A Scientific Match

Chapter 17: Clinton Road

Chapter 17: Clinton Road

Kowalski watched out the window. He smiled slightly at all the children out in costumes out trick-or-treating. It felt weird not participating in the zoo's yearly Halloween party. He knew by now that they would have let the park children in for games and treats. Although he knew that everyone had it covered without him, part of him was disappointed with himself that he chose to do this instead.

He glanced at Blowhole thoughtfully. What did he think of kids? Just in general, of course. He wasn't at a stage of his life yet that he would want to put his inventing on hold to rear children, heck no...But he had to admit they were cute and he really did enjoy babysitting every so often. He knew Doris had liked kids as they used to babysit together sometimes...But Francis wasn't Doris. They were siblings and similar in a number of ways, but Francis was certainly his own dolphin...Kowalski had never met another like him.

—Which was probably a good thing. The world probably wouldn't survive two Dr. Blowholes. Some days it was hard enough making sure it survived the one.

"So... You're quiet tonight."

Kowalski looked over at him. "Sorry, just was thinking."

Blowhole glanced over at him. "Good thinking, or overthinking?"

"Combination thereof."

"You want to talk about it?"

Kowalski shook his head and looked out the window. "No, it really wasn't important." He looked at him again. "Are we almost there?"

"Yeah. Like ten or fifteen more minutes...Depending on if these humans get out of our way," he grumbled, drumming his flipper tip on the steering wheel. "Crabcakes. Can they drive any slower?"

"Maybe they're lost."

"Then they can get lost somewhere else."

Kowalski shrugged, watching as the car in front of them turned off onto another road. "I guess they heard you."

"Good." He turned onto another road. "So...The road starts here. You think we should park and continue on foot?"

"Didn't the sites online say not to leave our car?"

"Parking and walking it is then." He smirked, pulling over to the side of the road.

Kowalski sighed, but got out of the car. Down either side of Clinton Road were trees. Lots and lots of dark trees under a dark sky. He already knew he was not going to like this, but he jumped up and opened the back door and pulled out his duffel bag. He dug around in the bag, pulling out his night vision goggles and listening device. He put these on before taking out his ghost hunting equipment belt and slipped it on, too.

"Okay, what the flounder do you have there?"

Kowalski held up one of the devices. "EMF scanner. It detects electromagnetic frequency irregularities." He clipped it back to the belt, picking up another device. "I call this one the Ghost-Talkie. It uses radio frequencies to allow spirits to talk with us more easily." He clipped it again and then took out a little squirt gun. "This is a holy water gun...In case we come across something darker than a ghost..."

Blowhole looked at him and then burst into laughter. "A hol-holy water gun? Oh Kowalski, you've out dumbed yourself. The worst thing we may come across out here are cultists and I do not see your little water gun defending you from them."

"Well...Demons tend to like to hang out with ghosts. I just like to have my bases covered." He crossed his flippers.

"You learn that from your class?"