The Internet Escapade Read Online Free PDF Page B

…”
    “We’ll have time for that, too,” Brian said. “Grab your bike. I know where Neal’s family lives. Let’s go.”
    When the door opened at the Yorks’ apartment, Brian and Sean found that Dennis Taylor was visiting Neal. Brian told them what had happened at Redoaks Elementary, and Dennis laughed.
    “What a great joke,” he said. “If I’d been there, I would have read the poem ‘The Bells,’ by Edgar Allan Poe.”
    Neal rubbed his chin. “Let’s see,” he said. “Someone would have to know that the bells were set by computer and know how to get into the computer.”
    “How about you?” Brian asked. “Did you know?”
    “I thought Edgar Allan Poe only wrote scary stories,” Sean said.
    “What do you mean, did I know?” Neal asked Brian.
    “Poe wrote lots of poems, too,” Dennis said.
    “Everybody hold it!” Brian said. “Forget Edgar Allan Poe. We’re trying to find out what happened at Sean’s school. The principal’s blaming him.”
    “I thought you might be blaming me,” Neal said. “Our family doesn’t even own a computer.”
    “Then how did you get to be one of the best in our computer club?” Brian asked.
    Neal shrugged. “They let me use the computers at school,” he said.
    “I kind of like the idea of bells ringing all day,” Dennis said. “Neal, could you program the computer at our junior high to do that?”
    “No way,” Neal said. “I mean I could, but I don’t want to get into trouble and be kicked out of the computer club, like Frank was.”
    “Frank’ll be okay,” Dennis said. “He’s been doing everything just right so he won’t get into trouble again.”
    “How could Frank get in trouble so fast?” Sean asked. “Isn’t this his first year in junior high?”
    “He got into trouble while he was still in Redoaks Elementary,” Brian explained.
    “Brian’s the one who discovered what was going on,” Dennis told Sean. “Brian noticed that one of the student computer accounts on the Internet was busy, even though the student had moved away. When he told Mrs. Harrison, she found out that Frank was using the account.”
    “What’s the big deal about using somebody else’s account?” Sean asked. “And why would he, when he had an account of his own?”
    “Account time is limited,” Brian said. “Kids who use others’ accounts get double time on the Internet. Besides, they’re supposed to be using the accounts for research and study, and sometimes they use the extra account to play games and stuff. You know the rules. They’re not supposed to do that.”
    Neal yawned. “Let’s talk about something else,” he said. “Anybody want some leftover pizza?”
    “No thanks,” Brian said. “I have a couple more questions I need to ask you, Neal.”
    “Later,” Neal said. “This is Friday. I don’t want to think any more about school. Anybody want a soda?”
    “Some other time,” Brian said. “Sean and I are going to the mall to play Monstermadness.”
    Dennis grinned. “It’s awfully dark and scary in there. Don’t let the monsters get you! You might never be seen again!”

10

    A SHORT WHILE LATER , as they waited in line for their turn at Monstermadness, Sean asked Brian, “Neal didn’t want to answer our questions. Do you know why?”
    Brian shrugged. “He’s high on our list of suspects. Neal knows so much about computers, he’d know how to arrange for an anonymous mailer. And he’d know how to make the school’s bells ring all day long.”
    “But how would Neal know everything that happens to me at school?” Sean asked.
    Brian shrugged. “Beats me.”
    The ticket taker working at Monstermadness called to Brian and Sean, “Step up, guys. It’s your turn.” He handed Sean something called a super lightray and asked, “Have you done this before?”
    “Yes,” Brian said.
    “No,” Sean said.
    “Okay. You go first,” the ticket taker said to Sean. “Here are the rules. Only one person can go into Monstermadness