The Mystery of Wandering Caveman - M. V. Carey [36]
The car pulled away from the kerb and rolled down the street, past the shops and the train station, and then past the municipal swimming pool, where kids were climbing to the high diving board and then jumping feet first into the water.
“Looks like fun, doesn’t it?” said DiStefano. “I wouldn’t mind doing that, if only I could swim.”
The car sped on, out of the town and down the winding road towards Centerdale.
Jupe looked around at Pete. Pete was holding the scuba mask and frowning. When he looked up, his eyes met Jupe’s, and Jupe gave a tiny shake of his head. Pete put the mask down and leaned back in his seat.
Jupe glanced at DiStefano. The handyman was smiling to himself as he drove, and his lips were pursed in a silent whistle.
There was a jumble of small objects on the seat between DiStefano and Jupe —
several chewing gum wrappers, a plastic box with the lid missing, an empty soft drink can, and a torn envelope with bright green lettering on the back.
Jupe picked up the torn envelope. It was a list of things DiStefano had to do. “Fuel Pump” was on the list. Also “A & J Auto Suply, ready Tuesday” and “Scienserviss, Wadlee Road.”
Jupe put the envelope down. “You don’t swim,” he said to Distefano.
“Nope.”
“But you have all that scuba gear,” Jupe pointed out.
“Oh, that. That’s not mine. I’m keeping it for a friend.”
“Are you?” said Jupe. His voice was low and intense, and there was something in his tone that caused DiStefano to look over at him, then look away again.
They were well away from town by now, on the open highway with trees edging the road on both sides. DiStefano touched the brake, gently with his foot and listened, his head to one side.
“Now what’s that?” he said.
“What?” asked Jupe.
“That noise in the engine,” said DiStefano. “Don’t you hear it?”
He pulled to the shoulder of the road, set the parking brake, and began to get out of the car.
In the back seat Pete frowned. “I didn’t hear anything,” he said.
“Maybe you don’t hear so good,” said DiStefano. He was standing beside the car now, bending to look in at the boys, and his smile was mocking.
Jupe sighed. “The scuba gear,” he said. “It makes sense now. There was an anaesthetic in Birkensteen’s laboratory — something that would act very quickly and put an entire town to sleep, and then evaporate and leave no traces. But you didn’t want to breathe it or get it on your skin, so you used the scuba gear and the wet suit.
John the Gypsy thought he saw a monster with one eye and tusks. What he really saw in that split second before he fell asleep was a diving mask and air hoses.”
DiStefano stared at him, his face without expression.
“Eleanor Hess went to see you this morning,” said Jupe. “Where is she now?”
Then, too late, Jupe saw that there was a plastic spray bottle in DiStefano’s hand.
It had probably been tucked in next to the driver’s seat. DiStefano was lifting it now, aiming it at Jupe.
Pete gave a cry and started to scramble forward to get out of the back seat.
DiStefano squeezed, and moisture sprayed on to the faces of all three boys.
DiStefano stepped back and slammed the car door. Jupe felt a weakness in his limbs as he began to slide sideways in his seat. The darkness was closing in, thick, shutting out everything. But even as he seemed to fall and fall and fall, Jupe knew an instant of elation.
Now he had the answer!
Chapter 17
Escape — and then Capture
JUPE WAS AWAKE. He knew he was awake. There was the smell of mould, and near him there were sounds of breathing and of something moving.
But it was still dark!
Jupe sat up, feeling earth under hands. Someone whimpered in the blackness.
“Who’s that?” said Jupe. He reached out and touched someone. There was a shriek.
“Eleanor?” said Jupe. “Eleanor Hess?”
“Stop it!” cried Eleanor. “Leave me alone!”
Pete groaned somewhere nearby, and Bob mumbled something.
“It’s all right,” said Jupe. He kept his voice calm. “It’s me,