儿童英语读物 The Outer Space Mystery CHAPTER 4 The Haunted Mountain

Right after breakfast the next morning, the Aldens marched up the mountain to the observatory 1.



“I think we should take another look at that log,” said Jessie. “There was something odd about the way Eugene Scott made Mark leave. Mark said it was his turn.”



“Mark was so sure he put down the right time,” Henry agreed.



An early morning mist drifted among the trees like ghostly scarves.



“It’s spooky up here,” Violet said in a soft voice. “Listen to how quiet it is.”



She was right. No birds sang. Not even a small breeze ruffled 2 the treetops.



“It is creepy,” Jessie agreed.



Henry caught his sister’s hand. “I know what you mean.”



“Do you mean creepy like ghosts?” Benny’s eyes grew round. “Is this mountain haunted?”



“No, it’s not,” Henry hastily replied, not wanting to frighten his little brother. “It’s just so quiet.”



At the top of the mountain, the Aldens saw that the parking lot was empty.



“Nobody’s here,” said Benny.



“Let’s try the door anyway.” Jessie went up to the front door and turned the handle. “Hello?” she called down the corridor. “Anybody here?”



“Just us mice!” boomed Randy’s voice. He came out of his office, a clipboard in one hand.



“We didn’t know anyone was here,” Henry said. “Your van isn’t out front.”



“Sometimes I walk up the mountain. Try to get a little exercise. What can I do for you folks?”



Violet spoke 3 up. “We wondered if we could take a look at that log — the one the astronomers 4 sign to use the telescope. Last night Eugene came in and said Mark was using his time.”



“I heard about that,” Randy said, leading them to the sign-in desk. “I’ve never had two scientists sign up for the same clock of time, not since I’ve been keeping the log.” He opened the notebook.



“There it is.” Violet pointed 5 to last night’s entry. “It does say Eugene Scott.”



Jessie bent 6 her head closer. “But look — see those marks? It looks like somebody erased 7 a name and wrote Eugene’s name over it.”



Randy studied the page. “Hmmm. You could be right, Jessie. Mark’s name might have been erased. But I don’t know when this could have happened. I’m here all day.”



“Maybe one of the students came in early to change the names,” Henry suggested.



Randy shook his head. “Astronomers rarely get up early. They stay up all night working in the observatory. They usually sleep late.”



As they left, Henry had a thought. Randy was the log keeper. He could have changed the names.



On their way into the dining room for lunch, Jessie stopped to read a poster.



“ ‘Party time! Join us for the Perseid meteor shower, tomorrow night in the observatory,’ ” she read aloud.



“What kind of a party is that?” Benny asked.



“Oh, I think you should go,” a voice said behind them. Mark ruffled Benny’s hair. “They’re meteors. Falling stars!”



They found a table by the window. Once more, Mark sat with them.



“Actually, falling stars are not stars at all, but stone fragments,” Mark went on. “When these fragments break through our atmosphere, they leave a tail of light. It’s like watching fireworks.”



Just then Grandfather came in. He pulled up a chair. “I finally got a break from the conference. May I join you?”



“Please do, Mr. Alden,” Mark said. “I was just telling your grandchildren about the upcoming meteor shower.”



“We’re going to see falling stars!” Violet said. “Can we stay up that late?”



“Absolutely,” Grandfather promised. “It isn’t every day you get to see a meteor shower from an observatory.”



Rachel Cunningham came by with menus. When everyone had ordered, she bustled 8 off, but left the menus on the table.



When she came back with a tray full of drinks, Jessie handed her the menus. “You forgot these,” she said.



“I don’t know where my mind is today,” Rachel said. Then she began passing the drinks.



“I didn’t want Coke,” Benny told her. “I ordered ginger 9 ale.”



“And I’m afraid I didn’t ask for iced tea,” Grandfather said apologetically.



Rachel hastily snatched up the wrong drinks. “That’s right — you said you wanted lemonade. I’ll be right back.” She hurried away, nearly tripping over another diner.



