Spiders on the Case Read Online Free Page B

collection is very vulnerable. I heard Tom talking about it on the phone this morning. Since it’s up on the balcony” — Felix waved his new leg to indicate the balcony — “it requires a climb of three meters.”
    â€œDo we have to use the metric system?” Julep complained. “I haven’t learned that yet.”
    â€œAll right, almost ten feet,” Felix snapped. “A big group of silverfish — and a few glue bugs — have moved from the southwest corner of the balcony to the northwest corner. Hence forth, I’ll refer to this as the geography section because that’s where the Adams atlas is kept.”
    â€œNo! Not John Adams’s personal atlas!” Edith sighed. “Children, as you know, John Adams was the second president of the United States. His books are especially valuable because he scribbled little notes in them.”
    â€œI thought we weren’t supposed to scribble in books,” Julep said.
    â€œIf you’re the president of the United States, you can scribble on anything you want,” Jo Bell said.
    â€œBut proceed, dear.” Edith nodded at Felix. “Explain your strategy.”
    Jo Bell couldn’t bear how her mother fawned over Felix. And the more her mother did, the more insufferable he became.
    â€œThe southern flank of this quadrant is vulnerable. I would suggest after our initial climb a sneak attack. We’ll gather at Checkpoint Quincy to begin our climb. You all know where that is — just over the doorway.”
    Jo Bell yawned.
    â€œAre you bored, Jo Bell?” Felix asked. “I suggest you listen up!”
    â€œOh, no, not bored, just curious.”
    â€œWhat about, dear?” her mother asked.
    â€œI find it fascinating how one minute Felix is an artist, and the next some kind of military expert.”
    â€œThey’re both art forms,” Felix replied rather snootily. “There is a design to a military campaign just as there is a design for a web. Now, if I may continue?”
    â€œYes, dear, please do,” Edith said. “The silverfish must be stopped before it’s too late.”
    Felix looked more smug than ever, and Jo Bell started to feel as if she needed two more eyes to take in all of his fat head.
    â€œFor our climb, use number two quality silk.” Felix then turned to Buster. “In orb weavers, I believe our number two is your number five. Strong, highly flexible, with a good amount of stretch, but it doesn’t go all loopy on you.”
    â€œYes, I believe you’re right,” Buster said.
    â€œI have extensive knowledge of orb weaver silk — some remarkable grades, if I do say so,” Felix continued.
    Jo Bell thought she would vomit.
    â€œHe’s unbearable!” she whispered to Julep, who was playing with a dead glue bug she had found.
    â€œI can’t believe I’m passing up this glue bug, but I can’t eat another bite.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Felix said. “We’ll haul them back in my newly designed web, which is not only elegant but has amazing hauling abilities. We’ll break into teams. Mom, you and Julep are one team. Jo Bell, you take Buster. I’ll roam and supervise all of you. Assault Team One.” He nodded at Edith and Julep. “You should head directly for the atlas. Jo Bell, you and Buster need to go to call number 915.4. It’s one of the few prints left of a sketch that Paul Revere did of the Boston Massacre. The sketch is now being attacked. It’s massacre twice over, first by the British soldiers and now by the silverfish.”
    â€œMay I say something?” Buster asked in almost a whisper.
    â€œYes, but be quick about it,” Felix snapped.
    All twenty-four eyes were now riveted on Buster.
    â€œI have been here for a while and I am familiar with the Adams collection. There is something terribly important I need to tell you.”
    â€œWhat’s