Snake Food

By Kristin Fulton

Olivia and Theo are sent to spend the summer with their uncle, Professor Austin Hazelsmith, a terrifically inventive scientist. When the children arrive, they meet Lena Zelinsky, their uncle’s unpleasant housekeeper and Vladimir Trokov, his creepy laboratory assistant. The pair tell Olivia and Theo that their forgetful uncle has left on a sailing trip and might be gone for months. Suspecting that things are amiss, the kids are determined to get to the bottom of the professor’s untimely disappearance. They join forces with Will, a neighbor boy, and enter a world of danger and intrigue when they discover the professor’s own brilliant inventions have been turned against him by the strange “housekeeper” and “lab assistant.” The devious Trokov and Zelinsky are holding him hostage with the goal of stealing the professor’s extraordinary scientific formulas and using them for evil purposes. The children, with bravery and brains, outwit Trokov and Mrs. Zelinsky in a spirited and exciting showdown.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristin Fulton
• Release date: Sep 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9780989614634

Kristin Fulton

Kristin Fulton is the author of middle grade novels Snake Food and The Haunting; a fable for all ages, Henry Bingle’s Transformation; a picture book, Is THAT a Hat? and the novel Sisters of the Soul. When she isn’t writing books, she plays songs on the Ukulele, paints watercolor landscapes, and goes on hikes. She enjoys picnicking on the beach, a good scrabble game, and Yosemite National Park.

Book preview

Snake Food

By Kristin A. Fulton

Illustrated by Molly Hart

Copyright © 2014 K.A. Fulton

All Rights Reserved

All Rights Reserved © 2014 Kristin Fulton. First Printing: 2014.

Any unauthorized copying, reproduction, translation, or distribution of any part of this material without permission by the author is prohibited and against the law.

Table of Contents

ONE • A Change in Plans

TWO • Where’s Uncle Austin?

THREE • The Serpentarium

FOUR • Meeting Will

FIVE • Phone Fiasco

SIX • Olivia Eavesdrops

SEVEN • Sailboat Mystery

EIGHT • Picnic Plan

NINE • A Shocking Discovery

TEN • The Professor’s Great Bamboozle

ELEVEN • Pigeon Coop Caper

TWELVE • Setting Traps

THIRTEEN • Hester’s Refuge

FOURTEEN • Olivia Posts Her Mail

FIFTEEN • Early Risers

SIXTEEN • Splendid Teamwork

SEVENTEEN • Discovered Mail

EIGHTEEN • A Rude Interruption

NINETEEN • Theo Takes Control

TWENTY • Outwitting the Diabolical Duo

TWENTY-ONE • A New Home for Lena and Vladimir

TWENTY-TWO • Everything is Fine, Now

EPILOGUE • A Summer to Remember

CHAPTER ONE

A Change in Plans

Olivia heard the bad news while accidentally spying on her parents early Saturday morning. The Persian cat, Minnie, had been scratching all night, and Olivia, who had a passionate hatred of fleas, was running the flea comb through Minnie’s thick fur. The flea ridding was taking place in the laundry room next to the kitchen, and the door was cracked open a couple of inches between the two rooms when her parents walked into the kitchen and started making breakfast. They didn’t notice Olivia because she was hidden from view behind the door. As Olivia pulled the flea comb through the hair around Minnie’s ears, she overheard a conversation that outright destroyed her plans for the summer, plans including advanced ballet class, spending time with her friends Paige and Savannah, flirting with Danny Wheeler, and playing soccer at Oceanside Camp for a week at the end of August.

Aaron Hazelsmith, Olivia’s father, sounded unusually serious. Noah says they need us right away. People are dying by the hour, and the number of serious injuries is overwhelming. He wants us to head the children’s surgery unit.

Olivia’s parents, well-known doctors who specialized in children’s medicine, had recently joined the Physicians’ Relief Foundation, a charitable organization that set up hospitals in many countries around the world where natural disasters had struck. Olivia knew Noah; he was the big, jolly man who headed the foundation. He and his wife were guests at the Hazelsmith’s Christmas party six months ago, and he’d asked Olivia if she planned on following her parent’s footsteps to a medical profession. Her parents had looked disappointed when she replied, No way! Noah had boomed with laughter.

Her mother’s voice brought Olivia back to the present. When does Noah want us there? she asked. Olivia strained to hear her father’s reply, but her mother had turned on the electric mixer to stir the pancake batter, and Olivia couldn’t hear what he said. When the mixer stopped, he was in mid-sentence.

...and Noah wants us on that plane and ready to go to work as soon as we land.

That doesn’t give us very much time—

Earthquakes have a way of taking everyone by surprise, said Aaron. Noah said the situation is desperate. Thousands of children need surgery from injuries caused by the rubble that fell on them during the quake. We’re talking about an entire city that crumbled to the ground. There are stories of survivors digging through the ruins and pulling out living victims buried under tons of debris.

It sounds awful. The thought of it makes me hurt inside for those poor people. I want to do whatever we can to help, there is no question about that, but leaving so soon...what about Theo and Olivia?

My question exactly, said Olivia, who decided that she’d better show herself sooner rather than later. What about us?

Her parents were taken by surprise by her sudden appearance from the laundry room, and she explained about Minnie’s flea problem. I didn’t really mean to eavesdrop on you, she said. Aaron kissed the top of her head, and Amelia gave her a peck on her cheek. Good morning, Livvie, she said. You’re just in time to set the table.

Olivia took the silverware and napkins her mother handed her and crossed to the table. But what about this earthquake you were just talking about? Did I hear that you and Dad are going there to help? Are you taking us with you?

