第23部分(第5/7 頁)

s　were　delicious。　But　when　my　father　whispered　that　the　teeny…tiny　black

berries　on　top　of　the　crackers　weren't　berries　at　all；　but

………　Page　71………

caviar；　I　stopped　midbite。　Fish　eggs？　Repulsive！

Then　my　father　pointed　out　that　I　ate　chicken　eggs　all　the　time；　so　ish　over

fish　eggs？　He　had　a　point。　I　hesitantly　finished　the

cracker；　and　before　long　I　was　having　another。

Bryce　was　standing　all　by　himself　across　the　room；　and　every　time　I　happened　to　look　his

way；　he　was　staring　at　me。

Finally　I　pletely　turned　my　back　on　him　and　said　to　my　father；　“So　who's　trying　to　invent　a

perpetual…motion　machine；　anyway？”

My　father　laughed。　“Mad　scientists　all　over　the　world。”

“Really？”

“Yes。　For　hundreds　of　years。”

“Well；　what　do　they　do？　What's　one　look　like？”

It　wasn't　long　before　Chet　was　in　on　the　discussion。　And　just　as　I　was　finally　starting　to　catch

on　to　magism；　gyroscopic　particles；　and　zeropoint

energy；　I　felt　someone　standing　behind　me。

It　was　Bryce。

I　could　feel　my　cheeks　flush　with　anger。　Couldn't　he　see　I　wanted　to　be　left　alone？　I　took　a

step　away　from　him；　but　what　that　did　was　open　up　the

group　and　allow　him　to　move　forward。　Now　he　was　standing　in　our　circle　listening　to　our

discussion！

Well！　Surely　he　was　not　interested　in　perpetual　motion。　I　barely　was　myself！　So；　I　reasoned；

continuing　our　discussion　would　drive　him　away。　I

dove　back　in；　and　when　the　conversation　started　to　peter　out；　I　came　up　with　my　own　ideas

on　perpetual…motion　machines。　I　was　like　a　perpetualidea

machine；　spinning　ridiculous　suggestions　right　out　of　the　air。

And　still　he　wouldn't　leave。　He　didn't　sa