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Chapter 1

Introduction

Don't get me wrong. Like any sane, freedom-loving kid, I start itching for summer vacation the day school starts -- but now that summer's come, it's shaping up to be kind of dull.

Why? Well, my main mission in life is to have fun. And right now, it seems like a conspiracy's operating against that. Threat No.1: Sam's not around. It's not like I don't have other friends, but he's right next door. Sure, I could've gone with him on exchange, but can you see me studying at math camp all summer? I had other plans.

Or so I thought. Then along comes Threat No.2: the city's shutting down the summer fair for the first time ever, and probably for good. The university wants to build a new physics research center on the fairgrounds. It's practically a done deal -- all they need is the mayor's signature. They're holding a physics conference on the site next week to celebrate and show off the site to the scientists. So instead of kids swarming the coaster and scarfing down corn dogs, physicists will be parking where the rides are now and scoping out the blueprints inside -- when they're not listening to each other's lectures, of course. Oh, or teaching summer physics camp -- basically, free classes they're offering kids to take the place of the amusement park rides. Right. Don't everybody rush to register! Real geniuses there at the university.

After the conference, construction begins. Apparently the whole thing's a big honor for our little town and everybody's thrilled, according to the news. Everybody, huh? Guess they forgot to ask me.

They must've missed Liam, too. Liam's my uncle, and he's lived in our basement forever. He's all right, but I don't exactly advertise the fact that we're related. He writes for the local paper, a cool job -- in the right hands. But in his newspaper columns, he keeps calling me "Jeremy, the little boy upstairs with the dark curls." I mean, come on. Maybe he's forgotten the growth spurt that made me so much taller than him. I can't stand the way he talks, either. His voice is way too big for his size, just like his swelled head. He's always bragging about something. Anyway, we do have one thing in common. We both wish this conference -- the XIV Symposium on the Universality of Physics -- and building project would just disappear. He's supposed to write up the conference for the newspaper and, well, he's definitely got a phobia when it comes to physics.

"Physics! In high school, I skipped it when I could and slept through it when I couldn't." Liam actually whimpered when he said this. He recovered quickly enough, but you could still hear the panic under all the complaining. "All that research I'll have to do is a waste of my brain space and talent. When will I ever need physics again? It's an insult, that's what it is. I can think of a dozen assignments better suited to a journalist of my caliber."

I felt for him, I really did, but I had problems of my own: namely, Threat No.3, the final reason why this will be the worst summer ever. I said Sam was on exchange, right? So this girl Audrey's staying with his family. Sam's parents told my parents, who asked me -- more like told me -- to make sure I include Audrey in all my plans, so she's not lonely so far from home. I said sure, no big deal, but I wasn't expecting a visitor from Mars!

She's only from the other side of the country, but where's an intergalactic translator when you need one? In Scrabble the other day, she racked up points using words my teachers wouldn't know (go ahead, ask yours): I mean, who knew qubit, quark, and branes were legit? To me, cosmic means amazing. To her, it describes whole other galaxies.

She looks normal enough. On the tiny side, and pale. Straight, blonde hair. Two serious gray eyes. One nose, one mouth; two arms, two legs. She wears the same stuff other girls wear but is more into the kind of comics and movies I like. But come on ... I mean, get this: she can't wait till the physics conference starts. What's that got to do with us, says stupid me. Aren't you going to do their camps for kids? she asks, with this look of surprise. My mother -- always lurking at the worst possible moment -- immediately signed me up. Why didn't I keep my mouth shut?

Two seconds later, Audrey had left, my mother was back inside, and I was left sitting there, stunned by science, on my own front steps. It didn't help when Liam came whistling up our walk. "You're awfully cheerful," I said in a sour voice, "for someone who's spending the summer studying physics."

"Oh, but I won't be," said Liam with a grin. "I've got a plan."

Liam looked around cautiously before continuing. "A protest will do it. I'll just convince everyone they need the fair more than they need physics."

This sounded promising. "How?"

"With my powers of persuasion, I can do anything," boasted Liam. "It occurred to me: these scientists -- they have no right to bring in their 'cutting-edge' ideas to 'improve' our lives." If Liam's sneer weren't so funny, it'd be scary. "All we know is what they tell us: the good stuff, the promises. Who knows what risks -- and there's always a risk with technology -- they're hiding? Who are they to force our children to suffer the studying? Somebody's got to protect our innocent citizenry from the pitfalls of progress," he continued. "And who better than me? I live here, I know the hearts and minds of the people, I have the ability. I'll need some help from the kiddy contingent, of course -- that's where you come in."

Let the "kiddy" comment go, I told myself ... he could be my way out of a sad situation. "Depends on what you need me to do. And it's got to be undercover, okay?" No way was I letting Audrey find out.

"Check the morning paper," Liam said, opening the door and heading in. "And remember, I'll be at the baseball diamond tomorrow to interview your team about the big tournament. Just follow my lead."