest of the +building is occupied by legitimate firms." + +"Isn't that risky?" Weiss asked. + +"It depends. If the project is penetrated, then it becomes easier for +the enemy in one way, since we don't have the protection of a +government building. On the other hand, the public has free access to +all but a few of the government buildings, while we can control who +comes in and out of this floor." + +"What does 'penetrated' mean?" Scotty inquired. + +"Known to the enemy." + +"But couldn't you have put the project in the Pentagon, or in the +Atomic Energy Commission Building?" Rick pursued. + +"Yes, except that it's top secret, even within the government. I doubt +that more than two dozen people even know about it. Remember, the best +security is not to let people even suspect that a thing exists." + +"But the project has been penetrated," Scotty pointed out. + +"We don't know that. The newspaper article gave no details, remember. +Only that some unidentified scientists had gone insane. No location, +no names, no anything of real value. And we have taken precautions. +After all, you have the team chief. Only one man is left, and we hope +to get him out of here, too." + +Dodd swung open a door that opened into a bare outer office, and led +them into an inner room where a man bent over a desk. + +Rick knew his name. This was Dr. Humphrey Marks, the reluctant +bachelor. All Rick could see for the moment was a bald head. It was +completely bald, not even a fringe of hair remaining. It gleamed in +the light of the desk lamp. Presently the bald pate revolved back and +a truculent face stared up at them. + +Dr. Marks looked like a man who had been born impatient. His +underslung jaw thrust forward as he demanded, "Well, well? What is +this, Dodd? Well? Who are these people?" + +Dodd was unperturbed. "Dr. Brant, Dr. Weiss, and Richard Brant and +Donald Scott." + +Marks harrumphed. He stood erect, and he was scarcely taller than +little Julius Weiss. He had a solid, square build and massive hands. +"I am honored, gentlemen," he said crisply. "Sit down." + +The Spindrifters did so. "We will get to business," Marks stated. "You +will forgive me if I begin on an elementary level. It is only for the +purpose of defining the problem. Ames said you had been briefed by +Miller, so I will confine the briefing to my part of the project." + +Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss produced notebooks. Rick and Scotty +relaxed as best they could in the uncomfortable chairs and prepared to +listen. + +"You are, of course, aware of the problems inherent in the development +of inertial systems," Marks began. "Perturbations are many, and both +predictable and random. Consider our missile. We set its little brain +for a given pattern. We depend on its inertia to inform the brain when +perturbations are pulling it off course. The brain then takes the +necessary corrective action. This, of course, is oversimplification." + +It wasn't very simple to Rick. He squirmed uncomfortably on the hard +chair. + +"Now, we have dealt primarily with the perturbations one would expect. +The equatorial bulge, for example. The result? We still have a +probable error of several miles in hitting the target. This is not to +be borne, gentlemen. We must have precision. Now, what information do +we have that allows such precision? We have the effects of +perturbation of the other planetary bodies and of the sun itself. +These we may calculate closely. We shall use them to guide our +missile, as they interact with the missile's own inertia." + +Marks broke off to glare at Rick. He inquired acidly, "Do I perhaps +bore you? Or have you a serious itch? If so, scratch it, for heaven's +sake. You are squirming so, I can see only a blur through the corner +of my eye." + +Hartson Brant came to his son's rescue. He looked at Dodd. "May the +boys be excused? I'm sure this discussion will be of no value to them, +and probably they have some things they would like to do." + +Dodd nodded. "If you decide to leave the vicinity, let Sam know." + +"We'll be in the lobby," Rick said. He motioned to Scotty. His +feelings were of mixed relief at getting out of there and irritation +at Marks for what amounted to summary dismissal. + +As they walked to the elevator, Rick asked, "What did you make out of +that?" + +"Not much. How about you?" + +"A little," Rick admitted. "Enough to know what the project is aiming +at." + +"Which is?" + +"A guidance system for the intercontinental missile, and a fantastic +one that uses the moon and the sun, and maybe Venus and Mars as +guideposts." + +Scotty whistled. "As you said, a lot of good we'll be to this project. +Well, what do we do now?" + +Rick ran a hand through his hair. "Follow Barby's instructions." His +sister had said bluntly that both he and Scotty were getting as shaggy +as Dismal, and please get haircuts. He knew why, of course. Barby +wanted them to be at their best, because she liked Jan Morrison very +much and wanted Jan to like the boys, too. + +Sam nodded to them as they walked to the elevator. Rick noted that the +guard could watch the stairs as well as the elevator doors. He also +noted that the guard's coat was loose, and that the butt of a Magnum +revolver was within easy reach of his hand. Knowing how Steve Ames +operated, Rick also suspected that other, less visible, methods had +been taken to guard the fourth floor, but there was nothing he could +see. + +It was still early in the day and the barbershop in the lobby was not +crowded. Rick and Scotty both were able to get chairs. + +Rick browsed through a magazine as the barber worked, but found +nothing of interest. He put it down and looked around him. The shop +was like any other shop, anywhere. He thought that barbershops may +vary in the number of chairs, the luxuriousness of the appointments, +and the size of the mirrors, but they all have about the same smell, +and the same collection of bottles for the barber's use. + +However, one item attracted Rick's attention, because it seemed out of +place. It looked for all the world like the hair driers one finds in +beauty shops. There was a stand, and a metal hood. + +He gestured toward it. "What's that?" + +"It's for treating dry hair," the barber answered. "Special oil +treatment, with electric massage. Very good." + +Rick's hair was dry from frequent immersion in both salt and fresh +water. Being inquisitive about everything in the world, he thought +about trying it. + +"Maybe I'll have time for a treatment," he said. + +The barber ran a hand through the boy's light-brown hair. "You don't +need one. Your hair is healthy, and not especially dry. I wouldn't +give you a treatment you don't need." + +"Have it your way," Rick said. The barber was either too lazy or too +honest for his own good. In all probability the machine would do +nothing Rick couldn't do for himself with his own two hands. + +There was a good view of the elevators through the barbershop windows. +Rick watched people coming and going, and speculated for his own +amusement on who they might be, and their business in the building. +Speculation was idle, of course. Take Tom Dodd. No one, without inside +knowledge, would suspect that he was a federal agent engaged in +guarding a hush-hush project on the fourth floor. Or Dr. Marks. Who +would suspect that he carried a vital secret? Or, more accurately, +that he was working on one? + +As the barber was brushing Rick off, the boy saw his father step out +of the elevator, stop, and look around. He saw the elevator operator +step from the car, look into the barbershop, and wink. Rick almost +winked back, then he realized that the operator was winking at the +barber and not at him. + +The scientist saw Rick at almost the same moment and walked into the +barbershop. "Julius will be busy for another half hour," he said. "I +think I'll follow your example, Rick." He climbed into the chair Rick +had just vacated. + +Scotty was through, too. The boys took seats and busied themselves +reading magazines. + +Hartson Brant's hair had needed only trimming, not complete cutting, +so he was finished in a short time. The barber shook out his cloth, +then put it back on for the finishing touches. Rick glanced up as the +barber spoke. + +"Your hair's pretty dry, sir, and I have an excellent treatment here. +I'd like to give you one. It would make your hair look better, and +make it easier to handle." + +Tension swept through Rick as though someone had turned on an electric +current. The tension had no focus. It was just that something deep +within him had reacted. He stood up and dropped his magazine. + +"Dad," he said hastily, "I just saw Julius go through the lobby." + +"Where did he go?" Hartson Brant demanded. "I didn't see him." + +"I think he went through the front door," Rick said. "Better hurry. +I'll try to catch him." + +Outside the barbershop he stopped, to let Scotty catch up with him. +"Why should Weiss run out through the front door?" Scotty demanded. + +"He didn't. It was a stall, to get Dad out of there in a hurry." + +"But why?" + +"I don't know," Rick said slowly. "For some reason, I just didn't want +him to have that dry-hair treatment!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +JANIG Runs a Security Check + + +There wasn't much evidence on which to base his reaction, Rick +admitted. But when he reacted, he just reacted and that's all there +was to it. Call it a hunch, or call it nonsense. That's how it was, +and he couldn't change it. + +The barber had practically refused him a dry-hair treatment--and his +hair was rather dry. The same barber had tried to sell a treatment to +Hartson Brant--whose hair was not dry at all. And the elevator boy who +had carried the scientist down from the fourth floor had winked at the +barber. + +Even admitting that it added up to no evidence of anything, it +bothered him. He had asked Tom Dodd how much JANIG knew about the +barber. + +Tom admitted that JANIG didn't know much. After all, he pointed out, +it was impossible to check everyone in an office building of that +size, or at least impractical. Furthermore, it was a cover operation, +and any kind of a careful check on people in the building would warn +them that something was going on. Tom agreed, however, that it was +better to be safe than sorry. JANIG would run a check on the barber, +even though Rick's evidence was no evidence at all. + +Rick wasn't satisfied. He felt he had to talk it over with Steve Ames, +and called the agent, who was in JANIG's New York office, as soon as +he got home. + +There was a small switch box next to the telephone in the library. It +had only two positions, one marked "normal" and the other not marked +at all. + +Steve asked, "Who is it?" + +"Rick." + +"Throw your switch." + +Rick did so, with no apparent results. "Nothing happened," he said. + +"Nothing audible," Steve corrected. "I threw mine at the same time. +We're scrambled. Go ahead, Rick, what is it?" + +Rick told him the story. Steve didn't laugh. He had had experience +with Rick's hunches before. "All right. I've already talked with Tom +Dodd. He told me the story and I agreed we should run a check. He also +reported that Weiss had persuaded Marks to come to Spindrift so the +team could work together. I have Dodd planning how to get him out of +Washington." + +"Tom told me why no check had been run on the people in the +building," Rick said hesitantly. "Honestly, Steve, I thought you +always checked on everyone who might have a connection with a case." + +"We do," Steve said flatly. "But we can't check on everyone in the +city of Washington. Consider, Rick. There are several hundred people +that work in the building and perhaps as many more who go there +regularly for perfectly legitimate reasons. We couldn't run a deep +check on all of them, and a superficial check wouldn't mean anything. +So we don't check. Instead, we make sure we know about the people the +scientists see regularly, and we give physical protection not only to +the scientists but to the floor they work on. We keep a careful check +to be sure our phones aren't tapped, and there's a scrambler on each +line. Of course the moment we get even a slight odor of fish, we run a +check. That's why we're working on your barber right now. We're also +checking the elevator operator." + +"All right. I was off base, I guess." + +"Not at all. I'd be disappointed if you didn't ask for explanations." + +There was one other question in Rick's mind. "How do you know we +weren't followed back to Spindrift?" + +Steve chuckled. "You had two cars on your tail. They'd have picked up +anyone who tried to follow Tom. What's more, our men at the airport +identified every plane that took off from the vicinity of Washington +for two hours after your departure." + +Rick said sheepishly, "Sorry, Steve." + +"Forget it. I'll be in touch with you, Rick." + +Steve was right, of course. JANIG was on the job and would plug any +loose holes. And once Marks arrived, Spindrift would be the only base +the JANIG men had to cover. That would make it simpler. Rick decided +he might as well put the matter out of his mind. + +Barby, Jan, and Scotty were waiting for him on the front porch. + +Scotty asked, "What gives?" + +"Steve says to forget it." + +Jan frowned, her pretty face worried. "Barby told me about these odd +hunches you sometimes get. Aren't they ever wrong?" + +Rick grinned. "I'll say they are. Don't worry, Jan. You're safe here." + +Her dark eyes flashed at him. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm +worried about my father." + +Rick apologized. "I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded. But +don't forget, Jan. Our father is in this, too. So we'll worry with +you--if there's any worrying to be done." + +Barby changed the subject. "It's still early. Why can't we give Jan +another swimming lesson?" + +They had started the day before teaching Jan how to use underwater +breathing apparatus. She was an excellent swimmer, almost as good as +Barby. But she had never had experience with mask, fins, and snorkel, +so lessons in the use of those were required before she could graduate +to the aqualungs. + +"Let's go," Rick said. + +In a short time the four had changed to swimming suits and were +testing the water off Pirate's Beach. It was cold, but not unbearable. +Once they were accustomed to it, Rick picked up the instructions where +he had left off the day before. Jan was using Barby's mask, snorkel, +and fins. They would get her some of her own on the first trip to +Whiteside. + +Barby had borrowed her father's equipment. The mask wasn't a perfect +fit, but she was experienced enough not to mind a little leakage. The +snorkel was all right, since no fit was involved, but the fins were +ludicrous on her small feet. She had stuffed cotton in the toes to +make them tight enough to wear, but that made the fins hard to +control. + +"Follow the leader!" Rick called. "I'll lead, Jan next, Scotty next, +and Barby bring up the rear." + +That was so Scotty would be instantly aware of any trouble Jan got +into. Barby could swim as well as either of the boys and needed no +watching. + +Rick started by going straight out, watching the bottom through his +mask. When he got to about the fifteen-foot depth, he bent at the +waist and threw his legs upward. He slid smoothly into the water, +rolling on his back to watch Jan. She imitated his movements +perfectly, and he turned back, satisfied. She was graceful as a seal +in the water. It wouldn't take much to make a first-class diver out +of her. + +Rick went to the bottom and moved along, doing underwater acrobatics +and touching a rock here and there. Then he turned over on his back +again and started upward, eyes on Jan. She followed. He led the way +back to the beach. + +As the group emerged from the water and lifted their masks, Rick +looked at Scotty. His pal nodded. "She'll do. She followed you like a +shadow." + +"Good. All right, Jan. Next step is clearing your mask of water. The +principle is easy. Just remember that gas is lighter than liquid. Your +breath is lighter than the water. So you hold the top of your mask and +blow it full of air, which forces the water out the bottom. Watch." + +He demonstrated a few times, then Jan tried it. She caught on easily. + +The instruction continued, until at the end of two hours, Rick took +all of Jan's equipment and threw it into twelve feet of water. "Now," +he said calmly, "go after it and put it on in the water. Clear your +mask and snorkel, then come back to shore with full gear on and +operating. No surfacing to take a breath. Use only the snorkel." + +Jan looked into the water thoughtfully. The moments ticked by. Finally +Rick asked, "What is it?" + +The girl smiled. "I'm planning how I'll do it. If I don't plan in +advance, it will be too late after I've started, and I intend to do it +right the first time." + +Rick, Barby, and Scotty exclaimed together, "Good girl!" They +laughed, and Rick explained, "That's what makes a safe diver. Know +what you're going to do before you have to do it." + +Jan filled her lungs and dove. The three swam out over her and watched +through their masks. She found the mask, and there was a bad moment +when she got it on upside down, but she quickly reversed it, held it +to her face, and blew it clear. Only then did she bother with the +strap that held it. + +Rick watched, pleased. He hadn't told her it wasn't necessary to +attach the mask before clearing. She put the snorkel mouthpiece in +place, but did not bother to attach the rubber strap to her head. +Then, working smoothly but without waste of time, she slipped on the +fins and flashed to the surface. The snorkel emerged and she blew it +clear, then swam to the beach. + +"Perfect," Rick applauded. + +"You're a natural," Scotty added. + +Barby just beamed. + +Jan was obviously pleased at their praise, but she was a little shy, +too, so she contented herself with smiling her thanks. + +"Aqualung instruction tomorrow morning," Rick said. "Come on. I've +worked up an appetite." + +That evening Rick began work on the radio circuits, as he had promised +Barby. The transmitters would be the easiest part, since he could use +the same circuits that had gone into the design of the Tractosaur +controls, modified only slightly for use on the highest amateur band. +Fortunately, Rick had both an operator's and station licenses as a +radio "ham," so Barby's scheme wouldn't mean illegal operation. + +The girls wandered into the shop where he and Scotty were at work, but +there was nothing exciting about the painstaking work of laying out +diagrams, so they soon left. + +Scotty paused in his work of assembling the parts they would need. +"Rick, how about making transceivers instead of simple transmitters?" + +"So we can send and receive on the same unit? We can do it, all right. +But why?" + +"I was just thinking. Quite a few times we'd have been a lot better +off if we could talk back and forth at a distance. There's no reason +why these have to be designed just for you and Barby to use in the +mind-reading act." + +Scotty was right, of course. He usually was. "We'll make a pair of +transceivers, and a receiver for Barby. Unless you think we ought to +build a transceiver into her outfit, too." + +"Would it be much work?" + +"Not much. We might as well, I suppose." + +They buckled down to the job. Rick found he couldn't work long, +however. "I've still got that guitar-string feeling," he admitted. +"I'm all tight inside." He didn't like it, and there was no apparent +reason for it. But that didn't help him to get rid of it. + +Scotty knew Rick from long experience. "Wish I could help," he said, +"but I'm stymied. There's nothing we can get our teeth into. Those two +scientists bother me. I can't imagine what would put two perfectly +sensible and healthy people into a state like Steve describes." + +"Same here." Rick had thought about it a number of times in the past +day, but had reached no conclusion. "But if it's from natural causes, +how did Marks and Miller--I mean Morrison--escape?" + +Scotty grinned wryly. "You're not asking me because you expect an +answer." + +"No," Rick agreed. He said abruptly, "I've had it. Let's hit the hay." + +He might have felt better, or worse, had he been able to tune in on a +conversation between Tom Dodd and Steve Ames that was going on at that +very moment. + +"We've had seven men on it ever since this morning," Tom was saying. +"We checked him from here to breakfast, and the record is absolutely +negative. Same for the elevator operator. The barber is a wanderer, +never stays in one shop for long. He's hunting another job right now. +The machine is his, and it's the only one of its kind. We sent Mike +Malone in for a treatment. He says the machine is good. Apparently +it's nothing but a hood with three massage machines installed on +spring mounts, so they fit the head. The barber applies oil, then +turns on the machine. It has dials, but they're fakes. It's a massage +machine, pure and simple, and it passed the health inspection board, +so we know it's not harmful." + +Steve Ames said thoughtfully, "Negative record. Hmm. Well, at least no +one has ever caught up with him if he happens to be a wrong one. It +doesn't prove he's clean." + +"Too true. Any ideas?" + +"Just keep an eye on him. He's innocent until we get some evidence +that he may be guilty. Same for the elevator operator. But, for now, +we'll consider you've drawn a blank and let it go at that." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A Calm Precedes a Storm + + +A crisis had arisen and Rick and Scotty could only stand by +helplessly. After all, what could mere males do in such a situation? + +Barby decided that Rick and Scotty were to fly over to Whiteside and +get diving equipment for Jan, so she could have her own. It was easy +to agree on the type of face mask, snorkel, and fins. But everything +bogged down when it came to color. + +Rick's own mask, snorkel, and fins were sea green. Scotty had a green +mask, blue snorkel, and black fins. Barby had a white mask, red +snorkel, and white fins. + +"Look," Rick said impatiently. "What earthly difference does it make? +The principal thing is comfort. If the fins feel good and the mask +fits comfortably, that's it. Color? What difference does color make to +a fish?" + +Barby sniffed. "I wouldn't expect you to understand." + +Jan looked at him coldly and stated that she wouldn't know what +difference color made to a fish, because she was not a fish. + +"You swim like one," Scotty said diplomatically, but didn't even get a +smile in return. + +There was only one thing for the boys to do, and that was to make as +graceful a retreat as possible. They did so, and sat waiting under a +tree in the orchard while raging debate went on between the girls on +the porch. + +Rick looked over at the laboratory building. His father and the other +scientists were hard at work on the project, he supposed. He felt +rather left out, because they were too busy to talk with him, and when +he went in to look around he could see only stacks of paper covered +with equations that he couldn't begin to understand. + +"Wonder when Marks will arrive?" he asked. + +Scotty shrugged. "We'll probably find out when he gets here." + +Dr. Marks had agreed to join the team at Spindrift as soon as he +finished running some of the team calculations through the automatic +computer at the Bureau of Standards in Washington. Tom Dodd would +arrive with him, Steve had reported. Meanwhile, protection for the +Spindrift team was under the direction of another of Steve's men, Joe +Blake. Joe and another agent took turns in the laboratory, sleeping +and eating there and emerging one at a time for a little exercise. + +Nor were Joe and his partner the only protection. In the woods on the +mainland, just out of sight of the tidal flat, a group of four Boy +Scout leaders were encamped, working on special camping and pioneering +qualifications that would enable them to become qualified instructors +for their Scout Troops. The Whiteside newspaper had even carried a +brief story about the Scout activities. But Jerry Webster, Rick's +friend and newspaper reporter, hadn't known when he wrote the story +that the Scout leaders carried an astonishing amount of armament for +such a peaceful expedition. The JANIG agents, however, had been chosen +for the assignment because they really were Scout leaders in their +home communities. The story would stand investigation. + +Barby and Jan left the porch and walked to where the boys waited. + +"We've decided," Barby announced. + +The boys applauded politely. + +"You see," she went on, "I'm blond, and Jan is brunette." + +Rick squinted up at the girls. "By golly," he exclaimed, "that's +right!" He put a hand on his heart. "One with hair filled with +captured sunlight, the other with hair like the raven's wing, filled +with the gleams of moonlight." + +Barby threatened him with her foot. "Be serious!" + +Rick composed his face in stern lines. "I am." + +"Well," Barby continued, "we decided that Jan should wear a white suit +and white equipment. It will make her dark hair and her tan look very +dramatic. But of course I can't wear white if she does." + +This was beyond Rick. Why they couldn't wear the same color was +outside of his comprehension. "Of course not," he murmured politely. + +"So I'm going with you. We both have to have new bathing suits, a +white one for Jan and a dark-blue one for me. And I'm going to give +Jan my mask and fins, because they're white. So I'll have to get blue +equipment for me. And my snorkel is red, and that just won't do, +because..." + +Scotty held up his hand. "Say no more. I will swap snorkels with you, +because mine is blue." + +"I knew you would when you understood," Barby said smugly. + +"I don't understand, but I'll trade. Come on. Let's go to Whiteside." + +Jan remained behind, because Steve had not given permission for the +Morrisons to leave the island, and Rick refused to take the +responsibility in spite of Barby's pleading. The best he could do was +to promise to call Steve about it and perhaps get permission for +future trips. + +The Sky Wagon landed at Whiteside pier, and the trio went to the +nearby garage where the Brants' car was kept. Hartson Brant had +decided it was more convenient to have a car available for use at all +times than to depend on taxis, or on friends. + +The local sporting goods store had a good stock of equipment and Barby +was able to purchase what she wanted without difficulty. But when it +came to the bathing suits, she debated over the large selection for an +hour before choosing two that were identical except for color. Rick +and Scotty waited impatiently, now and then prodding Barby to hurry +up. She refused to be hurried. + +Back at Spindrift, Jan met them with a greeting. "That certainly +didn't take long! Barby, how on earth could you pick these out so +quickly?" + +The boys looked at each other. Their opinion was that Barby had taken +just one hour longer than necessary. Here, obviously, was that +mysterious thing, the feminine mind at work. Rick examined the problem +from the scientific viewpoint and got nowhere. The ways of girls +defied analysis. + +Both boys had to admit, however, that the results of Barby's shopping +had been worth the delay. Their own rather shabby swim trunks, torn +and stained from contact with undersea rocks and coral, suddenly +seemed sloppy. But when Barby examined the aqualung tanks +distastefully and demanded that Rick paint them to match the new +suits, both boys put their feet down emphatically. + +"The tanks are that color because they've been treated to withstand +rust and corrosion," Rick stated. "If we paint 'em, the paint will +only get knocked off and they'll look terrible. I won't do it." + +The girls exchanged a glance that seemed to say, "Boys! They have +such stubborn, silly ideas!" + +Jan had already gone through the exercise of clearing the aqualung +hoses of water, clearing her mask while using the lung underwater, and +using the reserve lever on the tank, and Rick had instructed her in +the theory of diving. + +Now it was time to put what she had learned to the ultimate test. + +The boys hauled the equipment down to the beach in Rick's old coaster +wagon, modified for carrying equipment, then directed the girls to +check the regulators, check the tanks, and connect regulators to tanks +preparatory to diving. + +They lolled on the beach and watched. Scotty grinned. "This is the +life. Tony Briotti tells me it's always this way in primitive +societies. The men loaf while the women work. I'm in favor of it." + +"I'm sure you are," Barby said acidly. + +Jan said nothing, but continued to work with meticulous care. Rick +watched closely, and was satisfied. There was ample equipment for all. +Scotty helped Barby into her gear while Rick instructed Jan. + +"This is the tough part. If you make it, that's the end. From then on +all you'll need is practice. We'll all swim down to the fifty-foot +depth. Watch your ears and don't try to continue down if you feel any +pain. Go back up a few feet and try to clear your ears. When we get to +the bottom, I want you to take off all your equipment, swim away from +it, then swim back and put it on. Okay?" + +Jan gave him a tremulous smile. "I think so." + +"Good. Plan how you'll do it. Remember, air is the last thing you'll +need, and the first." + +"I'll remember." + +It was easy enough for a diver with plenty of experience, and the +confidence that experience brings, but Rick remembered from his own +training that it was plenty rough the first time. + +He held the tank while Jan got into harness and said reassuringly, +"You'll make it. You're a natural for diving because you don't lose +your head. That's just about the only really dangerous thing a diver +can do." He got into his harness, then picked up his movie camera in +its underwater case. + +At his signal, the four waded out into the cold water, splashed around +a little to get accustomed to it, then put mouthpieces in place and +prepared to don masks. Rick waited until last, and called, "Everybody +getting air?" When they nodded, he put his own mouthpiece in place, +checked to make sure the demand valve was working, then slipped the +mask down from his forehead and went underwater. + +There was a convenient sandy space among the rocks at the fifty-foot +level. He reached it and turned to count noses. All were present. +Visibility was good enough. He set his camera and took a position +cross-legged on the sand. Barby and Scotty took similar positions and +waited. + +At Rick's signal, Jan slipped off her fins, which she placed carefully +on the sand. Her weight belt followed, then her mask. Rick kept the +camera going as she jerked the quick release buckle on her harness, +then pulled the tank over her head, keeping the mouthpiece in place. +At the last moment, she filled her lungs with air, let the mouthpiece +drop to the sand, and swam away. Rick followed as she went about +twenty feet into the rocks, and returned. + +Jan had planned well. She picked up the mouthpiece and held it high so +the air rushed out, then she popped it into her mouth and began +breathing. She didn't bother with the tank harness yet. Instead, she +picked up her mask, adjusted it, and blew it clear. Only then, when +she could see and breathe, did she leisurely put the harness straps in +position and swing the tank over her head and into place on her back. +She buckled it on, and added her weight belt. The fins were last. + +A flume of air from her exhaust, a sign of exhaustion, told Rick that +Jan was tired. Probably the mental strain more than the exercise had +left her too weak for further swimming. He slung 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 harm +would come of it. But skin diving is the easiest thing 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 come back +again 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 swim +without worrying whether she's meeting our standards, or doing it the +way we think it ought to be done." + +He grinned at the girl. "I know it was a strain. Remember, we've all +been through it, too." + +Jan had a nice smile. "You're right," 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. "Come on, Jan. Let's go shower and change." She smiled +with false sweetness at the boys. "Now that you're through testing +Jan, I'm sure you won't mind doing your own work. 'Bye, now." And she +left them to pick up the gear 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 team is going full +speed ahead. We're having fun. Jan is just the companion Barby needs. +All's right 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 came in from the shower, toweling vigorously. "What's eating +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 admitted. "Wish I did. Have you noticed how quiet +everything is? It's like the day before a hurricane moves in. The +ocean gets glassy, and there isn't any wind, and you're almost afraid +to breathe because the air is so charged a breath might start the +lightning." + +"'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 manage. +"Nothing. We can swim with the girls, 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 a mystery. I know what's really bothering you. 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 was much in what Scotty said. As long as +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 stormily, "and I want you to do +something about it, Rick Brant! If you don't call Steve Ames and get +permission for us to go to the mainland, I'll do it myself!" + +Rick sighed. 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. + +Barby drove home another point. "Steve gave us a cover story, and what +good is a cover story if you don't use it?" + +Scotty grinned at Rick's expression of resignation. "Better give up," +he advised. + +Jan hadn't said anything. She just looked at Rick in a beseeching way +that said as much as all Barby's arguments. + +Rick shook his head unhappily. He knew when he was licked. Come right +down to it, he didn't have the say-so on Jan leaving the island, +anyway. He had taken a stand against her going to Whiteside, based +half on intuition and half on the knowledge that a secret soon ceases +to be one when it's flaunted in public. And Jan's presence was a part +of the big secret of Spindrift. + +He stood up and shrugged. "Chances are it will be all right. But if +Jan is recognized by any of the enemy..." + +"Steve isn't even sure there is an enemy," Barby pointed out swiftly. +"How can you be so sure?" + +Rick didn't answer. He turned and went into the house, the others at +his heels. In the library, he consulted the schedule Steve had given +them, so they would know where to reach him at any time. The agent was +at JANIG headquarters in Washington today. + +Rick got the number, and asked for Steve's extension. In a moment he +had the agent on the wire. + +"Let's scramble," he said, and threw the switch. Then, "Steve, Barby +wants to take Jan to Whiteside. What do you think?" + +Steve hesitated before he answered, "It's a little hard to give +reasons why she shouldn't go, Rick. Have you checked her on the cover +story?" + +"Not yet. I will, though, if you say the word." + +Again Steve hesitated, and Rick knew the agent was very much in his +own position. There were no reasons to believe it would do any harm. +Yet... + +"Let her go," Steve said finally. "Only ask her and Barby not to get +into any public parades. You know." + +"I know," Rick affirmed. "All right, Steve. When is Marks coming?" + +"We're not certain yet. Ask your father. Marks is having some trouble +with the computations." + +"Okay, Steve. See you soon." He hung up and turned to the others. "He +says all right, but please don't get into any public parades. In other +words, Barby, don't cover too much territory." + +Scotty spoke up. "We'd better tell Duke and Jerry to leave it out of +the paper." + +Duke Barrows was editor and Jerry Webster the reporter for the +Whiteside paper. Both were good friends. "They'll play ball," Rick +agreed. "Well, young ladies, when is the big safari?" + +Barby consulted her watch. "Right now. We'll dress and you can fly us +over." + +"Then right now means in an hour. Okay. We'll be ready." + +Upstairs, Rick and Scotty washed up and changed into what Scotty +called "shore-going clothes" that were only slightly less informal +than their dungarees and T shirts. As they finished and sat down to +wait for the girls, Rick picked up one of the radio units on the +workbench. All were finished, although untested. A few final +decorative touches remained for Barby's plastic headset, including +setting in some rhinestones for her. It would look like any other +plastic bauble when he finished. + +"Let's get some fresh batteries while we're in town," Rick suggested. +"Then we can check these out tonight." + +"Okay. And remind me to pick up a new mouthpiece for the lung Jan +uses. She says the one that's on it now is too big and uncomfortable. +It hurts her mouth." + +Jan had become proficient under water with only a few hours practice. +Rick had led the girls through the entire series of underwater +maneuvers with the lungs, including practice in sharing one lung +between them. He was satisfied that they both had a thorough +understanding of team swimming and enough sense to stay out of at +least the more obvious troubles novices can get into. He was content +now to let them go off on their own, which they did fairly often. + +After Rick's estimated hour the girls were ready--except that Barby +had to make a phone call. She spent another fifteen minutes arranging +a small get-together at a friend's home to introduce Jan to her chums. + +"Now," she said brightly. "We're ready. Are you?" + +Rick wisely refrained from comment. + +Ten minutes later the four were in the Brants' car, en route to +Barby's destination. Rick dropped the girls off and arranged to pick +them up in two hours, then he turned the car toward town. + +"Let's visit Duke and Jerry," he suggested. + +Scotty looked at him. "Still bothered, aren't you?" + +Rick shrugged. It was hard to pinpoint the way he felt. He tried to +put it into words. "I've talked to the scientists, including Parnell +Winston. None of them has ever heard of an ailment like the thing that +struck the team scientists. Winston especially knows a lot, because +he's studied the human brain extensively. He doesn't even know of +anything similar." + +Scotty knew all this because he had been present. But talking aloud +helped to make things clearer, so he only commented, "And where does +that leave us?" + +"At the starting line. We haven't moved an inch forward. But at least, +if medical history seems to have no record of any such cases, we can +assume that something new and different caused the scientists to go +off the beam." + +"Yes, but if some enemy caused it, how was it done?" + +"Glad you asked that," Rick answered gloomily. "Wish someone could +answer. Anyway, we know why it was done--if it was done. It was to +cause trouble with the project. That would be important enough for an +enemy to go to a lot of trouble." + +Scotty shook his head. "The thing that sticks in my craw is, how come +only two of the scientists got hit? Why wasn't the same thing used on +the others? If anything was used, that is." + +Rick was bothered by the same point, and he had no answer--nor did +Steve Ames, with whom they had discussed the problem. + +To both boys, the puzzle was more than just an interesting problem to +be solved. If some enemy really had penetrated the project and somehow +caused disruption of the scientists' brains, then the people nearest +and dearest to both of them were also in jeopardy. Spindrift now +provided three out of five for the new project team. + +Rick swung into the main street and into the public parking lot. The +Whiteside _Morning Record_ was in the heart of town, only a block +away. Next to the parking lot was a hardware store where Rick planned +to buy batteries, and diagonally across the street was the Sports +Center. Nothing in Whiteside was far from anything else; it was a +typical small town. + +It took only a moment to buy a box of batteries; they were the type +used in hearing aids. Then the boys crossed the street to the Sports +Center. Extra mouthpieces for the lungs were in stock. They chose one +that seemed softer and smaller than the regulation models, then +started for the newspaper. + +Two doors away from the Sports Center was the town's only barbershop. +As they passed, Scotty suddenly grabbed Rick's arm and said hurriedly, +"Come back!" Quickly he led the way out of sight of the barbershop +windows. + +Rick looked at him curiously. "See something?" + +Scotty's forehead wrinkled. "I think so. But it's so unlikely that I'm +not sure. Rick, I thought I saw the barber from Washington--the one +with the massage machine!" + +[Illustration: _Rick focused the monocular on the barbershop_] + +Rick's mouth opened in astonishment. "You're kidding!" + +Scotty shook his head. "I'm not. I said I wasn't sure. But I don't +want to stand in front and look, because if it is the barber, he'd +recognize us." + +Rick thought quickly. "Come on." + +Back inside the Sports Center, he went to the manager and borrowed a +powerful monocular--a pocket telescope that was really one half of a +pair of binoculars. Then he and Scotty went across the street, taking +care to keep out of sight of the barbershop by using parked cars as +cover. + +Rick found a vantage point behind a sedan that had all its windows +open. He focused the monocular on the barbershop window. + +Vince Lardner, the shop owner and--until now--the sole barber, was +cutting the hair of a man Rick recognized as a local resident. A +second barber was cutting the hair of another local man, but the +barber had his back to the street for the moment. + +Rick waited patiently. Scotty asked, "See anything?" + +"Only his back. Wait a minute." + +Presently the barber spun the chair around and walked to the sink. In +a moment he turned and his face came into view in the tight close-up +the powerful glass provided. + +Rick sank his teeth into his lip and handed the glass to Scotty +wordlessly. + +The pieces were beginning to fall in place now, and the assumption +that the project had been penetrated was a long step closer to proved +fact. + +The Washington barber had come to Whiteside! + +"Wonder what he's after?" Scotty asked. + +"One thing is for sure," Rick stated grimly. "He isn't here just to +cut hair!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Mind Reader Strikes + + +Jerry Webster often spoke of himself as "Whiteside's best reporter," +which Rick considered a fair description, since he was the only +reporter in town. Of course Duke Barrows, the editor, did some +reporting himself, but that didn't count since he carried the title of +managing editor. + +"I'm a good reporter because I can sense a story," Jerry told Rick and +Scotty. "You two have that certain look that spells trouble. What +gives?" + +"No trouble," Rick answered swiftly. "We just need a little help." + +Duke Barrows glanced up from the proof sheets he was editing. "When +Spindrift needs a little help, there's always a story in it. We'll +make a deal, won't we, Jerry? You give us the story and we'll supply +the help." + +Rick knew Duke and Jerry well, so it wasn't necessary to beat around +the bush. "No story. At least not yet, and I can't even give you a +hint. Only we do need help." + +"Two kinds," Scotty added. + +"That's right. First of all, we have guests at Spindrift. Name of +Morrison. You'll pick that up sooner or later, because Barby is +running around town with Janice Morrison. What we need is a promise +that you won't mention it in the paper." + +Duke's eyebrows went up. "Ahah! Trying to suppress legitimate news, +are you? What do you think, Jerry?" + +Jerry Webster stared up at the ceiling. "I can see the headline now. +'Mysterious Visitors at Spindrift!' Lead paragraph: 'The mystery of +strange visitors at Spindrift Island deepened today as members of the +scientific foundation threatened the Whiteside _Morning Record_ with +drastic action unless the story was withheld.' How's that, Duke?" + +"Needs editing," Duke replied, "but you're on the right track. What's +the drastic action you're threatening us with?" + +Scotty grinned. "Item," he intoned. "Editor and reporter drowned in +own ink supply. Bodies found among leftover newspaper copies, +apparently discarded with other waste." + +"Too good for 'em," Rick disagreed. "How about 'Editor and reporter +assume new dimensions. Rolled to paper thinness in own press.'" + +"That's drastic," Duke admitted. "Seriously, Rick, you must have some +good reason for asking us to leave out what could only be a small +social item." + +"It's a good reason, all right," Scotty answered him. "Only we can't +tell you what it is, Duke." + +The editor looked at Jerry. "What say, can we take it on faith?" + +"Too simple," Jerry objected. "We ought to get something in trade." + +Scotty made eating motions. "Apple pie, with homemade ice cream? +Sunday night. Said apple pie would be used to pack down a nice, thick +steak." + +Jerry sighed. "I'm tempted." + +"It's a deal," Duke agreed. "Make mine rare. And I add one thing: If +there's a story, we get it first." + +Rick looked pained. "Don't you always? But chances are, there never +will be a story out of this." + +"Government deal," Duke said. "It has to be. Okay, Rick. We'll go +along. What's the second kind of help?" + +Rick breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't doubted that Duke and Jerry +would hold the story, but it was always hard to ask a favor without +being able to give the reason. "There's a new barber in Vince +Lardner's shop." + +"Think we're chumps who don't keep up with the news?" Jerry asked, his +expression disdainful. "Of course there's a new barber. What of it?" + +"We need some information about him. If you'll just let me see your +notes, that should do it." + +Jerry hesitated and Scotty grinned. "Bet he doesn't have any notes." + +Duke glared at Jerry. "See? You've embarrassed the _Record_. I told +you to get the story on that barber this morning." + +"Time enough later," Jerry retorted, unruffled. "We don't need the +dope until tonight, and I'll have it. What kind of information do you +want?" + +Rick listed the points on his fingers. "Where he came from, his full +name, how he happened to get the job--I mean whether he applied +directly to Vince or whether he got the job some other way--and how +long he expects to stay." + +Scotty had a few points, too. "If Vince had a vacancy, find out how +long he looked for a barber, and how he got this one. Timing is +important, Jerry. Get all you can on it. And ask him a few questions +about his massage machine, if it's in sight. It looks like the hair +gadgets they have in beauty shops." + +Editor and reporter stared at the boys curiously. "Why so much +interest in the barber?" Jerry demanded. + +Rick tried to look casual. "Why, one of our special guests might want +a haircut, and we couldn't take a chance that the barber might not be +government approved. Simple." + +Duke Barrows tilted back in his chair and pushed the green eyeshade to +the top of his head. "I get the picture." He ticked off the points on +his fingers, mocking Rick. "Strangers at Spindrift. Not to be +mentioned. Government work of some kind, for sure, and pretty hot, +too. So hot, in fact, that a stranger in Whiteside might possibly be +a menace to the strangers at Spindrift. Rick Brant asks help of local +reporter. Gets name of stranger. Turns name and details in to some +government security officer for a check. How's that?" + +"Too good," Rick admitted. He had known it would be impossible to put +anything over on Duke. The editor was a sharp cookie. "But keep it +quiet, will you, please?" + +"You know anything we discuss never goes farther than this office. All +right, Rick. Jerry will get the dope. Hop to it, hawkeye. Duty calls." + +Jerry waved his arms dramatically. "Hold the presses! New barber in +town! Here I go, after the story of the year!" He swept through the +door, then made a sheepish reappearance. "Forgot my pencil and copy +paper," he explained, grabbed them, and vanished. + +Duke waved the boys to chairs. "It will take a little while. Get +comfortable. I have to finish this copy." + +Rick and Scotty waited as patiently as possible. Scotty, the more +relaxed of the pair, borrowed a copy of a style manual and studied it +with apparent interest. Rick watched him, envious as always of his +pal's ability to let time pass without floor pacing, nail chewing, or +other impatient actions. + +Duke's analysis of the situation was pretty good, Rick thought, and it +was based on very little real information. He supposed that an editor +had more experience to draw on than most people. But so did +intelligence agents. It wasn't hard to see how a few information leaks +could add up to a pretty clear picture in an agent's head. + +Jerry was back in a short time. Apparently the interview hadn't taken +long. He produced his sheaf of copy paper with a flourish and pounded +on a desk for attention. The gesture wasn't necessary. Rick, Scotty, +and Duke were waiting eagerly. + +"Louis Collins, Journeyman Barber," Jerry read. "Age 43. Originally +from St. Louis, most recently from Washington, D.C. Twenty-five years +experience. Inventor of the Collins treatment for dry hair, which is +the machine he has. Claims to have invented it five years ago, while +working at a hotel in Washington. Came to Whiteside because he prefers +being near the shore. He's an ardent fisherman. Saw Vince Lardner's ad +in _The New York Times_ a few days ago and applied at once by phone." + +"What day and what time?" Rick asked quickly. + +"Monday. He called about noon." + +Scotty asked curiously, "How did you get that information out of him?" + +"Nothing to it. I told Vince I'd like to look up his ad in the +_Times_, because he claimed the ad plugged Whiteside as an excellent +climate. Then I told this new guy he must have moved fast to get in +his application ahead of all the other applicants, and he said he +hadn't even seen the _Times_ until he went to lunch. He called right +away. Vince nodded, so I guess the time worked out as Collins said it +had. Vince said the ad had been running for a week, and no one else +had applied." + +Rick had been calculating. "Scotty, that means Collins phoned after we +left Washington..." He stopped quickly. + +Duke Barrows rubbed his hands in fiendish glee. "Ahah! Giving away +information. So you've seen this Collins before, in Washington. No +wonder you're worried about him. Jerry, I'll bet we can sell this +information to some enemy for millions!" + +Scotty grinned. "Not unless you have the plans for the death ray. Only +death rays bring millions these days. Why, it's getting so a spy can't +even sell atom bomb secrets for more than a buck apiece any more." + +"Guess you're right," Duke admitted, crestfallen. "Well, Rick, +anything else you need?" + +"Middle initial or name?" Rick asked. + +"M for Mayhew. Anything else?" Jerry asked with a superior air. + +"That does it." Rick consulted his watch. "Let's go, Scotty. Time to +pick up Barby. I won't thank you two, because you're going to get paid +in steak and pie. See you later." + +At the home of Barby's friend there was another wait while Rick +chafed. He was anxious to get home and phone Steve Ames. However, as +it developed, Steve couldn't be reached. It was after dinner before +Rick made connections. + +He gave Steve the information Jerry had collected, then asked, "Isn't +this proof of something?" + +Steve chuckled. "It's proof that Whiteside has a new barber. That's +all. But it's certainly strongly presumptive, Rick. We knew about +Collins moving before you called, and we're continuing the check on +him. Meanwhile, I'll alert my boys at Spindrift and tell them to keep +on their toes." + +"I'll pass the word," Rick offered. + +"No need. I'm in touch by radio. Now, I want you to do something for +me. Dr. Marks is arriving at Newark by train at six tomorrow morning. +Tom Dodd is with him. Can you pick them up?" + +"Sure. How?" + +"Suppose you fly to Newark and have Scotty drive over. Then you can +pick them up at the station by car and take them to the plane. If you +fly them to Spindrift no one will know that Marks has even arrived. +Tom will try to make sure no one is tailing him, and he'll help you to +lose any cars that might try to follow." + +"We can do it," Rick assured him. "I can land close to the city. I've +done it before with pontoons." + +"Good. Ordinarily, I'd have an agent meet them, but my Newark man is +in the woods with the Boy Scout group. Call me when Marks is safely +with the team." + +"Will do," Rick promised. + +Rick reported the conversation to his father when the scientist came +in from late work in the laboratory. Hartson Brant nodded wearily. +"Good. If Marks is on the way, that means he has answers we need badly +to some of our mathematical problems." + +"What I don't get is why he's coming on an overnight train," Scotty +interjected. "That's doing it the hard way, because it's only a few +hours from Washington to Newark. Why didn't he get a train at a decent +hour? This way, he'll spend most of the night sitting on a siding +somewhere." + +The scientist smiled. "I gather that Marks has definite ideas of his +own. I wouldn't care to be Tom Dodd. I'm sure Marks is giving him +considerable trouble. He's convinced this security business is a plot +to inconvenience him and the other people on the project." + +"He didn't seem to have a very sweet disposition," Rick agreed. "Good +night, Dad. Scotty and I are going to bed early, because we'll have to +be up at dawn." + +It was really the first sound night's sleep Rick had since the +invasion of Spindrift by Steve and the Morrisons. Later, he had to +smile at himself, because it seemed to be proof of what Scotty had +said--that the real reason for his uneasiness was inactivity. He +admitted that the problem of the stricken team members intrigued him. +He made no claim to being any great shakes as a detective, but trying +to solve mysteries, whether scientific or real, was a part of him. + +Scotty departed first by boat a few minutes after dawn. Rick warmed +the Sky Wagon, then went in for a dish of cereal before taking off. He +had plenty of time. Newark was only a few minutes away in the fast +little plane. + +He timed it perfectly. Scotty was just rolling up to the pier near +Newark as Rick taxied in after landing. He got into a rowboat brought +by an attendant, and tied the plane to an anchor buoy. In a moment he +was in the car with Scotty. + +"We'll get some excitement now," Rick predicted. + +"Because Marks is arriving?" + +"Yes, and because the barber has come to town. If he isn't up to his +neck in this business, I'll eat his hair oil on pancakes." + +Scotty shuddered. "You might at least wait until I've had more +breakfast." + +Rick ignored him. "Also, the team is now assembled in one place. That +means the enemy has a single target to shoot at." + +Scotty laughed out loud. "You should see yourself," he said, +chuckling. "Since we found the barber yesterday, you've been a new +man. Beaming and happy as can be. Now the enemy has a single target +and you're pleased. Didn't it occur to you that the target is us, you +simple meathead?" + +"It did." Rick had to grin, too. "But who can locate the sharpshooter +best? Why, the guy sitting on the bull's-eye." + +Scotty parked and they walked into the station. A quick check of the +bulletin board told them the train was on time. They walked to the +gate just as the train announcer called the arrival. + +Tom Dodd was one of the last off. He had two suitcases under one arm, +and he was supporting Marks with the other. Rick and Scotty ran to +help. Was the scientist ill? + +Scotty took the suitcases while Rick grabbed Marks' other arm. The +scientist shook him off. "I'm perfectly all right," he said irritably. +"Confound it! Rouse a man at the crack of dawn and expect him to +respond like a ballet dancer to a cue. Nonsense!" + +Marks' appearance belied his words. His face was drawn and pale, and +it was obvious that his coordination wasn't very good. Tom Dodd was +plainly worried. + +"Let go of me," Marks demanded. He drew himself up and glared at the +boys. "Which way is the car, please?" + +"Straight ahead." Rick glanced at Dodd. + +Marks stalked off, but his step was too careful to be convincing. He +just wasn't normal. + +"He wasn't like this when we got on the train," Dodd said in a low +voice. "Let's get going. I'm anxious to get him to Spindrift." + +In the parking lot, Rick ran to open the trunk so Scotty could stow +the bags. Then he beckoned to Marks, who was staring straight ahead, +his eyes glassy. "This is the car, sir." + +Marks started for the open door. But instead of bending down to get +in, he walked straight ahead, rigid as a robot, and his face slammed +into the edge of the low turret top. + +Dodd caught him as he fell. + +Rick jumped to the scientist's side, afraid he had been knocked out, +and afraid, too, that something even more serious was wrong. + +Marks was not unconscious, but his stare was fixed. "Are you all +right, sir?" the boy asked anxiously. + +The reply was unintelligible. + +Scotty bent over the scientist, too. "Are you all right, sir?" he +repeated urgently. + +Marks' fixed stare never wavered. A spate of words poured from him, +but they made no sense. Now and then a single word emerged clearly. +Once it was "July," then "soup kettle" and "Planck's constant." + +"Just like the others," Tom Dodd said helplessly. + +Rick listened with horror. He had no doubt, no doubt at all. Steve had +described it accurately, and here it was. Marks was a victim of the +identical ailment that had stricken the other team members! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Dagger of the Mind + + +Tom Dodd took command and gave orders crisply. "Help get him into the +car. Here, into the back seat." + +The agent got in after the scientist while the boys got into the +front. "Scotty, start driving. We have to shake off any tail that +picks us up. Try to find a stretch where there isn't much traffic." + +Scotty swung the sedan into the traffic stream while Rick joined Tom +Dodd in watching behind them. A few minutes later Scotty slipped into +an alley and stepped on the gas. At the end of the alley he turned the +wrong way down a one-way street, found another alley, and slipped into +it. He emerged under a railroad trestle and moved into the stream of +traffic once more. Watching carefully, he moved with the traffic until +he saw an opportunity to cross a main thoroughfare as the light +changed from yellow to red. + +Theirs was the last car through the intersection, Rick saw, before +traffic started through the cross street. Scotty took another turn, +doubled back, and went through another alley. As he emerged onto a +street where traffic was sparse, he slowed. + +"That should do it," Tom Dodd said. "Nice work." + +"How is he?" Rick asked anxiously. + +"Just like the others," Tom said flatly. "Listen, boys. Our Newark +agent is in Whiteside. I don't think it's wise to take Marks to +Spindrift in this condition, but I don't want to take him far, either. +Have you any contacts here?" + +Rick tried to remember. His father had associates in Newark, he was +sure, including a doctor or two. But he couldn't remember their names. +"I could call home," he suggested. "Dad will have some ideas." + +Dodd considered. "You couldn't use the scrambler from here. Could you +tip your father off without giving information to anyone who happened +to be listening on the wire?" + +Rick thought he could. + +"Okay." Dodd motioned to a restaurant. "There's a phone in there. I +can see the booth through the window. Hop to it." + +Rick hurried into the restaurant. The full horror of what had happened +to Dr. Marks was just having its effect. He found himself shivering as +though with a severe chill. Marks was the victim of something ghastly. +He seemed to be trying to make sense, as though there was still a +glimmer of intelligence behind the blank stare. But his words were +disconnected, completely unintelligible. + +Barby answered the phone, caught the urgency in Rick's voice, and +yelled for their father. Hartson Brant came hurriedly. + +"What is it, Rick?" + +"Guarded language," Rick said urgently. "Dad, don't you have a +professional friend in Newark? The teletype machine just went haywire +for the third time and I need help." + +Hartson Brant muttered, "Good Lord! Yes, Rick. I have a mechanic +friend who is ideally suited for the purpose. Constantine Chavez. Look +him up in the professional part of the phone directory. I'll phone him +and say you're bringing the machine." + +"Good, Dad. I'll come home as soon as possible. Better phone the man +who runs the machines and give him the information." + +"All right. Be careful." + +Rick disconnected and looked up the name under the listing of +physicians. Back in the car, he cast a quick look at Dr. Marks. The +scientist was sitting quietly, staring straight ahead. He wasn't +talking, and Rick was glad. He didn't know how much of the gibberish +he could take. It was weird and horrifying, particularly since Marks +had been so crisp and terse--even though sometimes unpleasant--in his +speech. + +Dr. Chavez was watching for them through his window and hurried out to +meet the car. He was a tall, slender man with handsome features that +showed his Spanish ancestry. + +"You must be Rick," he said, shaking hands. "You look very much like +your father. He phoned to say you were bringing a damaged machine, but +I also gathered he was merely being cautious about something he didn't +care to discuss on the phone." + +"That's right, Doctor," Rick said. He introduced Tom Dodd and Scotty, +failing to mention that Dodd was a government agent. Then he pointed +to Dr. Marks in the back seat. + +"There's your patient, sir." + +"Bring him into the house," Dr. Chavez directed. "I assume from his +appearance that the trouble is mental and not physical?" + +"Exactly," Dodd said. + +Inside the house they found one room outfitted as a home office. "I +have an office downtown," the doctor explained, "but I also use this +one a few afternoons a week. Now, who can tell me about this?" His +eyes were on Marks, and as he talked, he reached for the scientist's +wrist. + +Tom Dodd explained carefully, "He was suddenly stricken. We were with +him. We don't know what happened, except that he made sense one +minute, but talked only garbled words the next." + +Chavez took an otoscope, an instrument used to examine eyes, ears, +nose, and throat, and switched on the tiny light. He flicked it into +Marks' eyes and watched the behavior of the pupils. Then he listened +with a stethoscope. A little rubber hammer came out next and was +applied to the reflexes of the stricken scientist. The reflexes looked +normal to Rick. + +Dr. Marks suddenly looked up and began spouting gibberish. Rick +winced. + +Chavez listened gravely, apparently not at all disturbed. The flow of +meaningless words ceased and Rick sighed with relief. He saw that +Scotty had been equally affected. + +"What is your specialty, Doctor?" Dodd asked. + +"I'm a neurologist." + +That was good, Rick thought. A neurologist was exactly what Marks +seemed to need. + +"Do you make anything of this?" Dodd asked. + +The doctor shook his head. "Nothing. I've never seen a case like it. +I've never even heard of one. In fact, I know of only one analogue, +and it's an electronic one. Do you know how computers work? The big +electronic brains?" + +The three nodded. + +"Then you will understand. I have worked with computers, and now and +then one of them suddenly starts turning out gibberish for no apparent +reason. A check of the circuits may show that everything is +functionally normal. Yet, the gibberish continues. Often it clears up, +with no more reason than it started. Sometimes this happens when the +machine is cold, before it is properly warmed up. At other times, it +happens when the machine is tired." + +"Tired?" Dodd looked his disbelief. "Machines don't get tired. Not in +those terms." + +Chavez smiled. "Perhaps not. Yet, to those who work with them, it does +sometimes appear that the machine is tired. There is really no other +expression for it." + +Rick knew something of this through his association with Dr. Parnell +Winston of the Spindrift staff. Winston was an expert in the new +science of cybernetics, which is defined as the science of +communications and control mechanisms in both living beings and +machines. + +"Parnell Winston would know," Rick said. + +"He most certainly would," Chavez agreed. "Are you aware that he and I +have worked together? My interest was in the biological portion of the +project. His was in the electronic. Of course we worked as a team with +other specialists." + +"Under whose auspices?" Dodd asked quickly. + +"Let us be candid," Chavez invited. "Obviously, this is not an +ordinary case. The guarded language Hartson Brant used was indication +enough of that. Rick Brant I identify because of his resemblance to my +friend, and I think I identify Don Scott, of whom I have heard a great +deal from Hartson. But who are you, Mr. Dodd?" + +For answer, Tom Dodd took out his identification folder and handed it +to the physician. + +Chavez studied it. "I know your organization, Mr. Dodd. But what is of +greater importance for the moment, your organization knows me. I +suspect it was for that reason Hartson Brant selected me for you to +consult." He gestured to the phone. "You will want to call your +office. My records are in New York." + +Dodd's face expressed his relief. "I was a little nervous," he +admitted. "It was a choice between possibly risking further damage to +Marks or taking a chance on someone based only on a recommendation +from Dr. Brant. I'm glad you're in the clear." + +He went to the phone and called New York. In a moment he said, "Dodd +here. Check on Dr. Constantine Chavez." He held the phone for perhaps +half a minute, then said, "Roger. That does it." + +He held out his hand to the neurologist. "Glad to know you, Doctor. +Can you take over?" + +"Not only can I take over, you would have trouble getting rid of me. +This man is obviously hurt in a way that is strange to me, and I +assure you, my experience with damaged minds is considerable. He may +be somewhat under the influence of a drug--I will check more +thoroughly--but that is not the cause. If I may make a quick and +highly tentative guess, this mind is suffering from some kind of +trauma induced from an outside source." + +"You mean it's not a disease?" Rick asked quickly. + +"Precisely. I know of no disease that would behave like this. I can't +even imagine a disease with these symptoms." + +"How can you be sure?" Scotty pressed. + +"Obviously I can't at this stage of investigation. But you must +recognize that a physician develops a rather definite feeling for +injury after years of experience. My own experience tells me that +mental damage of this scope is almost always accompanied by other +symptoms when it is the product of a disease. No, I cannot credit the +idea of a pathogenic organism too seriously. It is as though some +outside agent pierced the cranium and cut off the control centers of +the brain." + +"A dagger of the mind," Scotty murmured. + +Chavez looked up sharply. "Yes! An ideal phrase for it." + +Rick recognized the quotation from his school-work. _Macbeth_, Act II. +Another of Shakespeare's phrases from the same work leaped into his +mind. "Macbeth hath murdered sleep." Not Macbeth, but Marks. Rick knew +he wouldn't sleep well that night, nor for many nights to come. + +Dagger of the mind! Well, it fitted. Watching the blank face of what +had been, only hours before, a brilliant scientist, Rick could feel +its deadly point himself. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Search for Strangers + + +The good weather turned bad, and dark clouds hung low over the New +Jersey coast. It was appropriate weather for the state of mind at +Spindrift. With Marks a victim of the mysterious "dagger of the mind," +only Dr. Morrison remained of the original team. + +The question, of course, was "Who next?" + +At Hartson Brant's urgent request, Steve Ames visited the island and a +meeting of all staff was called in the big library. + +Rick and Scotty sat on a library table, while the scientists occupied +the few library chairs. Steve Ames sat on Hartson Brant's desk and +acted as chairman for the informal session. + +By mutual agreement, the girls had been excluded. Jan was nearly in a +state of shock over what had happened to Marks. Not only was she fond +of the crusty scientist, but she was fearful that the mysterious +ailment would strike her father next. And Barby was rapidly catching +the same fear. After all, new team members probably were not immune, +and Hartson Brant, Julius Weiss, and Parnell Winston were deeply +involved in the project. + +Steve called the meeting to order. "Hartson, you suggested that I +come, which I was glad to do. Suppose you start by telling us what you +had in mind." + +"Very well, Steve." The scientist's glance embraced his colleagues and +the boys. + +"We have a problem that must be solved before we can continue with +calm and objective minds on the project that faces us. The problem is +simply, what is the ailment that has stricken three of us, and what is +its cause?" + +Hartson Brant tamped tobacco into his pipe thoughtfully. "Let us see +what we know. First of all, two team members were stricken in +Washington, within a short time of each other. They were examined by +competent specialists who arrived at no conclusion. They admitted they +were unable to diagnose the ailment. The possibility of an unknown +disease was considered briefly, but not seriously. The possibility of +a chemical agent--a drug, if you like--also was considered. This +possibility has not been entirely rejected. However, a detailed +laboratory investigation disclosed no trace of chemicals in the +patients, apart from chemicals that were expected, of course." + +"Could there be chemicals that left no trace?" Scotty asked. + +Hartson Brant shook his head. "No one can claim total knowledge of +body chemistry, obviously. Just the same, the elements to be found in +the body, and the proportions in which they occur, are well known. I +said the possibility has not been entirely eliminated, but it seems +unlikely that chemical interference caused the disruption." + +"What does that leave?" Steve inquired. + +The scientist shrugged. "I can't even guess. Physical interference, +perhaps. There is also a possibility, which is very difficult to +explore, that the ailment was caused within the minds of the +scientists by some catalytic agent, or by some psychic trauma that we +can't even imagine." + +Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. They had seen the ailment at work, +and even its effects were almost beyond description. Its cause was +hard to imagine. + +"But, to continue. Steve recognized the possibility that the ailment +was caused by some outside source. Call it an enemy source, if you +prefer. He acted to get the remaining team members beyond reach of the +enemy by smuggling them to Spindrift. He succeeded with Dr. +Miller--excuse me, Dr. Morrison. He did not succeed with Dr. Marks. +What does this suggest?" + +"That hiding Dr. Morrison was an effective preventative," Steve Ames +concluded. + +"If he is hidden." Rick said the words before he even thought. + +"What do you mean, Rick? No one outside the family or the project +knows of his presence!" Julius Weiss exclaimed. + +Steve held up his hand. "Hold it a minute. We'll get to that point in +its proper turn." + +Hartson Brant picked up the threads again. "We will assume for the +moment that Steve's statement is correct, and that hiding Dr. Morrison +was a preventative. I know Steve doesn't accept this fully, but we +must use assumptions since we have no facts of consequence. If the +assumption is correct, then we have to accept the fact that enemy +agents are interested in the project. And we must also accept that +they have some means of creating a mental block by remote control." + +Rick stole a glance at Parnell Winston. The cyberneticist was sitting +quietly, his bushy eyebrows knitted thoughtfully. Winston hadn't said +a word. + +Hartson Brant paced the floor as he went on. "We now have one slight +bit of additional information that supports the theory of enemy +interference. You are all aware of what happened to Dr. Marks this +morning. He is in the hands of Constantine Chavez, who is in touch +with the physicians in charge of the other team members. Dr. Chavez is +of the opinion that Dr. Marks' mental injury was caused by physical +means, although he cannot say how. He also states, although there +seems to be no connection with the mental injury, that Marks was +drugged." + +Parnell Winston spoke for the first time. "Steve, if Chavez says Marks +was drugged, we can accept it. How could it have happened?" + +Steve spread his hands in a gesture that seemed to Rick to indicate +embarrassment. "I have gone over every step of the journey with Tom +Dodd. The answer is yes. Thanks to Marks' bullheadedness, and a +clerical error, there was an opportunity for an enemy to get at him on +the train." + +The scientists waited, obviously wanting to know more. Steve +elaborated. "Marks was covered by one of our men at every moment, even +while he was working at the Bureau of Standards, and while he was at +his apartment. The agents ate and drank the same things. Nothing has +happened to them. However, when the reservations were made for the +train trip, Marks specified that he wanted a bedroom. He got one, and +Tom Dodd got the one next door." + +"Why did Marks want to travel by train overnight, anyway?" Scotty +demanded. "That's getting from Washington to Newark the hard way." + +"I told you he was stubborn," Steve reminded. "Tom tried to talk him +out of it but failed. After all, the project team members aren't +prisoners. We can't use force, and we can't order them to do anything. +Marks wanted to go overnight by train because he always traveled that +way, he said. He insisted." + +Dr. Morrison said sadly, "I assure you that he is not an easy man to +get along with sometimes. But we must remember that he is--or was--an +extremely competent scientist. Competence like his can be forgiven +many eccentricities." + +"Thanks to his eccentricities, we've also lost his competence," Julius +Weiss pointed out. "Go on, Steve." + +"Right. Well, Tom specified bedrooms A and B, and by the time he got +the reservations and found that he had actually received bedrooms B +and C, it was too late to change because the train was sold out." + +"I can't see what difference that made," Rick objected. + +"You will. People often buy connecting bedrooms on a train, and that's +what Tom had done. He planned to keep the connecting door open and +remain awake all night with an eye on Marks. However, while A and B +connect, B and C do not. Do I make myself clear?" + +"I think so," Rick agreed. "The connecting bedrooms come in pairs, +A-B, C-D, and so on." + +"That's it. Well, Tom ran a fast check on the person who had received +bedroom D, and found it was a Baltimore businessman who often traveled +on the same train, going overnight to New York. So Tom didn't worry +about it. Instead, he kept his bedroom door open so he could watch the +corridor. He says he didn't sleep at all, and I believe him. He's one +of my best agents. The occupant of Bedroom D came on the train at +Baltimore and went right to bed. The night passed quietly, until it +was time to get Marks up. Tom had great trouble waking him up, and he +was groggy until this strange effect hit him. Rick and Scotty know. +They were there." + +The boys shuddered, remembering Marks' condition. + +"But where did the opportunity to drug him come in?" Weiss asked. + +"We've done some fast checking on every possible angle," Steve said +quietly, "and we've found a couple of interesting things. First of +all, the man who reserved Bedroom D is in a Baltimore hospital. He was +struck by a hit-and-run car as he walked from his office to the +railroad station. Obviously, he was struck deliberately. He's in +critical condition." + +"Then the man on the train..." Rick gasped. + +"Yes. Who was the man on the train? We don't know. We've had our +Boston office go over the room, and they've turned up no fingerprints +except those of the porter who cleaned up after the train left New +York. The room was wiped clean. But our Boston men also found an +interesting spot on the rug. They had a sample analyzed, and so far as +we can determine, it's a kind of water-soluble salt paste often used +by doctors when they take electrocardiograms." + +The group leaned forward, interested. Rick knew the kind of stuff +Steve meant, because he had once watched Zircon getting an +electrocardiogram. The big scientist had fainted from sheer overwork, +and possible heart complications were suspected. The technician +squeezed the paste from a tube and applied it to wrists, ankles, and +chest, under the metal terminals of the machine. Its purpose was to +allow a better electrical contact. + +Julius Weiss demanded excitedly, "Steve, do you imply that this +unknown person took an electrocardiogram of Marks' heart responses?" + +The JANIG agent shrugged. "I imply nothing. I'm merely reporting." + +Again Parnell Winston spoke. "Perhaps I can shed some light on this. +It's true that such an electropaste is used to make better connections +for electrocardiograms. But perhaps of greater importance for this +discussion, it is also used in making electroencephalograms." + +Rick and Scotty spoke in unison. "What?" + +Winston turned to them. "It's a long word, but not a difficult one. +_Electro_ for electrical. _Encephalo_ is simply a Greek form meaning +'the brain.' _Gram_, also from the Greek, means something drawn or +written. A record, if you like. So an electroencephalogram is simply +an electrical recording of the brain." + +"That may be significant," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "But, +assuming an enemy could get an EEG--which is the handy way of saying +electroencephalogram, Rick and Scotty--what would he do with it?" + +Parnell Winston rose. "Hartson, I think you can conduct the rest of +this without me. I have an extraordinary notion whirling around in my +head that I'd like to discuss with Chavez. I'll pick up the car at the +pier and drive over, if you don't mind. And by the way, Steve, can +JANIG get some information for me?" + +"We can try." + +"Good. I want to know if the two team scientists who were stricken +first had EEG's made after the attack. I would also like to check +their medical history, as completely as possible, to find out if EEG's +were ever taken while they were normal." + +"I'll give the orders right away," Steve agreed. "I don't know what we +can turn up on their early medical history, but we can try." + +Parnell Winston departed. Rick almost wished he had asked permission +to accompany Winston, but there was more to be said here, too. + +"The evidence is not conclusive," Hartson Brant summed up, "but it is +certainly strong enough to warrant a clear assumption: we have an +enemy who, by unknown means, can inflict brain damage." + +"All right. Now for some loose ends." Steve looked at the boys. "Rick +and Scotty turned up a barber in Whiteside. It happened they had first +seen him in the project office building in Washington, so they got his +name and called. We were already checking on the barber, and knew he +was in Whiteside. We'll dig deeper until we know more about him than +he does. But for now, our information indicates he is just what he +claims to be. He got the job in Whiteside legitimately. He had planned +to take a new job for a long time. So far as we can tell, he's as +innocent as a woolly little lamb." + +"Just the same," Rick said stoutly, "I'm not satisfied. I'd like to +get some more dope on that massage machine of his. Especially after +what Dr. Winston said." + +Steve grinned. "Why don't you?" + +Rick and Scotty looked at each other, and rose to the challenge. "We +will," they stated flatly. + +Steve nodded. "All right. You're known in Whiteside and my men are +not. An influx of strangers, or even one inquisitive stranger, would +attract attention. But that's not all. I have another job for you, +too." + +They waited eagerly. + +"I want a survey of the area. My Boy Scout team can help somewhat, but +they're strangers, too, even though they have an explanation for their +presence. Scan the area for anything suspicious. Get your newspaper +pals on the job and have them sniff around for evidence of any strange +folks in the area. They can do it easily." + +"We'll do it," Rick agreed. There was nothing hard about looking for +strangers in their own territory. He knew exactly how to go about it. + +"All right. Search for strangers. Get your pals on the job, but do it +without tipping anything off. That State Police captain you've worked +with will be a big help, too. You can tell him national security is +involved, but that's all." + +"At least we're not working entirely in the dark any more," Dr. +Morrison said wearily. "Even if the assumption of an enemy is wrong, +it's something to go on." + +Rick stood up. The conference apparently was at an end. + +"Tonight we'll plan," he announced. "And tomorrow we'll start. If +there are any strangers in the area, you'll have full particulars by +tomorrow night." + +"That," said Steve Ames, "is a promise I'll hold you to." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The Dangerous Resemblance + + +Rick stirred, and whatever he had been dreaming faded into vagueness. +He couldn't have said what he had been dreaming about. He was neither +asleep nor awake, but in the shadowland somewhere between. Something +as yet undefined had brought him halfway toward awakening, but the +influence was not powerful enough to bring his senses alert. + +And then, suddenly, he was wide awake, ears straining to listen. He +sensed a presence in the room, and even as he tried to recognize it, a +form landed on his chest and steel spikes drove into his ribs. He +leaped up with a yell as another form landed on the bed. Both forms +were making fantastic noises. + +His eyes opened wide as he suddenly realized that a rousing cat-dog +fight was taking place on his stomach! + +Scotty ran in and leaped for the battlers. He grabbed the spitting, +snarling cat and held it high. Dismal let out a wail of anguish as he +realized his hated enemy was out of reach. + +Rick shouted, "Down, boy!" + +Dismal leaped high and landed again with four feet bunched on Rick's +stomach. + +Rick's shout died into a gurgle. Not that the pup was heavy, but he +had landed while his master was in the midst of a breath, with muscles +relaxed. + +Scotty put the cat into the hall and closed the door, trapping Dismal +in the room. Then he turned and laughed at Rick's discomfort. + +"Next time you arrange a fight for your personal entertainment, you'd +better have a referee on hand." + +"It was a draw," Rick said ruefully, "except that the innocent +bystander lost. Whatever got into Dismal?" + +Scotty was dressed. Apparently he had already been downstairs. "The +cat went too far. Dismal found him drinking from his water dish." + +Rick grinned. That was adding insult to injury, all right. He stripped +off the blankets and examined his stomach. Shah's claws had dug right +through blanket, sheet, and pajamas, but had not drawn blood. + +"It was time to get up, anyway," he said philosophically. "Gangway, +Scotty. I'm going to shower and dress. We've got work to do." + +"Uhuh. The passengers are waiting downstairs," Scotty said. + +Rick blinked. "What passengers?" + +"Jan and Barby. They want to go." + +The boys had decided the evening before that they would start the +search with a flight in the Sky Wagon. After a quick inspection of the +area, which probably wouldn't disclose much, they planned to go into +Whiteside for a talk with Jerry and Duke at the newspaper office, and +with Captain Douglas of the State Police. + +Rick considered. He didn't mind taking the girls around on pleasure +junkets, but this was business. "Why do they have to go?" he demanded. + +Scotty shrugged. "They don't. But Jan is plenty upset over Dr. Marks, +and Barby is starting to worry about Dad and the others. If we leave +them here, they'll just stew. If they go, it may take their minds off +things." + +"I suppose that's right. Anyway, they can't get in the way much. We'll +stick 'em in the back seat." + +"Come on, then. Let's eat and get going." + +Rick showered and dressed hurriedly, and got downstairs just in time +to take his seat at the breakfast table. After bidding the family good +morning, he turned to Jan. "Shah and Dismal had a fight this morning." + +Jan put a hand to her mouth. "Oh! Shah didn't hurt him, did he?" + +That nettled Rick a little. The idea of assuming that a mere cat, even +a champion Persian, could win a fight with Dismal! Then common sense +got the better of him. The unhappy truth was, Shah could lick Dismal +with no strain at all. + +"No damage," he replied. "Except to me. The war took place on my +stomach." + +Jan was supposed to look sorry, but she didn't. She giggled. Barby +giggled, too. + +"I guess they thought you'd be a fair witness if anyone asked who +won," Jan explained. + +Rick saw he was getting no sympathy. After all, what could anyone do? +Dogs and cats were just natural enemies. Besides, if he was fair about +it, he had to admit that Shah teased the pup but didn't start serious +fights. + +After breakfast the four young people went down to the beach where the +Sky Wagon was hauled up. In a few moments they were air-borne. Rick +headed for Seaford, the fishing town down the coast. It didn't make +much sense to go farther south than that. Beside him, Scotty polished +the binocular lenses with a piece of lens tissue from the camera kit, +and started sweeping the area below. + +Apparently all was normal along the seacoast and in Seaford, but that +meant nothing. The area could be loaded with strangers and they'd +never know it from the air. + +Rick had a sudden idea. "Let's call Cap'n Mike and get him on the job. +If there are any strangers in Seaford, he'll know it." + +"I think that's a wonderful idea," Barby called from the back seat. + +Jan asked, "Who is Cap'n Mike?" + +Barby immediately related the adventure of _Smugglers' Reef_, and the +part the retired fishing skipper had played. + +Cap'n Mike knew everything worth while about the town of Seaford. He +would be a good check point not only for the town, but also for the +summer colonies between Whiteside and Seaford. He often acted as a +fishing guide for the summer tourists. + +Rick checked the summer colonies from the air, although he had little +expectation of seeing anything unusual. + +Barby pointed down as they passed over one. "Look! Scotty, let me have +the glasses." + +Both boys turned quickly. "What do you see?" Scotty asked. He handed +her the glasses. + +"The gaudiest houseboat!" Barby exclaimed. "Jan, it's painted orange!" + +The boys snorted. + +After inspecting the coast from Seaford past Spindrift to the more +populated areas on the north, Rick swung inland to inspect the woods +near Whiteside. He didn't know exactly what to look for, except +possibly unexplained campfires that could be investigated later. + +He landed at Spindrift and went at once to the house. Cap'n Mike +didn't have a phone, but Rick knew how to get a message to him. +Scotty, listening, said, "He won't be in. The fleet is still out +fishing this time of day." + +Rick grinned. "It's Sunday. Lost track of time?" + +Scotty had. But suddenly he snapped his fingers. "Hey! Duke and Jerry +are coming over for dinner." + +His message to Cap'n Mike en route through a mutual friend, Rick +motioned to Scotty. "Let's go." + +They took both of the island boats, planning to leave one for Duke and +Jerry to use later in the day. Then, after tying up the boats at the +main pier and getting the car, they called first on Captain Douglas of +the State Police. + +The officer knew the boys well, and knew in addition of their +connection with JANIG. He promised readily to assist. + +"Probably my own officers won't be too much help," he said, "but they +can ask the local police to keep their eyes open up and down the +coast. We won't say anything about the federal government being +interested. To everyone but me, this will be a routine State Police +matter." + +Rick hesitated for a moment, but he was sure of Captain Douglas' +discretion. "We're interested in the new barber, too," he added. +"Steve Ames is already checking him, but you might keep your eyes +open." + +"I'll do that," Captain Douglas assured him. "And how about the Boy +Scout leaders camped behind Spindrift?" + +Rick was about to say casually that he didn't suspect any Boy Scout +leaders, then he caught the twinkle in the captain's eye. + +"He's hep," Scotty said. + +Captain Douglas nodded. "One of my officers paid them a call. He's a +sharp one, and he made some kind of excuse for getting into their +tent. He came back and reported they were apparently on a hunting +expedition of some kind--with riot guns. I took a car full of armed +troopers and we dropped in. One of the Scout leaders turned out to be +a man who was in the same FBI class that I attended. He showed me his +identification card, so I gave him my phone number in case he needed +help. And that was that." + +Scotty said thoughtfully, "I guess the hardest thing in the world is +keeping a secret." + +"That's the second hardest," Douglas corrected. "The hardest usually +is finding out how the secret became public in the first place." + +The boys went from the State Police barracks to the Whiteside _Morning +Record_ and found Jerry on the job. "The press never sleeps," he +greeted them. "What brings you two to town on a peaceful Sunday?" + +"We brought you a boat," Rick explained. "In exchange for a favor." + +Jerry eyed them suspiciously. "What kind of a favor?" + +It took only a moment to explain. "Sure," Jerry agreed. "Duke won't +object to keeping you posted. We'll keep an eye open for you. And +we'll collect for the favor with an extra helping of pie tonight." + +"It's a deal," Rick agreed. + +As it turned out, Jerry's bargain of an extra helping of pie was +conservative. He had three for dessert that night. + +Rick noticed that both Jerry and Duke eyed Dr. Morrison curiously, and +he knew they were trying to recall if they had ever seen a picture +that would help place him in their minds. Not that they would use the +information. It was just that newspapermen developed a high order of +frustration in the face of a mystery. + +But Jan noticed something else. She came over to where Rick was +pouring fresh coffee for his friends. "Rick, those friends of yours +are nice. Have you noticed how much Mr. Barrows looks like Dad?" + +Rick looked. The two were deep in conversation, and it was the first +time he had seen them together. They looked very much alike, +particularly in the gathering darkness. They were about the same +height, give or take a fraction of an inch, and both had the same +shock of unruly hair. They probably weighed within five pounds of each +other. Actually, however, the resemblance was superficial. They might +have been cousins, but not brothers. + +"They do look alike," Rick agreed. + +Later, he saw Jan deep in conversation with Jerry and wandered by, to +eavesdrop a little. He knew that Jerry was entirely trustworthy, but +his friend was also a nosy reporter who would try to pump the girl. +Rick intended to step in and break it up if that were the case. + +"The Virgin Islands sound wonderful," Jerry was saying. "How long did +Rick and the others stay with your family?" + +"They never actually stayed with us," Jan replied. "Of course we +invited them to, but they were so anxious to get to Clipper Cay, they +only stayed one night in town. We met them that night, at Dr. Ernst's. +He's a mutual friend. I was excited about the treasure, and I begged +Dad to take Mother and me to Clipper Cay, so I could dive with the +boys. He was going to take us, too, only everyone was back in +Charlotte Amalie with the treasure before we had a chance." + +Rick grinned and went on his way. Jan was talking with great +assurance. He didn't have to worry about Jerry breaking down the cover +story. + +It was late when the party broke up. Rick and Scotty took their guests +to Whiteside Pier, where Duke had left his car. As they roared up to +the pier Rick had to swerve to avoid a pram, a blunt-ended rowboat, +that had been tied carelessly in the place where he usually tied up. +He wondered who owned it. Prams were not usual along the coast. + +Jerry and Duke climbed out after thanking the boys again for a fine +dinner. The two walked off into the darkness toward the parking lot. + +Rick started to back out and head for home, then paused. He was +curious about the pram. + +"Hand me the boat hook," he told Scotty. + +His pal obliged. "What's up?" + +"I'm curious. Who around here has a pram?" + +"No one I know. That looks like a new one, too." + +Rick pulled the little rowboat closer with the boat hook and turned +the speedboat's searchlight on it, hoping to find a name. + +Suddenly both boys froze. + +"Was that a yell?" Rick asked. + +Scotty was already on his way up the pier. "Yes, from the parking lot. +Come on!" + +Rick hurriedly threw a rope around a piling and secured it with a +couple of fast half-hitches, then he hurried after Scotty. + +It was pitch dark in the parking lot, but they could hear sounds of a +scuffle plainly now, and once there was a muffled grunt. + +It suddenly occurred to Rick that he hadn't heard Duke's car start. He +sprinted, calling to Scotty to look for a weapon. Once, some time ago, +they had fought a battle with rocks against guns in this very spot. He +scooped up a couple of rocks, hoping no guns were waiting this time. + +"Hold 'em!" Scotty yelled. "We're coming!" + +There was a yell in reply. Jerry Webster called, "Watch it! They're +running away!" + +Car headlights switched on, and in their glare Rick saw Jerry +pointing. For a moment he considered following his friends' +assailants, then abandoned the idea. They could escape easily in the +woods. + +"What happened?" Scotty demanded. + +[Illustration: "_I'm curious. Who around here has a pram?_"] + +Duke Barrows got out of the car, nursing his head. + +"Two men jumped us when we started to get into the car," he answered +shakily. "One smacked me on the head with something hard and almost +knocked me out. If Jerry hadn't put up a good fight, they'd have had +us--although I don't know what for." + +"Were they holdup men?" Rick asked quickly. + +"They didn't wear signs," Duke answered grumpily. "But holdup men +usually say something, don't they? 