The Team That Couldn't Lose Read Online Free PDF Page B

and not to me, his own son,
     when I was coaching? But let me ask you this: What makes you so sure it’s not Jasper McFall? He could be telling you it isn’t
     him just to send up a smoke screen.”
    Chip hung up and turned to Splash with a thoughtful look.
    “What?” Splash asked impatiently.
    Chip told him what Mr. Kash had said about the smoke screen. Splash just shook his head. “It wouldn’t make sense, would it?
     Why would the guy go to so much trouble? Why not just suggest the plays to Phil instead?”
    Chip shrugged. “Maybe he thought Phil wouldn’t use them. I mean they’re sixty years old, after all.”
    Splash looked unconvinced. “A play’s aplay, no matter how old it is,” he said. “Our winning streak proves that.”
    “True.” Chip slumped into a chair. Then suddenly he sat upright. “I know someone who might be able to help us figure this
     out. Who claims to know Phil Wayne better than anyone else on the team?”
    With a snap of his fingers, Splash answered, “Danny Livermore! You’re right! If he can’t figure out this puzzle, no one can.
     Let’s go.”
    The two boys hurried to Danny’s house. They weren’t the only ones there, though. To their amazement, there was a police car
     with its lights flashing parked in the driveway. Luther Otis was there, too. When he saw Chip and Splash, he hurried over.
    “Danny’s lost in the swamp!” he cried. “We were out there collecting leaves and stuff for our science project. Danny was goingto show me how to set up something on my computer so my project would look really good. We got separated, and when I tried
     to find him, I couldn’t!”
    Just then the police officer called over to them: “We have a search party ready to go look. We’ll need you to come with us,
     Luther, to show us where you last saw him.”
    “Can we come, too?” Chip asked. “He’s our team manager, and we’d like to help find him!”
    The officer studied them, glanced at the sky, then nodded. “It’s still early enough so it won’t get dark. Just stick together
     when you’re out there, and always keep an adult in sight. One lost boy is enough for one day.”
    Chip, Splash, Luther, and Mr. and Mrs. Livermore piled into the Livermores’ car. They followed the police car out to the conservation
     area parking lot. The swamp was deep inside the park’s boundaries. A crew ofother people, mostly adults, was already there. At a word from the police officer, they set out to search for Danny.
    Luther took the lead through the tangled brush. Over their heads loomed giant trees, their brown and yellow leaves whispering
     in the gently blowing breeze. Birds scurried from branches with a wild flutter of wings. The searchers ran on, now and then
     their clothing snagging or their arms being scratched by the barbs of a bush.
    Danny’s been out here a long time! Chip’s mind screamed. Maybe we’ll be too late!
    Presently Luther slowed his pace, paused, and stared around in confusion.
    “What’s the matter, Luther?” Chip cried. “You didn’t forget where you last saw him, did you?”
    “I — I thought it was near here,” murmured Luther, his face as pale as one of the yellow leaves.
    Chip forgot that Danny had ever bothered him. He hated thinking of the little guy being stuck out here, scared and alone for
     hours. He cupped his hands to his mouth. “Danny!” he yelled.
    The last whisper of sound died behind them as the searchers stopped in their tracks. They listened silently for an answer.
     All they heard was the soft mocking murmur of the leaves.
    A lump lodged in Chip’s throat. Danny Livermore was an egghead, but he wasn’t a bad kid. He wasn’t a bad kid at all.
    “Danny!” Chip yelled again. “Danny, yell out if you hear me!”
    And then, from somewhere to their left they heard a voice! “He . . . re! He . . . re!”
    A cry burst from Chip’s throat. He plunged through the woods, ignoring the barbs that clawed at him. He knew, as many