The Mystery of the Blazing Cliffs - M. V. Carey [8]
They’ll share their experiences with the rest of us, and if we’re lucky we’ll have Vladimir Contreras for our speaker this year.”
“Oh, yes,” said Jupe. “The man who wrote They Walk Among Us.”
Mr. Barron leaned back in his chair. “Last year the convention of the Blue Light Mission was held in a cornfield in Iowa and a man came who believed that the earth is hollow and that a race of superbeings live inside it,” he said. “There was also a woman who told fortunes with magnetized needles that floated on water, and a pimply youth who kept saying ‘Om! Om!’ until I wanted to hit him.”
“You went to the convention?” said Pete to Barron.
“I had to!” snapped Barron. “My wife is a remarkable woman, but if I left her to herself, she would surely be victimized by those loonies. Even when I am with her, she becomes over-enthusiastic. I was unable to keep her from inviting that weird group here this summer.”
“We should have a large turnout,” said Mrs. Barron happily. “Many people are keenly interested. They know that the rescuers are out there watching us.”
“The only ones who are out there watching us are anarchists and criminals who want to take over,” said Mr. Barron. “Well, I’m ready for them!”
Pete looked pleadingly at Jupe, who stood up.
“It was very kind of you to invite us,” said Jupe, “but we must go. Konrad is anxious to get to San Jose.”
“Of course,” said Mrs. Barron. “We mustn’t make you late.”
She walked to the door with the boys, and she stood and watched them go down the front steps.
“You have a good time?” asked Elsie Spratt when they came into the ranch-house kitchen.
“Interesting,” said Bob, “but not cosy. You said it.”
Elsie laughed. “A rattlesnake in a rainstorm.”
Konrad had just finished his dinner. He carried his dishes to the sink, and then the four visitors went out to the truck. Detweiler stood on the porch of the ranch house as they drove out, waving goodbye to them.
“Nice people,” said Bob.
“Except for Mr. Barron,” said Pete. “What a grump!”
The truck rumbled down the lane, and when it neared the gate a mile away it slowed.
Then it stopped and the boys heard Konrad open the door of the cab.
“Jupe?” Konrad called.
Jupe jumped down from the back of the truck, followed by his friends. They saw a man standing in the road, blocking the way. The man wore an army uniform, and there were cartridges in the belt at his waist. A helmet was buckled under his chin. He held a rifle at the ready across his chest.
“Sorry,” he said. “The road is closed.”
“What’s the trouble?” said Jupiter.
“I don’t know,” said the soldier. His voice shook as if he were afraid. “I’ve got orders that no one gets past. The road is closed.”
He shifted the rifle slightly, as if to draw attention to it. It slipped in his grasp and began to fall.
“Watch it!” yelled Pete.
The soldier grabbed clumsily at the gun, and with a stunning roar it went off!
Chapter 4
Invasion!
THE SOUND OF THE EXPLOSION echoed through the valley. The young soldier stared at his gun, shocked, his eyes enormous in his pale face.
“That thing is loaded!” said Konrad, outraged.
“It sure is,” said the soldier shakily. “We were issued live ammunition today.”
He gripped the rifle more firmly, fearful that it might slip and go off again. The boys heard the sound of a car on the road. An instant later a jeep came speeding into sight. It stopped just feet from the armed man.
“Stanford, what do you think you’re doing?” demanded the officer who sat in the jeep next to the driver. He glared at the soldier, then at the boys and Konrad.
“Sorry, sir,” said the soldier. “The gun slipped.”
“Stanford, if you can’t hold on to a rifle, you don’t belong out here,” said the officer.
“No, sir,” said the soldier.
The officer got out of the jeep and stalked towards Konrad. The boys saw that he was young—as young as the frightened soldier. His olive-drab field jacket was new. So was his helmet. So were the expensive-looking combat boots on his feet.
“I’m Lieutenant John Ferrante,” he said. One gloved hand swung up as if to salute,