'This is a stickup.' Or something +like that." + +Jerry Webster examined bruised knuckles in the glare of the car head +lamps. "They didn't say anything," he added. "Not a word. When you +yelled, they broke off and ran into the woods." + +Scotty scratched his head. "Mighty funny," he mused. "What could they +have wanted?" + +Duke Barrows brushed dirt off his jacket. "They probably were +reporters from a Newark paper," he said caustically, "trying to find +out about the mysterious visitors on Spindrift." + +It hit Rick then. "Duke," he exclaimed, "you look like Dr. Morrison! +I'll bet it was a case of mistaken identity!" + +The editor looked at him keenly. "Could be," he agreed. "That means +you have reason to believe someone would be interested in harming Dr. +Morrison." + +"I'm just assuming," Rick said hurriedly. + +"Uh-hum." The editor grunted his disbelief. "And what should we do +about it?" + +Rick looked at Scotty, who shrugged. The shrug said that probably +nothing could be done now, so far as Duke and Jerry were concerned, +but that the case was far from closed. + +"Better notify Captain Douglas," Rick suggested. "I can't think of +anything else." + +Jerry Webster flexed an arm that appeared to be aching. "Sure that +won't conflict with your security people?" he asked. + +Rick assumed an air of wide-eyed innocence. "Now, Jerry! Who said +anything about security people? I just suggested you notify the State +Police. Who else would you notify when someone attacks you?" + +Duke climbed into the car. "Come on, Jerry. We'll get no satisfaction +out of these two. Let's go rub liniment on our wounds, and then we'll +make a report to the State Police. Good night, lads. And I hope your +mystery bites you. Let me know if it does, so I can say 'I told you +so' in print." + +The boys waved as Duke drove off, leaving them in darkness. As they +made their way back to the speedboat, Rick spoke his thoughts aloud. + +"I guess the enemy uses muscles, too, huh?" + +Scotty answered thoughtfully, "Looks like it. Unless they really were +holdup men." + +Rick shook his head, even though Scotty couldn't see the reaction. +"Pretty unlikely. But suppose the enemy kept a watch on movements in +and out of Spindrift? From a distance they might assume that Duke was +Morrison. So it would make sense for them to keep a watch at the pier +in case he came back--which he did." + +"And when he came back, they'd either murder him or kidnap him?" +Scotty sounded disbelieving. "I doubt it. Nothing the enemy has done +so far points to that kind of tactic. Why should they start using +muscle methods now?" + +Rick had no good answer. "Let's step on it," he said. "We have to +report this. I have a hunch the Boy Scout team is going to be scouring +the woods around here tonight." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Coast Guard Draws a Blank + + +Rick said quietly, "And so the wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood, and +when the grandmother heard about it she said--" + +Barby's voice erupted in the tiny earphone plug in Rick's ear. "I +don't think that's very funny, Rick Brant!" + +Scotty spoke up. "Barby doesn't like realism in her fairy tales." + +Barby answered, "I don't think you're very funny either, Donald +Scott!" Her voice faded on the last word. + +Rick asked quickly, "Barby, did you move then?" + +"No, Rick. Why?" + +"You faded. Scotty, did you notice a fade?" + +"Negative. I did not." + +Rick asked, "Barby, please recite something." + +"Recite what?" + +"Anything." + +Barby began, "She walks in beauty like the night..." + +Rick turned slowly, listening for differences in strength of signal +received. + +Scotty interrupted. "Hey, what's that?" + +"Lord Byron," Barby said loftily. "I wouldn't expect you to know." + +Rick had it now. "Okay," he called. "Come on in." + +He had been standing on the front porch of the Brant home. Scotty was +inside the laboratory building, while Barby and Jan were at Pirate's +Field. Presently Scotty joined him and grinned. "Work good?" + +"Perfect." + +Barby and Jan came through the orchard and up on the porch. Barby was +wearing an ornamental plastic head band, not too gaudy for daytime +wear, but not too simple for anything dressy. She had arranged her +hair so the gadget was hardly noticeable. A wave of smooth blond hair +hid the little bump made by the battery. + +"Technically," Barby stated, "it worked fine. But the program material +was terrible." + +The boys chuckled. "How do you know it was technically fine?" Scotty +teased. + +Barby looked at him coolly. "Because I heard Rick perfectly." + +"And I heard you and Scotty," Rick agreed. "All three units work fine. +Have you switched them off?" + +Barby reached up and seemed to pat her hair slightly. "I forgot," she +admitted. "Now it's off." + +Rick looked at Jan. "Could you hear me through Barby's phone while I +was talking?" + +Jan shook her head. "No, I couldn't. I was listening, too. These are +wonderful, Rick." + +He smiled his thanks. "One interesting thing, though. I should have +known, but it didn't occur to me. The receivers are directional." + +"What's that?" Barby asked. + +"Directional. The antenna is a tiny coil. When it's broadside to the +incoming signal, the volume is loudest, but when it's end on, the +volume is much less. So, if you can't hear well, just turn sideways. +Turn until the signal is loudest." + +Scotty took his transceiver from his pocket and examined it with +pride. It was no larger than a pack of playing cards, and its +sensitive microphone was incorporated right into the case. The tiny +antenna was a piece of stiff steel wire only two inches long. The +whole gadget fitted easily into an inside coat pocket without a +noticeable bulge. + +Barby's rig was slightly different. The antenna ran along one edge of +the plastic strip. At one end the microphone was in contact with her +head just above the ear, allowing for transmission of voice by bone +conduction, a new method developed by the United States Air Force. At +the other end of the band a tiny speaker made similar contact. Rick +had worried about the effectiveness of both mike and phone, since he +had never used the types before, but the design had turned out very +well. + +"Pretty neat if we do say so," Scotty admitted modestly. + +"For once I agree with you," Barby said generously. "Now what, Rick? +There isn't anything more to do, is there?" + +"Not on these." But there was more to do along other lines. He was +waiting for word from JANIG. Barby and Jan disappeared and returned in +a few moments with iced drinks. The boys accepted them gratefully. It +was a warm day. + +"How about a swim?" Scotty suggested. + +Rick was about to point out that they might have work to do when Joe +Blake, the JANIG agent in charge at the laboratory, hailed him. Rick +ran to meet the agent. + +"The boys on the mainland didn't turn up a thing," Blake reported. +"They searched from a half mile south of the pier to a half mile +north. No pram anywhere." + +Rick snapped his fingers. "I had a hunch they wouldn't! Okay. I'm +going to take off right now and search the coast. If that pram wasn't +connected with the attack on Duke and Jerry, I'll eat it." + +"Good luck," Blake said. "Let me know if you need any help." + +Rick hurried back to the porch. The JANIG scout team had reported +early in the morning that the pram was gone from the pier. They had +been covering the Whiteside area most of the night, searching for +some sign of the pair that had attacked Rick's friends, but had turned +up nothing suspicious. + +Then, at Rick's suggestion, they had undertaken a search for the pram. +His point was simply that he had never seen a pram in the Whiteside +area--something that strangers would not have known. They might have +figured that tying up in plain sight was the best way of hiding their +boat. It would have been, if prams had been more common. + +He motioned to Scotty. "Let's go. No sign of the pram." + +Barby rose instantly. "Can we go with you?" + +Rick considered, then nodded. He could see no objection to taking them +on what could only be a short plane trip. + +As they hurried to the plane, Scotty said, "What bothers me is, why +didn't the JANIG team have someone at the landing?" + +"They did," Rick replied. "I asked the same question. Their roving +patrol had been by there a short time earlier, but saw nothing +suspicious. After all, they can't post men everywhere. So two of them +take turns keeping watch on the tidal flats, in case anyone tries to +cross from the mainland directly to here. The other two keep moving." + +"But it's funny anyone would attack Duke and Jerry," Barby objected. +"It isn't ... well, logical." + +Rick grinned. Logic and his sister had never become well acquainted. +He answered, "Suppose the enemy had been keeping track of movements +by water to Spindrift? That isn't farfetched. They could do it easily +without being noticed. Then, late yesterday, they saw two men get in a +boat and come to the island. They were probably watching from cover. +And what did they see?" + +Jan answered excitedly, "Jerry, and a man who looked like my father!" + +"That's it, Jan. So, if I guess correctly, they waited, hoping the man +they thought was Dr. Morrison would come back. And he did, and they +were waiting." + +"Sounds reasonable," Scotty agreed. "Except for one small thing. Why +attack Dr. Morrison when all they have to do is turn on a gadget and +his mind goes blank?" + +Jan shuddered visibly. Scotty added hurriedly, "Sorry, Jan." + +"Maybe it's not that simple," Rick said thoughtfully. "If they only +have to turn on a gadget, why did they need to drug Dr. Marks?" + +There was no answer to that. As soon as they were air-borne, Rick +headed north, searching the coastline, swinging low now and then to +examine marinas where numbers of boats were tied up. Scotty kept the +binoculars working, but there was no sign of a pram. + +"Do you suppose it's under cover somewhere?" Barby asked. + +Rick shrugged. "Maybe. They might cover it if they thought anyone +would come looking for it." + +"They'll surely think of that, won't they?" Barby asked. + +"Not necessarily. After all, they tied up at the pier in plain sight. +I think they assumed no one would worry about a small rowboat. They +just didn't know prams are uncommon." + +Scotty put the glasses down for a moment and rubbed his eyes. "How far +could they have come, anyway? We're miles above Spindrift, and no one +would row that far." + +He was right, of course. Rick admitted, "I've been racking my brains, +and I can't remember whether or not the pram had an outboard motor. +Just as I was about to take a close look, Jerry yelled. Do you +remember, Scotty?" + +Scotty shook his head. "But even with an outboard, they probably +wouldn't have come this far." + +"Check." Rick swung the Sky Wagon around and headed south on a +straight course to Spindrift. As the fast little plane passed over the +Brant house he throttled back and dropped lower. "Let's start the +search again." + +Every cove was investigated, and anything that might have been a boat +was inspected carefully. Then, as they reached the summer colony north +of Seaford, Barby exclaimed, "Look! There's that fancy houseboat +again!" + +The houseboat was putting out from land, swinging on a northerly +course. Rick saw that it was powered by twin outboards and that it +cruised at about fifteen knots. + +Scotty yelled, "Hey! Behind the houseboat! Look at the dory they're +towing!" + +Rick swung low and craned his neck to see. It was! The houseboat used +a pram as a tender, and the pram had its own low-power outboard motor. + +"That's enough," he said with satisfaction. He kept the Sky Wagon on a +southerly course until Seaford passed below, to keep the houseboaters +from thinking the plane's sole interest had been in them. Beyond +Seaford, he picked up Cap'n Mike's shack across the road from the old +windmill. + +"Let's see if Mike's home," he said, and stood the wagon up on a wing. +He leveled off in time to buzz low over the old shack, which was not +as shabby as it looked, and neat as a ship's cabin inside, then he +pulled up into a screaming Immelman and looked out. + +Cap'n Mike emerged from the shack waving what seemed to be a shirt. +Rick waggled his wings in greeting, then did a wing over that brought +him back low and fast over the old seaman's head. Cap'n Mike was +grinning broadly as he waved. + +Rick set a course north and slightly inland. In a short time he was +back on the water again, taxiing to the Spindrift beach. + +While the others went to the house, he stopped at the lab and reported +to Joe Blake that he had found a pram. The agent got what details Rick +had, and passed the word to the shore team on the mainland with +instructions to follow the houseboat's movements from shore. Then he +went to the phone and called Steve Ames. + +Finally Joe hung up. "Steve says to keep an eye on the houseboat, but +to take no action. He's going to do a little investigating." + +"How?" + +"He didn't say. But he expects to have something by tonight." + +With that, Rick had to be satisfied. + +Apparently Steve wasted no time, because Barby answered the phone just +before dinner, then called: + +"It's Steve Ames, Rick!" + +Rick ran to the telephone. + +"Thought I'd let you know," Steve reported. "I had the Coast Guard pay +a visit to your houseboat this afternoon." + +"You did?" Rick was incredulous. "But that means they're tipped off +now that we're watching them!" + +Steve sounded hurt. "Fine thing," he said, wounded. "No faith, huh? +Ever hear of the Coast Guard's courtesy inspection service?" + +"Sure. They'll inspect your boat for safety." + +"That's it. And that's the gag we used. We sent a brand-new ensign, a +real boyish type. He checked half a dozen boats before he got to the +houseboat. When he pulled alongside and offered a courtesy +investigation, they invited him aboard like an old friend." + +"What did he find?" Rick asked excitedly. + +"Nothing. All was in order, and the boat had plenty of extinguishers, +life jackets, and other safety items, so he gave it a clean bill of +health. They fed him iced tea and cookies, and waved good-by as if he +was their long-lost son." + +"What kind of people were they?" + +"Two middle-aged couples. Business partners, from Trenton, and their +wives. We got the names from him and checked. They really are +partners, in a used-car business. Sorry, Rick. Looks like another dead +end. The Coast Guard drew a blank this time." + +"But there isn't another pram within miles of Spindrift," Rick +objected. + +"All right. We'll be keeping an eye on these people, but we have no +grounds for any action. Any luck with the barber?" + +"We haven't tried yet," Rick told him. "Tomorrow's the day. We've been +getting the Megabuck network completed in case we need to +communicate." + +"Okay. Good luck, and keep me informed." + +"I will, Steve." + +Rick hung up and returned to the porch, deep in thought. To the +waiting trio he said, "A blank. Nothing. Looks like the barber is +still our best lead." + +"That houseboat is in it, too," Barby stated positively. + +"How do you know?" Scotty asked. + +"It's too flashy," Barby explained. "Too bright. Really nice people +wouldn't have a boat that color. You wait and see, they're in this +somehow!" + +Rick shook his head, more in sorrow than in anger. "Good thing the +boat isn't bright red," he said wearily. "That would really be proof +they're criminals!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Megabuck Mob Acts + + +Barby Brant flew up the stairs and ran down the hall, skidding to a +stop in front of Rick's door. Then, conscious that her burst of speed +was less than dignified, she drew herself up and tapped on the door +gently. + +Rick had just finished dressing. He opened the door, and his eyebrows +went up at Barby's poorly concealed excitement. + +"What's up?" he demanded. "Atom bomb ticking in the library or +something?" + +Barby made a heroic effort to be casual. "I just thought you might be +interested. The houseboat is anchored in North Cove." + +Rick was very much interested! North Cove was between Spindrift and +Whiteside pier. He felt a tingle of excitement. Was the enemy closing +in? + +"Did you see it?" he asked. + +"No, but Dad did. He went over to pick up the morning papers, and +there it was. It must have gone by during the night." + +"Thanks, Barby," Rick said absently. His mind was already exploring +the possibilities. The houseboat had taken up the ideal position for +watching comings and goings from Spindrift. The cove was even close +enough so the sound of the Sky Wagon's engine could be heard clearly. + +Yet, according to Steve, the people on it were ordinary enough. There +was nothing suspicious about them, except that they had the only pram +in the area. He wondered if perhaps the pram had nothing to do with +the attack on Duke and Jerry. After all, people on houseboats had to +land once in a while, for shopping. + +In the same moment, he realized that Whiteside was closed tight on +Sunday evenings. There was nothing to be bought. That was when the +attack had taken place. + +He ate breakfast with minimum conversation, only vaguely conscious +that the others were watching him with interest, aware that he was +chewing over the problem in his own fashion. + +After breakfast, Scotty broke in. "Well, what's all the high-brain +activity leading up to?" + +Rick was just about ready. "Couple of things," he said. "First, we +have only two possibilities for enemy contacts in the area. The +houseboaters, and the barber. There may be others, but we don't know +about them." + +"All right. What do we do about it?" + +"Well, suppose both are involved. Is that a reasonable assumption?" + +Scotty nodded thoughtfully. "I think so. The barber ties in because he +came from Washington, and he has the machine. The houseboaters tie in +because of the pram." + +"Okay. Then if both are involved, they have to contact each other +sometime. They have to exchange information, at the very least." + +Scotty was with him. "And it would be easier for the houseboaters to +contact the barber than vice versa. Because everyone has to get a +haircut sooner or later. Right?" + +"One hundred percent. So we keep a watch on both. I'll work it out +with Joe Blake. We could keep watch by day, when possibility of +contact is greatest because the barbershop is open. The JANIG team on +the mainland can keep watch by night, because if the houseboaters and +the barber meet at night it will have to be in the woods. Anywhere in +town would be too obvious--except for the barbershop." + +Barby and Jan had listened in silence, but Barby could contain herself +no longer. "And we're going to help!" + +To Barby's astonishment, Rick nodded. She had expected opposition. +"You and Jan can keep watch of the houseboat. Scotty and I will take +the mainland. If the houseboaters start for Whiteside pier, you'll +tell us. We'll pick them up as they land and trail 'em." + +Barby nodded, pleased. "The Megabuck Mob goes into action! We'll use +the radio network. Right?" + +"Yes. First thing is, where do you take up a position? If I remember +correctly, you can see North Cove from the attic. It will be kind of +hot up there, but maybe we can rig a fan." + +"We won't mind," Jan said swiftly. "When do we start?" + +"Right now." + +Scotty spoke up. "You said you had a couple of things. What's the +other one?" + +"We have to get a look at the barber's machine. I don't know how we'll +do it. But we can figure out something." + +In the back of Rick's mind was the thought that the houseboaters might +have moved nearer Whiteside for the purpose of contacting the barber, +as well as to get a better look at traffic between Spindrift and the +mainland. If that were true, they had better hurry. + +He had another thought, too. "What time is it?" + +Barby consulted her watch. "Five before eight. Why?" + +"The barbershop doesn't open until nine. I think it might be useful to +have someone call on the houseboaters and try to pump them a little. +It might be interesting to hear why they chose to anchor in North +Cove." + +Barby's eyes got round. "Would you do it?" + +Rick shook his head. "It can't be anyone from Spindrift, or from the +police. It has to be someone plausible. I'm thinking of Cap'n Mike." + +"Hey, that's just the ticket!" Scotty shook Rick's hand solemnly. +"Cap'n Mike can pretend to be fishing, the way he used to when he was +keeping an eye on Creek House. He could drift over to the houseboat +and ask for a drink of water, or something, and strike up a +conversation. They'd think he was just a typical salty character." + +"Then that's how we'll do it. Scotty, suppose you get the binoculars +for Barby, then rig up a fan. I'll go get Cap'n Mike. It won't take +long, and we can have something set before the barbershop opens." + +Scotty helped Rick push the plane out from the beach, then collected +the binoculars. Rick warmed the plane and checked the gas. He could +use a few minutes to gas up, too. There was a pier in Seaford where he +could land and get the proper grade of fuel. + +He taxied out, headed into the wind, and took off. Then, to confuse +watchers, he headed straight for Whiteside. As he passed over the cove +he saw the houseboat, anchored in the best position for watching the +Spindrift-Whiteside boat course. His mouth was set in a straight line. +Maybe there was no proof, but how much circumstantial evidence was +needed to paint a picture? He was sure the houseboat was a part of +the plot against the project. + +Far inland, out of sight of the coast, he swung south, picked up Salt +Creek and followed it to Smugglers' Reef. He turned down the coast +past the town, buzzed Cap'n Mike's shack, and landed. + +Captain Michael Aloysius Kevin O'Shannon was at the pier when he +docked. Rick cut the engine and climbed out on the pontoon. He heaved +a line to the old seaman, who hauled him to the pier. + +Cap'n Mike was nearly seventy years old, but as Rick well knew, he had +the vigor and keen mind of a man twenty years his junior. Under the +battered master's cap was a thatch of white hair and a strong, +weather-beaten face. + +"About time you paid a friendly call," Cap'n Mike greeted him. "Sorry +I found no strangers for you. Was goin' to call today. Where's +Scotty?" + +Rick felt a twinge of conscience. He had intended to pay a visit to +his friend so many times, but something always seemed to get in the +way. It had been many weeks since his last call. + +"It isn't exactly a social call," he said apologetically. "We need +your help, Cap'n Mike." + +The old man looked at him quizzically. "What for? Fishin' or +detectin'?" + +"Detectin'," Rick answered. + +"Accepted! Now I see why you were lookin' for strangers. When and +where do I start?" + +"Right now, at Spindrift. Can you come?" + +"Wait'll I turn off my coffeepot. Anything I'll need?" + +"We'll want you to do a little fishing, too." + +Cap'n Mike nodded and hurried up the pier to his shack. In a few +minutes he was back, rod case and tackle box in hand. He cast off and +climbed into the plane. "Let's go, boy! Time's awastin'. Who we after +this time?" + +Rick started the engine and was air-borne before he answered. Then, +almost immediately, he had to land again to take on gas. By the time +he was in the air en route to Spindrift, Cap'n Mike was squirming so +impatiently that the whole plane seemed to vibrate. + +"Well, get on with it," he said irritably. + +Rick smiled. "All right. We don't know who we're after." + +Cap'n Mike grunted. + +"Seriously, we don't. Some folks in a houseboat are anchored in North +Cove. We want to find out why." + +Cap'n Mike nodded sagely. "For no reason. They just might be dangerous +criminals, so you want to investigate. All right, go ask 'em." + +"We can't. We want you to go fishing, and work your way to the +houseboat. Ask for a drink of water or something, then find out if you +can what they're doing." + +[Illustration: _Cap'n Mike quickly hauled the Sky Wagon to the pier_] + +"Got it all worked out, have ye?" The old captain snorted. "Where's +the fun in that? Like to do things my own way." + +Rick hurriedly backtracked. "All right, do it anyway you like. We just +want the information." + +"What for?" + +Rick sighed. "Can't tell you, Cap'n." + +"Must be I got untrustworthy since I saw you last." + +"It isn't that. It's a--well, it's a government matter." + +Cap'n Mike smacked his thigh with a calloused hand. "I should 'a' +known! All right, Rick. I'll do it. Then maybe I can get my +congressman to tell me what I've done." + +Rick made a great swing around Whiteside, pointing out the houseboat +to Cap'n Mike as he passed North Cove, and landed off Pirate's Field. +Scotty was waiting. + +After greeting the old seaman, Scotty said, "The girls are watching +from the attic. When do we get started?" + +"As soon as Cap'n Mike is fixed up." + +Cap'n Mike was pretty self-sufficient and required little attention. A +cup of hot coffee, a jug of fresh water, a little bait and a rowboat, +and he was on his way. Fortunately, the Spindrift boat landing was not +in sight of North Cove. Cap'n Mike sculled slowly along the shore. He +would emerge at the cove, surprising the houseboaters. + +Rick checked on the girls. They were engaged in making themselves +comfortable on an old bed they had dragged in front of the window from +which North Cove could be seen. He borrowed the glasses and looked at +the houseboat, then handed them back, satisfied. They could see +everything that went on. + +Barby had her plastic set in place. Rick checked, and found that she +had forgotten to turn it on. He grinned at her embarrassment. + +"I'll call you from downstairs, and again when we get set on the +mainland. Good luck." + +The girls echoed the wish. + +Cap'n Mike was fishing, allowing the rowboat to drift slowly in the +direction of the cove. Rick watched awhile, and was satisfied. If +anyone could put it over, Cap'n Mike could. + +"Now," he asked Scotty, "how do we get to Whiteside without attracting +attention?" + +Scotty scratched his head. "I don't know. Unless you want to walk. We +could cross the tidal flats and hike to town." + +Rick vetoed that. "Too far and too slow. The barber would have time to +cut twenty heads of hair before we got there." + +"How about asking Jerry to come for us?" + +"You've got it! He could come down the wood road and pick us up right +behind the island. He knows the way." Rick went into the library and +called the _Morning Record_ number. Duke Barrows answered. Rick +explained that they had to get to Whiteside by the back way, without +volunteering why. Duke hesitated, then agreed to send Jerry. + +Rick smiled as he hung up. "Duke will get a story out of this +somehow," he said. "He's so curious he could burst a seam. Come on. +Jerry will get started right away." + +Just before nine o'clock the boys and Jerry arrived at the newspaper +office. Jerry was about to burst with curiosity, but he wasn't going +to let it get the better of him. He hadn't asked a single question all +the way from the wood road back of Whiteside into town. + +Duke Barrows was apparently taking the same tack. He looked up as the +boys entered, grunted, then continued working on the following day's +editorial. + +"Something just occurred to me," Rick said, after greeting the editor. +"Isn't this pretty early for you and Jerry to be at work? I thought a +morning paper didn't open for business until afternoon." + +"We never sleep," Duke said, without interrupting his work. "What do +you think this is, _The New York Times_?" + +"Never occurred to me," Rick said politely. "Although the quality of +the paper is about the same." + +The editor looked at Jerry. "When he talks like that, he wants +something. What is it?" + +"Search me. I don't know what these two want, and I don't know when +they got deaf. Notice they're both wearing hearing aids?" + +Duke hadn't. The boys grinned at his look of astonishment. + +"What we'd like," Scotty said, "if you care to co-operate, is to have +someone take a look at the barbershop. We want to know if the new +barber is on the job." + +Duke sharpened his pencil with loving care, using a penknife. "I won't +ask why you can't take a look yourselves," he said finally. "It's +pretty obvious." + +"Not to me," Jerry objected. + +"It should be. They don't want the barber to get a look at them, +because he saw them in Washington. They don't want him to know they're +interested, or that they know he's in town." + +Rick started to ask how Duke had known that much, then realized that +the editor had simply drawn the correct conclusion from the few words +that had been said before. Again Rick gained a clear insight into how +a little information can be built up into a lot. No wonder Steve and +his people had so much trouble protecting official secrets. + +Duke put his pencil down and rose. "It happens that I need a haircut. +Stand by." At the door he paused. "Anything else you want to know?" + +"We want to know about his massage machine," Rick said urgently. "Find +out all you can, Duke. Please? Particularly if it has any electrical +connections besides the wall plug." + +Duke studied them thoughtfully for a long moment, then turned and +left. + +Jerry watched his boss leave. "He's kinder to you two than I would +be," he stated. "He didn't ask a single question, even about the +hearing aids." + +Rick considered. There was nothing secret about the Megabuck network, +except that he and Barby would use it for a mind-reading act. Jerry +was trustworthy; he wouldn't give the act away. + +"Promise you'll keep it to yourself," Rick asked, and at ferry's +excited nod he took the tiny receiver from his ear and handed it to +Jerry. + +The reporter held it to his own ear, moving closer to Rick because the +cord was just long enough to reach from ear to inner pocket. + +Rick said, "Barby, say hello to Jerry." + +Apparently Barby did, because Jerry gave a surprised start. + +"Can I talk to her?" Jerry asked. + +Barby answered the question herself. The microphone, built right into +the little unit, was very sensitive and Rick's thin jacket did not +muffle it very much. + +"I'm fine," Jerry said. + +Rick grinned. + +Scotty could hear both sides of the conversation through his own set. +Now he broke in. "Any sign of activity yet?" + +"Cap'n Mike is fishing right near the houseboat. I can see the people +on the houseboat, but they're just having breakfast on the rear deck. +Where are you?" + +"In the newspaper office. Duke has gone to check on the barber." + +Rick held out his hand and Jerry gave him the earpiece, grinning. +"What a rig!" the reporter marveled. "Where did you get it?" + +"Built it." + +During the next half hour, while they waited for Duke to return, Rick +told Jerry the story of the Megabuck Mob, omitting only what followed +when Steve Ames arrived. + +Then Duke returned, freshly barbered, trying to scratch his back. "One +thing about this new barber," he greeted them. "He's no better at +keeping hair out of your shirt than Vince is. Why is it that barbers +can't cut hair without getting it into places where it itches?" + +Rick smiled sympathetically. He knew how it was. No matter how careful +a barber tried to be, it seemed impossible to get a haircut without a +shower of hair clippings down the back. Usually they lodged where it +was impossible to scratch. + +Duke rubbed against the doorframe. "It's Vince Lardner's day off," he +began. + +Rick tensed. If the houseboaters were going to contact the barber, +they would naturally try to choose a time when they could see him +alone. Maybe there had been an earlier contact, and the barber had +told them he would be alone today. That might account for the +houseboat's moving closer to Whiteside. + +"Vince had gone fishing." The editor grinned. "I suspect that's the +only reason he got a helper, anyway, so he could go fishing more +often. There isn't really enough work in town for more than one +barber." + +"Did you look at the massage machine?" Rick asked anxiously. + +The editor nodded. "It's nothing but a hood, with three ordinary +massage gadgets inside. Vibrator heads, I think they're called." + +That tallied with the description Steve's agent had given. "Did you +examine it closely?" Rick pursued. + +"Yes. There's only one cord attached--the power cord. But I did notice +an interesting thing. Set around the edges are little disks, like +round covers. I started to lift one up, but the barber asked me to +stop. He said the machine is adjusted very carefully and I might upset +the adjustment." + +"Tough luck," Scotty said, disappointed. + +"Oh, I don't know." Duke's eyes twinkled. "I got enough of a look to +see two tiny holes in the piece of stuff the disk covered. The stuff +was black, probably plastic. Like telephones are made of." + +"In other words," Rick said slowly, "you saw holes for electrical +plugs?" + +"I think so. I don't know what else they could be." + +Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. + +"What does it mean?" Jerry asked. + +Rick answered. "We don't know. And I'm not kidding. We really don't +know." + +"I believe you," Duke said briefly. "Okay. I've done my bit, including +getting my hair cut. Anything else?" + +"We'd like to stick around," Rick replied. "Jerry already knows about +this, but Barby is watching a houseboat anchored in North Cove. If +anyone leaves the houseboat for the Whiteside pier, she'll call us. +We'll take over at the pier. It just might happen that the houseboater +will pay a call on the barber." + +Duke didn't comment, but Rick knew the editor's mind was at work. +"Make yourself at home," Duke said, and went back to his editorial +writing. + +Now and then Barby called, wanting to chat, but Rick discouraged her. +He was reasonably sure the enemy wouldn't be listening in on the +extremely short wave length on which the Megabuck network operated, +but there was no use taking any chances. After each conversation he +identified the sets with his own amateur call letters, even though it +was unlikely anyone could hear the conversation. The little sets +operated essentially on a line of sight because of the short wave +length used. They couldn't be heard beyond the horizon, if they were +heard that far. + +After an hour of waiting, Barby called in high excitement. Cap'n Mike +was aboard the houseboat! The boys waited anxiously for some further +report, but Barby was only able to say that the old seaman had +departed after a ten-minute visit and was now fishing again. + +At noon Jerry and Scotty slipped out for a sandwich. When they +returned, Rick and Duke went to eat. According to Barby, all was +quiet. + +Around one o'clock Cap'n Mike returned to Spindrift and reported a +friendly conversation with the houseboaters. They had anchored in +North Cove because someone down the coast had told them fishing was +good around there, which was a true statement. + +The retired skipper had only one additional comment, which Barby +relayed. The folks had been friendly, but he thought they were a +little nervous, and anxious to get rid of him. He had no other +information of value. + +At midafternoon Jerry went on a brief sortie, came back, and reported +business was slow in the barbershop, which was not unusual for a +Tuesday. The barber was reading a magazine. + +Rick and Scotty were restless. The chairs in the newspaper office were +hard, and they had exhausted the reference materials on the bookshelf. + +Duke Barrows looked up from a story he was editing and grinned. +"Espionage isn't as adventurous as some folks would like you to +believe. It's generally nothing but sitting. And waiting. Just as +you're doing now." + +Rick grinned back. Duke was telling him nothing he didn't know. He had +waited like this before. + +Barby called urgently, "Rick! The pram is leaving. One man in it, and +he's just starting the outboard motor!" + +"All right," he said swiftly. "Let us know which way he goes." + +In a moment Barby answered. "He's going to the pier!" + +"Roger. We're moving!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Surveillance--with Cereal + + +The plan of action had been set in advance. Scotty hurried out, while +Rick settled down to wait. Scotty, using Jerry's car, would locate the +houseboater at the pier. Rick would stand by, ready to take over as +necessary. + +A short time later Scotty called on the Megabuck network. "I'm in the +pier parking lot. He's tying the pram up." + +"Can he see you?" + +"Not unless he comes over and inspects the cars." + +"Okay." + +After a few minutes, Scotty reported again. "He's hiking in the +direction of Whiteside. Thumb out. He wants a ride." + +"Don't give him one," Barby interjected urgently. "He might recognize +you." + +"He's hitchhiking," Scotty explained. "He doesn't even know I exist." + +"What are his chances?" Rick asked. + +"Good. There's a fair amount of traffic." + +Rick waited, alert for Scotty's next report. It came almost +immediately. "I'm moving. A truck picked him up. Stand by." + +Then soon afterward, "We're coming into the outskirts of town." + +Rick walked from the newspaper office to the sidewalk and leaned +casually against the building, eyes on the direction from which the +quarry and Scotty would come. He felt just fine. The little network +was taking all the strain out of shadowing. He thought of the many +times when such communications would have come in very handy indeed. + +"Moving down Main Street," Scotty reported. "Watch it!" + +Rick saw a truck come into sight and slow as it neared the barbershop. +A man got out, thanked the driver, then stood looking around. He +spotted the barbershop, but instead of going in, he went to the window +of the Sports Center and stood quietly, ostensibly inspecting +equipment. Rick decided he was just looking the street over before +making contact. + +"I'm on him," he said quietly for Scotty's benefit. "He's casing the +street. He'll probably go into the barbershop any minute now." + +Scotty drove down the main street, and as he passed the barbershop, he +reported, "There's a man in the chair. Maybe our friend is waiting for +him to leave." + +"We'll see." + +Rick's plans had not gone beyond this point. The objective had been to +see whether the houseboaters made contact with the barber. But now he +realized that a simple contact wasn't proof of anything. Who was to +say that the houseboater hadn't really wanted a haircut? + +If only there were some way of overhearing the conversation.... + +Jerry Webster came out and stood beside him. "See your man?" + +Rick gestured. "In front of the Sports Center." + +"What are you going to do now?" + +"I was just wondering the same thing." + +Jerry grinned. "Don't tell me you don't have a complete plan! Why, I +thought by now you'd have the barbershop wired for sound." + +Rick stared at him. Wired! Why not? And it wasn't too late, if Jerry +would help. + +"Will you do something more for me?" + +Jerry looked martyred. "Might as well. I'm in this up to my neck, +anyway." + +Scotty joined them. He had parked the car around the corner. "What's +happening?" + +"Just had a brain storm," Rick told him. He explained rapidly, and the +two started to chuckle. + +"It should work," Scotty agreed. "Go ahead. I'll take over the watch. +Hey! There he goes." + +The houseboater had just walked into the barbershop. + +Rick ran to the next corner and into the grocery store. He hesitated +briefly, then picked out two boxes of cereal, and added a box of +sugar. He had them put into a bag, paid for them, and hurried back. + +Inside the newspaper office, he took out his scout knife and carefully +slit the top of one cereal box. He removed the little radio from his +pocket, unplugged the earphone, and put the radio on top of the +cereal. He borrowed cellophane tape and taped the box shut, then he +put both boxes of cereal back in the bag with the sugar on top. + +He handed the bag to Jerry. "Do your stuff." + +Jerry took it and hurried out the door. Rick and Scotty watched as he +went up the street and turned in at the barbershop. + +Scotty shook his head. "All I can hear in the earphone is a crackling +noise." + +"Probably the paper bag," Rick said. "It would crackle as he walks." + +They waited impatiently. Presently Jerry emerged without the bag and +walked down the street to join them. + +"The man in the chair is about done," he reported. "The one you're +after is reading a magazine. I said I'd be back in a few minutes, left +the bag, and walked out." + +"There's the other customer now," Rick said. A man had just emerged +from the barbershop and was going up the street in the opposite +direction. "Good! They'll talk fast now, because they'll be afraid +you'll come back." + +"I still hear the crackling noise," Scotty objected. "Someone's +talking in the background, but I can't hear it because of the snapping +and popping." + +Rick swallowed hard. Was something wrong? "Let's see." He borrowed +Scotty's earpiece and held it to his own ear. For a second he +listened, horrified. It sounded like the Battle of Bull Run! + +Barby broke in faintly through the noise. "Rick! I've been listening. +What's that noise?" + +He explained quickly. "We planted one unit in a box of cereal and +Jerry put it in the barbershop." + +Barby gasped. "In a box of cereal? What kind?" + +"Crummies. Your favorite." + +"Oh, Rick!" The girl's voice rose to a wail. "Don't you remember the +commercial? Crisp, crackly Crummies! The cereal that sings for your +breakfast!" + +He got it, then. "Okay, Barby." To the others, he said unhappily, +"Well, it was a great idea. Only I forgot one thing. I didn't pick a +quiet breakfast food. That noise is the radio settling through the +Crummies--the loudest cereal on the market." + +The three looked at each other helplessly. There wasn't a thing that +could be done about it. + +"Noisy breakfast food," Scotty said unbelievingly. + +Jerry promised, "I'll never eat it again!" The reporter straightened +his coat and tie and gave his hatbrim a jaunty flick. "Well, here I go +for my haircut. Might as well do something constructive." + +The crackling, popping, snapping continued unabated. "Listen to it," +Rick said hopelessly. + +Three quarters of an hour later, when Jerry brought the bag back, the +Crummies were still crackling happily. Not a word of conversation had +been overheard. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A Matter of Brain Waves + + +Barby, Jan, and Scotty were kind to Rick, which annoyed him +considerably. If they had scolded him for bad judgment, called him a +chucklehead, or even ignored him, it would have been all right. But +they all had to reassure him and tell him it could have happened to +anyone, and so on, and on. All of which made it unbearable. + +He was more sure than ever that the houseboaters and barber were +connected, but he still had no clear evidence. Of course he had made a +report of the day's activities to Steve, who at least hadn't tried to +be nice about it. + +"An agent can't always think of everything," was Steve's comment. "But +he can try. Sometimes, when he fails to take a factor into +consideration, he gets away with it. Sometimes he fails. Sometimes he +ends up dead, because of his poor judgment. Be glad your lives weren't +hanging in the balance." + +Rick took the lesson to heart. He wouldn't make the same mistake +twice. + +On the evening of the cereal fiasco, Parnell Winston returned to +Spindrift after another visit to Dr. Chavez. He called Steve Ames and +spent a long time talking to the JANIG agent. Then he called the +project team and the boys into the library. + +"We're on the track of something," he reported. "At least we think we +are. It's so incredible that I simply can't believe it. If true, it +means some unfriendly nation is so far ahead of us scientifically that +we should all be trembling in our boots." + +Rick had realized that only agents of a hostile country could be +involved in the actions against the project team. Everyone present had +known as much, without a word being spoken. Only another country could +gain from disruption of the project. + +"Chavez and I have run a series of EEG's on Marks. We now have the +records of EEG's on the other two team members, and Steve has managed +to turn up a pre-project EEG on one which gives us a basis of +comparison. Now, to comprehend our tentative hypothesis, you must +understand something of what is known about the brain." + +Rick prepared to listen without much understanding. The field in which +Parnell Winston worked was new and strange to him, and while he +understood some of the basic theories, he got lost when Winston got +highly technical. + +"Our understanding of the human brain is fairly recent," Winston +began, "and we're still only on the threshold of knowledge. In a way, +we've just discovered the tools of research. The principal tool, of +course, is electricity. Through it we can explore the electrochemical +nature of brain processes." + +Rick was with him so far. He concentrated hard, not wanting to miss a +word. + +"There's no point in reviewing the entire history of brain physiology. +You all know of Pavlov's work on conditioned reflexes. And you all +know that Fritsch and Hitzig demonstrated that, when electrically +stimulated, certain portions of the brain show a response. You also +know that Caton discovered many years ago that the brain itself +produces electric currents." + +Rick didn't know, but he intended to find out. There must be some +works on brain physiology in the library. + +"However, the important modern work started with Berger in the late +1920's. He found that the brain emits a definite pulse of activity, +which was then known as the 'Berger rhythm.' + +"Since then, Berger's work has been very much refined. We now know +that the brain actually produces a number of clearly defined +electrical rhythms. These rhythms have been used in medical diagnosis +of brain injury. Walter, in England, has even developed a machine that +will show whether or not people will get along with each other, by +analysis of their wave patterns." + +This was interesting, and Rick intended to find out more about it. But +he began to wish Winston would come to the point. + +"I might add that the rhythmic brain patterns seem to be highly +individual. No two are alike, even in identical twins. However, each +person shows a pattern that remains fairly constant, even over a +period of years. + +"With this background, you will understand when I report that the +EEG's taken of our colleagues brains are completely abnormal. The +EEG's were taken while they were awake. Yet, the most prominent +pattern is the delta rhythm that is universally associated with sleep +and some types of damage to the brain." + +"Are there any other signs of physical damage?" Hartson Brant asked. + +"No. All tests are negative. Spinal taps show no concussion, and there +is no evidence of trauma of any kind other than psychic. Yet, the +delta rhythms persist. In the one case where we have an EEG taken +before the--incidents, let's call them--the pattern is entirely +different. The scientist had a pattern of a well-known type which +bears no resemblance to the EEG taken after the incident." + +Dr. Morrison leaned forward. "What is your conclusion?" + +"That our mysterious enemy has somehow caused damage of an unknown +kind, by remote means. And that can mean only one thing: The damage +was caused electronically, probably by transmission through the air." + +"Incredible," Weiss muttered, and the sentiment was reflected in the +astonished gasps of the others. + +"Let's consider the implications of Parnell's statement," Hartson +Brant said slowly. "If he is correct, then the enemy has devised a +means for causing brain disruption in an individual. A transmitted +signal would inevitably strike countless others; there can be no such +thing as a beam of radiation that strikes one person at a distance +while missing all others. Therefore, this beam must affect only one +person among many." + +"But how can a beam be tuned to one person?" Rick asked. + +"I don't know, Rick." Hartson Brant turned to Winston. "Do you?" + +"No. I have only a hypothesis, and one so far afield from what we know +of the brain today that I even hesitate to suggest it. Let me ask a +question. If the enemy could have access to the brain pattern of an +individual--and remember such patterns are no more similar than +fingerprints--could the enemy then transmit a signal that would affect +only that pattern?" + +Julius Weiss objected. "The supposition is based on scientific +knowledge that does not exist." + +"So far as we know," Dr. Morrison added. + +Parnell Winston held up his hands. "I'm as aware as any of you that +the hypothesis assumes a knowledge of the brain that is incredibly +far advanced. But let us consider the evidence. The three scientists +who have fallen victim show the same signs of brain damage. +Investigation indicates that they were different types who probably +had dissimilar patterns. We also have the special case of Dr. Marks, +who was drugged while on the train. The person who drugged him dropped +soluble salt paste on the rug of his room. Can we accept the fact that +the salt paste was used for EEG electrodes, and a recording made while +Marks was under the influence of the drug? We can't prove it, but what +other explanation can there be?" + +Dr. Morrison shook his head. "Suppose we accept that theory. How does +that account for the other two? They were under guard, and there is no +evidence that they ever were drugged. If we accept your hypothesis, we +must also accept the theory that the other two men somehow were given +an EEG examination and their patterns recorded." + +An idea was growing in Rick's mind. Suddenly he blurted, "That's where +the barber comes in!" + +"The barber's machine was examined by Steve's men and found harmless," +Hartson Brant pointed out. + +Scotty spoke up quickly. "Yes, but when Duke looked at it this +morning, he found electrical connections! Why couldn't an EEG be taken +with such a gadget?" + +Parnell Winston considered. "It could," he said finally. "I would +need to examine the machine, but in theory any gadget that fits over +the head could be adapted for proper placement of electrodes. The +recorder would be difficult to hide, however, unless it was in another +room." + +Rick sank back and looked at Scotty. No wonder the barber had wanted +to give a treatment to Hartson Brant. The elevator operator's wink had +told him that the scientist had been on the fourth floor, where the +project team was located. + +"Didn't you ever have your hair cut in the arcade shop, Dr. Morrison?" +Rick asked. + +"No, Rick. I used a barber in a hotel nearby, one I've patronized for +years." + +"But the other two did use the shop in the building," Scotty finished, +"and Dr. Marks had no need for a barber, so they had to get at him +some other way!" + +"It seems reasonable," Hartson Brant admitted. "The pieces fall into +place nicely. But we must first accept Parnell's theory that some kind +of pattern can be transmitted that will interfere with normal brain +activity. If we believe it, we must also believe that the enemy is so +far ahead of us in brain physiology that we are hopelessly +outdistanced. I can't believe so much progress could have taken place +without some word of it leaking out." + +Parnell Winston shrugged. "It seems incredible, Hartson. But we +haven't another theory, much less a better one." + +"We had better make sure no one takes EEG's of the rest of us, in any +case," Weiss suggested dryly. + +Rick added, "And don't get any haircuts until this is all straightened +out!" + +When the meeting broke up, Rick and Scotty walked to the front porch +where the girls were listening to the music of a Newark disk jockey on +Barby's portable radio. + +"Lot of puzzled people in this neighborhood," Rick said. "Including +me." + +"And me," Scotty agreed. "And I'll bet I know the most curious one of +all." + +"Who?" + +"Cap'n Mike." + +Rick grinned. At least the rest of them had some information. Even +Duke and Jerry had enough to know that national security was somehow +involved. But the captain, who had the liveliest curiosity of all, +knew the least. + +As Rick dropped him off in front of the old windmill, Cap'n Mike had +grunted, "When you can trust me a little more, you might tell me what +this was all about." + +Actually, Cap'n Mike's visit to the houseboat hadn't been particularly +productive. He had little to add to the Coast Guard inspector's +description, aside from his feeling that the houseboaters had wanted +to get rid of him. + +Scotty asked, "Why would anyone want to disrupt the brains of the +project team? Seems to me that's doing it the hard way. Assassination +would be a lot easier." + +Rick shook his head. He had wondered about the same thing. + +Barby and Jan motioned for silence. They were listening to a vocalist +who happened to be Barby's favorite of the moment. + +The boys stood silent for a few minutes; then, by unspoken agreement, +turned and went back into the house. + +Hartson Brant came down the stairs, dressed in a suit, with white +shirt and tie. Rick stared at him. "Going somewhere, Dad?" + +"Yes. Parnell Winston has disturbed me deeply, with the implications of +his theory. I'm going to pay a call on an old friend in Newark, an +associate of Chavez. I want to explore some of the electrophysiological +background of his hypothesis. I won't be very late. Is there any gas in +the car?" + +"Almost full," Scotty said. + +The boys went on upstairs into their adjoining rooms. For a few +minutes Rick tinkered with his camera equipment, then he went back +down to the library and searched the shelves for something to read. He +finally settled on W. Grey Walter's _The Living Brain_ and carried it +back up to his room. + +He sat down in the old leather armchair and manipulated buttons on one +arm. The light brightened to reading intensity, and the back tilted to +the most comfortable position. He had wired the chair himself, and it +fit him perfectly. He settled down to read. + +Time passed as he lost himself in the clear, exciting descriptions in +Dr. Walter's book. He heard a bell ring downstairs, but paid no +attention. Then Scotty stuck his head in the door. "Rick! Your +mother's calling you." + +Rick sat up swiftly. It was true, and his mother had urgency in her +voice. + +He dropped the book and ran to the stairs, going down them three at a +time. A strange, dark-haired man was standing in the hallway, and his +mother, Barby, and Jan were waiting for him with strained white faces. + +"Your father has been hurt," Mrs. Brant said with false calm. "He's on +this gentleman's houseboat!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Vanishing Mermaids + + +Parnell Winston worked as Hartson Brant described his experience. + +"There really isn't much to it," Mr. Brant said. "I started out for +Whiteside in the fast boat." + +Winston focused a flashlight into one eye, then the other. + +"I was on the north side of North Cove when the boat smashed into +something. I was thrown violently into the water." + +Winston tested the scientist's reflexes, using a finger instead of the +traditional rubber hammer. + +"Apparently I was badly shaken up, because my memory becomes unclear +at this point. I do recall being fished out of the water, and when I +came to enough to recognize my surroundings, I was in a strange room. +It turned out to be the cabin of the houseboat." + +"Do you remember any strange sensations, or smells?" Winston asked. + +Rick listened, his heart pounding. + +"None. The people on the houseboat were most considerate. One of the +men insisted that I get into some of his spare clothes, and I did so. +One of the women--the wife of the man who came here, I believe--made +me a cup of hot consommé. They told me I was apparently whole, no +broken bones." + +"They were very pleasant and helpful," Rick admitted. + +The houseboaters had done just the right things, including coming to +Spindrift for help rather than bringing the scientist home in the +slow-moving and rather uncomfortable pram. Instead, Hartson Brant had +waited on the houseboat while one of the men brought the pram to the +island with a request that someone follow him back in a more +comfortable boat. + +Rick and Scotty had done so, and were almost limp with relief at +finding the scientist apparently unhurt and comfortable. + +"How does your head feel?" Parnell Winston demanded. + +"Rather stuffy," the scientist admitted. "I'm finding it difficult to +collect my thoughts. Parnell, why all these questions?" + +The cyberneticist rubbed his bushy eyebrows with both hands, a habit +he had when agitated. "Hartson, as you know, I am not a doctor of +medicine. However, I do claim competence as a physiologist, and +consequently bodily reactions are familiar to me. I believe you have +been drugged." + +"Drugged?" Rick's heart stopped momentarily. + +"Yes. I've looked for the mark of a hypodermic needle, but there is +none. If I'm correct, the drug was a light one, possibly amytal. Your +reflexes are slower than normal, even taking the accident and +subsequent shock into account, and your pupils react slowly." + +Rick came to a sudden decision. He went to the desk and picked up the +phone. + +"What are you doing?" Hartson Brant demanded. + +"I'm calling Steve Ames. We need help." + +In a few minutes Rick had the agent on the wire and was giving him the +details of the accident over the scrambler system. He concluded, "If +Dad was drugged by the houseboaters, as Dr. Winston thinks, that means +the enemy has his brain pattern!" + +Steve Ames asked, "Is Winston there?" + +"Yes." + +"Ask him a question for me. Would the brain waves be considered +quasi-optical?" + +Steve meant would the waves be of such high frequency that they would +act like light. Rick put the question to Winston. + +"Tell Steve the answer is a qualified yes." + +Rick repeated the information. + +"All right. Then we must assume that the brain scrambler--or whatever +you call it--can operate only from short distances, approximately to +the horizon. Tell your father he is to get out of town. Have him pack +a bag, then deliver him to the New York JANIG office. We'll take it +from there. Got it?" + +Rick had it. "How do I make sure we're not followed?" + +Steve paused. "That's a tough one. Air travel would be surest. Do you +have any landing lights on Spindrift?" + +"No. Besides, it's a short runway, and only a pilot who knew the +island could possibly land at night." + +"I've got a pilot who knows it, so forget going to New York. Rig +lights of some kind. You can put lights on the roof of the lab +building, I'm sure. Then put a pair of lights at each side of the +runway's end, so he'll know how far he can go. If you have nothing +else, soak newspapers in gasoline. He'll buzz the island. That will be +your signal to light up." + +"Is Mike Malone the pilot?" Malone had landed there before. + +"Yes. He'll take over. Just deliver your father intact." + +"If we can," Rick said slowly. "Steve, suppose the enemy activates +their machine when they hear the plane? Suppose they suspect he's +getting away and turn on the mind reader?" + +"We'll have to chance it. Best thing is to move fast. Get your father +in with Mike, and let them clear out. I'll tell Mike to put distance +between him and you as fast as he can." + +"All right, Steve." There seemed to be no other way. + +Rick turned to his father and Winston, and repeated the conversation. + +"He's right, Hartson," Winston said. "You're in good enough shape to +travel. Better get packed." The cyberneticist looked at Rick. "What +did you call the enemy gadget? A mind reader? That's an odd name." + +"I didn't think about it," Rick told him. "The name just popped into +my mind. But doesn't the enemy machine read the patterns in peoples' +minds, then erase them?" + +"As good a name as any, I guess," Winston agreed. "Well, let's tell +the others. Then you have work to do getting ready for the plane, +Rick." + +Mrs. Brant, after making sure that her husband was no more than +slightly dazed, had been forced to turn her attention to Barby and +Jan. The two girls were on the verge of sheer hysteria with fear for +their fathers. Scotty had joined Mrs. Brant, in an effort to soothe +the girls' frayed nerves. Now, as Rick opened the library door, he +could see that the two pretty young faces were tear-streaked, but as +calm as could be expected under the circumstances. Scotty looked worn +out. Rick could only marvel at his mother. She could always be relied +upon in a crisis. + +Mrs. Brant listened to her son's report, then nodded firmly. "Steve +is wise to insist, Rick. I'll help your father pack." + +Rick beckoned to Scotty. "We have work to do. Let's start with the +lab." + +On the way, he filled Scotty in on the details of what had happened in +the library. Then he asked, "How did you get the girls calmed down?" + +Scotty shook his head wearily. "It wasn't fun. The poor kids are +scared stiff. Remember they haven't been exposed to stuff as we have. +To them, our stories are just exciting fun, because we leave out the +rough parts. Now they're getting a taste of this business the way it +really is." + +"Did you say that?" + +"That, and a thousand other things. Nothing did much good, and Mom +couldn't make any headway, either. Another ten minutes of tears and +the island would have been under water, honest. Finally I got rough. I +told them we were all in this, and they were only creating a nuisance +that complicated things and didn't help at all. Then Mom chimed in. +You know how she does. Never raises her voice. She said real courage +consisted of being terribly frightened, but trying to remain calm in +spite of it. Then she said she was rapidly becoming ashamed of both of +them. That did it. They stuck their chins in the air, wiped off the +tears, and actually managed a smile." + +"Good for them!" Rick exclaimed. + +Inside the laboratory they went at once to the stockroom. Floodlights +were stored there, among other items. Extension cords were plentiful, +and there were electric outlets on the roof. In a few moments the boys +had strung the lights and Rick had readjusted the board downstairs, so +that all the lights were on a single circuit. That way, they could all +be switched on or off at once. + +Joe Blake came to watch. Rick explained what he was doing, and told +Joe of Steve's conversation. + +"I know," Joe said. "Steve called me on the radio. He didn't want us +shooting Mike down for trying to land without warning. But how come +you can cut circuits in and out like this?" + +"We never know when an experiment will call for electric power in some +unexpected place," Rick explained. "The main board is set up so we can +do just about anything we need to. We can feed normal current in, or +440 volts, and we can cross-link the circuits any way we like." + +Scotty checked Rick's work, then took the switch handle. He touched +the contacts briefly, and there was a quick pulse of light as the roof +lighted up and went dark again. + +"I'll stand by here," Scotty said. "You stand by at the end of the +runway. Are we going to use gasoline?" + +"We'll have to. It would take a while to run power from the house and +hook up lighting units. Gasoline will be quicker and easier. Let's +go." + +There was a supply of gasoline for the boats. Rick got a five-gallon +can while Scotty collected newspapers. Two trash cans served as +containers. The cans were filled with newspapers, then drenched in +gasoline and placed at the last possible point of runway that could be +used. If Mike overshot the containers he would land in the sea. + +Rick worried about the problem of lighting the containers without +getting burned, then went to the workshop and selected rags. He +twisted the rags loosely and tied them together, poured gasoline into +a bucket and soaked his rag fuse. The last step was to insert one end +of the fuse in each can. When the time came, he would be between the +cans, and he would light the center of the rag string. The fire would +travel rapidly, because of the gasoline. + +In case Mike was delayed for any great period, Rick kept the gasoline +handy. He might have to wet down the cans and fuse again. He had +forgotten to ask where Mike would come from, and Steve hadn't +volunteered. Probably he would come from Washington, which meant about +an hour's flying time in the plane Mike would use, a fast little +four-place job that Rick had long coveted. But Mike wouldn't be ready +for take-off instantly. Time had to be allowed for Steve to give him +instructions, to get from wherever he was to the airport, and then get +the plane gassed and ready. Allow another hour. That meant two hours +in all. + +Inside, Rick was still scared. How did they know the electronic mind +reader wouldn't be activated at any moment? He hurried into the house +and went upstairs to where his father was packing. He couldn't do +anything, and he knew it. But it helped, just being near the +scientist. Apparently Scotty felt the same. He had joined Hartson +Brant, too. But Barby, Jan, and Mrs. Brant had preceded him. + +The scientist smiled. "Never had so much help packing before." + +The smile was strained, and Rick thought he knew why. He had seen his +father face great physical danger without losing a bit of his +composure. But the insidious weapon that could read all reason out of +minds was far more horrible to a man like Hartson Brant than any +physical danger could be. Bullets, knives, and clubs may leave bad +wounds, or they may kill. But what chance is there for anyone with a +damaged brain? + +Scotty looked at his watch and held it up for Rick to see. Nearly an +hour and three-quarters had passed since the call to Steve. Rick +gestured to Scotty and urged, "Hurry, Dad." + +"I'm ready." The scientist closed his bag. Barby got to it first and +lugged it down the stairs, refusing Scotty's offer of help. + +The boys went to their stations while the others waited on the porch. +Rick checked to be sure he had matches, then worried because a wind +had sprung up. Suppose it blew his match out? He was about to go +borrow his father's lighter when he heard the far-off drone of a +plane. There wasn't time now! He held the matches in his hand, ready. + +The drone grew nearer, rising to a high whine. The plane was diving! +Suddenly it was overhead and gone with a crash of sound. Rick saw its +lights head out to sea. Mike was making a tight turn to come in for a +landing. + +Rick's lips formed the words. "Now, Scotty! Now!" + +And, as though he had heard, Scotty threw the switch. Lights flared on +the lab roof, outlining it clearly. Rick struck a match and held it to +the saturated cord of rags. Flaming gasoline ran along the cord in +both directions, ran up the sides of the cans. There was a loud whoosh +of exploding gasoline, and both cans were ablaze. Rick ran away from +the heat. + +Mike came in low and fast over the lab roof and slapped the plane down +on the turf. In a moment he applied the brakes and the wheels whined +their protest as they dug up grass. Then the plane was rolling to a +stop directly in front of the house. + +The pilot jumped out and called, "Hello, gang! Come on, sir. No time +to waste!" + +Hartson Brant kissed Mrs. Brant and the girls, found time to pat +Rick's shoulder, and climbed in. Rick took the suitcase from Barby and +handed it to the scientist. The door closed and the plane was +whirling, catching them in its prop blast. Mike taxied back fast to +the laboratory, turned the plane and revved up, holding on the brakes. +Rick saw Scotty emerge from the lab building and go right back in +again as the prop wash caught him. Then the plane was rolling ... and +lifting. Mike skimmed low over the burning trash cans, banked out to +sea, and was gone. + +Rick felt a sob rising in his throat and resolutely squelched it. He +walked to the burning cans and dropped covers on them. Scotty cut the +lights on the lab building. + +Had they made it? They wouldn't know. Not until Steve reported that +the scientist was safe. + +On the porch, Barby asked, "How soon will we know?" + +Rick was proud of her. Her voice had trembled only slightly. "Probably +not until tomorrow, Sis. Come on. Let's all hike off to bed. It's been +a rough evening." + +"All right. Rick, we still don't know for sure, do we? About the +people in the houseboat?" + +"Not for sure. But we have a pretty good idea. How else would Dad get +drugged?" + +"Mightn't they have given him a sedative?" Jan asked. "That would have +the same effect." + +Rick hadn't thought of that. He admitted it was possible. + +"I wish the radio trick had worked," Barby said sadly. "I wish we had +some way of getting a radio on the houseboat. Then we could listen in +on everything they said." + +"No way of doing it," Rick said. He was very tired. "Forget it for +now and let's all turn in. We can talk some more in the morning." + + * * * * * + +Steve Ames phoned at five o'clock in the morning. Rick had been +sleeping lightly, his rest broken by nightmares that he couldn't +remember when he awoke. He got to the phone in the hall. "Just a +minute," he said. "Let me get downstairs to the switch." + +The entire family was close on his heels as he went into the library. +He threw the scrambler switch, then asked anxiously, "Yes, Steve?" + +"Just had word, Rick, so I called in spite of the hour. Your father is +safe inside the compound at Los Alamos. He's all right. And just as a +precaution, he'll spend most of his time in a shielded area where no +radio signal can penetrate. Now go on back to bed and get some sleep." + +Rick thanked him gratefully. Los Alamos! That was one of the two main +atomic energy weapons laboratories. No place in the United States was +more closely guarded. Now he could be sure his father was safe as +anyone could be. + +He repeated the conversation to his anxious family. "Now," he said, +echoing Steve's advice, "let's get back to bed. Perhaps we can really +sleep for a change." + +He did sleep. It was nearly noon before he awoke. He got up sleepily +and found Scotty had just barely preceded him and was now taking a +shower. + +Downstairs, things were apparently normal. Mrs. Brant and Mrs. +Morrison were at work on lunch, but since an hour was too long to +wait, Rick had a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk. He was careful +not to choose Crummies. Scotty settled for three doughnuts and milk. + +"Where are the girls?" Rick asked. "Still asleep?" + +"They've gone swimming," Mrs. Morrison replied. "They should be back +soon, though. They've been gone over an hour." + +"I could use a swim myself," Rick admitted. + +"Not me," Scotty said. "Wait until afternoon and I'll join you. That +cold water would shock me into a state of galloping goose pimples the +way I feel now." + +Rick had forgotten how cold the water was. "Okay. We'll wait. Let's go +over to the lab and take down the lights. I want to clean up the trash +cans, too." + +They walked leisurely over to the laboratory and stopped for a moment +to chat with Joe Blake. Then, before starting on the lights, they +walked around behind the lab building. + +The laboratories were built on a promontory that sloped inland toward +Pirate's Field, which was just above sea level. The raised area ran +around the seaward side of the island, so that the Brant house was on +high land, too. On the north side, the land sloped down toward the +boat landing. + +Rick stood on the edge of the low cliff and looked for Barby and Jan. +They weren't in sight. + +"They must be using lungs," Scotty said. "Watch for bubbles." + +No bubbles were visible, either. Rick checked carefully and began to +worry. It was a calm day with little wave action, and the bubbles from +the lungs should have been clearly visible. Surely they wouldn't swim +so far the bubbles couldn't be seen on a day like this. + +"Let's check," Rick said. + +The boys hurried to the room where the Scuba equipment was kept. Two +lungs and the blue and white equipment were gone. So was the cart. A +quick look at Pirate's Cove showed no cart in sight. + +Where could they have gone? The boys hurried to the front of the lab +building again and found Joe Blake still getting a bit of sunshine. + +"Did you see the girls?" Rick asked hurriedly. + +Joe nodded. He motioned across the island. "They came and got +aqualungs and hauled the cart across to the north side. They're +probably swimming over there." + +Rick doubted it. He doubted it very much. The currents on the north +side kept the bottom stirred up and visibility was too poor for +diving. + +Without the need of exchanging a word, Rick and Scotty were suddenly +running. As they passed the house Rick had a sudden thought. He went +in and ran up the stairs to his room, grabbed his radio unit and +turned it on. + +"Barby!" he called frantically. "Barby!" + +There was no answer. Tucking the unit into his pocket, he ran out and +joined Scotty again. If Barby had her set she wasn't using it. + +"Come on." He led the way to the boat cove and stopped short. The +speedboat was there, and so was the Scuba cart, but the rowboat +wasn't. Anxiously he scanned the water. There was no sign of the +girls. + +Where were they? Where? The thought struck him. He remembered Barby's +comment of the night before. + +_Had they gone to the houseboat?_ + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Pointer to Disaster + + +Scotty ran to the speedboat and yelled, "Come on!" + +"Wait!" Rick called. "Let's not go barging off without knowing what +we're doing." + +Scotty turned, puzzled. "What do you mean?" + +"The girls have some kind of plan, and we don't know what it is. If we +go barging around in the speedboat, we might throw a monkey wrench +into the works." + +"But we can't just stand here and do nothing," Scotty said +desperately. + +"We won't. Go get the plane warmed up and wait for me." + +Rick hurried into the house and ran up the stairs to Barby's room. +Working fast, he went through the dresser, then through the shelves in +her closet. Not finding what he wanted, he paused to look around in +case he might have overlooked a possibility. + +He didn't know where girls kept things, and he suspected that +sometimes the places weren't the same as boys might pick. But he could +see no possible place that he hadn't searched. + +That meant Barby had her Megabuck unit with her, unless she had left +it somewhere else in the house. + +He plugged in his earphone and called. "Barby!" + +There was no reply. His lips set grimly. No use wasting time here. He +ran from the house, hearing the sound of the Sky Wagon as Scotty +warmed it up. Joe Blake was not in sight. Rick hurried into the lab +and found him watching Professor Morrison who was checking some +calculations on the lab's small computing machine. + +"Joe, step outside with me for a moment, please." + +Outside, Rick explained that the girls were missing, then asked, "Can +you get the plane frequency on your receiver?" + +"Sure. It's an all-wave job. What's the frequency you use?" + +Rick told him, then explained, "We don't know what's going on, so we +want to be prepared. If some of your Scout leaders can move down the +coast to North Cove and keep an eye on the houseboat, Scotty and I +will search from the air. If we see anything, we'll let you know on +the plane's radio. You won't be able to talk back, but at least you +can hear us, and you can let the Scouts know." + +He wished his mind had worked faster. Then he could have taken +Scotty's Megabuck unit and given it to Joe. But there was no time +now, and this other arrangement probably would do as well. + +"I'll pass the word to the gang on the mainland right away," Joe +agreed. + +Joe went back into the lab while Rick ran to Pirate's Beach. Scotty +was waiting, the plane's engine turning over. Together, they launched +the Sky Wagon, then climbed in, Scotty in the pilot's seat. + +As Scotty took off, Rick tried Barby again on the radio. "Barby, this +is Rick. Can you read me?" + +There was no reply. + +"Better fly as though we were heading for Whiteside," Rick suggested. +He rubbed his palms on his handkerchief. They were damp with nervous +perspiration. He was not as calm as he looked. + +Scotty swung around on course and Rick scanned the water as they +passed over the north side of Spindrift. There was no sign of the +rowboat yet. + +The plane traveled in a straight line right across North Cove. The +houseboat was at anchor a few hundred yards offshore, and the pram was +tied up to the rear rail. There was no sign of life. + +The boys reached the Whiteside pier without seeing the girls or the +boat. Scotty put the plane into a tight circle and looked at Rick +helplessly. "Now what?" + +"They can't have gone far," Rick mused. "Not in the rowboat." + +"They had the aqualungs," Scotty pointed out. "They must have expected +to use them." + +"Right. But how? If they planned to get aboard the houseboat, they +wouldn't be using the aqualungs. Or would they?" + +"Search me." + +"Wouldn't they just row up to the houseboat on some excuse or other? I +wish I'd looked. Barby might have taken those clothes Dad wore home +last night." + +"We can't just float around and talk," Scotty said urgently. "Let's do +something." + +Rick felt the same way. "Okay. Throttle down and go slow. We'll scan +the whole coastline from here to Spindrift." + +Scotty did so, holding the little plane barely above stalling speed. +Rick leaned out and traced the shore with anxious eyes. + +The plane turned and twisted as Scotty followed the coastline as +accurately as he could. They reached the upper tip of North Cove and +swung into the cove itself. + +Scotty tapped Rick on the shoulder and pointed. A man and a woman had +come out of the houseboat and were watching the plane. + +"Wonder where the other pair is?" Rick asked. There was nothing they +could do about the people on the houseboat now. Let them wonder what +the plane was doing. Rick turned his attention back to the shore +below. + +The plane traveled the length of the cove's shoreline and rounded the +southern tip. They passed over a section where the woods came right +down to the water. Birches leaned far over. Rick caught a glimpse of +what might have been the rowboat, then the plane swung and he lost it. + +"Circle," he said quickly. "I think I saw something!" + +Scotty gunned the Sky Wagon and threw it into a tight turn. Rick +watched carefully as the clump of birches came into view. There was a +boat under them, all right. He wished for the binoculars, but they +were probably at the attic lookout where Barby and Jan had spied on +the houseboat. + +He had no real doubt. He was sure the boat was the Spindrift rowboat. + +"Circle over the island," he called to Scotty, then reached over and +took the hand microphone from the instrument panel rack. He turned on +the radio and waited a moment while it warmed. + +"Joe, this is Rick," he said. "Rowboat under a clump of birches just +south of North Cove. Have the boys go there and look it over. See if +the girls are in the woods. We'll watch for sign of the girls on the +water." + +To Scotty, he directed, "Over the cove. Circle the whole area. We'll +watch for their bubbles. Joe's men will check the woods." + +The plane turned obediently. Presently they were moving in a wide +circle with the houseboat as a center. A slight surface wind had +arisen and the water in the cove was a bit choppy, but not enough to +obscure bubble tracks made by Scuba divers below. + +"See anything?" Rick asked. + +"Not a trace. Can you see the water around the houseboat well enough?" + +"Yes. No bubbles in the vicinity." Rick dried his palms again, then +mopped his forehead. He was becoming thoroughly frightened. Where were +they? + +He checked his Megabuck radio to be sure it was on and called, "Barby. +Where are you?" + +The air was silent, except for the slight background hiss that was +always present. + +"Look right under the houseboat's gunwales," Scotty urged. "If they're +directly under it, the bubbles would rise along the sides." + +"Why would they go under the houseboat?" Rick asked. + +Scotty shook his head. "Why did they come over here in the first +place?" + +Rick had no answer. "Let's go over to the shore. Joe's men ought to be +at the rowboat by now. Maybe they found the girls." + +Scotty banked around and headed over the clump of birches. In a small +clearing behind the clump they saw two men in Scout uniforms. The men +looked up, and one spread his hands wide in a gesture that said +nothing of importance had been turned up. + +"There's only one thing to do," Rick said decisively. "We've got to +check on the..." + +He stopped as though a hand had clutched his throat. Barby's voice, in +his earphones! + +Rick pulled the unit from his pocket and turned up the volume. He +couldn't hear her well. + +"It's Barby," he said swiftly. "Circle!" + +Rick strained to hear. She was talking to someone. "... It won't do +the slightest bit of good to keep us here, because my brother will +know where we are." + +The signal faded as she talked. Rick turned the little radio unit, +trying to keep the volume constant. + +"You'd better let us go," Barby was saying. "You'll get into a lot of +trouble if you don't." + +Rick groaned. Her threats would do about as much good as a bunny +threatening a wolf pack. Where was she? On the houseboat? + +Suddenly he realized ... he had the key in his hands! + +Barby's voice was high-pitched and frightened now. "What are you +doing? Why are you putting that plastic cap on Jan?" + +Rick turned the radio unit as the plane circled. The sweat stood out +on his face. Unerringly, the axis of the built-in antenna pointed to +the houseboat. + +There was no longer any doubt! + +"Land!" he yelled. "Land next to the houseboat!" + +Scotty slammed the throttle in instant response, and as the Sky Wagon +dived toward the water he cast a quick look at Rick. "What did you +hear?" + +Rick was already slipping off his shoes, getting ready to jump. "On +the houseboat!" he choked. "They're using the mind reader on the +girls!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The One-Man Boarding Party + + +Scotty hit the water and bounced once, but he held the plane down and +in a moment the water slowed it. He revved up again and taxied as +rapidly as he dared to the houseboat, swung broadside to it, and +throttled back. + +Rick was waiting. He flung the door open and dove far enough to clear +the pontoon. The cold water closed over him briefly, then with a +powerful kick he flashed to the surface again. A few strokes brought +him to the houseboat. + +The two men were leaning on the rail. One, a hefty man of middle age +with a striped shirt and glasses, said politely, "Do you want +something?" + +Rick stopped and tread water. "I want the two girls you have inside. +Have them come out here, and we won't bother you any more." + +The second man, the dark-haired one who had come to Spindrift, +smiled. "You mean our wives? They're having a nap. Sorry." + +"I mean my sister and her friend. Stop stalling, Mister." + +Striped shirt shook his head. "Sorry, boy. We haven't seen your +sister. Now climb back on your little airplane and get out of here." + +Rick's reply was a stroke that brought him to the houseboat. He +reached up for a handhold, when a boat hook suddenly touched his +forehead. + +"Don't try it," striped shirt said. "Stay off this barge or I'll bend +this pole over your head. Now get out of here." + +Rick back-pedaled helplessly. Now what? He knew there was no +possibility of his climbing aboard while the men were on deck. + +And what was happening inside? He swam forward, to the front of the +boat, and the men followed. They could move faster than he; there was +no possibility of outdistancing them. + +If only he had a weapon! But wishing was useless. He had to do +something! He called, "Barby! Can you hear me?" + +There was no answer from inside. His pulse speeded. Were Barby and Jan +all right, perhaps gagged, or had the mind reader already worked? + +Rick swam away from the houseboat a few feet and floated, his mind +racing. There had to be a way of getting aboard. There had to! + +Where was Scotty? He listened, and heard the plane's engine on the +other side of the houseboat. In a few seconds Scotty came into view. +He was on the water close to shore, traveling at high speed. As Rick +watched, Scotty swung the plane on a line with the houseboat and +opened the throttle wide. + +Rick stared. Was his pal out of his mind? If he crashed the houseboat, +the girls would be hurt, too! Then he realized Scotty would never pull +such a stunt, no matter how desperate he became. + +The men on the houseboat were at the rail now, eyes on the racing +plane. In that instant Rick divined Scotty's plan, he hoped, and +turned to gauge his distance. The plane was on the upper step now, +almost air-borne. Even as he watched, the pontoons pulled away. But +Scotty held the plane on the water, roaring propeller pointed right at +the men at the rail. + +Rick put his head down and sprinted for the front of the houseboat. He +had to time it perfectly! + +To the horrified eyes of the men at the rail a collision was +inevitable. They could only assume that the madman in the plane was +going to smash right into them. And as Scotty had planned, they lost +all interest in Rick, in the presence of immediate, personal danger. + +The men threw themselves to the deck, clawing frantically for some +kind of cover. At the last instant, Scotty pulled the plane up in a +power climb. So near disaster had he come that the suction of the +passing pontoons lifted a coiled rope into the air on top of the +cabin. Even as he mounted the rail and stood on deck, Rick gave a +prayer of thanks for his pal's perfect judgment and lightning +reflexes. + +[Illustration: "_Stay away or I'll bend this pole over your head!_"] + +He ran along the deck, jumped over the two prostrate men, swung around +and launched himself into the cabin. He stopped, eyes wide with +fright. + +Barby was lashed to a chair just inside the door, a gag in her mouth. +Jan was on the other side of the cabin, also lashed. But Jan had a +plastic cap on her head, and wires ran from it to a machine on a +nearby table. Two women were standing over the girl, and one had a +pistol in her hand. + +Rick started forward, then stopped helplessly. The pistol wasn't +pointed at him. It was pointed at Jan's head! + +He looked into Jan's pleading eyes and shifted his weight uncertainly. +He didn't know what to do now. + +Jan did. Her arms were lashed tight, but her legs were free. She +lifted one of them in a kick that caught the pistol-holding woman +behind the knees. The pistol hand lifted as the woman flailed for +balance, and Rick sprang like a charging fullback. His widespread arms +embraced both women and slammed them back into the cabin wall. Then he +scrambled to his feet in search of the gun. It was under Jan's chair. +He bent to pick it up when Barby gave a muffled cry from behind the +gag. Rick whirled. + +The two men were rushing him from the cabin entrance. + +There wasn't much room in the cabin, but it gave Rick an advantage. He +dove toward the men, who stopped their rush briefly. But Rick hadn't +made the dive with the intention of meeting them head on. There was a +table along the wall next to the corner where Barby was tied up. Rick +went under it. + +The men rushed for the table. Rick reached out and grabbed an ankle. +Bracing his legs, he gave a mighty heave. Striped shirt went over +backward in front of Barby, who stamped with both bare feet on his +stomach. The breath went out of him with a whoosh. + +Rick gathered his legs and shoved upward. The table heaved into the +other man and threw him off balance long enough to give Rick a chance +to get to his feet. Keeping the table between him and the dark man, +Rick watched for an opening. Striped shirt was on his knees, shaking +his head. + +The dark man was tired of waiting. He launched himself across the +table, arms outstretched. It was the best move he could have made, +from Rick's point of view. The boy knew he could not compete with +either man in strength. He had to depend on speed, and the infighting +tricks he had learned from Scotty. He used one now. At the last moment +he side-stepped and his hand flashed down. It was a judo chop, the +hand held stiff, the blow delivered with the side opposite the thumb. +It was effective. The man dropped to the floor, shaking his head. Rick +used the _savate_, the blow delivered with the heel. It landed +against the side of the man's neck. He went over sideways. + +Striped shirt was on his feet now, but still starved for air. His +mouth hung open as he gasped, but he was coming forward. + +Rick met him. He dove into the man's stomach and felt his head smack +into soft flesh. The breath went out of striped shirt again. Rick +regained his feet and turned to Barby. She was making sounds through +her gag, her eyes desperate. + +The boy whirled. The women were back in the fight, one of them +scrambling for the gun under Jan's chair. Jan kicked it far back, out +of reach. Rick scooped up the table and slid it along the floor at +them. The table caught them like a pair of tenpins and knocked them +into the corner. He turned back to Barby and started to untie her, his +fingers racing. + +A blow landed on his shoulder. He turned in time to meet another one +across the cheek that knocked him back against the wall. He rebounded, +fighting. The dark man was crouched low, fists weaving. Rick danced +lightly around him waiting. Let the man come to him. + +The man led with a right. Rick rolled away from it, watching the left +that was cocked for a Sunday punch. The man threw his punch. Rick +caught it on the forearm and gasped with the pain of it. The guy had a +wallop like a mule! + +Rick feinted with the hurt arm, then drove a chop at the man's nose. +It connected and brought a gasp of pain. Barby was screaming through +the gag again, but he couldn't look now. He brought a roundhouse punch +up under his opponent's guard and felt it smack solidly against ribs. +Then an arm encircled his neck and a clenched fist crashed against the +back of his head. He saw stars, and for a moment his guard dropped. +Then both arms were pinioned. + +Striped shirt had caught him from behind. Now the dark man stepped in, +fist cocked for a knockout punch. Rick saw it coming and braced +himself. + +The punch never landed. A crisp voice said, "Don't do it!" + +Encircling arms fell away. Rick turned, knees weak. + +A man in Boy Scout uniform stood in the cabin door, and in his hand +was a Police Positive. + +"All right," the Scout said cheerfully. "Party's over." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Taped for Trouble + + +Another Scout leader moved into the cabin, followed by Scotty. Rick +gave them a grin, then turned and picked up the gun behind Jan's +chair. He stuck it in his pocket and untied the girl. + +The plastic cap was still on her head. He lifted it off gently and put +it on top of the machine. + +"Are you all right?" he asked. + +She nodded, hand at her throat. "Yes," she managed. "I can't talk. The +gag ..." + +"Time for talk later," Rick said. He started for Barby, but Scotty was +already untying her. The moment her hands were free, she pulled the +gag from her mouth and announced, "Well! You took long enough getting +here!" + +Rick didn't know what to say to that. He didn't have a chance to say +anything. His sister rushed over, put her arms around him, and +squeezed. + +"You were wonderful," she said. "Scotty, he held four of them at bay. +I never knew you could fight like that, Rick Brant!" + +Rick grinned. "I didn't do so much. You took one of them out of play +by stamping on him. And Jan gave me an opening with as fine a kick as +I've seen off a football field." + +The two JANIG agents had produced handcuffs, and the men and women +were manacled together in a continuous chain. + +"Outside," one agent commanded. "Get into the pram." + +"You've got nothing on us," the man in the striped shirt protested. +"We were only protecting ourselves against this wild man who barged in +here." + +"Were you protecting yourselves against the two girls?" Scotty asked. + +"We were holding them for the police," striped shirt stated. "They +sneaked aboard, probably intending to steal anything they could find. +You're going to get yourselves into a peck of trouble, my friends. +There's a law in the state against carrying firearms! A fine +reputation this will give the Boy Scouts!" + +The agent with the pistol said mildly, "You talk too much. Get in the +pram." To Rick he said, "We're taking them to Spindrift. We'll send +the speedboat back for you." + +The four young people stood at the rail and watched as the crowded +pram with its outboard motor chugged off to the island. + +Barby pulled off her bathing cap, and Rick saw that she wore the +Megabuck unit underneath. He pointed to it. "I tried to call you. Why +didn't you answer?" + +Barby replied with an embarrassed blush that started at the shoulders +and swept up until her face was bright red. "I forgot to turn it on," +she admitted. "Jan reminded me while they were tying her up. They +hadn't got to me, yet. One of the women was holding the pistol and +pointing it at me. Jan sort of looked up and said, 'We need an outside +power to help us now. But we must be sure the power is turned on.' +Then I remembered. I pretended my head hurt, and pushed the switch." + +Rick looked at Jan. "That was clever. I'd been trying to reach Barby, +with no success. Then, suddenly, I heard her talking." + +"We knew you were close, because we could hear the plane." Jan +shuddered. "The men heard it, too, because they ran out right after +they tied us up and put that thing on my head. The women guarded us, +and one of them had just started the machine running when the plane +came right at us. We saw it, through the open door, and we thought you +were going to crash!" + +Rick grinned at Scotty. "That was our fast-acting pal. If he hadn't +done that, I'd never have had a chance to get aboard." + +"Good thing you figured out what I was doing," Scotty admitted. "When +I saw you moving fast toward the boat, I knew it was okay, and that I +didn't have to crash." + +Rick stared. "Do you mean you'd have actually crashed?" + +"Not head on, because that would have hurt the girls. I was planning +to swing at the last minute and try to knock the men off with the +wing." + +Rick could only mutter, "My sainted aunt!" + +Scotty turned on the girls. "And here's the pair that made it +necessary. What in the name of a painted parsnip were you two trying +to do?" + +Barby lifted her chin defiantly. "We had a good plan. Can we help it +if it didn't work?" + +"Can't answer that until we know the plan," Scotty said reasonably. +"Suppose you tell us." + +"Well, we needed evidence that the houseboaters were in the plot +against our fathers, didn't we? I knew we could get it, if we could +plant a radio. So we made a plan." + +"Lot of good a turned-off radio would have done," Rick muttered. + +Barby glared. "We decided that we'd go swimming with the lungs. Then +we'd come up right next to the houseboat, and we'd be so surprised! Of +course the people would come out to see us, then we'd say I had a +cramp, and could we please come up and rest." + +Rick listened, and he had to admit it wasn't a bad plan at all--so +far. + +"Of course they would let us rest. Then I'd wait for a chance to put +the radio behind a cushion, or in the crack of an armchair, or +somewhere like that. I didn't know exactly what I could do, but I knew +if we could get aboard there would be some way of leaving the radio +behind." + +The pram had vanished around the turn of the cove. The speedboat would +come into sight any moment now. + +"All right," Rick admitted. "Let's say it was a good plan. What +happened?" + +Jan took up the tale. "We didn't want to try to swim all the way from +Spindrift, so we took the rowboat and did exactly what Cap'n Mike did +yesterday. We rowed along the shore with the aqualungs and got into +the water right where we could see the houseboat. We had to. +Otherwise, we would have gotten lost underwater." + +"But you had the wrist compasses, didn't you?" Scotty asked. The boys +had stressed that compasses were essential because low visibility in +the waters off Spindrift made it very easy to lose one's sense of +direction. + +"We had the compasses," Barby said. "How do you think we swam right to +the houseboat?" + +"Then why didn't you get into the water out of sight of the +houseboat?" Rick asked, and suddenly he knew. That would have meant +plotting a compass course around a turn. So many feet in one +direction, then change to another compass heading. He had explained it +to them, but they just hadn't learned. It was not easy, he had to +admit, and it took practice even on land. "Never mind," he said. "I +know the answer. Go ahead. Tell us the rest." + +Barby studied his face. "I guess you do know," she assented. "Well, +they told us later, on the houseboat. They saw us get into the water, +then they watched our bubbles come right toward them. So when we got +here, they weren't fooled." + +"We went through with it, as we planned," Jan said, "and we thought we +were getting away with it. They were very nice. Of course we could +come up and rest. They were glad to have us stop by. But when we got +aboard, one of the women had a gun, and she made us go into the cabin +and sit down. Then they started asking us questions." + +"What kind of questions?" Rick inquired. + +"About why we had come. We stuck to the story, until they told us +they'd seen us. Even then we didn't admit anything. Then Barby started +to threaten them." + +Scotty chuckled. "I'd like to have heard that." + +Rick watched the tip of the cove. The speedboat from Spindrift should +be coming shortly. "How about the plane?" he asked suddenly. "What did +you do with it?" + +Scotty motioned to the other side of the houseboat. "It's anchored. I +landed next to the JANIG team and got into the rowboat with them." The +Sky Wagon carried a small anchor and a few yards of anchor line in one +of the pontoons. + +"Okay. Carry on, Barby. How did you threaten them?" + +"I was very logical," Barby stated. "Wasn't I, Jan?" + +Jan nodded agreement. "You definitely were." + +"I started by telling them that they couldn't possibly do a thing to +us, and they might as well let us go right away." + +"Bet that impressed them," Rick murmured. + +"Are you telling this, or am I?" + +"You are," Rick said contritely. "Go ahead." + +"Well, I said my brother knew where we were, and they'd better be +careful. It didn't work. Then I pointed out that they didn't even dare +to kill us, because our bodies could be traced back to the houseboat. +Everyone knew we'd just gone for a swim, and everyone knew we could +take care of ourselves." + +Rick thought privately that any time Spindrift was in danger from then +on, he'd make sure his self-reliant sister had a bodyguard at all +times. + +"I said other things, too, but finally they slapped me and told me to +shut up." + +"Who did?" Scotty demanded. + +"One of the women. It doesn't matter, Scotty. It didn't hurt. Anyway, +they said we could stop worrying about what was going to happen to +them. Then one of the men asked if we knew what had happened to the +three scientists. We said yes. And he said ... he said ..." Barby +suddenly turned white. + +Jan finished for her. "He said they were going to erase our minds, +too. Then they were going to put us back in the water." The words +were no sooner out than Jan had a delayed reaction, too. + +Rick rushed the two of them into the cabin and made them sit down with +heads bent low. Scotty found water and gave them each a drink. + +"You've acted like a couple of champs," Rick told them. "But for the +love of mike, don't faint now!" + +Barby lifted her chin. "I have no intention of fainting," she said +defiantly. "It's just ... well, it's ..." + +"I know," Rick assured her. "Take it easy, Sis." + +He looked up. The sound of a racing speedboat was echoing inside the +cabin. Good. They'd be home in a few minutes and his mother could take +over. He gave the girls a comradely grin. What a pair! + +The machine on the table attracted his eye. He walked over and studied +it. The recording drum had wavy lines on it, probably the beginning of +Jan's brain pattern. It made no sense to him, but it would to Parnell +Winston. + +"They had you taped," he told the girl gently. "But you saved your own +bacon by telling Barby to turn on the radio. If you hadn't ..." + +A shudder ran through Jan's slim body. "I was taped for trouble. I'm +glad you came through the door when you did!" + +Rick's finger traced a line on the recording drum. + +"I'm kind of glad myself," he admitted. