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Back The Nest Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Copyright page
  3. Introduction by Will Errickson
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. TREMORS
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. SUSPICIONS
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. DREAD
  19. 1
  20. 2
  21. 3
  22. 4
  23. 5
  24. 6
  25. WITNESS
  26. 1
  27. 2
  28. 3
  29. ALERT
  30. 1
  31. 2
  32. 3
  33. 4
  34. 5
  35. ENCOUNTER
  36. 1
  37. 2
  38. 3
  39. 4
  40. 5
  41. 6
  42. HAVOC
  43. 1
  44. 2
  45. 3
  46. 4
  47. 5
  48. 6
  49. SEARCH
  50. 1
  51. 2
  52. 3
  53. 4
  54. 5
  55. CLASH
  56. 1
  57. 2
  58. 3
  59. 4
  60. 5
  61. 6
  62. 7
  63. COUNTERATTACK
  64. 1
  65. 2
  66. 3
  67. 4
  68. 5
  69. 6
  70. 7
  71. VICTORY
  72. 1
  73. 2
  74. 3
  75. 4
  76. 5
  77. 6
  78. 7
  79. 8
  80. 9
  81. EPILOGUE
  82. About the Author

The scientist returned all of his attention to the telephone, continuing with the list of the analytical apparatus he wanted Wanda Lindstrom to prepare for the required laboratory. The workroom would have to be makeshift but it would get them started, at least. Hopefully, they wouldn’t have to go further . . .

5

FIVE

By twilight, Dr. Peter Hubbard was settled in at the abandoned lighthouse on Yarkie’s north shore. Over the years, the unpredictable ocean had stranded the building on a long sand bar, and a new light had been constructed on a higher point.

With the scientist was the nucleus of what was to become Yarkie’s laboratory team. Craig Soaras was to do whatever carpentry work was needed. Elizabeth and Bonnie had volunteered for the house and kitchen chores.

Johnson and Scott, as the elders, agreed that whatever meetings were required should be held at the lighthouse, so that people in town wouldn’t begin to wonder at the group’s frequent convening.

As darkness spread over the island, the men who had been searching the woods came in. Elizabeth was relieved to see them all apparently unharmed—Reed Brockshaw who had insisted on scouting with Johnson, and Russell Homer who had teamed with Ben Dorset and Amos Tarbell. Stephen Scott did not appear. He was hosting a long-­scheduled “social do” at his home, and to call it off would have aroused the very suspicions he wanted to avoid.

The men put their guns away, and fell to the supper Elizabeth and Bonnie had prepared. There was tacit agreement that reports would he tabled until after the meal. The men were hungry after a long day, and it was clear that there was nothing urgent to tell.

There was praise for Elizabeth’s fish chowder, and such praise from the islanders was an accolade indeed. Elias Johnson smiled with pleasure and pride. It was his recipe, handed down to Elizabeth, but he wasn’t about to take anything away from the satisfaction he saw on his granddaughter’s face. She reddened most becomingly, he thought, when Peter Hubbard of Harvard requested a second helping. He watched approvingly as Elizabeth stirred the bottom of the pot to get a ladle full of “the good of it” for the man. His eyebrows lifted a little. They didn’t make an unhandsome couple, at that, though he noticed that his granddaughter was obviously keeping a distance from the scientist. Well, they were all on edge, considering the hectic day.