Return of the Ancients Read Online Free Page A

nearly 50,000 times per second. The objective was to smash those particles together at a rate of almost two million collisions each second.
    Arn nodded in the dark, scribbling notes without looking down at the page. Cool , he thought. He turned his head to the left and saw the presentation screen reflected in Edward’s glasses – tiny copies of the Tevatron in each of the lenses. He smiled – his friend’s face was rapt with awe. Turning slowly to his right, he saw that the light made Becky look even prettier. Again, he wished he could think of something cool or funny to say, but gave up in case he sounded like a jerk . . . again.
    He slowly eased back in his seat, and snuck a look over his shoulder to where Barkin and his friends were seated. Huddled together, their faces were also lit up, but by something Barkin was holding on his lap – a portable PC game, probably. Grades are gonna be looking good again this year, Stevo , Arn thought and chuckled softly.
    Arn turned in his seat, happy that he wasn’t the focus of the dimwit’s attention for at least a few moments, just as a new image appeared up on the large screen, and Dr. Harper was moving into presentation wrap-up mode.
    The new pictures were of the void of space and distant galaxies, and Harper was talking about the connection between physics and astrophysics, and how their project would assist in solving the mysteries of dark matter throughout the universe.
    A crude drawing was attached to the lower corner of the image – a rough cartoon, but its point was clear. Darth Vader was holding up a lightsaber next to some crudely scrawled words: ‘The dark side controls the universe – dark matter holds it together – and dark energy determines your destiny.’
    ‘ Dark energy determines your destiny’ – good quote , Arn thought, as the lights came up.
    *****
     
    The student group was herded from the amphitheatre and down a long corridor, before being shown to a set of large steel doors. Behind them, heavy clanking and whirring could be heard until the giant doors slid back to reveal a grey service elevator large enough to fit ten elephants – or twenty boisterous teenage students – with ease.
    Arn and Edward stayed near the front, and Becky stood to the side, chatting animatedly with her friends. As the doors slid shut, from the rear came the familiar voice of Steve Barkin: ‘Smells like a thousand butt cracks in here’ – followed by the nasal sniggering of his close friend, Otis Renshaw.
    Arn tried to stop himself, but couldn’t resist. ‘Only you would know what that smelled like, Barkin.’
    The lift erupted in laughter. Even Becky covered her mouth to hide a laugh and Beescomb scowled from under his brows, but didn’t say a word. Beside him, Edward rolled his eyes, before shooting Arn a clear you are really asking for it kind of expression.
    The lift continued down for another few seconds, and Arn noticed that Becky had moved a little closer to him in the crowd. Hmm, he pondered – insults, the way to a girl’s heart.
    *****
     
    Steve Barkin felt his face burn. He watched Becky smile and mouth something to Arn, which he bet was about him. The guy was making him look like an ass in front of his friends, his former girlfriend, and the entire freakin’ class.
    He couldn’t believe it. If she ever dated Singer, Barkin would be a laughing stock. Becky Matthews and the redskin? That . . . was . . . not . . . going . . . to . . . happen.
    Before this trip was over, he’d have to think of a way to take him down a peg or two.
    *****
     
    Like the Pied Piper, Dr. Harper led them to the Tevatron control room. Beescomb was content to bring up the rear to ensure no solo explorations took place. After being ushered through another door, Arn’s expectations soared. He was amazed by the sheer number of screens and monitors that completely covered three of the four walls in the near freezing, barn-sized room.
    The core of the Tevatron, the