Chapter 9

The great clock in the living room chimes an hour, the notes of the ringing resonating through the entire mansion. Even without checking the clock, the view of the lovely bluish-pink sky suggests the time is at least four in the evening. The big house is decorated in shades of white, cream, and brown, and the theme is a classy Zen that renders lots of space to the rooms and gives them an overall austere outlook.

The only place that isn’t calm and organized is the room adjacent to the main basement; in there, the Professor holds up a test tube for inspection. It contains a light greenish-blue liquid that sparkles in the light, and he brings up another test tube containing a clear, viscous liquid. He examines them both very conscientiously before pausing to think for a moment. He makes up his mind and tips the test tube with the clear liquid over and into the other one. He shakes the mixture together, and as he