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gasp.
    An alien!
    It was finally happening. I was chasing an alien!

9
    “Come back!” I shouted. “I just want to talk to you! I won’t hurt you!”
    The flash of blue vanished behind a clump of tall bushes.
    “Please—come back!”
    I dove into the bushes. My feet tangled in a long, twisting vine.
    With a cry, I fell to the ground.
    My heart thudding I scrambled quickly to my feet. I searched for the eerie, blue color. Listened for footsteps.
    No. The alien had disappeared.
    Summer and Jeff caught up with me. “Did you see that? A flash of blue!”
    They shook their heads. “We heard someone running,” Summer said. “But we didn’t see anyone.”
    “But did you hear that boom?” I went on. “It sounded like thunder. And look! It’s perfectly clear tonight. There are no clouds in the sky!”
    “Calm down, Ben,” Jeff said. “Maybe it was a sonic boom from one of those new jets at the military base in Roswell.”
    “Maybe,” I replied. “But the flash of blue light—it’s one of the signs.”
    “Signs of what?” Summer asked. “Of Ben Shipley losing his mind?”
    “One of the signs of alien life,” I said. “I’m not crazy, you two. First that weird figure eight. Then the flash of blue…”
    They started back toward the house. My mind spinning, I hurried to keep up with them.
    Summer and Jeff didn’t say much. I could tell I was freaking them out.
    I’m not losing my mind, I thought. I know I’m right.
    I saw an alien tonight. It had to be an alien!
    Summer and Jeff said good-bye and hurried home. I felt bad. They were the only two friends I had left. But I was beginning to wonder how much longer they’d put up with me.
    Will was in his room, playing video games. I logged on to the computer and checked my e-mail.
    For once, I had an e-mail message.
    I opened it. It was from Zandor. It said:
    All signs point to an alien invasion this week. Location still unknown. Do not forget to watch for the signs. Read them over again. Memorize them. If you see any of the signs, you’ll know the aliens are coming to your area.
    These aliens are not friendly. They will harm you. Be careful.
    —Zandor
    Why is he writing to me? I wondered. Was this a mass mailing—or was he trying to contact me?
    I thought about the warning signs. So far I’d seen only one—the flash of blue light.
    I yawned. I was beginning to feel sleepy. I glanced at the clock.
    It was almost nine-thirty. Mom and Dad weren’t home yet.
    That’s strange, I thought. They said they’d be home by nine. They’re almost never late. I wonder where they went, anyway.
    About an hour later, at ten-thirty, I finally heard a car pull into the driveway. I got up and glanced into Will’s room. He was asleep.
    I went downstairs. Mom always had a smile for me. But now her mouth was set in a grim line. Dadwas frowning pretty intensely, too.
    “Where’ve you guys been?” I asked.
    “Nowhere really,” Mom said softly.
    “Did you go shopping or something?” I asked.
    “Ask a lot of questions—don’t you, Ben?” Dad snapped.
    I shrank back. What was his problem?
    I sat down on the steps and watched them as they loaded the dinner dishes into the dishwasher.
    “Um—is everything okay?” I asked.
    “Fine,” Dad answered through gritted teeth. “Everything’s just perfect.”
    What’s up with them? I wondered. They’re acting so weird.
    “Ben, do me a favor. Go to bed,” Dad barked.
    “But I usually stay up until eleven,” I protested.
    Mom whirled around to face me. “Don’t argue with your father.”
    “Okay, okay,” I said, standing up. “I’m going to bed.”
    “And no Internet surfing!” Dad said.
    I stumbled up the steps and went into my room. I left the door open a crack. I was hoping to hear them say something that would tell me what the matter was. But they didn’t speak at all.
    Weird. Weird. Weird.
    A few minutes later, I saw Mom walk past my room. Maybe she’ll tell me what’s wrong, I thought. If I just ask