“Yeah,” Adam said, although he had enjoyed the story. “Didn’t they all die when Mu was destroyed?”

“No,” Bum said. “Some of them escaped. From what I understand, several figured out ahead of time that Atlantis would attack before the asteroid hit. They left Mu and traveled to the North Pole, where they dug themselves into valleys of ice. They survived the fire from the bombs and the impact of the asteroid.” Bum stopped. “But now they’ve come back.”

“Why?” Adam asked. “Why here? Why today?”

Bum was thoughtful. “They may have come here because Spooksville is one of the few surviving pieces of Mu. But why they have come today, I don’t know. From what you described, someone must have brought them here—since they were frozen solid. But who that someone was—your guess is as good as mine.”

“All this is very interesting,” Sally said. “But how do we stop them, other than blowing up all of Spooksville?”

Bum spoke seriously. “That might be the only way to stop them. This city is not the only place in danger. Prom what I know of their history, the Cold People could sweep over the entire world. It may have been a good thing Mu was destroyed when it was. Before the asteroid hit, the Cold People who remained in Mu were already altering their own people. They’re like vampires, changing people to be like them.”

“Look,” Adam said, getting impatient. “We can’t blow up Spooksville. You have to give us a second option.”

“You mentioned how the creature fled from the fire,” Bum said. “That’s a key right there. We have an army surplus store just outside of town that sells all kinds of exotic war equipment. They have a few flamethrowers. You might want to buy them.”

“They’re not going to sell flamethrowers to kids,” Cindy protested.

“They might,” Sally said. “I know the owner of the store, Mr. Patton. He stole his name from a famous World War Two general. He believes every man and woman should walk around armed at all times. He’ll sell you a tank if you have the money.”

Bum nodded. “He might even give you the equipment on credit, if he’s convinced the city’s really in danger.”

“Aren’t you going to come with us?” Sally asked. “We need your help if we’re to fight these things.”

Bum scratched his unshaven chin and thought a minute. “I would rather leave town and try to forget that any of this is happening.”

“Coward,” Cindy muttered under her breath.

Bum half-smiled. “I said I would rather leave. I didn’t say that I would. Sure, I’ll help you fight them. God knows if we don’t stop them here, we’ll never stop them.” Bum stood. “Come on, let’s get to the surplus store.”

They all stood. But Cindy appeared to have reservations about their plan.