Theo, Olivia’s younger brother, wandered in just then, rumpled from sleep and still wearing his Indy 500 pajamas. Where are we going? he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

The kitchen table is where you’re going right now. Breakfast is served, said Amelia, placing platters of pancakes and sliced fruit on the table.

Olivia poked at her pancakes half-heartedly, and Theo wolfed his down as they listened to their parents talk about the earthquake disaster in Africa. Their father told them that thousands of people were dead or missing, and thousands more had serious injuries. Noah Evans asked your mother and me to head the medical team and set up a surgery center, Aaron explained to Theo. We’re flying out as soon as possible.

And that leads us back to the question: what happens to Theo and me? Are we going with you? asked Olivia.

That would be super cool, said Theo. We wouldn’t be afraid at all. We could help with the rescues and at the hospital.

Speak for yourself, muttered Olivia, who fainted at the sight of blood.

I’m afraid it’s too risky for you children. There’s no running water or electricity, and the sewer system has failed. Add the tropical heat into the mix, and what you get is a whole lot of disease, said Aaron.

Besides the possible dangers, your dad and I’ll be so busy treating the sick and injured people that we wouldn’t have time to be parents to you, said Amelia.

If it’s so dangerous, then maybe you shouldn’t go, said Olivia.

We’ll have an extra dose of vaccinations before we go, honey, said Amelia, and we’ll be careful. You don’t have to worry about us. We’ll be back home before you’ve had a chance to miss us.

How long will you be gone? asked Theo.

Hopefully only six weeks, but Noah said it could be as much as two months or so.

Two months! Why so long?Olivia asked.

The injured children will need treatment and therapy after their surgeries, and there is always the threat of widespread disease, said Aaron. Epidemics can happen after disasters like this.

Two months is almost the entire summer! I can’t believe this! Olivia’s strawberry blond pony tail swung through the air as she jumped up from her chair. Not only does it mess up ballet for me and music camp for Theo, what if there’s another quake while you’re there? We could end up orphaned. Did you think of that?

Aaron put his arm around Olivia’s shoulders. Livvie, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to prevent you children from becoming orphaned.

Thanks, Dad. So where are we supposed to stay this summer? We can’t stay with Grandmother because she’s on her turtle-watching cruise. Amelia’s mother and the children’s only living grandparent was taking a trip to study the animals on the Galapagos Islands. Olivia’s eyes brightened. Can I stay with Paige? I’m sure the Baxters wouldn’t mind, and I could take the bus every day to ballet class. The Baxters lived on the next block, and Paige Baxter was Olivia’s very best friend.

Aaron shook his head. No, Olivia. The Baxters have their hands full with the new baby. Besides that, I want you and Theo to spend some time with my Uncle Austin. I phoned him last night to ask if he can manage having two summer guests. He said he’d be delighted to have you stay with him.

Amelia nodded her head and smiled. What a perfect solution, Aaron. I’m glad you thought of your Uncle Austin. I couldn’t think of a better place for the children to stay!

But Mom, we barely know him! sputtered Olivia. I can’t think of anything more ridiculous! Sending us to stay with an unknown ancient uncle. So far it doesn’t sound like tons of fun.

You’ll change your mind once you’ve spent some time in Bedford Falls, Olivia. Her father smiled fondly. Uncle Austin is an amazing person. He was my favorite adult when I was a boy, and talk about fun! Nobody can compare to Uncle Austin. He can make the most boring chores enjoyable! I loved visiting him, and I spent every summer I could at Bedford Falls. Believe me, Olivia, a summer spent with Uncle Austin is a summer you’ll remember forever.

Olivia eyed her father skeptically. What makes Uncle Austin so special, Dad, that I’d remember a visit with him forever?

Besides being a creative genius, Uncle Austin is just plain entertaining. There was never a minute that I was bored. We did some amazing projects together! Aaron’s eyes twinkled as he remembered his boyhood days with his uncle. Over the summer when I turned eleven, he and I constructed two remote-control airplanes based on World War II gunners. Man, could those things fly! Uncle Austin rigged them to do all kinds of stunts. You should have seen the dogfights we had.

What kind of dog fights? Theo asked.

Dogfights are fights between airplanes that pilots have during war. We did all kinds of tricks with those little gunners. Remote control planes weren’t as common as they are today, and everyone in Bedford Falls came to watch us dive bomb and do loop-de-loops. We had a blast all summer long!

Olivia rolled her eyes. Wow, sounds really fun. Just the way I want to spend my summer vacation, Dad.

Aaron ignored his daughter’s sarcastic tone of voice and continued enthusiastically. The next summer we invented a go-cart that ran on vegetable oil. It was the fastest one in the town. I drove it all summer.

Did you ever crash, Dad? asked Theo.

Oh no, Theo. Uncle Austin made it crash-proof!

No way, Dad! said Olivia. How can you make a go-cart crash-proof?

Uncle Austin is a clever inventor. Whenever I got the cart going too fast, a set of three nylon parachutes shot out the back and slowed me down instantly. Plus, there were rubberized balloons that inflated on impact.

Kind of like airbags? asked Olivia, curious in spite of herself.

Exactly. In fact, some of Uncle Austin’s experiments got the car companies thinking about crash protection like the airbags we have in cars today.

Really? asked Theo.

Oh yes. He is a brilliant and a creative man. I know that both of you will end up loving him as much as I do.

Olivia stood up and frowned angrily at her parents. "I couldn’t care less if he invented a time machine! The whole