Aliens in the Sky by Christopher Pike Page B

hands. But Watch and Sally were way ahead of Adam and Cindy when it came to the subtleties of the game. Adam and Cindy quickly lost all their pebbles, and even fierce Sally was steadily withering to Watch’s apparent skill. She got down to five pebbles, but finally seemed to be holding a strong hand because she bet two of them at once. Watch was unmoved; he matched her bet.
    â€œI think you’re bluffing,” he said confidently.
    Sally caught his eye. “You think so, babe?” Shepicked up the remainder of her pebbles. “I raise you another three. Count them.”
    Watch was unimpressed. “I still think you’re bluffing.”
    Sally sneered. “Thoughts aren’t rocks. Put your pebbles where your mouth is.”
    Watch coolly matched her bet.
    Sally was momentarily taken aback.
    â€œWhat have you got?” Watch asked.
    Sally threw her cards down. “Trash. You win. Darn.”
    â€œIt was an impressive bluff,” Adam told Sally.
    â€œI fell for it,” Cindy agreed.
    â€œIt’s not impressive unless it works,” Sally muttered.
    The sun was near the horizon and they were thinking of returning home when a minor disaster struck. Cindy, still curious about the Haunted Cave, had hiked up to peek at the opening to see if it was closed. They allowed her to go by herself because she had promised not to step inside if it was open. She was on her way back down the hill when she must have stepped on some loose gravel. The ground seemed to go out from under her before she started toppling.
    â€œCindy!” Adam shouted when he saw what washappening. Sally and Watch looked over, and soon all three were running to Cindy. She hadn’t toppled far, maybe twenty feet. But it was enough to pick up several scrapes and bruises. She was wearing shorts, and her legs were bleeding slightly in a few places. But that was not the major problem. As they reached her side, they saw her clutching her right ankle. Adam knelt by her side.
    â€œDid you twist it?” he asked.
    Cindy grimaced. “Yeah. It hurts.”
    â€œYou didn’t break it, did you?” Sally asked, concerned. “Your bone isn’t sticking out, is it?”
    â€œIf you did break it, there won’t be an ambulance coming for you,” Watch said matter-of-factly. “Spooksville’s ambulance drivers have all disappeared.”
    â€œWould you two shut up?” Adam said. “Can’t you see she’s in pain?”
    Cindy forced a smile. “It’s not too bad. I want to try putting some weight on it.”
    â€œYou might want to ice it first,” Watch suggested.
    â€œLike we just happen to have bags of ice with us,” Sally said sarcastically.
    Adam helped Cindy up. The moment Cindy puther right foot down, she let out a soft cry. “Ah,” she said, breathing heavily. “It really hurts.”
    Adam pointed to the reservoir. “Maybe you should soak it in the water. It will help with the swelling.”
    â€œI wouldn’t put my foot in that water if I’d just had sulfuric acid splashed on my toes,” Sally said.
    Watch strolled over to the water and crouched down. Before any of them could say a word, he reached over and cupped a handful of water. He raised it to his lips and swallowed, then nodded, satisfied.
    â€œIt could use a little fluoride, but otherwise it tastes fine,” he said.
    â€œWe should wait a minute to see if he falls over dead,” Sally whispered to Adam and Cindy.
    Watch walked back to them. “I don’t think it will melt your skin off, Cindy. But leave your shoe on when you put your foot in the water. The pressure of the sides of the shoe will help keep the swelling down as much as the cold water.”
    â€œOK,” Cindy muttered as Watch and Adam helped her to a spot close to the water. Cindy sat down and added, “I feel like such a klutz, falling like that.”
    â€œI fell,” Sally said