Forever Begins Tomorrow Read Online Free Page A

sweeps back and forth across the front of the harbor.
    Half an hour went by. The wind grew stronger. Rachel began to have trouble keeping the boat steady as it crested the increasingly stiff waves.
    â€œIf we don’t spot the transmitter in a few minutes, I think we’d better head in,” she said nervously. “I don’t think I can control the boat much longer.”
    A light rain began dappling the waves.
    â€œI hate to turn back without finding it,” said Roger. “Who knows what information Black Glove might get off Anza-bora between now and tomorrow?”
    Hap cleared his throat. “I don’t want to be a wet blanket—”
    â€œYou won’t have much choice if this rain keeps up,” said Wendy, interrupting him.
    â€œCute, Wendy. But if we’re lucky, the storm will be like you.”
    â€œExciting?”
    â€œNo. Short.”
    Roger, well aware of Wendy’s low tolerance for short jokes, grabbed her shoulders to keep her from jumping at Hap.
    â€œWhat I was trying to say,” continued Hap, ignoring the Wonderchild’s glare, “was that we have to consider the possibility that Sherlock was wrong. Maybe there isn’t a transmitter here.”
    â€œNot a chance!” cried Trip.
    â€œLook, it’s a fantastic program,” said Hap. “But we both know it still has some weak points—”
    He was interrupted by a shout from Ray. “Stop the boat! I think I’ve got something!”
    Concentrating on dealing with the waves, Rachel was so startled by Ray’s shout that she pulled back on the throttle too hard and accidentally threw the boat into reverse.
    It was as if they had run into a brick wall. The Merry Wanderer shuddered, lurched to a stop, then shot backward with a roar. Crying out in dismay, Rachel jammed the throttle back to neutral. The boat began to slow. But it was too late for Ray. The rapid change in direction had sent him flying off the bow. He hit the water about twenty feet ahead of them, then disappeared beneath the waves.
    â€œThere he is!” cried Wendy as Ray came gasping to the surface. He was floundering and shouting for help.
    â€œYou guys had better get out there,” said Roger to Trip and Hap. “He’s in big trouble!”
    â€œWe’re on our way,” said Hap. He and Trip, now clad in full scuba gear, flipped backward over the side of the boat. Within seconds they were heading toward the spot where Ray thrashed desperately in the water.
    The wind continued to rise, whipping the waves higher and higher. The rain became thicker. Wendy had all she could do to spot the Gamma Ray as he struggled to keep his head above the water. “Come on, guys,” she muttered to herself. “He needs help now!”
    Trip was the first to reach Ray. Hap was close behind him. To their surprise, they found their friend clinging to the handles of a metal sphere about the size of his beloved basketball.
    â€œI got it, guys,” he whispered wearily. “I got the transmitter!”
    Then he went under.
    Hap swam beneath him, grabbed him from behind, and pulled him to the surface.
    The Gamma Ray was unconscious when they broke through. Hap tried to pry his arms from the transmitter, but found that Ray was gripping the thing almost as if it were a life preserver.
    Spitting out his air tube, he yelled, “Trip, I can’t get him to let go of the transmitter!”
    â€œThen let’s just haul him over to the boat.”
    â€œWe can’t! The damn thing is anchored in somehow!”
    â€œI’ll take care of it,” said Trip. Slipping his own air tube back into his mouth, he plunged beneath the surface. His heart sank when he saw the chain trailing from the metallic ball locked in Ray’s grip. It stretched down until it was lost from sight in the deep blue water.
    Wondering how far it was to the bottom, Trip took an underwater torch from his utility belt and began