sheet of paper and some more columns."

"You gave us an extra sheet," Rick replied. "How should I head the
columns?"

Steve thought for a moment. "Three columns for the position of the sun.
Rising, high, setting. Four columns for the position of the observer in
relation to the flying object--north, south, east, or west. One column
for color, and one for other comments such as 'shiny.' And, of course,
you want a column for the time."

Rick recorded the data as Scotty read it off, checking _The World
Almanac_ for the sun's approximate positions. Steve was obviously
interested. He started to read his report again, then abandoned it and
came back to the table where the boys were working.

When the data had been transferred, the three studied it. Rick ran his
eye down the columns quickly, getting an impression, then he went over
the data slowly. "You're right, Steve," he said finally. "It all
tallies, even at a quick look. In every case where the object looked
colored, the observer saw the sun striking it. Where it looked dark, the
object was between the observer and the sun. Or, at least, the observer
wasn't in a position to see the sun reflect off the object."

Scotty added, "In every case where the object looked red or orange, the
sun was setting or had already set. In every case marked 'bright,'
'silvery,' or 'shiny,' the sun was high and the observer could see the
sun reflecting from the object."

"It seems pretty clear," Steve agreed. "Now, we have only one really
close-range sighting, and that was Rick's. How sure are you that the
object was black?"

Rick shrugged. "I know enough not to trust my eyes completely in wind
and rain. But there certainly wasn't any light to reflect off the
object, and I'm pretty sure it was either black or very dark brown."

"That would fit all the sightings," Steve pointed out. "I'm assuming
that the objects have a smooth surface that reflects light, even though
the material may be dark colored. Didn't you suggest a kite made of dark
plastic? That would fit the bill, except that the objects don't act like
kites."

"What do they act like?" Scotty demanded.

Neither Steve nor Rick had an answer.

"Let's try for another piece of information," Steve suggested. "Put the
dates down on cards. If you have sightings by different people on the
same dates, and at about the same times, put them on the same card. If
there's a big time discrepancy--say one sighting in the morning and
anot