A Misfortune of Lake Monsters by Nicole M. Wolverton

Author:Nicole M. Wolverton [Wolverton, Nicole M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CamCat Publishing

Lemon answers the door, both Butterbeans and Bob pacing the floor around her feet and panting. Lemon’s hair is down, pushed behind her ears. Smear of mud down one side of her face. Behind her, Mr. Z doesn’t look much better. The word bedraggled comes to mind. The frown on his face makes me think Lemon got it wrong—he doesn’t want us here at all.

“Well, don’t just stand there all day,” he snaps.

“Have you heard anything about Will?” I ask when Lemon shuts the door behind us. Darrin’s been quiet the whole ride over. He rubs her arm, gives her a smile. Thought for sure he’d be all over the place with excitement—maybe the fact that this is dangerous has sunk in.

Lemon shakes her head. “Grammy said she’d call.”

“My mom’s at the hospital again tonight,” Darrin says. “Maybe she can find something out.”

“Hain’t no reason to bother your mother,” Mr. Z says. “Pearl will call with news.” He sinks into his battered recliner. Bob jumps up, wedges himself under Mr. Z’s arm.

Lemon shrugs, nods to the couch. Not that being around Mr. Z is ever relaxing, but the air is so thick with tension it would be chewy if I took a bite. Darrin claims a spot farthest away from Mr. Z on the ugly couch. He doesn’t even pet Butterbeans when the dog collapses onto his feet. That’s when it hits me—Darrin’s scared. Not worried, or even nervous. He’s thoroughly scared. Guess I am, too, though I’m trying to be cool about it. I don’t know if it’s Mr. Z or the monster, but each minute that goes by, I’m more and more wired.

Maybe this’ll even keep the Jenkins clan away from Lemon’s house. Give them second thoughts that Lemon’s to blame for Skeet, anyway.

I sit on the other end of the couch. My leg joggles up and down.

Mr. Z leans forward, elbows on knees. “Either of you boys have thoughts about what we’re dealing with here? Lemon told me you been doing research.”

“No, sir,” I say. “The only person who’s gotten a look at the monster is Lemon.”

“Until today,” she says. “Hey, any luck with the underwater camera equipment?”

“What’s this now?” Pappap says.

Lemon swivels toward Mr. Z. “I had an idea to start looking at ways people control invasive species, but Troy said that might be useless if we don’t actually know what this thing is—because if you want to kill something, you have to know what won’t kill it.”

“That’s a real smart thought, Troy.”

I bristle at the surprise in his voice. Don’t know why—should be used to it by now.

“Right,” Lemon says. “Because Troy is smart. A bunch of years ago you got some underwater . . . what are they called . . . ROV cameras for the station, so Troy’s going to see if he can lay hands on one.”

Mr. Z’s eyes harden. “Steal one, you mean?”

“Pappap, do you want to listen, or do you want to start a fight?”

His frown deepens, but he doesn’t say more.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.