relaxed. “Let me give you a real tour of Oracle. After you risked your lives, the least I can do is trust you to keep our corporate secret about the virus.”
“Hey, great,” Pete said. “Does this mean I can tell Kelly?”
“Sorry, Charlie,” Silas Ek said, grinning. “That far I don’t go.”
The security chief led the Investigators down the stairs and into another corridor that extended beyond the computer graphics one. Again one side was lined with glass windows.
“These are production rooms,” Ek explained. “This first one is the Matte Room, where our artists paint fake backgrounds to use in some of the movies and commercials we do.”
On the other side of the glass, painters were creating a black outer-space sky with silver stars and planets, a golden sunset that looked very real until the guys noticed that two suns were setting, and the pearly interior of a nautilus shell.
“That looks like the Forest of Mythology from
“Yup,” Silas Ek said. “We’re getting the forest ready for a spin-off we’re shooting now, and we hope to win Oscars for it and for this year’s
Inside, workers designed, carved, sewed, and painted miniature spaceships, cars, swords, and even fruit.
“Why do you have to make them so small?” Bob asked. He leaned over to stare at a cluster of tiny musical instruments — guitar, bass, drums, and sax.
“Because they’re going to have to move through space. The car and swords levitate in a movie, while the fruit flies through time in a TV commercial.”
“You do a lot of commercials?” Jupe asked curiously.
“They’re a big part of our business,” Ek said. “To give you an idea, the U.S. spends about two billion dollars annually making commercials, and more are filmed here in the L.A. area than anywhere else, including New York.”
“So we’re top banana instead of the Big Apple,” Bob joked as they moved on.
“Hey, scope this out!” Pete said, amazed, as he gazed into the last room.
Bob feasted on the sight of fabulous monsters, extraterrestrials, and other nonhumans of every size and shape. He told Ek, “No wonder you had problems with people breaking in to steal stuff!”
“It’s a real fantasyland,” Ek agreed. “We call it the Creature Room. Here’s where our artists create monsters and grotesques.”
“There’s the Grim Speaker,” Jupiter said. “See him, guys? He’s behind the gorilla with the parrot’s beak.”
Fascinated, the Investigators studied the popular environmental spokesman. Tall and angular, the Grim Speaker wore his usual long green cobweb robe. He had big strong human hands and a cat’s soft whiskery face.
“He looks alive,” Pete said. “Like he could talk any minute!”
“Good,” Ek said, pleased. “That means we’re doing our job. Now I’ve got a real treat for you.” He led them outside onto a sidewalk that wound around sheds, garages, and film lots.
“Check it out!” Pete said as he looked up at a bullet-smooth spaceship nearly three stories tall. It was coated with silver metallic paint and shimmered invitingly in the sun. Encircled by a low fence, the ship stood at the back of the Oracle lot. Tall, thick trees hid it from the street.
Just then a loudspeaker boomed. “Silas Ek! Silas Ek! Please return to your office!”
Ek smiled at the guys. “Maybe Natalie Jordan has some news for me about the monitors. You three go on into the spaceship. We built it for that spin-off we’re filming. See if you can figure out what its role will be!”
Ek walked briskly back toward the warehouse, and the Investigators continued on past a shack to the beautiful ship. Workers passed by carrying costumes and pushing dollies stacked with lumber.
“You know, Pete,” Bob said, “I think Jupe’s losing his marbles.”
“Whoever said he had any in the first place?”
“Okay, guys,” said Jupe. “What’s your problem?”
“Norton Rome,” Bob said, “I thought we came here to find him. How come you let Ek off the hook about Rome?”
“I didn’t.” Jupiter corrected him. “I’m reeling Ek in right now. Look, it was a big deal for him to admit Oracle’s infected with a virus.”
“True,” Pete agreed.
“And now Ek’s taking us on this tour not just to thank us but because
“What can we tell him?” Bob asked.
“Not much, but he doesn’t know that,” Jupe said. “I’m hoping we’ll learn something from him instead. Don’t you see?” He looked at them, his eyes shining. “Ek fits the description the apartment manager gave us for one of the guys who was asking about Rome.”
“Right!” Bob smacked his forehead. “Man, am I dumb. Business suit, baldheaded, and a severe face. I forgot! But why is
“
“Probably worried just like us,” Pete suggested. “I mean, Rome works for the company.”
“Maybe,” Jupe said as they tromped up the ramp to the rocket ship.
“What else could it be?” Bob asked.
The guys stepped inside the tall silvery craft.
“Major disappointment!” Bob said as the Investigators gazed up the hollow wood interior. “Where’s the high-tech equipment, the laser guns, the holograms?”
The walls were unfinished wood, and the only structure inside was a narrow wood staircase that zigzagged up to an open loft.
“Good question,” said Pete. “But shooting interiors here would be a nightmare. There’s no room.” He looked up. “There still might be a control panel or something in the loft.” He took the stairs two at a time, Bob right behind and Jupe trailing.
But as they neared the top, the stairs seemed to shudder. The guys quit climbing and held on to the rail.
“Hey, Bigfoot,” Jupe told Pete. “You started a chain reaction.”
“Naw, it’s an earthquake,” Pete said.
The shuddering increased. The staircase began to sway… because the walls were trembling!
“Earthquake for real!” Pete bellowed.
“I’m out of here!” Bob shouted as the Investigators raced downward.
Above and around them, metal groaned and wood ripped.
Jupe glanced up. “The loft’s coming down!”
It was sagging, ripping out from the rocket’s sides.
The guys leaned away, and with a hot whoosh of air, the loft crashed down past them.
“Close call!” Jupe said, relieved, as the Investigators started down again.
But the groaning and ripping sounds increased above them.
Jupe looked up again, and what he saw made his stomach hollow with fear. “The whole ship’s collapsing!” he cried.