“She seems awfully 10 nervous,” Jessie observed.



“I can see why,” Grandfather said. “It’s a lot of extra work for her, taking care of conference people and the summer-school students at the same time.”



“Still,” Mark put in, “Rachel volunteered for the job.”



This time Rachel returned with a tray overloaded 11 with the right drinks and their entrees 12.



Henry saw the tray dip dangerously and jumped up to help but it was too late.



Grandfather’s tossed salad landed upside down in his lap.



“Oh, no!” Rachel stood rooted to the floor, her gray eyes horrified 13. “Look what I’ve done!”



Grandfather plucked a radish off his shirt. “It’s all right, dear girl. Not to worry. I’ll go up to my room and change.” Trying to make her feel better, he joked, “I did ask for a tossed salad.”



“You don’t understand!” Rachel cried. “I’ve ruined everything!” Wheeling around, she flung the tray on an empty table and ran across the room.



Jessie started after her. “Rachel! Come back!”



But Rachel was already out the door.



Jessie stared at Henry. “I’ve never seen anyone so nervous.”



Henry nodded. “I wonder what could be bothering her.”



The children spent the afternoon exploring the stream that ran alongside the campus. Jessie showed Benny how to make boats out of sticks and leaves. Violet and Henry took pictures of the scenery.



“These should be good enough to enter in a contest,” Henry told Violet. “You’ve got some really nice shots.”



Benny launched a fleet of leaf boats down the rushing creek 14. “Here comes the navy!” he cried gleefully.



Henry measured the progress of the sun over the treetops. “We’d better head back. It’s nearly dinnertime.”



Scooping 15 his “navy” from the water, Benny neatly 16 lined up the soggy boats on a sandbar. “I’m ready now,” he declared. “I’m starving.”



“Dinner is supposed to be another picnic,” Jessie said. “I wonder if Rachel will be there.”



They found out later, when the conference people were gathered once more on the lawn. Rachel Cunningham was rushing between groups, serving drinks. Jessie noticed the young woman’s eyes were red-rimmed.



“At least we can eat when we want to,” Benny said. The long tables were laden 17 with an assortment 18 of cold dishes, breads, and salads. The dessert table made Benny’s eyes pop.



“Hey, there!” Eugene Scott bounded up to the children. “Haven’t seen you around today. What have you been up to?”



Henry was surprised by the young man’s sudden friendliness 19. “We’ve been busy,” he said.



“That’s good!” Eugene said jovially 20. “Are you coming to the closing ceremony on the last day of the conference?”



“I don’t know,” Jessie replied. “Grandfather hasn’t mentioned anything about it.”



“You should come,” Eugene said. “I want everybody to come. I’ve made a terrific discovery! The world will find out what it is that day!”



“Mark has a discovery too,” Benny put in.



A cloud seemed to drop over Eugene’s eyes. “You can believe that my discovery is a thousand times better than his!” With that, he stomped 21 off.



Violet shook her head. “Boy, he’s kind of weird 22.”



Jessie pointed to a stage that had been set up near the trees. “There’s Rachel with a guitar. I bet she’s going to sing! Let’s go listen.”



After a brief introduction by Dr. Porter, Rachel stood before a microphone.



“Tonight,” she said shyly, “I’m going to sing a ballad 23 my granddaddy taught me. The song was passed down from his granddaddy, so it’s really old.”



She strummed the guitar a few times, then began to sing. Jessie had never heard such a sweet, lilting voice. The words told a story of a family who had to leave their mountain home forever.



When Rachel was through, everyone applauded. Bowing briefly 24, the young woman left the stage, brushing away compliments from the guests.



“I wish I could sing like that,” Violet commented to Jessie later, when they were in their dorm room.



“Rachel is like these mountains. She seems different every day,” Jessie mused 25, pulling down the covers.



Later on, after the girls had fallen asleep, they heard a knock at the door.



It was Hazel Watson, the housekeeper 26.



“Have you seen Rachel?” she asked the girls. “I can’t find her anywhere!”