--- Chapter Nine ---
Mr. Donson whistled tunelessly as he walked into the west wing of the high school. "Have no fear, Donson is here!" he called as he pushed open the heavy door of the band room lounge. "Neller? Where are ya?" he said, wandering around the apparently empty rooms, opening one of the office doors and stepping in.
FWAH! Mr. Donson jumped as the large, black leather chair just inside the door swiveled around in a flash, revealing Neller. The band director appeared as if he badly needed a good night's sleep. His eyes were red, his hands were shaking, and honestly, he looked as if he'd just seen a ghost. 'Hm… ghost…' Mr. Donson started thinking about which Japanese horror movie he should have his students watch next, perhaps 'Dark Water,' but he shook his head and got back on topic.
"So, Neller, you called?"
"Yes, I did," Neller said shakily. "There's something here I think you should look at… You're good at numbers and codes and stuff, right?"
"Well, actually, I'm an English teacher."
"Ah, that'll work," Neller snorted. "Here…" The band director shoved the computer along the desk so that Mr. Donson could see it.
Mr. Donson took one look and whistled. "Whoa. That's a LOT of numbers. Well, let's get cracking." At once, the two men got to work in an attempt to decipher Veterson's mysterious document. Well, almost at once.
"…hey, Neller?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you… okay?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"I mean the shaking… the paleness… Are you sure you're all right? I could stay here and work on this, and you could go home."
"Hm? Oh, nothing's wrong," Neller laughed. "My blood sugar's just a little low. But I have the cure for that." The band director reached under his desk and pulled out… a box of Peeps.
"Ah. I see."
"…well, let's get to work!"
