Operation Sherlock Read Online Free PDF Page B

life.
    When Roger looked at the playing field, he gave a cry of surprise. “What happened to the monsters? They’re all different!”
    â€œUh-oh,” said Wendy, glancing at the young canteen attendant.
    Ray slid out from under the table and flashed them a dazzling smile. “Those are the advanced level monsters. It’s an option built into the machine to let it handle superior players. Most people don’t even know it exists.”
    â€œHow did you know?” asked Rachel.
    â€œMy father invented it.”
    â€œThe option?” asked Trip.
    Ray shook his head. “The whole game.”
    After a thrilling game that ended with Ray and Trip beating the Phillips twins by just a hair, the gang decided to move on.
    â€œKeep the change,” said Ray to the attendant as the group was heading out the door.
    Running back a minute later to grab her leather bag, Rachel shivered at the expression she caught on the canteen worker’s face.
    Great , she thought. Our first day here, and already we’ve made an enemy!
    The Phillips house was closest, so they went there.
    â€œWhat was it that bothered you so much about the kid in the canteen, Wendy?” asked Roger as he dragged a two-liter bottle of soda out of the refrigerator.
    Wendy shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I got the impression he thought he owned the place.”
    â€œIt’s to be expected,” said Rachel. “We came barging in there like we owned the place and started taking apart an expensive machine. This kid—who’s been here who knows how long—was bound to get a little uptight. Man is a territorial creature, after all.”
    â€œWell, I wasn’t going to hurt it!” said Ray.
    â€œBut he didn’t know that!”
    Ray looked surprised. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
    â€œLook,” said Wendy, “this may seem like it’s changing the subject, but that’s only because it is. I want to know what you’ve got in that bag! You’ve been carrying it around like it was filled with diamonds.”
    Rachel smiled at Roger. “Shall we show them?”
    â€œWhy not?”
    Rachel moved the leather bag from the kitchen counter to the center of the round table where the kids were sitting. As she set it down, she gave it a slight squeeze.
    â€œHey!” yelled a metallic voice. “Who turned out the lights?”
    â€œQuiet,” said Rachel, her voice fond but firm. “I’m going to let you out.”
    â€œSomebody loves me at last!”
    â€œI told you to be quiet,” said Rachel. Unzipping the bag, she reached inside.
    â€œHey!” cried the voice. “Your hands are cold!”
    Ignoring the complaint, Rachel turned to Wendy, Ray, and Trip and said: “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce…Paracelsus!”

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    â€œCogito, Ergo Sum”
    Ray shivered. For an instant he had thought that the beautifully formed head Rachel pulled from the bag was real. Then he realized it was made of bronze. Slightly larger than an actual human head, it had the handsome, even features of an ancient Greek statue. Short, sculpted curls covered its skull and chin. The only break in the smooth metallic surface was a pair of wide, bright blue eyes that blinked every five or six seconds, giving the automaton an amazingly lifelike appearance.
    It was mounted on a two-inch-thick wooden base that had been polished to a high gloss.
    â€œPleased to meet’cha,” said Paracelsus.
    Wendy glanced at Rachel and Roger. “Plasmarific,” she whispered.
    The bronze head made a clicking noise. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œI believe Wendy is impressed,” said Rachel.
    â€œShe should be,” said Paracelsus.
    Trying to stifle a laugh, Ray snorted and ended up spraying soda on the table.
    â€œCareful!” cried Roger. “You’ll gum up his circuits!”
    â€œHelp!” shrieked Paracelsus.