Seymour Simon - Lightning Never Lies & Other Cases

Text copyright 2013 by Seymour Simon

Illustrations copyright 2013 by Kevin OMalley

All rights reserved.

Published by Seymour Science LLC.

These stories, which have been substantially updated and expanded for a new audience, are based on the Einstein Anderson book originally published in 1980 by Viking Penguin, New York, under the title Einstein Anderson Shocks his Friends, and republished in 1997 by Morrow Junior Books, New York, under the title The Halloween Horror and Other Cases.

Except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and articles, no part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher.

Contact: Seymour Science LLC,
15 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 242,
Great Neck, NY 11021.
www.SeymourSimon.com

www.StarWalkKids.com

ISBN: 978-1-936503-10-0

Contents

It was the middle of a hot summer and the town of Sparta should have been quiet and sleepy. Instead, it was buzzing with excitement. It seemed that everywhere you went people were talking about the news. Morris Janus, a lifelong resident of the town, was going around telling anyone who would listen that he had been kidnapped by aliensand some people even believed him.

Its because he was on television, Paloma Fuentes told Einstein Anderson. On that show, Inside the Action.

Einstein Anderson nodded quietly. He was often quiet when he was thinking and he thought a lot. Thats how he got the nickname Einsteinafter Albert Einstein, a brilliant thinker and the most famous scientist of the twentieth century.

Ever since he was a little kid, Einstein, whose real name was Adam, had been interested in science. Not only did he know an awful lot, but he was also really good at using science to solve all sorts of puzzles and mysteries. He didnt look much like a science wizard. He was just an average-size twelve-year-old boy with light brown eyes that were a little nearsighted, and his glasses seemed a bit too big for his face.

Now he was sitting on the grass in Brookdale Park, near the center of Sparta, with his friend Paloma. Soccer camp was over for the day and he and Paloma were birding, watching a great blue heron wading in the lake. Both kids were dressed in jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers. Palomas backpack, which she carried everywhere, lay open on the ground. Out of it shed pulled a pair of binoculars, a digital camera, and a birding book. She also had a birding app open on her phoneone that played recordings of bird calls.

Paloma had been Einsteins best friend for a couple of years, ever since she had moved to town. She was a little taller than Einstein and had long black hair that she always wore in a ponytail, just like she always wore red canvas high-top sneakers and jeans. Paloma was the only person Einstein knew who got as excited about science as he did, although he thought that sometimes she got too excited. This looked like it might be one of those times.

Lets prove what a fake he is, Paloma said excitedly, handing the binoculars to Einstein. I bet we can do it, no problem. Everyone knows theres no such thing as aliens.

Everyone doesnt know that, Einstein corrected her. The universe is so vast, there probably is life on other planets. The question is, are they visiting us?

Come on, Einstein, Paloma said. She liked to tease him about his nickname. You dont believe that, do you?

I dont know, Einstein replied, holding the binoculars up to his glasses. We might think its highly unlikely, but we cant be one hundred percent sure that aliens dont visit the earth.

Just then Einsteins phone rang with the theme song from Star Wars. The sound startled the heron, which flapped its wings and slowly flew away.

Great! Paloma grumbled.

Sorry, Einstein said, fumbling for the phone in the pocket of his jeans. I should have turned that off. At least we know herons have good hearing.

The sound waves in the air probably bounced off the water, Paloma shook her head. Water reflects sound almost as well as something hard like wood. Thats why the heron heard your phone. And I was just going to take a photo.

Einstein nodded as he tapped the screen of his phone to answer it. Hi Mom, he said. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay. Yeah, sure. Then he touched the small screen and hung up.

What? Paloma asked impatiently. She could tell from the expression on Einsteins face that he had a surprise in store. Whats up?

My mom is doing a story about that Janus guy, he told her. Einsteins mom, Emily Anderson, was a reporter and editor for the Sparta Tribune, the local newspaper. Shes going to interview him this afternoon and she asked if we wanted to go along. She wants us to be there to check out his story.

Are you kidding? Paloma cried as she jumped up and started stuffing her gear into the backpack. What are we waiting for?

She took out her phone and tapped out a quick text message to her mom.

Okay, Einstein said as he stood up. But since were talking about outer space, first answer thiswhat do planets like to read?

Paloma groaned. Among other things, Einstein was famous for his corny jokes.

I dont know, Einstein, she told him with a frown. He was already laughing.

Comet books! he said with a smirk.

They jumped on their bikes and raced to Einsteins house. Emily Anderson was waiting and they all got in the Andersons car and drove downtown. Mr. Janus was waiting for them at the Tribune offices.

Morris Janus turned out to be a long, thin man with sharp features. His eyes were black and piercing. Einsteins mom led them all into a conference room where they took seats around a large tableEmily Anderson and Morris Janus at one end and Einstein and Paloma at the other.

I hope you dont mind if my son and his friend sit in, Mrs. Anderson said with a smile. They were so eager to meet you.

Oh, I dont mind, Janus answered, giving the two young people a broad smile. Im getting used to being a celebrity.

Getting used to being a fake, you mean, Paloma muttered under her breath. Einstein nudged her under the table.

Now I know youve been interviewed many times, Emily Anderson said to Janus, rather sweetly. But if you dont mind starting over from the beginning, I think our readers will really enjoy getting all the details.

I dont mind at all, Janus said with a broad smile. Just make sure you spell my name correctly. Thats M-O-R-R-I-S. J-A-N-U-S.

Got it, Emily Anderson told him. Then she switched on a small voice recorder she always carried. Now, please tell us exactly what happened.

Then Janus repeated, almost word for word, the story he had told many times before. He said that one night a large, glowing, green spacecraft landed in his backyard. A hatch on the side of the ship opened to reveal a group of alien beings inside. He said that they were about three feet tall with the general shape of humans. They each had a head, two arms, and two legs. Their skin was a faint greenish color that seemed to glow. Their eyes were very round with no pupils, and their ears were pointed.