Strange Creatures of Dr. Korbo by Gilbert L. Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

probably twelve feet high and at least that wide. Inside stood a girl wearing a pale gray dress. She stared at them, eyes big.
    â€œIt’s all right, Meta,” Viona said, and the girl’s face relaxed. “These are our friends.”
    â€œShe needs to lie down,” Sarah said. “My name is Sarah.”
    Meta came forward. She was a small young woman with black hair and liquid brown eyes. “Who are these people, Grandmother?”
    â€œLet me lie down, child.”
    Sarah and the elderly woman followed Meta to the side of the cavern.
    The girl said, “Here, this is her bed.” She helped Sarah put her grandmother down on a bed made of leaves with an animal hide stretched over them.
    â€œWe found her fallen on the trail,” Dave explained.
    â€œShe’s not in good health?”
    â€œNo. She is very sick.”
    At that moment a shrill wail jarred all the Sleepers.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Reb started. “I hope it’s not a bat.”
    Sarah gave him an indignant look. “Bat, indeed! Don’t you know a baby crying when you hear one?”
    â€œOh!” Reb said, looking rather foolish. “I forgot about that.”
    â€œCould we see the babies, Meta?” Sarah asked.
    A look of hopelessness came over the girl’s face. “Yes. But they are all hungry again.”
    â€œThe milk . . . I couldn’t get it . . .” Viona murmured.
    The girl led them around a slight bend into a separate area. In the dimness, Sarah saw on the floor eight pallets with a baby on each. Meta picked up one wailing infant, but another began crying, and then all of them picked up in a chorus.
    â€œWell, I’ve been to two state rodeos, a national fair, and three snake stompin’s,” Reb murmured, “but I ain’t never seen nothing like this.”
    Sarah’s heart went out to the babies, so small and helpless. She gathered up one. The child had its fist clenched and its eyes shut tight and was crying lustily. “There, baby,” she said, “don’t cry. He does sound hungry.”
    â€œYes. They’re all hungry. I must go now and get them some milk.”
    Gus had been standing to one side. Now he walked up to the babies and looked down. “Well, now. This is a fine thing,” he said, rubbing his long skinny fingers together. “All we’ve got to do is to take care of eight helpless babies, a sick woman, and a girl, and keep from getting eaten alive by giant squirrels or monster bats.” He grunted as if satisfied. “That ought to give a fellow character.” He turned to the young woman and smiled at her. “Where do you get the milk, Miss Meta?”
    â€œThere is a herd of goats about a mile from here. We take containers and milk them. They don’t seem to be wild goats, but we’ve never seen the owners to get their permission. And sooner or later, Dr. Korbo’s men will catch us. We’ve been terrified of that.”
    Gus leaned his long self toward her, nodding. “Well, now, Miss Meta, first of all, I don’t want you to get your hopes up. I know when young ladies see a handsome chap like me, they do that. So I warn you that I’m much sought after. But I want to help.”
    Meta gave him an unbelieving look. But then she smiled. “I will try to control myself,” she said. “If you want to help us, can you milk a goat?”
    â€œCertainly I can milk a goat. Give me the containers and tell me where to find them.”
    â€œMostly we only have small containers,” Meta said. “And not many of those . . .”
    â€œWe always carry canteens and some pans with us,” Sarah told her. She looked around at the others. “Can any of the rest of you milk?”
    â€œI can,” Reb said. “We kept goats on our farm out in Texas. There’s nothing to it.” Reb, however, was the only Sleeper who had had any goatmilking experience. He said,