Invisible Terror Collection Read Online Free PDF Page A

existing program, give it to you, you’ll have to break back in the place for a third time, load it into her computer, and exit without being detected.” Scott’s heart sank. “Isn’t there, you know, any easier way?”
    “Easier?” Hubert scoffed. “You want easier!?”
    “Well, yeah …”
    “You didn’t say you wanted it easy.” Hubert sighed his best why-am-I-surrounded-by-morons sigh. Then, still without looking up, he produced a single computer disk. He handed it to Scott and said, “Just stick this into her computer.” Scott and Darryl stood dumbfounded. “That’s it?”
    “Of course that’s it.” Hubert gave a louder-than-normal sniff.
    “It will provide me access to her main database and mass storage through her modem, where I can ascertain the specific astrological program and download it to my system. Most likely it will be a program from which I can surreptitiously procure the source code, which is no doubt written in language C+, thereby allowing me to reconfigure her program to produce any response you desire.”
    “Oh,” Darryl said, exchanging blank looks with Scott.
    “Of course.” Scott nodded.
    There was a long pause. Darryl and Hubert both gave loud sniffs. 
    “So,” Scott asked, “how soon can we do this?”
    “Load her computer tonight, then come back here while I work on the program. By tomorrow morning, she’ll do whatever we say.” Hubert gave one loud and extremely long sniff, making it clear that their meeting was over.
    Moments later Scott and Darryl were scampering down Hubert’s rickety porch steps toward their bikes.
    “That cousin of yours sure has a brain,” Scott said.
    “Yeah,” Darryl said, drawing in a deep breath of fresh air and obviously enjoying it. “Too bad we can’t convince him to try a shower.”
    Scott grinned as he climbed on his bike. “Once he changes Priscilla’s chart, you’re sure she’ll follow it?”
    “Hey,” Darryl sniffed, “if it’s on her astrological chart, she’ll do it. I’ve listened to her talk about this stuff. Believe me, she’ll do whatever it says.”
    Scott began to smile. He liked that idea. A lot.
    They rode off. “So when do you want to do it?” Darryl asked.
    “Do what?”
    “Load this disk,” Darryl said, patting the shirt pocket that held the disk.
    “How ’bout tonight? Can you get us in?”
    “A piece of cake. What time?”
    “I don’t know. How does midnight sound?”
    “Perfect.” Darryl grinned. “The Bookshop tonight, at midnight.”
    **********
    5:48 p.m.
    Julie paused her ancient VCR, and the group stared at the freeze-frame picture on the screen. Becka had taken the videocassette over to Julie’s house, and after viewing it, they had decided to invite Ryan, Krissi, and Philip over for a “second opinion.”
    “There,” Julie said, pointing to the screen, which showed a long hallway full of doors. Several cameras and measuring devices were scattered up and down the hall. “This is where it gets interesting.”
    Julie pushed the Pause button again, and the video started.
    Everyone watched in silence. For several seconds nothing happened. Then, ever so gradually, some of the papers and charts on the hallway floor began to stir.
    “Did someone open a window?” Ryan asked.
    No one answered. The wind grew more intense. Some of the instruments mounted in the hallway began to shudder. Suddenly one with aluminum cloth stretched between brackets blew over and fell with a crash.
    Krissi gave a start.
    “Hang on,” Julie said. “It’s not over yet. Keep your eye on the farthest door, the one at the end of the hall.” More seconds passed. The wind increased until suddenly the door flew open. The entire group jumped. As they watched, a small shadowy figure from inside the room darted past the doorway and out of sight.
    “What was that?” Ryan demanded.
    Julie pressed Slow Motion Rewind. The figure reappeared, moving backward. When it was in the center of the door’s opening, she