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Read Ebook: Zero Hour by Bradbury Ray Elkan Max Illustrator
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Ebook has 178 lines and 6137 words, and 4 pages
"Slow down," said Mom.
"Can't," said Mink. "Drill's waiting for me."
"Who's Drill? What a peculiar name," said Mom.
"You don't know him," said Mink.
"A new boy in the neighborhood?" asked Mom.
"He's new all right," said Mink. She started on her second bowl.
"Which one is Drill?" asked Mom.
"He's around," said Mink, evasively. "You'll make fun. Everybody pokes fun. Gee, darn."
"Is Drill shy?"
"Yes. No. In a way. Gosh, Mom, I got to run if we want to have the Invasion!"
"Who's invading what?"
"Martians invading Earth--well, not exactly Martians. They're--I don't know. From up." She pointed with her spoon.
"I didn't mean to," said Mom. "Drill's a Martian?"
"No. He's--well--maybe from Jupiter or Saturn or Venus. Anyway, he's had a hard time."
"I imagine." Mrs. Morris hid her mouth behind her hand.
"They couldn't figure a way to attack earth."
"We're impregnable," said Mom, in mock-seriousness.
"That's the word Drill used! Impreg--That was the word, Mom."
"My, my. Drill's a brilliant little boy. Two-bit words."
"They couldn't figure a way to attack, Mom. Drill says--he says in order to make a good fight you got to have a new way of surprising people. That way you win. And he says also you got to have help from your enemy."
"A fifth column," said Mom.
"Yeah. That's what Drill said. And they couldn't figure a way to surprise Earth or get help."
"No wonder. We're pretty darn strong," laughed Mom, cleaning up. Mink sat there, staring at the table, seeing what she was talking about.
"Until, one day," whispered Mink, melodramatically, "they thought of children!"
"And they thought of how grown-ups are so busy they never look under rose-bushes or on lawns!"
"Only for snails and fungus."
"And then there's something about dim-dims."
"Dim-dims?"
"Dimens-shuns."
"Dimensions?"
"Four of 'em! And there's something about kids under nine and imagination. It's real funny to hear Drill talk."
Mrs. Morris was tired. "Well, it must be funny. You're keeping Drill waiting now. It's getting late in the day and, if you want to have your Invasion before your supper bath, you'd better jump."
"Do I have to take a bath?" growled Mink.
"You do. Why is it children hate water? No matter what age you live in children hate water behind the ears!"
"Drill says I won't have to take baths," said Mink.
"Oh, he does, does he?"
"He told all the kids that. No more baths. And we can stay up till ten o'clock and go to two televisor shows on Saturday 'stead of one!"
"Well, Mr. Drill better mind his p's and q's. I'll call up his mother and--"
"Your father and I, last?"
"Yes?"
"What's--lodge ... ick?"
"Logic? Why, dear, logic is knowing what things are true and not true."
"Why, it means--" Her mother looked at the floor, laughing gently. "It means--to be a child, dear."
"Thanks for lunch!" Mink ran out, then stuck her head back in. "Mom, I'll be sure you won't be hurt, much, really!"
"Well, thanks," said Mom.
At four o'clock the audio-visor buzzed. Mrs. Morris flipped the tab. "Hello, Helen!" she said, in welcome.
"Hello, Mary. How are things in New York?"
"Fine, how are things in Scranton? You look tired."
"So do you. The children. Underfoot," said Helen.
Mrs. Morris sighed, "My Mink, too. The super Invasion."
Helen laughed. "Are your kids playing that game, too?"
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