Grizzly by Gary Paulsen Page B

Mack’s here we can get started.” He waited for the room to quiet down. “As you all know, the reason I asked you to come was because of the killer grizzly.”
    Someone touched Justin’s arm. “You wantcoffee?” Sally Davis held a cup out and smiled.
    Justin found himself staring at her, trying to figure out what was different. She still had the same blond hair and blue eyes, the same dimples. He’d grown up with her and they had always been best friends. But for some reason, things weren’t the same lately, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.
    “Hel-looo? Anybody here want coffee?” Sally said teasingly.
    Justin blinked and reached for the cup. “Uh … thanks.” Embarrassed, he turned his attention back to Sally’s father.
    Mr. Davis was telling the group that he’d been in touch with the local forest rangers. “They say this bear fits the description of one from Yellowstone that lost two cubs to an illegal hunter. I tried to explain what’s been going on up here, but they just don’t seem to understand the problem.”
    “I don’t think we ought to waste time talking.” Luke Miller waved his fist in the air. “I think we should trap the thing and be donewith it. All our ranches will be wiped out soon!”
    “It’s gotta be poisoned.” A man in a long brown sheepskin coat stood up. “The only way to make sure it will leave us alone is to kill it.”
    “Maybe a group of us could go out after it,” another man chimed in. “I’d like to go, of course, but we just finished lambing and I have to stay and tend to my stock.”
    “Unfortunately that’s the boat most of us are in right now.” Roy Davis rubbed his beard. “So I propose we send a representative to the head ranger’s office in Billings and force them to take action. And I nominate Mack McCallister to be that representative.”

C HAPTER 4
    “I don’t like leaving you,” Aunt Polly said as she watched Justin put her bags and Uncle Mack’s in the bed of the truck. “Especially with that crazy bear roaming around.”
    Mack leaned across the seat. “So far the grizzly hasn’t come back to any place twice, but if he does, I don’t want you taking any chances.”
    “You guys worry too much. It’s not like you’ve never gone away before.” Justin stepped back from the pickup. “Go on. And have a good time in Billings. I’ll see you in a few days.”
    Aunt Polly put the truck in gear and started down the road. Justin waved and yelled, “Don’t worry!”
    When they were out of sight, he gave Radar a pat and headed for the pens. “We’ll give everything one last check before we turn in.”
    He stopped by Blue’s pen first. The lamb ran to the gate, sniffing for food. “It won’t do you any good to beg. You’ve already had your supper. Now get back in the shed and go to sleep.”
All evidence of the grizzly’s attack the night before was gone. Justin had worked hard to clean things up and calm the sheep down.
    Old Molly was nestled in a bed of straw in the barn. Justin dumped her water and gave her a clean bowl. “Here you go, girl. Just take it easy.”
    Justin closed the barn door and he and Radar trotted to the house. “Okay. It’s just us guys. What should we do first?”
    The collie barked and wagged her tail.
    “Popcorn and a movie? Good choice.” Justin opened the door and Radar ran past him into the kitchen.
    Justin took a skillet out of the cabinet and put it on the stove. He poured in some oil and added the popcorn.
    Radar’s ears went up. She growled at the window.
“I’m hurrying. This stuff’ll only cook so fast.”
    The collie barked and nervously ran to the window and back.
    “What is it, girl? We were just out there. Everything’s all right.”
    The dog snarled and jumped at the door.
    “Okay, let’s go take a look.” Justin turned off the burner. “Hang on. I better get the rifle.”
    There was still enough light to see the outline of the pens from the porch. Justin squinted,