Deep Trouble by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

thought.
    “Come on, Billy,” Alexander said, leading me below deck. “I promised you I’d
show you how the sonar probes work, didn’t I? Let’s go down to the lab, and I’ll
give you a demonstration.”
    As we started to climb below, I took one last glance back at the mermaid. She
was still slumped forlornly at the bottom of the tank. Her head was lowered, her
blond hair floating limply above it like seaweed.
     
    The sonar probes weren’t as interesting as I thought they’d be. All they did
was beep whenever the Cassandra was in danger of running ashore.
    I guess Alexander could tell my mind was not on the sonar probes. “Want some
lunch?” he asked me.
    Uh-oh. Lunch. I was hungry. But not for spicy chicken salad.
    I hesitated. “Well, I had a big breakfast….”
    “I’ll whip up something special,” Alexander offered. “We can have a picnic up
on deck with the mermaid. Come on.”
    What could I do? I followed him to the kitchen.
    He opened the small refrigerator and pulled out a bowl.
    “This has been marinating all morning,” he said.
    I looked into the bowl. It was full of thin strips of something white and
rubbery-looking. They floated in an oily, dark gray liquid.
    Whatever it was, I knew I couldn’t eat it.
    “It’s marinated squid,” said Alexander. “I added some squid ink for extra
flavor. That’s what makes it gray.”
    “Yum,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I haven’t had squid ink in days!”
    “Don’t be so sarcastic. You might be surprised,” Alexander replied. He handed
me the bowl. “Take this up on deck. I’ll bring some bread and iced tea.”
    I carried the bowl of squid up and set it down near the mermaid’s tank.
    “How are you doing, Mermaid?” I asked her.
    She flipped her tail a little. Then she opened and closed her mouth, as if
she were chewing.
    “Hey,” I said. “You are hungry, aren’t you?”
    She kept making that chewing motion. I glanced down at the bowl of squid.
    Who knows? I thought. This might be just what she’d like.
    I stood on a rail and unlatched the top of the tank. Then I dropped in a
piece of the rubbery squid.
    The mermaid leaped toward it and caught it in her mouth.
    She chewed, then smiled.
    She liked it!
    I gave her some more. She ate it.
    I rubbed my stomach. “Do you like it?” I asked her. I nodded yes.
    She smiled again. Then she nodded yes.
    She understood me!
    “What are you doing, Billy?” Alexander asked. He had come up on deck carrying
two plates and a loaf of bread.
    “Alexander, look!” I cried. “We communicated!”
    I dropped another piece of squid into the tank. She ate it. Then she nodded
yes.
    “That means she likes it!” I said.
    “Wow,” murmured Alexander. He put down the plates and picked up his notebook.
He scribbled some notes.
    “Isn’t that way cool?” I demanded. “I’m a scientist, too—aren’t I,
Alexander?”
    He nodded, but kept writing.
    “I mean, I’m the first person on Earth to communicate with a mermaid—right?” I insisted.
    “If she stays with us long enough, you might be able to talk to her in sign
language,” he said. “Just think of the things we could learn!”
    He spoke aloud as he wrote, “Likes to eat squid.” Then he put down his pencil
and said, “Hey, wait! That’s our lunch!”
    Uh-oh, I thought. I hope his feelings aren’t hurt.
    He looked at me. He looked at the bowl. He looked at the mermaid.
    Then he started laughing.
    “At least somebody around here likes my cooking!” he exclaimed.
     
    About an hour later, Dr. D. returned with the groceries and supplies. Luckily
he had bought plenty of seafood in Santa Anita. We fed some of it to the mermaid
for supper. While she ate, Dr. D. checked the readings on the meters Alexander
had set up in the tank.
    “Interesting,” Dr. D. commented. “She sends out sonar signals through the
water. Just as whales do.”
    “What does that mean?” asked Sheena.
    “It means there are probably other mermaids like