Operation Sherlock Read Online Free PDF Page A

succeed. At least, that’s the way it seems from the history I’ve read.”
    â€œEven so, we have no real reason to suspect sabotage,” said Roger.
    Trip shrugged. “I was just throwing it out as a possibility.”
    â€œHow’s the possibility of eating?” asked Wendy. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horseburger.”
    â€œIt’s only ten o’clock in the morning!” said Rachel.
    â€œMy stomach is not ruled by the clock,” replied Wendy.
    â€œCome on,” said Trip. “My mother told me how to get to the base canteen. It’s not far from here.”
    Ten minutes later the group had gathered around a table in a low, cool room. Everyone except Rachel had a soda; she was drinking coffee. The pint-size Wendy also had a huge burger and a plate of fries.
    â€œDid you see the look on that kid’s face when I ordered this?” she asked indignantly.
    â€œThat kid” was a medium-size, broad-shouldered boy of about their age. He was standing behind the counter, wiping it with a rag. Above his shirt pocket he wore a white plastic name tag that said “HAP” in big blue letters. While he worked he kept glancing toward the group at the table.
    â€œHe gives me the creeps,” said Wendy.
    â€œGamma Ball!” cried Ray.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œThey’ve got Gamma Ball! See?”
    He was already on his feet and walking toward a game table set up at the back of the canteen.
    â€œChips!” said Wendy, grabbing her burger to follow the others. “A game freak.”
    â€œOh, but what a game!” said Trip, pushing back his chair. “The special effects are out of this world. Come on, you can stuff your face while the rest of us play.”
    Ray was already feeding money into the slot when the others joined him at the table.
    â€œOkay,” said Roger, “Rachel and I will take on Trip and Ray for the championship of the island. Fair enough?”
    â€œFair enough,” said Ray, glancing up at his towering partner. “But be warned—I’m good!”
    â€œHe’s modest, too,” said Wendy, wiping some ketchup off her chin. “But not so’s it shows.”
    â€œShhh!” said Trip, furrowing his brow. On the table ahead of him several three-dimensional monsters were starting to take shape. He and Ray would be controlling the orange-skinned creatures. The Phillips twins had the purples.
    Ray stuck the tip of his tongue between his teeth and began to concentrate. He loved this game! The playing table was laid out like a fantasy forest, with swamps and valleys and dangerous traps. Two teams of monsters had to battle for control of the Gamma Ball—a scarlet sphere of light that floated in the air—so they could get it back to their castle to save their wizard’s life. The lifelike monsters, created by holographic projectors, made the old video games he had played when he was a kid look sick.
    Each player controlled three different monsters. Several of the “dangers” were designed so that the only way the players could avoid destruction was by working together. Surviving the Pit of Doom, for example, required the strength of one of Ray’s monsters and the height of one of the creatures controlled by Trip.
    Rachel let out a shout. The Gamma Ball was in the air!
    Ray whirled the trackballs that controlled the speed and direction of his creatures. Each monster also had a set of buttons marked Jump, Grab, Hit, Throw, and Drop. His hands fairly flew over the control panel as he guided his creatures through their maneuvers.
    Beside him Trip was muttering to himself as he moved Gongor the Mighty along a tricky jungle path.
    â€œWatch out!” cried Ray.
    Too late. Gongor had fallen into the River of Light.
    â€œOne down!” crowed Rachel, just as a creature-eating vine lashed out and grabbed her own Thwom the Thwacker from behind. “Roger, help me!” she cried. Her