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +JANIG Closes In + + +Steve Ames walked around the objects on the laboratory table. "Nothing +deadly looking about these gadgets," he said. "Which goes to show how +misleading appearances can be." + +The objects included the barber's massage machine, an ancient +composition-board suitcase, the gadget from the houseboat, and a TV +set with an indoor antenna of the kind known as "rabbit ears." + +Parnell Winston admitted, "There is plenty we don't know about them, +especially the inside of that TV set. But we'll learn." + +Steve smiled at the assembly of faces. In addition to the project team +and the boys, Mrs. Brant, Mrs. Morrison, and the two girls were in the +group. So was Joe Blake. + +Rick regretted that Jerry, Duke, and Cap'n Mike could not be invited. +But the matter was still not for discussion with people on the +outside. If a story ever could be made public, the _Morning Record_ +would be the first to have it, but in all probability the facts would +remain buried for some time. + +In a large room in the lab basement the four houseboaters and the +barber waited under heavy guard for the arrival of a Coast Guard +cutter. The barber was there courtesy of Captain Douglas, who had +picked him up and delivered him to Spindrift after a call from Joe +Blake. + +Steve rapped for attention. "We're about to tie up some loose ends, +everyone. Let's get seated, because the cutter will be here any +moment." + +The room was sometimes used for lectures when Hartson Brant got his +entire staff together, and there were plenty of chairs. In a moment +the audience was seated comfortably and listening to Steve. + +"You were all involved," the agent began, "so I want you all to know +what has been going on. Some details are not known to us, yet. But +we're continuing the investigation. However, the part that involves +you is finished, and you'll probably never hear about the rest of it." + +Rick knew that was true. Who the houseboaters and the barber really +were, who paid them, how they had been tipped off to the project in +the first place, and similar details would remain locked in top-secret +files somewhere in Washington. + +"The key to the whole affair was uncovered in Washington yesterday. +Most of you know about the physical arrangements on the fourth floor. +In setting up the security system we checked all wiring, traced all +phone lines, and in general made sure the place was not 'bugged,' +which is the term we use for wire taps, hidden microphones, and so +on." + +Steve paused, and Rick thought his friend looked a little embarrassed. +"In spite of our care, it developed that we did have a hidden +microphone picking up all conversation and relaying it to the enemy +group. I can only say in our own defense that it was the kind of 'bug' +we couldn't have found without tearing the building apart." + +"It's nearly impossible to take all modern electronic developments +into account," Julius Weiss said. "We all know how thorough you are, +Steve. Go on." + +"Thank you, Julius. Directly above us, on the fifth floor, was the +Peerless Brokerage Company. It was a legitimate firm, doing a good +business. We had no reason to suspect it, even though we checked out +all firms both above and below us. Well, in checking on the +houseboaters, we discovered that the firm had recently been taken over +by a dummy corporation, and most of it was actually owned by the man +Rick called 'striped shirt.' He bought the stock right after the +project moved in on the fourth floor." + +"There was no change in the firm?" Dr. Morrison asked. "Nothing +suspicious?" + +"Nothing. The firm continued to operate as always. There was one +personnel change. A lawyer, representing the new principal +stockholder, took over one of the offices." + +Rick suspected that said lawyer was now in custody. + +"As soon as we discovered the connection, we made a check. Under the +floor in the lawyer's office we found a 'bug.' A hole had been drilled +into the floor structure until only a thin shell of plaster remained. +The plaster was, of course, our ceiling. So actually the microphone +was within a fraction of an inch of our room, but there was no way we +could detect it. That's how every move we made was anticipated, and +why the enemy moved to Whiteside on the same day that the project +moved to Spindrift." + +That explained a lot, Rick thought. "Did the barber tape the two +scientists?" he asked. + +"We think so. He's the boss of the enemy team, Rick. We've found that +during the period when he was in Washington, his massage machine was +wired through to a room in the basement. The wiring went through the +power cord into the electric outlet, and the impulses were actually +transmitted over the power system and taken out of a plug in the +basement. We found the machine where he had stored it." + +Rick knew that could be done quite simply. The frequencies of the +electric current and the brain patterns were so different that they +would not interfere with each other. + +"He didn't plan to use his machine in Whiteside," Steve went on, +"because he left the mind-reading part of the machine in Washington." + +"Then why did he bring it?" Barby asked. + +"We're not sure. The likeliest possibility is that he wanted to +continue using it as a massage machine, because he made a little money +with it. I never knew an espionage agent who didn't need money." + +Steve looked at Rick. "I'm a little surprised at one thing. Why didn't +the Spindrift twins suspect foul play when Hartson Brant ran over +something in the speedboat?" + +It was Rick's turn to be embarrassed. "I guess we were so upset we +didn't think straight. Why?" + +"The mainland team found a log. It had a yoke on it. Apparently the +houseboaters had taken a lesson from the incident on the pier and were +waiting for Spindrift traffic on the water. We think they waited until +they heard the sound of the Spindrift speedboat, then took the pram +and cut across the course hauling a log on a long rope." + +Scotty spoke up. "That's what puzzles me, Steve. Why the switch from +long-distance electronics to violence?" + +"When we moved the project to Spindrift, we also removed the chance of +taping project members in some natural setting like the barbershop. +They had hoped to knock out the team without anyone suspecting it was +enemy interference. That worked, at first. But moving the project +upset their plans. They rigged the train deal that caught Marks. But +even though it worked, it showed we were dealing with an enemy." + +"So they had to catch the scientists in order to tape them," Scotty +commented. + +"Right. Of course they tried to do it in a way that looked natural in +the case of Marks and Dr. Brant. Probably they hoped the attack on +Duke, whom they mistook for Morrison, would be taken as a holdup. They +undoubtedly planned to allow time between the accident, or attack, and +following through with the mind-reading machine, hoping that the two +wouldn't be connected." + +The pattern was clear, Rick thought. Like many such schemes, the +moment a suspicion of foul play developed, the plan began to +boomerang. + +"I think the order of events is clear enough," Steve concluded. "Any +questions?" + +Barby had one. "I don't understand about Dr. Marks. Did they turn on +the mind reader from the train?" + +"Probably. The man on the train apparently had a two-section gadget in +a suitcase. One part took the EEG and the other sent out the signal +that did the damage. He waited until the train was pulling out of the +station before turning on the record section. Then all he had to do +was get off at New York. We haven't found him, or his machine. But we +will. Any other questions?" + +"Why did the barber move to Whiteside, if he didn't intend to tape +anyone?" Weiss asked. + +"The barbershop in any small town is a good central location for +keeping track of goings-on in town. I think that's all he had in +mind--besides the fact that barbering was his trade. If Vince Lardner +hadn't needed an assistant, he probably would have moved into one of +the summer colonies, or gotten some other kind of job. We can't be +sure." + +Rick asked, "Are there any machines in existence besides these two and +the missing one from the train?" + +"We don't know. But it doesn't matter. The enemy now knows we're onto +the system and can't expect to get away with it again. Besides, Dr. +Winston says a countermeasure is easily arranged, to be used when we +suspect the mind readers might make another try." + +"Who are these people?" Jan demanded. + +Steve grinned. "Unfriendly agents. Seriously, Jan, we aren't sure +about their employers. It will take some backbreaking investigation to +get the whole story, because the files show nothing on any of them. +That means they were deep-cover agents, kept hidden until there was +something important enough to bring them out. We may never get the +whole story." + +"Won't they talk?" Scotty asked. + +"They haven't yet. They may. But, anyway, we'd have to check on their +stories. Any other questions? Okay, I'm finished. Dr. Winston will +take over at this point." + +The cyberneticist came to the front of the room. "We have something +here," he stated, "but we don't yet know what it is. And, curiously +enough, from the crude nature of the machines, I doubt that the enemy +knows, either. If we have to speculate--and I guess we do--we might +guess that sometime, in an enemy EEG laboratory, some experiment +resulted in a subject having his mind erased. It was probably an +accident that the enemy exploited without knowing how it worked." + +"Can't we even guess how it works?" Weiss asked. + +"Approximately, without knowing the physiology of it. The EEG +recording is simply fed into a gadget that modulates a carrier wave. +The carrier is an average frequency for brain patterns. In effect, the +thing simply transmits the man's own pattern back to him. Why that +should produce trauma of the kind we have seen is a mystery." The +scientist gestured to the TV receiver. "The transmitter is +incorporated into the TV chassis, and the 'rabbit ears' act as an +antenna when adjusted properly. The recorder is a simple EEG +mechanism." + +Winston smiled. "You may be sure we're not through with this +apparatus. I'm leaving the project immediately to set up a new team +with Chavez, for the investigation of this phenomena. It may be +another major key to the physiology of the brain." + +"Do you mean we know nothing more than you've told us?" Rick asked. + +"Nothing more, Rick. Oh, are you wondering about the barber's machine? +Actually, the massage gadgets acted as electrodes, and the massage oil +did very well in making good contact. It was a simple setup." + +There were no questions for Parnell Winston. Steve took over. "In a +short time we'll take the prisoners off your hands. Joe Blake and two +men will remain as guards, but I think we have nothing more to worry +about beyond routine security." + +"I just remembered," Rick interrupted. "How about the elevator +operator?" + +"We picked him up, but he didn't know a thing. The barber paid him in +free haircuts to keep track of people coming and going from the fourth +floor. That's all. He didn't know why." + +Joe Blake came in the door. "Motor whaleboat coming, Steve. Shall we +take the prisoners to the landing?" + +"Yes, Joe. Please." + +Barby looked at Steve speculatively. "How about the houseboat?" + +"Well, how about it? Haven't you seen enough of it?" + +Barby smiled. "It would be very nice, if it were only another color. +What will happen to it?" + +"A coastguardman will be after it tomorrow. It will be impounded for a +while. After that it may be sold for public auction, or it may revert +to the owner's estate. It depends on the court." + +Barby looked a little disappointed. "Oh, well, we don't really need a +houseboat, anyway." + +The group broke up as Joe and his partner walked the prisoners across +the island to the landing. In a short time the motor whaleboat was +speeding to the horizon where a cutter waited. + +Rick took a last look. That just about closed the case. The remaining +details probably would never be known to the Spindrift group. + +"Can't anything be done for Dr. Marks and the other scientists?" he +asked Parnell Winston. + +Winston shook his head. "No, Rick. We're afraid to tamper, for fear of +making things worse. But I neglected to tell you one very important +item. The first scientist stricken is becoming rational again, or at +least we hope so. Yesterday he asked for food. A short time later he +picked up a pencil and paper and began to work out an equation, one +connected with the project. Apparently the equation was the last thing +he had been working on when the mind reader struck. So we hope and +believe that nature is healing the damage. There is no evidence of +tissue destruction, so perhaps complete recovery is possible. It's a +question of waiting and watching." + +Within two weeks Rick had an opportunity to see for himself, because +the two scientists from Washington joined the Spindrift group. They +were fully recovered, with only vague memories of the period when +their minds were not functioning. And Dr. Marks was reported well on +the way to normalcy. + +The project was almost at an end, with only a few final checks needed +on the critical equations. The Morrisons had already set a day for +their departure--to Barby's great unhappiness. + +As Barby said at dinner one night, "I didn't realize how lonely it +gets sometimes without another girl on the island. Until Jan came, +that is. Now she's going, and I wish she weren't." + +"I'd love to stay," Jan said. "Really I would." + +Hartson Brant arrived in time to hear the last exchange. He had left +the table briefly to take a phone call. "I'm afraid it's going to be +pretty quiet on Spindrift," he agreed. "It looks as though we'll be +losing Rick and Scotty for a while!" + +Barby wailed, "Not again! Why can't they stay home for a while?" + +Rick and Scotty had looked up with quick interest at the scientist's +words. + +"We've been home for weeks," Rick replied. His eyes were on the slip +of paper in his father's hand. "Dad, what is it? Where are we going?" + +"Read it aloud," Hartson Brant suggested. He handed Rick the slip. + +Rick scanned it quickly. It was a telegram that his father had taken +over the phone. Rick's pulse quickened. Dr. Gordon, who had been at +work on a secret rocket project in the far west, had wired: + + ARRIVING TOMORROW. NEED RICK AND SCOTTY FOR SPECIAL WORK. + URGE THEY BE READY TO DEPART IN THREE DAYS EQUIPPED FOR + EXTENDED STAY AT DESERT BASE. + +Rick's eyes met Scotty's as he finished reading. "Desert base," he +repeated. + +Scotty grinned his delight. "John Gordon's rocket base is in the +desert. He must want us there." + +"But why?" Barby demanded. "You're not rocket experts. Why, even when +we had the moon rocket here, you didn't work on the rocket itself." + +That was perfectly true. Rick shrugged. "You know as much as we do, +Sis." + +Hartson Brant stirred his coffee thoughtfully. "I have a hunch," he +said. "From the tone of the wire, I suspect John is in some kind of +difficulty. Surely he doesn't want you as technicians, but it's not +beyond the bounds of possibility that he needs a little detective work +done." + +It made sense to Rick. But what kind of detective work could he and +Scotty do at a highly guarded and secret government base? He fought +down the impulse to run up to his room and start packing. Gordon had +said in three days. There was plenty of time. Except that Rick knew +he'd be dizzy with wondering until John Gordon gave them more +information. + +The Morrisons rose to the occasion beautifully. "We wouldn't want +Barby to be without any companions of her own age here," Mrs. Morrison +said quickly. "If it's all right, I'm sure we can let Jan remain until +the boys return." + +The girls beamed without saying a word, then they broke into excited +chatter. Rick and Scotty retired to the front porch and grinned at +each other. + +"If Dad is right, this is going to be plenty of fun," Scotty said +happily. "I've always wanted to get close to the big rockets." + +"We'll find out," Rick said. "And if John Gordon has a mystery, we're +the pair who can solve it for him." + +Later, Rick's words returned to him under the most unusual and +terrifying circumstances of his entire life. The story of the project +that led to Rick's greatest adventure will be told in the next Rick +Brant Science-Adventure mystery. + + * * * * * + + +_The_ RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE _Stories_ + +BY JOHN BLAINE + + +THE ROCKET'S SHADOW + +THE LOST CITY + +SEA GOLD + +100 FATHOMS UNDER + +THE WHISPERING BOX MYSTERY + +THE PHANTOM SHARK + +SMUGGLERS' REEF + +THE CAVES OF FEAR + +STAIRWAY TO DANGER + +THE GOLDEN SKULL + +THE WAILING OCTOPUS + +THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Electronic Mind Reader, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER *** + +***** This file should be named 28813-8.txt or 28813-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/8/1/28813/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Electronic Mind Reader + +Author: John Blaine + +Release Date: May 14, 2009 [EBook #28813] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_01.jpg" width="500" height="707" alt="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image_02.jpg" width="600" height="460" alt="Map of Spindrift Island" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. </p></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_03.jpg" width="500" height="772" alt="Horrified with fear, the men threw themselves to the +deck" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + +<h4>A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY</h4> +<p> </p> +<h1>THE<br /> + +ELECTRONIC<br /> + +MIND READER</h1> +<p> </p> + +<h2>BY JOHN BLAINE</h2> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 125px;"> +<img src="images/seal.jpg" width="125" height="117" alt="Seal" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS</h3> +<h3>NEW YORK, N. Y.</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h4>© BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1957</h4> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr><td class="tocch f1">CHAPTER</td> + <td></td> + <td></td><td class="tocpg f1">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">The Million-Dollar Gimmick</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">The Invasion of Spindrift</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_10">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">III</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">A System Within a System</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IV</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">A Haircut and a Wink</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">V</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_V">JANIG <span class="smcap">Runs a Security Check</span></a></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VI</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">A Calm Precedes a Storm</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VII</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">The Peripatetic Barber</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VIII</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">The Mind Reader Strikes</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IX</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Dagger of the Mind</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">X</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Search for Strangers</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XI</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">The Dangerous Resemblance</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XII</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">The Coast Guard Draws a Blank</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIII</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">The Megabuck Mob Acts</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIV</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Surveillance—with Cereal</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XV</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">A Matter of Brain Waves</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVI</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">The Vanishing Mermaids</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVII</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Pointer to Disaster</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVIII</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">The One-Man Boarding Party</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIX</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">Taped for Trouble</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XX</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">JANIG <span class="smcap">Closes In</span></a></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h2>The Million-Dollar Gimmick</h2> + + +<p>Rick Brant stretched luxuriously and slid down to a half-reclining, +half-sitting position in his dad's favorite library armchair. He +called, "Barby! Hurry up!"</p> + +<p>Don Scott looked up from his adjustment of the television picture. +"What's the rush? The show hasn't started yet."</p> + +<p>Rick explained, "She likes the commercials."</p> + +<p>A moment later Barbara Brant appeared in the doorway, hastily +finishing a doughnut. Rick cocked an eyebrow at her. "If you're going +to eat, you might at least bring a plateful, so we can have some, +too."</p> + +<p>Barby gulped. "Sorry. I didn't intend to have a doughnut. I went to +the kitchen to see if Mom and Dad wanted to watch the show, and they +were having doughnuts and milk."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," Scotty said. "We forgive you. We'll get ours later. Are +Mom and Dad coming?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Maybe later. Now be quiet, please, so I can hear the commercial."</p> + +<p>Dismal, the Brant pup, wandered in and paused at Rick's chair to have +his ears scratched before taking up his favorite position, under the +TV table. Rick obliged and the shaggy pup groaned with pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Why all the interest in a breakfast-food commercial?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"The announcer is cute," Barby stated.</p> + +<p>This made no sense to Scotty. He stretched out on the rug in front of +the set, then rolled over on his back and looked up at the girl. "I +don't get it. Then why do you eat Crummies for breakfast instead of +the hay this guy sells?"</p> + +<p>"The Crummies announcer is cuter," Barby explained patiently.</p> + +<p>The boys grinned and fell silent as the cereal salesman went into his +spiel. Barby perched on the edge of a chair and listened attentively.</p> + +<p>Rick watched his sister's expressive face, chuckling to himself. Barby +always listened to the commercials. It was only fair, she insisted, +and the boys went along with her wishes. Come right down to it, Rick +thought, listening to commercials was the price that had to be paid +for entertainment. Not listening meant not paying the price. He didn't +think that the point was particularly important, but there was a small +element of justice in Barby's view.</p> + +<p>Their Sunday evenings on Spindrift, the private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> island off the New +Jersey coast, usually ended with this particular program. The members +of the Spindrift staff were not TV enthusiasts at best, and they cared +little about the program. Mr. and Mrs. Brant sometimes watched, more +for the sake of being companionable than for the sake of the program. +But usually the three young people watched alone.</p> + +<p>The program was a typical quiz. Contestants who were expert on a +particular category returned week after week on their build-up to a +grand prize, which was a quarter of a million dollars. This quiz, +however, had elements that the younger Brants liked. In the first +place, the contestants were ordinary people. The producer didn't seem +to go in for odd characters as other programs did.</p> + +<p>For the past few weeks the hero-contestant had been an +eighteen-year-old coal miner from Pennsylvania. There was nothing +unusual about him, except for one thing: he had become interested in +the mining of precious stones, and from there he had studied their +history. He was an expert on historical gems.</p> + +<p>Now, as the master of ceremonies greeted the miner, Barby said with +admiration, "He has a wonderful personality. And imagine him knowing +so much about gems!"</p> + +<p>Rick draped a leg over the chair arm. "See, Scotty? The perfect +reaction."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Barby demanded indignantly. "He absolutely does +have a wonderful per<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>sonality, and I think it's amazing that a coal +miner should know so much about gems."</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned up at her. "Rick means people can't get on quiz shows +unless they have good TV personalities. And how much appeal would the +show have if a gem expert answered questions on gems?"</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean," Barby agreed.</p> + +<p>"That's it," Rick nodded. "Anyway, I agree that the miner has a swell +personality, and he certainly knows his gems."</p> + +<p>The three fell quiet as the quiz began. The questions were really +tough, filled with the kind of detail no one could be expected to +remember, but which good contestants always did. Then, at a crucial +moment, the miner hesitated over identification of a date in the long +and bloody history of the Koh-i-noor diamond.</p> + +<p>"If only we could help him," Barby wailed.</p> + +<p>"We don't know, either," Scotty reminded.</p> + +<p>But Rick suddenly realized that they did know—or, at least, had the +answer available. He was certain it could be found in one of his +father's books, if not in the encyclopedia. But even if they had time +to look it up, which they didn't, the contestant couldn't hear them in +a soundproof booth. Or could they get a message to him if they were +part of the studio audience? Or was there some other way? It was +typical of Rick, when faced with an apparently insoluble problem, to +look for an answer.</p> + +<p>The miner finally remembered, and the three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> breathed a mutual sigh of +relief. But the ordeal was not yet over, because the questioning had +several parts. Next came a quiz on the Star of Africa.</p> + +<p>The questions asked, the camera began switching from the contestant's +face to the tense faces in the audience. A woman, probably the miner's +mother ... a man with a beard ... a man with a hearing aid ...</p> + +<p>Rick suddenly sat up straight. He had it! He knew how the information +could be handed to the contestant! At least he knew in theory. He sat +back and started to work out the details.</p> + +<p>The miner made it. Limp and happy, he came out of the booth, shook +hands with the MC, and staggered off with an armload of books +containing answers to next week's series of questions. The announcer +went into the final commercial, with Barby and Scotty listening +attentively. Rick didn't listen. He had a wonderful idea on which he +was putting the finishing touches.</p> + +<p>As programs shifted, Scotty reached up and turned off the set. Dismal +left his place under the table and trotted off to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Me for a doughnut," Scotty announced.</p> + +<p>Barby was still spellbound by the miner's success. "It's just +fantastic, utterly, how much he knows." She shook her smooth blond +head. "I wish I knew that much about something."</p> + +<p>"Want to win a million?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Who doesn't?" Barby returned dreamily. Sud<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>denly she stared. "You +have a Look on your face," she stated. "Rick Brant, you're cooking up +something!"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "I can win the quiz," he said casually. "It's easy. Let +me know if either of you want to win. Of course you might end up in +jail if you're not real careful, but I think it'll work."</p> + +<p>Scotty looked his disbelief. "Easy, huh? What are you expert on?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," Rick said airily. "And anything. Of course we all know +you're an expert on eating, but that's not a category, it's a +capacity."</p> + +<p>Barby gave what might be described as a lady-like sneer.</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. "It's terrible the way people in this house have +no faith in genius. Just terrible." He sighed heavily.</p> + +<p>Scotty watched him suspiciously. "All right, Doctor Brant. Give with +the great idea."</p> + +<p>"Okay." Rick waved at the encircling shelves of books. "Pick a +subject. Any subject, so long as it is contained in a very few +references. Like the life of the bee, or the Adventures of Sherlock +Holmes, or the Life of Dickens."</p> + +<p>Barby said obligingly, "All right. I pick Ben Franklin. Now what?"</p> + +<p>"We get the major books on old Ben, plus the copy of the encyclopedia +we need. Then we set up an index, and we put principal categories of +information on file cards. For Ben, we'd need the Sayings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> of Poor +Richard, and the dates they appeared, and where. And we'd need a list +of his inventions, plus dates. And so on. Generally, we fix things so +we can find any answer in a few seconds."</p> + +<p>Barby shook her head. "That would be awfully hard. It would take +weeks, and whoever operated the file would have to know it nearly by +heart."</p> + +<p>Rick agreed. "But isn't a million bucks worth a few weeks of effort?"</p> + +<p>Rick's famous father, Hartson Brant, walked into the library in time +to hear the last comment. His eyebrows went up. "What's all this +megabuck talk?"</p> + +<p>That was a new word to Barby. "What talk?"</p> + +<p>"In the metric system, 'meg' means million. So a megabuck is a million +bucks, if you'll pardon the slang."</p> + +<p>"Oh—well Rick is going to win a megabuck."</p> + +<p>Rick explained rapidly about choosing a subject that could be +cross-indexed for ease of reference, then went on. "After we get the +subject all set, we choose the contestant. It has to be a real person. +We'd need several contestants, because the gimmick could be worked on +every big money quiz. Maybe more than once on each. Of course the +contestants would have to be members of the Megabuck Mob, as we'll +call it."</p> + +<p>"I like that," Barby said enthusiastically. "That would make me a +Megabuck Moll, wouldn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yep," Scotty agreed. "And Rick can be the Megabuck Mole."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And you can be the Megabuck Moose, you big ox," Rick finished. He was +warming up to his subject now. There had to be a hole in it somewhere, +but he hadn't found it yet. "Anyway, we have Ben Franklin on file +cards and Barby has studied carefully to be the first contestant. Then +what?"</p> + +<p>"Someone asks who Ben Franklin was, and I say that he started a chain +of department stores," Barby said helpfully.</p> + +<p>"Not you," Rick denied. "You know all the right answers. And why? +Because the Megabuck Mob is behind you. The Megabuck Moose is going +through the cards, and the Megabuck Mole is feeding the answers into +the Megabuck Memory Machine, and the Megabuck Moll in maidenly modesty +mumbles madly—"</p> + +<p>"Help him," Scotty interrupted. "His lips are stuck together. He can't +say anything but mmmmm."</p> + +<p>But Barby was interested now. "And how does the Memory Machine madly +machinate and murmur the answers?"</p> + +<p>"Mmm," Rick murmured. "That is the secret!"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant threatened his son with a handy volume of the Physics +Handbook. "Out with it, young man. This is no time to keep secrets, +now that we're all partners in the deal."</p> + +<p>Rick sighed. He waved at Barby. "Look at her. So young, so smart, so +pretty. But the poor girl has a very slight handicap. She has to wear +a hearing aid...."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<p>Scotty got it then. "Hey! Rick, that's great! The hearing aid would be +a radio receiver!"</p> + +<p>Barby got it, too. She finished in a rush, "And the Megabuck Mob would +be watching on TV, and digging out the answers, and the Memory Machine +would be a radio transmitter ..."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't matter about the soundproof booth," Scotty chimed in, +"because radio will go right through the walls!"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant held both hands to his head in mock horror. "To think +that my only son should turn out to be a halfway criminal genius!"</p> + +<p>Rick glanced up at his father suspiciously. "Halfway?" He knew from +the word that the scientist had immediately spotted some reason why +his gimmick wouldn't work.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, son." Hartson Brant put a hand on Rick's shoulder. "The +Megabuck Moll can bake you a cake with a file in it, so you can break +out of jail. I'm sure you won't mind being a fugitive from justice."</p> + +<p>A harsh growl from the doorway caused them all to whirl around, +startled. "He'll never get a chance. The Megabuck Mob is pinched as of +right now. The federal government is taking over this island!"</p> + +<p>Crouched in the doorway, submachine gun cradled in his arms, was an +officer of the United States Coast Guard!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h2>The Invasion of Spindrift</h2> + + +<p>Hartson Brant reacted first. He said severely, "I've tried to teach +Rick that one never points a firearm at people. You're setting him a +bad example." Then the scientist smiled and held out his hand. "This +is an unexpected pleasure, Steve. Why didn't you let us know you were +coming? And why the disguise?"</p> + +<p>Steve Ames, a chief agent of JANIG, the Joint Army-Navy Intelligence +Group with which Spindrift had so often worked, straightened up and +grinned. He winked at the astonished young people. "Hi, gang."</p> + +<p>The trio chorused, "Hi, Steve."</p> + +<p>Steve shook hands with Hartson Brant, then explained, "I'm not really +setting a bad example. If you'll look closely, you'll see that the +bolt of this chopper is open, the safety is on, and there isn't a +round in the chamber."</p> + +<p>"But why carry it at all?" Barby demanded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick closed his mouth. He had been about to ask the same thing. He +felt a tingle of excitement. When Steve Ames showed up on Spindrift, +adventure wasn't far off. The federal agent came to Spindrift only for +help, and then only when his usual sources had failed.</p> + +<p>The first time, in the case of <i>The Whispering Box Mystery</i>, the +Spindrifters had worked with Steve in Washington. Recently, quite by +accident, the boys had become involved in a JANIG case while +vacationing in the Virgin Islands. As the case of <i>The Wailing +Octopus</i> came to an end, Steve had warned them that he might see them +soon. And now here he was.</p> + +<p>"The reason for the chopper is a long story," Steve answered Barby. +"But the reason for the uniform is simple. It's mine."</p> + +<p>Then Steve, who had never before appeared as anything but a civilian, +was actually a full Commander in the Coast Guard! Rick marveled at how +little they really knew about their friend. He certainly excelled at +keeping his mouth shut. Probably he was a reserve officer.</p> + +<p>"I think you look handsome in it," Barby said dreamily. The boys had +kidded her before about getting all misty-eyed when Steve showed up. +Actually, Steve was a very handsome young man, so Barby's mild crush +was understandable.</p> + +<p>"That makes it worth wearing," Steve said gallantly. Barby beamed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Hartson Brant detached a key from his chain and handed it to Steve +with a flourish. "You said you were taking over the island, I believe? +You'll need the house key."</p> + +<p>Rick smiled. That was his father's way of leading the conversation +back to Steve's reason for coming, without taking the edge off their +delight at the unexpected reunion. But Steve was not to be pushed into +business talk so easily. He looked at Rick.</p> + +<p>"You and your schemes! I think I'll poke it full of holes just to show +you that crime doesn't pay."</p> + +<p>Scotty asked curiously, "How much did you hear?"</p> + +<p>"The whole plan. I've been casing the joint, as we say. Okay, Rick. +You must have considered that a rash of winners wearing hearing aids +would attract attention and comment. How are you going to prevent it?"</p> + +<p>Rick answered automatically, his mind not really on his Great Idea any +more. So Steve had been "casing" the island! He replied, "Not all the +hearing aids would be visible. For instance, I could make a receiver +for Barby that would be an ornamental plastic band to wear the way +girls wear barrettes, or whatever they call them. Or, I could fit a +receiver into a special pair of glasses. There's one type of hearing +aid that's built into glasses, you know."</p> + +<p>"I do know," Steve agreed. "All right. I'll try again. Each contestant +that looks good to the program people gets a thorough quizzing on the +chosen subject before being accepted. That's to find out if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> they're +really experts. How are you going to handle it?"</p> + +<p>Rick hadn't known about that. He pondered for a moment. "That means +we'd have to prepare a hidden transmitter, too, so we could help out +during the examination. It could be done. The contestants could wear +the gadget strapped to their legs, under their skirts or trousers."</p> + +<p>Steve was enjoying Rick's ready responses. His eyes twinkled. "You'd +have to use very limited range on your Megabuck Mob transmitter, and a +very high frequency. Otherwise, the Federal Communications Commission +would pick you up, use a direction finder, and move in on your +operation. They might locate you, anyway, even on low power and +ultra-high frequency. How are you going to lick that?"</p> + +<p>Rick held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not. I can't take a chance +of getting the federal government into the act. Gosh, I'd have the +FCC, the FBI, and maybe a dozen others on my trail. I quit. The +Megabuck Mob is hereby dissolved."</p> + +<p>Steve looked disappointed. "And I was hoping your plan was foolproof. +I was about to buy stock in the Mob." The amusement in his eyes belied +the words.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant laughed. "I'm glad you're the one that stuck a pin in +his bubble, Steve. The way Barby bakes cakes, I'm not sure Rick could +ever break one to get the file out."</p> + +<p>Steve chuckled. "The records are full of fool<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>proof get-rich-quick +schemes like this one. And the jails are full of halfway criminal +geniuses, too. But don't overlook the advantages of an eat-proof cake. +It might come in handy to throw at the guards during the getaway."</p> + +<p>The young people laughed, too, then Barby sobered suddenly. "Rick, +could you really put one of those things in my hair?"</p> + +<p>He had an image of the gadget in his mind, and he knew it would work. +"Sure, Sis. Why?"</p> + +<p>"An idea I want to talk to you about later." She turned to Steve and +asked anxiously, "You do know Rick was only fooling, don't you, Steve? +He wouldn't steal anything from anyone, honestly."</p> + +<p>Steve nodded. "I do, Barby. I won't throw him in jail this time. I +might need him."</p> + +<p>"Is that what you're here for?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I need you all," Steve said. He motioned to chairs. "Let's sit down. +Can Mrs. Brant join us?"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant went to get her while the young people started to deluge +Steve with questions. He held up a hand in protest. "Wait until the +whole family's here, please."</p> + +<p>In a moment Mrs. Brant had joined them and greeted Steve cordially. +Then the young agent got serious.</p> + +<p>"I was only partly joking when I said I wanted to take over Spindrift. +I really do, in a way. Here's why. We've had a team of scientists +working on a project that's of the greatest importance to national +defense.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> There were four in the team, all topnotchers. Hartson, I'm +sure you'll know some, if not all of them, by reputation."</p> + +<p>Steve removed the ammunition clip from his submachine gun and sighted +through the barrel, then let the bolt ram home with a sharp click. "It +was my job to guard the project. As you know, I had to go to the +Virgin Islands, but I left one of my best men in charge, and he did +his job thoroughly. I'm satisfied about that. No unknown person has +been near the project office. And no unknowns have been in close +contact with any of the team. Yet, two of them are in the hospital."</p> + +<p>"Sick or wounded?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Neither, really. We don't know what's wrong. Their minds suddenly +ceased to function."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant leaned forward. "You mean they're unconscious?"</p> + +<p>Steve shook his head. "Not in the usual sense. It's as though all +their thoughts and memories had suddenly been scrambled. Did you ever +see a teletype machine in operation, particularly one that suddenly +went haywire?"</p> + +<p>Rick had. "The news machine did that over at the Whiteside <i>Morning +Record</i>. It was typing out clear copy, then suddenly there wasn't +anything but gibberish."</p> + +<p>"That's it," Steve agreed. "And it's the best analogy I can think of +for what happened to the two scientists. When a teletype goes haywire, +one moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> everything is clear and perfect, the next everything is +scrambled. All the letters are there but they no longer make words. +The scientists talk words—common, everyday words—but the words don't +make thoughts or sentences. Just sounds."</p> + +<p>"How awful," Mrs. Brant murmured. Barby looked horrified.</p> + +<p>Rick searched his memory for anything similar he had ever read about +or heard of, but there was nothing. From the expressions on their +faces, his father and Scotty were equally puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Well, even though I have absolutely no evidence of foul play, I +decided not to take chances," Steve went on. "I got one of the +scientists to go along with my plan. He shares my concern, simply on +the basis that no known disease would affect human beings in this way, +and two scientists of the same team being stricken with an unknown +ailment is too much coincidence."</p> + +<p>"He's wise," Hartson Brant agreed.</p> + +<p>"He also has a family. The other scientist does not. He's a crusty old +bachelor who thinks the whole thing is nonsense and insists on staying +right where he is."</p> + +<p>"How do we fit in?" Scotty asked. "You said you needed all of us."</p> + +<p>"That's right. I want to relocate the project at Spindrift."</p> + +<p>"Using the co-operative scientist as the basis for a new staff?" Rick +inquired.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes. We went through some of the most complicated maneuvers you ever +saw to got him out of Washington with his family. I'm certain his +movements cannot be traced. So his presence here will be a complete +secret. But it isn't just the scientist. I'm also asking you to take +in his family, consisting of his wife and daughter."</p> + +<p>"Of course we will," Mrs. Brant said warmly.</p> + +<p>Steve turned to Barby. "I think you'll enjoy it, because the girl is +just your age, and she's a very friendly and pleasant young lady."</p> + +<p>Barby looked pleased and excited. "What's her name?"</p> + +<p>"Janice. Janice Miller."</p> + +<p>"Is the scientist Dr. Walter Miller by any chance?" Hartson Brant +asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Exactly right. Do you know him?"</p> + +<p>"Not personally. We've never met, but a few years ago we carried on a +very extensive correspondence on the subject of energy levels in +nuclear isomers."</p> + +<p>Steve grinned. "I won't pretend to know what you're talking about. But +I'm glad you'll have something in common. Will you and your staff join +him to make up a new project team?"</p> + +<p>"I think we can," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "Some of us can put +aside what we're doing. I'll have to know a little more about the +project, of course."</p> + +<p>The federal agent nodded. "Dr. Miller can give you the details +personally."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick expressed a thought that had been on his mind. "We're sort of +isolated here, but we're certainly not cut off from the world. Our +friends visit us, and we go to the mainland almost every day. How do +we explain who these people are? I'm sure you don't want their names +to get out."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a cover story. Their name is Morrison. You met them +through Dr. Ernst while you were in the Virgin Islands. They were very +hospitable, and you're simply returning their hospitality. They know +the Islands well from vacations spent there, so no one will trip them +up on details."</p> + +<p>"How about details of our trip?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"They've been briefed thoroughly, by me. You can check them and fill +in any missing details."</p> + +<p>Barby giggled. "I'm glad that you didn't have any doubts about our +taking them in, Steve."</p> + +<p>"Steve knows we're available any time he needs us, and for anything we +can give," Rick said.</p> + +<p>Steve smiled his thanks. "Well, now you can guess why I showed up with +a hunk of artillery under my wing. I had to be sure there wasn't a +reception party waiting. You never can tell about information leaks, +no matter how careful you are, so I landed at the back end of the +island with a squad of men and we went over the place with a +fine-tooth comb. I didn't walk in until I was certain there wasn't a +stranger on the island—including strangers you might not have known +about."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>Hartson Brant rose. "Well, I think we've settled all initial details +except where we put the Millers—or rather, the Morrisons. Can you +bring them tomorrow?"</p> + +<p>Steve rose, too. "As Rick and Barby said, I didn't have any doubts. +How about tonight?"</p> + +<p>"Tonight!" Barby gasped. "Are they here?"</p> + +<p>"Almost. They're on a cutter offshore. If it isn't convenient, I can +keep them overnight."</p> + +<p>"Of course it's convenient," Mrs. Brant said firmly. "We'll put Mr. +and Mrs. Morrison in John Gordon's room. He's still out West. And +we'll take the spare twin bed out of Hobart Zircon's room and put +Janice in with Barby. Bring them ashore right away, Steve. Barby and I +will get busy, and Rick and Scotty can move the spare bed."</p> + +<p>"Wonderful." Steve walked out to the porch and coughed twice. Rick +hurried to his side just in time to see one of the trees in the +orchard yield up a dark shadow that turned out to be a Coast Guard +petty officer, carbine at the ready and a walkie-talkie slung over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Let me have your horn, Smitty," Steve requested.</p> + +<p>The coastguardman gave Rick a curious look as he handed Steve the +phone.</p> + +<p>The agent said, "Nevada, this is Texas. Deliver the goods."</p> + +<p>The reply was, "Texas, this is Nevada. The package is in the mail."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>Steve handed the phone back to the coastguardman and ordered, "Get the +boys together and return to the ship, Smitty. Repeat their +instructions. They don't know where they've been, and they don't know +what they've been doing."</p> + +<p>Smitty grinned. "Aye-aye, sir. That won't be hard. None of us really +know where we've been or what we've been doing."</p> + +<p>"Life is easier that way," Steve said. "Shove off, now."</p> + +<p>"Aye-aye, sir." The guardsman faded off into the night.</p> + +<p>"Let's move furniture," Steve suggested.</p> + +<p>For the next few moments the house was a flurry of activity. Rick and +Scotty dismantled the twin bed in Zircon's room, explaining only to +the big scientist that unexpected company had arrived. Zircon, +engrossed in a theoretical problem, scarcely noticed.</p> + +<p>By the time Mrs. Brant was satisfied with arrangements and had counted +the towels for the third time, Steve called from downstairs that the +boat was arriving.</p> + +<p>Rick, Scotty, and Barby ran to Steve's side and walked with him toward +the landing where the Spindrift boats were moored. Dismal had paid +little attention to the proceedings, but now, fearful of being left +behind, the pup raced ahead of the group.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_04.jpg" width="500" height="752" alt="The coastguardman gave Rick a curious look" /></div> + +<p>The boat carrying the Morrisons—for so Rick was already conditioning +himself to think of them—was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>approaching the dock. As the group +hurried to meet the unexpected guests, two coastguardmen leaped from +the big motor whaleboat and made it fast.</p> + +<p>Dismal got there first. He barked furiously, trying to frighten off +the invaders, then his barks suddenly changed to an anguished howl as +a new voice joined in the racket. It was a feline voice, and a highly +indignant one.</p> + +<p>"Great grandma's ghost!" Steve exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you they +have a cat!"</p> + +<p>Dismal shot by them, followed by an enormous creature with glowing +eyes that yowled at the top of its lungs, in what was probably very +coarse language to anyone who spoke cat talk. Dismal had at last met +his match, and was beating an inglorious retreat.</p> + +<p>Just as Rick was about to take up the chase and rescue his pup, the +cat decided to break off the engagement. The ruffled fur subsided +slightly as the animal turned from the chase and approached the four +who had been hurrying to the pier. In the beam of Steve's flashlight +Rick saw that the cat was a huge blue Persian, and though he knew +little about cats, he recognized that this was an aristocrat of its +kind.</p> + +<p>The Persian gave a meow of greeting, then walked up and rubbed against +Barby's legs. It gave out a noise that reminded Rick of a wood rasp +rubbing over a piece of broken pine. The cat was purring!</p> + +<p>Barby had stamped her foot angrily at the sight of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> Dismal being +forced to retreat to the house, but the cat was too much for her. "You +beautiful thing!" she exclaimed, and picked the creature up. It +responded by purring louder.</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. On the pet level, at least, the Morrison invasion was +off to a fast start. He hoped the incident wasn't symbolic.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h2>A System Within a System</h2> + + +<p>When Rick came down to breakfast the next morning, the day was already +hours old for his father, Steve Ames, Julius Weiss, Parnell Winston, +and Dr. Walter Miller alias Morrison. The scientists had been closeted +in the library with Steve since dawn, their talks interrupted only by +Mrs. Brant serving coffee to the group. Steve, too, had remained +overnight.</p> + +<p>Barby and Scotty were around the island somewhere with Janice. Mrs. +Brant and Mrs. Morrison were in the kitchen, getting acquainted and +finding that they had friends in common.</p> + +<p>It wasn't that Rick had slept late; he was on time. Everyone else had +gotten up early. Rick told himself that he was the only calm member of +the family, but underneath he was a little chagrined. If he had arisen +earlier, he might have been able to take part in the talks now going +on in the library.</p> + +<p>The Morrisons had been so tired from the strain of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> getting out of +Washington undetected, and from the trip in the confined quarters of +the Coast Guard cutter that they had gone to bed almost immediately.</p> + +<p>Dr. Morrison turned out to be a tall man with a kind, tired face, +steel-rimmed glasses, and a shock of curly white hair. Mrs. Morrison +was a pleasant, stylish woman whose reaction was a mixture of pure +pleasure at finding herself in the comfortable Brant home and +embarrassment at the circumstances that had forced her to impose +herself on strangers. Rick had liked both the Morrisons immediately.</p> + +<p>His reaction to Janice was favorable, too. He admitted that she was a +remarkably pretty girl, as dark as Barby was fair, and of about the +same height and slimness. She hadn't said a great deal, and he decided +at once that she was shy. Barby had taken to her immediately, and she +to Barby. The last thing Rick had heard before falling asleep was the +two of them talking and giggling in the room down the hall.</p> + +<p>He walked into the dining room, hoping he wasn't too late for +breakfast, and stopped short, stifling a laugh at the sight that met +his eyes.</p> + +<p>The Morrisons' cat, whose name was Shah, was crouched on one of the +dining-room chairs. Dismal was sniffing around beneath the chair, +obviously looking for the cat. As Rick watched, Dismal gave up the +search and walked from under the chair. Instantly he was batted on the +nose from above by a paw that moved with supersonic speed. Rick +laughed as Dismal gave a cry of pure frustration and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> headed for the +kitchen at a trot. The cat had been playing, since the blow was struck +with claws sheathed. If Shah had wanted to hurt the pup, raking claws +could have torn deep furrows.</p> + +<p>Rick stroked the silky fur and Shah purred hoarsely. He hadn't had +much experience with cats, but he liked this one. The Persian had a +sense of humor. Rick went into the kitchen and consoled Dismal, after +bidding good morning to his mother and Mrs. Morrison. The pup rolled +over on his back and played dead, his only trick. The boy scratched +Dismal's stomach until the pup's hind leg flailed in delighted +ecstasy.</p> + +<p>"Am I too late for breakfast?" Rick asked his mother.</p> + +<p>"Of course not. We'll be ready in ten minutes."</p> + +<p>Rick wandered out to the screened front porch that was the Brants' +summer living room. The ocean was calm this morning. He searched the +horizon for some sign of the Coast Guard cutter. There was none, which +didn't surprise him. Steve was too old a hand to attract attention to +Spindrift by having a government craft waiting offshore.</p> + +<p>Barby, Jan, and Scotty were walking from the long, low gray laboratory +building on the southeast corner of the island, past the place where +the Sky Wagon, his plane, usually was staked down. His landing strip +ran along the seaward edge of the island, from the lab building to the +front of the house. However, the plane still carried the pontoons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +with which it had been fitted for the Virgin Islands trip, and for the +time being, it was drawn ashore at Pirate's Field.</p> + +<p>Presently the trio joined him on the porch. Jan smiled and said good +morning in her soft voice. Scotty said, "I thought you were going to +sleep all day."</p> + +<p>Barby came to Rick's defense. "He was tired. After all, it's hard work +to get wonderful ideas like the one he had last night."</p> + +<p>Apparently Barby had told Jan all about it, because the girl asked, +"Can I be a member of the Megabuck Mob?" There seemed to be just a +touch of wistfulness about the way she added, "You always seem to be +having adventures of one sort or another at Spindrift."</p> + +<p>Rick answered, "Please don't believe everything Barby tells you. She +exaggerates, sort of."</p> + +<p>"I do not," Barby answered emphatically. "We do have adventures. +Besides, Jan already knew about some of them, because she read about +Spindrift in the papers. And she's already a member of the Mob, +because I invited her!"</p> + +<p>Rick interpreted Barby's glare correctly. It said that if he wasn't +gracious and nice to their new guest, he would have his sister to +reckon with, and, as he knew full well, she was no mean adversary.</p> + +<p>"Fine," he said. "Welcome to the Mob, Miss Morrison. We'll assign you +the subject of economic history."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Jan, please," she answered, then smiled shyly. "But couldn't I have +another subject? I'm just not the type to know much about economics, I +guess."</p> + +<p>"That's just the point," Scotty explained.</p> + +<p>Barby had a serious look on her pert face. "Of course Rick's idea +about stealing a million from quiz shows was just a joke. But, Rick, +you gave me an idea—if you'll co-operate."</p> + +<p>"It depends on the idea," Rick answered warily.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be so cautious. I'm not trying to trap you into taking me +on any trips." Barby referred to the promise she had once wangled out +of her brother that she could go on the next expedition, a promise +that had gotten the Spindrift young people entangled in a hazardous +adventure in the far-off South Seas.</p> + +<p>Rick perched on the arm of a sofa. "Okay. Let's have it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I was thinking about the Harvest Moon Show at school." She +explained, in an aside to Jan, "Every October the high school puts on +a big variety show in the city auditorium to raise money for the +school athletic fund. Rick said he could make me a radio receiver that +I could wear in my hair."</p> + +<p>"He can," Scotty interjected. "Remember the control radios we made for +the Tractosaur? He could make one for you the same way."</p> + +<p>The Tractosaur was a "thinking bulldozer" the Spindrift scientists had +designed.</p> + +<p>Barby continued, "I know you can make a small<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> transmitter that will +fit in your pocket, because that's all the Tractosaur control was, +really. Well, if I wore a receiver that no one could see, and if you +carried a transmitter that no one could see, we could put on the most +wonderful mind-reading act in history!"</p> + +<p>Rick's quick imagination elaborated on Barby's words. It was a great +idea! He could work among the audience, while Barby sat blindfolded on +the stage. He would choose a person in the audience and ask for +something from wallet or purse, and whisper: "Please let me have your +driver's license. Thank you. Mr. Charles Rogers, is it?... Where is +3218 Newark Drive?... Oh, over by the airfield. Well, Mr. Rogers, let +me see if I can transmit all this information telepathically to my +sister." Then he would hold up the driver's license and say loudly, +"What have I here?" And Barby, who had heard every whispered word, +would answer. He would coax the information out of her, and the +audience would be baffled.</p> + +<p>"Sensational," he complimented her. "We'll do it."</p> + +<p>"Brant and Brant," Scotty intoned, "the marvels of the universe! See +the living proof of the science of parapsychology! Mystifying, +terrifying, a scientific phenomenon without parallel that has baffled +the leading minds of the world!" Scotty's quick mind also had caught +the implications of Barby's idea.</p> + +<p>Jan Morrison was a scientist's daughter, too, and printed electronic +circuits were no mystery to her. She said enthusiastically, "You could +even do mind reading at a distance."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How?" Barby asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, if there were two transmitters, Scotty could have one, too. He +could go to someone outside the auditorium, like the mayor, or some +other official, and have him write a sentence on a sheet of paper, +which Scotty could read over his shoulder. Then Barby, on the +auditorium stage, would ask everyone to look at their watches, and say +that the mayor had just written so and so on a sheet of paper, then +burned it. Scotty would bring the mayor to the auditorium, and Barby +would tell him what she had said, and at what time, and ask him if it +was right. Of course it would be."</p> + +<p>Rick looked at the girl with new respect. It was a very good gimmick +indeed. He said as much.</p> + +<p>Barby put her arm around Jan's waist. "We'll be sure to invite you to +the show. Won't it be fun?"</p> + +<p>"If it's safe for us to let people know where we are by then," Jan +said somberly.</p> + +<p>They fell silent at the reminder that Jan's presence was far more +serious than a casual visit. Finally Rick said, "We'll get to work on +the sets this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Make it tomorrow," Barby said quickly. "I sort of promised Jan +something...."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty exchanged glances.</p> + +<p>"I said you and Scotty would teach her how to use the aqualungs."</p> + +<p>Rick breathed a sigh of relief. That would be no hardship. He and +Scotty needed practice, anyway.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> They had hardly used the lungs since +returning from the Virgin Islands.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brant summoned them to breakfast and they walked in to find Steve +and the scientists gathered at the big table.</p> + +<p>"Got everything settled?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Just about," Steve replied. "We have a job for you, though."</p> + +<p>Rick's pulse quickened. "What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Your father and Weiss will need to pay a quick trip to Washington. I +want you to take them in the Sky Wagon."</p> + +<p>"When?" Scotty inquired.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow morning. You'll come back tomorrow afternoon."</p> + +<p>Over breakfast, Rick tried to get more information from the agent. +"Exactly what are we working on, Steve?"</p> + +<p>Ames sipped steaming coffee thoughtfully. "Ever hear of a weapon +system?"</p> + +<p>Rick had. "It's a weapon so complicated, with so many parts, that it's +actually a system instead of just a simple weapon. I think the term is +used mostly for missiles."</p> + +<p>"You think right. Well, Winston, Weiss, and your father will help Dr. +Morrison do the basic design work on a system to go into a weapon +system."</p> + +<p>Scotty had been listening, too. "How complicated can you get?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>Dr. Morrison answered. "When it comes to missile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> work, you can get +fantastically complicated. In fact, some missile systems are so +complicated it's a wonder they ever work at all."</p> + +<p>The telephone rang. Barby, who served when necessary as the island's +switchboard operator, ran to answer. In a moment she returned. "It's +for you, Steve. From Washington. I plugged it in on the library +extension."</p> + +<p>Steve excused himself. A few moments later he returned. "Hartson, I +just took the liberty of ordering a scrambler placed on your phone +switchboard, in case we need to hold any classified conversations +between here and my offices. The phone man will install it today, if +you have no objection."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," Hartson Brant said. "I think it's a sensible +precaution, especially with one member of the team remaining in +Washington."</p> + +<p>"What's a scrambler?" Barby asked.</p> + +<p>"A special device that turns phone conversations into jumbled +gibberish so no one can understand them. You talk normally, and sound +normal to the person listening. But anyone tapping in on the line gets +only sounds that mean nothing."</p> + +<p>The agent's face turned grim. "Speaking of gibberish reminds me of the +reason for the call. The <i>Washington Post</i> carried a story in one of +its columns this morning hinting that two scientists working on a +supersecret project had been driven insane. It also hinted that the +insanity was an effect of the gadget they were working on!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h2>A Haircut and a Wink</h2> + + +<p>Rick held the Sky Wagon at the altitude to which he had been assigned +by the control tower at Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington. He +was a little nervous because there was more air traffic around him +than he had ever seen before.</p> + +<p>Across the Potomac River, so close that the traffic patterns almost +interlocked, was busy Washington National Airport. Below him along the +Anacostia River were two military airports; Anacostia, at which he +would land, and Bolling Air Force Base. And to complicate matters +slightly, Andrews Air Force Base was only a short distance away.</p> + +<p>A thousand feet above his head a tremendous Air Force Stratocruiser +circled patiently. A thousand feet below him a flight of Navy Banshee +fighters awaited clearance for landing. And climbing through the +pattern came a division of Air Force F-80's.</p> + +<p>Rick's neck ached from swiveling around. Scotty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> was helping him watch +for other aircraft. But in the rear seat, Hartson Brant and Julius +Weiss talked a steady stream, as they had ever since taking off from +Spindrift. Rick wished he were as oblivious to the traffic. Actually, +he didn't know what they were talking about. Good as his scientific +training was, they were in a realm where his young mind hadn't even +probed.</p> + +<p>His earphones gave out: "Tower to Spindrift Flight. You are cleared to +land. Approach from Northeast."</p> + +<p>Rick glanced down in time to see the Navy fighters peel off in a +precision maneuver that was lovely to watch. Then, on their heels, he +stood the Sky Wagon up on a wing and slid down toward the muddy river +below.</p> + +<p>A short time later Rick called for instructions and was told to beach +at Ramp Three. He located it without difficulty. Scotty climbed out on +the pontoon and caught the rope thrown by a seaman. In a few moments +they were beached.</p> + +<p>A stocky young man who might have been a government clerk approached +and introduced himself as Tom Dodd. The identification folder he held +out bore the familiar JANIG imprint. "Steve phoned ahead," he said. +"Do you need anything for your plane?"</p> + +<p>"We'd better top off the tank," Rick said. "Everything else is all +right." He described the kind of gas his plane used, fearful that the +Navy might use<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> either a higher or lower octane that would not be +suitable.</p> + +<p>Dodd gave instructions to a Navy petty officer, then led the +Spindrifters to a waiting sedan. Rick got into the back seat and +slumped back between his father and Weiss. The little mathematician +looked at him in some alarm.</p> + +<p>"Rick! You look done in. What on earth is wrong?"</p> + +<p>He smiled feebly. "I'm a sissy, Professor. The only other times I've +flown into Washington I landed at light-plane airports outside the +city. This morning I got right into the middle of the big kids. +Honest, the traffic was worse than Times Square. I was so scared I'd +lose position and bang into someone that I almost swiveled my head +off."</p> + +<p>Tom Dodd looked back and grinned sympathetically. "Don't feel badly. +Even the commercial pilots sit up straight and keep bright-eyed on the +Washington approach. Airwise, it's one of the most crowded cities in +the world."</p> + +<p>As Tom steered the big sedan expertly through the traffic en route to +downtown Washington, Rick asked his father, "What were you and +Professor Weiss talking about? You lost me just about the time we got +air-borne."</p> + +<p>The scientist shook his head. "This time, Rick, I can't help much. Ask +me again when you've completed your undergraduate work in college."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid your father is right," Weiss agreed. "When one gets deeply +into the physical sciences<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> there are no longer simple mechanical +analogies; there are only equations that I'm afraid are beyond you for +now, Rick."</p> + +<p>Rick sighed. "A lot of help I'm going to be on this project!"</p> + +<p>"You're not supposed to help," his father corrected. "The project is +entirely for the purpose of developing principles for the system. The +final product will be the equations with which the technologists can +begin actual system design. In other words, we are working only on the +first theoretical step."</p> + +<p>"But the newspaper article said the scientists were affected by a +gadget," Scotty objected.</p> + +<p>"The article was wrong. Paper covered with mathematical computations +can scarcely affect anyone," Hartson Brant said decisively.</p> + +<p>Rick stared through the window. The sedan was moving down Constitution +Avenue toward 14th Street. "But how did the newspaper find out +anything in the first place?"</p> + +<p>Dodd swung the sedan around a truck, then shrugged expressively. "We'd +like to know. Columnists have their sources of information. Usually +the source isn't close to the inside dope, so most of the columns are +pretty inaccurate. A good thing, too, otherwise the enemy would be +getting our top-secret information in print all the time. Probably +this leak came from someone in the hospital where the team members +were taken."</p> + +<p>Conversation lapsed until Dodd swung the sedan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> into a restricted +parking place near the corner of 15th and K streets. Then he led the +way into an office building. Rick looked around him as they walked to +the elevators. It was a typical large office building with an +arcade-type lobby. He noticed a haberdashery shop, a barbershop, a +florist, a newspaper-tobacco stand, and the entrance to a drug store. +The building directory was loaded with names.</p> + +<p>In the elevator, Dodd said, "Four, please."</p> + +<p>The Spindrifters were the only ones that got off at that floor. As the +door slid closed, Rick saw that a man was seated in an alcove, just +out of sight of anyone who got off the elevator. Dodd greeted him, +then said, "Remember these faces, Sam."</p> + +<p>Sam nodded without speaking.</p> + +<p>Dodd led them down a hall. Rick had to satisfy his curiosity. "Is this +a government building?"</p> + +<p>"No. It's a regular office building. We leased this floor under the +name of a phony corporation. It's entirely ours, but the rest of the +building is occupied by legitimate firms."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that risky?" Weiss asked.</p> + +<p>"It depends. If the project is penetrated, then it becomes easier for +the enemy in one way, since we don't have the protection of a +government building. On the other hand, the public has free access to +all but a few of the government buildings, while we can control who +comes in and out of this floor."</p> + +<p>"What does 'penetrated' mean?" Scotty inquired.</p> + +<p>"Known to the enemy."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But couldn't you have put the project in the Pentagon, or in the +Atomic Energy Commission Building?" Rick pursued.</p> + +<p>"Yes, except that it's top secret, even within the government. I doubt +that more than two dozen people even know about it. Remember, the best +security is not to let people even suspect that a thing exists."</p> + +<p>"But the project has been penetrated," Scotty pointed out.</p> + +<p>"We don't know that. The newspaper article gave no details, remember. +Only that some unidentified scientists had gone insane. No location, +no names, no anything of real value. And we have taken precautions. +After all, you have the team chief. Only one man is left, and we hope +to get him out of here, too."</p> + +<p>Dodd swung open a door that opened into a bare outer office, and led +them into an inner room where a man bent over a desk.</p> + +<p>Rick knew his name. This was Dr. Humphrey Marks, the reluctant +bachelor. All Rick could see for the moment was a bald head. It was +completely bald, not even a fringe of hair remaining. It gleamed in +the light of the desk lamp. Presently the bald pate revolved back and +a truculent face stared up at them.</p> + +<p>Dr. Marks looked like a man who had been born impatient. His +underslung jaw thrust forward as he demanded, "Well, well? What is +this, Dodd? Well? Who are these people?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dodd was unperturbed. "Dr. Brant, Dr. Weiss, and Richard Brant and +Donald Scott."</p> + +<p>Marks harrumphed. He stood erect, and he was scarcely taller than +little Julius Weiss. He had a solid, square build and massive hands. +"I am honored, gentlemen," he said crisply. "Sit down."</p> + +<p>The Spindrifters did so. "We will get to business," Marks stated. "You +will forgive me if I begin on an elementary level. It is only for the +purpose of defining the problem. Ames said you had been briefed by +Miller, so I will confine the briefing to my part of the project."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss produced notebooks. Rick and Scotty +relaxed as best they could in the uncomfortable chairs and prepared to +listen.</p> + +<p>"You are, of course, aware of the problems inherent in the development +of inertial systems," Marks began. "Perturbations are many, and both +predictable and random. Consider our missile. We set its little brain +for a given pattern. We depend on its inertia to inform the brain when +perturbations are pulling it off course. The brain then takes the +necessary corrective action. This, of course, is oversimplification."</p> + +<p>It wasn't very simple to Rick. He squirmed uncomfortably on the hard +chair.</p> + +<p>"Now, we have dealt primarily with the perturbations one would expect. +The equatorial bulge, for example. The result? We still have a +probable error of several miles in hitting the target. This is not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> to +be borne, gentlemen. We must have precision. Now, what information do +we have that allows such precision? We have the effects of +perturbation of the other planetary bodies and of the sun itself. +These we may calculate closely. We shall use them to guide our +missile, as they interact with the missile's own inertia."</p> + +<p>Marks broke off to glare at Rick. He inquired acidly, "Do I perhaps +bore you? Or have you a serious itch? If so, scratch it, for heaven's +sake. You are squirming so, I can see only a blur through the corner +of my eye."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant came to his son's rescue. He looked at Dodd. "May the +boys be excused? I'm sure this discussion will be of no value to them, +and probably they have some things they would like to do."</p> + +<p>Dodd nodded. "If you decide to leave the vicinity, let Sam know."</p> + +<p>"We'll be in the lobby," Rick said. He motioned to Scotty. His +feelings were of mixed relief at getting out of there and irritation +at Marks for what amounted to summary dismissal.</p> + +<p>As they walked to the elevator, Rick asked, "What did you make out of +that?"</p> + +<p>"Not much. How about you?"</p> + +<p>"A little," Rick admitted. "Enough to know what the project is aiming +at."</p> + +<p>"Which is?"</p> + +<p>"A guidance system for the intercontinental missile, and a fantastic +one that uses the moon and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> the sun, and maybe Venus and Mars as +guideposts."</p> + +<p>Scotty whistled. "As you said, a lot of good we'll be to this project. +Well, what do we do now?"</p> + +<p>Rick ran a hand through his hair. "Follow Barby's instructions." His +sister had said bluntly that both he and Scotty were getting as shaggy +as Dismal, and please get haircuts. He knew why, of course. Barby +wanted them to be at their best, because she liked Jan Morrison very +much and wanted Jan to like the boys, too.</p> + +<p>Sam nodded to them as they walked to the elevator. Rick noted that the +guard could watch the stairs as well as the elevator doors. He also +noted that the guard's coat was loose, and that the butt of a Magnum +revolver was within easy reach of his hand. Knowing how Steve Ames +operated, Rick also suspected that other, less visible, methods had +been taken to guard the fourth floor, but there was nothing he could +see.</p> + +<p>It was still early in the day and the barbershop in the lobby was not +crowded. Rick and Scotty both were able to get chairs.</p> + +<p>Rick browsed through a magazine as the barber worked, but found +nothing of interest. He put it down and looked around him. The shop +was like any other shop, anywhere. He thought that barbershops may +vary in the number of chairs, the luxuriousness of the appointments, +and the size of the mirrors, but they all have about the same smell, +and the same collection of bottles for the barber's use.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>However, one item attracted Rick's attention, because it seemed out of +place. It looked for all the world like the hair driers one finds in +beauty shops. There was a stand, and a metal hood.</p> + +<p>He gestured toward it. "What's that?"</p> + +<p>"It's for treating dry hair," the barber answered. "Special oil +treatment, with electric massage. Very good."</p> + +<p>Rick's hair was dry from frequent immersion in both salt and fresh +water. Being inquisitive about everything in the world, he thought +about trying it.</p> + +<p>"Maybe I'll have time for a treatment," he said.</p> + +<p>The barber ran a hand through the boy's light-brown hair. "You don't +need one. Your hair is healthy, and not especially dry. I wouldn't +give you a treatment you don't need."</p> + +<p>"Have it your way," Rick said. The barber was either too lazy or too +honest for his own good. In all probability the machine would do +nothing Rick couldn't do for himself with his own two hands.</p> + +<p>There was a good view of the elevators through the barbershop windows. +Rick watched people coming and going, and speculated for his own +amusement on who they might be, and their business in the building. +Speculation was idle, of course. Take Tom Dodd. No one, without inside +knowledge, would suspect that he was a federal agent engaged in +guarding a hush-hush project on the fourth floor. Or Dr. Marks. Who +would suspect that he carried a vital secret? Or, more accurately, +that he was working on one?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the barber was brushing Rick off, the boy saw his father step out +of the elevator, stop, and look around. He saw the elevator operator +step from the car, look into the barbershop, and wink. Rick almost +winked back, then he realized that the operator was winking at the +barber and not at him.</p> + +<p>The scientist saw Rick at almost the same moment and walked into the +barbershop. "Julius will be busy for another half hour," he said. "I +think I'll follow your example, Rick." He climbed into the chair Rick +had just vacated.</p> + +<p>Scotty was through, too. The boys took seats and busied themselves +reading magazines.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant's hair had needed only trimming, not complete cutting, +so he was finished in a short time. The barber shook out his cloth, +then put it back on for the finishing touches. Rick glanced up as the +barber spoke.</p> + +<p>"Your hair's pretty dry, sir, and I have an excellent treatment here. +I'd like to give you one. It would make your hair look better, and +make it easier to handle."</p> + +<p>Tension swept through Rick as though someone had turned on an electric +current. The tension had no focus. It was just that something deep +within him had reacted. He stood up and dropped his magazine.</p> + +<p>"Dad," he said hastily, "I just saw Julius go through the lobby."</p> + +<p>"Where did he go?" Hartson Brant demanded. "I didn't see him."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think he went through the front door," Rick said. "Better hurry. +I'll try to catch him."</p> + +<p>Outside the barbershop he stopped, to let Scotty catch up with him. +"Why should Weiss run out through the front door?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>"He didn't. It was a stall, to get Dad out of there in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"But why?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Rick said slowly. "For some reason, I just didn't want +him to have that dry-hair treatment!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h2>JANIG Runs a Security Check</h2> + + +<p>There wasn't much evidence on which to base his reaction, Rick +admitted. But when he reacted, he just reacted and that's all there +was to it. Call it a hunch, or call it nonsense. That's how it was, +and he couldn't change it.</p> + +<p>The barber had practically refused him a dry-hair treatment—and his +hair was rather dry. The same barber had tried to sell a treatment to +Hartson Brant—whose hair was not dry at all. And the elevator boy who +had carried the scientist down from the fourth floor had winked at the +barber.</p> + +<p>Even admitting that it added up to no evidence of anything, it +bothered him. He had asked Tom Dodd how much JANIG knew about the +barber.</p> + +<p>Tom admitted that JANIG didn't know much. After all, he pointed out, +it was impossible to check everyone in an office building of that +size, or at least impractical. Furthermore, it was a cover opera<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>tion, +and any kind of a careful check on people in the building would warn +them that something was going on. Tom agreed, however, that it was +better to be safe than sorry. JANIG would run a check on the barber, +even though Rick's evidence was no evidence at all.</p> + +<p>Rick wasn't satisfied. He felt he had to talk it over with Steve Ames, +and called the agent, who was in JANIG's New York office, as soon as +he got home.</p> + +<p>There was a small switch box next to the telephone in the library. It +had only two positions, one marked "normal" and the other not marked +at all.</p> + +<p>Steve asked, "Who is it?"</p> + +<p>"Rick."</p> + +<p>"Throw your switch."</p> + +<p>Rick did so, with no apparent results. "Nothing happened," he said.</p> + +<p>"Nothing audible," Steve corrected. "I threw mine at the same time. +We're scrambled. Go ahead, Rick, what is it?"</p> + +<p>Rick told him the story. Steve didn't laugh. He had had experience +with Rick's hunches before. "All right. I've already talked with Tom +Dodd. He told me the story and I agreed we should run a check. He also +reported that Weiss had persuaded Marks to come to Spindrift so the +team could work together. I have Dodd planning how to get him out of +Washington."</p> + +<p>"Tom told me why no check had been run on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> people in the +building," Rick said hesitantly. "Honestly, Steve, I thought you +always checked on everyone who might have a connection with a case."</p> + +<p>"We do," Steve said flatly. "But we can't check on everyone in the +city of Washington. Consider, Rick. There are several hundred people +that work in the building and perhaps as many more who go there +regularly for perfectly legitimate reasons. We couldn't run a deep +check on all of them, and a superficial check wouldn't mean anything. +So we don't check. Instead, we make sure we know about the people the +scientists see regularly, and we give physical protection not only to +the scientists but to the floor they work on. We keep a careful check +to be sure our phones aren't tapped, and there's a scrambler on each +line. Of course the moment we get even a slight odor of fish, we run a +check. That's why we're working on your barber right now. We're also +checking the elevator operator."</p> + +<p>"All right. I was off base, I guess."</p> + +<p>"Not at all. I'd be disappointed if you didn't ask for explanations."</p> + +<p>There was one other question in Rick's mind. "How do you know we +weren't followed back to Spindrift?"</p> + +<p>Steve chuckled. "You had two cars on your tail. They'd have picked up +anyone who tried to follow Tom. What's more, our men at the airport +identified every plane that took off from the vicinity of Washington +for two hours after your departure."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick said sheepishly, "Sorry, Steve."</p> + +<p>"Forget it. I'll be in touch with you, Rick."</p> + +<p>Steve was right, of course. JANIG was on the job and would plug any +loose holes. And once Marks arrived, Spindrift would be the only base +the JANIG men had to cover. That would make it simpler. Rick decided +he might as well put the matter out of his mind.</p> + +<p>Barby, Jan, and Scotty were waiting for him on the front porch.</p> + +<p>Scotty asked, "What gives?"</p> + +<p>"Steve says to forget it."</p> + +<p>Jan frowned, her pretty face worried. "Barby told me about these odd +hunches you sometimes get. Aren't they ever wrong?"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "I'll say they are. Don't worry, Jan. You're safe here."</p> + +<p>Her dark eyes flashed at him. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm +worried about my father."</p> + +<p>Rick apologized. "I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded. But +don't forget, Jan. Our father is in this, too. So we'll worry with +you—if there's any worrying to be done."</p> + +<p>Barby changed the subject. "It's still early. Why can't we give Jan +another swimming lesson?"</p> + +<p>They had started the day before teaching Jan how to use underwater +breathing apparatus. She was an excellent swimmer, almost as good as +Barby. But she had never had experience with mask, fins, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> snorkel, +so lessons in the use of those were required before she could graduate +to the aqualungs.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," Rick said.</p> + +<p>In a short time the four had changed to swimming suits and were +testing the water off Pirate's Beach. It was cold, but not unbearable. +Once they were accustomed to it, Rick picked up the instructions where +he had left off the day before. Jan was using Barby's mask, snorkel, +and fins. They would get her some of her own on the first trip to +Whiteside.</p> + +<p>Barby had borrowed her father's equipment. The mask wasn't a perfect +fit, but she was experienced enough not to mind a little leakage. The +snorkel was all right, since no fit was involved, but the fins were +ludicrous on her small feet. She had stuffed cotton in the toes to +make them tight enough to wear, but that made the fins hard to +control.</p> + +<p>"Follow the leader!" Rick called. "I'll lead, Jan next, Scotty next, +and Barby bring up the rear."</p> + +<p>That was so Scotty would be instantly aware of any trouble Jan got +into. Barby could swim as well as either of the boys and needed no +watching.</p> + +<p>Rick started by going straight out, watching the bottom through his +mask. When he got to about the fifteen-foot depth, he bent at the +waist and threw his legs upward. He slid smoothly into the water, +rolling on his back to watch Jan. She imitated his movements +perfectly, and he turned back, satisfied. She was graceful as a seal +in the water. It wouldn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> take much to make a first-class diver out +of her.</p> + +<p>Rick went to the bottom and moved along, doing underwater acrobatics +and touching a rock here and there. Then he turned over on his back +again and started upward, eyes on Jan. She followed. He led the way +back to the beach.</p> + +<p>As the group emerged from the water and lifted their masks, Rick +looked at Scotty. His pal nodded. "She'll do. She followed you like a +shadow."</p> + +<p>"Good. All right, Jan. Next step is clearing your mask of water. The +principle is easy. Just remember that gas is lighter than liquid. Your +breath is lighter than the water. So you hold the top of your mask and +blow it full of air, which forces the water out the bottom. Watch."</p> + +<p>He demonstrated a few times, then Jan tried it. She caught on easily.</p> + +<p>The instruction continued, until at the end of two hours, Rick took +all of Jan's equipment and threw it into twelve feet of water. "Now," +he said calmly, "go after it and put it on in the water. Clear your +mask and snorkel, then come back to shore with full gear on and +operating. No surfacing to take a breath. Use only the snorkel."</p> + +<p>Jan looked into the water thoughtfully. The moments ticked by. Finally +Rick asked, "What is it?"</p> + +<p>The girl smiled. "I'm planning how I'll do it. If I don't plan in +advance, it will be too late after I've started, and I intend to do it +right the first time."</p> + +<p>Rick, Barby, and Scotty exclaimed together,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> "Good girl!" They +laughed, and Rick explained, "That's what makes a safe diver. Know +what you're going to do before you have to do it."</p> + +<p>Jan filled her lungs and dove. The three swam out over her and watched +through their masks. She found the mask, and there was a bad moment +when she got it on upside down, but she quickly reversed it, held it +to her face, and blew it clear. Only then did she bother with the +strap that held it.</p> + +<p>Rick watched, pleased. He hadn't told her it wasn't necessary to +attach the mask before clearing. She put the snorkel mouthpiece in +place, but did not bother to attach the rubber strap to her head. +Then, working smoothly but without waste of time, she slipped on the +fins and flashed to the surface. The snorkel emerged and she blew it +clear, then swam to the beach.