Joan Hess - Arly Hanks 08 by Martians in Maggody Read Free Book Online Page A

few customers and managed to get a dozen pies and cobblers in the ovens, along with briskets and green bean casseroles and scalloped potatoes. A vat of chicken and dumplings bubbled on the stove. Corn bread and biscuit batters awaited their time. Estelle had come to lend a hand, since crop circles seemed to have no impact on the cosmetology industry. Now the two of them finally had a chance to sit down at the end of the bar.
    "All the units are rented?" Estelle said incredulously. "That ain't happened since the folks from Nashville came last year."
    Ruby Bee wasn't in the mood to reminisce about that particular disaster. "Two of 'em are tabloid reporters, although that little girl doesn't look old enough to be anything but a baby-sitter. Her name's Lucy Fernclift, and her address is somewhere in Florida. I don't think she would have admitted she works for the Probe if I hadn't upped and asked her. Jules Channel, the other reporter, is from the Weekly Examiner. He's older -- and a mite smirky."
    "Arly's type, huh?"
    "I reckon so," said Ruby Bee, "but I don't aim to be the one that tells her. The women in number two are from Little Rock. One of them was gabbling about some club or something when I gave her the keys, but it was noisier than a room full of fiddlers, and I didn't catch much of it. She also had me keep a room for two men coming all the way from California."
    Estelle's jaw dropped so far it liked to bump her chest. "California? Are you claiming folks are coming all the way from California and Florida and Little Rock on account of the circles in Raz's cornfield?"
    "I'm not claiming anything, Estelle. I am repeating what they told me. They could be crazier than any of the Buchanons, including Diesel. I heard just the other day that he's taken to living in a cave on the back side of Cotter's Ridge and biting the heads off live squirrels and rabbits."
    "I ain't surprised," Estelle said, trying to sound as if she'd known it all along and just hadn't bothered to repeat it. She did some calculating on her fingers. "That leaves one more unit, doesn't it?"
    "Last night right after the news a man called me all the way from New Mexico to reserve a room. His name is Hayden McMasterson, and he's the director of some research place that investigates mysterious happenings. He told me the name of it, but I can't recall what it is. He should be arriving shortly."
    "Folks sure are getting fired up over this. The next thing you know, we'll be hearing how Bigfoot moved in with Diesel and the Pentecostals are hiding out in the woods behind Joyce Lambertino's house. Arly may have had a point about everybody getting hysterical over three silly circles."
    "I seem to remember someone bringing a tape measure."
    "Well, I seem to remember someone talking about how flying saucers made the circles."
    The exchange might have built up some momentum, but they were both too tired to bother. They munched pretzels in companionable silence for a long while, thinking their own thoughts.
    Ruby Bee realized it was time to check the pies. "I don't know what made those circles," she said as she slid off the stool, "but I can't deny business has picked up. There was a traffic jam over in the parking lot at the SuperSaver this morning. You couldn't see the front of Roy's store for all the RVs and cars."
    "I'm so thrilled that some of us are doing better," Estelle said with a snort. "Maybe I ought to offer to spray folks' hair green and purple."
    "Maybe." Ruby Bee disappeared into the kitchen.
    Estelle was considering some sort of innovative "Allen Coif'' when the door opened and a man came in, then hesitated on the far side of the dance floor like he expected an invitation to two-step. She studied him critically. He wore a loose white shirt with lots of colorful embroidery on the yoke, a knotted cloth belt, khaki trousers, and sandals. A funny little beard clung to his chin; a slap on the back might send it flying in the air. The rest of his hair was frizzy,