Tuesday, March 30, 2010

17. Introductions


"Uh--Happy to meet you, Mr. Jones." I said. "I am Constable Crab and this is my friend and associate, Starry Starfish."

"Pleased, I'm sure, Crab and Starfish--you will forgive my not shaking hands with you since gripping my spines can be a rather unpleasant experience I've been told--and you can call me Spike--everyone does!"

"As long as we're getting acquainted, Spike," Starry said, "Even though the hour is very late, I would love to have a little chat with you! I have never met a Crown of Thorns starfish, but since I am a starfish too I am sure we'd have lots to talk about."

"You don't mind if we starfish just go up into the reef a bit and have a good yak together, do you Constable?"

Oh, you clever Starry, I thought as I replied, "Oh, not at all! I know you starfish must have lots to talk about! I'll see you later, Starry and nice to meet you, Mr.--uh--Spike!"


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Monday, March 29, 2010

16 Spike Jones


"Uh--it's only the wind?" I suggested.

"Wind, my spines!" Came a gruff but smooth reply--and slipping down from the coral reef and right into our faces came the dreaded Crown of Thorns starfish himself!

"You don't seem too happy to see me, neighbors." he said with a wry chuckle.

"It's just--uh--we expected to see someone else!" Starry improvised.

"Ahh--really?" replied the alien starfish. "Well, come poking around this little coral reef at midnight and you might meet just about anyone! Right? But since I am the only one here now--you might as well meet ME! Spike Jones, at your service!"


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Saturday, March 20, 2010

15.Who's There?


It was dark and gloomy when we returned at midnight to the sandy channel below the place where the Crown of Thorns starfish had appeared on the coral reef above.

Some light filtered down from the moon and starlight, so we could come pretty close to the place where our undercover agent had buried himself in the sand.

I carefully and quietly knocked our agreed upon code on the sand: "Knock, knock-a knock, knock--knock, knock."

"Who's THERE?" asked a sinister, quiet, and very unfamiliar voice from above.


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Thursday, March 18, 2010

14, Waiting for Information




There was nothing really for us to do but wait.

Starry and I returned to our usual places to rest for what might be an all-night stay near the coral reef.

We planned to meet on the sandy channel of the reef where our underground agent was on station--and so we did!


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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

13. Undercover Agent Clam



To communicate with our clammy undercover agent, we decided to simply knock "Shave and a Haircut"
on the sand covering him every night at midnight--and he would come out of the sand and whisper what he had learned .

Of course we would provide him with food and whatever else he needed. (And luckily, clams don't need much!)

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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

12. Clandestine Plan


Good!

When Al Clam offered his help as an undercover agent for us we immediately discussed what he could do.

We decided that we would help him get down to the coral reef that same night--then in the cover of darkness, he would slide under the sand as near as possible to the place the Crown of Thorns starfish had settled.

He would then pick up any information he could about the unwelcome visitor--and pass the info to us as clandestinely as possible.


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Monday, March 8, 2010

11. Clam Will Help.



"Crown of Thorns Starfish!" cried the clam, "That is bad news indeed for the residents of the coral reef! Once the Crown of Thorns Starfish decides to make his home there--the rest of the reef dwellers had better start packing because the coral reef is doomed!"

"We know that very well." Starry said, "and we hope that you can help us preserve our reef."

"But what can I do?" the clam asked pointedly, "I don't know anything about starfish."

"I know a little about starfish", Starry replied, "because I am one! But we don't know anything about this Crown of Thorns starfish--why he is here and what his plans are. We hope you can help us--using your undercover skills--to find out more about the intruder so we will know what to do."

"The Crown of Thorns Starfish is no friend of mine. I'll do what I can for ye, Constable and Starry."


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