</p> + +<p>"Perfect," Rick applauded.</p> + +<p>"You're a natural," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>Barby just beamed.</p> + +<p>Jan was obviously pleased at their praise, but she was a little shy, +too, so she contented herself with smiling her thanks.</p> + +<p>"Aqualung instruction tomorrow morning," Rick said. "Come on. I've +worked up an appetite."</p> + +<p>That evening Rick began work on the radio circuits, as he had promised +Barby. The transmitters would be the easiest part, since he could use +the same circuits that had gone into the design of the Tractosaur +controls, modified only slightly for use on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> the highest amateur band. +Fortunately, Rick had both an operator's and station licenses as a +radio "ham," so Barby's scheme wouldn't mean illegal operation.</p> + +<p>The girls wandered into the shop where he and Scotty were at work, but +there was nothing exciting about the painstaking work of laying out +diagrams, so they soon left.</p> + +<p>Scotty paused in his work of assembling the parts they would need. +"Rick, how about making transceivers instead of simple transmitters?"</p> + +<p>"So we can send and receive on the same unit? We can do it, all right. +But why?"</p> + +<p>"I was just thinking. Quite a few times we'd have been a lot better +off if we could talk back and forth at a distance. There's no reason +why these have to be designed just for you and Barby to use in the +mind-reading act."</p> + +<p>Scotty was right, of course. He usually was. "We'll make a pair of +transceivers, and a receiver for Barby. Unless you think we ought to +build a transceiver into her outfit, too."</p> + +<p>"Would it be much work?"</p> + +<p>"Not much. We might as well, I suppose."</p> + +<p>They buckled down to the job. Rick found he couldn't work long, +however. "I've still got that guitar-string feeling," he admitted. +"I'm all tight inside." He didn't like it, and there was no apparent +reason for it. But that didn't help him to get rid of it.</p> + +<p>Scotty knew Rick from long experience. "Wish I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> could help," he said, +"but I'm stymied. There's nothing we can get our teeth into. Those two +scientists bother me. I can't imagine what would put two perfectly +sensible and healthy people into a state like Steve describes."</p> + +<p>"Same here." Rick had thought about it a number of times in the past +day, but had reached no conclusion. "But if it's from natural causes, +how did Marks and Miller—I mean Morrison—escape?"</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned wryly. "You're not asking me because you expect an +answer."</p> + +<p>"No," Rick agreed. He said abruptly, "I've had it. Let's hit the hay."</p> + +<p>He might have felt better, or worse, had he been able to tune in on a +conversation between Tom Dodd and Steve Ames that was going on at that +very moment.</p> + +<p>"We've had seven men on it ever since this morning," Tom was saying. +"We checked him from here to breakfast, and the record is absolutely +negative. Same for the elevator operator. The barber is a wanderer, +never stays in one shop for long. He's hunting another job right now. +The machine is his, and it's the only one of its kind. We sent Mike +Malone in for a treatment. He says the machine is good. Apparently +it's nothing but a hood with three massage machines installed on +spring mounts, so they fit the head. The barber applies oil, then +turns on the machine. It has dials, but they're fakes. It's a massage +machine, pure and simple, and it passed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> the health inspection board, +so we know it's not harmful."</p> + +<p>Steve Ames said thoughtfully, "Negative record. Hmm. Well, at least no +one has ever caught up with him if he happens to be a wrong one. It +doesn't prove he's clean."</p> + +<p>"Too true. Any ideas?"</p> + +<p>"Just keep an eye on him. He's innocent until we get some evidence +that he may be guilty. Same for the elevator operator. But, for now, +we'll consider you've drawn a blank and let it go at that."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h2>A Calm Precedes a Storm</h2> + + +<p>A crisis had arisen and Rick and Scotty could only stand by +helplessly. After all, what could mere males do in such a situation?</p> + +<p>Barby decided that Rick and Scotty were to fly over to Whiteside and +get diving equipment for Jan, so she could have her own. It was easy +to agree on the type of face mask, snorkel, and fins. But everything +bogged down when it came to color.</p> + +<p>Rick's own mask, snorkel, and fins were sea green. Scotty had a green +mask, blue snorkel, and black fins. Barby had a white mask, red +snorkel, and white fins.</p> + +<p>"Look," Rick said impatiently. "What earthly difference does it make? +The principal thing is comfort. If the fins feel good and the mask +fits comfortably, that's it. Color? What difference does color make to +a fish?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barby sniffed. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."</p> + +<p>Jan looked at him coldly and stated that she wouldn't know what +difference color made to a fish, because she was not a fish.</p> + +<p>"You swim like one," Scotty said diplomatically, but didn't even get a +smile in return.</p> + +<p>There was only one thing for the boys to do, and that was to make as +graceful a retreat as possible. They did so, and sat waiting under a +tree in the orchard while raging debate went on between the girls on +the porch.</p> + +<p>Rick looked over at the laboratory building. His father and the other +scientists were hard at work on the project, he supposed. He felt +rather left out, because they were too busy to talk with him, and when +he went in to look around he could see only stacks of paper covered +with equations that he couldn't begin to understand.</p> + +<p>"Wonder when Marks will arrive?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Scotty shrugged. "We'll probably find out when he gets here."</p> + +<p>Dr. Marks had agreed to join the team at Spindrift as soon as he +finished running some of the team calculations through the automatic +computer at the Bureau of Standards in Washington. Tom Dodd would +arrive with him, Steve had reported. Meanwhile, protection for the +Spindrift team was under the direction of another of Steve's men, Joe +Blake. Joe and another agent took turns in the laboratory,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> sleeping +and eating there and emerging one at a time for a little exercise.</p> + +<p>Nor were Joe and his partner the only protection. In the woods on the +mainland, just out of sight of the tidal flat, a group of four Boy +Scout leaders were encamped, working on special camping and pioneering +qualifications that would enable them to become qualified instructors +for their Scout Troops. The Whiteside newspaper had even carried a +brief story about the Scout activities. But Jerry Webster, Rick's +friend and newspaper reporter, hadn't known when he wrote the story +that the Scout leaders carried an astonishing amount of armament for +such a peaceful expedition. The JANIG agents, however, had been chosen +for the assignment because they really were Scout leaders in their +home communities. The story would stand investigation.</p> + +<p>Barby and Jan left the porch and walked to where the boys waited.</p> + +<p>"We've decided," Barby announced.</p> + +<p>The boys applauded politely.</p> + +<p>"You see," she went on, "I'm blond, and Jan is brunette."</p> + +<p>Rick squinted up at the girls. "By golly," he exclaimed, "that's +right!" He put a hand on his heart. "One with hair filled with +captured sunlight, the other with hair like the raven's wing, filled +with the gleams of moonlight."</p> + +<p>Barby threatened him with her foot. "Be serious!"</p> + +<p>Rick composed his face in stern lines. "I am."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," Barby continued, "we decided that Jan should wear a white suit +and white equipment. It will make her dark hair and her tan look very +dramatic. But of course I can't wear white if she does."</p> + +<p>This was beyond Rick. Why they couldn't wear the same color was +outside of his comprehension. "Of course not," he murmured politely.</p> + +<p>"So I'm going with you. We both have to have new bathing suits, a +white one for Jan and a dark-blue one for me. And I'm going to give +Jan my mask and fins, because they're white. So I'll have to get blue +equipment for me. And my snorkel is red, and that just won't do, +because..."</p> + +<p>Scotty held up his hand. "Say no more. I will swap snorkels with you, +because mine is blue."</p> + +<p>"I knew you would when you understood," Barby said smugly.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand, but I'll trade. Come on. Let's go to Whiteside."</p> + +<p>Jan remained behind, because Steve had not given permission for the +Morrisons to leave the island, and Rick refused to take the +responsibility in spite of Barby's pleading. The best he could do was +to promise to call Steve about it and perhaps get permission for +future trips.</p> + +<p>The Sky Wagon landed at Whiteside pier, and the trio went to the +nearby garage where the Brants' car was kept. Hartson Brant had +decided it was more convenient to have a car available for use at all +times than to depend on taxis, or on friends.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>The local sporting goods store had a good stock of equipment and Barby +was able to purchase what she wanted without difficulty. But when it +came to the bathing suits, she debated over the large selection for an +hour before choosing two that were identical except for color. Rick +and Scotty waited impatiently, now and then prodding Barby to hurry +up. She refused to be hurried.</p> + +<p>Back at Spindrift, Jan met them with a greeting. "That certainly +didn't take long! Barby, how on earth could you pick these out so +quickly?"</p> + +<p>The boys looked at each other. Their opinion was that Barby had taken +just one hour longer than necessary. Here, obviously, was that +mysterious thing, the feminine mind at work. Rick examined the problem +from the scientific viewpoint and got nowhere. The ways of girls +defied analysis.</p> + +<p>Both boys had to admit, however, that the results of Barby's shopping +had been worth the delay. Their own rather shabby swim trunks, torn +and stained from contact with undersea rocks and coral, suddenly +seemed sloppy. But when Barby examined the aqualung tanks +distastefully and demanded that Rick paint them to match the new +suits, both boys put their feet down emphatically.</p> + +<p>"The tanks are that color because they've been treated to withstand +rust and corrosion," Rick stated. "If we paint 'em, the paint will +only get knocked off and they'll look terrible. I won't do it."</p> + +<p>The girls exchanged a glance that seemed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> say, "Boys! They have +such stubborn, silly ideas!"</p> + +<p>Jan had already gone through the exercise of clearing the aqualung +hoses of water, clearing her mask while using the lung underwater, and +using the reserve lever on the tank, and Rick had instructed her in +the theory of diving.</p> + +<p>Now it was time to put what she had learned to the ultimate test.</p> + +<p>The boys hauled the equipment down to the beach in Rick's old coaster +wagon, modified for carrying equipment, then directed the girls to +check the regulators, check the tanks, and connect regulators to tanks +preparatory to diving.</p> + +<p>They lolled on the beach and watched. Scotty grinned. "This is the +life. Tony Briotti tells me it's always this way in primitive +societies. The men loaf while the women work. I'm in favor of it."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you are," Barby said acidly.</p> + +<p>Jan said nothing, but continued to work with meticulous care. Rick +watched closely, and was satisfied. There was ample equipment for all. +Scotty helped Barby into her gear while Rick instructed Jan.</p> + +<p>"This is the tough part. If you make it, that's the end. From then on +all you'll need is practice. We'll all swim down to the fifty-foot +depth. Watch your ears and don't try to continue down if you feel any +pain. Go back up a few feet and try to clear your ears. When we get to +the bottom, I want you to take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> off all your equipment, swim away from +it, then swim back and put it on. Okay?"</p> + +<p>Jan gave him a tremulous smile. "I think so."</p> + +<p>"Good. Plan how you'll do it. Remember, air is the last thing you'll +need, and the first."</p> + +<p>"I'll remember."</p> + +<p>It was easy enough for a diver with plenty of experience, and the +confidence that experience brings, but Rick remembered from his own +training that it was plenty rough the first time.</p> + +<p>He held the tank while Jan got into harness and said reassuringly, +"You'll make it. You're a natural for diving because you don't lose +your head. That's just about the only really dangerous thing a diver +can do." He got into his harness, then picked up his movie camera in +its underwater case.</p> + +<p>At his signal, the four waded out into the cold water, splashed around +a little to get accustomed to it, then put mouthpieces in place and +prepared to don masks. Rick waited until last, and called, "Everybody +getting air?" When they nodded, he put his own mouthpiece in place, +checked to make sure the demand valve was working, then slipped the +mask down from his forehead and went underwater.</p> + +<p>There was a convenient sandy space among the rocks at the fifty-foot +level. He reached it and turned to count noses. All were present. +Visibility was good enough. He set his camera and took a position +cross-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>legged on the sand. Barby and Scotty took similar positions and +waited.</p> + +<p>At Rick's signal, Jan slipped off her fins, which she placed carefully +on the sand. Her weight belt followed, then her mask. Rick kept the +camera going as she jerked the quick release buckle on her harness, +then pulled the tank over her head, keeping the mouthpiece in place. +At the last moment, she filled her lungs with air, let the mouthpiece +drop to the sand, and swam away. Rick followed as she went about +twenty feet into the rocks, and returned.</p> + +<p>Jan had planned well. She picked up the mouthpiece and held it high so +the air rushed out, then she popped it into her mouth and began +breathing. She didn't bother with the tank harness yet. Instead, she +picked up her mask, adjusted it, and blew it clear. Only then, when +she could see and breathe, did she leisurely put the harness straps in +position and swing the tank over her head and into place on her back. +She buckled it on, and added her weight belt. The fins were last.</p> + +<p>A flume of air from her exhaust, a sign of exhaustion, told Rick that +Jan was tired. Probably the mental strain more than the exercise had +left her too weak for further swimming. He slung the camera from a +belt hook, took her hand and shook it solemnly, then led the way back +to the beach.</p> + +<p>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 harm +would come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> of it. But skin diving is the easiest thing 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 come back +again 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 swim +without worrying whether she's meeting our standards, or doing it the +way we think it ought to be done."</p> + +<p>He grinned at the girl. "I know it was a strain. Remember, we've all +been through it, too."</p> + +<p>Jan had a nice smile. "You're right," 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."</p> + +<p>Barby arose. "Come on, Jan. Let's go shower and change." She smiled +with false sweetness at the boys. "Now that you're through testing +Jan, I'm sure you won't mind doing your own work. 'Bye, now." And she +left them to pick up the gear and truck it back to the laboratory +building where it was kept.</p> + +<p>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 team is going full +speed ahead. We're having fun. Jan is just the companion Barby needs. +All's right with the world.</p> + +<p>He turned over on his stomach and bunched his pillow up more +comfortably. Then why, he asked himself, did he still feel funny?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>Scotty came in from the shower, toweling vigorously. "What's eating +you?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Rick turned over and stared at his pal. "Is it that obvious?"</p> + +<p>"It is to me. What's up?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Rick admitted. "Wish I did. Have you noticed how quiet +everything is? It's like the day before a hurricane moves in. The +ocean gets glassy, and there isn't any wind, and you're almost afraid +to breathe because the air is so charged a breath might start the +lightning."</p> + +<p>"'The calm before the storm,'" Scotty quoted. "Maybe it is. I feel it +a little, too. But what can we do?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged as expressively as one flat on his back could manage. +"Nothing. We can swim with the girls, 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."</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "You're never really happy unless we're up to our hips +in trouble or a mystery. I know what's really bothering you. A fine, +fat mystery is afoot and you haven't a shred of it you can call your +own."</p> + +<p>Rick had to grin back. There was much in what Scotty said. As long as +the mystery of the two scientists remained unsolved, he wouldn't be +really happy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h2>The Peripatetic Barber</h2> + + +<p>"We're trapped here," Barby said stormily, "and I want you to do +something about it, Rick Brant! If you don't call Steve Ames and get +permission for us to go to the mainland, I'll do it myself!"</p> + +<p>Rick sighed. 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.</p> + +<p>Barby drove home another point. "Steve gave us a cover story, and what +good is a cover story if you don't use it?"</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned at Rick's expression of resignation. "Better give up," +he advised.</p> + +<p>Jan hadn't said anything. She just looked at Rick in a beseeching way +that said as much as all Barby's arguments.</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head unhappily. He knew when he was licked. Come right +down to it, he didn't have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> the say-so on Jan leaving the island, +anyway. He had taken a stand against her going to Whiteside, based +half on intuition and half on the knowledge that a secret soon ceases +to be one when it's flaunted in public. And Jan's presence was a part +of the big secret of Spindrift.</p> + +<p>He stood up and shrugged. "Chances are it will be all right. But if +Jan is recognized by any of the enemy..."</p> + +<p>"Steve isn't even sure there is an enemy," Barby pointed out swiftly. +"How can you be so sure?"</p> + +<p>Rick didn't answer. He turned and went into the house, the others at +his heels. In the library, he consulted the schedule Steve had given +them, so they would know where to reach him at any time. The agent was +at JANIG headquarters in Washington today.</p> + +<p>Rick got the number, and asked for Steve's extension. In a moment he +had the agent on the wire.</p> + +<p>"Let's scramble," he said, and threw the switch. Then, "Steve, Barby +wants to take Jan to Whiteside. What do you think?"</p> + +<p>Steve hesitated before he answered, "It's a little hard to give +reasons why she shouldn't go, Rick. Have you checked her on the cover +story?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet. I will, though, if you say the word."</p> + +<p>Again Steve hesitated, and Rick knew the agent was very much in his +own position. There were no reasons to believe it would do any harm. +Yet...</p> + +<p>"Let her go," Steve said finally. "Only ask her and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> Barby not to get +into any public parades. You know."</p> + +<p>"I know," Rick affirmed. "All right, Steve. When is Marks coming?"</p> + +<p>"We're not certain yet. Ask your father. Marks is having some trouble +with the computations."</p> + +<p>"Okay, Steve. See you soon." He hung up and turned to the others. "He +says all right, but please don't get into any public parades. In other +words, Barby, don't cover too much territory."</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up. "We'd better tell Duke and Jerry to leave it out of +the paper."</p> + +<p>Duke Barrows was editor and Jerry Webster the reporter for the +Whiteside paper. Both were good friends. "They'll play ball," Rick +agreed. "Well, young ladies, when is the big safari?"</p> + +<p>Barby consulted her watch. "Right now. We'll dress and you can fly us +over."</p> + +<p>"Then right now means in an hour. Okay. We'll be ready."</p> + +<p>Upstairs, Rick and Scotty washed up and changed into what Scotty +called "shore-going clothes" that were only slightly less informal +than their dungarees and T shirts. As they finished and sat down to +wait for the girls, Rick picked up one of the radio units on the +workbench. All were finished, although untested. A few final +decorative touches remained for Barby's plastic headset, including +setting in some rhinestones for her. It would look like any other +plastic bauble when he finished.</p> + +<p>"Let's get some fresh batteries while we're in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> town," Rick suggested. +"Then we can check these out tonight."</p> + +<p>"Okay. And remind me to pick up a new mouthpiece for the lung Jan +uses. She says the one that's on it now is too big and uncomfortable. +It hurts her mouth."</p> + +<p>Jan had become proficient under water with only a few hours practice. +Rick had led the girls through the entire series of underwater +maneuvers with the lungs, including practice in sharing one lung +between them. He was satisfied that they both had a thorough +understanding of team swimming and enough sense to stay out of at +least the more obvious troubles novices can get into. He was content +now to let them go off on their own, which they did fairly often.</p> + +<p>After Rick's estimated hour the girls were ready—except that Barby +had to make a phone call. She spent another fifteen minutes arranging +a small get-together at a friend's home to introduce Jan to her chums.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said brightly. "We're ready. Are you?"</p> + +<p>Rick wisely refrained from comment.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the four were in the Brants' car, en route to +Barby's destination. Rick dropped the girls off and arranged to pick +them up in two hours, then he turned the car toward town.</p> + +<p>"Let's visit Duke and Jerry," he suggested.</p> + +<p>Scotty looked at him. "Still bothered, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. It was hard to pinpoint the way he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> felt. He tried to +put it into words. "I've talked to the scientists, including Parnell +Winston. None of them has ever heard of an ailment like the thing that +struck the team scientists. Winston especially knows a lot, because +he's studied the human brain extensively. He doesn't even know of +anything similar."</p> + +<p>Scotty knew all this because he had been present. But talking aloud +helped to make things clearer, so he only commented, "And where does +that leave us?"</p> + +<p>"At the starting line. We haven't moved an inch forward. But at least, +if medical history seems to have no record of any such cases, we can +assume that something new and different caused the scientists to go +off the beam."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but if some enemy caused it, how was it done?"</p> + +<p>"Glad you asked that," Rick answered gloomily. "Wish someone could +answer. Anyway, we know why it was done—if it was done. It was to +cause trouble with the project. That would be important enough for an +enemy to go to a lot of trouble."</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "The thing that sticks in my craw is, how come +only two of the scientists got hit? Why wasn't the same thing used on +the others? If anything was used, that is."</p> + +<p>Rick was bothered by the same point, and he had no answer—nor did +Steve Ames, with whom they had discussed the problem.</p> + +<p>To both boys, the puzzle was more than just an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> interesting problem to +be solved. If some enemy really had penetrated the project and somehow +caused disruption of the scientists' brains, then the people nearest +and dearest to both of them were also in jeopardy. Spindrift now +provided three out of five for the new project team.</p> + +<p>Rick swung into the main street and into the public parking lot. The +Whiteside <i>Morning Record</i> was in the heart of town, only a block +away. Next to the parking lot was a hardware store where Rick planned +to buy batteries, and diagonally across the street was the Sports +Center. Nothing in Whiteside was far from anything else; it was a +typical small town.</p> + +<p>It took only a moment to buy a box of batteries; they were the type +used in hearing aids. Then the boys crossed the street to the Sports +Center. Extra mouthpieces for the lungs were in stock. They chose one +that seemed softer and smaller than the regulation models, then +started for the newspaper.</p> + +<p>Two doors away from the Sports Center was the town's only barbershop. +As they passed, Scotty suddenly grabbed Rick's arm and said hurriedly, +"Come back!" Quickly he led the way out of sight of the barbershop +windows.</p> + +<p>Rick looked at him curiously. "See something?"</p> + +<p>Scotty's forehead wrinkled. "I think so. But it's so unlikely that I'm +not sure. Rick, I thought I saw the barber from Washington—the one +with the massage machine!"</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_05.jpg" width="500" height="750" alt="Rick focused the monocular on the barbershop" /></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick's mouth opened in astonishment. "You're kidding!"</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "I'm not. I said I wasn't sure. But I don't +want to stand in front and look, because if it is the barber, he'd +recognize us."</p> + +<p>Rick thought quickly. "Come on."</p> + +<p>Back inside the Sports Center, he went to the manager and borrowed a +powerful monocular—a pocket telescope that was really one half of a +pair of binoculars. Then he and Scotty went across the street, taking +care to keep out of sight of the barbershop by using parked cars as +cover.</p> + +<p>Rick found a vantage point behind a sedan that had all its windows +open. He focused the monocular on the barbershop window.</p> + +<p>Vince Lardner, the shop owner and—until now—the sole barber, was +cutting the hair of a man Rick recognized as a local resident. A +second barber was cutting the hair of another local man, but the +barber had his back to the street for the moment.</p> + +<p>Rick waited patiently. Scotty asked, "See anything?"</p> + +<p>"Only his back. Wait a minute."</p> + +<p>Presently the barber spun the chair around and walked to the sink. In +a moment he turned and his face came into view in the tight close-up +the powerful glass provided.</p> + +<p>Rick sank his teeth into his lip and handed the glass to Scotty +wordlessly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>The pieces were beginning to fall in place now, and the assumption +that the project had been penetrated was a long step closer to proved +fact.</p> + +<p>The Washington barber had come to Whiteside!</p> + +<p>"Wonder what he's after?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"One thing is for sure," Rick stated grimly. "He isn't here just to +cut hair!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h2>The Mind Reader Strikes</h2> + + +<p>Jerry Webster often spoke of himself as "Whiteside's best reporter," +which Rick considered a fair description, since he was the only +reporter in town. Of course Duke Barrows, the editor, did some +reporting himself, but that didn't count since he carried the title of +managing editor.</p> + +<p>"I'm a good reporter because I can sense a story," Jerry told Rick and +Scotty. "You two have that certain look that spells trouble. What +gives?"</p> + +<p>"No trouble," Rick answered swiftly. "We just need a little help."</p> + +<p>Duke Barrows glanced up from the proof sheets he was editing. "When +Spindrift needs a little help, there's always a story in it. We'll +make a deal, won't we, Jerry? You give us the story and we'll supply +the help."</p> + +<p>Rick knew Duke and Jerry well, so it wasn't necessary to beat around +the bush. "No story. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> least not yet, and I can't even give you a +hint. Only we do need help."</p> + +<p>"Two kinds," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>"That's right. First of all, we have guests at Spindrift. Name of +Morrison. You'll pick that up sooner or later, because Barby is +running around town with Janice Morrison. What we need is a promise +that you won't mention it in the paper."</p> + +<p>Duke's eyebrows went up. "Ahah! Trying to suppress legitimate news, +are you? What do you think, Jerry?"</p> + +<p>Jerry Webster stared up at the ceiling. "I can see the headline now. +'Mysterious Visitors at Spindrift!' Lead paragraph: 'The mystery of +strange visitors at Spindrift Island deepened today as members of the +scientific foundation threatened the Whiteside <i>Morning Record</i> with +drastic action unless the story was withheld.' How's that, Duke?"</p> + +<p>"Needs editing," Duke replied, "but you're on the right track. What's +the drastic action you're threatening us with?"</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "Item," he intoned. "Editor and reporter drowned in +own ink supply. Bodies found among leftover newspaper copies, +apparently discarded with other waste."</p> + +<p>"Too good for 'em," Rick disagreed. "How about 'Editor and reporter +assume new dimensions. Rolled to paper thinness in own press.'"</p> + +<p>"That's drastic," Duke admitted. "Seriously, Rick, you must have some +good reason for asking us to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> leave out what could only be a small +social item."</p> + +<p>"It's a good reason, all right," Scotty answered him. "Only we can't +tell you what it is, Duke."</p> + +<p>The editor looked at Jerry. "What say, can we take it on faith?"</p> + +<p>"Too simple," Jerry objected. "We ought to get something in trade."</p> + +<p>Scotty made eating motions. "Apple pie, with homemade ice cream? +Sunday night. Said apple pie would be used to pack down a nice, thick +steak."</p> + +<p>Jerry sighed. "I'm tempted."</p> + +<p>"It's a deal," Duke agreed. "Make mine rare. And I add one thing: If +there's a story, we get it first."</p> + +<p>Rick looked pained. "Don't you always? But chances are, there never +will be a story out of this."</p> + +<p>"Government deal," Duke said. "It has to be. Okay, Rick. We'll go +along. What's the second kind of help?"</p> + +<p>Rick breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't doubted that Duke and Jerry +would hold the story, but it was always hard to ask a favor without +being able to give the reason. "There's a new barber in Vince +Lardner's shop."</p> + +<p>"Think we're chumps who don't keep up with the news?" Jerry asked, his +expression disdainful. "Of course there's a new barber. What of it?"</p> + +<p>"We need some information about him. If you'll just let me see your +notes, that should do it."</p> + +<p>Jerry hesitated and Scotty grinned. "Bet he doesn't have any notes."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>Duke glared at Jerry. "See? You've embarrassed the <i>Record</i>. I told +you to get the story on that barber this morning."</p> + +<p>"Time enough later," Jerry retorted, unruffled. "We don't need the +dope until tonight, and I'll have it. What kind of information do you +want?"</p> + +<p>Rick listed the points on his fingers. "Where he came from, his full +name, how he happened to get the job—I mean whether he applied +directly to Vince or whether he got the job some other way—and how +long he expects to stay."</p> + +<p>Scotty had a few points, too. "If Vince had a vacancy, find out how +long he looked for a barber, and how he got this one. Timing is +important, Jerry. Get all you can on it. And ask him a few questions +about his massage machine, if it's in sight. It looks like the hair +gadgets they have in beauty shops."</p> + +<p>Editor and reporter stared at the boys curiously. "Why so much +interest in the barber?" Jerry demanded.</p> + +<p>Rick tried to look casual. "Why, one of our special guests might want +a haircut, and we couldn't take a chance that the barber might not be +government approved. Simple."</p> + +<p>Duke Barrows tilted back in his chair and pushed the green eyeshade to +the top of his head. "I get the picture." He ticked off the points on +his fingers, mocking Rick. "Strangers at Spindrift. Not to be +mentioned. Government work of some kind, for sure, and pretty hot, +too. So hot, in fact, that a stranger in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> Whiteside might possibly be +a menace to the strangers at Spindrift. Rick Brant asks help of local +reporter. Gets name of stranger. Turns name and details in to some +government security officer for a check. How's that?"</p> + +<p>"Too good," Rick admitted. He had known it would be impossible to put +anything over on Duke. The editor was a sharp cookie. "But keep it +quiet, will you, please?"</p> + +<p>"You know anything we discuss never goes farther than this office. All +right, Rick. Jerry will get the dope. Hop to it, hawkeye. Duty calls."</p> + +<p>Jerry waved his arms dramatically. "Hold the presses! New barber in +town! Here I go, after the story of the year!" He swept through the +door, then made a sheepish reappearance. "Forgot my pencil and copy +paper," he explained, grabbed them, and vanished.</p> + +<p>Duke waved the boys to chairs. "It will take a little while. Get +comfortable. I have to finish this copy."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty waited as patiently as possible. Scotty, the more +relaxed of the pair, borrowed a copy of a style manual and studied it +with apparent interest. Rick watched him, envious as always of his +pal's ability to let time pass without floor pacing, nail chewing, or +other impatient actions.</p> + +<p>Duke's analysis of the situation was pretty good, Rick thought, and it +was based on very little real information. He supposed that an editor +had more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> experience to draw on than most people. But so did +intelligence agents. It wasn't hard to see how a few information leaks +could add up to a pretty clear picture in an agent's head.</p> + +<p>Jerry was back in a short time. Apparently the interview hadn't taken +long. He produced his sheaf of copy paper with a flourish and pounded +on a desk for attention. The gesture wasn't necessary. Rick, Scotty, +and Duke were waiting eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Louis Collins, Journeyman Barber," Jerry read. "Age 43. Originally +from St. Louis, most recently from Washington, D.C. Twenty-five years +experience. Inventor of the Collins treatment for dry hair, which is +the machine he has. Claims to have invented it five years ago, while +working at a hotel in Washington. Came to Whiteside because he prefers +being near the shore. He's an ardent fisherman. Saw Vince Lardner's ad +in <i>The New York Times</i> a few days ago and applied at once by phone."</p> + +<p>"What day and what time?" Rick asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Monday. He called about noon."</p> + +<p>Scotty asked curiously, "How did you get that information out of him?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing to it. I told Vince I'd like to look up his ad in the +<i>Times</i>, because he claimed the ad plugged Whiteside as an excellent +climate. Then I told this new guy he must have moved fast to get in +his application ahead of all the other applicants, and he said he +hadn't even seen the <i>Times</i> until he went to lunch. He called right +away. Vince nod<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>ded, so I guess the time worked out as Collins said it +had. Vince said the ad had been running for a week, and no one else +had applied."</p> + +<p>Rick had been calculating. "Scotty, that means Collins phoned after we +left Washington..." He stopped quickly.</p> + +<p>Duke Barrows rubbed his hands in fiendish glee. "Ahah! Giving away +information. So you've seen this Collins before, in Washington. No +wonder you're worried about him. Jerry, I'll bet we can sell this +information to some enemy for millions!"</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "Not unless you have the plans for the death ray. Only +death rays bring millions these days. Why, it's getting so a spy can't +even sell atom bomb secrets for more than a buck apiece any more."</p> + +<p>"Guess you're right," Duke admitted, crestfallen. "Well, Rick, +anything else you need?"</p> + +<p>"Middle initial or name?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"M for Mayhew. Anything else?" Jerry asked with a superior air.</p> + +<p>"That does it." Rick consulted his watch. "Let's go, Scotty. Time to +pick up Barby. I won't thank you two, because you're going to get paid +in steak and pie. See you later."</p> + +<p>At the home of Barby's friend there was another wait while Rick +chafed. He was anxious to get home and phone Steve Ames. However, as +it developed, Steve couldn't be reached. It was after dinner before +Rick made connections.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>He gave Steve the information Jerry had collected, then asked, "Isn't +this proof of something?"</p> + +<p>Steve chuckled. "It's proof that Whiteside has a new barber. That's +all. But it's certainly strongly presumptive, Rick. We knew about +Collins moving before you called, and we're continuing the check on +him. Meanwhile, I'll alert my boys at Spindrift and tell them to keep +on their toes."</p> + +<p>"I'll pass the word," Rick offered.</p> + +<p>"No need. I'm in touch by radio. Now, I want you to do something for +me. Dr. Marks is arriving at Newark by train at six tomorrow morning. +Tom Dodd is with him. Can you pick them up?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. How?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose you fly to Newark and have Scotty drive over. Then you can +pick them up at the station by car and take them to the plane. If you +fly them to Spindrift no one will know that Marks has even arrived. +Tom will try to make sure no one is tailing him, and he'll help you to +lose any cars that might try to follow."</p> + +<p>"We can do it," Rick assured him. "I can land close to the city. I've +done it before with pontoons."</p> + +<p>"Good. Ordinarily, I'd have an agent meet them, but my Newark man is +in the woods with the Boy Scout group. Call me when Marks is safely +with the team."</p> + +<p>"Will do," Rick promised.</p> + +<p>Rick reported the conversation to his father when the scientist came +in from late work in the labora<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>tory. Hartson Brant nodded wearily. +"Good. If Marks is on the way, that means he has answers we need badly +to some of our mathematical problems."</p> + +<p>"What I don't get is why he's coming on an overnight train," Scotty +interjected. "That's doing it the hard way, because it's only a few +hours from Washington to Newark. Why didn't he get a train at a decent +hour? This way, he'll spend most of the night sitting on a siding +somewhere."</p> + +<p>The scientist smiled. "I gather that Marks has definite ideas of his +own. I wouldn't care to be Tom Dodd. I'm sure Marks is giving him +considerable trouble. He's convinced this security business is a plot +to inconvenience him and the other people on the project."</p> + +<p>"He didn't seem to have a very sweet disposition," Rick agreed. "Good +night, Dad. Scotty and I are going to bed early, because we'll have to +be up at dawn."</p> + +<p>It was really the first sound night's sleep Rick had since the +invasion of Spindrift by Steve and the Morrisons. Later, he had to +smile at himself, because it seemed to be proof of what Scotty had +said—that the real reason for his uneasiness was inactivity. He +admitted that the problem of the stricken team members intrigued him. +He made no claim to being any great shakes as a detective, but trying +to solve mysteries, whether scientific or real, was a part of him.</p> + +<p>Scotty departed first by boat a few minutes after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> dawn. Rick warmed +the Sky Wagon, then went in for a dish of cereal before taking off. He +had plenty of time. Newark was only a few minutes away in the fast +little plane.</p> + +<p>He timed it perfectly. Scotty was just rolling up to the pier near +Newark as Rick taxied in after landing. He got into a rowboat brought +by an attendant, and tied the plane to an anchor buoy. In a moment he +was in the car with Scotty.</p> + +<p>"We'll get some excitement now," Rick predicted.</p> + +<p>"Because Marks is arriving?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and because the barber has come to town. If he isn't up to his +neck in this business, I'll eat his hair oil on pancakes."</p> + +<p>Scotty shuddered. "You might at least wait until I've had more +breakfast."</p> + +<p>Rick ignored him. "Also, the team is now assembled in one place. That +means the enemy has a single target to shoot at."</p> + +<p>Scotty laughed out loud. "You should see yourself," he said, +chuckling. "Since we found the barber yesterday, you've been a new +man. Beaming and happy as can be. Now the enemy has a single target +and you're pleased. Didn't it occur to you that the target is us, you +simple meathead?"</p> + +<p>"It did." Rick had to grin, too. "But who can locate the sharpshooter +best? Why, the guy sitting on the bull's-eye."</p> + +<p>Scotty parked and they walked into the station.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> A quick check of the +bulletin board told them the train was on time. They walked to the +gate just as the train announcer called the arrival.</p> + +<p>Tom Dodd was one of the last off. He had two suitcases under one arm, +and he was supporting Marks with the other. Rick and Scotty ran to +help. Was the scientist ill?</p> + +<p>Scotty took the suitcases while Rick grabbed Marks' other arm. The +scientist shook him off. "I'm perfectly all right," he said irritably. +"Confound it! Rouse a man at the crack of dawn and expect him to +respond like a ballet dancer to a cue. Nonsense!"</p> + +<p>Marks' appearance belied his words. His face was drawn and pale, and +it was obvious that his coordination wasn't very good. Tom Dodd was +plainly worried.</p> + +<p>"Let go of me," Marks demanded. He drew himself up and glared at the +boys. "Which way is the car, please?"</p> + +<p>"Straight ahead." Rick glanced at Dodd.</p> + +<p>Marks stalked off, but his step was too careful to be convincing. He +just wasn't normal.</p> + +<p>"He wasn't like this when we got on the train," Dodd said in a low +voice. "Let's get going. I'm anxious to get him to Spindrift."</p> + +<p>In the parking lot, Rick ran to open the trunk so Scotty could stow +the bags. Then he beckoned to Marks, who was staring straight ahead, +his eyes glassy. "This is the car, sir."</p> + +<p>Marks started for the open door. But instead of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> bending down to get +in, he walked straight ahead, rigid as a robot, and his face slammed +into the edge of the low turret top.</p> + +<p>Dodd caught him as he fell.</p> + +<p>Rick jumped to the scientist's side, afraid he had been knocked out, +and afraid, too, that something even more serious was wrong.</p> + +<p>Marks was not unconscious, but his stare was fixed. "Are you all +right, sir?" the boy asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>The reply was unintelligible.</p> + +<p>Scotty bent over the scientist, too. "Are you all right, sir?" he +repeated urgently.</p> + +<p>Marks' fixed stare never wavered. A spate of words poured from him, +but they made no sense. Now and then a single word emerged clearly. +Once it was "July," then "soup kettle" and "Planck's constant."</p> + +<p>"Just like the others," Tom Dodd said helplessly.</p> + +<p>Rick listened with horror. He had no doubt, no doubt at all. Steve had +described it accurately, and here it was. Marks was a victim of the +identical ailment that had stricken the other team members!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h2>Dagger of the Mind</h2> + + +<p>Tom Dodd took command and gave orders crisply. "Help get him into the +car. Here, into the back seat."</p> + +<p>The agent got in after the scientist while the boys got into the +front. "Scotty, start driving. We have to shake off any tail that +picks us up. Try to find a stretch where there isn't much traffic."</p> + +<p>Scotty swung the sedan into the traffic stream while Rick joined Tom +Dodd in watching behind them. A few minutes later Scotty slipped into +an alley and stepped on the gas. At the end of the alley he turned the +wrong way down a one-way street, found another alley, and slipped into +it. He emerged under a railroad trestle and moved into the stream of +traffic once more. Watching carefully, he moved with the traffic until +he saw an opportunity to cross a main thoroughfare as the light +changed from yellow to red.</p> + +<p>Theirs was the last car through the intersection,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> Rick saw, before +traffic started through the cross street. Scotty took another turn, +doubled back, and went through another alley. As he emerged onto a +street where traffic was sparse, he slowed.</p> + +<p>"That should do it," Tom Dodd said. "Nice work."</p> + +<p>"How is he?" Rick asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Just like the others," Tom said flatly. "Listen, boys. Our Newark +agent is in Whiteside. I don't think it's wise to take Marks to +Spindrift in this condition, but I don't want to take him far, either. +Have you any contacts here?"</p> + +<p>Rick tried to remember. His father had associates in Newark, he was +sure, including a doctor or two. But he couldn't remember their names. +"I could call home," he suggested. "Dad will have some ideas."</p> + +<p>Dodd considered. "You couldn't use the scrambler from here. Could you +tip your father off without giving information to anyone who happened +to be listening on the wire?"</p> + +<p>Rick thought he could.</p> + +<p>"Okay." Dodd motioned to a restaurant. "There's a phone in there. I +can see the booth through the window. Hop to it."</p> + +<p>Rick hurried into the restaurant. The full horror of what had happened +to Dr. Marks was just having its effect. He found himself shivering as +though with a severe chill. Marks was the victim of something ghastly. +He seemed to be trying to make sense, as though there was still a +glimmer of intelligence be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>hind the blank stare. But his words were +disconnected, completely unintelligible.</p> + +<p>Barby answered the phone, caught the urgency in Rick's voice, and +yelled for their father. Hartson Brant came hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Rick?"</p> + +<p>"Guarded language," Rick said urgently. "Dad, don't you have a +professional friend in Newark? The teletype machine just went haywire +for the third time and I need help."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant muttered, "Good Lord! Yes, Rick. I have a mechanic +friend who is ideally suited for the purpose. Constantine Chavez. Look +him up in the professional part of the phone directory. I'll phone him +and say you're bringing the machine."</p> + +<p>"Good, Dad. I'll come home as soon as possible. Better phone the man +who runs the machines and give him the information."</p> + +<p>"All right. Be careful."</p> + +<p>Rick disconnected and looked up the name under the listing of +physicians. Back in the car, he cast a quick look at Dr. Marks. The +scientist was sitting quietly, staring straight ahead. He wasn't +talking, and Rick was glad. He didn't know how much of the gibberish +he could take. It was weird and horrifying, particularly since Marks +had been so crisp and terse—even though sometimes unpleasant—in his +speech.</p> + +<p>Dr. Chavez was watching for them through his window and hurried out to +meet the car. He was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> tall, slender man with handsome features that +showed his Spanish ancestry.</p> + +<p>"You must be Rick," he said, shaking hands. "You look very much like +your father. He phoned to say you were bringing a damaged machine, but +I also gathered he was merely being cautious about something he didn't +care to discuss on the phone."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Doctor," Rick said. He introduced Tom Dodd and Scotty, +failing to mention that Dodd was a government agent. Then he pointed +to Dr. Marks in the back seat.</p> + +<p>"There's your patient, sir."</p> + +<p>"Bring him into the house," Dr. Chavez directed. "I assume from his +appearance that the trouble is mental and not physical?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly," Dodd said.</p> + +<p>Inside the house they found one room outfitted as a home office. "I +have an office downtown," the doctor explained, "but I also use this +one a few afternoons a week. Now, who can tell me about this?" His +eyes were on Marks, and as he talked, he reached for the scientist's +wrist.</p> + +<p>Tom Dodd explained carefully, "He was suddenly stricken. We were with +him. We don't know what happened, except that he made sense one +minute, but talked only garbled words the next."</p> + +<p>Chavez took an otoscope, an instrument used to examine eyes, ears, +nose, and throat, and switched on the tiny light. He flicked it into +Marks' eyes and watched the behavior of the pupils. Then he listened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +with a stethoscope. A little rubber hammer came out next and was +applied to the reflexes of the stricken scientist. The reflexes looked +normal to Rick.</p> + +<p>Dr. Marks suddenly looked up and began spouting gibberish. Rick +winced.</p> + +<p>Chavez listened gravely, apparently not at all disturbed. The flow of +meaningless words ceased and Rick sighed with relief. He saw that +Scotty had been equally affected.</p> + +<p>"What is your specialty, Doctor?" Dodd asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm a neurologist."</p> + +<p>That was good, Rick thought. A neurologist was exactly what Marks +seemed to need.</p> + +<p>"Do you make anything of this?" Dodd asked.</p> + +<p>The doctor shook his head. "Nothing. I've never seen a case like it. +I've never even heard of one. In fact, I know of only one analogue, +and it's an electronic one. Do you know how computers work? The big +electronic brains?"</p> + +<p>The three nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then you will understand. I have worked with computers, and now and +then one of them suddenly starts turning out gibberish for no apparent +reason. A check of the circuits may show that everything is +functionally normal. Yet, the gibberish continues. Often it clears up, +with no more reason than it started. Sometimes this happens when the +machine is cold, before it is properly warmed up. At other times, it +happens when the machine is tired."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tired?" Dodd looked his disbelief. "Machines don't get tired. Not in +those terms."</p> + +<p>Chavez smiled. "Perhaps not. Yet, to those who work with them, it does +sometimes appear that the machine is tired. There is really no other +expression for it."</p> + +<p>Rick knew something of this through his association with Dr. Parnell +Winston of the Spindrift staff. Winston was an expert in the new +science of cybernetics, which is defined as the science of +communications and control mechanisms in both living beings and +machines.</p> + +<p>"Parnell Winston would know," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"He most certainly would," Chavez agreed. "Are you aware that he and I +have worked together? My interest was in the biological portion of the +project. His was in the electronic. Of course we worked as a team with +other specialists."</p> + +<p>"Under whose auspices?" Dodd asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Let us be candid," Chavez invited. "Obviously, this is not an +ordinary case. The guarded language Hartson Brant used was indication +enough of that. Rick Brant I identify because of his resemblance to my +friend, and I think I identify Don Scott, of whom I have heard a great +deal from Hartson. But who are you, Mr. Dodd?"</p> + +<p>For answer, Tom Dodd took out his identification folder and handed it +to the physician.</p> + +<p>Chavez studied it. "I know your organization, Mr. Dodd. But what is of +greater importance for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> moment, your organization knows me. I +suspect it was for that reason Hartson Brant selected me for you to +consult." He gestured to the phone. "You will want to call your +office. My records are in New York."</p> + +<p>Dodd's face expressed his relief. "I was a little nervous," he +admitted. "It was a choice between possibly risking further damage to +Marks or taking a chance on someone based only on a recommendation +from Dr. Brant. I'm glad you're in the clear."</p> + +<p>He went to the phone and called New York. In a moment he said, "Dodd +here. Check on Dr. Constantine Chavez." He held the phone for perhaps +half a minute, then said, "Roger. That does it."</p> + +<p>He held out his hand to the neurologist. "Glad to know you, Doctor. +Can you take over?"</p> + +<p>"Not only can I take over, you would have trouble getting rid of me. +This man is obviously hurt in a way that is strange to me, and I +assure you, my experience with damaged minds is considerable. He may +be somewhat under the influence of a drug—I will check more +thoroughly—but that is not the cause. If I may make a quick and +highly tentative guess, this mind is suffering from some kind of +trauma induced from an outside source."</p> + +<p>"You mean it's not a disease?" Rick asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Precisely. I know of no disease that would behave like this. I can't +even imagine a disease with these symptoms."</p> + +<p>"How can you be sure?" Scotty pressed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Obviously I can't at this stage of investigation. But you must +recognize that a physician develops a rather definite feeling for +injury after years of experience. My own experience tells me that +mental damage of this scope is almost always accompanied by other +symptoms when it is the product of a disease. No, I cannot credit the +idea of a pathogenic organism too seriously. It is as though some +outside agent pierced the cranium and cut off the control centers of +the brain."</p> + +<p>"A dagger of the mind," Scotty murmured.</p> + +<p>Chavez looked up sharply. "Yes! An ideal phrase for it."</p> + +<p>Rick recognized the quotation from his school-work. <i>Macbeth</i>, Act II. +Another of Shakespeare's phrases from the same work leaped into his +mind. "Macbeth hath murdered sleep." Not Macbeth, but Marks. Rick knew +he wouldn't sleep well that night, nor for many nights to come.</p> + +<p>Dagger of the mind! Well, it fitted. Watching the blank face of what +had been, only hours before, a brilliant scientist, Rick could feel +its deadly point himself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h2>Search for Strangers</h2> + + +<p>The good weather turned bad, and dark clouds hung low over the New +Jersey coast. It was appropriate weather for the state of mind at +Spindrift. With Marks a victim of the mysterious "dagger of the mind," +only Dr. Morrison remained of the original team.</p> + +<p>The question, of course, was "Who next?"</p> + +<p>At Hartson Brant's urgent request, Steve Ames visited the island and a +meeting of all staff was called in the big library.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty sat on a library table, while the scientists occupied +the few library chairs. Steve Ames sat on Hartson Brant's desk and +acted as chairman for the informal session.</p> + +<p>By mutual agreement, the girls had been excluded. Jan was nearly in a +state of shock over what had happened to Marks. Not only was she fond +of the crusty scientist, but she was fearful that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> the mysterious +ailment would strike her father next. And Barby was rapidly catching +the same fear. After all, new team members probably were not immune, +and Hartson Brant, Julius Weiss, and Parnell Winston were deeply +involved in the project.</p> + +<p>Steve called the meeting to order. "Hartson, you suggested that I +come, which I was glad to do. Suppose you start by telling us what you +had in mind."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Steve." The scientist's glance embraced his colleagues and +the boys.</p> + +<p>"We have a problem that must be solved before we can continue with +calm and objective minds on the project that faces us. The problem is +simply, what is the ailment that has stricken three of us, and what is +its cause?"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant tamped tobacco into his pipe thoughtfully. "Let us see +what we know. First of all, two team members were stricken in +Washington, within a short time of each other. They were examined by +competent specialists who arrived at no conclusion. They admitted they +were unable to diagnose the ailment. The possibility of an unknown +disease was considered briefly, but not seriously. The possibility of +a chemical agent—a drug, if you like—also was considered. This +possibility has not been entirely rejected. However, a detailed +laboratory investigation disclosed no trace of chemicals in the +patients, apart from chemicals that were expected, of course."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Could there be chemicals that left no trace?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant shook his head. "No one can claim total knowledge of +body chemistry, obviously. Just the same, the elements to be found in +the body, and the proportions in which they occur, are well known. I +said the possibility has not been entirely eliminated, but it seems +unlikely that chemical interference caused the disruption."</p> + +<p>"What does that leave?" Steve inquired.</p> + +<p>The scientist shrugged. "I can't even guess. Physical interference, +perhaps. There is also a possibility, which is very difficult to +explore, that the ailment was caused within the minds of the +scientists by some catalytic agent, or by some psychic trauma that we +can't even imagine."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. They had seen the ailment at work, +and even its effects were almost beyond description. Its cause was +hard to imagine.</p> + +<p>"But, to continue. Steve recognized the possibility that the ailment +was caused by some outside source. Call it an enemy source, if you +prefer. He acted to get the remaining team members beyond reach of the +enemy by smuggling them to Spindrift. He succeeded with Dr. +Miller—excuse me, Dr. Morrison. He did not succeed with Dr. Marks. +What does this suggest?"</p> + +<p>"That hiding Dr. Morrison was an effective preventative," Steve Ames +concluded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If he is hidden." Rick said the words before he even thought.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Rick? No one outside the family or the project +knows of his presence!" Julius Weiss exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Steve held up his hand. "Hold it a minute. We'll get to that point in +its proper turn."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant picked up the threads again. "We will assume for the +moment that Steve's statement is correct, and that hiding Dr. Morrison +was a preventative. I know Steve doesn't accept this fully, but we +must use assumptions since we have no facts of consequence. If the +assumption is correct, then we have to accept the fact that enemy +agents are interested in the project. And we must also accept that +they have some means of creating a mental block by remote control."</p> + +<p>Rick stole a glance at Parnell Winston. The cyberneticist was sitting +quietly, his bushy eyebrows knitted thoughtfully. Winston hadn't said +a word.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant paced the floor as he went on. "We now have one slight +bit of additional information that supports the theory of enemy +interference. You are all aware of what happened to Dr. Marks this +morning. He is in the hands of Constantine Chavez, who is in touch +with the physicians in charge of the other team members. Dr. Chavez is +of the opinion that Dr. Marks' mental injury was caused by physical +means, although he cannot say how. He also states, although there +seems to be no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> connection with the mental injury, that Marks was +drugged."</p> + +<p>Parnell Winston spoke for the first time. "Steve, if Chavez says Marks +was drugged, we can accept it. How could it have happened?"</p> + +<p>Steve spread his hands in a gesture that seemed to Rick to indicate +embarrassment. "I have gone over every step of the journey with Tom +Dodd. The answer is yes. Thanks to Marks' bullheadedness, and a +clerical error, there was an opportunity for an enemy to get at him on +the train."</p> + +<p>The scientists waited, obviously wanting to know more. Steve +elaborated. "Marks was covered by one of our men at every moment, even +while he was working at the Bureau of Standards, and while he was at +his apartment. The agents ate and drank the same things. Nothing has +happened to them. However, when the reservations were made for the +train trip, Marks specified that he wanted a bedroom. He got one, and +Tom Dodd got the one next door."</p> + +<p>"Why did Marks want to travel by train overnight, anyway?" Scotty +demanded. "That's getting from Washington to Newark the hard way."</p> + +<p>"I told you he was stubborn," Steve reminded. "Tom tried to talk him +out of it but failed. After all, the project team members aren't +prisoners. We can't use force, and we can't order them to do anything. +Marks wanted to go overnight by train because he always traveled that +way, he said. He insisted."</p> + +<p>Dr. Morrison said sadly, "I assure you that he is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> not an easy man to +get along with sometimes. But we must remember that he is—or was—an +extremely competent scientist. Competence like his can be forgiven +many eccentricities."</p> + +<p>"Thanks to his eccentricities, we've also lost his competence," Julius +Weiss pointed out. "Go on, Steve."</p> + +<p>"Right. Well, Tom specified bedrooms A and B, and by the time he got +the reservations and found that he had actually received bedrooms B +and C, it was too late to change because the train was sold out."</p> + +<p>"I can't see what difference that made," Rick objected.</p> + +<p>"You will. People often buy connecting bedrooms on a train, and that's +what Tom had done. He planned to keep the connecting door open and +remain awake all night with an eye on Marks. However, while A and B +connect, B and C do not. Do I make myself clear?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," Rick agreed. "The connecting bedrooms come in pairs, +A-B, C-D, and so on."</p> + +<p>"That's it. Well, Tom ran a fast check on the person who had received +bedroom D, and found it was a Baltimore businessman who often traveled +on the same train, going overnight to New York. So Tom didn't worry +about it. Instead, he kept his bedroom door open so he could watch the +corridor. He says he didn't sleep at all, and I believe him. He's one +of my best agents. The occupant of Bedroom D<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> came on the train at +Baltimore and went right to bed. The night passed quietly, until it +was time to get Marks up. Tom had great trouble waking him up, and he +was groggy until this strange effect hit him. Rick and Scotty know. +They were there."</p> + +<p>The boys shuddered, remembering Marks' condition.</p> + +<p>"But where did the opportunity to drug him come in?" Weiss asked.</p> + +<p>"We've done some fast checking on every possible angle," Steve said +quietly, "and we've found a couple of interesting things. First of +all, the man who reserved Bedroom D is in a Baltimore hospital. He was +struck by a hit-and-run car as he walked from his office to the +railroad station. Obviously, he was struck deliberately. He's in +critical condition."</p> + +<p>"Then the man on the train..." Rick gasped.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Who was the man on the train? We don't know. We've had our +Boston office go over the room, and they've turned up no fingerprints +except those of the porter who cleaned up after the train left New +York. The room was wiped clean. But our Boston men also found an +interesting spot on the rug. They had a sample analyzed, and so far as +we can determine, it's a kind of water-soluble salt paste often used +by doctors when they take electrocardiograms."</p> + +<p>The group leaned forward, interested. Rick knew the kind of stuff +Steve meant, because he had once watched Zircon getting an +electrocardiogram. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> big scientist had fainted from sheer overwork, +and possible heart complications were suspected. The technician +squeezed the paste from a tube and applied it to wrists, ankles, and +chest, under the metal terminals of the machine. Its purpose was to +allow a better electrical contact.</p> + +<p>Julius Weiss demanded excitedly, "Steve, do you imply that this +unknown person took an electrocardiogram of Marks' heart responses?"</p> + +<p>The JANIG agent shrugged. "I imply nothing. I'm merely reporting."</p> + +<p>Again Parnell Winston spoke. "Perhaps I can shed some light on this. +It's true that such an electropaste is used to make better connections +for electrocardiograms. But perhaps of greater importance for this +discussion, it is also used in making electroencephalograms."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty spoke in unison. "What?"</p> + +<p>Winston turned to them. "It's a long word, but not a difficult one. +<i>Electro</i> for electrical. <i>Encephalo</i> is simply a Greek form meaning +'the brain.' <i>Gram</i>, also from the Greek, means something drawn or +written. A record, if you like. So an electroencephalogram is simply +an electrical recording of the brain."</p> + +<p>"That may be significant," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "But, +assuming an enemy could get an EEG—which is the handy way of saying +electroencephalogram, Rick and Scotty—what would he do with it?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>Parnell Winston rose. "Hartson, I think you can conduct the rest of +this without me. I have an extraordinary notion whirling around in my +head that I'd like to discuss with Chavez. I'll pick up the car at the +pier and drive over, if you don't mind. And by the way, Steve, can +JANIG get some information for me?"</p> + +<p>"We can try."</p> + +<p>"Good. I want to know if the two team scientists who were stricken +first had EEG's made after the attack. I would also like to check +their medical history, as completely as possible, to find out if EEG's +were ever taken while they were normal."</p> + +<p>"I'll give the orders right away," Steve agreed. "I don't know what we +can turn up on their early medical history, but we can try."</p> + +<p>Parnell Winston departed. Rick almost wished he had asked permission +to accompany Winston, but there was more to be said here, too.</p> + +<p>"The evidence is not conclusive," Hartson Brant summed up, "but it is +certainly strong enough to warrant a clear assumption: we have an +enemy who, by unknown means, can inflict brain damage."</p> + +<p>"All right. Now for some loose ends." Steve looked at the boys. "Rick +and Scotty turned up a barber in Whiteside. It happened they had first +seen him in the project office building in Washington, so they got his +name and called. We were already checking on the barber, and knew he +was in Whiteside. We'll dig deeper until we know more about him than +he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> does. But for now, our information indicates he is just what he +claims to be. He got the job in Whiteside legitimately. He had planned +to take a new job for a long time. So far as we can tell, he's as +innocent as a woolly little lamb."</p> + +<p>"Just the same," Rick said stoutly, "I'm not satisfied. I'd like to +get some more dope on that massage machine of his. Especially after +what Dr. Winston said."</p> + +<p>Steve grinned. "Why don't you?"</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty looked at each other, and rose to the challenge. "We +will," they stated flatly.</p> + +<p>Steve nodded. "All right. You're known in Whiteside and my men are +not. An influx of strangers, or even one inquisitive stranger, would +attract attention. But that's not all. I have another job for you, +too."</p> + +<p>They waited eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I want a survey of the area. My Boy Scout team can help somewhat, but +they're strangers, too, even though they have an explanation for their +presence. Scan the area for anything suspicious. Get your newspaper +pals on the job and have them sniff around for evidence of any strange +folks in the area. They can do it easily."</p> + +<p>"We'll do it," Rick agreed. There was nothing hard about looking for +strangers in their own territory. He knew exactly how to go about it.</p> + +<p>"All right. Search for strangers. Get your pals on the job, but do it +without tipping anything off.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> That State Police captain you've worked +with will be a big help, too. You can tell him national security is +involved, but that's all."</p> + +<p>"At least we're not working entirely in the dark any more," Dr. +Morrison said wearily. "Even if the assumption of an enemy is wrong, +it's something to go on."</p> + +<p>Rick stood up. The conference apparently was at an end.</p> + +<p>"Tonight we'll plan," he announced. "And tomorrow we'll start. If +there are any strangers in the area, you'll have full particulars by +tomorrow night."</p> + +<p>"That," said Steve Ames, "is a promise I'll hold you to."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h2>The Dangerous Resemblance</h2> + + +<p>Rick stirred, and whatever he had been dreaming faded into vagueness. +He couldn't have said what he had been dreaming about. He was neither +asleep nor awake, but in the shadowland somewhere between. Something +as yet undefined had brought him halfway toward awakening, but the +influence was not powerful enough to bring his senses alert.</p> + +<p>And then, suddenly, he was wide awake, ears straining to listen. He +sensed a presence in the room, and even as he tried to recognize it, a +form landed on his chest and steel spikes drove into his ribs. He +leaped up with a yell as another form landed on the bed. Both forms +were making fantastic noises.</p> + +<p>His eyes opened wide as he suddenly realized that a rousing cat-dog +fight was taking place on his stomach!</p> + +<p>Scotty ran in and leaped for the battlers. He grabbed the spitting, +snarling cat and held it high.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> Dismal let out a wail of anguish as he +realized his hated enemy was out of reach.</p> + +<p>Rick shouted, "Down, boy!"</p> + +<p>Dismal leaped high and landed again with four feet bunched on Rick's +stomach.</p> + +<p>Rick's shout died into a gurgle. Not that the pup was heavy, but he +had landed while his master was in the midst of a breath, with muscles +relaxed.</p> + +<p>Scotty put the cat into the hall and closed the door, trapping Dismal +in the room. Then he turned and laughed at Rick's discomfort.</p> + +<p>"Next time you arrange a fight for your personal entertainment, you'd +better have a referee on hand."</p> + +<p>"It was a draw," Rick said ruefully, "except that the innocent +bystander lost. Whatever got into Dismal?"</p> + +<p>Scotty was dressed. Apparently he had already been downstairs. "The +cat went too far. Dismal found him drinking from his water dish."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. That was adding insult to injury, all right. He stripped +off the blankets and examined his stomach. Shah's claws had dug right +through blanket, sheet, and pajamas, but had not drawn blood.</p> + +<p>"It was time to get up, anyway," he said philosophically. "Gangway, +Scotty. I'm going to shower and dress. We've got work to do."</p> + +<p>"Uhuh. The passengers are waiting downstairs," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>Rick blinked. "What passengers?"</p> + +<p>"Jan and Barby. They want to go."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boys had decided the evening before that they would start the +search with a flight in the Sky Wagon. After a quick inspection of the +area, which probably wouldn't disclose much, they planned to go into +Whiteside for a talk with Jerry and Duke at the newspaper office, and +with Captain Douglas of the State Police.</p> + +<p>Rick considered. He didn't mind taking the girls around on pleasure +junkets, but this was business. "Why do they have to go?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Scotty shrugged. "They don't. But Jan is plenty upset over Dr. Marks, +and Barby is starting to worry about Dad and the others. If we leave +them here, they'll just stew. If they go, it may take their minds off +things."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's right. Anyway, they can't get in the way much. We'll +stick 'em in the back seat."</p> + +<p>"Come on, then. Let's eat and get going."</p> + +<p>Rick showered and dressed hurriedly, and got downstairs just in time +to take his seat at the breakfast table. After bidding the family good +morning, he turned to Jan. "Shah and Dismal had a fight this morning."</p> + +<p>Jan put a hand to her mouth. "Oh! Shah didn't hurt him, did he?"</p> + +<p>That nettled Rick a little. The idea of assuming that a mere cat, even +a champion Persian, could win a fight with Dismal! Then common sense +got the better of him. The unhappy truth was, Shah could lick Dismal +with no strain at all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No damage," he replied. "Except to me. The war took place on my +stomach."</p> + +<p>Jan was supposed to look sorry, but she didn't. She giggled. Barby +giggled, too.</p> + +<p>"I guess they thought you'd be a fair witness if anyone asked who +won," Jan explained.</p> + +<p>Rick saw he was getting no sympathy. After all, what could anyone do? +Dogs and cats were just natural enemies. Besides, if he was fair about +it, he had to admit that Shah teased the pup but didn't start serious +fights.</p> + +<p>After breakfast the four young people went down to the beach where the +Sky Wagon was hauled up. In a few moments they were air-borne. Rick +headed for Seaford, the fishing town down the coast. It didn't make +much sense to go farther south than that. Beside him, Scotty polished +the binocular lenses with a piece of lens tissue from the camera kit, +and started sweeping the area below.</p> + +<p>Apparently all was normal along the seacoast and in Seaford, but that +meant nothing. The area could be loaded with strangers and they'd +never know it from the air.</p> + +<p>Rick had a sudden idea. "Let's call Cap'n Mike and get him on the job. +If there are any strangers in Seaford, he'll know it."</p> + +<p>"I think that's a wonderful idea," Barby called from the back seat.</p> + +<p>Jan asked, "Who is Cap'n Mike?"</p> + +<p>Barby immediately related the adventure of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> <i>Smugglers' Reef</i>, and the +part the retired fishing skipper had played.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike knew everything worth while about the town of Seaford. He +would be a good check point not only for the town, but also for the +summer colonies between Whiteside and Seaford. He often acted as a +fishing guide for the summer tourists.</p> + +<p>Rick checked the summer colonies from the air, although he had little +expectation of seeing anything unusual.</p> + +<p>Barby pointed down as they passed over one. "Look! Scotty, let me have +the glasses."</p> + +<p>Both boys turned quickly. "What do you see?" Scotty asked. He handed +her the glasses.</p> + +<p>"The gaudiest houseboat!" Barby exclaimed. "Jan, it's painted orange!"</p> + +<p>The boys snorted.</p> + +<p>After inspecting the coast from Seaford past Spindrift to the more +populated areas on the north, Rick swung inland to inspect the woods +near Whiteside. He didn't know exactly what to look for, except +possibly unexplained campfires that could be investigated later.</p> + +<p>He landed at Spindrift and went at once to the house. Cap'n Mike +didn't have a phone, but Rick knew how to get a message to him. +Scotty, listening, said, "He won't be in. The fleet is still out +fishing this time of day."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "It's Sunday. Lost track of time?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>Scotty had. But suddenly he snapped his fingers. "Hey! Duke and Jerry +are coming over for dinner."</p> + +<p>His message to Cap'n Mike en route through a mutual friend, Rick +motioned to Scotty. "Let's go."</p> + +<p>They took both of the island boats, planning to leave one for Duke and +Jerry to use later in the day. Then, after tying up the boats at the +main pier and getting the car, they called first on Captain Douglas of +the State Police.</p> + +<p>The officer knew the boys well, and knew in addition of their +connection with JANIG. He promised readily to assist.</p> + +<p>"Probably my own officers won't be too much help," he said, "but they +can ask the local police to keep their eyes open up and down the +coast. We won't say anything about the federal government being +interested. To everyone but me, this will be a routine State Police +matter."</p> + +<p>Rick hesitated for a moment, but he was sure of Captain Douglas' +discretion. "We're interested in the new barber, too," he added. +"Steve Ames is already checking him, but you might keep your eyes +open."</p> + +<p>"I'll do that," Captain Douglas assured him. "And how about the Boy +Scout leaders camped behind Spindrift?"</p> + +<p>Rick was about to say casually that he didn't suspect any Boy Scout +leaders, then he caught the twinkle in the captain's eye.</p> + +<p>"He's hep," Scotty said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>Captain Douglas nodded. "One of my officers paid them a call. He's a +sharp one, and he made some kind of excuse for getting into their +tent. He came back and reported they were apparently on a hunting +expedition of some kind—with riot guns. I took a car full of armed +troopers and we dropped in. One of the Scout leaders turned out to be +a man who was in the same FBI class that I attended. He showed me his +identification card, so I gave him my phone number in case he needed +help. And that was that."</p> + +<p>Scotty said thoughtfully, "I guess the hardest thing in the world is +keeping a secret."</p> + +<p>"That's the second hardest," Douglas corrected. "The hardest usually +is finding out how the secret became public in the first place."</p> + +<p>The boys went from the State Police barracks to the Whiteside <i>Morning +Record</i> and found Jerry on the job. "The press never sleeps," he +greeted them. "What brings you two to town on a peaceful Sunday?"</p> + +<p>"We brought you a boat," Rick explained. "In exchange for a favor."</p> + +<p>Jerry eyed them suspiciously. "What kind of a favor?"</p> + +<p>It took only a moment to explain. "Sure," Jerry agreed. "Duke won't +object to keeping you posted. We'll keep an eye open for you. And +we'll collect for the favor with an extra helping of pie tonight."</p> + +<p>"It's a deal," Rick agreed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>As it turned out, Jerry's bargain of an extra helping of pie was +conservative. He had three for dessert that night.</p> + +<p>Rick noticed that both Jerry and Duke eyed Dr. Morrison curiously, and +he knew they were trying to recall if they had ever seen a picture +that would help place him in their minds. Not that they would use the +information. It was just that newspapermen developed a high order of +frustration in the face of a mystery.</p> + +<p>But Jan noticed something else. She came over to where Rick was +pouring fresh coffee for his friends. "Rick, those friends of yours +are nice. Have you noticed how much Mr. Barrows looks like Dad?"</p> + +<p>Rick looked. The two were deep in conversation, and it was the first +time he had seen them together. They looked very much alike, +particularly in the gathering darkness. They were about the same +height, give or take a fraction of an inch, and both had the same +shock of unruly hair. They probably weighed within five pounds of each +other. Actually, however, the resemblance was superficial. They might +have been cousins, but not brothers.</p> + +<p>"They do look alike," Rick agreed.</p> + +<p>Later, he saw Jan deep in conversation with Jerry and wandered by, to +eavesdrop a little. He knew that Jerry was entirely trustworthy, but +his friend was also a nosy reporter who would try to pump the girl. +Rick intended to step in and break it up if that were the case.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The Virgin Islands sound wonderful," Jerry was saying. "How long did +Rick and the others stay with your family?"</p> + +<p>"They never actually stayed with us," Jan replied. "Of course we +invited them to, but they were so anxious to get to Clipper Cay, they +only stayed one night in town. We met them that night, at Dr. Ernst's. +He's a mutual friend. I was excited about the treasure, and I begged +Dad to take Mother and me to Clipper Cay, so I could dive with the +boys. He was going to take us, too, only everyone was back in +Charlotte Amalie with the treasure before we had a chance."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned and went on his way. Jan was talking with great +assurance. He didn't have to worry about Jerry breaking down the cover +story.</p> + +<p>It was late when the party broke up. Rick and Scotty took their guests +to Whiteside Pier, where Duke had left his car. As they roared up to +the pier Rick had to swerve to avoid a pram, a blunt-ended rowboat, +that had been tied carelessly in the place where he usually tied up. +He wondered who owned it. Prams were not usual along the coast.</p> + +<p>Jerry and Duke climbed out after thanking the boys again for a fine +dinner. The two walked off into the darkness toward the parking lot.</p> + +<p>Rick started to back out and head for home, then paused. He was +curious about the pram.</p> + +<p>"Hand me the boat hook," he told Scotty.</p> + +<p>His pal obliged. "What's up?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm curious. Who around here has a pram?"</p> + +<p>"No one I know. That looks like a new one, too."</p> + +<p>Rick pulled the little rowboat closer with the boat hook and turned +the speedboat's searchlight on it, hoping to find a name.</p> + +<p>Suddenly both boys froze.</p> + +<p>"Was that a yell?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Scotty was already on his way up the pier. "Yes, from the parking lot. +Come on!"</p> + +<p>Rick hurriedly threw a rope around a piling and secured it with a +couple of fast half-hitches, then he hurried after Scotty.</p> + +<p>It was pitch dark in the parking lot, but they could hear sounds of a +scuffle plainly now, and once there was a muffled grunt.</p> + +<p>It suddenly occurred to Rick that he hadn't heard Duke's car start. He +sprinted, calling to Scotty to look for a weapon. Once, some time ago, +they had fought a battle with rocks against guns in this very spot. He +scooped up a couple of rocks, hoping no guns were waiting this time.</p> + +<p>"Hold 'em!" Scotty yelled. "We're coming!"</p> + +<p>There was a yell in reply. Jerry Webster called, "Watch it! They're +running away!"</p> + +<p>Car headlights switched on, and in their glare Rick saw Jerry +pointing. For a moment he considered following his friends' +assailants, then abandoned the idea. They could escape easily in the +woods.</p> + +<p>"What happened?" Scotty demanded.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_06.jpg" width="500" height="751" alt=""I'm curious. Who around here has a pram?"" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>Duke Barrows got out of the car, nursing his head.</p> + +<p>"Two men jumped us when we started to get into the car," he answered +shakily. "One smacked me on the head with something hard and almost +knocked me out. If Jerry hadn't put up a good fight, they'd have had +us—although I don't know what for."</p> + +<p>"Were they holdup men?" Rick asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"They didn't wear signs," Duke answered grumpily. "But holdup men +usually say something, don't they? 'This is a stickup.' Or something +like that."</p> + +<p>Jerry Webster examined bruised knuckles in the glare of the car head +lamps. "They didn't say anything," he added. "Not a word. When you +yelled, they broke off and ran into the woods."</p> + +<p>Scotty scratched his head. "Mighty funny," he mused. "What could they +have wanted?"</p> + +<p>Duke Barrows brushed dirt off his jacket. "They probably were +reporters from a Newark paper," he said caustically, "trying to find +out about the mysterious visitors on Spindrift."</p> + +<p>It hit Rick then. "Duke," he exclaimed, "you look like Dr. Morrison! +I'll bet it was a case of mistaken identity!"</p> + +<p>The editor looked at him keenly. "Could be," he agreed. "That means +you have reason to believe someone would be interested in harming Dr. +Morrison."</p> + +<p>"I'm just assuming," Rick said hurriedly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Uh-hum." The editor grunted his disbelief. "And what should we do +about it?"</p> + +<p>Rick looked at Scotty, who shrugged. The shrug said that probably +nothing could be done now, so far as Duke and Jerry were concerned, +but that the case was far from closed.</p> + +<p>"Better notify Captain Douglas," Rick suggested. "I can't think of +anything else."</p> + +<p>Jerry Webster flexed an arm that appeared to be aching. "Sure that +won't conflict with your security people?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Rick assumed an air of wide-eyed innocence. "Now, Jerry! Who said +anything about security people? I just suggested you notify the State +Police. Who else would you notify when someone attacks you?"</p> + +<p>Duke climbed into the car. "Come on, Jerry. We'll get no satisfaction +out of these two. Let's go rub liniment on our wounds, and then we'll +make a report to the State Police. Good night, lads. And I hope your +mystery bites you. Let me know if it does, so I can say 'I told you +so' in print."</p> + +<p>The boys waved as Duke drove off, leaving them in darkness. As they +made their way back to the speedboat, Rick spoke his thoughts aloud.</p> + +<p>"I guess the enemy uses muscles, too, huh?"</p> + +<p>Scotty answered thoughtfully, "Looks like it. Unless they really were +holdup men."</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head, even though Scotty couldn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> see the reaction. +"Pretty unlikely. But suppose the enemy kept a watch on movements in +and out of Spindrift? From a distance they might assume that Duke was +Morrison. So it would make sense for them to keep a watch at the pier +in case he came back—which he did."</p> + +<p>"And when he came back, they'd either murder him or kidnap him?" +Scotty sounded disbelieving. "I doubt it. Nothing the enemy has done +so far points to that kind of tactic. Why should they start using +muscle methods now?"</p> + +<p>Rick had no good answer. "Let's step on it," he said. "We have to +report this. I have a hunch the Boy Scout team is going to be scouring +the woods around here tonight."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h2>The Coast Guard Draws a Blank</h2> + + +<p>Rick said quietly, "And so the wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood, and +when the grandmother heard about it she said—"</p> + +<p>Barby's voice erupted in the tiny earphone plug in Rick's ear. "I +don't think that's very funny, Rick Brant!"</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up. "Barby doesn't like realism in her fairy tales."</p> + +<p>Barby answered, "I don't think you're very funny either, Donald +Scott!" Her voice faded on the last word.</p> + +<p>Rick asked quickly, "Barby, did you move then?"</p> + +<p>"No, Rick. Why?"</p> + +<p>"You faded. Scotty, did you notice a fade?"</p> + +<p>"Negative. I did not."</p> + +<p>Rick asked, "Barby, please recite something."</p> + +<p>"Recite what?"</p> + +<p>"Anything."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barby began, "She walks in beauty like the night..."</p> + +<p>Rick turned slowly, listening for differences in strength of signal +received.</p> + +<p>Scotty interrupted. "Hey, what's that?"</p> + +<p>"Lord Byron," Barby said loftily. "I wouldn't expect you to know."</p> + +<p>Rick had it now. "Okay," he called. "Come on in."</p> + +<p>He had been standing on the front porch of the Brant home. Scotty was +inside the laboratory building, while Barby and Jan were at Pirate's +Field. Presently Scotty joined him and grinned. "Work good?"</p> + +<p>"Perfect."</p> + +<p>Barby and Jan came through the orchard and up on the porch. Barby was +wearing an ornamental plastic head band, not too gaudy for daytime +wear, but not too simple for anything dressy. She had arranged her +hair so the gadget was hardly noticeable. A wave of smooth blond hair +hid the little bump made by the battery.</p> + +<p>"Technically," Barby stated, "it worked fine. But the program material +was terrible."</p> + +<p>The boys chuckled. "How do you know it was technically fine?" Scotty +teased.</p> + +<p>Barby looked at him coolly. "Because I heard Rick perfectly."</p> + +<p>"And I heard you and Scotty," Rick agreed. "All three units work fine. +Have you switched them off?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barby reached up and seemed to pat her hair slightly. "I forgot," she +admitted. "Now it's off."</p> + +<p>Rick looked at Jan. "Could you hear me through Barby's phone while I +was talking?"</p> + +<p>Jan shook her head. "No, I couldn't. I was listening, too. These are +wonderful, Rick."</p> + +<p>He smiled his thanks. "One interesting thing, though. I should have +known, but it didn't occur to me. The receivers are directional."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Barby asked.</p> + +<p>"Directional. The antenna is a tiny coil. When it's broadside to the +incoming signal, the volume is loudest, but when it's end on, the +volume is much less. So, if you can't hear well, just turn sideways. +Turn until the signal is loudest."</p> + +<p>Scotty took his transceiver from his pocket and examined it with +pride. It was no larger than a pack of playing cards, and its +sensitive microphone was incorporated right into the case. The tiny +antenna was a piece of stiff steel wire only two inches long. The +whole gadget fitted easily into an inside coat pocket without a +noticeable bulge.</p> + +<p>Barby's rig was slightly different. The antenna ran along one edge of +the plastic strip. At one end the microphone was in contact with her +head just above the ear, allowing for transmission of voice by bone +conduction, a new method developed by the United States Air Force. At +the other end of the band a tiny speaker made similar contact. Rick +had worried about the effectiveness of both mike<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> and phone, since he +had never used the types before, but the design had turned out very +well.</p> + +<p>"Pretty neat if we do say so," Scotty admitted modestly.</p> + +<p>"For once I agree with you," Barby said generously. "Now what, Rick? +There isn't anything more to do, is there?"</p> + +<p>"Not on these." But there was more to do along other lines. He was +waiting for word from JANIG. Barby and Jan disappeared and returned in +a few moments with iced drinks. The boys accepted them gratefully. It +was a warm day.</p> + +<p>"How about a swim?" Scotty suggested.</p> + +<p>Rick was about to point out that they might have work to do when Joe +Blake, the JANIG agent in charge at the laboratory, hailed him. Rick +ran to meet the agent.</p> + +<p>"The boys on the mainland didn't turn up a thing," Blake reported. +"They searched from a half mile south of the pier to a half mile +north. No pram anywhere."</p> + +<p>Rick snapped his fingers. "I had a hunch they wouldn't! Okay. I'm +going to take off right now and search the coast. If that pram wasn't +connected with the attack on Duke and Jerry, I'll eat it."</p> + +<p>"Good luck," Blake said. "Let me know if you need any help."</p> + +<p>Rick hurried back to the porch. The JANIG scout team had reported +early in the morning that the pram was gone from the pier. They had +been cover<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>ing the Whiteside area most of the night, searching for +some sign of the pair that had attacked Rick's friends, but had turned +up nothing suspicious.</p> + +<p>Then, at Rick's suggestion, they had undertaken a search for the pram. +His point was simply that he had never seen a pram in the Whiteside +area—something that strangers would not have known. They might have +figured that tying up in plain sight was the best way of hiding their +boat. It would have been, if prams had been more common.</p> + +<p>He motioned to Scotty. "Let's go. No sign of the pram."</p> + +<p>Barby rose instantly. "Can we go with you?"</p> + +<p>Rick considered, then nodded. He could see no objection to taking them +on what could only be a short plane trip.</p> + +<p>As they hurried to the plane, Scotty said, "What bothers me is, why +didn't the JANIG team have someone at the landing?"</p> + +<p>"They did," Rick replied. "I asked the same question. Their roving +patrol had been by there a short time earlier, but saw nothing +suspicious. After all, they can't post men everywhere. So two of them +take turns keeping watch on the tidal flats, in case anyone tries to +cross from the mainland directly to here. The other two keep moving."