The Querulous Effect by Arkay Jones Page A

Ella was a few yards further on calling out to Chip, who was investigating new smells by the river bank.
    â€œFrom this point,” said Ernie, when they were all together again, “we have to leave the path and work our way along the edge of the river towards Blusterton’s factory. Watch yourselves, though, ’cause you have to push through plenty of brambles and undergrowth on the bank.”
    For a quarter of an hour they made their way slowly along the river side, battling, as Ernie had warned, with overhanging branches and thick undergrowth. At last Ernie stopped. “This is it,” he said. “We can’t get no further on the bank because the fence from the factory grounds comes right down to the river here. But if we paddle out a bit, we can get round the fence and I’ll show you exactly where I caught that whopping great fish.”
    They paddled out uneasily for a few yards, feeling for the stony bed of the river as they went, with Ella accepting Jay’s help this time as they steadied one another, step by step. They edged past the point where the high concrete and wire fence came down the bank to the river and then eased their way back to the bank. Ernie pointed to the far side of the river where, thirty metres away, it broadened out into a deep pool.
    â€œThat’s the spot,” he explained. “It’s just opposite a cooling-water outlet from the factory. Sometimes in the autumn and winter you can see steam rising from the water, so the water must be generally warmer there. Perhaps that attracts the insects and the fish wait for them in the deep pool.”
    â€œOK,” said the Prof. “I’ll just take some samples. You wait here.” He waded a few metres out into the river and scooped up a jar full of water, which he brought back and handed to Tim. “Pass me that net, please, Jay, I’ll get some samples of the vegetation on the river bed.” He waded further out into the river and with the net in his hand he trawled back and forth, taking out the contents of the net every few passes and putting them in another of his sample jars.
    Chip stood in the water at the edge of the river barking furiously. His canine experience did not extend to seeing the professor wading about in the middle of a river. He did not know whether to try to swim out to save the professor or stay to protect Ella who, in turn, was trying to hold him back and telling him, unsuccessfully, to quieten down. Tim and Jay had edged out into the river and were by now located between Ella and the Prof, with water almost to the top of their Wellingtons. Together they formed a human chain in order to hand back the samples from the professor to the shore.
    Suddenly this effective if noisy arrangement was interrupted by a deep, bellowing voice.
    â€œOi! What are you lot up to?” Charging down the bank towards them was a security guard from the factory.
    â€œI’m off,” whispered Ernie, hoarsely under his breath, as he brushed past Ella and disappeared into the undergrowth down river.
    Chip stood his ground and barked even more furiously. The Prof, marooned in the middle of the river, waved in a friendly manner. Then, in a few phrases more ill-judged than reassuring, he called out “Just taking a few water samples. Nothing to worry about. Just a bit of scientific interest.”
    â€œWe’ll see about that!” the security guard shouted back. “I suggest you put that ‘orrible little dog of yours on a lead and come along with me. Perhaps you’d like to explain your ‘scientific interest’ to the factory manager!”

CHAPTER 12
    Ten minutes later, four pairs of Wellington boots stood neatly in a row in the smart reception area of Blusterton International Foods Incorporated. They were being guarded by a small, wet dog who was tied to the leg of the receptionist’s desk. The owners of the boots, meanwhile, were standing in their damp socks