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each other. If they do have any spare time they spend it making advances to
her daughter. And they only have forty-eight hours."
"What are you talking about?"
Ramsay grinned triumphantly. "Listen carefully. We've both been hearing the
tribal music, and even though we can't hear it very well, it's obviously of a
religious nature. And it's being played with greater intensity at uneven
intervals day by day. But the ceremony is building. I believe it is building
towards an important religious ritual which will take place tomorrow night."
Hyde scoffed. "I suppose you're going to tell me what time tomorrow night!"
"Indeed I am. It will begin sometime between 11:06 p.m. and 1:09 a.m."
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Because tomorrow night there will be a lunar eclipse," announced Ramsay.
"And what is left of the Naka-mee-chee tribe will be here in force to
celebrate it."
Hyde leapt to his feet. "Ramsay, that's brilliant! I forgive you all your
ridiculous antics!"
Ramsay smiled triumphantly. "Now the thing to do is secure our equipment."
"How do you know they'll send it? There's a time factor involved now."
"They'll send it," Ramsay promised grimly. "Listen."
He sat down at the radio and homed in on AMO's frequency. "Dr. Sterling,
please. At once." There was a pause, then, "Dr. Sterling, it's Dr. Ramsay at
Lake Naka-mee-chee. Look here, Sterling, I'll be blunt. This place is crawling
with anthropologists from all over the world. We are on the verge of a major
discovery and so far only Hyde and I know what it is. If our equipment is not
airlifted in by tomorrow morning, Hyde and I will resign immediately and AMO
will be cut completely out of the discovery. That is all I have to say. Good
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day."
He switched the radio off before Sterling could reply. "There," he said
confidently. "The thought of a discovery being made in Ontario without AMO
will set him scurrying."
***
Bugs found Gus and Roger in the shadows at the rear of the cave, adding more
paintings to the already cluttered decor.
"Hi, guys. Hey, this is a nice one, Roger. Too bad it's of Lake Nickaninny."
"Hi, Bugs. How was your fish fry?"
"Oh, man, did it stink! It was-"
With aclick , the tape deck erupted with the sounds ofThe Itch Live in
Concert .
Gus stiffened with shock. "The alarm!"
"It's thereal guy who ripped off our toilet!" Bugs exclaimed. "Quick!"
Shocked by the sudden noise, Elizabeth tumbled into the cave entrance and
looked up in terror as three menancing figures advanced toward her from the
shadows. One carried a bow and arrow, one a large spear and the third a
battle-axe. She opened her mouth to scream, then gaped. The one in the middle
was none other than&
"Bugs Potter, what is this?"
All three attackers dropped their weapons with a clatter.
"Oh-uh-hello, Elizabeth."
"What is this place? The Ritz?"
"Uh it's just a cave. I found it when I was doing my project."
"All these paintings?"
Bugs cringed. "They're good, aren't they?"
"Where did they come from?" Her eyes scoured the room. "And where did you get
all those chocolate bars?"
"It's amazing what you can find in the woods."
"You you're living here in the lap of luxury while we sit in the sand
watching our fathers fight! Eating chocolate bars while we starve in misery on
the beach! How could you? I always knew you were a creep but I didn't know you
were despicable!"
"Uh I guess everyone's entitled to an opinion," Bugs mumbled.
"You are a miserable excuse for a human being!" she seethed. "You're a worm!"
Bugs turned to his two friends. "Isn't anybody going to defend me?"
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"Yes, well excuse me, Miss," piped up Roger, "but I don't think you should "
"Mind your own business!" snapped Elizabeth.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
She spread her hands, indicating the cave. "You've got everything here! I
suppose you've got our Porta-Toilet too!"
"Oh, no," said Gus. "That's gone. I mean, gone for real."
"Who are these two creeps anyway?"
Bugs pointed to his two friends in turn. "Gus, Roger remember I was telling
you guys about the Veddas? Well, this is Elizabeth."
"Thisis Elizabeth?" gasped Gus.
"Elizabeth Vedda?" echoed Roger.
Elizabeth had caught sight of Bugs' drum set. "Aha! Our pots! And Mother's
pants! And her vest! Bugs Potter, you are low! The nerve of you, taking our
things and " She stared at the newly-painted bass drum. "The Nickaninny?"
"That's our rock group," announced Roger proudly.
"Yourwhat ?" She ignored Roger and stared at Bugs expectantly.
"There was nothing to do up here, so we formed a rock group."
"When our families hear about this," shrilled Elizabeth, "they'll throw you
in the lake and hold you under!"
"They don't have to know," said Bugs pleadingly.
"Oh, yes they do, Bugs Potter! I owe you that much!"
"Can't we talk about this?" asked Bugs weakly.
"Why should I have anything to say to you?" she demanded.
"Well," Roger offered shakily in the strained silence, "I baked a cake last
night. Why don't we all discuss it at my house over a cup of tea?"
"That's a sick joke!" said Elizabeth. "I see your friends are just like you,
Bugs."
"He does have a house," said Gus. "Wait'll you see it!"
"Yeah," added Bugs, desperately trying to stall Elizabeth. "It even has
plumbing!"
***
Bugs, Gus and Roger sat at the ranger's kitchen table having seconds of
chocolate cake while Elizabeth soaked in a hot bath, her first in over a week.
She had been overjoyed beyond belief to find that such a facility existed in
Roger's house and had almost wept when he offered her the use of it.
"She won't appreciate it," Bugs was saying. "She'll just stroll right out of
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here and start opening her big mouth again. She'll squeal to my dad, and The
Nickaninny will be finished."
"Gee, Bugs," said Roger, "when you described Elizabeth Vedda you gave us the
impression she was homely."
"So?" said Bugs.
The ranger dropped his voice to a whisper. "She's beautiful!"
Bugs' jaw dropped. "She is?"
Gus and Roger nodded.
"Well, you've got to admit she's mean," said Bugs.
"Not really," said Roger. "And she has a lovely voice."
They listened to Elizabeth singing joyously as she splashed.
Bugs snorted. "That's not singing!"
"You know," said Gus, "we could really use a lead singer for The Nickaninny."
Bugs opened his eyes wide. "You meanElizabeth ?"
"I think she'd be really good at our material," said Roger.
"Aw! We can't do that. She'd spoil the group!"
"Why?"
"Well because she's Elizabeth! The Nickaninny is important, and Elizabeth is
Elizabeth!"
They heard her pull the plug to empty the tub.
"Listen, Bugs," said Gus, "if she's a member of the group there's no way [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]