</p> + +<p>"But it's funny anyone would attack Duke and Jerry," Barby objected. +"It isn't ... well, logical."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. Logic and his sister had never become well acquainted. +He answered, "Suppose the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> enemy had been keeping track of movements +by water to Spindrift? That isn't farfetched. They could do it easily +without being noticed. Then, late yesterday, they saw two men get in a +boat and come to the island. They were probably watching from cover. +And what did they see?"</p> + +<p>Jan answered excitedly, "Jerry, and a man who looked like my father!"</p> + +<p>"That's it, Jan. So, if I guess correctly, they waited, hoping the man +they thought was Dr. Morrison would come back. And he did, and they +were waiting."</p> + +<p>"Sounds reasonable," Scotty agreed. "Except for one small thing. Why +attack Dr. Morrison when all they have to do is turn on a gadget and +his mind goes blank?"</p> + +<p>Jan shuddered visibly. Scotty added hurriedly, "Sorry, Jan."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's not that simple," Rick said thoughtfully. "If they only +have to turn on a gadget, why did they need to drug Dr. Marks?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer to that. As soon as they were air-borne, Rick +headed north, searching the coastline, swinging low now and then to +examine marinas where numbers of boats were tied up. Scotty kept the +binoculars working, but there was no sign of a pram.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose it's under cover somewhere?" Barby asked.</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. "Maybe. They might cover it if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> they thought anyone +would come looking for it."</p> + +<p>"They'll surely think of that, won't they?" Barby asked.</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily. After all, they tied up at the pier in plain sight. +I think they assumed no one would worry about a small rowboat. They +just didn't know prams are uncommon."</p> + +<p>Scotty put the glasses down for a moment and rubbed his eyes. "How far +could they have come, anyway? We're miles above Spindrift, and no one +would row that far."</p> + +<p>He was right, of course. Rick admitted, "I've been racking my brains, +and I can't remember whether or not the pram had an outboard motor. +Just as I was about to take a close look, Jerry yelled. Do you +remember, Scotty?"</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "But even with an outboard, they probably +wouldn't have come this far."</p> + +<p>"Check." Rick swung the Sky Wagon around and headed south on a +straight course to Spindrift. As the fast little plane passed over the +Brant house he throttled back and dropped lower. "Let's start the +search again."</p> + +<p>Every cove was investigated, and anything that might have been a boat +was inspected carefully. Then, as they reached the summer colony north +of Seaford, Barby exclaimed, "Look! There's that fancy houseboat +again!"</p> + +<p>The houseboat was putting out from land, swinging on a northerly +course. Rick saw that it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> powered by twin outboards and that it +cruised at about fifteen knots.</p> + +<p>Scotty yelled, "Hey! Behind the houseboat! Look at the dory they're +towing!"</p> + +<p>Rick swung low and craned his neck to see. It was! The houseboat used +a pram as a tender, and the pram had its own low-power outboard motor.</p> + +<p>"That's enough," he said with satisfaction. He kept the Sky Wagon on a +southerly course until Seaford passed below, to keep the houseboaters +from thinking the plane's sole interest had been in them. Beyond +Seaford, he picked up Cap'n Mike's shack across the road from the old +windmill.</p> + +<p>"Let's see if Mike's home," he said, and stood the wagon up on a wing. +He leveled off in time to buzz low over the old shack, which was not +as shabby as it looked, and neat as a ship's cabin inside, then he +pulled up into a screaming Immelman and looked out.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike emerged from the shack waving what seemed to be a shirt. +Rick waggled his wings in greeting, then did a wing over that brought +him back low and fast over the old seaman's head. Cap'n Mike was +grinning broadly as he waved.</p> + +<p>Rick set a course north and slightly inland. In a short time he was +back on the water again, taxiing to the Spindrift beach.</p> + +<p>While the others went to the house, he stopped at the lab and reported +to Joe Blake that he had found a pram. The agent got what details Rick +had,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> and passed the word to the shore team on the mainland with +instructions to follow the houseboat's movements from shore. Then he +went to the phone and called Steve Ames.</p> + +<p>Finally Joe hung up. "Steve says to keep an eye on the houseboat, but +to take no action. He's going to do a little investigating."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't say. But he expects to have something by tonight."</p> + +<p>With that, Rick had to be satisfied.</p> + +<p>Apparently Steve wasted no time, because Barby answered the phone just +before dinner, then called:</p> + +<p>"It's Steve Ames, Rick!"</p> + +<p>Rick ran to the telephone.</p> + +<p>"Thought I'd let you know," Steve reported. "I had the Coast Guard pay +a visit to your houseboat this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"You did?" Rick was incredulous. "But that means they're tipped off +now that we're watching them!"</p> + +<p>Steve sounded hurt. "Fine thing," he said, wounded. "No faith, huh? +Ever hear of the Coast Guard's courtesy inspection service?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. They'll inspect your boat for safety."</p> + +<p>"That's it. And that's the gag we used. We sent a brand-new ensign, a +real boyish type. He checked half a dozen boats before he got to the +houseboat. When he pulled alongside and offered a courtesy +investigation, they invited him aboard like an old friend."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What did he find?" Rick asked excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Nothing. All was in order, and the boat had plenty of extinguishers, +life jackets, and other safety items, so he gave it a clean bill of +health. They fed him iced tea and cookies, and waved good-by as if he +was their long-lost son."</p> + +<p>"What kind of people were they?"</p> + +<p>"Two middle-aged couples. Business partners, from Trenton, and their +wives. We got the names from him and checked. They really are +partners, in a used-car business. Sorry, Rick. Looks like another dead +end. The Coast Guard drew a blank this time."</p> + +<p>"But there isn't another pram within miles of Spindrift," Rick +objected.</p> + +<p>"All right. We'll be keeping an eye on these people, but we have no +grounds for any action. Any luck with the barber?"</p> + +<p>"We haven't tried yet," Rick told him. "Tomorrow's the day. We've been +getting the Megabuck network completed in case we need to +communicate."</p> + +<p>"Okay. Good luck, and keep me informed."</p> + +<p>"I will, Steve."</p> + +<p>Rick hung up and returned to the porch, deep in thought. To the +waiting trio he said, "A blank. Nothing. Looks like the barber is +still our best lead."</p> + +<p>"That houseboat is in it, too," Barby stated positively.</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" Scotty asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's too flashy," Barby explained. "Too bright. Really nice people +wouldn't have a boat that color. You wait and see, they're in this +somehow!"</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head, more in sorrow than in anger. "Good thing the +boat isn't bright red," he said wearily. "That would really be proof +they're criminals!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h2>The Megabuck Mob Acts</h2> + + +<p>Barby Brant flew up the stairs and ran down the hall, skidding to a +stop in front of Rick's door. Then, conscious that her burst of speed +was less than dignified, she drew herself up and tapped on the door +gently.</p> + +<p>Rick had just finished dressing. He opened the door, and his eyebrows +went up at Barby's poorly concealed excitement.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" he demanded. "Atom bomb ticking in the library or +something?"</p> + +<p>Barby made a heroic effort to be casual. "I just thought you might be +interested. The houseboat is anchored in North Cove."</p> + +<p>Rick was very much interested! North Cove was between Spindrift and +Whiteside pier. He felt a tingle of excitement. Was the enemy closing +in?</p> + +<p>"Did you see it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No, but Dad did. He went over to pick up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> morning papers, and +there it was. It must have gone by during the night."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Barby," Rick said absently. His mind was already exploring +the possibilities. The houseboat had taken up the ideal position for +watching comings and goings from Spindrift. The cove was even close +enough so the sound of the Sky Wagon's engine could be heard clearly.</p> + +<p>Yet, according to Steve, the people on it were ordinary enough. There +was nothing suspicious about them, except that they had the only pram +in the area. He wondered if perhaps the pram had nothing to do with +the attack on Duke and Jerry. After all, people on houseboats had to +land once in a while, for shopping.</p> + +<p>In the same moment, he realized that Whiteside was closed tight on +Sunday evenings. There was nothing to be bought. That was when the +attack had taken place.</p> + +<p>He ate breakfast with minimum conversation, only vaguely conscious +that the others were watching him with interest, aware that he was +chewing over the problem in his own fashion.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, Scotty broke in. "Well, what's all the high-brain +activity leading up to?"</p> + +<p>Rick was just about ready. "Couple of things," he said. "First, we +have only two possibilities for enemy contacts in the area. The +houseboaters, and the barber. There may be others, but we don't know +about them."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right. What do we do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, suppose both are involved. Is that a reasonable assumption?"</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded thoughtfully. "I think so. The barber ties in because he +came from Washington, and he has the machine. The houseboaters tie in +because of the pram."</p> + +<p>"Okay. Then if both are involved, they have to contact each other +sometime. They have to exchange information, at the very least."</p> + +<p>Scotty was with him. "And it would be easier for the houseboaters to +contact the barber than vice versa. Because everyone has to get a +haircut sooner or later. Right?"</p> + +<p>"One hundred percent. So we keep a watch on both. I'll work it out +with Joe Blake. We could keep watch by day, when possibility of +contact is greatest because the barbershop is open. The JANIG team on +the mainland can keep watch by night, because if the houseboaters and +the barber meet at night it will have to be in the woods. Anywhere in +town would be too obvious—except for the barbershop."</p> + +<p>Barby and Jan had listened in silence, but Barby could contain herself +no longer. "And we're going to help!"</p> + +<p>To Barby's astonishment, Rick nodded. She had expected opposition. +"You and Jan can keep watch of the houseboat. Scotty and I will take +the mainland. If the houseboaters start for Whiteside pier,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> you'll +tell us. We'll pick them up as they land and trail 'em."</p> + +<p>Barby nodded, pleased. "The Megabuck Mob goes into action! We'll use +the radio network. Right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. First thing is, where do you take up a position? If I remember +correctly, you can see North Cove from the attic. It will be kind of +hot up there, but maybe we can rig a fan."</p> + +<p>"We won't mind," Jan said swiftly. "When do we start?"</p> + +<p>"Right now."</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up. "You said you had a couple of things. What's the +other one?"</p> + +<p>"We have to get a look at the barber's machine. I don't know how we'll +do it. But we can figure out something."</p> + +<p>In the back of Rick's mind was the thought that the houseboaters might +have moved nearer Whiteside for the purpose of contacting the barber, +as well as to get a better look at traffic between Spindrift and the +mainland. If that were true, they had better hurry.</p> + +<p>He had another thought, too. "What time is it?"</p> + +<p>Barby consulted her watch. "Five before eight. Why?"</p> + +<p>"The barbershop doesn't open until nine. I think it might be useful to +have someone call on the houseboaters and try to pump them a little. +It might be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> interesting to hear why they chose to anchor in North +Cove."</p> + +<p>Barby's eyes got round. "Would you do it?"</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. "It can't be anyone from Spindrift, or from the +police. It has to be someone plausible. I'm thinking of Cap'n Mike."</p> + +<p>"Hey, that's just the ticket!" Scotty shook Rick's hand solemnly. +"Cap'n Mike can pretend to be fishing, the way he used to when he was +keeping an eye on Creek House. He could drift over to the houseboat +and ask for a drink of water, or something, and strike up a +conversation. They'd think he was just a typical salty character."</p> + +<p>"Then that's how we'll do it. Scotty, suppose you get the binoculars +for Barby, then rig up a fan. I'll go get Cap'n Mike. It won't take +long, and we can have something set before the barbershop opens."</p> + +<p>Scotty helped Rick push the plane out from the beach, then collected +the binoculars. Rick warmed the plane and checked the gas. He could +use a few minutes to gas up, too. There was a pier in Seaford where he +could land and get the proper grade of fuel.</p> + +<p>He taxied out, headed into the wind, and took off. Then, to confuse +watchers, he headed straight for Whiteside. As he passed over the cove +he saw the houseboat, anchored in the best position for watching the +Spindrift-Whiteside boat course. His mouth was set in a straight line. +Maybe there was no proof, but how much circumstantial evidence was +needed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> to paint a picture? He was sure the houseboat was a part of +the plot against the project.</p> + +<p>Far inland, out of sight of the coast, he swung south, picked up Salt +Creek and followed it to Smugglers' Reef. He turned down the coast +past the town, buzzed Cap'n Mike's shack, and landed.</p> + +<p>Captain Michael Aloysius Kevin O'Shannon was at the pier when he +docked. Rick cut the engine and climbed out on the pontoon. He heaved +a line to the old seaman, who hauled him to the pier.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike was nearly seventy years old, but as Rick well knew, he had +the vigor and keen mind of a man twenty years his junior. Under the +battered master's cap was a thatch of white hair and a strong, +weather-beaten face.</p> + +<p>"About time you paid a friendly call," Cap'n Mike greeted him. "Sorry +I found no strangers for you. Was goin' to call today. Where's +Scotty?"</p> + +<p>Rick felt a twinge of conscience. He had intended to pay a visit to +his friend so many times, but something always seemed to get in the +way. It had been many weeks since his last call.</p> + +<p>"It isn't exactly a social call," he said apologetically. "We need +your help, Cap'n Mike."</p> + +<p>The old man looked at him quizzically. "What for? Fishin' or +detectin'?"</p> + +<p>"Detectin'," Rick answered.</p> + +<p>"Accepted! Now I see why you were lookin' for strangers. When and +where do I start?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Right now, at Spindrift. Can you come?"</p> + +<p>"Wait'll I turn off my coffeepot. Anything I'll need?"</p> + +<p>"We'll want you to do a little fishing, too."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike nodded and hurried up the pier to his shack. In a few +minutes he was back, rod case and tackle box in hand. He cast off and +climbed into the plane. "Let's go, boy! Time's awastin'. Who we after +this time?"</p> + +<p>Rick started the engine and was air-borne before he answered. Then, +almost immediately, he had to land again to take on gas. By the time +he was in the air en route to Spindrift, Cap'n Mike was squirming so +impatiently that the whole plane seemed to vibrate.</p> + +<p>"Well, get on with it," he said irritably.</p> + +<p>Rick smiled. "All right. We don't know who we're after."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike grunted.</p> + +<p>"Seriously, we don't. Some folks in a houseboat are anchored in North +Cove. We want to find out why."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike nodded sagely. "For no reason. They just might be dangerous +criminals, so you want to investigate. All right, go ask 'em."</p> + +<p>"We can't. We want you to go fishing, and work your way to the +houseboat. Ask for a drink of water or something, then find out if you +can what they're doing."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_07.jpg" width="500" height="744" alt="Cap'n Mike quickly hauled the Sky Wagon to the pier" /></div> + +<p>"Got it all worked out, have ye?" The old captain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>snorted. "Where's +the fun in that? Like to do things my own way."</p> + +<p>Rick hurriedly backtracked. "All right, do it anyway you like. We just +want the information."</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>Rick sighed. "Can't tell you, Cap'n."</p> + +<p>"Must be I got untrustworthy since I saw you last."</p> + +<p>"It isn't that. It's a—well, it's a government matter."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike smacked his thigh with a calloused hand. "I should 'a' +known! All right, Rick. I'll do it. Then maybe I can get my +congressman to tell me what I've done."</p> + +<p>Rick made a great swing around Whiteside, pointing out the houseboat +to Cap'n Mike as he passed North Cove, and landed off Pirate's Field. +Scotty was waiting.</p> + +<p>After greeting the old seaman, Scotty said, "The girls are watching +from the attic. When do we get started?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as Cap'n Mike is fixed up."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike was pretty self-sufficient and required little attention. A +cup of hot coffee, a jug of fresh water, a little bait and a rowboat, +and he was on his way. Fortunately, the Spindrift boat landing was not +in sight of North Cove. Cap'n Mike sculled slowly along the shore. He +would emerge at the cove, surprising the houseboaters.</p> + +<p>Rick checked on the girls. They were engaged in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> making themselves +comfortable on an old bed they had dragged in front of the window from +which North Cove could be seen. He borrowed the glasses and looked at +the houseboat, then handed them back, satisfied. They could see +everything that went on.</p> + +<p>Barby had her plastic set in place. Rick checked, and found that she +had forgotten to turn it on. He grinned at her embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"I'll call you from downstairs, and again when we get set on the +mainland. Good luck."</p> + +<p>The girls echoed the wish.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Mike was fishing, allowing the rowboat to drift slowly in the +direction of the cove. Rick watched awhile, and was satisfied. If +anyone could put it over, Cap'n Mike could.</p> + +<p>"Now," he asked Scotty, "how do we get to Whiteside without attracting +attention?"</p> + +<p>Scotty scratched his head. "I don't know. Unless you want to walk. We +could cross the tidal flats and hike to town."</p> + +<p>Rick vetoed that. "Too far and too slow. The barber would have time to +cut twenty heads of hair before we got there."</p> + +<p>"How about asking Jerry to come for us?"</p> + +<p>"You've got it! He could come down the wood road and pick us up right +behind the island. He knows the way." Rick went into the library and +called the <i>Morning Record</i> number. Duke Barrows answered. Rick +explained that they had to get to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> Whiteside by the back way, without +volunteering why. Duke hesitated, then agreed to send Jerry.</p> + +<p>Rick smiled as he hung up. "Duke will get a story out of this +somehow," he said. "He's so curious he could burst a seam. Come on. +Jerry will get started right away."</p> + +<p>Just before nine o'clock the boys and Jerry arrived at the newspaper +office. Jerry was about to burst with curiosity, but he wasn't going +to let it get the better of him. He hadn't asked a single question all +the way from the wood road back of Whiteside into town.</p> + +<p>Duke Barrows was apparently taking the same tack. He looked up as the +boys entered, grunted, then continued working on the following day's +editorial.</p> + +<p>"Something just occurred to me," Rick said, after greeting the editor. +"Isn't this pretty early for you and Jerry to be at work? I thought a +morning paper didn't open for business until afternoon."</p> + +<p>"We never sleep," Duke said, without interrupting his work. "What do +you think this is, <i>The New York Times</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Never occurred to me," Rick said politely. "Although the quality of +the paper is about the same."</p> + +<p>The editor looked at Jerry. "When he talks like that, he wants +something. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Search me. I don't know what these two want, and I don't know when +they got deaf. Notice they're both wearing hearing aids?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>Duke hadn't. The boys grinned at his look of astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What we'd like," Scotty said, "if you care to co-operate, is to have +someone take a look at the barbershop. We want to know if the new +barber is on the job."</p> + +<p>Duke sharpened his pencil with loving care, using a penknife. "I won't +ask why you can't take a look yourselves," he said finally. "It's +pretty obvious."</p> + +<p>"Not to me," Jerry objected.</p> + +<p>"It should be. They don't want the barber to get a look at them, +because he saw them in Washington. They don't want him to know they're +interested, or that they know he's in town."</p> + +<p>Rick started to ask how Duke had known that much, then realized that +the editor had simply drawn the correct conclusion from the few words +that had been said before. Again Rick gained a clear insight into how +a little information can be built up into a lot. No wonder Steve and +his people had so much trouble protecting official secrets.</p> + +<p>Duke put his pencil down and rose. "It happens that I need a haircut. +Stand by." At the door he paused. "Anything else you want to know?"</p> + +<p>"We want to know about his massage machine," Rick said urgently. "Find +out all you can, Duke. Please? Particularly if it has any electrical +connections besides the wall plug."</p> + +<p>Duke studied them thoughtfully for a long moment, then turned and +left.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jerry watched his boss leave. "He's kinder to you two than I would +be," he stated. "He didn't ask a single question, even about the +hearing aids."</p> + +<p>Rick considered. There was nothing secret about the Megabuck network, +except that he and Barby would use it for a mind-reading act. Jerry +was trustworthy; he wouldn't give the act away.</p> + +<p>"Promise you'll keep it to yourself," Rick asked, and at ferry's +excited nod he took the tiny receiver from his ear and handed it to +Jerry.</p> + +<p>The reporter held it to his own ear, moving closer to Rick because the +cord was just long enough to reach from ear to inner pocket.</p> + +<p>Rick said, "Barby, say hello to Jerry."</p> + +<p>Apparently Barby did, because Jerry gave a surprised start.</p> + +<p>"Can I talk to her?" Jerry asked.</p> + +<p>Barby answered the question herself. The microphone, built right into +the little unit, was very sensitive and Rick's thin jacket did not +muffle it very much.</p> + +<p>"I'm fine," Jerry said.</p> + +<p>Rick grinned.</p> + +<p>Scotty could hear both sides of the conversation through his own set. +Now he broke in. "Any sign of activity yet?"</p> + +<p>"Cap'n Mike is fishing right near the houseboat. I can see the people +on the houseboat, but they're just having breakfast on the rear deck. +Where are you?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In the newspaper office. Duke has gone to check on the barber."</p> + +<p>Rick held out his hand and Jerry gave him the earpiece, grinning. +"What a rig!" the reporter marveled. "Where did you get it?"</p> + +<p>"Built it."</p> + +<p>During the next half hour, while they waited for Duke to return, Rick +told Jerry the story of the Megabuck Mob, omitting only what followed +when Steve Ames arrived.</p> + +<p>Then Duke returned, freshly barbered, trying to scratch his back. "One +thing about this new barber," he greeted them. "He's no better at +keeping hair out of your shirt than Vince is. Why is it that barbers +can't cut hair without getting it into places where it itches?"</p> + +<p>Rick smiled sympathetically. He knew how it was. No matter how careful +a barber tried to be, it seemed impossible to get a haircut without a +shower of hair clippings down the back. Usually they lodged where it +was impossible to scratch.</p> + +<p>Duke rubbed against the doorframe. "It's Vince Lardner's day off," he +began.</p> + +<p>Rick tensed. If the houseboaters were going to contact the barber, +they would naturally try to choose a time when they could see him +alone. Maybe there had been an earlier contact, and the barber had +told them he would be alone today. That might account for the +houseboat's moving closer to Whiteside.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Vince had gone fishing." The editor grinned. "I suspect that's the +only reason he got a helper, anyway, so he could go fishing more +often. There isn't really enough work in town for more than one +barber."</p> + +<p>"Did you look at the massage machine?" Rick asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>The editor nodded. "It's nothing but a hood, with three ordinary +massage gadgets inside. Vibrator heads, I think they're called."</p> + +<p>That tallied with the description Steve's agent had given. "Did you +examine it closely?" Rick pursued.</p> + +<p>"Yes. There's only one cord attached—the power cord. But I did notice +an interesting thing. Set around the edges are little disks, like +round covers. I started to lift one up, but the barber asked me to +stop. He said the machine is adjusted very carefully and I might upset +the adjustment."</p> + +<p>"Tough luck," Scotty said, disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know." Duke's eyes twinkled. "I got enough of a look to +see two tiny holes in the piece of stuff the disk covered. The stuff +was black, probably plastic. Like telephones are made of."</p> + +<p>"In other words," Rick said slowly, "you saw holes for electrical +plugs?"</p> + +<p>"I think so. I don't know what else they could be."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty exchanged glances.</p> + +<p>"What does it mean?" Jerry asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick answered. "We don't know. And I'm not kidding. We really don't +know."</p> + +<p>"I believe you," Duke said briefly. "Okay. I've done my bit, including +getting my hair cut. Anything else?"</p> + +<p>"We'd like to stick around," Rick replied. "Jerry already knows about +this, but Barby is watching a houseboat anchored in North Cove. If +anyone leaves the houseboat for the Whiteside pier, she'll call us. +We'll take over at the pier. It just might happen that the houseboater +will pay a call on the barber."</p> + +<p>Duke didn't comment, but Rick knew the editor's mind was at work. +"Make yourself at home," Duke said, and went back to his editorial +writing.</p> + +<p>Now and then Barby called, wanting to chat, but Rick discouraged her. +He was reasonably sure the enemy wouldn't be listening in on the +extremely short wave length on which the Megabuck network operated, +but there was no use taking any chances. After each conversation he +identified the sets with his own amateur call letters, even though it +was unlikely anyone could hear the conversation. The little sets +operated essentially on a line of sight because of the short wave +length used. They couldn't be heard beyond the horizon, if they were +heard that far.</p> + +<p>After an hour of waiting, Barby called in high excitement. Cap'n Mike +was aboard the houseboat! The boys waited anxiously for some further +report, but Barby was only able to say that the old seaman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> had +departed after a ten-minute visit and was now fishing again.</p> + +<p>At noon Jerry and Scotty slipped out for a sandwich. When they +returned, Rick and Duke went to eat. According to Barby, all was +quiet.</p> + +<p>Around one o'clock Cap'n Mike returned to Spindrift and reported a +friendly conversation with the houseboaters. They had anchored in +North Cove because someone down the coast had told them fishing was +good around there, which was a true statement.</p> + +<p>The retired skipper had only one additional comment, which Barby +relayed. The folks had been friendly, but he thought they were a +little nervous, and anxious to get rid of him. He had no other +information of value.</p> + +<p>At midafternoon Jerry went on a brief sortie, came back, and reported +business was slow in the barbershop, which was not unusual for a +Tuesday. The barber was reading a magazine.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty were restless. The chairs in the newspaper office were +hard, and they had exhausted the reference materials on the bookshelf.</p> + +<p>Duke Barrows looked up from a story he was editing and grinned. +"Espionage isn't as adventurous as some folks would like you to +believe. It's generally nothing but sitting. And waiting. Just as +you're doing now."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned back. Duke was telling him nothing he didn't know. He had +waited like this before.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barby called urgently, "Rick! The pram is leaving. One man in it, and +he's just starting the outboard motor!"</p> + +<p>"All right," he said swiftly. "Let us know which way he goes."</p> + +<p>In a moment Barby answered. "He's going to the pier!"</p> + +<p>"Roger. We're moving!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h2>Surveillance—with Cereal</h2> + + +<p>The plan of action had been set in advance. Scotty hurried out, while +Rick settled down to wait. Scotty, using Jerry's car, would locate the +houseboater at the pier. Rick would stand by, ready to take over as +necessary.</p> + +<p>A short time later Scotty called on the Megabuck network. "I'm in the +pier parking lot. He's tying the pram up."</p> + +<p>"Can he see you?"</p> + +<p>"Not unless he comes over and inspects the cars."</p> + +<p>"Okay."</p> + +<p>After a few minutes, Scotty reported again. "He's hiking in the +direction of Whiteside. Thumb out. He wants a ride."</p> + +<p>"Don't give him one," Barby interjected urgently. "He might recognize +you."</p> + +<p>"He's hitchhiking," Scotty explained. "He doesn't even know I exist."</p> + +<p>"What are his chances?" Rick asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good. There's a fair amount of traffic."</p> + +<p>Rick waited, alert for Scotty's next report. It came almost +immediately. "I'm moving. A truck picked him up. Stand by."</p> + +<p>Then soon afterward, "We're coming into the outskirts of town."</p> + +<p>Rick walked from the newspaper office to the sidewalk and leaned +casually against the building, eyes on the direction from which the +quarry and Scotty would come. He felt just fine. The little network +was taking all the strain out of shadowing. He thought of the many +times when such communications would have come in very handy indeed.</p> + +<p>"Moving down Main Street," Scotty reported. "Watch it!"</p> + +<p>Rick saw a truck come into sight and slow as it neared the barbershop. +A man got out, thanked the driver, then stood looking around. He +spotted the barbershop, but instead of going in, he went to the window +of the Sports Center and stood quietly, ostensibly inspecting +equipment. Rick decided he was just looking the street over before +making contact.</p> + +<p>"I'm on him," he said quietly for Scotty's benefit. "He's casing the +street. He'll probably go into the barbershop any minute now."</p> + +<p>Scotty drove down the main street, and as he passed the barbershop, he +reported, "There's a man in the chair. Maybe our friend is waiting for +him to leave."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll see."</p> + +<p>Rick's plans had not gone beyond this point. The objective had been to +see whether the houseboaters made contact with the barber. But now he +realized that a simple contact wasn't proof of anything. Who was to +say that the houseboater hadn't really wanted a haircut?</p> + +<p>If only there were some way of overhearing the conversation....</p> + +<p>Jerry Webster came out and stood beside him. "See your man?"</p> + +<p>Rick gestured. "In front of the Sports Center."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do now?"</p> + +<p>"I was just wondering the same thing."</p> + +<p>Jerry grinned. "Don't tell me you don't have a complete plan! Why, I +thought by now you'd have the barbershop wired for sound."</p> + +<p>Rick stared at him. Wired! Why not? And it wasn't too late, if Jerry +would help.</p> + +<p>"Will you do something more for me?"</p> + +<p>Jerry looked martyred. "Might as well. I'm in this up to my neck, +anyway."</p> + +<p>Scotty joined them. He had parked the car around the corner. "What's +happening?"</p> + +<p>"Just had a brain storm," Rick told him. He explained rapidly, and the +two started to chuckle.</p> + +<p>"It should work," Scotty agreed. "Go ahead. I'll take over the watch. +Hey! There he goes."</p> + +<p>The houseboater had just walked into the barbershop.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick ran to the next corner and into the grocery store. He hesitated +briefly, then picked out two boxes of cereal, and added a box of +sugar. He had them put into a bag, paid for them, and hurried back.</p> + +<p>Inside the newspaper office, he took out his scout knife and carefully +slit the top of one cereal box. He removed the little radio from his +pocket, unplugged the earphone, and put the radio on top of the +cereal. He borrowed cellophane tape and taped the box shut, then he +put both boxes of cereal back in the bag with the sugar on top.</p> + +<p>He handed the bag to Jerry. "Do your stuff."</p> + +<p>Jerry took it and hurried out the door. Rick and Scotty watched as he +went up the street and turned in at the barbershop.</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "All I can hear in the earphone is a crackling +noise."</p> + +<p>"Probably the paper bag," Rick said. "It would crackle as he walks."</p> + +<p>They waited impatiently. Presently Jerry emerged without the bag and +walked down the street to join them.</p> + +<p>"The man in the chair is about done," he reported. "The one you're +after is reading a magazine. I said I'd be back in a few minutes, left +the bag, and walked out."</p> + +<p>"There's the other customer now," Rick said. A man had just emerged +from the barbershop and was going up the street in the opposite +direction. "Good!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> They'll talk fast now, because they'll be afraid +you'll come back."</p> + +<p>"I still hear the crackling noise," Scotty objected. "Someone's +talking in the background, but I can't hear it because of the snapping +and popping."</p> + +<p>Rick swallowed hard. Was something wrong? "Let's see." He borrowed +Scotty's earpiece and held it to his own ear. For a second he +listened, horrified. It sounded like the Battle of Bull Run!</p> + +<p>Barby broke in faintly through the noise. "Rick! I've been listening. +What's that noise?"</p> + +<p>He explained quickly. "We planted one unit in a box of cereal and +Jerry put it in the barbershop."</p> + +<p>Barby gasped. "In a box of cereal? What kind?"</p> + +<p>"Crummies. Your favorite."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Rick!" The girl's voice rose to a wail. "Don't you remember the +commercial? Crisp, crackly Crummies! The cereal that sings for your +breakfast!"</p> + +<p>He got it, then. "Okay, Barby." To the others, he said unhappily, +"Well, it was a great idea. Only I forgot one thing. I didn't pick a +quiet breakfast food. That noise is the radio settling through the +Crummies—the loudest cereal on the market."</p> + +<p>The three looked at each other helplessly. There wasn't a thing that +could be done about it.</p> + +<p>"Noisy breakfast food," Scotty said unbelievingly.</p> + +<p>Jerry promised, "I'll never eat it again!" The reporter straightened +his coat and tie and gave his hatbrim a jaunty flick. "Well, here I go +for my haircut. Might as well do something constructive."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>The crackling, popping, snapping continued unabated. "Listen to it," +Rick said hopelessly.</p> + +<p>Three quarters of an hour later, when Jerry brought the bag back, the +Crummies were still crackling happily. Not a word of conversation had +been overheard.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h2>A Matter of Brain Waves</h2> + + +<p>Barby, Jan, and Scotty were kind to Rick, which annoyed him +considerably. If they had scolded him for bad judgment, called him a +chucklehead, or even ignored him, it would have been all right. But +they all had to reassure him and tell him it could have happened to +anyone, and so on, and on. All of which made it unbearable.</p> + +<p>He was more sure than ever that the houseboaters and barber were +connected, but he still had no clear evidence. Of course he had made a +report of the day's activities to Steve, who at least hadn't tried to +be nice about it.</p> + +<p>"An agent can't always think of everything," was Steve's comment. "But +he can try. Sometimes, when he fails to take a factor into +consideration, he gets away with it. Sometimes he fails. Sometimes he +ends up dead, because of his poor judgment. Be glad your lives weren't +hanging in the balance."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick took the lesson to heart. He wouldn't make the same mistake +twice.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the cereal fiasco, Parnell Winston returned to +Spindrift after another visit to Dr. Chavez. He called Steve Ames and +spent a long time talking to the JANIG agent. Then he called the +project team and the boys into the library.</p> + +<p>"We're on the track of something," he reported. "At least we think we +are. It's so incredible that I simply can't believe it. If true, it +means some unfriendly nation is so far ahead of us scientifically that +we should all be trembling in our boots."</p> + +<p>Rick had realized that only agents of a hostile country could be +involved in the actions against the project team. Everyone present had +known as much, without a word being spoken. Only another country could +gain from disruption of the project.</p> + +<p>"Chavez and I have run a series of EEG's on Marks. We now have the +records of EEG's on the other two team members, and Steve has managed +to turn up a pre-project EEG on one which gives us a basis of +comparison. Now, to comprehend our tentative hypothesis, you must +understand something of what is known about the brain."</p> + +<p>Rick prepared to listen without much understanding. The field in which +Parnell Winston worked was new and strange to him, and while he +understood some of the basic theories, he got lost when Winston got +highly technical.</p> + +<p>"Our understanding of the human brain is fairly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> recent," Winston +began, "and we're still only on the threshold of knowledge. In a way, +we've just discovered the tools of research. The principal tool, of +course, is electricity. Through it we can explore the electrochemical +nature of brain processes."</p> + +<p>Rick was with him so far. He concentrated hard, not wanting to miss a +word.</p> + +<p>"There's no point in reviewing the entire history of brain physiology. +You all know of Pavlov's work on conditioned reflexes. And you all +know that Fritsch and Hitzig demonstrated that, when electrically +stimulated, certain portions of the brain show a response. You also +know that Caton discovered many years ago that the brain itself +produces electric currents."</p> + +<p>Rick didn't know, but he intended to find out. There must be some +works on brain physiology in the library.</p> + +<p>"However, the important modern work started with Berger in the late +1920's. He found that the brain emits a definite pulse of activity, +which was then known as the 'Berger rhythm.'</p> + +<p>"Since then, Berger's work has been very much refined. We now know +that the brain actually produces a number of clearly defined +electrical rhythms. These rhythms have been used in medical diagnosis +of brain injury. Walter, in England, has even developed a machine that +will show whether or not people will get along with each other, by +analysis of their wave patterns."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was interesting, and Rick intended to find out more about it. But +he began to wish Winston would come to the point.</p> + +<p>"I might add that the rhythmic brain patterns seem to be highly +individual. No two are alike, even in identical twins. However, each +person shows a pattern that remains fairly constant, even over a +period of years.</p> + +<p>"With this background, you will understand when I report that the +EEG's taken of our colleagues brains are completely abnormal. The +EEG's were taken while they were awake. Yet, the most prominent +pattern is the delta rhythm that is universally associated with sleep +and some types of damage to the brain."</p> + +<p>"Are there any other signs of physical damage?" Hartson Brant asked.</p> + +<p>"No. All tests are negative. Spinal taps show no concussion, and there +is no evidence of trauma of any kind other than psychic. Yet, the +delta rhythms persist. In the one case where we have an EEG taken +before the—incidents, let's call them—the pattern is entirely +different. The scientist had a pattern of a well-known type which +bears no resemblance to the EEG taken after the incident."</p> + +<p>Dr. Morrison leaned forward. "What is your conclusion?"</p> + +<p>"That our mysterious enemy has somehow caused damage of an unknown +kind, by remote means. And that can mean only one thing: The damage +was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> caused electronically, probably by transmission through the air."</p> + +<p>"Incredible," Weiss muttered, and the sentiment was reflected in the +astonished gasps of the others.</p> + +<p>"Let's consider the implications of Parnell's statement," Hartson +Brant said slowly. "If he is correct, then the enemy has devised a +means for causing brain disruption in an individual. A transmitted +signal would inevitably strike countless others; there can be no such +thing as a beam of radiation that strikes one person at a distance +while missing all others. Therefore, this beam must affect only one +person among many."</p> + +<p>"But how can a beam be tuned to one person?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Rick." Hartson Brant turned to Winston. "Do you?"</p> + +<p>"No. I have only a hypothesis, and one so far afield from what we know +of the brain today that I even hesitate to suggest it. Let me ask a +question. If the enemy could have access to the brain pattern of an +individual—and remember such patterns are no more similar than +fingerprints—could the enemy then transmit a signal that would affect +only that pattern?"</p> + +<p>Julius Weiss objected. "The supposition is based on scientific +knowledge that does not exist."</p> + +<p>"So far as we know," Dr. Morrison added.</p> + +<p>Parnell Winston held up his hands. "I'm as aware as any of you that +the hypothesis assumes a knowl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>edge of the brain that is incredibly +far advanced. But let us consider the evidence. The three scientists +who have fallen victim show the same signs of brain damage. +Investigation indicates that they were different types who probably +had dissimilar patterns. We also have the special case of Dr. Marks, +who was drugged while on the train. The person who drugged him dropped +soluble salt paste on the rug of his room. Can we accept the fact that +the salt paste was used for EEG electrodes, and a recording made while +Marks was under the influence of the drug? We can't prove it, but what +other explanation can there be?"</p> + +<p>Dr. Morrison shook his head. "Suppose we accept that theory. How does +that account for the other two? They were under guard, and there is no +evidence that they ever were drugged. If we accept your hypothesis, we +must also accept the theory that the other two men somehow were given +an EEG examination and their patterns recorded."</p> + +<p>An idea was growing in Rick's mind. Suddenly he blurted, "That's where +the barber comes in!"</p> + +<p>"The barber's machine was examined by Steve's men and found harmless," +Hartson Brant pointed out.</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up quickly. "Yes, but when Duke looked at it this +morning, he found electrical connections! Why couldn't an EEG be taken +with such a gadget?"</p> + +<p>Parnell Winston considered. "It could," he said fi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>nally. "I would +need to examine the machine, but in theory any gadget that fits over +the head could be adapted for proper placement of electrodes. The +recorder would be difficult to hide, however, unless it was in another +room."</p> + +<p>Rick sank back and looked at Scotty. No wonder the barber had wanted +to give a treatment to Hartson Brant. The elevator operator's wink had +told him that the scientist had been on the fourth floor, where the +project team was located.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you ever have your hair cut in the arcade shop, Dr. Morrison?" +Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"No, Rick. I used a barber in a hotel nearby, one I've patronized for +years."</p> + +<p>"But the other two did use the shop in the building," Scotty finished, +"and Dr. Marks had no need for a barber, so they had to get at him +some other way!"</p> + +<p>"It seems reasonable," Hartson Brant admitted. "The pieces fall into +place nicely. But we must first accept Parnell's theory that some kind +of pattern can be transmitted that will interfere with normal brain +activity. If we believe it, we must also believe that the enemy is so +far ahead of us in brain physiology that we are hopelessly +outdistanced. I can't believe so much progress could have taken place +without some word of it leaking out."</p> + +<p>Parnell Winston shrugged. "It seems incredible, Hartson. But we +haven't another theory, much less a better one."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We had better make sure no one takes EEG's of the rest of us, in any +case," Weiss suggested dryly.</p> + +<p>Rick added, "And don't get any haircuts until this is all straightened +out!"</p> + +<p>When the meeting broke up, Rick and Scotty walked to the front porch +where the girls were listening to the music of a Newark disk jockey on +Barby's portable radio.</p> + +<p>"Lot of puzzled people in this neighborhood," Rick said. "Including +me."</p> + +<p>"And me," Scotty agreed. "And I'll bet I know the most curious one of +all."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Cap'n Mike."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. At least the rest of them had some information. Even +Duke and Jerry had enough to know that national security was somehow +involved. But the captain, who had the liveliest curiosity of all, +knew the least.</p> + +<p>As Rick dropped him off in front of the old windmill, Cap'n Mike had +grunted, "When you can trust me a little more, you might tell me what +this was all about."</p> + +<p>Actually, Cap'n Mike's visit to the houseboat hadn't been particularly +productive. He had little to add to the Coast Guard inspector's +description, aside from his feeling that the houseboaters had wanted +to get rid of him.</p> + +<p>Scotty asked, "Why would anyone want to disrupt the brains of the +project team? Seems to me that's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> doing it the hard way. Assassination +would be a lot easier."</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. He had wondered about the same thing.</p> + +<p>Barby and Jan motioned for silence. They were listening to a vocalist +who happened to be Barby's favorite of the moment.</p> + +<p>The boys stood silent for a few minutes; then, by unspoken agreement, +turned and went back into the house.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant came down the stairs, dressed in a suit, with white +shirt and tie. Rick stared at him. "Going somewhere, Dad?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Parnell Winston has disturbed me deeply, with the implications of +his theory. I'm going to pay a call on an old friend in Newark, an +associate of Chavez. I want to explore some of the electrophysiological +background of his hypothesis. I won't be very late. Is there any gas in +the car?"</p> + +<p>"Almost full," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>The boys went on upstairs into their adjoining rooms. For a few +minutes Rick tinkered with his camera equipment, then he went back +down to the library and searched the shelves for something to read. He +finally settled on W. Grey Walter's <i>The Living Brain</i> and carried it +back up to his room.</p> + +<p>He sat down in the old leather armchair and manipulated buttons on one +arm. The light brightened to reading intensity, and the back tilted to +the most comfortable position. He had wired the chair him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>self, and it +fit him perfectly. He settled down to read.</p> + +<p>Time passed as he lost himself in the clear, exciting descriptions in +Dr. Walter's book. He heard a bell ring downstairs, but paid no +attention. Then Scotty stuck his head in the door. "Rick! Your +mother's calling you."</p> + +<p>Rick sat up swiftly. It was true, and his mother had urgency in her +voice.</p> + +<p>He dropped the book and ran to the stairs, going down them three at a +time. A strange, dark-haired man was standing in the hallway, and his +mother, Barby, and Jan were waiting for him with strained white faces.</p> + +<p>"Your father has been hurt," Mrs. Brant said with false calm. "He's on +this gentleman's houseboat!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h2>The Vanishing Mermaids</h2> + + +<p>Parnell Winston worked as Hartson Brant described his experience.</p> + +<p>"There really isn't much to it," Mr. Brant said. "I started out for +Whiteside in the fast boat."</p> + +<p>Winston focused a flashlight into one eye, then the other.</p> + +<p>"I was on the north side of North Cove when the boat smashed into +something. I was thrown violently into the water."</p> + +<p>Winston tested the scientist's reflexes, using a finger instead of the +traditional rubber hammer.</p> + +<p>"Apparently I was badly shaken up, because my memory becomes unclear +at this point. I do recall being fished out of the water, and when I +came to enough to recognize my surroundings, I was in a strange room. +It turned out to be the cabin of the houseboat."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you remember any strange sensations, or smells?" Winston asked.</p> + +<p>Rick listened, his heart pounding.</p> + +<p>"None. The people on the houseboat were most considerate. One of the +men insisted that I get into some of his spare clothes, and I did so. +One of the women—the wife of the man who came here, I believe—made +me a cup of hot consommé. They told me I was apparently whole, no +broken bones."</p> + +<p>"They were very pleasant and helpful," Rick admitted.</p> + +<p>The houseboaters had done just the right things, including coming to +Spindrift for help rather than bringing the scientist home in the +slow-moving and rather uncomfortable pram. Instead, Hartson Brant had +waited on the houseboat while one of the men brought the pram to the +island with a request that someone follow him back in a more +comfortable boat.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty had done so, and were almost limp with relief at +finding the scientist apparently unhurt and comfortable.</p> + +<p>"How does your head feel?" Parnell Winston demanded.</p> + +<p>"Rather stuffy," the scientist admitted. "I'm finding it difficult to +collect my thoughts. Parnell, why all these questions?"</p> + +<p>The cyberneticist rubbed his bushy eyebrows with both hands, a habit +he had when agitated. "Hartson, as you know, I am not a doctor of +medi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>cine. However, I do claim competence as a physiologist, and +consequently bodily reactions are familiar to me. I believe you have +been drugged."</p> + +<p>"Drugged?" Rick's heart stopped momentarily.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I've looked for the mark of a hypodermic needle, but there is +none. If I'm correct, the drug was a light one, possibly amytal. Your +reflexes are slower than normal, even taking the accident and +subsequent shock into account, and your pupils react slowly."</p> + +<p>Rick came to a sudden decision. He went to the desk and picked up the +phone.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" Hartson Brant demanded.</p> + +<p>"I'm calling Steve Ames. We need help."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Rick had the agent on the wire and was giving him the +details of the accident over the scrambler system. He concluded, "If +Dad was drugged by the houseboaters, as Dr. Winston thinks, that means +the enemy has his brain pattern!"</p> + +<p>Steve Ames asked, "Is Winston there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Ask him a question for me. Would the brain waves be considered +quasi-optical?"</p> + +<p>Steve meant would the waves be of such high frequency that they would +act like light. Rick put the question to Winston.</p> + +<p>"Tell Steve the answer is a qualified yes."</p> + +<p>Rick repeated the information.</p> + +<p>"All right. Then we must assume that the brain scrambler—or whatever +you call it—can operate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> only from short distances, approximately to +the horizon. Tell your father he is to get out of town. Have him pack +a bag, then deliver him to the New York JANIG office. We'll take it +from there. Got it?"</p> + +<p>Rick had it. "How do I make sure we're not followed?"</p> + +<p>Steve paused. "That's a tough one. Air travel would be surest. Do you +have any landing lights on Spindrift?"</p> + +<p>"No. Besides, it's a short runway, and only a pilot who knew the +island could possibly land at night."</p> + +<p>"I've got a pilot who knows it, so forget going to New York. Rig +lights of some kind. You can put lights on the roof of the lab +building, I'm sure. Then put a pair of lights at each side of the +runway's end, so he'll know how far he can go. If you have nothing +else, soak newspapers in gasoline. He'll buzz the island. That will be +your signal to light up."</p> + +<p>"Is Mike Malone the pilot?" Malone had landed there before.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He'll take over. Just deliver your father intact."</p> + +<p>"If we can," Rick said slowly. "Steve, suppose the enemy activates +their machine when they hear the plane? Suppose they suspect he's +getting away and turn on the mind reader?"</p> + +<p>"We'll have to chance it. Best thing is to move fast. Get your father +in with Mike, and let them clear out. I'll tell Mike to put distance +between him and you as fast as he can."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right, Steve." There seemed to be no other way.</p> + +<p>Rick turned to his father and Winston, and repeated the conversation.</p> + +<p>"He's right, Hartson," Winston said. "You're in good enough shape to +travel. Better get packed." The cyberneticist looked at Rick. "What +did you call the enemy gadget? A mind reader? That's an odd name."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think about it," Rick told him. "The name just popped into +my mind. But doesn't the enemy machine read the patterns in peoples' +minds, then erase them?"</p> + +<p>"As good a name as any, I guess," Winston agreed. "Well, let's tell +the others. Then you have work to do getting ready for the plane, +Rick."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brant, after making sure that her husband was no more than +slightly dazed, had been forced to turn her attention to Barby and +Jan. The two girls were on the verge of sheer hysteria with fear for +their fathers. Scotty had joined Mrs. Brant, in an effort to soothe +the girls' frayed nerves. Now, as Rick opened the library door, he +could see that the two pretty young faces were tear-streaked, but as +calm as could be expected under the circumstances. Scotty looked worn +out. Rick could only marvel at his mother. She could always be relied +upon in a crisis.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brant listened to her son's report, then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> nodded firmly. "Steve +is wise to insist, Rick. I'll help your father pack."</p> + +<p>Rick beckoned to Scotty. "We have work to do. Let's start with the +lab."</p> + +<p>On the way, he filled Scotty in on the details of what had happened in +the library. Then he asked, "How did you get the girls calmed down?"</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head wearily. "It wasn't fun. The poor kids are +scared stiff. Remember they haven't been exposed to stuff as we have. +To them, our stories are just exciting fun, because we leave out the +rough parts. Now they're getting a taste of this business the way it +really is."</p> + +<p>"Did you say that?"</p> + +<p>"That, and a thousand other things. Nothing did much good, and Mom +couldn't make any headway, either. Another ten minutes of tears and +the island would have been under water, honest. Finally I got rough. I +told them we were all in this, and they were only creating a nuisance +that complicated things and didn't help at all. Then Mom chimed in. +You know how she does. Never raises her voice. She said real courage +consisted of being terribly frightened, but trying to remain calm in +spite of it. Then she said she was rapidly becoming ashamed of both of +them. That did it. They stuck their chins in the air, wiped off the +tears, and actually managed a smile."</p> + +<p>"Good for them!" Rick exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Inside the laboratory they went at once to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> stockroom. Floodlights +were stored there, among other items. Extension cords were plentiful, +and there were electric outlets on the roof. In a few moments the boys +had strung the lights and Rick had readjusted the board downstairs, so +that all the lights were on a single circuit. That way, they could all +be switched on or off at once.</p> + +<p>Joe Blake came to watch. Rick explained what he was doing, and told +Joe of Steve's conversation.</p> + +<p>"I know," Joe said. "Steve called me on the radio. He didn't want us +shooting Mike down for trying to land without warning. But how come +you can cut circuits in and out like this?"</p> + +<p>"We never know when an experiment will call for electric power in some +unexpected place," Rick explained. "The main board is set up so we can +do just about anything we need to. We can feed normal current in, or +440 volts, and we can cross-link the circuits any way we like."</p> + +<p>Scotty checked Rick's work, then took the switch handle. He touched +the contacts briefly, and there was a quick pulse of light as the roof +lighted up and went dark again.</p> + +<p>"I'll stand by here," Scotty said. "You stand by at the end of the +runway. Are we going to use gasoline?"</p> + +<p>"We'll have to. It would take a while to run power from the house and +hook up lighting units. Gasoline will be quicker and easier. Let's +go."</p> + +<p>There was a supply of gasoline for the boats. Rick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> got a five-gallon +can while Scotty collected newspapers. Two trash cans served as +containers. The cans were filled with newspapers, then drenched in +gasoline and placed at the last possible point of runway that could be +used. If Mike overshot the containers he would land in the sea.</p> + +<p>Rick worried about the problem of lighting the containers without +getting burned, then went to the workshop and selected rags. He +twisted the rags loosely and tied them together, poured gasoline into +a bucket and soaked his rag fuse. The last step was to insert one end +of the fuse in each can. When the time came, he would be between the +cans, and he would light the center of the rag string. The fire would +travel rapidly, because of the gasoline.</p> + +<p>In case Mike was delayed for any great period, Rick kept the gasoline +handy. He might have to wet down the cans and fuse again. He had +forgotten to ask where Mike would come from, and Steve hadn't +volunteered. Probably he would come from Washington, which meant about +an hour's flying time in the plane Mike would use, a fast little +four-place job that Rick had long coveted. But Mike wouldn't be ready +for take-off instantly. Time had to be allowed for Steve to give him +instructions, to get from wherever he was to the airport, and then get +the plane gassed and ready. Allow another hour. That meant two hours +in all.</p> + +<p>Inside, Rick was still scared. How did they know the electronic mind +reader wouldn't be activated at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> any moment? He hurried into the house +and went upstairs to where his father was packing. He couldn't do +anything, and he knew it. But it helped, just being near the +scientist. Apparently Scotty felt the same. He had joined Hartson +Brant, too. But Barby, Jan, and Mrs. Brant had preceded him.</p> + +<p>The scientist smiled. "Never had so much help packing before."</p> + +<p>The smile was strained, and Rick thought he knew why. He had seen his +father face great physical danger without losing a bit of his +composure. But the insidious weapon that could read all reason out of +minds was far more horrible to a man like Hartson Brant than any +physical danger could be. Bullets, knives, and clubs may leave bad +wounds, or they may kill. But what chance is there for anyone with a +damaged brain?</p> + +<p>Scotty looked at his watch and held it up for Rick to see. Nearly an +hour and three-quarters had passed since the call to Steve. Rick +gestured to Scotty and urged, "Hurry, Dad."</p> + +<p>"I'm ready." The scientist closed his bag. Barby got to it first and +lugged it down the stairs, refusing Scotty's offer of help.</p> + +<p>The boys went to their stations while the others waited on the porch. +Rick checked to be sure he had matches, then worried because a wind +had sprung up. Suppose it blew his match out? He was about to go +borrow his father's lighter when he heard the far<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>-off drone of a +plane. There wasn't time now! He held the matches in his hand, ready.</p> + +<p>The drone grew nearer, rising to a high whine. The plane was diving! +Suddenly it was overhead and gone with a crash of sound. Rick saw its +lights head out to sea. Mike was making a tight turn to come in for a +landing.</p> + +<p>Rick's lips formed the words. "Now, Scotty! Now!"</p> + +<p>And, as though he had heard, Scotty threw the switch. Lights flared on +the lab roof, outlining it clearly. Rick struck a match and held it to +the saturated cord of rags. Flaming gasoline ran along the cord in +both directions, ran up the sides of the cans. There was a loud whoosh +of exploding gasoline, and both cans were ablaze. Rick ran away from +the heat.</p> + +<p>Mike came in low and fast over the lab roof and slapped the plane down +on the turf. In a moment he applied the brakes and the wheels whined +their protest as they dug up grass. Then the plane was rolling to a +stop directly in front of the house.</p> + +<p>The pilot jumped out and called, "Hello, gang! Come on, sir. No time +to waste!"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant kissed Mrs. Brant and the girls, found time to pat +Rick's shoulder, and climbed in. Rick took the suitcase from Barby and +handed it to the scientist. The door closed and the plane was +whirling, catching them in its prop blast. Mike taxied back fast to +the laboratory, turned the plane and revved up, holding on the brakes. +Rick saw Scotty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> emerge from the lab building and go right back in +again as the prop wash caught him. Then the plane was rolling ... and +lifting. Mike skimmed low over the burning trash cans, banked out to +sea, and was gone.</p> + +<p>Rick felt a sob rising in his throat and resolutely squelched it. He +walked to the burning cans and dropped covers on them. Scotty cut the +lights on the lab building.</p> + +<p>Had they made it? They wouldn't know. Not until Steve reported that +the scientist was safe.</p> + +<p>On the porch, Barby asked, "How soon will we know?"</p> + +<p>Rick was proud of her. Her voice had trembled only slightly. "Probably +not until tomorrow, Sis. Come on. Let's all hike off to bed. It's been +a rough evening."</p> + +<p>"All right. Rick, we still don't know for sure, do we? About the +people in the houseboat?"</p> + +<p>"Not for sure. But we have a pretty good idea. How else would Dad get +drugged?"</p> + +<p>"Mightn't they have given him a sedative?" Jan asked. "That would have +the same effect."</p> + +<p>Rick hadn't thought of that. He admitted it was possible.</p> + +<p>"I wish the radio trick had worked," Barby said sadly. "I wish we had +some way of getting a radio on the houseboat. Then we could listen in +on everything they said."</p> + +<p>"No way of doing it," Rick said. He was very tired.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> "Forget it for +now and let's all turn in. We can talk some more in the morning."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Steve Ames phoned at five o'clock in the morning. Rick had been +sleeping lightly, his rest broken by nightmares that he couldn't +remember when he awoke. He got to the phone in the hall. "Just a +minute," he said. "Let me get downstairs to the switch."</p> + +<p>The entire family was close on his heels as he went into the library. +He threw the scrambler switch, then asked anxiously, "Yes, Steve?"</p> + +<p>"Just had word, Rick, so I called in spite of the hour. Your father is +safe inside the compound at Los Alamos. He's all right. And just as a +precaution, he'll spend most of his time in a shielded area where no +radio signal can penetrate. Now go on back to bed and get some sleep."</p> + +<p>Rick thanked him gratefully. Los Alamos! That was one of the two main +atomic energy weapons laboratories. No place in the United States was +more closely guarded. Now he could be sure his father was safe as +anyone could be.</p> + +<p>He repeated the conversation to his anxious family. "Now," he said, +echoing Steve's advice, "let's get back to bed. Perhaps we can really +sleep for a change."</p> + +<p>He did sleep. It was nearly noon before he awoke. He got up sleepily +and found Scotty had just barely preceded him and was now taking a +shower.</p> + +<p>Downstairs, things were apparently normal. Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> Brant and Mrs. +Morrison were at work on lunch, but since an hour was too long to +wait, Rick had a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk. He was careful +not to choose Crummies. Scotty settled for three doughnuts and milk.</p> + +<p>"Where are the girls?" Rick asked. "Still asleep?"</p> + +<p>"They've gone swimming," Mrs. Morrison replied. "They should be back +soon, though. They've been gone over an hour."</p> + +<p>"I could use a swim myself," Rick admitted.</p> + +<p>"Not me," Scotty said. "Wait until afternoon and I'll join you. That +cold water would shock me into a state of galloping goose pimples the +way I feel now."</p> + +<p>Rick had forgotten how cold the water was. "Okay. We'll wait. Let's go +over to the lab and take down the lights. I want to clean up the trash +cans, too."</p> + +<p>They walked leisurely over to the laboratory and stopped for a moment +to chat with Joe Blake. Then, before starting on the lights, they +walked around behind the lab building.</p> + +<p>The laboratories were built on a promontory that sloped inland toward +Pirate's Field, which was just above sea level. The raised area ran +around the seaward side of the island, so that the Brant house was on +high land, too. On the north side, the land sloped down toward the +boat landing.</p> + +<p>Rick stood on the edge of the low cliff and looked for Barby and Jan. +They weren't in sight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They must be using lungs," Scotty said. "Watch for bubbles."</p> + +<p>No bubbles were visible, either. Rick checked carefully and began to +worry. It was a calm day with little wave action, and the bubbles from +the lungs should have been clearly visible. Surely they wouldn't swim +so far the bubbles couldn't be seen on a day like this.</p> + +<p>"Let's check," Rick said.</p> + +<p>The boys hurried to the room where the Scuba equipment was kept. Two +lungs and the blue and white equipment were gone. So was the cart. A +quick look at Pirate's Cove showed no cart in sight.</p> + +<p>Where could they have gone? The boys hurried to the front of the lab +building again and found Joe Blake still getting a bit of sunshine.</p> + +<p>"Did you see the girls?" Rick asked hurriedly.</p> + +<p>Joe nodded. He motioned across the island. "They came and got +aqualungs and hauled the cart across to the north side. They're +probably swimming over there."</p> + +<p>Rick doubted it. He doubted it very much. The currents on the north +side kept the bottom stirred up and visibility was too poor for +diving.</p> + +<p>Without the need of exchanging a word, Rick and Scotty were suddenly +running. As they passed the house Rick had a sudden thought. He went +in and ran up the stairs to his room, grabbed his radio unit and +turned it on.</p> + +<p>"Barby!" he called frantically. "Barby!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was no answer. Tucking the unit into his pocket, he ran out and +joined Scotty again. If Barby had her set she wasn't using it.</p> + +<p>"Come on." He led the way to the boat cove and stopped short. The +speedboat was there, and so was the Scuba cart, but the rowboat +wasn't. Anxiously he scanned the water. There was no sign of the +girls.</p> + +<p>Where were they? Where? The thought struck him. He remembered Barby's +comment of the night before.</p> + +<p><i>Had they gone to the houseboat?</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h2>Pointer to Disaster</h2> + + +<p>Scotty ran to the speedboat and yelled, "Come on!"</p> + +<p>"Wait!" Rick called. "Let's not go barging off without knowing what +we're doing."</p> + +<p>Scotty turned, puzzled. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"The girls have some kind of plan, and we don't know what it is. If we +go barging around in the speedboat, we might throw a monkey wrench +into the works."</p> + +<p>"But we can't just stand here and do nothing," Scotty said +desperately.</p> + +<p>"We won't. Go get the plane warmed up and wait for me."</p> + +<p>Rick hurried into the house and ran up the stairs to Barby's room. +Working fast, he went through the dresser, then through the shelves in +her closet. Not finding what he wanted, he paused to look around in +case he might have overlooked a possibility.</p> + +<p>He didn't know where girls kept things, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> suspected that +sometimes the places weren't the same as boys might pick. But he could +see no possible place that he hadn't searched.</p> + +<p>That meant Barby had her Megabuck unit with her, unless she had left +it somewhere else in the house.</p> + +<p>He plugged in his earphone and called. "Barby!"</p> + +<p>There was no reply. His lips set grimly. No use wasting time here. He +ran from the house, hearing the sound of the Sky Wagon as Scotty +warmed it up. Joe Blake was not in sight. Rick hurried into the lab +and found him watching Professor Morrison who was checking some +calculations on the lab's small computing machine.</p> + +<p>"Joe, step outside with me for a moment, please."</p> + +<p>Outside, Rick explained that the girls were missing, then asked, "Can +you get the plane frequency on your receiver?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. It's an all-wave job. What's the frequency you use?"</p> + +<p>Rick told him, then explained, "We don't know what's going on, so we +want to be prepared. If some of your Scout leaders can move down the +coast to North Cove and keep an eye on the houseboat, Scotty and I +will search from the air. If we see anything, we'll let you know on +the plane's radio. You won't be able to talk back, but at least you +can hear us, and you can let the Scouts know."</p> + +<p>He wished his mind had worked faster. Then he could have taken +Scotty's Megabuck unit and given<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> it to Joe. But there was no time +now, and this other arrangement probably would do as well.</p> + +<p>"I'll pass the word to the gang on the mainland right away," Joe +agreed.</p> + +<p>Joe went back into the lab while Rick ran to Pirate's Beach. Scotty +was waiting, the plane's engine turning over. Together, they launched +the Sky Wagon, then climbed in, Scotty in the pilot's seat.</p> + +<p>As Scotty took off, Rick tried Barby again on the radio. "Barby, this +is Rick. Can you read me?"</p> + +<p>There was no reply.</p> + +<p>"Better fly as though we were heading for Whiteside," Rick suggested. +He rubbed his palms on his handkerchief. They were damp with nervous +perspiration. He was not as calm as he looked.</p> + +<p>Scotty swung around on course and Rick scanned the water as they +passed over the north side of Spindrift. There was no sign of the +rowboat yet.</p> + +<p>The plane traveled in a straight line right across North Cove. The +houseboat was at anchor a few hundred yards offshore, and the pram was +tied up to the rear rail. There was no sign of life.</p> + +<p>The boys reached the Whiteside pier without seeing the girls or the +boat. Scotty put the plane into a tight circle and looked at Rick +helplessly. "Now what?"</p> + +<p>"They can't have gone far," Rick mused. "Not in the rowboat."</p> + +<p>"They had the aqualungs," Scotty pointed out. "They must have expected +to use them."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Right. But how? If they planned to get aboard the houseboat, they +wouldn't be using the aqualungs. Or would they?"</p> + +<p>"Search me."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't they just row up to the houseboat on some excuse or other? I +wish I'd looked. Barby might have taken those clothes Dad wore home +last night."</p> + +<p>"We can't just float around and talk," Scotty said urgently. "Let's do +something."</p> + +<p>Rick felt the same way. "Okay. Throttle down and go slow. We'll scan +the whole coastline from here to Spindrift."</p> + +<p>Scotty did so, holding the little plane barely above stalling speed. +Rick leaned out and traced the shore with anxious eyes.</p> + +<p>The plane turned and twisted as Scotty followed the coastline as +accurately as he could. They reached the upper tip of North Cove and +swung into the cove itself.</p> + +<p>Scotty tapped Rick on the shoulder and pointed. A man and a woman had +come out of the houseboat and were watching the plane.</p> + +<p>"Wonder where the other pair is?" Rick asked. There was nothing they +could do about the people on the houseboat now. Let them wonder what +the plane was doing. Rick turned his attention back to the shore +below.</p> + +<p>The plane traveled the length of the cove's shoreline and rounded the +southern tip. They passed over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> a section where the woods came right +down to the water. Birches leaned far over. Rick caught a glimpse of +what might have been the rowboat, then the plane swung and he lost it.</p> + +<p>"Circle," he said quickly. "I think I saw something!"</p> + +<p>Scotty gunned the Sky Wagon and threw it into a tight turn. Rick +watched carefully as the clump of birches came into view. There was a +boat under them, all right. He wished for the binoculars, but they +were probably at the attic lookout where Barby and Jan had spied on +the houseboat.</p> + +<p>He had no real doubt. He was sure the boat was the Spindrift rowboat.</p> + +<p>"Circle over the island," he called to Scotty, then reached over and +took the hand microphone from the instrument panel rack. He turned on +the radio and waited a moment while it warmed.</p> + +<p>"Joe, this is Rick," he said. "Rowboat under a clump of birches just +south of North Cove. Have the boys go there and look it over. See if +the girls are in the woods. We'll watch for sign of the girls on the +water."</p> + +<p>To Scotty, he directed, "Over the cove. Circle the whole area. We'll +watch for their bubbles. Joe's men will check the woods."</p> + +<p>The plane turned obediently. Presently they were moving in a wide +circle with the houseboat as a center. A slight surface wind had +arisen and the water in the cove was a bit choppy, but not enough to +ob<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>scure bubble tracks made by Scuba divers below.</p> + +<p>"See anything?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a trace. Can you see the water around the houseboat well enough?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. No bubbles in the vicinity." Rick dried his palms again, then +mopped his forehead. He was becoming thoroughly frightened. Where were +they?</p> + +<p>He checked his Megabuck radio to be sure it was on and called, "Barby. +Where are you?"</p> + +<p>The air was silent, except for the slight background hiss that was +always present.</p> + +<p>"Look right under the houseboat's gunwales," Scotty urged. "If they're +directly under it, the bubbles would rise along the sides."</p> + +<p>"Why would they go under the houseboat?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "Why did they come over here in the first +place?"</p> + +<p>Rick had no answer. "Let's go over to the shore. Joe's men ought to be +at the rowboat by now. Maybe they found the girls."</p> + +<p>Scotty banked around and headed over the clump of birches. In a small +clearing behind the clump they saw two men in Scout uniforms. The men +looked up, and one spread his hands wide in a gesture that said +nothing of importance had been turned up.</p> + +<p>"There's only one thing to do," Rick said decisively. "We've got to +check on the..."</p> + +<p>He stopped as though a hand had clutched his throat. Barby's voice, in +his earphones!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick pulled the unit from his pocket and turned up the volume. He +couldn't hear her well.</p> + +<p>"It's Barby," he said swiftly. "Circle!"</p> + +<p>Rick strained to hear. She was talking to someone. "... It won't do +the slightest bit of good to keep us here, because my brother will +know where we are."</p> + +<p>The signal faded as she talked. Rick turned the little radio unit, +trying to keep the volume constant.</p> + +<p>"You'd better let us go," Barby was saying. "You'll get into a lot of +trouble if you don't."</p> + +<p>Rick groaned. Her threats would do about as much good as a bunny +threatening a wolf pack. Where was she? On the houseboat?</p> + +<p>Suddenly he realized ... he had the key in his hands!</p> + +<p>Barby's voice was high-pitched and frightened now. "What are you +doing? Why are you putting that plastic cap on Jan?"</p> + +<p>Rick turned the radio unit as the plane circled. The sweat stood out +on his face. Unerringly, the axis of the built-in antenna pointed to +the houseboat.</p> + +<p>There was no longer any doubt!</p> + +<p>"Land!" he yelled. "Land next to the houseboat!"</p> + +<p>Scotty slammed the throttle in instant response, and as the Sky Wagon +dived toward the water he cast a quick look at Rick. "What did you +hear?"</p> + +<p>Rick was already slipping off his shoes, getting ready to jump. "On +the houseboat!" he choked. "They're using the mind reader on the +girls!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h2>The One-Man Boarding Party</h2> + + +<p>Scotty hit the water and bounced once, but he held the plane down and +in a moment the water slowed it. He revved up again and taxied as +rapidly as he dared to the houseboat, swung broadside to it, and +throttled back.</p> + +<p>Rick was waiting. He flung the door open and dove far enough to clear +the pontoon. The cold water closed over him briefly, then with a +powerful kick he flashed to the surface again. A few strokes brought +him to the houseboat.</p> + +<p>The two men were leaning on the rail. One, a hefty man of middle age +with a striped shirt and glasses, said politely, "Do you want +something?"</p> + +<p>Rick stopped and tread water. "I want the two girls you have inside. +Have them come out here, and we won't bother you any more."</p> + +<p>The second man, the dark-haired one who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> come to Spindrift, +smiled. "You mean our wives? They're having a nap. Sorry."</p> + +<p>"I mean my sister and her friend. Stop stalling, Mister."</p> + +<p>Striped shirt shook his head. "Sorry, boy. We haven't seen your +sister. Now climb back on your little airplane and get out of here."</p> + +<p>Rick's reply was a stroke that brought him to the houseboat. He +reached up for a handhold, when a boat hook suddenly touched his +forehead.</p> + +<p>"Don't try it," striped shirt said. "Stay off this barge or I'll bend +this pole over your head. Now get out of here."</p> + +<p>Rick back-pedaled helplessly. Now what? He knew there was no +possibility of his climbing aboard while the men were on deck.</p> + +<p>And what was happening inside? He swam forward, to the front of the +boat, and the men followed. They could move faster than he; there was +no possibility of outdistancing them.</p> + +<p>If only he had a weapon! But wishing was useless. He had to do +something! He called, "Barby! Can you hear me?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer from inside. His pulse speeded. Were Barby and Jan +all right, perhaps gagged, or had the mind reader already worked?</p> + +<p>Rick swam away from the houseboat a few feet and floated, his mind +racing. There had to be a way of getting aboard. There had to!</p> + +<p>Where was Scotty? He listened, and heard the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> plane's engine on the +other side of the houseboat. In a few seconds Scotty came into view. +He was on the water close to shore, traveling at high speed. As Rick +watched, Scotty swung the plane on a line with the houseboat and +opened the throttle wide.</p> + +<p>Rick stared. Was his pal out of his mind? If he crashed the houseboat, +the girls would be hurt, too! Then he realized Scotty would never pull +such a stunt, no matter how desperate he became.</p> + +<p>The men on the houseboat were at the rail now, eyes on the racing +plane. In that instant Rick divined Scotty's plan, he hoped, and +turned to gauge his distance. The plane was on the upper step now, +almost air-borne. Even as he watched, the pontoons pulled away. But +Scotty held the plane on the water, roaring propeller pointed right at +the men at the rail.</p> + +<p>Rick put his head down and sprinted for the front of the houseboat. He +had to time it perfectly!</p> + +<p>To the horrified eyes of the men at the rail a collision was +inevitable. They could only assume that the madman in the plane was +going to smash right into them. And as Scotty had planned, they lost +all interest in Rick, in the presence of immediate, personal danger.</p> + +<p>The men threw themselves to the deck, clawing frantically for some +kind of cover. At the last instant, Scotty pulled the plane up in a +power climb. So near disaster had he come that the suction of the +passing pontoons lifted a coiled rope into the air on top of the +cabin. Even as he mounted the rail and stood on deck, Rick gave a +prayer of thanks for his pal's perfect judgment and lightning +reflexes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_08.jpg" width="500" height="760" alt=""Stay away or I'll bend this pole over your head!"" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>He ran along the deck, jumped over the two prostrate men, swung around +and launched himself into the cabin. He stopped, eyes wide with +fright.</p> + +<p>Barby was lashed to a chair just inside the door, a gag in her mouth. +Jan was on the other side of the cabin, also lashed. But Jan had a +plastic cap on her head, and wires ran from it to a machine on a +nearby table. Two women were standing over the girl, and one had a +pistol in her hand.</p> + +<p>Rick started forward, then stopped helplessly. The pistol wasn't +pointed at him. It was pointed at Jan's head!</p> + +<p>He looked into Jan's pleading eyes and shifted his weight uncertainly. +He didn't know what to do now.</p> + +<p>Jan did. Her arms were lashed tight, but her legs were free. She +lifted one of them in a kick that caught the pistol-holding woman +behind the knees. The pistol hand lifted as the woman flailed for +balance, and Rick sprang like a charging fullback. His widespread arms +embraced both women and slammed them back into the cabin wall. Then he +scrambled to his feet in search of the gun. It was under Jan's chair. +He bent to pick it up when Barby gave a muffled cry from behind the +gag. Rick whirled.</p> + +<p>The two men were rushing him from the cabin entrance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>There wasn't much room in the cabin, but it gave Rick an advantage. He +dove toward the men, who stopped their rush briefly. But Rick hadn't +made the dive with the intention of meeting them head on. There was a +table along the wall next to the corner where Barby was tied up. Rick +went under it.</p> + +<p>The men rushed for the table. Rick reached out and grabbed an ankle. +Bracing his legs, he gave a mighty heave. Striped shirt went over +backward in front of Barby, who stamped with both bare feet on his +stomach. The breath went out of him with a whoosh.</p> + +<p>Rick gathered his legs and shoved upward. The table heaved into the +other man and threw him off balance long enough to give Rick a chance +to get to his feet. Keeping the table between him and the dark man, +Rick watched for an opening. Striped shirt was on his knees, shaking +his head.</p> + +<p>The dark man was tired of waiting. He launched himself across the +table, arms outstretched. It was the best move he could have made, +from Rick's point of view. The boy knew he could not compete with +either man in strength. He had to depend on speed, and the infighting +tricks he had learned from Scotty. He used one now. At the last moment +he side-stepped and his hand flashed down. It was a judo chop, the +hand held stiff, the blow delivered with the side opposite the thumb. +It was effective. The man dropped to the floor, shaking his head. Rick +used the <i>savate</i>, the blow delivered with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> heel. It landed +against the side of the man's neck. He went over sideways.</p> + +<p>Striped shirt was on his feet now, but still starved for air. His +mouth hung open as he gasped, but he was coming forward.</p> + +<p>Rick met him. He dove into the man's stomach and felt his head smack +into soft flesh. The breath went out of striped shirt again. Rick +regained his feet and turned to Barby. She was making sounds through +her gag, her eyes desperate.</p> + +<p>The boy whirled. The women were back in the fight, one of them +scrambling for the gun under Jan's chair. Jan kicked it far back, out +of reach. Rick scooped up the table and slid it along the floor at +them. The table caught them like a pair of tenpins and knocked them +into the corner. He turned back to Barby and started to untie her, his +fingers racing.</p> + +<p>A blow landed on his shoulder. He turned in time to meet another one +across the cheek that knocked him back against the wall. He rebounded, +fighting. The dark man was crouched low, fists weaving. Rick danced +lightly around him waiting. Let the man come to him.</p> + +<p>The man led with a right. Rick rolled away from it, watching the left +that was cocked for a Sunday punch. The man threw his punch. Rick +caught it on the forearm and gasped with the pain of it. The guy had a +wallop like a mule!</p> + +<p>Rick feinted with the hurt arm, then drove a chop at the man's nose. +It connected and brought a gasp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> of pain. Barby was screaming through +the gag again, but he couldn't look now. He brought a roundhouse punch +up under his opponent's guard and felt it smack solidly against ribs. +Then an arm encircled his neck and a clenched fist crashed against the +back of his head. He saw stars, and for a moment his guard dropped. +Then both arms were pinioned.</p> + +<p>Striped shirt had caught him from behind. Now the dark man stepped in, +fist cocked for a knockout punch. Rick saw it coming and braced +himself.</p> + +<p>The punch never landed. A crisp voice said, "Don't do it!"</p> + +<p>Encircling arms fell away. Rick turned, knees weak.</p> + +<p>A man in Boy Scout uniform stood in the cabin door, and in his hand +was a Police Positive.</p> + +<p>"All right," the Scout said cheerfully. "Party's over."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h2>Taped for Trouble</h2> + + +<p>Another Scout leader moved into the cabin, followed by Scotty. Rick +gave them a grin, then turned and picked up the gun behind Jan's +chair. He stuck it in his pocket and untied the girl.</p> + +<p>The plastic cap was still on her head. He lifted it off gently and put +it on top of the machine.</p> + +<p>"Are you all right?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She nodded, hand at her throat. "Yes," she managed. "I can't talk. The +gag ..."</p> + +<p>"Time for talk later," Rick said. He started for Barby, but Scotty was +already untying her. The moment her hands were free, she pulled the +gag from her mouth and announced, "Well! You took long enough getting +here!"</p> + +<p>Rick didn't know what to say to that. He didn't have a chance to say +anything. His sister rushed over, put her arms around him, and +squeezed.</p> + +<p>"You were wonderful," she said. "Scotty, he held<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> four of them at bay. +I never knew you could fight like that, Rick Brant!"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "I didn't do so much. You took one of them out of play +by stamping on him. And Jan gave me an opening with as fine a kick as +I've seen off a football field."</p> + +<p>The two JANIG agents had produced handcuffs, and the men and women +were manacled together in a continuous chain.</p> + +<p>"Outside," one agent commanded. "Get into the pram."</p> + +<p>"You've got nothing on us," the man in the striped shirt protested. +"We were only protecting ourselves against this wild man who barged in +here."</p> + +<p>"Were you protecting yourselves against the two girls?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"We were holding them for the police," striped shirt stated. "They +sneaked aboard, probably intending to steal anything they could find. +You're going to get yourselves into a peck of trouble, my friends. +There's a law in the state against carrying firearms! A fine +reputation this will give the Boy Scouts!"</p> + +<p>The agent with the pistol said mildly, "You talk too much. Get in the +pram." To Rick he said, "We're taking them to Spindrift. We'll send +the speedboat back for you."</p> + +<p>The four young people stood at the rail and watched as the crowded +pram with its outboard motor chugged off to the island.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barby pulled off her bathing cap, and Rick saw that she wore the +Megabuck unit underneath. He pointed to it. "I tried to call you. Why +didn't you answer?"</p> + +<p>Barby replied with an embarrassed blush that started at the shoulders +and swept up until her face was bright red. "I forgot to turn it on," +she admitted. "Jan reminded me while they were tying her up. They +hadn't got to me, yet. One of the women was holding the pistol and +pointing it at me. Jan sort of looked up and said, 'We need an outside +power to help us now. But we must be sure the power is turned on.' +Then I remembered. I pretended my head hurt, and pushed the switch."</p> + +<p>Rick looked at Jan. "That was clever. I'd been trying to reach Barby, +with no success. Then, suddenly, I heard her talking."</p> + +<p>"We knew you were close, because we could hear the plane." Jan +shuddered. "The men heard it, too, because they ran out right after +they tied us up and put that thing on my head. The women guarded us, +and one of them had just started the machine running when the plane +came right at us. We saw it, through the open door, and we thought you +were going to crash!"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned at Scotty. "That was our fast-acting pal. If he hadn't +done that, I'd never have had a chance to get aboard."</p> + +<p>"Good thing you figured out what I was doing," Scotty admitted. "When +I saw you moving fast to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>ward the boat, I knew it was okay, and that I +didn't have to crash."</p> + +<p>Rick stared. "Do you mean you'd have actually crashed?"</p> + +<p>"Not head on, because that would have hurt the girls. I was planning +to swing at the last minute and try to knock the men off with the +wing."</p> + +<p>Rick could only mutter, "My sainted aunt!"