Against All Odds Read Online Free PDF Page A

today,” Squeak finally said.
    “What experience?”
    “At Starky Hill. I think something happened.”
    “Of course something happened. We tested the
Star-Sweeper 5000
and she passed with flying colours.”
    Squeak cleared his throat. “Yes, she did … but I’m talking about something else … something strange.”
    “Okay … what, exactly?”
    There was another pause. “Missing time.”
    Boney looked at his alarm clock. “Missing time? What do you mean?”
    “When I asked Itchy what time it was, he said it was ten to five. But when I looked at my watch before the test flight, it was ten after five. Somehow, we lost twenty minutes.”
    Boney pulled on his chin. “Maybe Itchy made a mistake.”
    “No. I checked my watch as well.”
    “So … what do you think happened?”
    “I don’t know. Itchy said he felt strange …”
    Boney snorted. “Yeah, well, Itchy
is
strange, in case you hadn’t noticed. My aunt said he was staring through our kitchen window like a vampire.”
    “What? That must have been unnerving.”
    “To say the least. And then my aunt said that he kept coming over begging for cookies but he wouldn’t eat her casserole.”
    “When?” Squeak asked.
    “Today.”
    “But he was with us all day …” “I know. It doesn’t make any sense.” “There’s definitely something weird going on.” “Yeah,” Boney agreed. “But do you want to know what’s really weird? My aunt’s casserole was actually good.”
    “Really?”
    Boney rubbed his stomach. “I ate two plates. But I’m so tired now. I can barely keep my eyes open.”
    “Me too,” Squeak said. “I don’t know why I’m so exhausted.”
    Boney yawned loudly. “Do you really think all of this strangeness has to do with missing time?”
    Squeak stalled. “Well … I have some theories …”
    “Let’s hear them.”
    Squeak sniffed into the tube. “I can’t say right now. I need more evidence before I draw a conclusion.”
    “Just give me a hint. Maybe I can help you figure it out.” Boney waited for Squeak to answer but grew impatient. “Just tell me.”
    Silence.
    Boney rolled his eyes. “What does Itchy think?”
    “He’s not answering the tube.”
    “Well, I can’t help you if you won’t tell me your theories.”
    “I don’t want to make a big deal of things until I have some hard evidence,” Squeak said. “I prefer the concrete, the graspable, the provable.”
    “Is that a Spock quote?”
    “Star Trek,
season one, episode twenty-one. ‘The Return of the Archons.’”
    “Ah yes, of course.” Boney chuckled. He stretched sleepily. “Well … if you’re not going to let me in on your ideas, I’m going to bed. I’m so tired, I feel like I ran a marathon.”
    “You did do a lot of running today,” Squeak said. “But what’s my excuse?”
    Boney shrugged. “Maybe it’s the heat.” “Yes … possibly …”
    “Anyway, I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. I’ll see you in the morning for the competition tomorrow, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    “Good night, Squeak.” “Good night, Boney.”
    Boney tossed the towel over the end of the Teletube. Rising wearily from his chair, he changed into his pyjamas and climbed heavily into bed. Pulling the sheet over his shoulders, he gave another long yawn. “I feel so strange,” he murmured before falling into a very deep sleep.

C HAPTER F IVE
T HE F LYING F IENDS A MATEUR A IRCRAFT C OMPETITION
    B oney woke at seven in the morning feeling rested after nearly twelve hours of sleep. Determined to be early for Squeak’s big day, he rushed to get ready. Racing down the stairs and into the kitchen, he slowed long enough to peck his aunt on the cheek and grab the large paper bag full of sandwiches she’d made for the competition. Then he flew out the door and shimmied up the clubhouse ladder to feed Henry. Tossing a handful of cornmeal on the floor for the rooster, Boney shot down the fire pole and ran through the bushes into Squeak’s backyard. But despite