Chameleon Read Online Free PDF

flavor of the door. These odors were subtle compared to the strong tang of metal.
    Paper, Will. That’s the smell of old paper that’s been somewhere damp. I thought of a visit to my grandma’s house when I was little. Her books had smelled this way. I tried to place the other scent. It reminded me of my grandfather. Leather! I wrote. I smell something like old, worn leather.
    The combined smells, paper and leather, conjured happy memories. Trips to the library, my mom and later my dad reading to me, the smell and feel of my grandparents’ books. It was hard to reconcile such bright thoughts with what probably lay inside the pages of these black books.
    I’m not smelling anything I recognize, Will wrote. But paper and leather sounds like the journals. They must be here in the vault with us.
    I’m afraid so, I responded.
    Damn. No way can we come solid in here.
    We re–entered Helga’s office and stood forlorn.
    What’s that? asked Will, his attention pulling mine to a picture drawn on a sheet of paper. Is that supposed to be you?
    I stared curiously at the paper upon Helga’s desk. Below the hand–drawn picture, done up like a “WANTED” poster, I read these words:
    DO YOU KNOW THIS STUDENT? I HAVE HER PURSE.
    A phone number was listed below the words. An orange sticky–note had been attached as well, reading “Apprehend, but Do Not Harm.” The word “not” had been underlined several times.
    She’s trying to find you, said Will.
    Looks like it.
    At least she still believes you’re a student here, wrote Will. That’s better than if she figured out that Samantha Ruiz was here.
    My eyes riveted upon something even more interesting. Lying open on the left–hand side of her desk sat a single black journal.
    They’re not all in the vault! I wrote.
    Together, we stared at the innocent–looking book, a match to the book from Dr. Pfeffer.
    Still written in gobble–de–gook? Will asked.
    Looks like it, I replied.
    Shall we? wrote Will, and I knew he wanted me to ripple solid and grab the book.
    I want to check if there’s anything else of value first.
    He wrote back, Good idea.
    We circled the office, noting a stack of the flyers with my likeness drawn upon them. We didn’t uncover any other black books.
    Guess this is it, then, wrote Will. You sure it has to be you that grabs the book?
    I’m sure, Will. I’m not endangering you and Mickie in case there are hidden cameras.
    Okay, then. I’ve seen enough of this place. Grab it and let’s go, Will wrote.
    It wouldn’t be accurate to say that I “felt” Will dropping my hand, but I certainly sensed it. I pulled my hand towards myself and moved to the side of the desk where the book lay. Then I rippled solid, my headlamp illumining the room. As I reached for the book, I hoped Will was staying put so that I could find him again.
    The leather cover felt cool against my palms. Time to ripple. I turned my thoughts to visions of still water. To one side, a fluttering motion caught my attention. Someone was rippling solid.
    Someone besides Will.
     

Chapter Six
IVANOVICH
    A familiar voice ripped through the quiet of the office.
    “What the hell are you doing here?” demanded a large man with ice–blue eyes.
    I knew him. Helga’s thug, Ivanovich.
    “Did Dr. Helmann send you?” he asked, his visage aflame with anger or madness: I couldn’t tell which.
    I didn’t speak. I felt like an insect pinned down by his glare.
    “Turn off that damn headlight,” he growled.
    Not a chance , I thought.
    “Who are you?” he asked, voice lowering to a less threatening tone. “Put that book down and let’s talk.”
    He circled the desk and I circled too, keeping the same distance between us. I felt a blast of icy–cold that had to be Will. Stay hidden , I thought.
    The blue–eyed man spoke again. “I said put that book down. Now!”
    I clutched it more tightly to myself as I tried to reason my way out of this situation. I needed to ripple or run away. Or beat