</p> + +<p>Scotty turned on the girls. "And here's the pair that made it +necessary. What in the name of a painted parsnip were you two trying +to do?"</p> + +<p>Barby lifted her chin defiantly. "We had a good plan. Can we help it +if it didn't work?"</p> + +<p>"Can't answer that until we know the plan," Scotty said reasonably. +"Suppose you tell us."</p> + +<p>"Well, we needed evidence that the houseboaters were in the plot +against our fathers, didn't we? I knew we could get it, if we could +plant a radio. So we made a plan."</p> + +<p>"Lot of good a turned-off radio would have done," Rick muttered.</p> + +<p>Barby glared. "We decided that we'd go swimming with the lungs. Then +we'd come up right next to the houseboat, and we'd be so surprised! Of +course the people would come out to see us, then we'd say I had a +cramp, and could we please come up and rest."</p> + +<p>Rick listened, and he had to admit it wasn't a bad plan at all—so +far.</p> + +<p>"Of course they would let us rest. Then I'd wait<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> for a chance to put +the radio behind a cushion, or in the crack of an armchair, or +somewhere like that. I didn't know exactly what I could do, but I knew +if we could get aboard there would be some way of leaving the radio +behind."</p> + +<p>The pram had vanished around the turn of the cove. The speedboat would +come into sight any moment now.</p> + +<p>"All right," Rick admitted. "Let's say it was a good plan. What +happened?"</p> + +<p>Jan took up the tale. "We didn't want to try to swim all the way from +Spindrift, so we took the rowboat and did exactly what Cap'n Mike did +yesterday. We rowed along the shore with the aqualungs and got into +the water right where we could see the houseboat. We had to. +Otherwise, we would have gotten lost underwater."</p> + +<p>"But you had the wrist compasses, didn't you?" Scotty asked. The boys +had stressed that compasses were essential because low visibility in +the waters off Spindrift made it very easy to lose one's sense of +direction.</p> + +<p>"We had the compasses," Barby said. "How do you think we swam right to +the houseboat?"</p> + +<p>"Then why didn't you get into the water out of sight of the +houseboat?" Rick asked, and suddenly he knew. That would have meant +plotting a compass course around a turn. So many feet in one +direction, then change to another compass heading. He had explained it +to them, but they just hadn't learned.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> It was not easy, he had to +admit, and it took practice even on land. "Never mind," he said. "I +know the answer. Go ahead. Tell us the rest."</p> + +<p>Barby studied his face. "I guess you do know," she assented. "Well, +they told us later, on the houseboat. They saw us get into the water, +then they watched our bubbles come right toward them. So when we got +here, they weren't fooled."</p> + +<p>"We went through with it, as we planned," Jan said, "and we thought we +were getting away with it. They were very nice. Of course we could +come up and rest. They were glad to have us stop by. But when we got +aboard, one of the women had a gun, and she made us go into the cabin +and sit down. Then they started asking us questions."</p> + +<p>"What kind of questions?" Rick inquired.</p> + +<p>"About why we had come. We stuck to the story, until they told us +they'd seen us. Even then we didn't admit anything. Then Barby started +to threaten them."</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "I'd like to have heard that."</p> + +<p>Rick watched the tip of the cove. The speedboat from Spindrift should +be coming shortly. "How about the plane?" he asked suddenly. "What did +you do with it?"</p> + +<p>Scotty motioned to the other side of the houseboat. "It's anchored. I +landed next to the JANIG team and got into the rowboat with them." The +Sky Wagon carried a small anchor and a few yards of anchor line in one +of the pontoons.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Okay. Carry on, Barby. How did you threaten them?"</p> + +<p>"I was very logical," Barby stated. "Wasn't I, Jan?"</p> + +<p>Jan nodded agreement. "You definitely were."</p> + +<p>"I started by telling them that they couldn't possibly do a thing to +us, and they might as well let us go right away."</p> + +<p>"Bet that impressed them," Rick murmured.</p> + +<p>"Are you telling this, or am I?"</p> + +<p>"You are," Rick said contritely. "Go ahead."</p> + +<p>"Well, I said my brother knew where we were, and they'd better be +careful. It didn't work. Then I pointed out that they didn't even dare +to kill us, because our bodies could be traced back to the houseboat. +Everyone knew we'd just gone for a swim, and everyone knew we could +take care of ourselves."</p> + +<p>Rick thought privately that any time Spindrift was in danger from then +on, he'd make sure his self-reliant sister had a bodyguard at all +times.</p> + +<p>"I said other things, too, but finally they slapped me and told me to +shut up."</p> + +<p>"Who did?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>"One of the women. It doesn't matter, Scotty. It didn't hurt. Anyway, +they said we could stop worrying about what was going to happen to +them. Then one of the men asked if we knew what had happened to the +three scientists. We said yes. And he said ... he said ..." Barby +suddenly turned white.</p> + +<p>Jan finished for her. "He said they were going to erase our minds, +too. Then they were going to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> put us back in the water." The words +were no sooner out than Jan had a delayed reaction, too.</p> + +<p>Rick rushed the two of them into the cabin and made them sit down with +heads bent low. Scotty found water and gave them each a drink.</p> + +<p>"You've acted like a couple of champs," Rick told them. "But for the +love of mike, don't faint now!"</p> + +<p>Barby lifted her chin. "I have no intention of fainting," she said +defiantly. "It's just ... well, it's ..."</p> + +<p>"I know," Rick assured her. "Take it easy, Sis."</p> + +<p>He looked up. The sound of a racing speedboat was echoing inside the +cabin. Good. They'd be home in a few minutes and his mother could take +over. He gave the girls a comradely grin. What a pair!</p> + +<p>The machine on the table attracted his eye. He walked over and studied +it. The recording drum had wavy lines on it, probably the beginning of +Jan's brain pattern. It made no sense to him, but it would to Parnell +Winston.</p> + +<p>"They had you taped," he told the girl gently. "But you saved your own +bacon by telling Barby to turn on the radio. If you hadn't ..."</p> + +<p>A shudder ran through Jan's slim body. "I was taped for trouble. I'm +glad you came through the door when you did!"</p> + +<p>Rick's finger traced a line on the recording drum.</p> + +<p>"I'm kind of glad myself," he admitted.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h2>JANIG Closes In</h2> + + +<p>Steve Ames walked around the objects on the laboratory table. "Nothing +deadly looking about these gadgets," he said. "Which goes to show how +misleading appearances can be."</p> + +<p>The objects included the barber's massage machine, an ancient +composition-board suitcase, the gadget from the houseboat, and a TV +set with an indoor antenna of the kind known as "rabbit ears."</p> + +<p>Parnell Winston admitted, "There is plenty we don't know about them, +especially the inside of that TV set. But we'll learn."</p> + +<p>Steve smiled at the assembly of faces. In addition to the project team +and the boys, Mrs. Brant, Mrs. Morrison, and the two girls were in the +group. So was Joe Blake.</p> + +<p>Rick regretted that Jerry, Duke, and Cap'n Mike could not be invited. +But the matter was still not for discussion with people on the +outside. If a story<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> ever could be made public, the <i>Morning Record</i> +would be the first to have it, but in all probability the facts would +remain buried for some time.</p> + +<p>In a large room in the lab basement the four houseboaters and the +barber waited under heavy guard for the arrival of a Coast Guard +cutter. The barber was there courtesy of Captain Douglas, who had +picked him up and delivered him to Spindrift after a call from Joe +Blake.</p> + +<p>Steve rapped for attention. "We're about to tie up some loose ends, +everyone. Let's get seated, because the cutter will be here any +moment."</p> + +<p>The room was sometimes used for lectures when Hartson Brant got his +entire staff together, and there were plenty of chairs. In a moment +the audience was seated comfortably and listening to Steve.</p> + +<p>"You were all involved," the agent began, "so I want you all to know +what has been going on. Some details are not known to us, yet. But +we're continuing the investigation. However, the part that involves +you is finished, and you'll probably never hear about the rest of it."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that was true. Who the houseboaters and the barber really +were, who paid them, how they had been tipped off to the project in +the first place, and similar details would remain locked in top-secret +files somewhere in Washington.</p> + +<p>"The key to the whole affair was uncovered in Washington yesterday. +Most of you know about the physical arrangements on the fourth floor. +In setting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> up the security system we checked all wiring, traced all +phone lines, and in general made sure the place was not 'bugged,' +which is the term we use for wire taps, hidden microphones, and so +on."</p> + +<p>Steve paused, and Rick thought his friend looked a little embarrassed. +"In spite of our care, it developed that we did have a hidden +microphone picking up all conversation and relaying it to the enemy +group. I can only say in our own defense that it was the kind of 'bug' +we couldn't have found without tearing the building apart."</p> + +<p>"It's nearly impossible to take all modern electronic developments +into account," Julius Weiss said. "We all know how thorough you are, +Steve. Go on."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Julius. Directly above us, on the fifth floor, was the +Peerless Brokerage Company. It was a legitimate firm, doing a good +business. We had no reason to suspect it, even though we checked out +all firms both above and below us. Well, in checking on the +houseboaters, we discovered that the firm had recently been taken over +by a dummy corporation, and most of it was actually owned by the man +Rick called 'striped shirt.' He bought the stock right after the +project moved in on the fourth floor."</p> + +<p>"There was no change in the firm?" Dr. Morrison asked. "Nothing +suspicious?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. The firm continued to operate as always. There was one +personnel change. A lawyer, representing the new principal +stockholder, took over one of the offices."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rick suspected that said lawyer was now in custody.</p> + +<p>"As soon as we discovered the connection, we made a check. Under the +floor in the lawyer's office we found a 'bug.' A hole had been drilled +into the floor structure until only a thin shell of plaster remained. +The plaster was, of course, our ceiling. So actually the microphone +was within a fraction of an inch of our room, but there was no way we +could detect it. That's how every move we made was anticipated, and +why the enemy moved to Whiteside on the same day that the project +moved to Spindrift."</p> + +<p>That explained a lot, Rick thought. "Did the barber tape the two +scientists?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We think so. He's the boss of the enemy team, Rick. We've found that +during the period when he was in Washington, his massage machine was +wired through to a room in the basement. The wiring went through the +power cord into the electric outlet, and the impulses were actually +transmitted over the power system and taken out of a plug in the +basement. We found the machine where he had stored it."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that could be done quite simply. The frequencies of the +electric current and the brain patterns were so different that they +would not interfere with each other.</p> + +<p>"He didn't plan to use his machine in Whiteside," Steve went on, +"because he left the mind-reading part of the machine in Washington."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then why did he bring it?" Barby asked.</p> + +<p>"We're not sure. The likeliest possibility is that he wanted to +continue using it as a massage machine, because he made a little money +with it. I never knew an espionage agent who didn't need money."</p> + +<p>Steve looked at Rick. "I'm a little surprised at one thing. Why didn't +the Spindrift twins suspect foul play when Hartson Brant ran over +something in the speedboat?"</p> + +<p>It was Rick's turn to be embarrassed. "I guess we were so upset we +didn't think straight. Why?"</p> + +<p>"The mainland team found a log. It had a yoke on it. Apparently the +houseboaters had taken a lesson from the incident on the pier and were +waiting for Spindrift traffic on the water. We think they waited until +they heard the sound of the Spindrift speedboat, then took the pram +and cut across the course hauling a log on a long rope."</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up. "That's what puzzles me, Steve. Why the switch from +long-distance electronics to violence?"</p> + +<p>"When we moved the project to Spindrift, we also removed the chance of +taping project members in some natural setting like the barbershop. +They had hoped to knock out the team without anyone suspecting it was +enemy interference. That worked, at first. But moving the project +upset their plans. They rigged the train deal that caught Marks. But +even though it worked, it showed we were dealing with an enemy."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So they had to catch the scientists in order to tape them," Scotty +commented.</p> + +<p>"Right. Of course they tried to do it in a way that looked natural in +the case of Marks and Dr. Brant. Probably they hoped the attack on +Duke, whom they mistook for Morrison, would be taken as a holdup. They +undoubtedly planned to allow time between the accident, or attack, and +following through with the mind-reading machine, hoping that the two +wouldn't be connected."</p> + +<p>The pattern was clear, Rick thought. Like many such schemes, the +moment a suspicion of foul play developed, the plan began to +boomerang.</p> + +<p>"I think the order of events is clear enough," Steve concluded. "Any +questions?"</p> + +<p>Barby had one. "I don't understand about Dr. Marks. Did they turn on +the mind reader from the train?"</p> + +<p>"Probably. The man on the train apparently had a two-section gadget in +a suitcase. One part took the EEG and the other sent out the signal +that did the damage. He waited until the train was pulling out of the +station before turning on the record section. Then all he had to do +was get off at New York. We haven't found him, or his machine. But we +will. Any other questions?"</p> + +<p>"Why did the barber move to Whiteside, if he didn't intend to tape +anyone?" Weiss asked.</p> + +<p>"The barbershop in any small town is a good central location for +keeping track of goings-on in town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> I think that's all he had in +mind—besides the fact that barbering was his trade. If Vince Lardner +hadn't needed an assistant, he probably would have moved into one of +the summer colonies, or gotten some other kind of job. We can't be +sure."</p> + +<p>Rick asked, "Are there any machines in existence besides these two and +the missing one from the train?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know. But it doesn't matter. The enemy now knows we're onto +the system and can't expect to get away with it again. Besides, Dr. +Winston says a countermeasure is easily arranged, to be used when we +suspect the mind readers might make another try."</p> + +<p>"Who are these people?" Jan demanded.</p> + +<p>Steve grinned. "Unfriendly agents. Seriously, Jan, we aren't sure +about their employers. It will take some backbreaking investigation to +get the whole story, because the files show nothing on any of them. +That means they were deep-cover agents, kept hidden until there was +something important enough to bring them out. We may never get the +whole story."</p> + +<p>"Won't they talk?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"They haven't yet. They may. But, anyway, we'd have to check on their +stories. Any other questions? Okay, I'm finished. Dr. Winston will +take over at this point."</p> + +<p>The cyberneticist came to the front of the room. "We have something +here," he stated, "but we don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> yet know what it is. And, curiously +enough, from the crude nature of the machines, I doubt that the enemy +knows, either. If we have to speculate—and I guess we do—we might +guess that sometime, in an enemy EEG laboratory, some experiment +resulted in a subject having his mind erased. It was probably an +accident that the enemy exploited without knowing how it worked."</p> + +<p>"Can't we even guess how it works?" Weiss asked.</p> + +<p>"Approximately, without knowing the physiology of it. The EEG +recording is simply fed into a gadget that modulates a carrier wave. +The carrier is an average frequency for brain patterns. In effect, the +thing simply transmits the man's own pattern back to him. Why that +should produce trauma of the kind we have seen is a mystery." The +scientist gestured to the TV receiver. "The transmitter is +incorporated into the TV chassis, and the 'rabbit ears' act as an +antenna when adjusted properly. The recorder is a simple EEG +mechanism."</p> + +<p>Winston smiled. "You may be sure we're not through with this +apparatus. I'm leaving the project immediately to set up a new team +with Chavez, for the investigation of this phenomena. It may be +another major key to the physiology of the brain."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean we know nothing more than you've told us?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing more, Rick. Oh, are you wondering about the barber's machine? +Actually, the massage gadgets acted as electrodes, and the massage oil +did very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> well in making good contact. It was a simple setup."</p> + +<p>There were no questions for Parnell Winston. Steve took over. "In a +short time we'll take the prisoners off your hands. Joe Blake and two +men will remain as guards, but I think we have nothing more to worry +about beyond routine security."</p> + +<p>"I just remembered," Rick interrupted. "How about the elevator +operator?"</p> + +<p>"We picked him up, but he didn't know a thing. The barber paid him in +free haircuts to keep track of people coming and going from the fourth +floor. That's all. He didn't know why."</p> + +<p>Joe Blake came in the door. "Motor whaleboat coming, Steve. Shall we +take the prisoners to the landing?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Joe. Please."</p> + +<p>Barby looked at Steve speculatively. "How about the houseboat?"</p> + +<p>"Well, how about it? Haven't you seen enough of it?"</p> + +<p>Barby smiled. "It would be very nice, if it were only another color. +What will happen to it?"</p> + +<p>"A coastguardman will be after it tomorrow. It will be impounded for a +while. After that it may be sold for public auction, or it may revert +to the owner's estate. It depends on the court."</p> + +<p>Barby looked a little disappointed. "Oh, well, we don't really need a +houseboat, anyway."</p> + +<p>The group broke up as Joe and his partner walked the prisoners across +the island to the landing. In a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> short time the motor whaleboat was +speeding to the horizon where a cutter waited.</p> + +<p>Rick took a last look. That just about closed the case. The remaining +details probably would never be known to the Spindrift group.</p> + +<p>"Can't anything be done for Dr. Marks and the other scientists?" he +asked Parnell Winston.</p> + +<p>Winston shook his head. "No, Rick. We're afraid to tamper, for fear of +making things worse. But I neglected to tell you one very important +item. The first scientist stricken is becoming rational again, or at +least we hope so. Yesterday he asked for food. A short time later he +picked up a pencil and paper and began to work out an equation, one +connected with the project. Apparently the equation was the last thing +he had been working on when the mind reader struck. So we hope and +believe that nature is healing the damage. There is no evidence of +tissue destruction, so perhaps complete recovery is possible. It's a +question of waiting and watching."</p> + +<p>Within two weeks Rick had an opportunity to see for himself, because +the two scientists from Washington joined the Spindrift group. They +were fully recovered, with only vague memories of the period when +their minds were not functioning. And Dr. Marks was reported well on +the way to normalcy.</p> + +<p>The project was almost at an end, with only a few final checks needed +on the critical equations. The Morrisons had already set a day for +their departure—to Barby's great unhappiness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>As Barby said at dinner one night, "I didn't realize how lonely it +gets sometimes without another girl on the island. Until Jan came, +that is. Now she's going, and I wish she weren't."</p> + +<p>"I'd love to stay," Jan said. "Really I would."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant arrived in time to hear the last exchange. He had left +the table briefly to take a phone call. "I'm afraid it's going to be +pretty quiet on Spindrift," he agreed. "It looks as though we'll be +losing Rick and Scotty for a while!"</p> + +<p>Barby wailed, "Not again! Why can't they stay home for a while?"</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty had looked up with quick interest at the scientist's +words.</p> + +<p>"We've been home for weeks," Rick replied. His eyes were on the slip +of paper in his father's hand. "Dad, what is it? Where are we going?"</p> + +<p>"Read it aloud," Hartson Brant suggested. He handed Rick the slip.</p> + +<p>Rick scanned it quickly. It was a telegram that his father had taken +over the phone. Rick's pulse quickened. Dr. Gordon, who had been at +work on a secret rocket project in the far west, had wired:</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">arriving tomorrow. need rick and scotty for special work. +urge they be ready to depart in three days equipped for +extended stay at desert base.</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>Rick's eyes met Scotty's as he finished reading. "Desert base," he +repeated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>Scotty grinned his delight. "John Gordon's rocket base is in the +desert. He must want us there."</p> + +<p>"But why?" Barby demanded. "You're not rocket experts. Why, even when +we had the moon rocket here, you didn't work on the rocket itself."</p> + +<p>That was perfectly true. Rick shrugged. "You know as much as we do, +Sis."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant stirred his coffee thoughtfully. "I have a hunch," he +said. "From the tone of the wire, I suspect John is in some kind of +difficulty. Surely he doesn't want you as technicians, but it's not +beyond the bounds of possibility that he needs a little detective work +done."</p> + +<p>It made sense to Rick. But what kind of detective work could he and +Scotty do at a highly guarded and secret government base? He fought +down the impulse to run up to his room and start packing. Gordon had +said in three days. There was plenty of time. Except that Rick knew +he'd be dizzy with wondering until John Gordon gave them more +information.</p> + +<p>The Morrisons rose to the occasion beautifully. "We wouldn't want +Barby to be without any companions of her own age here," Mrs. Morrison +said quickly. "If it's all right, I'm sure we can let Jan remain until +the boys return."</p> + +<p>The girls beamed without saying a word, then they broke into excited +chatter. Rick and Scotty retired to the front porch and grinned at +each other.</p> + +<p>"If Dad is right, this is going to be plenty of fun," Scotty said +happily. "I've always wanted to get close to the big rockets."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll find out," Rick said. "And if John Gordon has a mystery, we're +the pair who can solve it for him."</p> + +<p>Later, Rick's words returned to him under the most unusual and +terrifying circumstances of his entire life. The story of the project +that led to Rick's greatest adventure will be told in the next Rick +Brant Science-Adventure mystery.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><i>The</i> <span class="smcap">Rick Brant Science-Adventure</span> <i>Stories</i></h3> +<h2>BY JOHN BLAINE</h2> +<ul> +<li><span class="smcap">The Rocket's Shadow</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Lost City</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Sea Gold</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">100 Fathoms Under</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Whispering Box Mystery</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Phantom Shark</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Smugglers' Reef</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Caves of Fear</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Stairway to Danger</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Golden Skull</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Wailing Octopus</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Electronic Mind Reader</span></li> +</ul> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Electronic Mind Reader, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER *** + +***** This file should be named 28813-h.htm or 28813-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/8/1/28813/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Electronic Mind Reader + +Author: John Blaine + +Release Date: May 14, 2009 [EBook #28813] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the + U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + [Illustration: _Horrified with fear, the men threw themselves + to the deck_] + + + + A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY + + + + THE + + ELECTRONIC + + MIND READER + + + + + BY JOHN BLAINE + + + + + + GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS + + NEW YORK, N. Y. + + + + + (C) BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1957 + + * * * * * + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I THE MILLION-DOLLAR GIMMICK 1 + +II THE INVASION OF SPINDRIFT 10 + +III A SYSTEM WITHIN A SYSTEM 24 + +IV A HAIRCUT AND A WINK 33 + +V JANIG RUNS A SECURITY CHECK 45 + +VI A CALM PRECEDES A STORM 55 + +VII THE PERIPATETIC BARBER 65 + +VIII THE MIND READER STRIKES 74 + +IX DAGGER OF THE MIND 86 + +X SEARCH FOR STRANGERS 94 + +XI THE DANGEROUS RESEMBLANCE 105 + +XII THE COAST GUARD DRAWS A BLANK 119 + +XIII THE MEGABUCK MOB ACTS 130 + +XIV SURVEILLANCE--WITH CEREAL 148 + +XV A MATTER OF BRAIN WAVES 154 + +XVI THE VANISHING MERMAIDS 164 + +XVII POINTER TO DISASTER 179 + +XVIII THE ONE-MAN BOARDING PARTY 186 + +XIX TAPED FOR TROUBLE 194 + +XX JANIG CLOSES IN 202 + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + +CHAPTER I + +The Million-Dollar Gimmick + + +Rick Brant stretched luxuriously and slid down to a half-reclining, +half-sitting position in his dad's favorite library armchair. He +called, "Barby! Hurry up!" + +Don Scott looked up from his adjustment of the television picture. +"What's the rush? The show hasn't started yet." + +Rick explained, "She likes the commercials." + +A moment later Barbara Brant appeared in the doorway, hastily +finishing a doughnut. Rick cocked an eyebrow at her. "If you're going +to eat, you might at least bring a plateful, so we can have some, +too." + +Barby gulped. "Sorry. I didn't intend to have a doughnut. I went to +the kitchen to see if Mom and Dad wanted to watch the show, and they +were having doughnuts and milk." + +"Never mind," Scotty said. "We forgive you. We'll get ours later. Are +Mom and Dad coming?" + +"Maybe later. Now be quiet, please, so I can hear the commercial." + +Dismal, the Brant pup, wandered in and paused at Rick's chair to have +his ears scratched before taking up his favorite position, under the +TV table. Rick obliged and the shaggy pup groaned with pleasure. + +"Why all the interest in a breakfast-food commercial?" Scotty asked. + +"The announcer is cute," Barby stated. + +This made no sense to Scotty. He stretched out on the rug in front of +the set, then rolled over on his back and looked up at the girl. "I +don't get it. Then why do you eat Crummies for breakfast instead of +the hay this guy sells?" + +"The Crummies announcer is cuter," Barby explained patiently. + +The boys grinned and fell silent as the cereal salesman went into his +spiel. Barby perched on the edge of a chair and listened attentively. + +Rick watched his sister's expressive face, chuckling to himself. Barby +always listened to the commercials. It was only fair, she insisted, +and the boys went along with her wishes. Come right down to it, Rick +thought, listening to commercials was the price that had to be paid +for entertainment. Not listening meant not paying the price. He didn't +think that the point was particularly important, but there was a small +element of justice in Barby's view. + +Their Sunday evenings on Spindrift, the private island off the New +Jersey coast, usually ended with this particular program. The members +of the Spindrift staff were not TV enthusiasts at best, and they cared +little about the program. Mr. and Mrs. Brant sometimes watched, more +for the sake of being companionable than for the sake of the program. +But usually the three young people watched alone. + +The program was a typical quiz. Contestants who were expert on a +particular category returned week after week on their build-up to a +grand prize, which was a quarter of a million dollars. This quiz, +however, had elements that the younger Brants liked. In the first +place, the contestants were ordinary people. The producer didn't seem +to go in for odd characters as other programs did. + +For the past few weeks the hero-contestant had been an +eighteen-year-old coal miner from Pennsylvania. There was nothing +unusual about him, except for one thing: he had become interested in +the mining of precious stones, and from there he had studied their +history. He was an expert on historical gems. + +Now, as the master of ceremonies greeted the miner, Barby said with +admiration, "He has a wonderful personality. And imagine him knowing +so much about gems!" + +Rick draped a leg over the chair arm. "See, Scotty? The perfect +reaction." + +"What do you mean?" Barby demanded indignantly. "He absolutely does +have a wonderful personality, and I think it's amazing that a coal +miner should know so much about gems." + +Scotty grinned up at her. "Rick means people can't get on quiz shows +unless they have good TV personalities. And how much appeal would the +show have if a gem expert answered questions on gems?" + +"I see what you mean," Barby agreed. + +"That's it," Rick nodded. "Anyway, I agree that the miner has a swell +personality, and he certainly knows his gems." + +The three fell quiet as the quiz began. The questions were really +tough, filled with the kind of detail no one could be expected to +remember, but which good contestants always did. Then, at a crucial +moment, the miner hesitated over identification of a date in the long +and bloody history of the Koh-i-noor diamond. + +"If only we could help him," Barby wailed. + +"We don't know, either," Scotty reminded. + +But Rick suddenly realized that they did know--or, at least, had the +answer available. He was certain it could be found in one of his +father's books, if not in the encyclopedia. But even if they had time +to look it up, which they didn't, the contestant couldn't hear them in +a soundproof booth. Or could they get a message to him if they were +part of the studio audience? Or was there some other way? It was +typical of Rick, when faced with an apparently insoluble problem, to +look for an answer. + +The miner finally remembered, and the three breathed a mutual sigh of +relief. But the ordeal was not yet over, because the questioning had +several parts. Next came a quiz on the Star of Africa. + +The questions asked, the camera began switching from the contestant's +face to the tense faces in the audience. A woman, probably the miner's +mother ... a man with a beard ... a man with a hearing aid ... + +Rick suddenly sat up straight. He had it! He knew how the information +could be handed to the contestant! At least he knew in theory. He sat +back and started to work out the details. + +The miner made it. Limp and happy, he came out of the booth, shook +hands with the MC, and staggered off with an armload of books +containing answers to next week's series of questions. The announcer +went into the final commercial, with Barby and Scotty listening +attentively. Rick didn't listen. He had a wonderful idea on which he +was putting the finishing touches. + +As programs shifted, Scotty reached up and turned off the set. Dismal +left his place under the table and trotted off to the kitchen. + +"Me for a doughnut," Scotty announced. + +Barby was still spellbound by the miner's success. "It's just +fantastic, utterly, how much he knows." She shook her smooth blond +head. "I wish I knew that much about something." + +"Want to win a million?" Rick asked. + +"Who doesn't?" Barby returned dreamily. Suddenly she stared. "You +have a Look on your face," she stated. "Rick Brant, you're cooking up +something!" + +Rick grinned. "I can win the quiz," he said casually. "It's easy. Let +me know if either of you want to win. Of course you might end up in +jail if you're not real careful, but I think it'll work." + +Scotty looked his disbelief. "Easy, huh? What are you expert on?" + +"Nothing," Rick said airily. "And anything. Of course we all know +you're an expert on eating, but that's not a category, it's a +capacity." + +Barby gave what might be described as a lady-like sneer. + +Rick shook his head. "It's terrible the way people in this house have +no faith in genius. Just terrible." He sighed heavily. + +Scotty watched him suspiciously. "All right, Doctor Brant. Give with +the great idea." + +"Okay." Rick waved at the encircling shelves of books. "Pick a +subject. Any subject, so long as it is contained in a very few +references. Like the life of the bee, or the Adventures of Sherlock +Holmes, or the Life of Dickens." + +Barby said obligingly, "All right. I pick Ben Franklin. Now what?" + +"We get the major books on old Ben, plus the copy of the encyclopedia +we need. Then we set up an index, and we put principal categories of +information on file cards. For Ben, we'd need the Sayings of Poor +Richard, and the dates they appeared, and where. And we'd need a list +of his inventions, plus dates. And so on. Generally, we fix things so +we can find any answer in a few seconds." + +Barby shook her head. "That would be awfully hard. It would take +weeks, and whoever operated the file would have to know it nearly by +heart." + +Rick agreed. "But isn't a million bucks worth a few weeks of effort?" + +Rick's famous father, Hartson Brant, walked into the library in time +to hear the last comment. His eyebrows went up. "What's all this +megabuck talk?" + +That was a new word to Barby. "What talk?" + +"In the metric system, 'meg' means million. So a megabuck is a million +bucks, if you'll pardon the slang." + +"Oh--well Rick is going to win a megabuck." + +Rick explained rapidly about choosing a subject that could be +cross-indexed for ease of reference, then went on. "After we get the +subject all set, we choose the contestant. It has to be a real person. +We'd need several contestants, because the gimmick could be worked on +every big money quiz. Maybe more than once on each. Of course the +contestants would have to be members of the Megabuck Mob, as we'll +call it." + +"I like that," Barby said enthusiastically. "That would make me a +Megabuck Moll, wouldn't it?" + +"Yep," Scotty agreed. "And Rick can be the Megabuck Mole." + +"And you can be the Megabuck Moose, you big ox," Rick finished. He was +warming up to his subject now. There had to be a hole in it somewhere, +but he hadn't found it yet. "Anyway, we have Ben Franklin on file +cards and Barby has studied carefully to be the first contestant. Then +what?" + +"Someone asks who Ben Franklin was, and I say that he started a chain +of department stores," Barby said helpfully. + +"Not you," Rick denied. "You know all the right answers. And why? +Because the Megabuck Mob is behind you. The Megabuck Moose is going +through the cards, and the Megabuck Mole is feeding the answers into +the Megabuck Memory Machine, and the Megabuck Moll in maidenly modesty +mumbles madly--" + +"Help him," Scotty interrupted. "His lips are stuck together. He can't +say anything but mmmmm." + +But Barby was interested now. "And how does the Memory Machine madly +machinate and murmur the answers?" + +"Mmm," Rick murmured. "That is the secret!" + +Hartson Brant threatened his son with a handy volume of the Physics +Handbook. "Out with it, young man. This is no time to keep secrets, +now that we're all partners in the deal." + +Rick sighed. He waved at Barby. "Look at her. So young, so smart, so +pretty. But the poor girl has a very slight handicap. She has to wear +a hearing aid...." + +Scotty got it then. "Hey! Rick, that's great! The hearing aid would be +a radio receiver!" + +Barby got it, too. She finished in a rush, "And the Megabuck Mob would +be watching on TV, and digging out the answers, and the Memory Machine +would be a radio transmitter ..." + +"It wouldn't matter about the soundproof booth," Scotty chimed in, +"because radio will go right through the walls!" + +Hartson Brant held both hands to his head in mock horror. "To think +that my only son should turn out to be a halfway criminal genius!" + +Rick glanced up at his father suspiciously. "Halfway?" He knew from +the word that the scientist had immediately spotted some reason why +his gimmick wouldn't work. + +"Never mind, son." Hartson Brant put a hand on Rick's shoulder. "The +Megabuck Moll can bake you a cake with a file in it, so you can break +out of jail. I'm sure you won't mind being a fugitive from justice." + +A harsh growl from the doorway caused them all to whirl around, +startled. "He'll never get a chance. The Megabuck Mob is pinched as of +right now. The federal government is taking over this island!" + +Crouched in the doorway, submachine gun cradled in his arms, was an +officer of the United States Coast Guard! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Invasion of Spindrift + + +Hartson Brant reacted first. He said severely, "I've tried to teach +Rick that one never points a firearm at people. You're setting him a +bad example." Then the scientist smiled and held out his hand. "This +is an unexpected pleasure, Steve. Why didn't you let us know you were +coming? And why the disguise?" + +Steve Ames, a chief agent of JANIG, the Joint Army-Navy Intelligence +Group with which Spindrift had so often worked, straightened up and +grinned. He winked at the astonished young people. "Hi, gang." + +The trio chorused, "Hi, Steve." + +Steve shook hands with Hartson Brant, then explained, "I'm not really +setting a bad example. If you'll look closely, you'll see that the +bolt of this chopper is open, the safety is on, and there isn't a +round in the chamber." + +"But why carry it at all?" Barby demanded. + +Rick closed his mouth. He had been about to ask the same thing. He +felt a tingle of excitement. When Steve Ames showed up on Spindrift, +adventure wasn't far off. The federal agent came to Spindrift only for +help, and then only when his usual sources had failed. + +The first time, in the case of _The Whispering Box Mystery_, the +Spindrifters had worked with Steve in Washington. Recently, quite by +accident, the boys had become involved in a JANIG case while +vacationing in the Virgin Islands. As the case of _The Wailing +Octopus_ came to an end, Steve had warned them that he might see them +soon. And now here he was. + +"The reason for the chopper is a long story," Steve answered Barby. +"But the reason for the uniform is simple. It's mine." + +Then Steve, who had never before appeared as anything but a civilian, +was actually a full Commander in the Coast Guard! Rick marveled at how +little they really knew about their friend. He certainly excelled at +keeping his mouth shut. Probably he was a reserve officer. + +"I think you look handsome in it," Barby said dreamily. The boys had +kidded her before about getting all misty-eyed when Steve showed up. +Actually, Steve was a very handsome young man, so Barby's mild crush +was understandable. + +"That makes it worth wearing," Steve said gallantly. Barby beamed. + +Hartson Brant detached a key from his chain and handed it to Steve +with a flourish. "You said you were taking over the island, I believe? +You'll need the house key." + +Rick smiled. That was his father's way of leading the conversation +back to Steve's reason for coming, without taking the edge off their +delight at the unexpected reunion. But Steve was not to be pushed into +business talk so easily. He looked at Rick. + +"You and your schemes! I think I'll poke it full of holes just to show +you that crime doesn't pay." + +Scotty asked curiously, "How much did you hear?" + +"The whole plan. I've been casing the joint, as we say. Okay, Rick. +You must have considered that a rash of winners wearing hearing aids +would attract attention and comment. How are you going to prevent it?" + +Rick answered automatically, his mind not really on his Great Idea any +more. So Steve had been "casing" the island! He replied, "Not all the +hearing aids would be visible. For instance, I could make a receiver +for Barby that would be an ornamental plastic band to wear the way +girls wear barrettes, or whatever they call them. Or, I could fit a +receiver into a special pair of glasses. There's one type of hearing +aid that's built into glasses, you know." + +"I do know," Steve agreed. "All right. I'll try again. Each contestant +that looks good to the program people gets a thorough quizzing on the +chosen subject before being accepted. That's to find out if they're +really experts. How are you going to handle it?" + +Rick hadn't known about that. He pondered for a moment. "That means +we'd have to prepare a hidden transmitter, too, so we could help out +during the examination. It could be done. The contestants could wear +the gadget strapped to their legs, under their skirts or trousers." + +Steve was enjoying Rick's ready responses. His eyes twinkled. "You'd +have to use very limited range on your Megabuck Mob transmitter, and a +very high frequency. Otherwise, the Federal Communications Commission +would pick you up, use a direction finder, and move in on your +operation. They might locate you, anyway, even on low power and +ultra-high frequency. How are you going to lick that?" + +Rick held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not. I can't take a chance +of getting the federal government into the act. Gosh, I'd have the +FCC, the FBI, and maybe a dozen others on my trail. I quit. The +Megabuck Mob is hereby dissolved." + +Steve looked disappointed. "And I was hoping your plan was foolproof. +I was about to buy stock in the Mob." The amusement in his eyes belied +the words. + +Hartson Brant laughed. "I'm glad you're the one that stuck a pin in +his bubble, Steve. The way Barby bakes cakes, I'm not sure Rick could +ever break one to get the file out." + +Steve chuckled. "The records are full of foolproof get-rich-quick +schemes like this one. And the jails are full of halfway criminal +geniuses, too. But don't overlook the advantages of an eat-proof cake. +It might come in handy to throw at the guards during the getaway." + +The young people laughed, too, then Barby sobered suddenly. "Rick, +could you really put one of those things in my hair?" + +He had an image of the gadget in his mind, and he knew it would work. +"Sure, Sis. Why?" + +"An idea I want to talk to you about later." She turned to Steve and +asked anxiously, "You do know Rick was only fooling, don't you, Steve? +He wouldn't steal anything from anyone, honestly." + +Steve nodded. "I do, Barby. I won't throw him in jail this time. I +might need him." + +"Is that what you're here for?" she asked. + +"I need you all," Steve said. He motioned to chairs. "Let's sit down. +Can Mrs. Brant join us?" + +Hartson Brant went to get her while the young people started to deluge +Steve with questions. He held up a hand in protest. "Wait until the +whole family's here, please." + +In a moment Mrs. Brant had joined them and greeted Steve cordially. +Then the young agent got serious. + +"I was only partly joking when I said I wanted to take over Spindrift. +I really do, in a way. Here's why. We've had a team of scientists +working on a project that's of the greatest importance to national +defense. There were four in the team, all topnotchers. Hartson, I'm +sure you'll know some, if not all of them, by reputation." + +Steve removed the ammunition clip from his submachine gun and sighted +through the barrel, then let the bolt ram home with a sharp click. "It +was my job to guard the project. As you know, I had to go to the +Virgin Islands, but I left one of my best men in charge, and he did +his job thoroughly. I'm satisfied about that. No unknown person has +been near the project office. And no unknowns have been in close +contact with any of the team. Yet, two of them are in the hospital." + +"Sick or wounded?" Scotty asked. + +"Neither, really. We don't know what's wrong. Their minds suddenly +ceased to function." + +Hartson Brant leaned forward. "You mean they're unconscious?" + +Steve shook his head. "Not in the usual sense. It's as though all +their thoughts and memories had suddenly been scrambled. Did you ever +see a teletype machine in operation, particularly one that suddenly +went haywire?" + +Rick had. "The news machine did that over at the Whiteside _Morning +Record_. It was typing out clear copy, then suddenly there wasn't +anything but gibberish." + +"That's it," Steve agreed. "And it's the best analogy I can think of +for what happened to the two scientists. When a teletype goes haywire, +one moment everything is clear and perfect, the next everything is +scrambled. All the letters are there but they no longer make words. +The scientists talk words--common, everyday words--but the words don't +make thoughts or sentences. Just sounds." + +"How awful," Mrs. Brant murmured. Barby looked horrified. + +Rick searched his memory for anything similar he had ever read about +or heard of, but there was nothing. From the expressions on their +faces, his father and Scotty were equally puzzled. + +"Well, even though I have absolutely no evidence of foul play, I +decided not to take chances," Steve went on. "I got one of the +scientists to go along with my plan. He shares my concern, simply on +the basis that no known disease would affect human beings in this way, +and two scientists of the same team being stricken with an unknown +ailment is too much coincidence." + +"He's wise," Hartson Brant agreed. + +"He also has a family. The other scientist does not. He's a crusty old +bachelor who thinks the whole thing is nonsense and insists on staying +right where he is." + +"How do we fit in?" Scotty asked. "You said you needed all of us." + +"That's right. I want to relocate the project at Spindrift." + +"Using the co-operative scientist as the basis for a new staff?" Rick +inquired. + +"Yes. We went through some of the most complicated maneuvers you ever +saw to got him out of Washington with his family. I'm certain his +movements cannot be traced. So his presence here will be a complete +secret. But it isn't just the scientist. I'm also asking you to take +in his family, consisting of his wife and daughter." + +"Of course we will," Mrs. Brant said warmly. + +Steve turned to Barby. "I think you'll enjoy it, because the girl is +just your age, and she's a very friendly and pleasant young lady." + +Barby looked pleased and excited. "What's her name?" + +"Janice. Janice Miller." + +"Is the scientist Dr. Walter Miller by any chance?" Hartson Brant +asked quickly. + +"Exactly right. Do you know him?" + +"Not personally. We've never met, but a few years ago we carried on a +very extensive correspondence on the subject of energy levels in +nuclear isomers." + +Steve grinned. "I won't pretend to know what you're talking about. But +I'm glad you'll have something in common. Will you and your staff join +him to make up a new project team?" + +"I think we can," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "Some of us can put +aside what we're doing. I'll have to know a little more about the +project, of course." + +The federal agent nodded. "Dr. Miller can give you the details +personally." + +Rick expressed a thought that had been on his mind. "We're sort of +isolated here, but we're certainly not cut off from the world. Our +friends visit us, and we go to the mainland almost every day. How do +we explain who these people are? I'm sure you don't want their names +to get out." + +"I'll give you a cover story. Their name is Morrison. You met them +through Dr. Ernst while you were in the Virgin Islands. They were very +hospitable, and you're simply returning their hospitality. They know +the Islands well from vacations spent there, so no one will trip them +up on details." + +"How about details of our trip?" Scotty asked. + +"They've been briefed thoroughly, by me. You can check them and fill +in any missing details." + +Barby giggled. "I'm glad that you didn't have any doubts about our +taking them in, Steve." + +"Steve knows we're available any time he needs us, and for anything we +can give," Rick said. + +Steve smiled his thanks. "Well, now you can guess why I showed up with +a hunk of artillery under my wing. I had to be sure there wasn't a +reception party waiting. You never can tell about information leaks, +no matter how careful you are, so I landed at the back end of the +island with a squad of men and we went over the place with a +fine-tooth comb. I didn't walk in until I was certain there wasn't a +stranger on the island--including strangers you might not have known +about." + +Hartson Brant rose. "Well, I think we've settled all initial details +except where we put the Millers--or rather, the Morrisons. Can you +bring them tomorrow?" + +Steve rose, too. "As Rick and Barby said, I didn't have any doubts. +How about tonight?" + +"Tonight!" Barby gasped. "Are they here?" + +"Almost. They're on a cutter offshore. If it isn't convenient, I can +keep them overnight." + +"Of course it's convenient," Mrs. Brant said firmly. "We'll put Mr. +and Mrs. Morrison in John Gordon's room. He's still out West. And +we'll take the spare twin bed out of Hobart Zircon's room and put +Janice in with Barby. Bring them ashore right away, Steve. Barby and I +will get busy, and Rick and Scotty can move the spare bed." + +"Wonderful." Steve walked out to the porch and coughed twice. Rick +hurried to his side just in time to see one of the trees in the +orchard yield up a dark shadow that turned out to be a Coast Guard +petty officer, carbine at the ready and a walkie-talkie slung over his +shoulder. + +"Let me have your horn, Smitty," Steve requested. + +The coastguardman gave Rick a curious look as he handed Steve the +phone. + +The agent said, "Nevada, this is Texas. Deliver the goods." + +The reply was, "Texas, this is Nevada. The package is in the mail." + +Steve handed the phone back to the coastguardman and ordered, "Get the +boys together and return to the ship, Smitty. Repeat their +instructions. They don't know where they've been, and they don't know +what they've been doing." + +Smitty grinned. "Aye-aye, sir. That won't be hard. None of us really +know where we've been or what we've been doing." + +"Life is easier that way," Steve said. "Shove off, now." + +"Aye-aye, sir." The guardsman faded off into the night. + +"Let's move furniture," Steve suggested. + +For the next few moments the house was a flurry of activity. Rick and +Scotty dismantled the twin bed in Zircon's room, explaining only to +the big scientist that unexpected company had arrived. Zircon, +engrossed in a theoretical problem, scarcely noticed. + +By the time Mrs. Brant was satisfied with arrangements and had counted +the towels for the third time, Steve called from downstairs that the +boat was arriving. + +Rick, Scotty, and Barby ran to Steve's side and walked with him toward +the landing where the Spindrift boats were moored. Dismal had paid +little attention to the proceedings, but now, fearful of being left +behind, the pup raced ahead of the group. + +[Illustration: _The coastguardman gave Rick a curious look_] + +The boat carrying the Morrisons--for so Rick was already conditioning +himself to think of them--was approaching the dock. As the group +hurried to meet the unexpected guests, two coastguardmen leaped from +the big motor whaleboat and made it fast. + +Dismal got there first. He barked furiously, trying to frighten off +the invaders, then his barks suddenly changed to an anguished howl as +a new voice joined in the racket. It was a feline voice, and a highly +indignant one. + +"Great grandma's ghost!" Steve exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you they +have a cat!" + +Dismal shot by them, followed by an enormous creature with glowing +eyes that yowled at the top of its lungs, in what was probably very +coarse language to anyone who spoke cat talk. Dismal had at last met +his match, and was beating an inglorious retreat. + +Just as Rick was about to take up the chase and rescue his pup, the +cat decided to break off the engagement. The ruffled fur subsided +slightly as the animal turned from the chase and approached the four +who had been hurrying to the pier. In the beam of Steve's flashlight +Rick saw that the cat was a huge blue Persian, and though he knew +little about cats, he recognized that this was an aristocrat of its +kind. + +The Persian gave a meow of greeting, then walked up and rubbed against +Barby's legs. It gave out a noise that reminded Rick of a wood rasp +rubbing over a piece of broken pine. The cat was purring! + +Barby had stamped her foot angrily at the sight of Dismal being +forced to retreat to the house, but the cat was too much for her. "You +beautiful thing!" she exclaimed, and picked the creature up. It +responded by purring louder. + +Rick grinned. On the pet level, at least, the Morrison invasion was +off to a fast start. He hoped the incident wasn't symbolic. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A System Within a System + + +When Rick came down to breakfast the next morning, the day was already +hours old for his father, Steve Ames, Julius Weiss, Parnell Winston, +and Dr. Walter Miller alias Morrison. The scientists had been closeted +in the library with Steve since dawn, their talks interrupted only by +Mrs. Brant serving coffee to the group. Steve, too, had remained +overnight. + +Barby and Scotty were around the island somewhere with Janice. Mrs. +Brant and Mrs. Morrison were in the kitchen, getting acquainted and +finding that they had friends in common. + +It wasn't that Rick had slept late; he was on time. Everyone else had +gotten up early. Rick told himself that he was the only calm member of +the family, but underneath he was a little chagrined. If he had arisen +earlier, he might have been able to take part in the talks now going +on in the library. + +The Morrisons had been so tired from the strain of getting out of +Washington undetected, and from the trip in the confined quarters of +the Coast Guard cutter that they had gone to bed almost immediately. + +Dr. Morrison turned out to be a tall man with a kind, tired face, +steel-rimmed glasses, and a shock of curly white hair. Mrs. Morrison +was a pleasant, stylish woman whose reaction was a mixture of pure +pleasure at finding herself in the comfortable Brant home and +embarrassment at the circumstances that had forced her to impose +herself on strangers. Rick had liked both the Morrisons immediately. + +His reaction to Janice was favorable, too. He admitted that she was a +remarkably pretty girl, as dark as Barby was fair, and of about the +same height and slimness. She hadn't said a great deal, and he decided +at once that she was shy. Barby had taken to her immediately, and she +to Barby. The last thing Rick had heard before falling asleep was the +two of them talking and giggling in the room down the hall. + +He walked into the dining room, hoping he wasn't too late for +breakfast, and stopped short, stifling a laugh at the sight that met +his eyes. + +The Morrisons' cat, whose name was Shah, was crouched on one of the +dining-room chairs. Dismal was sniffing around beneath the chair, +obviously looking for the cat. As Rick watched, Dismal gave up the +search and walked from under the chair. Instantly he was batted on the +nose from above by a paw that moved with supersonic speed. Rick +laughed as Dismal gave a cry of pure frustration and headed for the +kitchen at a trot. The cat had been playing, since the blow was struck +with claws sheathed. If Shah had wanted to hurt the pup, raking claws +could have torn deep furrows. + +Rick stroked the silky fur and Shah purred hoarsely. He hadn't had +much experience with cats, but he liked this one. The Persian had a +sense of humor. Rick went into the kitchen and consoled Dismal, after +bidding good morning to his mother and Mrs. Morrison. The pup rolled +over on his back and played dead, his only trick. The boy scratched +Dismal's stomach until the pup's hind leg flailed in delighted +ecstasy. + +"Am I too late for breakfast?" Rick asked his mother. + +"Of course not. We'll be ready in ten minutes." + +Rick wandered out to the screened front porch that was the Brants' +summer living room. The ocean was calm this morning. He searched the +horizon for some sign of the Coast Guard cutter. There was none, which +didn't surprise him. Steve was too old a hand to attract attention to +Spindrift by having a government craft waiting offshore. + +Barby, Jan, and Scotty were walking from the long, low gray laboratory +building on the southeast corner of the island, past the place where +the Sky Wagon, his plane, usually was staked down. His landing strip +ran along the seaward edge of the island, from the lab building to the +front of the house. However, the plane still carried the pontoons +with which it had been fitted for the Virgin Islands trip, and for the +time being, it was drawn ashore at Pirate's Field. + +Presently the trio joined him on the porch. Jan smiled and said good +morning in her soft voice. Scotty said, "I thought you were going to +sleep all day." + +Barby came to Rick's defense. "He was tired. After all, it's hard work +to get wonderful ideas like the one he had last night." + +Apparently Barby had told Jan all about it, because the girl asked, +"Can I be a member of the Megabuck Mob?" There seemed to be just a +touch of wistfulness about the way she added, "You always seem to be +having adventures of one sort or another at Spindrift." + +Rick answered, "Please don't believe everything Barby tells you. She +exaggerates, sort of." + +"I do not," Barby answered emphatically. "We do have adventures. +Besides, Jan already knew about some of them, because she read about +Spindrift in the papers. And she's already a member of the Mob, +because I invited her!" + +Rick interpreted Barby's glare correctly. It said that if he wasn't +gracious and nice to their new guest, he would have his sister to +reckon with, and, as he knew full well, she was no mean adversary. + +"Fine," he said. "Welcome to the Mob, Miss Morrison. We'll assign you +the subject of economic history." + +"Jan, please," she answered, then smiled shyly. "But couldn't I have +another subject? I'm just not the type to know much about economics, I +guess." + +"That's just the point," Scotty explained. + +Barby had a serious look on her pert face. "Of course Rick's idea +about stealing a million from quiz shows was just a joke. But, Rick, +you gave me an idea--if you'll co-operate." + +"It depends on the idea," Rick answered warily. + +"Oh, don't be so cautious. I'm not trying to trap you into taking me +on any trips." Barby referred to the promise she had once wangled out +of her brother that she could go on the next expedition, a promise +that had gotten the Spindrift young people entangled in a hazardous +adventure in the far-off South Seas. + +Rick perched on the arm of a sofa. "Okay. Let's have it." + +"Well, I was thinking about the Harvest Moon Show at school." She +explained, in an aside to Jan, "Every October the high school puts on +a big variety show in the city auditorium to raise money for the +school athletic fund. Rick said he could make me a radio receiver that +I could wear in my hair." + +"He can," Scotty interjected. "Remember the control radios we made for +the Tractosaur? He could make one for you the same way." + +The Tractosaur was a "thinking bulldozer" the Spindrift scientists had +designed. + +Barby continued, "I know you can make a small transmitter that will +fit in your pocket, because that's all the Tractosaur control was, +really. Well, if I wore a receiver that no one could see, and if you +carried a transmitter that no one could see, we could put on the most +wonderful mind-reading act in history!" + +Rick's quick imagination elaborated on Barby's words. It was a great +idea! He could work among the audience, while Barby sat blindfolded on +the stage. He would choose a person in the audience and ask for +something from wallet or purse, and whisper: "Please let me have your +driver's license. Thank you. Mr. Charles Rogers, is it?... Where is +3218 Newark Drive?... Oh, over by the airfield. Well, Mr. Rogers, let +me see if I can transmit all this information telepathically to my +sister." Then he would hold up the driver's license and say loudly, +"What have I here?" And Barby, who had heard every whispered word, +would answer. He would coax the information out of her, and the +audience would be baffled. + +"Sensational," he complimented her. "We'll do it." + +"Brant and Brant," Scotty intoned, "the marvels of the universe! See +the living proof of the science of parapsychology! Mystifying, +terrifying, a scientific phenomenon without parallel that has baffled +the leading minds of the world!" Scotty's quick mind also had caught +the implications of Barby's idea. + +Jan Morrison was a scientist's daughter, too, and printed electronic +circuits were no mystery to her. She said enthusiastically, "You could +even do mind reading at a distance." + +"How?" Barby asked. + +"Well, if there were two transmitters, Scotty could have one, too. He +could go to someone outside the auditorium, like the mayor, or some +other official, and have him write a sentence on a sheet of paper, +which Scotty could read over his shoulder. Then Barby, on the +auditorium stage, would ask everyone to look at their watches, and say +that the mayor had just written so and so on a sheet of paper, then +burned it. Scotty would bring the mayor to the auditorium, and Barby +would tell him what she had said, and at what time, and ask him if it +was right. Of course it would be." + +Rick looked at the girl with new respect. It was a very good gimmick +indeed. He said as much. + +Barby put her arm around Jan's waist. "We'll be sure to invite you to +the show. Won't it be fun?" + +"If it's safe for us to let people know where we are by then," Jan +said somberly. + +They fell silent at the reminder that Jan's presence was far more +serious than a casual visit. Finally Rick said, "We'll get to work on +the sets this afternoon." + +"Make it tomorrow," Barby said quickly. "I sort of promised Jan +something...." + +Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. + +"I said you and Scotty would teach her how to use the aqualungs." + +Rick breathed a sigh of relief. That would be no hardship. He and +Scotty needed practice, anyway. They had hardly used the lungs since +returning from the Virgin Islands. + +Mrs. Brant summoned them to breakfast and they walked in to find Steve +and the scientists gathered at the big table. + +"Got everything settled?" Rick asked. + +"Just about," Steve replied. "We have a job for you, though." + +Rick's pulse quickened. "What is it?" + +"Your father and Weiss will need to pay a quick trip to Washington. I +want you to take them in the Sky Wagon." + +"When?" Scotty inquired. + +"Tomorrow morning. You'll come back tomorrow afternoon." + +Over breakfast, Rick tried to get more information from the agent. +"Exactly what are we working on, Steve?" + +Ames sipped steaming coffee thoughtfully. "Ever hear of a weapon +system?" + +Rick had. "It's a weapon so complicated, with so many parts, that it's +actually a system instead of just a simple weapon. I think the term is +used mostly for missiles." + +"You think right. Well, Winston, Weiss, and your father will help Dr. +Morrison do the basic design work on a system to go into a weapon +system." + +Scotty had been listening, too. "How complicated can you get?" he +asked. + +Dr. Morrison answered. "When it comes to missile work, you can get +fantastically complicated. In fact, some missile systems are so +complicated it's a wonder they ever work at all." + +The telephone rang. Barby, who served when necessary as the island's +switchboard operator, ran to answer. In a moment she returned. "It's +for you, Steve. From Washington. I plugged it in on the library +extension." + +Steve excused himself. A few moments later he returned. "Hartson, I +just took the liberty of ordering a scrambler placed on your phone +switchboard, in case we need to hold any classified conversations +between here and my offices. The phone man will install it today, if +you have no objection." + +"Of course not," Hartson Brant said. "I think it's a sensible +precaution, especially with one member of the team remaining in +Washington." + +"What's a scrambler?" Barby asked. + +"A special device that turns phone conversations into jumbled +gibberish so no one can understand them. You talk normally, and sound +normal to the person listening. But anyone tapping in on the line gets +only sounds that mean nothing." + +The agent's face turned grim. "Speaking of gibberish reminds me of the +reason for the call. The _Washington Post_ carried a story in one of +its columns this morning hinting that two scientists working on a +supersecret project had been driven insane. It also hinted that the +insanity was an effect of the gadget they were working on!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A Haircut and a Wink + + +Rick held the Sky Wagon at the altitude to which he had been assigned +by the control tower at Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington. He +was a little nervous because there was more air traffic around him +than he had ever seen before. + +Across the Potomac River, so close that the traffic patterns almost +interlocked, was busy Washington National Airport. Below him along the +Anacostia River were two military airports; Anacostia, at which he +would land, and Bolling Air Force Base. And to complicate matters +slightly, Andrews Air Force Base was only a short distance away. + +A thousand feet above his head a tremendous Air Force Stratocruiser +circled patiently. A thousand feet below him a flight of Navy Banshee +fighters awaited clearance for landing. And climbing through the +pattern came a division of Air Force F-80's. + +Rick's neck ached from swiveling around. Scotty was helping him watch +for other aircraft. But in the rear seat, Hartson Brant and Julius +Weiss talked a steady stream, as they had ever since taking off from +Spindrift. Rick wished he were as oblivious to the traffic. Actually, +he didn't know what they were talking about. Good as his scientific +training was, they were in a realm where his young mind hadn't even +probed. + +His earphones gave out: "Tower to Spindrift Flight. You are cleared to +land. Approach from Northeast." + +Rick glanced down in time to see the Navy fighters peel off in a +precision maneuver that was lovely to watch. Then, on their heels, he +stood the Sky Wagon up on a wing and slid down toward the muddy river +below. + +A short time later Rick called for instructions and was told to beach +at Ramp Three. He located it without difficulty. Scotty climbed out on +the pontoon and caught the rope thrown by a seaman. In a few moments +they were beached. + +A stocky young man who might have been a government clerk approached +and introduced himself as Tom Dodd. The identification folder he held +out bore the familiar JANIG imprint. "Steve phoned ahead," he said. +"Do you need anything for your plane?" + +"We'd better top off the tank," Rick said. "Everything else is all +right." He described the kind of gas his plane used, fearful that the +Navy might use either a higher or lower octane that would not be +suitable. + +Dodd gave instructions to a Navy petty officer, then led the +Spindrifters to a waiting sedan. Rick got into the back seat and +slumped back between his father and Weiss. The little mathematician +looked at him in some alarm. + +"Rick! You look done in. What on earth is wrong?" + +He smiled feebly. "I'm a sissy, Professor. The only other times I've +flown into Washington I landed at light-plane airports outside the +city. This morning I got right into the middle of the big kids. +Honest, the traffic was worse than Times Square. I was so scared I'd +lose position and bang into someone that I almost swiveled my head +off." + +Tom Dodd looked back and grinned sympathetically. "Don't feel badly. +Even the commercial pilots sit up straight and keep bright-eyed on the +Washington approach. Airwise, it's one of the most crowded cities in +the world." + +As Tom steered the big sedan expertly through the traffic en route to +downtown Washington, Rick asked his father, "What were you and +Professor Weiss talking about? You lost me just about the time we got +air-borne." + +The scientist shook his head. "This time, Rick, I can't help much. Ask +me again when you've completed your undergraduate work in college." + +"I'm afraid your father is right," Weiss agreed. "When one gets deeply +into the physical sciences there are no longer simple mechanical +analogies; there are only equations that I'm afraid are beyond you for +now, Rick." + +Rick sighed. "A lot of help I'm going to be on this project!" + +"You're not supposed to help," his father corrected. "The project is +entirely for the purpose of developing principles for the system. The +final product will be the equations with which the technologists can +begin actual system design. In other words, we are working only on the +first theoretical step." + +"But the newspaper article said the scientists were affected by a +gadget," Scotty objected. + +"The article was wrong. Paper covered with mathematical computations +can scarcely affect anyone," Hartson Brant said decisively. + +Rick stared through the window. The sedan was moving down Constitution +Avenue toward 14th Street. "But how did the newspaper find out +anything in the first place?" + +Dodd swung the sedan around a truck, then shrugged expressively. "We'd +like to know. Columnists have their sources of information. Usually +the source isn't close to the inside dope, so most of the columns are +pretty inaccurate. A good thing, too, otherwise the enemy would be +getting our top-secret information in print all the time. Probably +this leak came from someone in the hospital where the team members +were taken." + +Conversation lapsed until Dodd swung the sedan into a restricted +parking place near the corner of 15th and K streets. Then he led the +way into an office building. Rick looked around him as they walked to +the elevators. It was a typical large office building with an +arcade-type lobby. He noticed a haberdashery shop, a barbershop, a +florist, a newspaper-tobacco stand, and the entrance to a drug store. +The building directory was loaded with names. + +In the elevator, Dodd said, "Four, please." + +The Spindrifters were the only ones that got off at that floor. As the +door slid closed, Rick saw that a man was seated in an alcove, just +out of sight of anyone who got off the elevator. Dodd greeted him, +then said, "Remember these faces, Sam." + +Sam nodded without speaking. + +Dodd led them down a hall. Rick had to satisfy his curiosity. "Is this +a government building?" + +"No. It's a regular office building. We leased this floor under the +name of a phony corporation. It's entirely ours, but the rest of the +building is occupied by legitimate firms." + +"Isn't that risky?" Weiss asked. + +"It depends. If the project is penetrated, then it becomes easier for +the enemy in one way, since we don't have the protection of a +government building. On the other hand, the public has free access to +all but a few of the government buildings, while we can control who +comes in and out of this floor." + +"What does 'penetrated' mean?" Scotty inquired. + +"Known to the enemy." + +"But couldn't you have put the project in the Pentagon, or in the +Atomic Energy Commission Building?" Rick pursued. + +"Yes, except that it's top secret, even within the government. I doubt +that more than two dozen people even know about it. Remember, the best +security is not to let people even suspect that a thing exists." + +"But the project has been penetrated," Scotty pointed out. + +"We don't know that. The newspaper article gave no details, remember. +Only that some unidentified scientists had gone insane. No location, +no names, no anything of real value. And we have taken precautions. +After all, you have the team chief. Only one man is left, and we hope +to get him out of here, too." + +Dodd swung open a door that opened into a bare outer office, and led +them into an inner room where a man bent over a desk. + +Rick knew his name. This was Dr. Humphrey Marks, the reluctant +bachelor. All Rick could see for the moment was a bald head. It was +completely bald, not even a fringe of hair remaining. It gleamed in +the light of the desk lamp. Presently the bald pate revolved back and +a truculent face stared up at them. + +Dr. Marks looked like a man who had been born impatient. His +underslung jaw thrust forward as he demanded, "Well, well? What is +this, Dodd? Well? Who are these people?" + +Dodd was unperturbed. "Dr. Brant, Dr. Weiss, and Richard Brant and +Donald Scott." + +Marks harrumphed. He stood erect, and he was scarcely taller than +little Julius Weiss. He had a solid, square build and massive hands. +"I am honored, gentlemen," he said crisply. "Sit down." + +The Spindrifters did so. "We will get to business," Marks stated. "You +will forgive me if I begin on an elementary level. It is only for the +purpose of defining the problem. Ames said you had been briefed by +Miller, so I will confine the briefing to my part of the project." + +Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss produced notebooks. Rick and Scotty +relaxed as best they could in the uncomfortable chairs and prepared to +listen. + +"You are, of course, aware of the problems inherent in the development +of inertial systems," Marks began. "Perturbations are many, and both +predictable and random. Consider our missile. We set its little brain +for a given pattern. We depend on its inertia to inform the brain when +perturbations are pulling it off course. The brain then takes the +necessary corrective action. This, of course, is oversimplification." + +It wasn't very simple to Rick. He squirmed uncomfortably on the hard +chair. + +"Now, we have dealt primarily with the perturbations one would expect. +The equatorial bulge, for example. The result? We still have a +probable error of several miles in hitting the target. This is not to +be borne, gentlemen. We must have precision. Now, what information do +we have that allows such precision? We have the effects of +perturbation of the other planetary bodies and of the sun itself. +These we may calculate closely. We shall use them to guide our +missile, as they interact with the missile's own inertia." + +Marks broke off to glare at Rick. He inquired acidly, "Do I perhaps +bore you? Or have you a serious itch? If so, scratch it, for heaven's +sake. You are squirming so, I can see only a blur through the corner +of my eye." + +Hartson Brant came to his son's rescue. He looked at Dodd. "May the +boys be excused? I'm sure this discussion will be of no value to them, +and probably they have some things they would like to do." + +Dodd nodded. "If you decide to leave the vicinity, let Sam know." + +"We'll be in the lobby," Rick said. He motioned to Scotty. His +feelings were of mixed relief at getting out of there and irritation +at Marks for what amounted to summary dismissal. + +As they walked to the elevator, Rick asked, "What did you make out of +that?" + +"Not much. How about you?" + +"A little," Rick admitted. "Enough to know what the project is aiming +at." + +"Which is?" + +"A guidance system for the intercontinental missile, and a fantastic +one that uses the moon and the sun, and maybe Venus and Mars as +guideposts." + +Scotty whistled. "As you said, a lot of good we'll be to this project. +Well, what do we do now?" + +Rick ran a hand through his hair. "Follow Barby's instructions." His +sister had said bluntly that both he and Scotty were getting as shaggy +as Dismal, and please get haircuts. He knew why, of course. Barby +wanted them to be at their best, because she liked Jan Morrison very +much and wanted Jan to like the boys, too. + +Sam nodded to them as they walked to the elevator. Rick noted that the +guard could watch the stairs as well as the elevator doors. He also +noted that the guard's coat was loose, and that the butt of a Magnum +revolver was within easy reach of his hand. Knowing how Steve Ames +operated, Rick also suspected that other, less visible, methods had +been taken to guard the fourth floor, but there was nothing he could +see. + +It was still early in the day and the barbershop in the lobby was not +crowded. Rick and Scotty both were able to get chairs. + +Rick browsed through a magazine as the barber worked, but found +nothing of interest. He put it down and looked around him. The shop +was like any other shop, anywhere. He thought that barbershops may +vary in the number of chairs, the luxuriousness of the appointments, +and the size of the mirrors, but they all have about the same smell, +and the same collection of bottles for the barber's use. + +However, one item attracted Rick's attention, because it seemed out of +place. It looked for all the world like the hair driers one finds in +beauty shops. There was a stand, and a metal hood. + +He gestured toward it. "What's that?" + +"It's for treating dry hair," the barber answered. "Special oil +treatment, with electric massage. Very good." + +Rick's hair was dry from frequent immersion in both salt and fresh +water. Being inquisitive about everything in the world, he thought +about trying it. + +"Maybe I'll have time for a treatment," he said. + +The barber ran a hand through the boy's light-brown hair. "You don't +need one. Your hair is healthy, and not especially dry. I wouldn't +give you a treatment you don't need." + +"Have it your way," Rick said. The barber was either too lazy or too +honest for his own good. In all probability the machine would do +nothing Rick couldn't do for himself with his own two hands. + +There was a good view of the elevators through the barbershop windows. +Rick watched people coming and going, and speculated for his own +amusement on who they might be, and their business in the building. +Speculation was idle, of course. Take Tom Dodd. No one, without inside +knowledge, would suspect that he was a federal agent engaged in +guarding a hush-hush project on the fourth floor. Or Dr. Marks. Who +would suspect that he carried a vital secret? Or, more accurately, +that he was working on one? + +As the barber was brushing Rick off, the boy saw his father step out +of the elevator, stop, and look around. He saw the elevator operator +step from the car, look into the barbershop, and wink. Rick almost +winked back, then he realized that the operator was winking at the +barber and not at him. + +The scientist saw Rick at almost the same moment and walked into the +barbershop. "Julius will be busy for another half hour," he said. "I +think I'll follow your example, Rick." He climbed into the chair Rick +had just vacated. + +Scotty was through, too. The boys took seats and busied themselves +reading magazines. + +Hartson Brant's hair had needed only trimming, not complete cutting, +so he was finished in a short time. The barber shook out his cloth, +then put it back on for the finishing touches. Rick glanced up as the +barber spoke. + +"Your hair's pretty dry, sir, and I have an excellent treatment here. +I'd like to give you one. It would make your hair look better, and +make it easier to handle." + +Tension swept through Rick as though someone had turned on an electric +current. The tension had no focus. It was just that something deep +within him had reacted. He stood up and dropped his magazine. + +"Dad," he said hastily, "I just saw Julius go through the lobby." + +"Where did he go?" Hartson Brant demanded. "I didn't see him." + +"I think he went through the front door," Rick said. "Better hurry. +I'll try to catch him." + +Outside the barbershop he stopped, to let Scotty catch up with him. +"Why should Weiss run out through the front door?" Scotty demanded. + +"He didn't. It was a stall, to get Dad out of there in a hurry." + +"But why?" + +"I don't know," Rick said slowly. "For some reason, I just didn't want +him to have that dry-hair treatment!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +JANIG Runs a Security Check + + +There wasn't much evidence on which to base his reaction, Rick +admitted. But when he reacted, he just reacted and that's all there +was to it. Call it a hunch, or call it nonsense. That's how it was, +and he couldn't change it. + +The barber had practically refused him a dry-hair treatment--and his +hair was rather dry. The same barber had tried to sell a treatment to +Hartson Brant--whose hair was not dry at all. And the elevator boy who +had carried the scientist down from the fourth floor had winked at the +barber. + +Even admitting that it added up to no evidence of anything, it +bothered him. He had asked Tom Dodd how much JANIG knew about the +barber. + +Tom admitted that JANIG didn't know much. After all, he pointed out, +it was impossible to check everyone in an office building of that +size, or at least impractical. Furthermore, it was a cover operation, +and any kind of a careful check on people in the building would warn +them that something was going on. Tom agreed, however, that it was +better to be safe than sorry. JANIG would run a check on the barber, +even though Rick's evidence was no evidence at all. + +Rick wasn't satisfied. He felt he had to talk it over with Steve Ames, +and called the agent, who was in JANIG's New York office, as soon as +he got home. + +There was a small switch box next to the telephone in the library. It +had only two positions, one marked "normal" and the other not marked +at all. + +Steve asked, "Who is it?" + +"Rick." + +"Throw your switch." + +Rick did so, with no apparent results. "Nothing happened," he said. + +"Nothing audible," Steve corrected. "I threw mine at the same time. +We're scrambled. Go ahead, Rick, what is it?" + +Rick told him the story. Steve didn't laugh. He had had experience +with Rick's hunches before. "All right. I've already talked with Tom +Dodd. He told me the story and I agreed we should run a check. He also +reported that Weiss had persuaded Marks to come to Spindrift so the +team could work together. I have Dodd planning how to get him out of +Washington." + +"Tom told me why no check had been run on the people in the +building," Rick said hesitantly. "Honestly, Steve, I thought you +always checked on everyone who might have a connection with a case." + +"We do," Steve said flatly. "But we can't check on everyone in the +city of Washington. Consider, Rick. There are several hundred people +that work in the building and perhaps as many more who go there +regularly for perfectly legitimate reasons. We couldn't run a deep +check on all of them, and a superficial check wouldn't mean anything. +So we don't check. Instead, we make sure we know about the people the +scientists see regularly, and we give physical protection not only to +the scientists but to the floor they work on. We keep a careful check +to be sure our phones aren't tapped, and there's a scrambler on each +line. Of course the moment we get even a slight odor of fish, we run a +check. That's why we're working on your barber right now. We're also +checking the elevator operator." + +"All right. I was off base, I guess." + +"Not at all. I'd be disappointed if you didn't ask for explanations." + +There was one other question in Rick's mind. "How do you know we +weren't followed back to Spindrift?" + +Steve chuckled. "You had two cars on your tail. They'd have picked up +anyone who tried to follow Tom. What's more, our men at the airport +identified every plane that took off from the vicinity of Washington +for two hours after your departure." + +Rick said sheepishly, "Sorry, Steve." + +"Forget it. I'll be in touch with you, Rick." + +Steve was right, of course. JANIG was on the job and would plug any +loose holes. And once Marks arrived, Spindrift would be the only base +the JANIG men had to cover. That would make it simpler. Rick decided +he might as well put the matter out of his mind. + +Barby, Jan, and Scotty were waiting for him on the front porch. + +Scotty asked, "What gives?" + +"Steve says to forget it." + +Jan frowned, her pretty face worried. "Barby told me about these odd +hunches you sometimes get. Aren't they ever wrong?" + +Rick grinned. "I'll say they are. Don't worry, Jan. You're safe here." + +Her dark eyes flashed at him. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm +worried about my father." + +Rick apologized. "I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded. But +don't forget, Jan. Our father is in this, too. So we'll worry with +you--if there's any worrying to be done." + +Barby changed the subject. "It's still early. Why can't we give Jan +another swimming lesson?" + +They had started the day before teaching Jan how to use underwater +breathing apparatus. She was an excellent swimmer, almost as good as +Barby. But she had never had experience with mask, fins, and snorkel, +so lessons in the use of those were required before she could graduate +to the aqualungs. + +"Let's go," Rick said. + +In a short time the four had changed to swimming suits and were +testing the water off Pirate's Beach. It was cold, but not unbearable. +Once they were accustomed to it, Rick picked up the instructions where +he had left off the day before. Jan was using Barby's mask, snorkel, +and fins. They would get her some of her own on the first trip to +Whiteside. + +Barby had borrowed her father's equipment. The mask wasn't a perfect +fit, but she was experienced enough not to mind a little leakage. The +snorkel was all right, since no fit was involved, but the fins were +ludicrous on her small feet. She had stuffed cotton in the toes to +make them tight enough to wear, but that made the fins hard to +control. + +"Follow the leader!" Rick called. "I'll lead, Jan next, Scotty next, +and Barby bring up the rear." + +That was so Scotty would be instantly aware of any trouble Jan got +into. Barby could swim as well as either of the boys and needed no +watching. + +Rick started by going straight out, watching the bottom through his +mask. When he got to about the fifteen-foot depth, he bent at the +waist and threw his legs upward. He slid smoothly into the water, +rolling on his back to watch Jan. She imitated his movements +perfectly, and he turned back, satisfied. She was graceful as a seal +in the water. It wouldn't take much to make a first-class diver out +of her. + +Rick went to the bottom and moved along, doing underwater acrobatics +and touching a rock here and there. Then he turned over on his back +again and started upward, eyes on Jan. She followed. He led the way +back to the beach. + +As the group emerged from the water and lifted their masks, Rick +looked at Scotty. His pal nodded. "She'll do. She followed you like a +shadow." + +"Good. All right, Jan. Next step is clearing your mask of water. The +principle is easy. Just remember that gas is lighter than liquid. Your +breath is lighter than the water. So you hold the top of your mask and +blow it full of air, which forces the water out the bottom. Watch." + +He demonstrated a few times, then Jan tried it. She caught on easily. + +The instruction continued, until at the end of two hours, Rick took +all of Jan's equipment and threw it into twelve feet of water. "Now," +he said calmly, "go after it and put it on in the water. Clear your +mask and snorkel, then come back to shore with full gear on and +operating. No surfacing to take a breath. Use only the snorkel." + +Jan looked into the water thoughtfully. The moments ticked by. Finally +Rick asked, "What is it?" + +The girl smiled. "I'm planning how I'll do it. If I don't plan in +advance, it will be too late after I've started, and I intend to do it +right the first time." + +Rick, Barby, and Scotty exclaimed together, "Good girl!" They +laughed, and Rick explained, "That's what makes a safe diver. Know +what you're going to do before you have to do it." + +Jan filled her lungs and dove. The three swam out over her and watched +through their masks. She found the mask, and there was a bad moment +when she got it on upside down, but she quickly reversed it, held it +to her face, and blew it clear. Only then did she bother with the +strap that held it. + +Rick watched, pleased. He hadn't told her it wasn't necessary to +attach the mask before clearing. She put the snorkel mouthpiece in +place, but did not bother to attach the rubber strap to her head. +Then, working smoothly but without waste of time, she slipped on the +fins and flashed to the surface. The snorkel emerged and she blew it +clear, then swam to the beach. + +"Perfect," Rick applauded. + +"You're a natural," Scotty added. + +Barby just beamed. + +Jan was obviously pleased at their praise, but she was a little shy, +too, so she contented herself with smiling her thanks. + +"Aqualung instruction tomorrow morning," Rick said. "Come on. I've +worked up an appetite." + +That evening Rick began work on the radio circuits, as he had promised +Barby. The transmitters would be the easiest part, since he could use +the same circuits that had gone into the design of the Tractosaur +controls, modified only slightly for use on the highest amateur band. +Fortunately, Rick had both an operator's and station licenses as a +radio "ham," so Barby's scheme wouldn't mean illegal operation. + +The girls wandered into the shop where he and Scotty were at work, but +there was nothing exciting about the painstaking work of laying out +diagrams, so they soon left. + +Scotty paused in his work of assembling the parts they would need. +"Rick, how about making transceivers instead of simple transmitters?" + +"So we can send and receive on the same unit? We can do it, all right. +But why?" + +"I was just thinking. Quite a few times we'd have been a lot better +off if we could talk back and forth at a distance. There's no reason +why these have to be designed just for you and Barby to use in the +mind-reading act." + +Scotty was right, of course. He usually was. "We'll make a pair of +transceivers, and a receiver for Barby. Unless you think we ought to +build a transceiver into her outfit, too." + +"Would it be much work?" + +"Not much. We might as well, I suppose." + +They buckled down to the job. Rick found he couldn't work long, +however. "I've still got that guitar-string feeling," he admitted. +"I'm all tight inside." He didn't like it, and there was no apparent +reason for it. But that didn't help him to get rid of it. + +Scotty knew Rick from long experience. "Wish I could help," he said, +"but I'm stymied. There's nothing we can get our teeth into. Those two +scientists bother me. I can't imagine what would put two perfectly +sensible and healthy people into a state like Steve describes." + +"Same here." Rick had thought about it a number of times in the past +day, but had reached no conclusion. "But if it's from natural causes, +how did Marks and Miller--I mean Morrison--escape?" + +Scotty grinned wryly. "You're not asking me because you expect an +answer." + +"No," Rick agreed. He said abruptly, "I've had it. Let's hit the hay." + +He might have felt better, or worse, had he been able to tune in on a +conversation between Tom Dodd and Steve Ames that was going on at that +very moment. + +"We've had seven men on it ever since this morning," Tom was saying. +"We checked him from here to breakfast, and the record is absolutely +negative. Same for the elevator operator. The barber is a wanderer, +never stays in one shop for long. He's hunting another job right now. +The machine is his, and it's the only one of its kind. We sent Mike +Malone in for a treatment. He says the machine is good. Apparently +it's nothing but a hood with three massage machines installed on +spring mounts, so they fit the head. The barber applies oil, then +turns on the machine. It has dials, but they're fakes. It's a massage +machine, pure and simple, and it passed the health inspection board, +so we know it's not harmful." + +Steve Ames said thoughtfully, "Negative record. Hmm. Well, at least no +one has ever caught up with him if he happens to be a wrong one. It +doesn't prove he's clean." + +"Too true. Any ideas?" + +"Just keep an eye on him. He's innocent until we get some evidence +that he may be guilty. Same for the elevator operator. But, for now, +we'll consider you've drawn a blank and let it go at that." