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that you re going to play for the soccer team. Is it true?
I have no privacy, Rudy complained.
Then you re playing? repeated Pierre.
Yes.
That s just great. I m glad to hear it. Okay, don t let me disturb you. Keep
working on the old tie racks. And tomorrow you show Cedar Ridge what it s all
about.
Oh, we intend to, said Rudy earnestly.
* * *
The beaver was having a good day. He had not been disturbed at all. The dam
was nearing completion, rising strong and firm above the water level. Soon he
would finish and the stream would widen into the pond he needed. He stopped in
his labours and sniffed the air. It was still a good few days before the rain
would come. And when it did come, he would be ready.
* * *
Congratulations to us! exclaimed Frank, waving his arms in victory among the
rest of the counsellors at that night s meeting. We have done it t We have
made a camper out of Rudy Miller!
We have indeed, agreed Jack Tyler jubilantly. The impossible has been done.
If we could only explain it to Mr. Warden, I m pretty sure an accomplishment
like this would qualify us for a raise!
I should get the raise, put in Chip. I took all the lumps.
No, I should get the raise, muttered Ralph. It was my baseball team that
was sacrificed. Why couldn t you have made a camper out of him a day earlier?
We couldn t have done it without you, Ralphie-boy, laughed Frank. It was
your great talent as a chess player that brought it all about.
Less than twenty moves, mourned Ralph. That kid plays chess like Bobby
Fischer!
And soccer like Pele, crowed Jack, anticipating tomorrow.
And he runs like Henry Rono, added Chip, breaking into a broad grin. We ve
got the intercamp track meet coming up next week.
I wish we had some champagne, said Frank wistfully. We could toast
Algonkian, the new Ontario champions at everything!
Except baseball, added Ralph sourly. We were eliminated today, as you might
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have guessed.
I m wondering, said Pierre thoughtfully, what would make a kid like Miller
have such a change of heart.
Oh, that s easy, said Frank. Yesterday did it. Miller had a ball, and so
did all the other guys. And so did we, for that matter.
Hey, Frank, said Leo Martin, did Mr. Warden give you any flak about
yesterday?
No. laughed Frank. A couple of times he looked as if he wanted to ask a
question or two, but then he thought better of it. I don t think he wants to
know, and I sure don t want to tell him. He wouldn t understand anyway.
I want to go to the soccer match tomorrow, said Chip, and watch Miller
crush Cedar Ridge. Pierre, how about looking after my cabin for the day?
Well, I thought I d go to the soccer game began Pierre.
No fair! yelled Dave. I never get off the island! This time it s my turn!
No chance! snapped Ralph. My baseball team was sacrificed! The least you
can do is let me go along on the trip to Cedar Ridge!
The meeting became a babble of protest.
I know, announced Chip. We ll get Miller to pick a number at random uh,
say, thirteen.
We ll draw lots, decided Frank. That s the only square way.
* * *
Early the next afternoon the Camp Algonkian bus pulled up in front of a huge
sign that read Welcome to Camp Cedar Ridge, the Funshine Place,
All camps looked alike to Mike Webster, and Cedar Ridge was no exception.
There were the usual cabins, buildings and athletic facilities just like those
at Algonkian. There was the you must have fun atmosphere, although in this
place it was probably fun-shine. Even the counsellors looked and dressed the
same.
All cloned from the same master cell, commented Rudy to Mike. I can hardly
wait to see the camp director s legs.
The boys had been travelling for over an hour. They had left Algonkian Island
by launch at one o clock. A bus had been waiting for them at the mainland
receiving dock, and they had driven about fifty kilometres, according to
Rudy s calculations, in a south-easterly direction.
Look, whispered Rudy as the team rattled off the bus. do you see that big
road sign down there around that bend? The woods are right up to the highway
at that point. Well meet just inside the woods by that sign. Got it?
Yeah, but how do we get there? squeaked Mike.
I ll figure that out when I see the soccer field, said Rudy.
All right! chirped Jack, who s going to win?
We are! cheered the Algonkian boys.
Chip, who had picked the longest straw at yesterday s counsellors meeting and
was convinced that his bad luck was changing, placed a large, meaty hand on
Rudy s slender shoulder. I m expecting great things from you out there,
Miller. I m really glad you got smart and joined the team.
I m glad too, said Rudy, poker-faced.
A Cedar Ridge counsellor, the image of Frank, jogged up to greet them. Hi
there, Jack. Back for more?
We ll see, said Jack smugly.
Come on, you guys! Let s move! bellowed Chip, and the team trotted off
towards the soccer field where the Cedar Ridge all-stars were already warming
up.
Perfect, approved Rudy to Mike, who was jogging along beside him. The
soccer field goes right up to the trees. Here s the plan. We ll play for a
little while to get the clones really excited. Then, when the time is right,
I m going to kick the ball into the woods. You go after it and keep on going.
While they re looking for you, I ll slip away and we ll meet at the sign.
But Mike began.
Rudy shrugged. If you don t want to go, I ll look for that ball myself.
I ll go, gulped Mike.
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