The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery at Missile Town
CHAPTER 1 Countdown R(cid:28)(cid:27)(cid:26)(cid:25) Hollister sat in a cone-shaped wooden object marked Explorer X nailed to the top of a six-foot pole It stood near the garage of the Hollister home Stationed at various spots nearby were his brother and two sisters missile launching Moon rocket man Are you ready Pete called (cid:30) e clear July morning made this a perfect day for a Okay Tracking station All set sang out Pam from the roof of the garage (cid:30) en start the countdown Holly Pete ordered (cid:30) e Hollister children’s missile game was about to begin with red-haired seven-year-old Ricky as the as tronaut On his head was a space helmet which covered half his face His eyes sparkled as he grinned down at twelve-year-old Pete crouched behind a sandbox Pete a husky blond boy held an old radio in one hand With the other he twisted the dials left and right Next to him sat Holly a six-year-old tomboy with pigtails She glanced up at golden-haired Pam who was ten 7
T minus ten minutes Holly chirped looking at her wrist watch Hey Hold it an outsider’s voice suddenly de manded What’s going on here Joey Brill and Will Wilson twelve-year-old pals strode into the yard Uh-oh Trouble Pete whispered to Holly Hold the countdown Joey Brill unpopular with the Hollisters because of his many mean tricks wore a scowl most of the time Will a slender boy usually tagged along after his hus kier friend What kind of a sissy game is this Joey asked We’re playing Cape Kennedy Pete answered rising Why are girls in it Joey questioned Only men launch missiles (cid:30) at shows how much you know Ricky called down from his high perch Plenty of women have jobs at the missile range Our Uncle Walt who works there said so Pete explained that their uncle was in charge of in stalling the pay load which was often shot into outer space in the nose cone of rockets It’s a very important job and we’re proud of him Holly added I’m going to be an astronaut some day Ricky said lifting his helmet An aster-nut ha ha Joey laughed You’re a nut all right to be fooling around with silly stu(cid:29) like this 8
He walked over and kicked the pole sending a quiver up to the missile in which freckle-nosed Ricky sat Stop that Pete ordered He advanced toward Joey at the same time keeping an eye on Will Okay We don’t want to play your jerky old game anyway Come on Will Joey gave the pole an extra kick then ran o(cid:29) with his pal following (cid:30) ey dashed out the driveway and dis appeared down the street I hope those pests don’t come back Holly said breathing a sigh of relief From his seat in the nose of the make-believe rocket Ricky glanced about the launching site To him the white rambling Hollister home on the shore of Pine Lake was the Central Control Building (cid:30) e glistening body of water was the Atlantic Ocean and the rowboat tied to the Hollisters dock was a crash boat ready to make any necessary rescue Pete had squatted into place again beside the sand box and was turning the radio dials once more How’s everything down range he asked Pam His sister scanned the lake with her (cid:31) eld glasses Weather good Clouds parting Resume operations T minus nine minutes Holly said and Ricky adjust ed the space helmet more securely awaiting the lift-o(cid:29) o(cid:29) o(cid:29) Holly’s eyes were glued to the sweep hand on her watch T minus eight seven six six six (cid:31) ve four four four three Earlier the Hollisters had practiced making a roar ing sound when the lift-o(cid:29) took place (cid:30) ey were all set o(cid:29) took place (cid:30) ey were all set o(cid:29) as the countdown neared zero 9