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A Calm Precedes a Storm + + +A crisis had arisen and Rick and Scotty could only stand by +helplessly. After all, what could mere males do in such a situation? + +Barby decided that Rick and Scotty were to fly over to Whiteside and +get diving equipment for Jan, so she could have her own. It was easy +to agree on the type of face mask, snorkel, and fins. But everything +bogged down when it came to color. + +Rick's own mask, snorkel, and fins were sea green. Scotty had a green +mask, blue snorkel, and black fins. Barby had a white mask, red +snorkel, and white fins. + +"Look," Rick said impatiently. "What earthly difference does it make? +The principal thing is comfort. If the fins feel good and the mask +fits comfortably, that's it. Color? What difference does color make to +a fish?" + +Barby sniffed. "I wouldn't expect you to understand." + +Jan looked at him coldly and stated that she wouldn't know what +difference color made to a fish, because she was not a fish. + +"You swim like one," Scotty said diplomatically, but didn't even get a +smile in return. + +There was only one thing for the boys to do, and that was to make as +graceful a retreat as possible. They did so, and sat waiting under a +tree in the orchard while raging debate went on between the girls on +the porch. + +Rick looked over at the laboratory building. His father and the other +scientists were hard at work on the project, he supposed. He felt +rather left out, because they were too busy to talk with him, and when +he went in to look around he could see only stacks of paper covered +with equations that he couldn't begin to understand. + +"Wonder when Marks will arrive?" he asked. + +Scotty shrugged. "We'll probably find out when he gets here." + +Dr. Marks had agreed to join the team at Spindrift as soon as he +finished running some of the team calculations through the automatic +computer at the Bureau of Standards in Washington. Tom Dodd would +arrive with him, Steve had reported. Meanwhile, protection for the +Spindrift team was under the direction of another of Steve's men, Joe +Blake. Joe and another agent took turns in the laboratory, sleeping +and eating there and emerging one at a time for a little exercise. + +Nor were Joe and his partner the only protection. In the woods on the +mainland, just out of sight of the tidal flat, a group of four Boy +Scout leaders were encamped, working on special camping and pioneering +qualifications that would enable them to become qualified instructors +for their Scout Troops. The Whiteside newspaper had even carried a +brief story about the Scout activities. But Jerry Webster, Rick's +friend and newspaper reporter, hadn't known when he wrote the story +that the Scout leaders carried an astonishing amount of armament for +such a peaceful expedition. The JANIG agents, however, had been chosen +for the assignment because they really were Scout leaders in their +home communities. The story would stand investigation. + +Barby and Jan left the porch and walked to where the boys waited. + +"We've decided," Barby announced. + +The boys applauded politely. + +"You see," she went on, "I'm blond, and Jan is brunette." + +Rick squinted up at the girls. "By golly," he exclaimed, "that's +right!" He put a hand on his heart. "One with hair filled with +captured sunlight, the other with hair like the raven's wing, filled +with the gleams of moonlight." + +Barby threatened him with her foot. "Be serious!" + +Rick composed his face in stern lines. "I am." + +"Well," Barby continued, "we decided that Jan should wear a white suit +and white equipment. It will make her dark hair and her tan look very +dramatic. But of course I can't wear white if she does." + +This was beyond Rick. Why they couldn't wear the same color was +outside of his comprehension. "Of course not," he murmured politely. + +"So I'm going with you. We both have to have new bathing suits, a +white one for Jan and a dark-blue one for me. And I'm going to give +Jan my mask and fins, because they're white. So I'll have to get blue +equipment for me. And my snorkel is red, and that just won't do, +because..." + +Scotty held up his hand. "Say no more. I will swap snorkels with you, +because mine is blue." + +"I knew you would when you understood," Barby said smugly. + +"I don't understand, but I'll trade. Come on. Let's go to Whiteside." + +Jan remained behind, because Steve had not given permission for the +Morrisons to leave the island, and Rick refused to take the +responsibility in spite of Barby's pleading. The best he could do was +to promise to call Steve about it and perhaps get permission for +future trips. + +The Sky Wagon landed at Whiteside pier, and the trio went to the +nearby garage where the Brants' car was kept. Hartson Brant had +decided it was more convenient to have a car available for use at all +times than to depend on taxis, or on friends. + +The local sporting goods store had a good stock of equipment and Barby +was able to purchase what she wanted without difficulty. But when it +came to the bathing suits, she debated over the large selection for an +hour before choosing two that were identical except for color. Rick +and Scotty waited impatiently, now and then prodding Barby to hurry +up. She refused to be hurried. + +Back at Spindrift, Jan met them with a greeting. "That certainly +didn't take long! Barby, how on earth could you pick these out so +quickly?" + +The boys looked at each other. Their opinion was that Barby had taken +just one hour longer than necessary. Here, obviously, was that +mysterious thing, the feminine mind at work. Rick examined the problem +from the scientific viewpoint and got nowhere. The ways of girls +defied analysis. + +Both boys had to admit, however, that the results of Barby's shopping +had been worth the delay. Their own rather shabby swim trunks, torn +and stained from contact with undersea rocks and coral, suddenly +seemed sloppy. But when Barby examined the aqualung tanks +distastefully and demanded that Rick paint them to match the new +suits, both boys put their feet down emphatically. + +"The tanks are that color because they've been treated to withstand +rust and corrosion," Rick stated. "If we paint 'em, the paint will +only get knocked off and they'll look terrible. I won't do it." + +The girls exchanged a glance that seemed to say, "Boys! They have +such stubborn, silly ideas!" + +Jan had already gone through the exercise of clearing the aqualung +hoses of water, clearing her mask while using the lung underwater, and +using the reserve lever on the tank, and Rick had instructed her in +the theory of diving. + +Now it was time to put what she had learned to the ultimate test. + +The boys hauled the equipment down to the beach in Rick's old coaster +wagon, modified for carrying equipment, then directed the girls to +check the regulators, check the tanks, and connect regulators to tanks +preparatory to diving. + +They lolled on the beach and watched. Scotty grinned. "This is the +life. Tony Briotti tells me it's always this way in primitive +societies. The men loaf while the women work. I'm in favor of it." + +"I'm sure you are," Barby said acidly. + +Jan said nothing, but continued to work with meticulous care. Rick +watched closely, and was satisfied. There was ample equipment for all. +Scotty helped Barby into her gear while Rick instructed Jan. + +"This is the tough part. If you make it, that's the end. From then on +all you'll need is practice. We'll all swim down to the fifty-foot +depth. Watch your ears and don't try to continue down if you feel any +pain. Go back up a few feet and try to clear your ears. When we get to +the bottom, I want you to take off all your equipment, swim away from +it, then swim back and put it on. Okay?" + +Jan gave him a tremulous smile. "I think so." + +"Good. Plan how you'll do it. Remember, air is the last thing you'll +need, and the first." + +"I'll remember." + +It was easy enough for a diver with plenty of experience, and the +confidence that experience brings, but Rick remembered from his own +training that it was plenty rough the first time. + +He held the tank while Jan got into harness and said reassuringly, +"You'll make it. You're a natural for diving because you don't lose +your head. That's just about the only really dangerous thing a diver +can do." He got into his harness, then picked up his movie camera in +its underwater case. + +At his signal, the four waded out into the cold water, splashed around +a little to get accustomed to it, then put mouthpieces in place and +prepared to don masks. Rick waited until last, and called, "Everybody +getting air?" When they nodded, he put his own mouthpiece in place, +checked to make sure the demand valve was working, then slipped the +mask down from his forehead and went underwater. + +There was a convenient sandy space among the rocks at the fifty-foot +level. He reached it and turned to count noses. All were present. +Visibility was good enough. He set his camera and took a position +cross-legged on the sand. Barby and Scotty took similar positions and +waited. + +At Rick's signal, Jan slipped off her fins, which she placed carefully +on the sand. Her weight belt followed, then her mask. Rick kept the +camera going as she jerked the quick release buckle on her harness, +then pulled the tank over her head, keeping the mouthpiece in place. +At the last moment, she filled her lungs with air, let the mouthpiece +drop to the sand, and swam away. Rick followed as she went about +twenty feet into the rocks, and returned. + +Jan had planned well. She picked up the mouthpiece and held it high so +the air rushed out, then she popped it into her mouth and began +breathing. She didn't bother with the tank harness yet. Instead, she +picked up her mask, adjusted it, and blew it clear. Only then, when +she could see and breathe, did she leisurely put the harness straps in +position and swing the tank over her head and into place on her back. +She buckled it on, and added her weight belt. The fins were last. + +A flume of air from her exhaust, a sign of exhaustion, told Rick that +Jan was tired. Probably the mental strain more than the exercise had +left her too weak for further swimming. He slung 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 harm +would come of it. But skin diving is the easiest thing 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 come back +again 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 swim +without worrying whether she's meeting our standards, or doing it the +way we think it ought to be done." + +He grinned at the girl. "I know it was a strain. Remember, we've all +been through it, too." + +Jan had a nice smile. "You're right," 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. "Come on, Jan. Let's go shower and change." She smiled +with false sweetness at the boys. "Now that you're through testing +Jan, I'm sure you won't mind doing your own work. 'Bye, now." And she +left them to pick up the gear 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 team is going full +speed ahead. We're having fun. Jan is just the companion Barby needs. +All's right 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 came in from the shower, toweling vigorously. "What's eating +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 admitted. "Wish I did. Have you noticed how quiet +everything is? It's like the day before a hurricane moves in. The +ocean gets glassy, and there isn't any wind, and you're almost afraid +to breathe because the air is so charged a breath might start the +lightning." + +"'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 manage. +"Nothing. We can swim with the girls, 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 a mystery. I know what's really bothering you. 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 was much in what Scotty said. As long as +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 stormily, "and I want you to do +something about it, Rick Brant! If you don't call Steve Ames and get +permission for us to go to the mainland, I'll do it myself!" + +Rick sighed. 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. + +Barby drove home another point. "Steve gave us a cover story, and what +good is a cover story if you don't use it?" + +Scotty grinned at Rick's expression of resignation. "Better give up," +he advised. + +Jan hadn't said anything. She just looked at Rick in a beseeching way +that said as much as all Barby's arguments. + +Rick shook his head unhappily. He knew when he was licked. Come right +down to it, he didn't have the say-so on Jan leaving the island, +anyway. He had taken a stand against her going to Whiteside, based +half on intuition and half on the knowledge that a secret soon ceases +to be one when it's flaunted in public. And Jan's presence was a part +of the big secret of Spindrift. + +He stood up and shrugged. "Chances are it will be all right. But if +Jan is recognized by any of the enemy..." + +"Steve isn't even sure there is an enemy," Barby pointed out swiftly. +"How can you be so sure?" + +Rick didn't answer. He turned and went into the house, the others at +his heels. In the library, he consulted the schedule Steve had given +them, so they would know where to reach him at any time. The agent was +at JANIG headquarters in Washington today. + +Rick got the number, and asked for Steve's extension. In a moment he +had the agent on the wire. + +"Let's scramble," he said, and threw the switch. Then, "Steve, Barby +wants to take Jan to Whiteside. What do you think?" + +Steve hesitated before he answered, "It's a little hard to give +reasons why she shouldn't go, Rick. Have you checked her on the cover +story?" + +"Not yet. I will, though, if you say the word." + +Again Steve hesitated, and Rick knew the agent was very much in his +own position. There were no reasons to believe it would do any harm. +Yet... + +"Let her go," Steve said finally. "Only ask her and Barby not to get +into any public parades. You know." + +"I know," Rick affirmed. "All right, Steve. When is Marks coming?" + +"We're not certain yet. Ask your father. Marks is having some trouble +with the computations." + +"Okay, Steve. See you soon." He hung up and turned to the others. "He +says all right, but please don't get into any public parades. In other +words, Barby, don't cover too much territory." + +Scotty spoke up. "We'd better tell Duke and Jerry to leave it out of +the paper." + +Duke Barrows was editor and Jerry Webster the reporter for the +Whiteside paper. Both were good friends. "They'll play ball," Rick +agreed. "Well, young ladies, when is the big safari?" + +Barby consulted her watch. "Right now. We'll dress and you can fly us +over." + +"Then right now means in an hour. Okay. We'll be ready." + +Upstairs, Rick and Scotty washed up and changed into what Scotty +called "shore-going clothes" that were only slightly less informal +than their dungarees and T shirts. As they finished and sat down to +wait for the girls, Rick picked up one of the radio units on the +workbench. All were finished, although untested. A few final +decorative touches remained for Barby's plastic headset, including +setting in some rhinestones for her. It would look like any other +plastic bauble when he finished. + +"Let's get some fresh batteries while we're in town," Rick suggested. +"Then we can check these out tonight." + +"Okay. And remind me to pick up a new mouthpiece for the lung Jan +uses. She says the one that's on it now is too big and uncomfortable. +It hurts her mouth." + +Jan had become proficient under water with only a few hours practice. +Rick had led the girls through the entire series of underwater +maneuvers with the lungs, including practice in sharing one lung +between them. He was satisfied that they both had a thorough +understanding of team swimming and enough sense to stay out of at +least the more obvious troubles novices can get into. He was content +now to let them go off on their own, which they did fairly often. + +After Rick's estimated hour the girls were ready--except that Barby +had to make a phone call. She spent another fifteen minutes arranging +a small get-together at a friend's home to introduce Jan to her chums. + +"Now," she said brightly. "We're ready. Are you?" + +Rick wisely refrained from comment. + +Ten minutes later the four were in the Brants' car, en route to +Barby's destination. Rick dropped the girls off and arranged to pick +them up in two hours, then he turned the car toward town. + +"Let's visit Duke and Jerry," he suggested. + +Scotty looked at him. "Still bothered, aren't you?" + +Rick shrugged. It was hard to pinpoint the way he felt. He tried to +put it into words. "I've talked to the scientists, including Parnell +Winston. None of them has ever heard of an ailment like the thing that +struck the team scientists. Winston especially knows a lot, because +he's studied the human brain extensively. He doesn't even know of +anything similar." + +Scotty knew all this because he had been present. But talking aloud +helped to make things clearer, so he only commented, "And where does +that leave us?" + +"At the starting line. We haven't moved an inch forward. But at least, +if medical history seems to have no record of any such cases, we can +assume that something new and different caused the scientists to go +off the beam." + +"Yes, but if some enemy caused it, how was it done?" + +"Glad you asked that," Rick answered gloomily. "Wish someone could +answer. Anyway, we know why it was done--if it was done. It was to +cause trouble with the project. That would be important enough for an +enemy to go to a lot of trouble." + +Scotty shook his head. "The thing that sticks in my craw is, how come +only two of the scientists got hit? Why wasn't the same thing used on +the others? If anything was used, that is." + +Rick was bothered by the same point, and he had no answer--nor did +Steve Ames, with whom they had discussed the problem. + +To both boys, the puzzle was more than just an interesting problem to +be solved. If some enemy really had penetrated the project and somehow +caused disruption of the scientists' brains, then the people nearest +and dearest to both of them were also in jeopardy. Spindrift now +provided three out of five for the new project team. + +Rick swung into the main street and into the public parking lot. The +Whiteside _Morning Record_ was in the heart of town, only a block +away. Next to the parking lot was a hardware store where Rick planned +to buy batteries, and diagonally across the street was the Sports +Center. Nothing in Whiteside was far from anything else; it was a +typical small town. + +It took only a moment to buy a box of batteries; they were the type +used in hearing aids. Then the boys crossed the street to the Sports +Center. Extra mouthpieces for the lungs were in stock. They chose one +that seemed softer and smaller than the regulation models, then +started for the newspaper. + +Two doors away from the Sports Center was the town's only barbershop. +As they passed, Scotty suddenly grabbed Rick's arm and said hurriedly, +"Come back!" Quickly he led the way out of sight of the barbershop +windows. + +Rick looked at him curiously. "See something?" + +Scotty's forehead wrinkled. "I think so. But it's so unlikely that I'm +not sure. Rick, I thought I saw the barber from Washington--the one +with the massage machine!" + +[Illustration: _Rick focused the monocular on the barbershop_] + +Rick's mouth opened in astonishment. "You're kidding!" + +Scotty shook his head. "I'm not. I said I wasn't sure. But I don't +want to stand in front and look, because if it is the barber, he'd +recognize us." + +Rick thought quickly. "Come on." + +Back inside the Sports Center, he went to the manager and borrowed a +powerful monocular--a pocket telescope that was really one half of a +pair of binoculars. Then he and Scotty went across the street, taking +care to keep out of sight of the barbershop by using parked cars as +cover. + +Rick found a vantage point behind a sedan that had all its windows +open. He focused the monocular on the barbershop window. + +Vince Lardner, the shop owner and--until now--the sole barber, was +cutting the hair of a man Rick recognized as a local resident. A +second barber was cutting the hair of another local man, but the +barber had his back to the street for the moment. + +Rick waited patiently. Scotty asked, "See anything?" + +"Only his back. Wait a minute." + +Presently the barber spun the chair around and walked to the sink. In +a moment he turned and his face came into view in the tight close-up +the powerful glass provided. + +Rick sank his teeth into his lip and handed the glass to Scotty +wordlessly. + +The pieces were beginning to fall in place now, and the assumption +that the project had been penetrated was a long step closer to proved +fact. + +The Washington barber had come to Whiteside! + +"Wonder what he's after?" Scotty asked. + +"One thing is for sure," Rick stated grimly. "He isn't here just to +cut hair!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Mind Reader Strikes + + +Jerry Webster often spoke of himself as "Whiteside's best reporter," +which Rick considered a fair description, since he was the only +reporter in town. Of course Duke Barrows, the editor, did some +reporting himself, but that didn't count since he carried the title of +managing editor. + +"I'm a good reporter because I can sense a story," Jerry told Rick and +Scotty. "You two have that certain look that spells trouble. What +gives?" + +"No trouble," Rick answered swiftly. "We just need a little help." + +Duke Barrows glanced up from the proof sheets he was editing. "When +Spindrift needs a little help, there's always a story in it. We'll +make a deal, won't we, Jerry? You give us the story and we'll supply +the help." + +Rick knew Duke and Jerry well, so it wasn't necessary to beat around +the bush. "No story. At least not yet, and I can't even give you a +hint. Only we do need help." + +"Two kinds," Scotty added. + +"That's right. First of all, we have guests at Spindrift. Name of +Morrison. You'll pick that up sooner or later, because Barby is +running around town with Janice Morrison. What we need is a promise +that you won't mention it in the paper." + +Duke's eyebrows went up. "Ahah! Trying to suppress legitimate news, +are you? What do you think, Jerry?" + +Jerry Webster stared up at the ceiling. "I can see the headline now. +'Mysterious Visitors at Spindrift!' Lead paragraph: 'The mystery of +strange visitors at Spindrift Island deepened today as members of the +scientific foundation threatened the Whiteside _Morning Record_ with +drastic action unless the story was withheld.' How's that, Duke?" + +"Needs editing," Duke replied, "but you're on the right track. What's +the drastic action you're threatening us with?" + +Scotty grinned. "Item," he intoned. "Editor and reporter drowned in +own ink supply. Bodies found among leftover newspaper copies, +apparently discarded with other waste." + +"Too good for 'em," Rick disagreed. "How about 'Editor and reporter +assume new dimensions. Rolled to paper thinness in own press.'" + +"That's drastic," Duke admitted. "Seriously, Rick, you must have some +good reason for asking us to leave out what could only be a small +social item." + +"It's a good reason, all right," Scotty answered him. "Only we can't +tell you what it is, Duke." + +The editor looked at Jerry. "What say, can we take it on faith?" + +"Too simple," Jerry objected. "We ought to get something in trade." + +Scotty made eating motions. "Apple pie, with homemade ice cream? +Sunday night. Said apple pie would be used to pack down a nice, thick +steak." + +Jerry sighed. "I'm tempted." + +"It's a deal," Duke agreed. "Make mine rare. And I add one thing: If +there's a story, we get it first." + +Rick looked pained. "Don't you always? But chances are, there never +will be a story out of this." + +"Government deal," Duke said. "It has to be. Okay, Rick. We'll go +along. What's the second kind of help?" + +Rick breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't doubted that Duke and Jerry +would hold the story, but it was always hard to ask a favor without +being able to give the reason. "There's a new barber in Vince +Lardner's shop." + +"Think we're chumps who don't keep up with the news?" Jerry asked, his +expression disdainful. "Of course there's a new barber. What of it?" + +"We need some information about him. If you'll just let me see your +notes, that should do it." + +Jerry hesitated and Scotty grinned. "Bet he doesn't have any notes." + +Duke glared at Jerry. "See? You've embarrassed the _Record_. I told +you to get the story on that barber this morning." + +"Time enough later," Jerry retorted, unruffled. "We don't need the +dope until tonight, and I'll have it. What kind of information do you +want?" + +Rick listed the points on his fingers. "Where he came from, his full +name, how he happened to get the job--I mean whether he applied +directly to Vince or whether he got the job some other way--and how +long he expects to stay." + +Scotty had a few points, too. "If Vince had a vacancy, find out how +long he looked for a barber, and how he got this one. Timing is +important, Jerry. Get all you can on it. And ask him a few questions +about his massage machine, if it's in sight. It looks like the hair +gadgets they have in beauty shops." + +Editor and reporter stared at the boys curiously. "Why so much +interest in the barber?" Jerry demanded. + +Rick tried to look casual. "Why, one of our special guests might want +a haircut, and we couldn't take a chance that the barber might not be +government approved. Simple." + +Duke Barrows tilted back in his chair and pushed the green eyeshade to +the top of his head. "I get the picture." He ticked off the points on +his fingers, mocking Rick. "Strangers at Spindrift. Not to be +mentioned. Government work of some kind, for sure, and pretty hot, +too. So hot, in fact, that a stranger in Whiteside might possibly be +a menace to the strangers at Spindrift. Rick Brant asks help of local +reporter. Gets name of stranger. Turns name and details in to some +government security officer for a check. How's that?" + +"Too good," Rick admitted. He had known it would be impossible to put +anything over on Duke. The editor was a sharp cookie. "But keep it +quiet, will you, please?" + +"You know anything we discuss never goes farther than this office. All +right, Rick. Jerry will get the dope. Hop to it, hawkeye. Duty calls." + +Jerry waved his arms dramatically. "Hold the presses! New barber in +town! Here I go, after the story of the year!" He swept through the +door, then made a sheepish reappearance. "Forgot my pencil and copy +paper," he explained, grabbed them, and vanished. + +Duke waved the boys to chairs. "It will take a little while. Get +comfortable. I have to finish this copy." + +Rick and Scotty waited as patiently as possible. Scotty, the more +relaxed of the pair, borrowed a copy of a style manual and studied it +with apparent interest. Rick watched him, envious as always of his +pal's ability to let time pass without floor pacing, nail chewing, or +other impatient actions. + +Duke's analysis of the situation was pretty good, Rick thought, and it +was based on very little real information. He supposed that an editor +had more experience to draw on than most people. But so did +intelligence agents. It wasn't hard to see how a few information leaks +could add up to a pretty clear picture in an agent's head. + +Jerry was back in a short time. Apparently the interview hadn't taken +long. He produced his sheaf of copy paper with a flourish and pounded +on a desk for attention. The gesture wasn't necessary. Rick, Scotty, +and Duke were waiting eagerly. + +"Louis Collins, Journeyman Barber," Jerry read. "Age 43. Originally +from St. Louis, most recently from Washington, D.C. Twenty-five years +experience. Inventor of the Collins treatment for dry hair, which is +the machine he has. Claims to have invented it five years ago, while +working at a hotel in Washington. Came to Whiteside because he prefers +being near the shore. He's an ardent fisherman. Saw Vince Lardner's ad +in _The New York Times_ a few days ago and applied at once by phone." + +"What day and what time?" Rick asked quickly. + +"Monday. He called about noon." + +Scotty asked curiously, "How did you get that information out of him?" + +"Nothing to it. I told Vince I'd like to look up his ad in the +_Times_, because he claimed the ad plugged Whiteside as an excellent +climate. Then I told this new guy he must have moved fast to get in +his application ahead of all the other applicants, and he said he +hadn't even seen the _Times_ until he went to lunch. He called right +away. Vince nodded, so I guess the time worked out as Collins said it +had. Vince said the ad had been running for a week, and no one else +had applied." + +Rick had been calculating. "Scotty, that means Collins phoned after we +left Washington..." He stopped quickly. + +Duke Barrows rubbed his hands in fiendish glee. "Ahah! Giving away +information. So you've seen this Collins before, in Washington. No +wonder you're worried about him. Jerry, I'll bet we can sell this +information to some enemy for millions!" + +Scotty grinned. "Not unless you have the plans for the death ray. Only +death rays bring millions these days. Why, it's getting so a spy can't +even sell atom bomb secrets for more than a buck apiece any more." + +"Guess you're right," Duke admitted, crestfallen. "Well, Rick, +anything else you need?" + +"Middle initial or name?" Rick asked. + +"M for Mayhew. Anything else?" Jerry asked with a superior air. + +"That does it." Rick consulted his watch. "Let's go, Scotty. Time to +pick up Barby. I won't thank you two, because you're going to get paid +in steak and pie. See you later." + +At the home of Barby's friend there was another wait while Rick +chafed. He was anxious to get home and phone Steve Ames. However, as +it developed, Steve couldn't be reached. It was after dinner before +Rick made connections. + +He gave Steve the information Jerry had collected, then asked, "Isn't +this proof of something?" + +Steve chuckled. "It's proof that Whiteside has a new barber. That's +all. But it's certainly strongly presumptive, Rick. We knew about +Collins moving before you called, and we're continuing the check on +him. Meanwhile, I'll alert my boys at Spindrift and tell them to keep +on their toes." + +"I'll pass the word," Rick offered. + +"No need. I'm in touch by radio. Now, I want you to do something for +me. Dr. Marks is arriving at Newark by train at six tomorrow morning. +Tom Dodd is with him. Can you pick them up?" + +"Sure. How?" + +"Suppose you fly to Newark and have Scotty drive over. Then you can +pick them up at the station by car and take them to the plane. If you +fly them to Spindrift no one will know that Marks has even arrived. +Tom will try to make sure no one is tailing him, and he'll help you to +lose any cars that might try to follow." + +"We can do it," Rick assured him. "I can land close to the city. I've +done it before with pontoons." + +"Good. Ordinarily, I'd have an agent meet them, but my Newark man is +in the woods with the Boy Scout group. Call me when Marks is safely +with the team." + +"Will do," Rick promised. + +Rick reported the conversation to his father when the scientist came +in from late work in the laboratory. Hartson Brant nodded wearily. +"Good. If Marks is on the way, that means he has answers we need badly +to some of our mathematical problems." + +"What I don't get is why he's coming on an overnight train," Scotty +interjected. "That's doing it the hard way, because it's only a few +hours from Washington to Newark. Why didn't he get a train at a decent +hour? This way, he'll spend most of the night sitting on a siding +somewhere." + +The scientist smiled. "I gather that Marks has definite ideas of his +own. I wouldn't care to be Tom Dodd. I'm sure Marks is giving him +considerable trouble. He's convinced this security business is a plot +to inconvenience him and the other people on the project." + +"He didn't seem to have a very sweet disposition," Rick agreed. "Good +night, Dad. Scotty and I are going to bed early, because we'll have to +be up at dawn." + +It was really the first sound night's sleep Rick had since the +invasion of Spindrift by Steve and the Morrisons. Later, he had to +smile at himself, because it seemed to be proof of what Scotty had +said--that the real reason for his uneasiness was inactivity. He +admitted that the problem of the stricken team members intrigued him. +He made no claim to being any great shakes as a detective, but trying +to solve mysteries, whether scientific or real, was a part of him. + +Scotty departed first by boat a few minutes after dawn. Rick warmed +the Sky Wagon, then went in for a dish of cereal before taking off. He +had plenty of time. Newark was only a few minutes away in the fast +little plane. + +He timed it perfectly. Scotty was just rolling up to the pier near +Newark as Rick taxied in after landing. He got into a rowboat brought +by an attendant, and tied the plane to an anchor buoy. In a moment he +was in the car with Scotty. + +"We'll get some excitement now," Rick predicted. + +"Because Marks is arriving?" + +"Yes, and because the barber has come to town. If he isn't up to his +neck in this business, I'll eat his hair oil on pancakes." + +Scotty shuddered. "You might at least wait until I've had more +breakfast." + +Rick ignored him. "Also, the team is now assembled in one place. That +means the enemy has a single target to shoot at." + +Scotty laughed out loud. "You should see yourself," he said, +chuckling. "Since we found the barber yesterday, you've been a new +man. Beaming and happy as can be. Now the enemy has a single target +and you're pleased. Didn't it occur to you that the target is us, you +simple meathead?" + +"It did." Rick had to grin, too. "But who can locate the sharpshooter +best? Why, the guy sitting on the bull's-eye." + +Scotty parked and they walked into the station. A quick check of the +bulletin board told them the train was on time. They walked to the +gate just as the train announcer called the arrival. + +Tom Dodd was one of the last off. He had two suitcases under one arm, +and he was supporting Marks with the other. Rick and Scotty ran to +help. Was the scientist ill? + +Scotty took the suitcases while Rick grabbed Marks' other arm. The +scientist shook him off. "I'm perfectly all right," he said irritably. +"Confound it! Rouse a man at the crack of dawn and expect him to +respond like a ballet dancer to a cue. Nonsense!" + +Marks' appearance belied his words. His face was drawn and pale, and +it was obvious that his coordination wasn't very good. Tom Dodd was +plainly worried. + +"Let go of me," Marks demanded. He drew himself up and glared at the +boys. "Which way is the car, please?" + +"Straight ahead." Rick glanced at Dodd. + +Marks stalked off, but his step was too careful to be convincing. He +just wasn't normal. + +"He wasn't like this when we got on the train," Dodd said in a low +voice. "Let's get going. I'm anxious to get him to Spindrift." + +In the parking lot, Rick ran to open the trunk so Scotty could stow +the bags. Then he beckoned to Marks, who was staring straight ahead, +his eyes glassy. "This is the car, sir." + +Marks started for the open door. But instead of bending down to get +in, he walked straight ahead, rigid as a robot, and his face slammed +into the edge of the low turret top. + +Dodd caught him as he fell. + +Rick jumped to the scientist's side, afraid he had been knocked out, +and afraid, too, that something even more serious was wrong. + +Marks was not unconscious, but his stare was fixed. "Are you all +right, sir?" the boy asked anxiously. + +The reply was unintelligible. + +Scotty bent over the scientist, too. "Are you all right, sir?" he +repeated urgently. + +Marks' fixed stare never wavered. A spate of words poured from him, +but they made no sense. Now and then a single word emerged clearly. +Once it was "July," then "soup kettle" and "Planck's constant." + +"Just like the others," Tom Dodd said helplessly. + +Rick listened with horror. He had no doubt, no doubt at all. Steve had +described it accurately, and here it was. Marks was a victim of the +identical ailment that had stricken the other team members! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Dagger of the Mind + + +Tom Dodd took command and gave orders crisply. "Help get him into the +car. Here, into the back seat." + +The agent got in after the scientist while the boys got into the +front. "Scotty, start driving. We have to shake off any tail that +picks us up. Try to find a stretch where there isn't much traffic." + +Scotty swung the sedan into the traffic stream while Rick joined Tom +Dodd in watching behind them. A few minutes later Scotty slipped into +an alley and stepped on the gas. At the end of the alley he turned the +wrong way down a one-way street, found another alley, and slipped into +it. He emerged under a railroad trestle and moved into the stream of +traffic once more. Watching carefully, he moved with the traffic until +he saw an opportunity to cross a main thoroughfare as the light +changed from yellow to red. + +Theirs was the last car through the intersection, Rick saw, before +traffic started through the cross street. Scotty took another turn, +doubled back, and went through another alley. As he emerged onto a +street where traffic was sparse, he slowed. + +"That should do it," Tom Dodd said. "Nice work." + +"How is he?" Rick asked anxiously. + +"Just like the others," Tom said flatly. "Listen, boys. Our Newark +agent is in Whiteside. I don't think it's wise to take Marks to +Spindrift in this condition, but I don't want to take him far, either. +Have you any contacts here?" + +Rick tried to remember. His father had associates in Newark, he was +sure, including a doctor or two. But he couldn't remember their names. +"I could call home," he suggested. "Dad will have some ideas." + +Dodd considered. "You couldn't use the scrambler from here. Could you +tip your father off without giving information to anyone who happened +to be listening on the wire?" + +Rick thought he could. + +"Okay." Dodd motioned to a restaurant. "There's a phone in there. I +can see the booth through the window. Hop to it." + +Rick hurried into the restaurant. The full horror of what had happened +to Dr. Marks was just having its effect. He found himself shivering as +though with a severe chill. Marks was the victim of something ghastly. +He seemed to be trying to make sense, as though there was still a +glimmer of intelligence behind the blank stare. But his words were +disconnected, completely unintelligible. + +Barby answered the phone, caught the urgency in Rick's voice, and +yelled for their father. Hartson Brant came hurriedly. + +"What is it, Rick?" + +"Guarded language," Rick said urgently. "Dad, don't you have a +professional friend in Newark? The teletype machine just went haywire +for the third time and I need help." + +Hartson Brant muttered, "Good Lord! Yes, Rick. I have a mechanic +friend who is ideally suited for the purpose. Constantine Chavez. Look +him up in the professional part of the phone directory. I'll phone him +and say you're bringing the machine." + +"Good, Dad. I'll come home as soon as possible. Better phone the man +who runs the machines and give him the information." + +"All right. Be careful." + +Rick disconnected and looked up the name under the listing of +physicians. Back in the car, he cast a quick look at Dr. Marks. The +scientist was sitting quietly, staring straight ahead. He wasn't +talking, and Rick was glad. He didn't know how much of the gibberish +he could take. It was weird and horrifying, particularly since Marks +had been so crisp and terse--even though sometimes unpleasant--in his +speech. + +Dr. Chavez was watching for them through his window and hurried out to +meet the car. He was a tall, slender man with handsome features that +showed his Spanish ancestry. + +"You must be Rick," he said, shaking hands. "You look very much like +your father. He phoned to say you were bringing a damaged machine, but +I also gathered he was merely being cautious about something he didn't +care to discuss on the phone." + +"That's right, Doctor," Rick said. He introduced Tom Dodd and Scotty, +failing to mention that Dodd was a government agent. Then he pointed +to Dr. Marks in the back seat. + +"There's your patient, sir." + +"Bring him into the house," Dr. Chavez directed. "I assume from his +appearance that the trouble is mental and not physical?" + +"Exactly," Dodd said. + +Inside the house they found one room outfitted as a home office. "I +have an office downtown," the doctor explained, "but I also use this +one a few afternoons a week. Now, who can tell me about this?" His +eyes were on Marks, and as he talked, he reached for the scientist's +wrist. + +Tom Dodd explained carefully, "He was suddenly stricken. We were with +him. We don't know what happened, except that he made sense one +minute, but talked only garbled words the next." + +Chavez took an otoscope, an instrument used to examine eyes, ears, +nose, and throat, and switched on the tiny light. He flicked it into +Marks' eyes and watched the behavior of the pupils. Then he listened +with a stethoscope. A little rubber hammer came out next and was +applied to the reflexes of the stricken scientist. The reflexes looked +normal to Rick. + +Dr. Marks suddenly looked up and began spouting gibberish. Rick +winced. + +Chavez listened gravely, apparently not at all disturbed. The flow of +meaningless words ceased and Rick sighed with relief. He saw that +Scotty had been equally affected. + +"What is your specialty, Doctor?" Dodd asked. + +"I'm a neurologist." + +That was good, Rick thought. A neurologist was exactly what Marks +seemed to need. + +"Do you make anything of this?" Dodd asked. + +The doctor shook his head. "Nothing. I've never seen a case like it. +I've never even heard of one. In fact, I know of only one analogue, +and it's an electronic one. Do you know how computers work? The big +electronic brains?" + +The three nodded. + +"Then you will understand. I have worked with computers, and now and +then one of them suddenly starts turning out gibberish for no apparent +reason. A check of the circuits may show that everything is +functionally normal. Yet, the gibberish continues. Often it clears up, +with no more reason than it started. Sometimes this happens when the +machine is cold, before it is properly warmed up. At other times, it +happens when the machine is tired." + +"Tired?" Dodd looked his disbelief. "Machines don't get tired. Not in +those terms." + +Chavez smiled. "Perhaps not. Yet, to those who work with them, it does +sometimes appear that the machine is tired. There is really no other +expression for it." + +Rick knew something of this through his association with Dr. Parnell +Winston of the Spindrift staff. Winston was an expert in the new +science of cybernetics, which is defined as the science of +communications and control mechanisms in both living beings and +machines. + +"Parnell Winston would know," Rick said. + +"He most certainly would," Chavez agreed. "Are you aware that he and I +have worked together? My interest was in the biological portion of the +project. His was in the electronic. Of course we worked as a team with +other specialists." + +"Under whose auspices?" Dodd asked quickly. + +"Let us be candid," Chavez invited. "Obviously, this is not an +ordinary case. The guarded language Hartson Brant used was indication +enough of that. Rick Brant I identify because of his resemblance to my +friend, and I think I identify Don Scott, of whom I have heard a great +deal from Hartson. But who are you, Mr. Dodd?" + +For answer, Tom Dodd took out his identification folder and handed it +to the physician. + +Chavez studied it. "I know your organization, Mr. Dodd. But what is of +greater importance for the moment, your organization knows me. I +suspect it was for that reason Hartson Brant selected me for you to +consult." He gestured to the phone. "You will want to call your +office. My records are in New York." + +Dodd's face expressed his relief. "I was a little nervous," he +admitted. "It was a choice between possibly risking further damage to +Marks or taking a chance on someone based only on a recommendation +from Dr. Brant. I'm glad you're in the clear." + +He went to the phone and called New York. In a moment he said, "Dodd +here. Check on Dr. Constantine Chavez." He held the phone for perhaps +half a minute, then said, "Roger. That does it." + +He held out his hand to the neurologist. "Glad to know you, Doctor. +Can you take over?" + +"Not only can I take over, you would have trouble getting rid of me. +This man is obviously hurt in a way that is strange to me, and I +assure you, my experience with damaged minds is considerable. He may +be somewhat under the influence of a drug--I will check more +thoroughly--but that is not the cause. If I may make a quick and +highly tentative guess, this mind is suffering from some kind of +trauma induced from an outside source." + +"You mean it's not a disease?" Rick asked quickly. + +"Precisely. I know of no disease that would behave like this. I can't +even imagine a disease with these symptoms." + +"How can you be sure?" Scotty pressed. + +"Obviously I can't at this stage of investigation. But you must +recognize that a physician develops a rather definite feeling for +injury after years of experience. My own experience tells me that +mental damage of this scope is almost always accompanied by other +symptoms when it is the product of a disease. No, I cannot credit the +idea of a pathogenic organism too seriously. It is as though some +outside agent pierced the cranium and cut off the control centers of +the brain." + +"A dagger of the mind," Scotty murmured. + +Chavez looked up sharply. "Yes! An ideal phrase for it." + +Rick recognized the quotation from his school-work. _Macbeth_, Act II. +Another of Shakespeare's phrases from the same work leaped into his +mind. "Macbeth hath murdered sleep." Not Macbeth, but Marks. Rick knew +he wouldn't sleep well that night, nor for many nights to come. + +Dagger of the mind! Well, it fitted. Watching the blank face of what +had been, only hours before, a brilliant scientist, Rick could feel +its deadly point himself. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Search for Strangers + + +The good weather turned bad, and dark clouds hung low over the New +Jersey coast. It was appropriate weather for the state of mind at +Spindrift. With Marks a victim of the mysterious "dagger of the mind," +only Dr. Morrison remained of the original team. + +The question, of course, was "Who next?" + +At Hartson Brant's urgent request, Steve Ames visited the island and a +meeting of all staff was called in the big library. + +Rick and Scotty sat on a library table, while the scientists occupied +the few library chairs. Steve Ames sat on Hartson Brant's desk and +acted as chairman for the informal session. + +By mutual agreement, the girls had been excluded. Jan was nearly in a +state of shock over what had happened to Marks. Not only was she fond +of the crusty scientist, but she was fearful that the mysterious +ailment would strike her father next. And Barby was rapidly catching +the same fear. After all, new team members probably were not immune, +and Hartson Brant, Julius Weiss, and Parnell Winston were deeply +involved in the project. + +Steve called the meeting to order. "Hartson, you suggested that I +come, which I was glad to do. Suppose you start by telling us what you +had in mind." + +"Very well, Steve." The scientist's glance embraced his colleagues and +the boys. + +"We have a problem that must be solved before we can continue with +calm and objective minds on the project that faces us. The problem is +simply, what is the ailment that has stricken three of us, and what is +its cause?" + +Hartson Brant tamped tobacco into his pipe thoughtfully. "Let us see +what we know. First of all, two team members were stricken in +Washington, within a short time of each other. They were examined by +competent specialists who arrived at no conclusion. They admitted they +were unable to diagnose the ailment. The possibility of an unknown +disease was considered briefly, but not seriously. The possibility of +a chemical agent--a drug, if you like--also was considered. This +possibility has not been entirely rejected. However, a detailed +laboratory investigation disclosed no trace of chemicals in the +patients, apart from chemicals that were expected, of course." + +"Could there be chemicals that left no trace?" Scotty asked. + +Hartson Brant shook his head. "No one can claim total knowledge of +body chemistry, obviously. Just the same, the elements to be found in +the body, and the proportions in which they occur, are well known. I +said the possibility has not been entirely eliminated, but it seems +unlikely that chemical interference caused the disruption." + +"What does that leave?" Steve inquired. + +The scientist shrugged. "I can't even guess. Physical interference, +perhaps. There is also a possibility, which is very difficult to +explore, that the ailment was caused within the minds of the +scientists by some catalytic agent, or by some psychic trauma that we +can't even imagine." + +Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. They had seen the ailment at work, +and even its effects were almost beyond description. Its cause was +hard to imagine. + +"But, to continue. Steve recognized the possibility that the ailment +was caused by some outside source. Call it an enemy source, if you +prefer. He acted to get the remaining team members beyond reach of the +enemy by smuggling them to Spindrift. He succeeded with Dr. +Miller--excuse me, Dr. Morrison. He did not succeed with Dr. Marks. +What does this suggest?" + +"That hiding Dr. Morrison was an effective preventative," Steve Ames +concluded. + +"If he is hidden." Rick said the words before he even thought. + +"What do you mean, Rick? No one outside the family or the project +knows of his presence!" Julius Weiss exclaimed. + +Steve held up his hand. "Hold it a minute. We'll get to that point in +its proper turn." + +Hartson Brant picked up the threads again. "We will assume for the +moment that Steve's statement is correct, and that hiding Dr. Morrison +was a preventative. I know Steve doesn't accept this fully, but we +must use assumptions since we have no facts of consequence. If the +assumption is correct, then we have to accept the fact that enemy +agents are interested in the project. And we must also accept that +they have some means of creating a mental block by remote control." + +Rick stole a glance at Parnell Winston. The cyberneticist was sitting +quietly, his bushy eyebrows knitted thoughtfully. Winston hadn't said +a word. + +Hartson Brant paced the floor as he went on. "We now have one slight +bit of additional information that supports the theory of enemy +interference. You are all aware of what happened to Dr. Marks this +morning. He is in the hands of Constantine Chavez, who is in touch +with the physicians in charge of the other team members. Dr. Chavez is +of the opinion that Dr. Marks' mental injury was caused by physical +means, although he cannot say how. He also states, although there +seems to be no connection with the mental injury, that Marks was +drugged." + +Parnell Winston spoke for the first time. "Steve, if Chavez says Marks +was drugged, we can accept it. How could it have happened?" + +Steve spread his hands in a gesture that seemed to Rick to indicate +embarrassment. "I have gone over every step of the journey with Tom +Dodd. The answer is yes. Thanks to Marks' bullheadedness, and a +clerical error, there was an opportunity for an enemy to get at him on +the train." + +The scientists waited, obviously wanting to know more. Steve +elaborated. "Marks was covered by one of our men at every moment, even +while he was working at the Bureau of Standards, and while he was at +his apartment. The agents ate and drank the same things. Nothing has +happened to them. However, when the reservations were made for the +train trip, Marks specified that he wanted a bedroom. He got one, and +Tom Dodd got the one next door." + +"Why did Marks want to travel by train overnight, anyway?" Scotty +demanded. "That's getting from Washington to Newark the hard way." + +"I told you he was stubborn," Steve reminded. "Tom tried to talk him +out of it but failed. After all, the project team members aren't +prisoners. We can't use force, and we can't order them to do anything. +Marks wanted to go overnight by train because he always traveled that +way, he said. He insisted." + +Dr. Morrison said sadly, "I assure you that he is not an easy man to +get along with sometimes. But we must remember that he is--or was--an +extremely competent scientist. Competence like his can be forgiven +many eccentricities." + +"Thanks to his eccentricities, we've also lost his competence," Julius +Weiss pointed out. "Go on, Steve." + +"Right. Well, Tom specified bedrooms A and B, and by the time he got +the reservations and found that he had actually received bedrooms B +and C, it was too late to change because the train was sold out." + +"I can't see what difference that made," Rick objected. + +"You will. People often buy connecting bedrooms on a train, and that's +what Tom had done. He planned to keep the connecting door open and +remain awake all night with an eye on Marks. However, while A and B +connect, B and C do not. Do I make myself clear?" + +"I think so," Rick agreed. "The connecting bedrooms come in pairs, +A-B, C-D, and so on." + +"That's it. Well, Tom ran a fast check on the person who had received +bedroom D, and found it was a Baltimore businessman who often traveled +on the same train, going overnight to New York. So Tom didn't worry +about it. Instead, he kept his bedroom door open so he could watch the +corridor. He says he didn't sleep at all, and I believe him. He's one +of my best agents. The occupant of Bedroom D came on the train at +Baltimore and went right to bed. The night passed quietly, until it +was time to get Marks up. Tom had great trouble waking him up, and he +was groggy until this strange effect hit him. Rick and Scotty know. +They were there." + +The boys shuddered, remembering Marks' condition. + +"But where did the opportunity to drug him come in?" Weiss asked. + +"We've done some fast checking on every possible angle," Steve said +quietly, "and we've found a couple of interesting things. First of +all, the man who reserved Bedroom D is in a Baltimore hospital. He was +struck by a hit-and-run car as he walked from his office to the +railroad station. Obviously, he was struck deliberately. He's in +critical condition." + +"Then the man on the train..." Rick gasped. + +"Yes. Who was the man on the train? We don't know. We've had our +Boston office go over the room, and they've turned up no fingerprints +except those of the porter who cleaned up after the train left New +York. The room was wiped clean. But our Boston men also found an +interesting spot on the rug. They had a sample analyzed, and so far as +we can determine, it's a kind of water-soluble salt paste often used +by doctors when they take electrocardiograms." + +The group leaned forward, interested. Rick knew the kind of stuff +Steve meant, because he had once watched Zircon getting an +electrocardiogram. The big scientist had fainted from sheer overwork, +and possible heart complications were suspected. The technician +squeezed the paste from a tube and applied it to wrists, ankles, and +chest, under the metal terminals of the machine. Its purpose was to +allow a better electrical contact. + +Julius Weiss demanded excitedly, "Steve, do you imply that this +unknown person took an electrocardiogram of Marks' heart responses?" + +The JANIG agent shrugged. "I imply nothing. I'm merely reporting." + +Again Parnell Winston spoke. "Perhaps I can shed some light on this. +It's true that such an electropaste is used to make better connections +for electrocardiograms. But perhaps of greater importance for this +discussion, it is also used in making electroencephalograms." + +Rick and Scotty spoke in unison. "What?" + +Winston turned to them. "It's a long word, but not a difficult one. +_Electro_ for electrical. _Encephalo_ is simply a Greek form meaning +'the brain.' _Gram_, also from the Greek, means something drawn or +written. A record, if you like. So an electroencephalogram is simply +an electrical recording of the brain." + +"That may be significant," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "But, +assuming an enemy could get an EEG--which is the handy way of saying +electroencephalogram, Rick and Scotty--what would he do with it?" + +Parnell Winston rose. "Hartson, I think you can conduct the rest of +this without me. I have an extraordinary notion whirling around in my +head that I'd like to discuss with Chavez. I'll pick up the car at the +pier and drive over, if you don't mind. And by the way, Steve, can +JANIG get some information for me?" + +"We can try." + +"Good. I want to know if the two team scientists who were stricken +first had EEG's made after the attack. I would also like to check +their medical history, as completely as possible, to find out if EEG's +were ever taken while they were normal." + +"I'll give the orders right away," Steve agreed. "I don't know what we +can turn up on their early medical history, but we can try." + +Parnell Winston departed. Rick almost wished he had asked permission +to accompany Winston, but there was more to be said here, too. + +"The evidence is not conclusive," Hartson Brant summed up, "but it is +certainly strong enough to warrant a clear assumption: we have an +enemy who, by unknown means, can inflict brain damage." + +"All right. Now for some loose ends." Steve looked at the boys. "Rick +and Scotty turned up a barber in Whiteside. It happened they had first +seen him in the project office building in Washington, so they got his +name and called. We were already checking on the barber, and knew he +was in Whiteside. We'll dig deeper until we know more about him than +he does. But for now, our information indicates he is just what he +claims to be. He got the job in Whiteside legitimately. He had planned +to take a new job for a long time. So far as we can tell, he's as +innocent as a woolly little lamb." + +"Just the same," Rick said stoutly, "I'm not satisfied. I'd like to +get some more dope on that massage machine of his. Especially after +what Dr. Winston said." + +Steve grinned. "Why don't you?" + +Rick and Scotty looked at each other, and rose to the challenge. "We +will," they stated flatly. + +Steve nodded. "All right. You're known in Whiteside and my men are +not. An influx of strangers, or even one inquisitive stranger, would +attract attention. But that's not all. I have another job for you, +too." + +They waited eagerly. + +"I want a survey of the area. My Boy Scout team can help somewhat, but +they're strangers, too, even though they have an explanation for their +presence. Scan the area for anything suspicious. Get your newspaper +pals on the job and have them sniff around for evidence of any strange +folks in the area. They can do it easily." + +"We'll do it," Rick agreed. There was nothing hard about looking for +strangers in their own territory. He knew exactly how to go about it. + +"All right. Search for strangers. Get your pals on the job, but do it +without tipping anything off. That State Police captain you've worked +with will be a big help, too. You can tell him national security is +involved, but that's all." + +"At least we're not working entirely in the dark any more," Dr. +Morrison said wearily. "Even if the assumption of an enemy is wrong, +it's something to go on." + +Rick stood up. The conference apparently was at an end. + +"Tonight we'll plan," he announced. "And tomorrow we'll start. If +there are any strangers in the area, you'll have full particulars by +tomorrow night." + +"That," said Steve Ames, "is a promise I'll hold you to." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The Dangerous Resemblance + + +Rick stirred, and whatever he had been dreaming faded into vagueness. +He couldn't have said what he had been dreaming about. He was neither +asleep nor awake, but in the shadowland somewhere between. Something +as yet undefined had brought him halfway toward awakening, but the +influence was not powerful enough to bring his senses alert. + +And then, suddenly, he was wide awake, ears straining to listen. He +sensed a presence in the room, and even as he tried to recognize it, a +form landed on his chest and steel spikes drove into his ribs. He +leaped up with a yell as another form landed on the bed. Both forms +were making fantastic noises. + +His eyes opened wide as he suddenly realized that a rousing cat-dog +fight was taking place on his stomach! + +Scotty ran in and leaped for the battlers. He grabbed the spitting, +snarling cat and held it high. Dismal let out a wail of anguish as he +realized his hated enemy was out of reach. + +Rick shouted, "Down, boy!" + +Dismal leaped high and landed again with four feet bunched on Rick's +stomach. + +Rick's shout died into a gurgle. Not that the pup was heavy, but he +had landed while his master was in the midst of a breath, with muscles +relaxed. + +Scotty put the cat into the hall and closed the door, trapping Dismal +in the room. Then he turned and laughed at Rick's discomfort. + +"Next time you arrange a fight for your personal entertainment, you'd +better have a referee on hand." + +"It was a draw," Rick said ruefully, "except that the innocent +bystander lost. Whatever got into Dismal?" + +Scotty was dressed. Apparently he had already been downstairs. "The +cat went too far. Dismal found him drinking from his water dish." + +Rick grinned. That was adding insult to injury, all right. He stripped +off the blankets and examined his stomach. Shah's claws had dug right +through blanket, sheet, and pajamas, but had not drawn blood. + +"It was time to get up, anyway," he said philosophically. "Gangway, +Scotty. I'm going to shower and dress. We've got work to do." + +"Uhuh. The passengers are waiting downstairs," Scotty said. + +Rick blinked. "What passengers?" + +"Jan and Barby. They want to go." + +The boys had decided the evening before that they would start the +search with a flight in the Sky Wagon. After a quick inspection of the +area, which probably wouldn't disclose much, they planned to go into +Whiteside for a talk with Jerry and Duke at the newspaper office, and +with Captain Douglas of the State Police. + +Rick considered. He didn't mind taking the girls around on pleasure +junkets, but this was business. "Why do they have to go?" he demanded. + +Scotty shrugged. "They don't. But Jan is plenty upset over Dr. Marks, +and Barby is starting to worry about Dad and the others. If we leave +them here, they'll just stew. If they go, it may take their minds off +things." + +"I suppose that's right. Anyway, they can't get in the way much. We'll +stick 'em in the back seat." + +"Come on, then. Let's eat and get going." + +Rick showered and dressed hurriedly, and got downstairs just in time +to take his seat at the breakfast table. After bidding the family good +morning, he turned to Jan. "Shah and Dismal had a fight this morning." + +Jan put a hand to her mouth. "Oh! Shah didn't hurt him, did he?" + +That nettled Rick a little. The idea of assuming that a mere cat, even +a champion Persian, could win a fight with Dismal! Then common sense +got the better of him. The unhappy truth was, Shah could lick Dismal +with no strain at all. + +"No damage," he replied. "Except to me. The war took place on my +stomach." + +Jan was supposed to look sorry, but she didn't. She giggled. Barby +giggled, too. + +"I guess they thought you'd be a fair witness if anyone asked who +won," Jan explained. + +Rick saw he was getting no sympathy. After all, what could anyone do? +Dogs and cats were just natural enemies. Besides, if he was fair about +it, he had to admit that Shah teased the pup but didn't start serious +fights. + +After breakfast the four young people went down to the beach where the +Sky Wagon was hauled up. In a few moments they were air-borne. Rick +headed for Seaford, the fishing town down the coast. It didn't make +much sense to go farther south than that. Beside him, Scotty polished +the binocular lenses with a piece of lens tissue from the camera kit, +and started sweeping the area below. + +Apparently all was normal along the seacoast and in Seaford, but that +meant nothing. The area could be loaded with strangers and they'd +never know it from the air. + +Rick had a sudden idea. "Let's call Cap'n Mike and get him on the job. +If there are any strangers in Seaford, he'll know it." + +"I think that's a wonderful idea," Barby called from the back seat. + +Jan asked, "Who is Cap'n Mike?" + +Barby immediately related the adventure of _Smugglers' Reef_, and the +part the retired fishing skipper had played. + +Cap'n Mike knew everything worth while about the town of Seaford. He +would be a good check point not only for the town, but also for the +summer colonies between Whiteside and Seaford. He often acted as a +fishing guide for the summer tourists. + +Rick checked the summer colonies from the air, although he had little +expectation of seeing anything unusual. + +Barby pointed down as they passed over one. "Look! Scotty, let me have +the glasses." + +Both boys turned quickly. "What do you see?" Scotty asked. He handed +her the glasses. + +"The gaudiest houseboat!" Barby exclaimed. "Jan, it's painted orange!" + +The boys snorted. + +After inspecting the coast from Seaford past Spindrift to the more +populated areas on the north, Rick swung inland to inspect the woods +near Whiteside. He didn't know exactly what to look for, except +possibly unexplained campfires that could be investigated later. + +He landed at Spindrift and went at once to the house. Cap'n Mike +didn't have a phone, but Rick knew how to get a message to him. +Scotty, listening, said, "He won't be in. The fleet is still out +fishing this time of day." + +Rick grinned. "It's Sunday. Lost track of time?" + +Scotty had. But suddenly he snapped his fingers. "Hey! Duke and Jerry +are coming over for dinner." + +His message to Cap'n Mike en route through a mutual friend, Rick +motioned to Scotty. "Let's go." + +They took both of the island boats, planning to leave one for Duke and +Jerry to use later in the day. Then, after tying up the boats at the +main pier and getting the car, they called first on Captain Douglas of +the State Police. + +The officer knew the boys well, and knew in addition of their +connection with JANIG. He promised readily to assist. + +"Probably my own officers won't be too much help," he said, "but they +can ask the local police to keep their eyes open up and down the +coast. We won't say anything about the federal government being +interested. To everyone but me, this will be a routine State Police +matter." + +Rick hesitated for a moment, but he was sure of Captain Douglas' +discretion. "We're interested in the new barber, too," he added. +"Steve Ames is already checking him, but you might keep your eyes +open." + +"I'll do that," Captain Douglas assured him. "And how about the Boy +Scout leaders camped behind Spindrift?" + +Rick was about to say casually that he didn't suspect any Boy Scout +leaders, then he caught the twinkle in the captain's eye. + +"He's hep," Scotty said. + +Captain Douglas nodded. "One of my officers paid them a call. He's a +sharp one, and he made some kind of excuse for getting into their +tent. He came back and reported they were apparently on a hunting +expedition of some kind--with riot guns. I took a car full of armed +troopers and we dropped in. One of the Scout leaders turned out to be +a man who was in the same FBI class that I attended. He showed me his +identification card, so I gave him my phone number in case he needed +help. And that was that." + +Scotty said thoughtfully, "I guess the hardest thing in the world is +keeping a secret." + +"That's the second hardest," Douglas corrected. "The hardest usually +is finding out how the secret became public in the first place." + +The boys went from the State Police barracks to the Whiteside _Morning +Record_ and found Jerry on the job. "The press never sleeps," he +greeted them. "What brings you two to town on a peaceful Sunday?" + +"We brought you a boat," Rick explained. "In exchange for a favor." + +Jerry eyed them suspiciously. "What kind of a favor?" + +It took only a moment to explain. "Sure," Jerry agreed. "Duke won't +object to keeping you posted. We'll keep an eye open for you. And +we'll collect for the favor with an extra helping of pie tonight." + +"It's a deal," Rick agreed. + +As it turned out, Jerry's bargain of an extra helping of pie was +conservative. He had three for dessert that night. + +Rick noticed that both Jerry and Duke eyed Dr. Morrison curiously, and +he knew they were trying to recall if they had ever seen a picture +that would help place him in their minds. Not that they would use the +information. It was just that newspapermen developed a high order of +frustration in the face of a mystery. + +But Jan noticed something else. She came over to where Rick was +pouring fresh coffee for his friends. "Rick, those friends of yours +are nice. Have you noticed how much Mr. Barrows looks like Dad?" + +Rick looked. The two were deep in conversation, and it was the first +time he had seen them together. They looked very much alike, +particularly in the gathering darkness. They were about the same +height, give or take a fraction of an inch, and both had the same +shock of unruly hair. They probably weighed within five pounds of each +other. Actually, however, the resemblance was superficial. They might +have been cousins, but not brothers. + +"They do look alike," Rick agreed. + +Later, he saw Jan deep in conversation with Jerry and wandered by, to +eavesdrop a little. He knew that Jerry was entirely trustworthy, but +his friend was also a nosy reporter who would try to pump the girl. +Rick intended to step in and break it up if that were the case. + +"The Virgin Islands sound wonderful," Jerry was saying. "How long did +Rick and the others stay with your family?" + +"They never actually stayed with us," Jan replied. "Of course we +invited them to, but they were so anxious to get to Clipper Cay, they +only stayed one night in town. We met them that night, at Dr. Ernst's. +He's a mutual friend. I was excited about the treasure, and I begged +Dad to take Mother and me to Clipper Cay, so I could dive with the +boys. He was going to take us, too, only everyone was back in +Charlotte Amalie with the treasure before we had a chance." + +Rick grinned and went on his way. Jan was talking with great +assurance. He didn't have to worry about Jerry breaking down the cover +story. + +It was late when the party broke up. Rick and Scotty took their guests +to Whiteside Pier, where Duke had left his car. As they roared up to +the pier Rick had to swerve to avoid a pram, a blunt-ended rowboat, +that had been tied carelessly in the place where he usually tied up. +He wondered who owned it. Prams were not usual along the coast. + +Jerry and Duke climbed out after thanking the boys again for a fine +dinner. The two walked off into the darkness toward the parking lot. + +Rick started to back out and head for home, then paused. He was +curious about the pram. + +"Hand me the boat hook," he told Scotty. + +His pal obliged. "What's up?" + +"I'm curious. Who around here has a pram?" + +"No one I know. That looks like a new one, too." + +Rick pulled the little rowboat closer with the boat hook and turned +the speedboat's searchlight on it, hoping to find a name. + +Suddenly both boys froze. + +"Was that a yell?" Rick asked. + +Scotty was already on his way up the pier. "Yes, from the parking lot. +Come on!" + +Rick hurriedly threw a rope around a piling and secured it with a +couple of fast half-hitches, then he hurried after Scotty. + +It was pitch dark in the parking lot, but they could hear sounds of a +scuffle plainly now, and once there was a muffled grunt. + +It suddenly occurred to Rick that he hadn't heard Duke's car start. He +sprinted, calling to Scotty to look for a weapon. Once, some time ago, +they had fought a battle with rocks against guns in this very spot. He +scooped up a couple of rocks, hoping no guns were waiting this time. + +"Hold 'em!" Scotty yelled. "We're coming!" + +There was a yell in reply. Jerry Webster called, "Watch it! They're +running away!" + +Car headlights switched on, and in their glare Rick saw Jerry +pointing. For a moment he considered following his friends' +assailants, then abandoned the idea. They could escape easily in the +woods. + +"What happened?" Scotty demanded. + +[Illustration: "_I'm curious. Who around here has a pram?_"] + +Duke Barrows got out of the car, nursing his head. + +"Two men jumped us when we started to get into the car," he answered +shakily. "One smacked me on the head with something hard and almost +knocked me out. If Jerry hadn't put up a good fight, they'd have had +us--although I don't know what for." + +"Were they holdup men?" Rick asked quickly. + +"They didn't wear signs," Duke answered grumpily. "But holdup men +usually say something, don't they? 'This is a stickup.' Or something +like that." + +Jerry Webster examined bruised knuckles in the glare of the car head +lamps. "They didn't say anything," he added. "Not a word. When you +yelled, they broke off and ran into the woods." + +Scotty scratched his head. "Mighty funny," he mused. "What could they +have wanted?" + +Duke Barrows brushed dirt off his jacket. "They probably were +reporters from a Newark paper," he said caustically, "trying to find +out about the mysterious visitors on Spindrift." + +It hit Rick then. "Duke," he exclaimed, "you look like Dr. Morrison! +I'll bet it was a case of mistaken identity!" + +The editor looked at him keenly. "Could be," he agreed. "That means +you have reason to believe someone would be interested in harming Dr. +Morrison." + +"I'm just assuming," Rick said hurriedly. + +"Uh-hum." The editor grunted his disbelief. "And what should we do +about it?" + +Rick looked at Scotty, who shrugged. The shrug said that probably +nothing could be done now, so far as Duke and Jerry were concerned, +but that the case was far from closed. + +"Better notify Captain Douglas," Rick suggested. "I can't think of +anything else." + +Jerry Webster flexed an arm that appeared to be aching. "Sure that +won't conflict with your security people?" he asked. + +Rick assumed an air of wide-eyed innocence. "Now, Jerry! Who said +anything about security people? I just suggested you notify the State +Police. Who else would you notify when someone attacks you?" + +Duke climbed into the car. "Come on, Jerry. We'll get no satisfaction +out of these two. Let's go rub liniment on our wounds, and then we'll +make a report to the State Police. Good night, lads. And I hope your +mystery bites you. Let me know if it does, so I can say 'I told you +so' in print." + +The boys waved as Duke drove off, leaving them in darkness. As they +made their way back to the speedboat, Rick spoke his thoughts aloud. + +"I guess the enemy uses muscles, too, huh?" + +Scotty answered thoughtfully, "Looks like it. Unless they really were +holdup men." + +Rick shook his head, even though Scotty couldn't see the reaction. +"Pretty unlikely. But suppose the enemy kept a watch on movements in +and out of Spindrift? From a distance they might assume that Duke was +Morrison. So it would make sense for them to keep a watch at the pier +in case he came back--which he did." + +"And when he came back, they'd either murder him or kidnap him?" +Scotty sounded disbelieving. "I doubt it. Nothing the enemy has done +so far points to that kind of tactic. Why should they start using +muscle methods now?" + +Rick had no good answer. "Let's step on it," he said. "We have to +report this. I have a hunch the Boy Scout team is going to be scouring +the woods around here tonight." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Coast Guard Draws a Blank + + +Rick said quietly, "And so the wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood, and +when the grandmother heard about it she said--" + +Barby's voice erupted in the tiny earphone plug in Rick's ear. "I +don't think that's very funny, Rick Brant!" + +Scotty spoke up. "Barby doesn't like realism in her fairy tales." + +Barby answered, "I don't think you're very funny either, Donald +Scott!" Her voice faded on the last word. + +Rick asked quickly, "Barby, did you move then?" + +"No, Rick. Why?" + +"You faded. Scotty, did you notice a fade?" + +"Negative. I did not." + +Rick asked, "Barby, please recite something." + +"Recite what?" + +"Anything." + +Barby began, "She walks in beauty like the night..." + +Rick turned slowly, listening for differences in strength of signal +received. + +Scotty interrupted. "Hey, what's that?" + +"Lord Byron," Barby said loftily. "I wouldn't expect you to know." + +Rick had it now. "Okay," he called. "Come on in." + +He had been standing on the front porch of the Brant home. Scotty was +inside the laboratory building, while Barby and Jan were at Pirate's +Field. Presently Scotty joined him and grinned. "Work good?" + +"Perfect." + +Barby and Jan came through the orchard and up on the porch. Barby was +wearing an ornamental plastic head band, not too gaudy for daytime +wear, but not too simple for anything dressy. She had arranged her +hair so the gadget was hardly noticeable. A wave of smooth blond hair +hid the little bump made by the battery. + +"Technically," Barby stated, "it worked fine. But the program material +was terrible." + +The boys chuckled. "How do you know it was technically fine?" Scotty +teased. + +Barby looked at him coolly. "Because I heard Rick perfectly." + +"And I heard you and Scotty," Rick agreed. "All three units work fine. +Have you switched them off?" + +Barby reached up and seemed to pat her hair slightly. "I forgot," she +admitted. "Now it's off." + +Rick looked at Jan. "Could you hear me through Barby's phone while I +was talking?" + +Jan shook her head. "No, I couldn't. I was listening, too. These are +wonderful, Rick." + +He smiled his thanks. "One interesting thing, though. I should have +known, but it didn't occur to me. The receivers are directional." + +"What's that?" Barby asked. + +"Directional. The antenna is a tiny coil. When it's broadside to the +incoming signal, the volume is loudest, but when it's end on, the +volume is much less. So, if you can't hear well, just turn sideways. +Turn until the signal is loudest." + +Scotty took his transceiver from his pocket and examined it with +pride. It was no larger than a pack of playing cards, and its +sensitive microphone was incorporated right into the case. The tiny +antenna was a piece of stiff steel wire only two inches long. The +whole gadget fitted easily into an inside coat pocket without a +noticeable bulge. + +Barby's rig was slightly different. The antenna ran along one edge of +the plastic strip. At one end the microphone was in contact with her +head just above the ear, allowing for transmission of voice by bone +conduction, a new method developed by the United States Air Force. At +the other end of the band a tiny speaker made similar contact. Rick +had worried about the effectiveness of both mike and phone, since he +had never used the types before, but the design had turned out very +well. + +"Pretty neat if we do say so," Scotty admitted modestly. + +"For once I agree with you," Barby said generously. "Now what, Rick? +There isn't anything more to do, is there?" + +"Not on these." But there was more to do along other lines. He was +waiting for word from JANIG. Barby and Jan disappeared and returned in +a few moments with iced drinks. The boys accepted them gratefully. It +was a warm day. + +"How about a swim?" Scotty suggested. + +Rick was about to point out that they might have work to do when Joe +Blake, the JANIG agent in charge at the laboratory, hailed him. Rick +ran to meet the agent. + +"The boys on the mainland didn't turn up a thing," Blake reported. +"They searched from a half mile south of the pier to a half mile +north. No pram anywhere." + +Rick snapped his fingers. "I had a hunch they wouldn't! Okay. I'm +going to take off right now and search the coast. If that pram wasn't +connected with the attack on Duke and Jerry, I'll eat it." + +"Good luck," Blake said. "Let me know if you need any help." + +Rick hurried back to the porch. The JANIG scout team had reported +early in the morning that the pram was gone from the pier. They had +been covering the Whiteside area most of the night, searching for +some sign of the pair that had attacked Rick's friends, but had turned +up nothing suspicious. + +Then, at Rick's suggestion, they had undertaken a search for the pram. +His point was simply that he had never seen a pram in the Whiteside +area--something that strangers would not have known. They might have +figured that tying up in plain sight was the best way of hiding their +boat. It would have been, if prams had been more common. + +He motioned to Scotty. "Let's go. No sign of the pram." + +Barby rose instantly. "Can we go with you?" + +Rick considered, then nodded. He could see no objection to taking them +on what could only be a short plane trip. + +As they hurried to the plane, Scotty said, "What bothers me is, why +didn't the JANIG team have someone at the landing?" + +"They did," Rick replied. "I asked the same question. Their roving +patrol had been by there a short time earlier, but saw nothing +suspicious. After all, they can't post men everywhere. So two of them +take turns keeping watch on the tidal flats, in case anyone tries to +cross from the mainland directly to here. The other two keep moving." + +"But it's funny anyone would attack Duke and Jerry," Barby objected. +"It isn't ... well, logical." + +Rick grinned. Logic and his sister had never become well acquainted. +He answered, "Suppose the enemy had been keeping track of movements +by water to Spindrift? That isn't farfetched. They could do it easily +without being noticed. Then, late yesterday, they saw two men get in a +boat and come to the island. They were probably watching from cover. +And what did they see?" + +Jan answered excitedly, "Jerry, and a man who looked like my father!" + +"That's it, Jan. So, if I guess correctly, they waited, hoping the man +they thought was Dr. Morrison would come back. And he did, and they +were waiting." + +"Sounds reasonable," Scotty agreed. "Except for one small thing. Why +attack Dr. Morrison when all they have to do is turn on a gadget and +his mind goes blank?" + +Jan shuddered visibly. Scotty added hurriedly, "Sorry, Jan." + +"Maybe it's not that simple," Rick said thoughtfully. "If they only +have to turn on a gadget, why did they need to drug Dr. Marks?" + +There was no answer to that. As soon as they were air-borne, Rick +headed north, searching the coastline, swinging low now and then to +examine marinas where numbers of boats were tied up. Scotty kept the +binoculars working, but there was no sign of a pram. + +"Do you suppose it's under cover somewhere?" Barby asked. + +Rick shrugged. "Maybe. They might cover it if they thought anyone +would come looking for it." + +"They'll surely think of that, won't they?" Barby asked. + +"Not necessarily. After all, they tied up at the pier in plain sight. +I think they assumed no one would worry about a small rowboat. They +just didn't know prams are uncommon." + +Scotty put the glasses down for a moment and rubbed his eyes. "How far +could they have come, anyway? We're miles above Spindrift, and no one +would row that far." + +He was right, of course. Rick admitted, "I've been racking my brains, +and I can't remember whether or not the pram had an outboard motor. +Just as I was about to take a close look, Jerry yelled. Do you +remember, Scotty?" + +Scotty shook his head. "But even with an outboard, they probably +wouldn't have come this far." + +"Check." Rick swung the Sky Wagon around and headed south on a +straight course to Spindrift. As the fast little plane passed over the +Brant house he throttled back and dropped lower. "Let's start the +search again." + +Every cove was investigated, and anything that might have been a boat +was inspected carefully. Then, as they reached the summer colony north +of Seaford, Barby exclaimed, "Look! There's that fancy houseboat +again!" + +The houseboat was putting out from land, swinging on a northerly +course. Rick saw that it was powered by twin outboards and that it +cruised at about fifteen knots. + +Scotty yelled, "Hey! Behind the houseboat! Look at the dory they're +towing!" + +Rick swung low and craned his neck to see. It was! The houseboat used +a pram as a tender, and the pram had its own low-power outboard motor. + +"That's enough," he said with satisfaction. He kept the Sky Wagon on a +southerly course until Seaford passed below, to keep the houseboaters +from thinking the plane's sole interest had been in them. Beyond +Seaford, he picked up Cap'n Mike's shack across the road from the old +windmill. + +"Let's see if Mike's home," he said, and stood the wagon up on a wing. +He leveled off in time to buzz low over the old shack, which was not +as shabby as it looked, and neat as a ship's cabin inside, then he +pulled up into a screaming Immelman and looked out. + +Cap'n Mike emerged from the shack waving what seemed to be a shirt. +Rick waggled his wings in greeting, then did a wing over that brought +him back low and fast over the old seaman's head. Cap'n Mike was +grinning broadly as he waved. + +Rick set a course north and slightly inland. In a short time he was +back on the water again, taxiing to the Spindrift beach. + +While the others went to the house, he stopped at the lab and reported +to Joe Blake that he had found a pram. The agent got what details Rick +had, and passed the word to the shore team on the mainland with +instructions to follow the houseboat's movements from shore. Then he +went to the phone and called Steve Ames. + +Finally Joe hung up. "Steve says to keep an eye on the houseboat, but +to take no action. He's going to do a little investigating." + +"How?" + +"He didn't say. But he expects to have something by tonight." + +With that, Rick had to be satisfied. + +Apparently Steve wasted no time, because Barby answered the phone just +before dinner, then called: + +"It's Steve Ames, Rick!" + +Rick ran to the telephone. + +"Thought I'd let you know," Steve reported. "I had the Coast Guard pay +a visit to your houseboat this afternoon." + +"You did?" Rick was incredulous. "But that means they're tipped off +now that we're watching them!" + +Steve sounded hurt. "Fine thing," he said, wounded. "No faith, huh? +Ever hear of the Coast Guard's courtesy inspection service?" + +"Sure. They'll inspect your boat for safety." + +"That's it. And that's the gag we used. We sent a brand-new ensign, a +real boyish type. He checked half a dozen boats before he got to the +houseboat. When he pulled alongside and offered a courtesy +investigation, they invited him aboard like an old friend." + +"What did he find?" Rick asked excitedly. + +"Nothing. All was in order, and the boat had plenty of extinguishers, +life jackets, and other safety items, so he gave it a clean bill of +health. They fed him iced tea and cookies, and waved good-by as if he +was their long-lost son." + +"What kind of people were they?" + +"Two middle-aged couples. Business partners, from Trenton, and their +wives. We got the names from him and checked. They really are +partners, in a used-car business. Sorry, Rick. Looks like another dead +end. The Coast Guard drew a blank this time." + +"But there isn't another pram within miles of Spindrift," Rick +objected. + +"All right. We'll be keeping an eye on these people, but we have no +grounds for any action. Any luck with the barber?" + +"We haven't tried yet," Rick told him. "Tomorrow's the day. We've been +getting the Megabuck network completed in case we need to +communicate." + +"Okay. Good luck, and keep me informed." + +"I will, Steve." + +Rick hung up and returned to the porch, deep in thought. To the +waiting trio he said, "A blank. Nothing. Looks like the barber is +still our best lead." + +"That houseboat is in it, too," Barby stated positively. + +"How do you know?" Scotty asked. + +"It's too flashy," Barby explained. "Too bright. Really nice people +wouldn't have a boat that color. You wait and see, they're in this +somehow!" + +Rick shook his head, more in sorrow than in anger. "Good thing the +boat isn't bright red," he said wearily. "That would really be proof +they're criminals!