G. H. Stone: Fatal Error

Ek walked briskly back toward the warehouse, and the Investigators continued on past a shack to the beautiful ship. Workers passed by carrying costumes and pushing dollies stacked with lumber.

“You know, Pete,” Bob said, “I think Jupe’s losing his marbles.”

“Whoever said he had any in the first place?”

“Okay, guys,” said Jupe. “What’s your problem?”

“Norton Rome,” Bob said, “I thought we came here to find him. How come you let Ek off the hook about Rome?”

“I didn’t.” Jupiter corrected him. “I’m reeling Ek in right now. Look, it was a big deal for him to admit Oracle’s infected with a virus.”

“True,” Pete agreed.

“And now Ek’s taking us on this tour not just to thank us but because he wants information from us.”

“What can we tell him?” Bob asked.

“Not much, but he doesn’t know that,” Jupe said. “I’m hoping we’ll learn something from him instead. Don’t you see?” He looked at them, his eyes shining. “Ek fits the description the apartment manager gave us for one of the guys who was asking about Rome.”

“Right!” Bob smacked his forehead. “Man, am I dumb. Business suit, baldheaded, and a severe face. I forgot! But why is he looking for Rome?”

“ That is the question.” Jupe said.

“Probably worried just like us,” Pete suggested. “I mean, Rome works for the company.”

“Maybe,” Jupe said as they tromped up the ramp to the rocket ship.

“What else could it be?” Bob asked.

The guys stepped inside the tall silvery craft.

“Major disappointment!” Bob said as the Investigators gazed up the hollow wood interior. “Where’s the high-tech equipment, the laser guns, the holograms?”

The walls were unfinished wood, and the only structure inside was a narrow wood staircase that zigzagged up to an open loft.

“Good question,” said Pete. “But shooting interiors here would be a nightmare. There’s no room.” He looked up. “There still might be a control panel or something in the loft.” He took the stairs two at a time, Bob right behind and Jupe trailing.

But as they neared the top, the stairs seemed to shudder. The guys quit climbing and held on to the rail.

“Hey, Bigfoot,” Jupe told Pete. “You started a chain reaction.”

“Naw, it’s an earthquake,” Pete said.

The shuddering increased. The staircase began to sway… because the walls were trembling!

“Earthquake for real!” Pete bellowed.

“I’m out of here!” Bob shouted as the Investigators raced downward.

Above and around them, metal groaned and wood ripped.

Jupe glanced up. “The loft’s coming down!”

It was sagging, ripping out from the rocket’s sides.

The guys leaned away, and with a hot whoosh of air, the loft crashed down past them.

“Close call!” Jupe said, relieved, as the Investigators started down again.

But the groaning and ripping sounds increased above them.

Jupe looked up again, and what he saw made his stomach hollow with fear. “The whole ship’s collapsing!” he cried.

Gripping the rail, the investigators raced down the staircase. It swayed back and forth like a cobra. Suddenly it gave a mighty jerk.

“Jump!” Pete bellowed.

The guys leaped to the floor. With a crash the staircase fell down in a splintered heap. The guys tore for the doorway as dust and a hail of debris sprayed outward. Coughing, they dashed out into the clean, warm air.

Stunned Oracle workers had gathered to watch the tall silver ship collapse in on itself. They rushed over to the Investigators.

“You were in there?” one asked, astounded.

Before they could answer, Silas Ek called their names. The crowd around them parted.

“Are you all right?” Ek asked as he strode up to them. His face was pale with worry.

The guys gave a once-over to their bones and muscles.

“It’s okay. We’re fine,” Pete announced, and the gathering applauded.

Jupe turned to Ek. “Obviously the rocket was rigged to self-destruct, but why did it do it while we were inside?”

“It was supposed to fall apart on camera,” Ek explained. “Not on you fellows. We’re really very sorry.” Relief showed on his face as he explained to the guys what he thought had happened. He touched an on/off switch embedded in the wood post of the low fence. “Our stunt people had threaded aircraft cables through the studs of the rocket’s walls. This switch turned on a winch. It tightened the cables until they sheared off all the nails holding the walls together. Then, one by one, pieces of the ship fell in — but they were supposed to do it in the movie.”

“Who flipped the switch?” Jupe asked.

Ek frowned. “Probably someone who didn’t realize that the switch was connected to the rocket.”

Jupiter pointed to the sign above the switchbox, which clearly spelled out its purpose. “Hard to believe someone could be so stupid.”

“It happens, ”Ek said. “People get tired… or careless… or they’re just fooling around. Don’t worry — Oracle will be happy to pay any medical expenses.”

Jupiter sighed. “All we’ve got is a few scratches.”

Ek wasn’t going to admit that someone had it in for the Investigators, Jupe thought, and maybe Ek was right. Maybe it was an accident.

“You’ll be happy to know you were right about my video monitors,” Ek said, changing the subject.

“There was a virus in the system that affected the scan control.”

“Thought so,” Jupe said grumpily.

Just then the cleanup crew arrived and went to work on the rocket’s rubble. The Investigators glanced around. Now that the excitement was over, the crowd was wandering off to their jobs.

In the midst of the throng Jupe spotted the back of a green jacket. Could it be the guy who’d shoved the microwave cart at him in Rome’s apartment?

Instantly he yelled, “Wait!” and raced away after the guy.

“What’s going on?” Silas Ek shouted after Jupe.

“We’ll be back!” Bob assured Ek, and he and Pete took off after Jupe, although they couldn’t see who or what Jupe was chasing.

The guy in the green Windbreaker glanced back over his shoulder and spotted Jupiter. His eyes narrowed angrily, and he dashed away around a building.

Jupe was puffing, but he put on a burst of speed to catch the guy. Just then a rack of clown costumes was pushed across the sidewalk. Eyes on the green jacket, Jupe never saw the rack.

Jupe and the clown suits collided.

“Yo, Mr. Graceful!” Bob hooted.

Bob and Pete glided to a stop next to Jupe lying on the ground. Jupe pulled ruffled collars off his face and peaked hats from his chest. He propped himself up on his elbows, his head spinning.

“Jupe, you’ve got to quit clowning around!” Pete said “Get it? Ha — ha!”

Jupiter was in no mood for jokes. He swore. “I almost had him!”

“Who?” Bob asked. “Greenjacket!”

“He’s here at Oracle?” Pete said, surprised. “Who’s here?” Silas Ek asked. Jupiter hauled himself up on his feet and told Ek about their experiences with the man in the green jacket. “Maybe he’s the one who threw the switch. He almost creamed me yesterday with a microwave cart!”

“But you didn’t see his face yesterday,” Ek said. “Correct?” Jupe had to nod.

“Then how can you be sure this man is the same one? And how am I supposed to know who he is? Most of our employees and visitors dress casually, and we’re a big company. There could be fifty men here today wearing green jackets. And quite honestly, if someone were chasing me, I might run too!”