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Megabuck Mob Acts + + +Barby Brant flew up the stairs and ran down the hall, skidding to a +stop in front of Rick's door. Then, conscious that her burst of speed +was less than dignified, she drew herself up and tapped on the door +gently. + +Rick had just finished dressing. He opened the door, and his eyebrows +went up at Barby's poorly concealed excitement. + +"What's up?" he demanded. "Atom bomb ticking in the library or +something?" + +Barby made a heroic effort to be casual. "I just thought you might be +interested. The houseboat is anchored in North Cove." + +Rick was very much interested! North Cove was between Spindrift and +Whiteside pier. He felt a tingle of excitement. Was the enemy closing +in? + +"Did you see it?" he asked. + +"No, but Dad did. He went over to pick up the morning papers, and +there it was. It must have gone by during the night." + +"Thanks, Barby," Rick said absently. His mind was already exploring +the possibilities. The houseboat had taken up the ideal position for +watching comings and goings from Spindrift. The cove was even close +enough so the sound of the Sky Wagon's engine could be heard clearly. + +Yet, according to Steve, the people on it were ordinary enough. There +was nothing suspicious about them, except that they had the only pram +in the area. He wondered if perhaps the pram had nothing to do with +the attack on Duke and Jerry. After all, people on houseboats had to +land once in a while, for shopping. + +In the same moment, he realized that Whiteside was closed tight on +Sunday evenings. There was nothing to be bought. That was when the +attack had taken place. + +He ate breakfast with minimum conversation, only vaguely conscious +that the others were watching him with interest, aware that he was +chewing over the problem in his own fashion. + +After breakfast, Scotty broke in. "Well, what's all the high-brain +activity leading up to?" + +Rick was just about ready. "Couple of things," he said. "First, we +have only two possibilities for enemy contacts in the area. The +houseboaters, and the barber. There may be others, but we don't know +about them." + +"All right. What do we do about it?" + +"Well, suppose both are involved. Is that a reasonable assumption?" + +Scotty nodded thoughtfully. "I think so. The barber ties in because he +came from Washington, and he has the machine. The houseboaters tie in +because of the pram." + +"Okay. Then if both are involved, they have to contact each other +sometime. They have to exchange information, at the very least." + +Scotty was with him. "And it would be easier for the houseboaters to +contact the barber than vice versa. Because everyone has to get a +haircut sooner or later. Right?" + +"One hundred percent. So we keep a watch on both. I'll work it out +with Joe Blake. We could keep watch by day, when possibility of +contact is greatest because the barbershop is open. The JANIG team on +the mainland can keep watch by night, because if the houseboaters and +the barber meet at night it will have to be in the woods. Anywhere in +town would be too obvious--except for the barbershop." + +Barby and Jan had listened in silence, but Barby could contain herself +no longer. "And we're going to help!" + +To Barby's astonishment, Rick nodded. She had expected opposition. +"You and Jan can keep watch of the houseboat. Scotty and I will take +the mainland. If the houseboaters start for Whiteside pier, you'll +tell us. We'll pick them up as they land and trail 'em." + +Barby nodded, pleased. "The Megabuck Mob goes into action! We'll use +the radio network. Right?" + +"Yes. First thing is, where do you take up a position? If I remember +correctly, you can see North Cove from the attic. It will be kind of +hot up there, but maybe we can rig a fan." + +"We won't mind," Jan said swiftly. "When do we start?" + +"Right now." + +Scotty spoke up. "You said you had a couple of things. What's the +other one?" + +"We have to get a look at the barber's machine. I don't know how we'll +do it. But we can figure out something." + +In the back of Rick's mind was the thought that the houseboaters might +have moved nearer Whiteside for the purpose of contacting the barber, +as well as to get a better look at traffic between Spindrift and the +mainland. If that were true, they had better hurry. + +He had another thought, too. "What time is it?" + +Barby consulted her watch. "Five before eight. Why?" + +"The barbershop doesn't open until nine. I think it might be useful to +have someone call on the houseboaters and try to pump them a little. +It might be interesting to hear why they chose to anchor in North +Cove." + +Barby's eyes got round. "Would you do it?" + +Rick shook his head. "It can't be anyone from Spindrift, or from the +police. It has to be someone plausible. I'm thinking of Cap'n Mike." + +"Hey, that's just the ticket!" Scotty shook Rick's hand solemnly. +"Cap'n Mike can pretend to be fishing, the way he used to when he was +keeping an eye on Creek House. He could drift over to the houseboat +and ask for a drink of water, or something, and strike up a +conversation. They'd think he was just a typical salty character." + +"Then that's how we'll do it. Scotty, suppose you get the binoculars +for Barby, then rig up a fan. I'll go get Cap'n Mike. It won't take +long, and we can have something set before the barbershop opens." + +Scotty helped Rick push the plane out from the beach, then collected +the binoculars. Rick warmed the plane and checked the gas. He could +use a few minutes to gas up, too. There was a pier in Seaford where he +could land and get the proper grade of fuel. + +He taxied out, headed into the wind, and took off. Then, to confuse +watchers, he headed straight for Whiteside. As he passed over the cove +he saw the houseboat, anchored in the best position for watching the +Spindrift-Whiteside boat course. His mouth was set in a straight line. +Maybe there was no proof, but how much circumstantial evidence was +needed to paint a picture? He was sure the houseboat was a part of +the plot against the project. + +Far inland, out of sight of the coast, he swung south, picked up Salt +Creek and followed it to Smugglers' Reef. He turned down the coast +past the town, buzzed Cap'n Mike's shack, and landed. + +Captain Michael Aloysius Kevin O'Shannon was at the pier when he +docked. Rick cut the engine and climbed out on the pontoon. He heaved +a line to the old seaman, who hauled him to the pier. + +Cap'n Mike was nearly seventy years old, but as Rick well knew, he had +the vigor and keen mind of a man twenty years his junior. Under the +battered master's cap was a thatch of white hair and a strong, +weather-beaten face. + +"About time you paid a friendly call," Cap'n Mike greeted him. "Sorry +I found no strangers for you. Was goin' to call today. Where's +Scotty?" + +Rick felt a twinge of conscience. He had intended to pay a visit to +his friend so many times, but something always seemed to get in the +way. It had been many weeks since his last call. + +"It isn't exactly a social call," he said apologetically. "We need +your help, Cap'n Mike." + +The old man looked at him quizzically. "What for? Fishin' or +detectin'?" + +"Detectin'," Rick answered. + +"Accepted! Now I see why you were lookin' for strangers. When and +where do I start?" + +"Right now, at Spindrift. Can you come?" + +"Wait'll I turn off my coffeepot. Anything I'll need?" + +"We'll want you to do a little fishing, too." + +Cap'n Mike nodded and hurried up the pier to his shack. In a few +minutes he was back, rod case and tackle box in hand. He cast off and +climbed into the plane. "Let's go, boy! Time's awastin'. Who we after +this time?" + +Rick started the engine and was air-borne before he answered. Then, +almost immediately, he had to land again to take on gas. By the time +he was in the air en route to Spindrift, Cap'n Mike was squirming so +impatiently that the whole plane seemed to vibrate. + +"Well, get on with it," he said irritably. + +Rick smiled. "All right. We don't know who we're after." + +Cap'n Mike grunted. + +"Seriously, we don't. Some folks in a houseboat are anchored in North +Cove. We want to find out why." + +Cap'n Mike nodded sagely. "For no reason. They just might be dangerous +criminals, so you want to investigate. All right, go ask 'em." + +"We can't. We want you to go fishing, and work your way to the +houseboat. Ask for a drink of water or something, then find out if you +can what they're doing." + +[Illustration: _Cap'n Mike quickly hauled the Sky Wagon to the pier_] + +"Got it all worked out, have ye?" The old captain snorted. "Where's +the fun in that? Like to do things my own way." + +Rick hurriedly backtracked. "All right, do it anyway you like. We just +want the information." + +"What for?" + +Rick sighed. "Can't tell you, Cap'n." + +"Must be I got untrustworthy since I saw you last." + +"It isn't that. It's a--well, it's a government matter." + +Cap'n Mike smacked his thigh with a calloused hand. "I should 'a' +known! All right, Rick. I'll do it. Then maybe I can get my +congressman to tell me what I've done." + +Rick made a great swing around Whiteside, pointing out the houseboat +to Cap'n Mike as he passed North Cove, and landed off Pirate's Field. +Scotty was waiting. + +After greeting the old seaman, Scotty said, "The girls are watching +from the attic. When do we get started?" + +"As soon as Cap'n Mike is fixed up." + +Cap'n Mike was pretty self-sufficient and required little attention. A +cup of hot coffee, a jug of fresh water, a little bait and a rowboat, +and he was on his way. Fortunately, the Spindrift boat landing was not +in sight of North Cove. Cap'n Mike sculled slowly along the shore. He +would emerge at the cove, surprising the houseboaters. + +Rick checked on the girls. They were engaged in making themselves +comfortable on an old bed they had dragged in front of the window from +which North Cove could be seen. He borrowed the glasses and looked at +the houseboat, then handed them back, satisfied. They could see +everything that went on. + +Barby had her plastic set in place. Rick checked, and found that she +had forgotten to turn it on. He grinned at her embarrassment. + +"I'll call you from downstairs, and again when we get set on the +mainland. Good luck." + +The girls echoed the wish. + +Cap'n Mike was fishing, allowing the rowboat to drift slowly in the +direction of the cove. Rick watched awhile, and was satisfied. If +anyone could put it over, Cap'n Mike could. + +"Now," he asked Scotty, "how do we get to Whiteside without attracting +attention?" + +Scotty scratched his head. "I don't know. Unless you want to walk. We +could cross the tidal flats and hike to town." + +Rick vetoed that. "Too far and too slow. The barber would have time to +cut twenty heads of hair before we got there." + +"How about asking Jerry to come for us?" + +"You've got it! He could come down the wood road and pick us up right +behind the island. He knows the way." Rick went into the library and +called the _Morning Record_ number. Duke Barrows answered. Rick +explained that they had to get to Whiteside by the back way, without +volunteering why. Duke hesitated, then agreed to send Jerry. + +Rick smiled as he hung up. "Duke will get a story out of this +somehow," he said. "He's so curious he could burst a seam. Come on. +Jerry will get started right away." + +Just before nine o'clock the boys and Jerry arrived at the newspaper +office. Jerry was about to burst with curiosity, but he wasn't going +to let it get the better of him. He hadn't asked a single question all +the way from the wood road back of Whiteside into town. + +Duke Barrows was apparently taking the same tack. He looked up as the +boys entered, grunted, then continued working on the following day's +editorial. + +"Something just occurred to me," Rick said, after greeting the editor. +"Isn't this pretty early for you and Jerry to be at work? I thought a +morning paper didn't open for business until afternoon." + +"We never sleep," Duke said, without interrupting his work. "What do +you think this is, _The New York Times_?" + +"Never occurred to me," Rick said politely. "Although the quality of +the paper is about the same." + +The editor looked at Jerry. "When he talks like that, he wants +something. What is it?" + +"Search me. I don't know what these two want, and I don't know when +they got deaf. Notice they're both wearing hearing aids?" + +Duke hadn't. The boys grinned at his look of astonishment. + +"What we'd like," Scotty said, "if you care to co-operate, is to have +someone take a look at the barbershop. We want to know if the new +barber is on the job." + +Duke sharpened his pencil with loving care, using a penknife. "I won't +ask why you can't take a look yourselves," he said finally. "It's +pretty obvious." + +"Not to me," Jerry objected. + +"It should be. They don't want the barber to get a look at them, +because he saw them in Washington. They don't want him to know they're +interested, or that they know he's in town." + +Rick started to ask how Duke had known that much, then realized that +the editor had simply drawn the correct conclusion from the few words +that had been said before. Again Rick gained a clear insight into how +a little information can be built up into a lot. No wonder Steve and +his people had so much trouble protecting official secrets. + +Duke put his pencil down and rose. "It happens that I need a haircut. +Stand by." At the door he paused. "Anything else you want to know?" + +"We want to know about his massage machine," Rick said urgently. "Find +out all you can, Duke. Please? Particularly if it has any electrical +connections besides the wall plug." + +Duke studied them thoughtfully for a long moment, then turned and +left. + +Jerry watched his boss leave. "He's kinder to you two than I would +be," he stated. "He didn't ask a single question, even about the +hearing aids." + +Rick considered. There was nothing secret about the Megabuck network, +except that he and Barby would use it for a mind-reading act. Jerry +was trustworthy; he wouldn't give the act away. + +"Promise you'll keep it to yourself," Rick asked, and at ferry's +excited nod he took the tiny receiver from his ear and handed it to +Jerry. + +The reporter held it to his own ear, moving closer to Rick because the +cord was just long enough to reach from ear to inner pocket. + +Rick said, "Barby, say hello to Jerry." + +Apparently Barby did, because Jerry gave a surprised start. + +"Can I talk to her?" Jerry asked. + +Barby answered the question herself. The microphone, built right into +the little unit, was very sensitive and Rick's thin jacket did not +muffle it very much. + +"I'm fine," Jerry said. + +Rick grinned. + +Scotty could hear both sides of the conversation through his own set. +Now he broke in. "Any sign of activity yet?" + +"Cap'n Mike is fishing right near the houseboat. I can see the people +on the houseboat, but they're just having breakfast on the rear deck. +Where are you?" + +"In the newspaper office. Duke has gone to check on the barber." + +Rick held out his hand and Jerry gave him the earpiece, grinning. +"What a rig!" the reporter marveled. "Where did you get it?" + +"Built it." + +During the next half hour, while they waited for Duke to return, Rick +told Jerry the story of the Megabuck Mob, omitting only what followed +when Steve Ames arrived. + +Then Duke returned, freshly barbered, trying to scratch his back. "One +thing about this new barber," he greeted them. "He's no better at +keeping hair out of your shirt than Vince is. Why is it that barbers +can't cut hair without getting it into places where it itches?" + +Rick smiled sympathetically. He knew how it was. No matter how careful +a barber tried to be, it seemed impossible to get a haircut without a +shower of hair clippings down the back. Usually they lodged where it +was impossible to scratch. + +Duke rubbed against the doorframe. "It's Vince Lardner's day off," he +began. + +Rick tensed. If the houseboaters were going to contact the barber, +they would naturally try to choose a time when they could see him +alone. Maybe there had been an earlier contact, and the barber had +told them he would be alone today. That might account for the +houseboat's moving closer to Whiteside. + +"Vince had gone fishing." The editor grinned. "I suspect that's the +only reason he got a helper, anyway, so he could go fishing more +often. There isn't really enough work in town for more than one +barber." + +"Did you look at the massage machine?" Rick asked anxiously. + +The editor nodded. "It's nothing but a hood, with three ordinary +massage gadgets inside. Vibrator heads, I think they're called." + +That tallied with the description Steve's agent had given. "Did you +examine it closely?" Rick pursued. + +"Yes. There's only one cord attached--the power cord. But I did notice +an interesting thing. Set around the edges are little disks, like +round covers. I started to lift one up, but the barber asked me to +stop. He said the machine is adjusted very carefully and I might upset +the adjustment." + +"Tough luck," Scotty said, disappointed. + +"Oh, I don't know." Duke's eyes twinkled. "I got enough of a look to +see two tiny holes in the piece of stuff the disk covered. The stuff +was black, probably plastic. Like telephones are made of." + +"In other words," Rick said slowly, "you saw holes for electrical +plugs?" + +"I think so. I don't know what else they could be." + +Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. + +"What does it mean?" Jerry asked. + +Rick answered. "We don't know. And I'm not kidding. We really don't +know." + +"I believe you," Duke said briefly. "Okay. I've done my bit, including +getting my hair cut. Anything else?" + +"We'd like to stick around," Rick replied. "Jerry already knows about +this, but Barby is watching a houseboat anchored in North Cove. If +anyone leaves the houseboat for the Whiteside pier, she'll call us. +We'll take over at the pier. It just might happen that the houseboater +will pay a call on the barber." + +Duke didn't comment, but Rick knew the editor's mind was at work. +"Make yourself at home," Duke said, and went back to his editorial +writing. + +Now and then Barby called, wanting to chat, but Rick discouraged her. +He was reasonably sure the enemy wouldn't be listening in on the +extremely short wave length on which the Megabuck network operated, +but there was no use taking any chances. After each conversation he +identified the sets with his own amateur call letters, even though it +was unlikely anyone could hear the conversation. The little sets +operated essentially on a line of sight because of the short wave +length used. They couldn't be heard beyond the horizon, if they were +heard that far. + +After an hour of waiting, Barby called in high excitement. Cap'n Mike +was aboard the houseboat! The boys waited anxiously for some further +report, but Barby was only able to say that the old seaman had +departed after a ten-minute visit and was now fishing again. + +At noon Jerry and Scotty slipped out for a sandwich. When they +returned, Rick and Duke went to eat. According to Barby, all was +quiet. + +Around one o'clock Cap'n Mike returned to Spindrift and reported a +friendly conversation with the houseboaters. They had anchored in +North Cove because someone down the coast had told them fishing was +good around there, which was a true statement. + +The retired skipper had only one additional comment, which Barby +relayed. The folks had been friendly, but he thought they were a +little nervous, and anxious to get rid of him. He had no other +information of value. + +At midafternoon Jerry went on a brief sortie, came back, and reported +business was slow in the barbershop, which was not unusual for a +Tuesday. The barber was reading a magazine. + +Rick and Scotty were restless. The chairs in the newspaper office were +hard, and they had exhausted the reference materials on the bookshelf. + +Duke Barrows looked up from a story he was editing and grinned. +"Espionage isn't as adventurous as some folks would like you to +believe. It's generally nothing but sitting. And waiting. Just as +you're doing now." + +Rick grinned back. Duke was telling him nothing he didn't know. He had +waited like this before. + +Barby called urgently, "Rick! The pram is leaving. One man in it, and +he's just starting the outboard motor!" + +"All right," he said swiftly. "Let us know which way he goes." + +In a moment Barby answered. "He's going to the pier!" + +"Roger. We're moving!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Surveillance--with Cereal + + +The plan of action had been set in advance. Scotty hurried out, while +Rick settled down to wait. Scotty, using Jerry's car, would locate the +houseboater at the pier. Rick would stand by, ready to take over as +necessary. + +A short time later Scotty called on the Megabuck network. "I'm in the +pier parking lot. He's tying the pram up." + +"Can he see you?" + +"Not unless he comes over and inspects the cars." + +"Okay." + +After a few minutes, Scotty reported again. "He's hiking in the +direction of Whiteside. Thumb out. He wants a ride." + +"Don't give him one," Barby interjected urgently. "He might recognize +you." + +"He's hitchhiking," Scotty explained. "He doesn't even know I exist." + +"What are his chances?" Rick asked. + +"Good. There's a fair amount of traffic." + +Rick waited, alert for Scotty's next report. It came almost +immediately. "I'm moving. A truck picked him up. Stand by." + +Then soon afterward, "We're coming into the outskirts of town." + +Rick walked from the newspaper office to the sidewalk and leaned +casually against the building, eyes on the direction from which the +quarry and Scotty would come. He felt just fine. The little network +was taking all the strain out of shadowing. He thought of the many +times when such communications would have come in very handy indeed. + +"Moving down Main Street," Scotty reported. "Watch it!" + +Rick saw a truck come into sight and slow as it neared the barbershop. +A man got out, thanked the driver, then stood looking around. He +spotted the barbershop, but instead of going in, he went to the window +of the Sports Center and stood quietly, ostensibly inspecting +equipment. Rick decided he was just looking the street over before +making contact. + +"I'm on him," he said quietly for Scotty's benefit. "He's casing the +street. He'll probably go into the barbershop any minute now." + +Scotty drove down the main street, and as he passed the barbershop, he +reported, "There's a man in the chair. Maybe our friend is waiting for +him to leave." + +"We'll see." + +Rick's plans had not gone beyond this point. The objective had been to +see whether the houseboaters made contact with the barber. But now he +realized that a simple contact wasn't proof of anything. Who was to +say that the houseboater hadn't really wanted a haircut? + +If only there were some way of overhearing the conversation.... + +Jerry Webster came out and stood beside him. "See your man?" + +Rick gestured. "In front of the Sports Center." + +"What are you going to do now?" + +"I was just wondering the same thing." + +Jerry grinned. "Don't tell me you don't have a complete plan! Why, I +thought by now you'd have the barbershop wired for sound." + +Rick stared at him. Wired! Why not? And it wasn't too late, if Jerry +would help. + +"Will you do something more for me?" + +Jerry looked martyred. "Might as well. I'm in this up to my neck, +anyway." + +Scotty joined them. He had parked the car around the corner. "What's +happening?" + +"Just had a brain storm," Rick told him. He explained rapidly, and the +two started to chuckle. + +"It should work," Scotty agreed. "Go ahead. I'll take over the watch. +Hey! There he goes." + +The houseboater had just walked into the barbershop. + +Rick ran to the next corner and into the grocery store. He hesitated +briefly, then picked out two boxes of cereal, and added a box of +sugar. He had them put into a bag, paid for them, and hurried back. + +Inside the newspaper office, he took out his scout knife and carefully +slit the top of one cereal box. He removed the little radio from his +pocket, unplugged the earphone, and put the radio on top of the +cereal. He borrowed cellophane tape and taped the box shut, then he +put both boxes of cereal back in the bag with the sugar on top. + +He handed the bag to Jerry. "Do your stuff." + +Jerry took it and hurried out the door. Rick and Scotty watched as he +went up the street and turned in at the barbershop. + +Scotty shook his head. "All I can hear in the earphone is a crackling +noise." + +"Probably the paper bag," Rick said. "It would crackle as he walks." + +They waited impatiently. Presently Jerry emerged without the bag and +walked down the street to join them. + +"The man in the chair is about done," he reported. "The one you're +after is reading a magazine. I said I'd be back in a few minutes, left +the bag, and walked out." + +"There's the other customer now," Rick said. A man had just emerged +from the barbershop and was going up the street in the opposite +direction. "Good! They'll talk fast now, because they'll be afraid +you'll come back." + +"I still hear the crackling noise," Scotty objected. "Someone's +talking in the background, but I can't hear it because of the snapping +and popping." + +Rick swallowed hard. Was something wrong? "Let's see." He borrowed +Scotty's earpiece and held it to his own ear. For a second he +listened, horrified. It sounded like the Battle of Bull Run! + +Barby broke in faintly through the noise. "Rick! I've been listening. +What's that noise?" + +He explained quickly. "We planted one unit in a box of cereal and +Jerry put it in the barbershop." + +Barby gasped. "In a box of cereal? What kind?" + +"Crummies. Your favorite." + +"Oh, Rick!" The girl's voice rose to a wail. "Don't you remember the +commercial? Crisp, crackly Crummies! The cereal that sings for your +breakfast!" + +He got it, then. "Okay, Barby." To the others, he said unhappily, +"Well, it was a great idea. Only I forgot one thing. I didn't pick a +quiet breakfast food. That noise is the radio settling through the +Crummies--the loudest cereal on the market." + +The three looked at each other helplessly. There wasn't a thing that +could be done about it. + +"Noisy breakfast food," Scotty said unbelievingly. + +Jerry promised, "I'll never eat it again!" The reporter straightened +his coat and tie and gave his hatbrim a jaunty flick. "Well, here I go +for my haircut. Might as well do something constructive." + +The crackling, popping, snapping continued unabated. "Listen to it," +Rick said hopelessly. + +Three quarters of an hour later, when Jerry brought the bag back, the +Crummies were still crackling happily. Not a word of conversation had +been overheard. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A Matter of Brain Waves + + +Barby, Jan, and Scotty were kind to Rick, which annoyed him +considerably. If they had scolded him for bad judgment, called him a +chucklehead, or even ignored him, it would have been all right. But +they all had to reassure him and tell him it could have happened to +anyone, and so on, and on. All of which made it unbearable. + +He was more sure than ever that the houseboaters and barber were +connected, but he still had no clear evidence. Of course he had made a +report of the day's activities to Steve, who at least hadn't tried to +be nice about it. + +"An agent can't always think of everything," was Steve's comment. "But +he can try. Sometimes, when he fails to take a factor into +consideration, he gets away with it. Sometimes he fails. Sometimes he +ends up dead, because of his poor judgment. Be glad your lives weren't +hanging in the balance." + +Rick took the lesson to heart. He wouldn't make the same mistake +twice. + +On the evening of the cereal fiasco, Parnell Winston returned to +Spindrift after another visit to Dr. Chavez. He called Steve Ames and +spent a long time talking to the JANIG agent. Then he called the +project team and the boys into the library. + +"We're on the track of something," he reported. "At least we think we +are. It's so incredible that I simply can't believe it. If true, it +means some unfriendly nation is so far ahead of us scientifically that +we should all be trembling in our boots." + +Rick had realized that only agents of a hostile country could be +involved in the actions against the project team. Everyone present had +known as much, without a word being spoken. Only another country could +gain from disruption of the project. + +"Chavez and I have run a series of EEG's on Marks. We now have the +records of EEG's on the other two team members, and Steve has managed +to turn up a pre-project EEG on one which gives us a basis of +comparison. Now, to comprehend our tentative hypothesis, you must +understand something of what is known about the brain." + +Rick prepared to listen without much understanding. The field in which +Parnell Winston worked was new and strange to him, and while he +understood some of the basic theories, he got lost when Winston got +highly technical. + +"Our understanding of the human brain is fairly recent," Winston +began, "and we're still only on the threshold of knowledge. In a way, +we've just discovered the tools of research. The principal tool, of +course, is electricity. Through it we can explore the electrochemical +nature of brain processes." + +Rick was with him so far. He concentrated hard, not wanting to miss a +word. + +"There's no point in reviewing the entire history of brain physiology. +You all know of Pavlov's work on conditioned reflexes. And you all +know that Fritsch and Hitzig demonstrated that, when electrically +stimulated, certain portions of the brain show a response. You also +know that Caton discovered many years ago that the brain itself +produces electric currents." + +Rick didn't know, but he intended to find out. There must be some +works on brain physiology in the library. + +"However, the important modern work started with Berger in the late +1920's. He found that the brain emits a definite pulse of activity, +which was then known as the 'Berger rhythm.' + +"Since then, Berger's work has been very much refined. We now know +that the brain actually produces a number of clearly defined +electrical rhythms. These rhythms have been used in medical diagnosis +of brain injury. Walter, in England, has even developed a machine that +will show whether or not people will get along with each other, by +analysis of their wave patterns." + +This was interesting, and Rick intended to find out more about it. But +he began to wish Winston would come to the point. + +"I might add that the rhythmic brain patterns seem to be highly +individual. No two are alike, even in identical twins. However, each +person shows a pattern that remains fairly constant, even over a +period of years. + +"With this background, you will understand when I report that the +EEG's taken of our colleagues brains are completely abnormal. The +EEG's were taken while they were awake. Yet, the most prominent +pattern is the delta rhythm that is universally associated with sleep +and some types of damage to the brain." + +"Are there any other signs of physical damage?" Hartson Brant asked. + +"No. All tests are negative. Spinal taps show no concussion, and there +is no evidence of trauma of any kind other than psychic. Yet, the +delta rhythms persist. In the one case where we have an EEG taken +before the--incidents, let's call them--the pattern is entirely +different. The scientist had a pattern of a well-known type which +bears no resemblance to the EEG taken after the incident." + +Dr. Morrison leaned forward. "What is your conclusion?" + +"That our mysterious enemy has somehow caused damage of an unknown +kind, by remote means. And that can mean only one thing: The damage +was caused electronically, probably by transmission through the air." + +"Incredible," Weiss muttered, and the sentiment was reflected in the +astonished gasps of the others. + +"Let's consider the implications of Parnell's statement," Hartson +Brant said slowly. "If he is correct, then the enemy has devised a +means for causing brain disruption in an individual. A transmitted +signal would inevitably strike countless others; there can be no such +thing as a beam of radiation that strikes one person at a distance +while missing all others. Therefore, this beam must affect only one +person among many." + +"But how can a beam be tuned to one person?" Rick asked. + +"I don't know, Rick." Hartson Brant turned to Winston. "Do you?" + +"No. I have only a hypothesis, and one so far afield from what we know +of the brain today that I even hesitate to suggest it. Let me ask a +question. If the enemy could have access to the brain pattern of an +individual--and remember such patterns are no more similar than +fingerprints--could the enemy then transmit a signal that would affect +only that pattern?" + +Julius Weiss objected. "The supposition is based on scientific +knowledge that does not exist." + +"So far as we know," Dr. Morrison added. + +Parnell Winston held up his hands. "I'm as aware as any of you that +the hypothesis assumes a knowledge of the brain that is incredibly +far advanced. But let us consider the evidence. The three scientists +who have fallen victim show the same signs of brain damage. +Investigation indicates that they were different types who probably +had dissimilar patterns. We also have the special case of Dr. Marks, +who was drugged while on the train. The person who drugged him dropped +soluble salt paste on the rug of his room. Can we accept the fact that +the salt paste was used for EEG electrodes, and a recording made while +Marks was under the influence of the drug? We can't prove it, but what +other explanation can there be?" + +Dr. Morrison shook his head. "Suppose we accept that theory. How does +that account for the other two? They were under guard, and there is no +evidence that they ever were drugged. If we accept your hypothesis, we +must also accept the theory that the other two men somehow were given +an EEG examination and their patterns recorded." + +An idea was growing in Rick's mind. Suddenly he blurted, "That's where +the barber comes in!" + +"The barber's machine was examined by Steve's men and found harmless," +Hartson Brant pointed out. + +Scotty spoke up quickly. "Yes, but when Duke looked at it this +morning, he found electrical connections! Why couldn't an EEG be taken +with such a gadget?" + +Parnell Winston considered. "It could," he said finally. "I would +need to examine the machine, but in theory any gadget that fits over +the head could be adapted for proper placement of electrodes. The +recorder would be difficult to hide, however, unless it was in another +room." + +Rick sank back and looked at Scotty. No wonder the barber had wanted +to give a treatment to Hartson Brant. The elevator operator's wink had +told him that the scientist had been on the fourth floor, where the +project team was located. + +"Didn't you ever have your hair cut in the arcade shop, Dr. Morrison?" +Rick asked. + +"No, Rick. I used a barber in a hotel nearby, one I've patronized for +years." + +"But the other two did use the shop in the building," Scotty finished, +"and Dr. Marks had no need for a barber, so they had to get at him +some other way!" + +"It seems reasonable," Hartson Brant admitted. "The pieces fall into +place nicely. But we must first accept Parnell's theory that some kind +of pattern can be transmitted that will interfere with normal brain +activity. If we believe it, we must also believe that the enemy is so +far ahead of us in brain physiology that we are hopelessly +outdistanced. I can't believe so much progress could have taken place +without some word of it leaking out." + +Parnell Winston shrugged. "It seems incredible, Hartson. But we +haven't another theory, much less a better one." + +"We had better make sure no one takes EEG's of the rest of us, in any +case," Weiss suggested dryly. + +Rick added, "And don't get any haircuts until this is all straightened +out!" + +When the meeting broke up, Rick and Scotty walked to the front porch +where the girls were listening to the music of a Newark disk jockey on +Barby's portable radio. + +"Lot of puzzled people in this neighborhood," Rick said. "Including +me." + +"And me," Scotty agreed. "And I'll bet I know the most curious one of +all." + +"Who?" + +"Cap'n Mike." + +Rick grinned. At least the rest of them had some information. Even +Duke and Jerry had enough to know that national security was somehow +involved. But the captain, who had the liveliest curiosity of all, +knew the least. + +As Rick dropped him off in front of the old windmill, Cap'n Mike had +grunted, "When you can trust me a little more, you might tell me what +this was all about." + +Actually, Cap'n Mike's visit to the houseboat hadn't been particularly +productive. He had little to add to the Coast Guard inspector's +description, aside from his feeling that the houseboaters had wanted +to get rid of him. + +Scotty asked, "Why would anyone want to disrupt the brains of the +project team? Seems to me that's doing it the hard way. Assassination +would be a lot easier." + +Rick shook his head. He had wondered about the same thing. + +Barby and Jan motioned for silence. They were listening to a vocalist +who happened to be Barby's favorite of the moment. + +The boys stood silent for a few minutes; then, by unspoken agreement, +turned and went back into the house. + +Hartson Brant came down the stairs, dressed in a suit, with white +shirt and tie. Rick stared at him. "Going somewhere, Dad?" + +"Yes. Parnell Winston has disturbed me deeply, with the implications of +his theory. I'm going to pay a call on an old friend in Newark, an +associate of Chavez. I want to explore some of the electrophysiological +background of his hypothesis. I won't be very late. Is there any gas in +the car?" + +"Almost full," Scotty said. + +The boys went on upstairs into their adjoining rooms. For a few +minutes Rick tinkered with his camera equipment, then he went back +down to the library and searched the shelves for something to read. He +finally settled on W. Grey Walter's _The Living Brain_ and carried it +back up to his room. + +He sat down in the old leather armchair and manipulated buttons on one +arm. The light brightened to reading intensity, and the back tilted to +the most comfortable position. He had wired the chair himself, and it +fit him perfectly. He settled down to read. + +Time passed as he lost himself in the clear, exciting descriptions in +Dr. Walter's book. He heard a bell ring downstairs, but paid no +attention. Then Scotty stuck his head in the door. "Rick! Your +mother's calling you." + +Rick sat up swiftly. It was true, and his mother had urgency in her +voice. + +He dropped the book and ran to the stairs, going down them three at a +time. A strange, dark-haired man was standing in the hallway, and his +mother, Barby, and Jan were waiting for him with strained white faces. + +"Your father has been hurt," Mrs. Brant said with false calm. "He's on +this gentleman's houseboat!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Vanishing Mermaids + + +Parnell Winston worked as Hartson Brant described his experience. + +"There really isn't much to it," Mr. Brant said. "I started out for +Whiteside in the fast boat." + +Winston focused a flashlight into one eye, then the other. + +"I was on the north side of North Cove when the boat smashed into +something. I was thrown violently into the water." + +Winston tested the scientist's reflexes, using a finger instead of the +traditional rubber hammer. + +"Apparently I was badly shaken up, because my memory becomes unclear +at this point. I do recall being fished out of the water, and when I +came to enough to recognize my surroundings, I was in a strange room. +It turned out to be the cabin of the houseboat." + +"Do you remember any strange sensations, or smells?" Winston asked. + +Rick listened, his heart pounding. + +"None. The people on the houseboat were most considerate. One of the +men insisted that I get into some of his spare clothes, and I did so. +One of the women--the wife of the man who came here, I believe--made +me a cup of hot consomme. They told me I was apparently whole, no +broken bones." + +"They were very pleasant and helpful," Rick admitted. + +The houseboaters had done just the right things, including coming to +Spindrift for help rather than bringing the scientist home in the +slow-moving and rather uncomfortable pram. Instead, Hartson Brant had +waited on the houseboat while one of the men brought the pram to the +island with a request that someone follow him back in a more +comfortable boat. + +Rick and Scotty had done so, and were almost limp with relief at +finding the scientist apparently unhurt and comfortable. + +"How does your head feel?" Parnell Winston demanded. + +"Rather stuffy," the scientist admitted. "I'm finding it difficult to +collect my thoughts. Parnell, why all these questions?" + +The cyberneticist rubbed his bushy eyebrows with both hands, a habit +he had when agitated. "Hartson, as you know, I am not a doctor of +medicine. However, I do claim competence as a physiologist, and +consequently bodily reactions are familiar to me. I believe you have +been drugged." + +"Drugged?" Rick's heart stopped momentarily. + +"Yes. I've looked for the mark of a hypodermic needle, but there is +none. If I'm correct, the drug was a light one, possibly amytal. Your +reflexes are slower than normal, even taking the accident and +subsequent shock into account, and your pupils react slowly." + +Rick came to a sudden decision. He went to the desk and picked up the +phone. + +"What are you doing?" Hartson Brant demanded. + +"I'm calling Steve Ames. We need help." + +In a few minutes Rick had the agent on the wire and was giving him the +details of the accident over the scrambler system. He concluded, "If +Dad was drugged by the houseboaters, as Dr. Winston thinks, that means +the enemy has his brain pattern!" + +Steve Ames asked, "Is Winston there?" + +"Yes." + +"Ask him a question for me. Would the brain waves be considered +quasi-optical?" + +Steve meant would the waves be of such high frequency that they would +act like light. Rick put the question to Winston. + +"Tell Steve the answer is a qualified yes." + +Rick repeated the information. + +"All right. Then we must assume that the brain scrambler--or whatever +you call it--can operate only from short distances, approximately to +the horizon. Tell your father he is to get out of town. Have him pack +a bag, then deliver him to the New York JANIG office. We'll take it +from there. Got it?" + +Rick had it. "How do I make sure we're not followed?" + +Steve paused. "That's a tough one. Air travel would be surest. Do you +have any landing lights on Spindrift?" + +"No. Besides, it's a short runway, and only a pilot who knew the +island could possibly land at night." + +"I've got a pilot who knows it, so forget going to New York. Rig +lights of some kind. You can put lights on the roof of the lab +building, I'm sure. Then put a pair of lights at each side of the +runway's end, so he'll know how far he can go. If you have nothing +else, soak newspapers in gasoline. He'll buzz the island. That will be +your signal to light up." + +"Is Mike Malone the pilot?" Malone had landed there before. + +"Yes. He'll take over. Just deliver your father intact." + +"If we can," Rick said slowly. "Steve, suppose the enemy activates +their machine when they hear the plane? Suppose they suspect he's +getting away and turn on the mind reader?" + +"We'll have to chance it. Best thing is to move fast. Get your father +in with Mike, and let them clear out. I'll tell Mike to put distance +between him and you as fast as he can." + +"All right, Steve." There seemed to be no other way. + +Rick turned to his father and Winston, and repeated the conversation. + +"He's right, Hartson," Winston said. "You're in good enough shape to +travel. Better get packed." The cyberneticist looked at Rick. "What +did you call the enemy gadget? A mind reader? That's an odd name." + +"I didn't think about it," Rick told him. "The name just popped into +my mind. But doesn't the enemy machine read the patterns in peoples' +minds, then erase them?" + +"As good a name as any, I guess," Winston agreed. "Well, let's tell +the others. Then you have work to do getting ready for the plane, +Rick." + +Mrs. Brant, after making sure that her husband was no more than +slightly dazed, had been forced to turn her attention to Barby and +Jan. The two girls were on the verge of sheer hysteria with fear for +their fathers. Scotty had joined Mrs. Brant, in an effort to soothe +the girls' frayed nerves. Now, as Rick opened the library door, he +could see that the two pretty young faces were tear-streaked, but as +calm as could be expected under the circumstances. Scotty looked worn +out. Rick could only marvel at his mother. She could always be relied +upon in a crisis. + +Mrs. Brant listened to her son's report, then nodded firmly. "Steve +is wise to insist, Rick. I'll help your father pack." + +Rick beckoned to Scotty. "We have work to do. Let's start with the +lab." + +On the way, he filled Scotty in on the details of what had happened in +the library. Then he asked, "How did you get the girls calmed down?" + +Scotty shook his head wearily. "It wasn't fun. The poor kids are +scared stiff. Remember they haven't been exposed to stuff as we have. +To them, our stories are just exciting fun, because we leave out the +rough parts. Now they're getting a taste of this business the way it +really is." + +"Did you say that?" + +"That, and a thousand other things. Nothing did much good, and Mom +couldn't make any headway, either. Another ten minutes of tears and +the island would have been under water, honest. Finally I got rough. I +told them we were all in this, and they were only creating a nuisance +that complicated things and didn't help at all. Then Mom chimed in. +You know how she does. Never raises her voice. She said real courage +consisted of being terribly frightened, but trying to remain calm in +spite of it. Then she said she was rapidly becoming ashamed of both of +them. That did it. They stuck their chins in the air, wiped off the +tears, and actually managed a smile." + +"Good for them!" Rick exclaimed. + +Inside the laboratory they went at once to the stockroom. Floodlights +were stored there, among other items. Extension cords were plentiful, +and there were electric outlets on the roof. In a few moments the boys +had strung the lights and Rick had readjusted the board downstairs, so +that all the lights were on a single circuit. That way, they could all +be switched on or off at once. + +Joe Blake came to watch. Rick explained what he was doing, and told +Joe of Steve's conversation. + +"I know," Joe said. "Steve called me on the radio. He didn't want us +shooting Mike down for trying to land without warning. But how come +you can cut circuits in and out like this?" + +"We never know when an experiment will call for electric power in some +unexpected place," Rick explained. "The main board is set up so we can +do just about anything we need to. We can feed normal current in, or +440 volts, and we can cross-link the circuits any way we like." + +Scotty checked Rick's work, then took the switch handle. He touched +the contacts briefly, and there was a quick pulse of light as the roof +lighted up and went dark again. + +"I'll stand by here," Scotty said. "You stand by at the end of the +runway. Are we going to use gasoline?" + +"We'll have to. It would take a while to run power from the house and +hook up lighting units. Gasoline will be quicker and easier. Let's +go." + +There was a supply of gasoline for the boats. Rick got a five-gallon +can while Scotty collected newspapers. Two trash cans served as +containers. The cans were filled with newspapers, then drenched in +gasoline and placed at the last possible point of runway that could be +used. If Mike overshot the containers he would land in the sea. + +Rick worried about the problem of lighting the containers without +getting burned, then went to the workshop and selected rags. He +twisted the rags loosely and tied them together, poured gasoline into +a bucket and soaked his rag fuse. The last step was to insert one end +of the fuse in each can. When the time came, he would be between the +cans, and he would light the center of the rag string. The fire would +travel rapidly, because of the gasoline. + +In case Mike was delayed for any great period, Rick kept the gasoline +handy. He might have to wet down the cans and fuse again. He had +forgotten to ask where Mike would come from, and Steve hadn't +volunteered. Probably he would come from Washington, which meant about +an hour's flying time in the plane Mike would use, a fast little +four-place job that Rick had long coveted. But Mike wouldn't be ready +for take-off instantly. Time had to be allowed for Steve to give him +instructions, to get from wherever he was to the airport, and then get +the plane gassed and ready. Allow another hour. That meant two hours +in all. + +Inside, Rick was still scared. How did they know the electronic mind +reader wouldn't be activated at any moment? He hurried into the house +and went upstairs to where his father was packing. He couldn't do +anything, and he knew it. But it helped, just being near the +scientist. Apparently Scotty felt the same. He had joined Hartson +Brant, too. But Barby, Jan, and Mrs. Brant had preceded him. + +The scientist smiled. "Never had so much help packing before." + +The smile was strained, and Rick thought he knew why. He had seen his +father face great physical danger without losing a bit of his +composure. But the insidious weapon that could read all reason out of +minds was far more horrible to a man like Hartson Brant than any +physical danger could be. Bullets, knives, and clubs may leave bad +wounds, or they may kill. But what chance is there for anyone with a +damaged brain? + +Scotty looked at his watch and held it up for Rick to see. Nearly an +hour and three-quarters had passed since the call to Steve. Rick +gestured to Scotty and urged, "Hurry, Dad." + +"I'm ready." The scientist closed his bag. Barby got to it first and +lugged it down the stairs, refusing Scotty's offer of help. + +The boys went to their stations while the others waited on the porch. +Rick checked to be sure he had matches, then worried because a wind +had sprung up. Suppose it blew his match out? He was about to go +borrow his father's lighter when he heard the far-off drone of a +plane. There wasn't time now! He held the matches in his hand, ready. + +The drone grew nearer, rising to a high whine. The plane was diving! +Suddenly it was overhead and gone with a crash of sound. Rick saw its +lights head out to sea. Mike was making a tight turn to come in for a +landing. + +Rick's lips formed the words. "Now, Scotty! Now!" + +And, as though he had heard, Scotty threw the switch. Lights flared on +the lab roof, outlining it clearly. Rick struck a match and held it to +the saturated cord of rags. Flaming gasoline ran along the cord in +both directions, ran up the sides of the cans. There was a loud whoosh +of exploding gasoline, and both cans were ablaze. Rick ran away from +the heat. + +Mike came in low and fast over the lab roof and slapped the plane down +on the turf. In a moment he applied the brakes and the wheels whined +their protest as they dug up grass. Then the plane was rolling to a +stop directly in front of the house. + +The pilot jumped out and called, "Hello, gang! Come on, sir. No time +to waste!" + +Hartson Brant kissed Mrs. Brant and the girls, found time to pat +Rick's shoulder, and climbed in. Rick took the suitcase from Barby and +handed it to the scientist. The door closed and the plane was +whirling, catching them in its prop blast. Mike taxied back fast to +the laboratory, turned the plane and revved up, holding on the brakes. +Rick saw Scotty emerge from the lab building and go right back in +again as the prop wash caught him. Then the plane was rolling ... and +lifting. Mike skimmed low over the burning trash cans, banked out to +sea, and was gone. + +Rick felt a sob rising in his throat and resolutely squelched it. He +walked to the burning cans and dropped covers on them. Scotty cut the +lights on the lab building. + +Had they made it? They wouldn't know. Not until Steve reported that +the scientist was safe. + +On the porch, Barby asked, "How soon will we know?" + +Rick was proud of her. Her voice had trembled only slightly. "Probably +not until tomorrow, Sis. Come on. Let's all hike off to bed. It's been +a rough evening." + +"All right. Rick, we still don't know for sure, do we? About the +people in the houseboat?" + +"Not for sure. But we have a pretty good idea. How else would Dad get +drugged?" + +"Mightn't they have given him a sedative?" Jan asked. "That would have +the same effect." + +Rick hadn't thought of that. He admitted it was possible. + +"I wish the radio trick had worked," Barby said sadly. "I wish we had +some way of getting a radio on the houseboat. Then we could listen in +on everything they said." + +"No way of doing it," Rick said. He was very tired. "Forget it for +now and let's all turn in. We can talk some more in the morning." + + * * * * * + +Steve Ames phoned at five o'clock in the morning. Rick had been +sleeping lightly, his rest broken by nightmares that he couldn't +remember when he awoke. He got to the phone in the hall. "Just a +minute," he said. "Let me get downstairs to the switch." + +The entire family was close on his heels as he went into the library. +He threw the scrambler switch, then asked anxiously, "Yes, Steve?" + +"Just had word, Rick, so I called in spite of the hour. Your father is +safe inside the compound at Los Alamos. He's all right. And just as a +precaution, he'll spend most of his time in a shielded area where no +radio signal can penetrate. Now go on back to bed and get some sleep." + +Rick thanked him gratefully. Los Alamos! That was one of the two main +atomic energy weapons laboratories. No place in the United States was +more closely guarded. Now he could be sure his father was safe as +anyone could be. + +He repeated the conversation to his anxious family. "Now," he said, +echoing Steve's advice, "let's get back to bed. Perhaps we can really +sleep for a change." + +He did sleep. It was nearly noon before he awoke. He got up sleepily +and found Scotty had just barely preceded him and was now taking a +shower. + +Downstairs, things were apparently normal. Mrs. Brant and Mrs. +Morrison were at work on lunch, but since an hour was too long to +wait, Rick had a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk. He was careful +not to choose Crummies. Scotty settled for three doughnuts and milk. + +"Where are the girls?" Rick asked. "Still asleep?" + +"They've gone swimming," Mrs. Morrison replied. "They should be back +soon, though. They've been gone over an hour." + +"I could use a swim myself," Rick admitted. + +"Not me," Scotty said. "Wait until afternoon and I'll join you. That +cold water would shock me into a state of galloping goose pimples the +way I feel now." + +Rick had forgotten how cold the water was. "Okay. We'll wait. Let's go +over to the lab and take down the lights. I want to clean up the trash +cans, too." + +They walked leisurely over to the laboratory and stopped for a moment +to chat with Joe Blake. Then, before starting on the lights, they +walked around behind the lab building. + +The laboratories were built on a promontory that sloped inland toward +Pirate's Field, which was just above sea level. The raised area ran +around the seaward side of the island, so that the Brant house was on +high land, too. On the north side, the land sloped down toward the +boat landing. + +Rick stood on the edge of the low cliff and looked for Barby and Jan. +They weren't in sight. + +"They must be using lungs," Scotty said. "Watch for bubbles." + +No bubbles were visible, either. Rick checked carefully and began to +worry. It was a calm day with little wave action, and the bubbles from +the lungs should have been clearly visible. Surely they wouldn't swim +so far the bubbles couldn't be seen on a day like this. + +"Let's check," Rick said. + +The boys hurried to the room where the Scuba equipment was kept. Two +lungs and the blue and white equipment were gone. So was the cart. A +quick look at Pirate's Cove showed no cart in sight. + +Where could they have gone? The boys hurried to the front of the lab +building again and found Joe Blake still getting a bit of sunshine. + +"Did you see the girls?" Rick asked hurriedly. + +Joe nodded. He motioned across the island. "They came and got +aqualungs and hauled the cart across to the north side. They're +probably swimming over there." + +Rick doubted it. He doubted it very much. The currents on the north +side kept the bottom stirred up and visibility was too poor for +diving. + +Without the need of exchanging a word, Rick and Scotty were suddenly +running. As they passed the house Rick had a sudden thought. He went +in and ran up the stairs to his room, grabbed his radio unit and +turned it on. + +"Barby!" he called frantically. "Barby!" + +There was no answer. Tucking the unit into his pocket, he ran out and +joined Scotty again. If Barby had her set she wasn't using it. + +"Come on." He led the way to the boat cove and stopped short. The +speedboat was there, and so was the Scuba cart, but the rowboat +wasn't. Anxiously he scanned the water. There was no sign of the +girls. + +Where were they? Where? The thought struck him. He remembered Barby's +comment of the night before. + +_Had they gone to the houseboat?_ + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Pointer to Disaster + + +Scotty ran to the speedboat and yelled, "Come on!" + +"Wait!" Rick called. "Let's not go barging off without knowing what +we're doing." + +Scotty turned, puzzled. "What do you mean?" + +"The girls have some kind of plan, and we don't know what it is. If we +go barging around in the speedboat, we might throw a monkey wrench +into the works." + +"But we can't just stand here and do nothing," Scotty said +desperately. + +"We won't. Go get the plane warmed up and wait for me." + +Rick hurried into the house and ran up the stairs to Barby's room. +Working fast, he went through the dresser, then through the shelves in +her closet. Not finding what he wanted, he paused to look around in +case he might have overlooked a possibility. + +He didn't know where girls kept things, and he suspected that +sometimes the places weren't the same as boys might pick. But he could +see no possible place that he hadn't searched. + +That meant Barby had her Megabuck unit with her, unless she had left +it somewhere else in the house. + +He plugged in his earphone and called. "Barby!" + +There was no reply. His lips set grimly. No use wasting time here. He +ran from the house, hearing the sound of the Sky Wagon as Scotty +warmed it up. Joe Blake was not in sight. Rick hurried into the lab +and found him watching Professor Morrison who was checking some +calculations on the lab's small computing machine. + +"Joe, step outside with me for a moment, please." + +Outside, Rick explained that the girls were missing, then asked, "Can +you get the plane frequency on your receiver?" + +"Sure. It's an all-wave job. What's the frequency you use?" + +Rick told him, then explained, "We don't know what's going on, so we +want to be prepared. If some of your Scout leaders can move down the +coast to North Cove and keep an eye on the houseboat, Scotty and I +will search from the air. If we see anything, we'll let you know on +the plane's radio. You won't be able to talk back, but at least you +can hear us, and you can let the Scouts know." + +He wished his mind had worked faster. Then he could have taken +Scotty's Megabuck unit and given it to Joe. But there was no time +now, and this other arrangement probably would do as well. + +"I'll pass the word to the gang on the mainland right away," Joe +agreed. + +Joe went back into the lab while Rick ran to Pirate's Beach. Scotty +was waiting, the plane's engine turning over. Together, they launched +the Sky Wagon, then climbed in, Scotty in the pilot's seat. + +As Scotty took off, Rick tried Barby again on the radio. "Barby, this +is Rick. Can you read me?" + +There was no reply. + +"Better fly as though we were heading for Whiteside," Rick suggested. +He rubbed his palms on his handkerchief. They were damp with nervous +perspiration. He was not as calm as he looked. + +Scotty swung around on course and Rick scanned the water as they +passed over the north side of Spindrift. There was no sign of the +rowboat yet. + +The plane traveled in a straight line right across North Cove. The +houseboat was at anchor a few hundred yards offshore, and the pram was +tied up to the rear rail. There was no sign of life. + +The boys reached the Whiteside pier without seeing the girls or the +boat. Scotty put the plane into a tight circle and looked at Rick +helplessly. "Now what?" + +"They can't have gone far," Rick mused. "Not in the rowboat." + +"They had the aqualungs," Scotty pointed out. "They must have expected +to use them." + +"Right. But how? If they planned to get aboard the houseboat, they +wouldn't be using the aqualungs. Or would they?" + +"Search me." + +"Wouldn't they just row up to the houseboat on some excuse or other? I +wish I'd looked. Barby might have taken those clothes Dad wore home +last night." + +"We can't just float around and talk," Scotty said urgently. "Let's do +something." + +Rick felt the same way. "Okay. Throttle down and go slow. We'll scan +the whole coastline from here to Spindrift." + +Scotty did so, holding the little plane barely above stalling speed. +Rick leaned out and traced the shore with anxious eyes. + +The plane turned and twisted as Scotty followed the coastline as +accurately as he could. They reached the upper tip of North Cove and +swung into the cove itself. + +Scotty tapped Rick on the shoulder and pointed. A man and a woman had +come out of the houseboat and were watching the plane. + +"Wonder where the other pair is?" Rick asked. There was nothing they +could do about the people on the houseboat now. Let them wonder what +the plane was doing. Rick turned his attention back to the shore +below. + +The plane traveled the length of the cove's shoreline and rounded the +southern tip. They passed over a section where the woods came right +down to the water. Birches leaned far over. Rick caught a glimpse of +what might have been the rowboat, then the plane swung and he lost it. + +"Circle," he said quickly. "I think I saw something!" + +Scotty gunned the Sky Wagon and threw it into a tight turn. Rick +watched carefully as the clump of birches came into view. There was a +boat under them, all right. He wished for the binoculars, but they +were probably at the attic lookout where Barby and Jan had spied on +the houseboat. + +He had no real doubt. He was sure the boat was the Spindrift rowboat. + +"Circle over the island," he called to Scotty, then reached over and +took the hand microphone from the instrument panel rack. He turned on +the radio and waited a moment while it warmed. + +"Joe, this is Rick," he said. "Rowboat under a clump of birches just +south of North Cove. Have the boys go there and look it over. See if +the girls are in the woods. We'll watch for sign of the girls on the +water." + +To Scotty, he directed, "Over the cove. Circle the whole area. We'll +watch for their bubbles. Joe's men will check the woods." + +The plane turned obediently. Presently they were moving in a wide +circle with the houseboat as a center. A slight surface wind had +arisen and the water in the cove was a bit choppy, but not enough to +obscure bubble tracks made by Scuba divers below. + +"See anything?" Rick asked. + +"Not a trace. Can you see the water around the houseboat well enough?" + +"Yes. No bubbles in the vicinity." Rick dried his palms again, then +mopped his forehead. He was becoming thoroughly frightened. Where were +they? + +He checked his Megabuck radio to be sure it was on and called, "Barby. +Where are you?" + +The air was silent, except for the slight background hiss that was +always present. + +"Look right under the houseboat's gunwales," Scotty urged. "If they're +directly under it, the bubbles would rise along the sides." + +"Why would they go under the houseboat?" Rick asked. + +Scotty shook his head. "Why did they come over here in the first +place?" + +Rick had no answer. "Let's go over to the shore. Joe's men ought to be +at the rowboat by now. Maybe they found the girls." + +Scotty banked around and headed over the clump of birches. In a small +clearing behind the clump they saw two men in Scout uniforms. The men +looked up, and one spread his hands wide in a gesture that said +nothing of importance had been turned up. + +"There's only one thing to do," Rick said decisively. "We've got to +check on the..." + +He stopped as though a hand had clutched his throat. Barby's voice, in +his earphones! + +Rick pulled the unit from his pocket and turned up the volume. He +couldn't hear her well. + +"It's Barby," he said swiftly. "Circle!" + +Rick strained to hear. She was talking to someone. "... It won't do +the slightest bit of good to keep us here, because my brother will +know where we are." + +The signal faded as she talked. Rick turned the little radio unit, +trying to keep the volume constant. + +"You'd better let us go," Barby was saying. "You'll get into a lot of +trouble if you don't." + +Rick groaned. Her threats would do about as much good as a bunny +threatening a wolf pack. Where was she? On the houseboat? + +Suddenly he realized ... he had the key in his hands! + +Barby's voice was high-pitched and frightened now. "What are you +doing? Why are you putting that plastic cap on Jan?" + +Rick turned the radio unit as the plane circled. The sweat stood out +on his face. Unerringly, the axis of the built-in antenna pointed to +the houseboat. + +There was no longer any doubt! + +"Land!" he yelled. "Land next to the houseboat!" + +Scotty slammed the throttle in instant response, and as the Sky Wagon +dived toward the water he cast a quick look at Rick. "What did you +hear?" + +Rick was already slipping off his shoes, getting ready to jump. "On +the houseboat!" he choked. "They're using the mind reader on the +girls!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The One-Man Boarding Party + + +Scotty hit the water and bounced once, but he held the plane down and +in a moment the water slowed it. He revved up again and taxied as +rapidly as he dared to the houseboat, swung broadside to it, and +throttled back. + +Rick was waiting. He flung the door open and dove far enough to clear +the pontoon. The cold water closed over him briefly, then with a +powerful kick he flashed to the surface again. A few strokes brought +him to the houseboat. + +The two men were leaning on the rail. One, a hefty man of middle age +with a striped shirt and glasses, said politely, "Do you want +something?" + +Rick stopped and tread water. "I want the two girls you have inside. +Have them come out here, and we won't bother you any more." + +The second man, the dark-haired one who had come to Spindrift, +smiled. "You mean our wives? They're having a nap. Sorry." + +"I mean my sister and her friend. Stop stalling, Mister." + +Striped shirt shook his head. "Sorry, boy. We haven't seen your +sister. Now climb back on your little airplane and get out of here." + +Rick's reply was a stroke that brought him to the houseboat. He +reached up for a handhold, when a boat hook suddenly touched his +forehead. + +"Don't try it," striped shirt said. "Stay off this barge or I'll bend +this pole over your head. Now get out of here." + +Rick back-pedaled helplessly. Now what? He knew there was no +possibility of his climbing aboard while the men were on deck. + +And what was happening inside? He swam forward, to the front of the +boat, and the men followed. They could move faster than he; there was +no possibility of outdistancing them. + +If only he had a weapon! But wishing was useless. He had to do +something! He called, "Barby! Can you hear me?" + +There was no answer from inside. His pulse speeded. Were Barby and Jan +all right, perhaps gagged, or had the mind reader already worked? + +Rick swam away from the houseboat a few feet and floated, his mind +racing. There had to be a way of getting aboard. There had to! + +Where was Scotty? He listened, and heard the plane's engine on the +other side of the houseboat. In a few seconds Scotty came into view. +He was on the water close to shore, traveling at high speed. As Rick +watched, Scotty swung the plane on a line with the houseboat and +opened the throttle wide. + +Rick stared. Was his pal out of his mind? If he crashed the houseboat, +the girls would be hurt, too! Then he realized Scotty would never pull +such a stunt, no matter how desperate he became. + +The men on the houseboat were at the rail now, eyes on the racing +plane. In that instant Rick divined Scotty's plan, he hoped, and +turned to gauge his distance. The plane was on the upper step now, +almost air-borne. Even as he watched, the pontoons pulled away. But +Scotty held the plane on the water, roaring propeller pointed right at +the men at the rail. + +Rick put his head down and sprinted for the front of the houseboat. He +had to time it perfectly! + +To the horrified eyes of the men at the rail a collision was +inevitable. They could only assume that the madman in the plane was +going to smash right into them. And as Scotty had planned, they lost +all interest in Rick, in the presence of immediate, personal danger. + +The men threw themselves to the deck, clawing frantically for some +kind of cover. At the last instant, Scotty pulled the plane up in a +power climb. So near disaster had he come that the suction of the +passing pontoons lifted a coiled rope into the air on top of the +cabin. Even as he mounted the rail and stood on deck, Rick gave a +prayer of thanks for his pal's perfect judgment and lightning +reflexes. + +[Illustration: "_Stay away or I'll bend this pole over your head!_"] + +He ran along the deck, jumped over the two prostrate men, swung around +and launched himself into the cabin. He stopped, eyes wide with +fright. + +Barby was lashed to a chair just inside the door, a gag in her mouth. +Jan was on the other side of the cabin, also lashed. But Jan had a +plastic cap on her head, and wires ran from it to a machine on a +nearby table. Two women were standing over the girl, and one had a +pistol in her hand. + +Rick started forward, then stopped helplessly. The pistol wasn't +pointed at him. It was pointed at Jan's head! + +He looked into Jan's pleading eyes and shifted his weight uncertainly. +He didn't know what to do now. + +Jan did. Her arms were lashed tight, but her legs were free. She +lifted one of them in a kick that caught the pistol-holding woman +behind the knees. The pistol hand lifted as the woman flailed for +balance, and Rick sprang like a charging fullback. His widespread arms +embraced both women and slammed them back into the cabin wall. Then he +scrambled to his feet in search of the gun. It was under Jan's chair. +He bent to pick it up when Barby gave a muffled cry from behind the +gag. Rick whirled. + +The two men were rushing him from the cabin entrance. + +There wasn't much room in the cabin, but it gave Rick an advantage. He +dove toward the men, who stopped their rush briefly. But Rick hadn't +made the dive with the intention of meeting them head on. There was a +table along the wall next to the corner where Barby was tied up. Rick +went under it. + +The men rushed for the table. Rick reached out and grabbed an ankle. +Bracing his legs, he gave a mighty heave. Striped shirt went over +backward in front of Barby, who stamped with both bare feet on his +stomach. The breath went out of him with a whoosh. + +Rick gathered his legs and shoved upward. The table heaved into the +other man and threw him off balance long enough to give Rick a chance +to get to his feet. Keeping the table between him and the dark man, +Rick watched for an opening. Striped shirt was on his knees, shaking +his head. + +The dark man was tired of waiting. He launched himself across the +table, arms outstretched. It was the best move he could have made, +from Rick's point of view. The boy knew he could not compete with +either man in strength. He had to depend on speed, and the infighting +tricks he had learned from Scotty. He used one now. At the last moment +he side-stepped and his hand flashed down. It was a judo chop, the +hand held stiff, the blow delivered with the side opposite the thumb. +It was effective. The man dropped to the floor, shaking his head. Rick +used the _savate_, the blow delivered with the heel. It landed +against the side of the man's neck. He went over sideways. + +Striped shirt was on his feet now, but still starved for air. His +mouth hung open as he gasped, but he was coming forward. + +Rick met him. He dove into the man's stomach and felt his head smack +into soft flesh. The breath went out of striped shirt again. Rick +regained his feet and turned to Barby. She was making sounds through +her gag, her eyes desperate. + +The boy whirled. The women were back in the fight, one of them +scrambling for the gun under Jan's chair. Jan kicked it far back, out +of reach. Rick scooped up the table and slid it along the floor at +them. The table caught them like a pair of tenpins and knocked them +into the corner. He turned back to Barby and started to untie her, his +fingers racing. + +A blow landed on his shoulder. He turned in time to meet another one +across the cheek that knocked him back against the wall. He rebounded, +fighting. The dark man was crouched low, fists weaving. Rick danced +lightly around him waiting. Let the man come to him. + +The man led with a right. Rick rolled away from it, watching the left +that was cocked for a Sunday punch. The man threw his punch. Rick +caught it on the forearm and gasped with the pain of it. The guy had a +wallop like a mule! + +Rick feinted with the hurt arm, then drove a chop at the man's nose. +It connected and brought a gasp of pain. Barby was screaming through +the gag again, but he couldn't look now. He brought a roundhouse punch +up under his opponent's guard and felt it smack solidly against ribs. +Then an arm encircled his neck and a clenched fist crashed against the +back of his head. He saw stars, and for a moment his guard dropped. +Then both arms were pinioned. + +Striped shirt had caught him from behind. Now the dark man stepped in, +fist cocked for a knockout punch. Rick saw it coming and braced +himself. + +The punch never landed. A crisp voice said, "Don't do it!" + +Encircling arms fell away. Rick turned, knees weak. + +A man in Boy Scout uniform stood in the cabin door, and in his hand +was a Police Positive. + +"All right," the Scout said cheerfully. "Party's over." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Taped for Trouble + + +Another Scout leader moved into the cabin, followed by Scotty. Rick +gave them a grin, then turned and picked up the gun behind Jan's +chair. He stuck it in his pocket and untied the girl. + +The plastic cap was still on her head. He lifted it off gently and put +it on top of the machine. + +"Are you all right?" he asked. + +She nodded, hand at her throat. "Yes," she managed. "I can't talk. The +gag ..." + +"Time for talk later," Rick said. He started for Barby, but Scotty was +already untying her. The moment her hands were free, she pulled the +gag from her mouth and announced, "Well! You took long enough getting +here!" + +Rick didn't know what to say to that. He didn't have a chance to say +anything. His sister rushed over, put her arms around him, and +squeezed. + +"You were wonderful," she said. "Scotty, he held four of them at bay. +I never knew you could fight like that, Rick Brant!" + +Rick grinned. "I didn't do so much. You took one of them out of play +by stamping on him. And Jan gave me an opening with as fine a kick as +I've seen off a football field." + +The two JANIG agents had produced handcuffs, and the men and women +were manacled together in a continuous chain. + +"Outside," one agent commanded. "Get into the pram." + +"You've got nothing on us," the man in the striped shirt protested. +"We were only protecting ourselves against this wild man who barged in +here." + +"Were you protecting yourselves against the two girls?" Scotty asked. + +"We were holding them for the police," striped shirt stated. "They +sneaked aboard, probably intending to steal anything they could find. +You're going to get yourselves into a peck of trouble, my friends. +There's a law in the state against carrying firearms! A fine +reputation this will give the Boy Scouts!" + +The agent with the pistol said mildly, "You talk too much. Get in the +pram." To Rick he said, "We're taking them to Spindrift. We'll send +the speedboat back for you." + +The four young people stood at the rail and watched as the crowded +pram with its outboard motor chugged off to the island. + +Barby pulled off her bathing cap, and Rick saw that she wore the +Megabuck unit underneath. He pointed to it. "I tried to call you. Why +didn't you answer?" + +Barby replied with an embarrassed blush that started at the shoulders +and swept up until her face was bright red. "I forgot to turn it on," +she admitted. "Jan reminded me while they were tying her up. They +hadn't got to me, yet. One of the women was holding the pistol and +pointing it at me. Jan sort of looked up and said, 'We need an outside +power to help us now. But we must be sure the power is turned on.' +Then I remembered. I pretended my head hurt, and pushed the switch." + +Rick looked at Jan. "That was clever. I'd been trying to reach Barby, +with no success. Then, suddenly, I heard her talking." + +"We knew you were close, because we could hear the plane." Jan +shuddered. "The men heard it, too, because they ran out right after +they tied us up and put that thing on my head. The women guarded us, +and one of them had just started the machine running when the plane +came right at us. We saw it, through the open door, and we thought you +were going to crash!" + +Rick grinned at Scotty. "That was our fast-acting pal. If he hadn't +done that, I'd never have had a chance to get aboard." + +"Good thing you figured out what I was doing," Scotty admitted. "When +I saw you moving fast toward the boat, I knew it was okay, and that I +didn't have to crash." + +Rick stared. "Do you mean you'd have actually crashed?" + +"Not head on, because that would have hurt the girls. I was planning +to swing at the last minute and try to knock the men off with the +wing." + +Rick could only mutter, "My sainted aunt!" + +Scotty turned on the girls. "And here's the pair that made it +necessary. What in the name of a painted parsnip were you two trying +to do?" + +Barby lifted her chin defiantly. "We had a good plan. Can we help it +if it didn't work?" + +"Can't answer that until we know the plan," Scotty said reasonably. +"Suppose you tell us." + +"Well, we needed evidence that the houseboaters were in the plot +against our fathers, didn't we? I knew we could get it, if we could +plant a radio. So we made a plan." + +"Lot of good a turned-off radio would have done," Rick muttered. + +Barby glared. "We decided that we'd go swimming with the lungs. Then +we'd come up right next to the houseboat, and we'd be so surprised! Of +course the people would come out to see us, then we'd say I had a +cramp, and could we please come up and rest." + +Rick listened, and he had to admit it wasn't a bad plan at all--so +far. + +"Of course they would let us rest. Then I'd wait for a chance to put +the radio behind a cushion, or in the crack of an armchair, or +somewhere like that. I didn't know exactly what I could do, but I knew +if we could get aboard there would be some way of leaving the radio +behind." + +The pram had vanished around the turn of the cove. The speedboat would +come into sight any moment now. + +"All right," Rick admitted. "Let's say it was a good plan. What +happened?" + +Jan took up the tale. "We didn't want to try to swim all the way from +Spindrift, so we took the rowboat and did exactly what Cap'n Mike did +yesterday. We rowed along the shore with the aqualungs and got into +the water right where we could see the houseboat. We had to. +Otherwise, we would have gotten lost underwater." + +"But you had the wrist compasses, didn't you?" Scotty asked. The boys +had stressed that compasses were essential because low visibility in +the waters off Spindrift made it very easy to lose one's sense of +direction. + +"We had the compasses," Barby said. "How do you think we swam right to +the houseboat?" + +"Then why didn't you get into the water out of sight of the +houseboat?" Rick asked, and suddenly he knew. That would have meant +plotting a compass course around a turn. So many feet in one +direction, then change to another compass heading. He had explained it +to them, but they just hadn't learned. It was not easy, he had to +admit, and it took practice even on land. "Never mind," he said. "I +know the answer. Go ahead. Tell us the rest." + +Barby studied his face. "I guess you do know," she assented. "Well, +they told us later, on the houseboat. They saw us get into the water, +then they watched our bubbles come right toward them. So when we got +here, they weren't fooled." + +"We went through with it, as we planned," Jan said, "and we thought we +were getting away with it. They were very nice. Of course we could +come up and rest. They were glad to have us stop by. But when we got +aboard, one of the women had a gun, and she made us go into the cabin +and sit down. Then they started asking us questions." + +"What kind of questions?" Rick inquired. + +"About why we had come. We stuck to the story, until they told us +they'd seen us. Even then we didn't admit anything. Then Barby started +to threaten them." + +Scotty chuckled. "I'd like to have heard that." + +Rick watched the tip of the cove. The speedboat from Spindrift should +be coming shortly. "How about the plane?" he asked suddenly. "What did +you do with it?" + +Scotty motioned to the other side of the houseboat. "It's anchored. I +landed next to the JANIG team and got into the rowboat with them." The +Sky Wagon carried a small anchor and a few yards of anchor line in one +of the pontoons. + +"Okay. Carry on, Barby. How did you threaten them?" + +"I was very logical," Barby stated. "Wasn't I, Jan?" + +Jan nodded agreement. "You definitely were." + +"I started by telling them that they couldn't possibly do a thing to +us, and they might as well let us go right away." + +"Bet that impressed them," Rick murmured. + +"Are you telling this, or am I?" + +"You are," Rick said contritely. "Go ahead." + +"Well, I said my brother knew where we were, and they'd better be +careful. It didn't work. Then I pointed out that they didn't even dare +to kill us, because our bodies could be traced back to the houseboat. +Everyone knew we'd just gone for a swim, and everyone knew we could +take care of ourselves." + +Rick thought privately that any time Spindrift was in danger from then +on, he'd make sure his self-reliant sister had a bodyguard at all +times. + +"I said other things, too, but finally they slapped me and told me to +shut up." + +"Who did?" Scotty demanded. + +"One of the women. It doesn't matter, Scotty. It didn't hurt. Anyway, +they said we could stop worrying about what was going to happen to +them. Then one of the men asked if we knew what had happened to the +three scientists. We said yes. And he said ... he said ..." Barby +suddenly turned white. + +Jan finished for her. "He said they were going to erase our minds, +too. Then they were going to put us back in the water." The words +were no sooner out than Jan had a delayed reaction, too. + +Rick rushed the two of them into the cabin and made them sit down with +heads bent low. Scotty found water and gave them each a drink. + +"You've acted like a couple of champs," Rick told them. "But for the +love of mike, don't faint now!" + +Barby lifted her chin. "I have no intention of fainting," she said +defiantly. "It's just ... well, it's ..." + +"I know," Rick assured her. "Take it easy, Sis." + +He looked up. The sound of a racing speedboat was echoing inside the +cabin. Good. They'd be home in a few minutes and his mother could take +over. He gave the girls a comradely grin. What a pair! + +The machine on the table attracted his eye. He walked over and studied +it. The recording drum had wavy lines on it, probably the beginning of +Jan's brain pattern. It made no sense to him, but it would to Parnell +Winston. + +"They had you taped," he told the girl gently. "But you saved your own +bacon by telling Barby to turn on the radio. If you hadn't ..." + +A shudder ran through Jan's slim body. "I was taped for trouble. I'm +glad you came through the door when you did!" + +Rick's finger traced a line on the recording drum. + +"I'm kind of glad myself," he admitted. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +JANIG Closes In + + +Steve Ames walked around the objects on the laboratory table. "Nothing +deadly looking about these gadgets," he said. "Which goes to show how +misleading appearances can be." + +The objects included the barber's massage machine, an ancient +composition-board suitcase, the gadget from the houseboat, and a TV +set with an indoor antenna of the kind known as "rabbit ears." + +Parnell Winston admitted, "There is plenty we don't know about them, +especially the inside of that TV set. But we'll learn." + +Steve smiled at the assembly of faces. In addition to the project team +and the boys, Mrs. Brant, Mrs. Morrison, and the two girls were in the +group. So was Joe Blake. + +Rick regretted that Jerry, Duke, and Cap'n Mike could not be invited. +But the matter was still not for discussion with people on the +outside. If a story ever could be made public, the _Morning Record_ +would be the first to have it, but in all probability the facts would +remain buried for some time. + +In a large room in the lab basement the four houseboaters and the +barber waited under heavy guard for the arrival of a Coast Guard +cutter. The barber was there courtesy of Captain Douglas, who had +picked him up and delivered him to Spindrift after a call from Joe +Blake. + +Steve rapped for attention. "We're about to tie up some loose ends, +everyone. Let's get seated, because the cutter will be here any +moment." + +The room was sometimes used for lectures when Hartson Brant got his +entire staff together, and there were plenty of chairs. In a moment +the audience was seated comfortably and listening to Steve. + +"You were all involved," the agent began, "so I want you all to know +what has been going on. Some details are not known to us, yet. But +we're continuing the investigation. However, the part that involves +you is finished, and you'll probably never hear about the rest of it." + +Rick knew that was true. Who the houseboaters and the barber really +were, who paid them, how they had been tipped off to the project in +the first place, and similar details would remain locked in top-secret +files somewhere in Washington. + +"The key to the whole affair was uncovered in Washington yesterday. +Most of you know about the physical arrangements on the fourth floor. +In setting up the security system we checked all wiring, traced all +phone lines, and in general made sure the place was not 'bugged,' +which is the term we use for wire taps, hidden microphones, and so +on." + +Steve paused, and Rick thought his friend looked a little embarrassed. +"In spite of our care, it developed that we did have a hidden +microphone picking up all conversation and relaying it to the enemy +group. I can only say in our own defense that it was the kind of 'bug' +we couldn't have found without tearing the building apart." + +"It's nearly impossible to take all modern electronic developments +into account," Julius Weiss said. "We all know how thorough you are, +Steve. Go on." + +"Thank you, Julius. Directly above us, on the fifth floor, was the +Peerless Brokerage Company. It was a legitimate firm, doing a good +business. We had no reason to suspect it, even though we checked out +all firms both above and below us. Well, in checking on the +houseboaters, we discovered that the firm had recently been taken over +by a dummy corporation, and most of it was actually owned by the man +Rick called 'striped shirt.' He bought the stock right after the +project moved in on the fourth floor." + +"There was no change in the firm?" Dr. Morrison asked. "Nothing +suspicious?" + +"Nothing. The firm continued to operate as always. There was one +personnel change. A lawyer, representing the new principal +stockholder, took over one of the offices." + +Rick suspected that said lawyer was now in custody. + +"As soon as we discovered the connection, we made a check. Under the +floor in the lawyer's office we found a 'bug.' A hole had been drilled +into the floor structure until only a thin shell of plaster remained. +The plaster was, of course, our ceiling. So actually the microphone +was within a fraction of an inch of our room, but there was no way we +could detect it. That's how every move we made was anticipated, and +why the enemy moved to Whiteside on the same day that the project +moved to Spindrift." + +That explained a lot, Rick thought. "Did the barber tape the two +scientists?" he asked. + +"We think so. He's the boss of the enemy team, Rick. We've found that +during the period when he was in Washington, his massage machine was +wired through to a room in the basement. The wiring went through the +power cord into the electric outlet, and the impulses were actually +transmitted over the power system and taken out of a plug in the +basement. We found the machine where he had stored it." + +Rick knew that could be done quite simply. The frequencies of the +electric current and the brain patterns were so different that they +would not interfere with each other. + +"He didn't plan to use his machine in Whiteside," Steve went on, +"because he left the mind-reading part of the machine in Washington." + +"Then why did he bring it?" Barby asked. + +"We're not sure. The likeliest possibility is that he wanted to +continue using it as a massage machine, because he made a little money +with it. I never knew an espionage agent who didn't need money." + +Steve looked at Rick. "I'm a little surprised at one thing. Why didn't +the Spindrift twins suspect foul play when Hartson Brant ran over +something in the speedboat?" + +It was Rick's turn to be embarrassed. "I guess we were so upset we +didn't think straight. Why?" + +"The mainland team found a log. It had a yoke on it. Apparently the +houseboaters had taken a lesson from the incident on the pier and were +waiting for Spindrift traffic on the water. We think they waited until +they heard the sound of the Spindrift speedboat, then took the pram +and cut across the course hauling a log on a long rope." + +Scotty spoke up. "That's what puzzles me, Steve. Why the switch from +long-distance electronics to violence?" + +"When we moved the project to Spindrift, we also removed the chance of +taping project members in some natural setting like the barbershop. +They had hoped to knock out the team without anyone suspecting it was +enemy interference. That worked, at first. But moving the project +upset their plans. They rigged the train deal that caught Marks. But +even though it worked, it showed we were dealing with an enemy." + +"So they had to catch the scientists in order to tape them," Scotty +commented. + +"Right. Of course they tried to do it in a way that looked natural in +the case of Marks and Dr. Brant. Probably they hoped the attack on +Duke, whom they mistook for Morrison, would be taken as a holdup. They +undoubtedly planned to allow time between the accident, or attack, and +following through with the mind-reading machine, hoping that the two +wouldn't be connected." + +The pattern was clear, Rick thought. Like many such schemes, the +moment a suspicion of foul play developed, the plan began to +boomerang. + +"I think the order of events is clear enough," Steve concluded. "Any +questions?" + +Barby had one. "I don't understand about Dr. Marks. Did they turn on +the mind reader from the train?" + +"Probably. The man on the train apparently had a two-section gadget in +a suitcase. One part took the EEG and the other sent out the signal +that did the damage. He waited until the train was pulling out of the +station before turning on the record section. Then all he had to do +was get off at New York. We haven't found him, or his machine. But we +will. Any other questions?" + +"Why did the barber move to Whiteside, if he didn't intend to tape +anyone?" Weiss asked. + +"The barbershop in any small town is a good central location for +keeping track of goings-on in town. I think that's all he had in +mind--besides the fact that barbering was his trade. If Vince Lardner +hadn't needed an assistant, he probably would have moved into one of +the summer colonies, or gotten some other kind of job. We can't be +sure." + +Rick asked, "Are there any machines in existence besides these two and +the missing one from the train?" + +"We don't know. But it doesn't matter. The enemy now knows we're onto +the system and can't expect to get away with it again. Besides, Dr. +Winston says a countermeasure is easily arranged, to be used when we +suspect the mind readers might make another try." + +"Who are these people?" Jan demanded. + +Steve grinned. "Unfriendly agents. Seriously, Jan, we aren't sure +about their employers. It will take some backbreaking investigation to +get the whole story, because the files show nothing on any of them. +That means they were deep-cover agents, kept hidden until there was +something important enough to bring them out. We may never get the +whole story." + +"Won't they talk?" Scotty asked. + +"They haven't yet. They may. But, anyway, we'd have to check on their +stories. Any other questions? Okay, I'm finished. Dr. Winston will +take over at this point." + +The cyberneticist came to the front of the room. "We have something +here," he stated, "but we don't yet know what it is. And, curiously +enough, from the crude nature of the machines, I doubt that the enemy +knows, either. If we have to speculate--and I guess we do--we might +guess that sometime, in an enemy EEG laboratory, some experiment +resulted in a subject having his mind erased. It was probably an +accident that the enemy exploited without knowing how it worked." + +"Can't we even guess how it works?" Weiss asked. + +"Approximately, without knowing the physiology of it. The EEG +recording is simply fed into a gadget that modulates a carrier wave. +The carrier is an average frequency for brain patterns. In effect, the +thing simply transmits the man's own pattern back to him. Why that +should produce trauma of the kind we have seen is a mystery." The +scientist gestured to the TV receiver. "The transmitter is +incorporated into the TV chassis, and the 'rabbit ears' act as an +antenna when adjusted properly. The recorder is a simple EEG +mechanism." + +Winston smiled. "You may be sure we're not through with this +apparatus. I'm leaving the project immediately to set up a new team +with Chavez, for the investigation of this phenomena. It may be +another major key to the physiology of the brain." + +"Do you mean we know nothing more than you've told us?" Rick asked. + +"Nothing more, Rick. Oh, are you wondering about the barber's machine? +Actually, the massage gadgets acted as electrodes, and the massage oil +did very well in making good contact. It was a simple setup." + +There were no questions for Parnell Winston. Steve took over. "In a +short time we'll take the prisoners off your hands. Joe Blake and two +men will remain as guards, but I think we have nothing more to worry +about beyond routine security." + +"I just remembered," Rick interrupted. "How about the elevator +operator?" + +"We picked him up, but he didn't know a thing. The barber paid him in +free haircuts to keep track of people coming and going from the fourth +floor. That's all. He didn't know why." + +Joe Blake came in the door. "Motor whaleboat coming, Steve. Shall we +take the prisoners to the landing?" + +"Yes, Joe. Please." + +Barby looked at Steve speculatively. "How about the houseboat?" + +"Well, how about it? Haven't you seen enough of it?" + +Barby smiled. "It would be very nice, if it were only another color. +What will happen to it?" + +"A coastguardman will be after it tomorrow. It will be impounded for a +while. After that it may be sold for public auction, or it may revert +to the owner's estate. It depends on the court." + +Barby looked a little disappointed. "Oh, well, we don't really need a +houseboat, anyway." + +The group broke up as Joe and his partner walked the prisoners across +the island to the landing. In a short time the motor whaleboat was +speeding to the horizon where a cutter waited. + +Rick took a last look. That just about closed the case. The remaining +details probably would never be known to the Spindrift group. + +"Can't anything be done for Dr. Marks and the other scientists?" he +asked Parnell Winston. + +Winston shook his head. "No, Rick. We're afraid to tamper, for fear of +making things worse. But I neglected to tell you one very important +item. The first scientist stricken is becoming rational again, or at +least we hope so. Yesterday he asked for food. A short time later he +picked up a pencil and paper and began to work out an equation, one +connected with the project. Apparently the equation was the last thing +he had been working on when the mind reader struck. So we hope and +believe that nature is healing the damage. There is no evidence of +tissue destruction, so perhaps complete recovery is possible. It's a +question of waiting and watching." + +Within two weeks Rick had an opportunity to see for himself, because +the two scientists from Washington joined the Spindrift group. They +were fully recovered, with only vague memories of the period when +their minds were not functioning. And Dr. Marks was reported well on +the way to normalcy. + +The project was almost at an end, with only a few final checks needed +on the critical equations. The Morrisons had already set a day for +their departure--to Barby's great unhappiness. + +As Barby said at dinner one night, "I didn't realize how lonely it +gets sometimes without another girl on the island. Until Jan came, +that is. Now she's going, and I wish she weren't." + +"I'd love to stay," Jan said. "Really I would." + +Hartson Brant arrived in time to hear the last exchange. He had left +the table briefly to take a phone call. "I'm afraid it's going to be +pretty quiet on Spindrift," he agreed. "It looks as though we'll be +losing Rick and Scotty for a while!" + +Barby wailed, "Not again! Why can't they stay home for a while?" + +Rick and Scotty had looked up with quick interest at the scientist's +words. + +"We've been home for weeks," Rick replied. His eyes were on the slip +of paper in his father's hand. "Dad, what is it? Where are we going?" + +"Read it aloud," Hartson Brant suggested. He handed Rick the slip. + +Rick scanned it quickly. It was a telegram that his father had taken +over the phone. Rick's pulse quickened. Dr. Gordon, who had been at +work on a secret rocket project in the far west, had wired: + + ARRIVING TOMORROW. NEED RICK AND SCOTTY FOR SPECIAL WORK. + URGE THEY BE READY TO DEPART IN THREE DAYS EQUIPPED FOR + EXTENDED STAY AT DESERT BASE. + +Rick's eyes met Scotty's as he finished reading. "Desert base," he +repeated. + +Scotty grinned his delight. "John Gordon's rocket base is in the +desert. He must want us there." + +"But why?" Barby demanded. "You're not rocket experts. Why, even when +we had the moon rocket here, you didn't work on the rocket itself." + +That was perfectly true. Rick shrugged. "You know as much as we do, +Sis." + +Hartson Brant stirred his coffee thoughtfully. "I have a hunch," he +said. "From the tone of the wire, I suspect John is in some kind of +difficulty. Surely he doesn't want you as technicians, but it's not +beyond the bounds of possibility that he needs a little detective work +done." + +It made sense to Rick. But what kind of detective work could he and +Scotty do at a highly guarded and secret government base? He fought +down the impulse to run up to his room and start packing. Gordon had +said in three days. There was plenty of time. Except that Rick knew +he'd be dizzy with wondering until John Gordon gave them more +information. + +The Morrisons rose to the occasion beautifully. "We wouldn't want +Barby to be without any companions of her own age here," Mrs. Morrison +said quickly. "If it's all right, I'm sure we can let Jan remain until +the boys return." + +The girls beamed without saying a word, then they broke into excited +chatter. Rick and Scotty retired to the front porch and grinned at +each other. + +"If Dad is right, this is going to be plenty of fun," Scotty said +happily. "I've always wanted to get close to the big rockets." + +"We'll find out," Rick said. "And if John Gordon has a mystery, we're +the pair who can solve it for him." + +Later, Rick's words returned to him under the most unusual and +terrifying circumstances of his entire life. The story of the project +that led to Rick's greatest adventure will be told in the next Rick +Brant Science-Adventure mystery. + + * * * * * + + +_The_ RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE _Stories_ + +BY JOHN BLAINE + + +THE ROCKET'S SHADOW + +THE LOST CITY + +SEA GOLD + +100 FATHOMS UNDER + +THE WHISPERING BOX MYSTERY + +THE PHANTOM SHARK + +SMUGGLERS' REEF + +THE CAVES OF FEAR + +STAIRWAY TO DANGER + +THE GOLDEN SKULL + +THE WAILING OCTOPUS + +THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Electronic Mind Reader, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER *** + +***** This file should be named 28813.txt or 28813.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/8/1/28813/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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