Read Online The Querulous Effect by Arkay Jones - Free Book Online

relaxed atmosphere, there followed lengthy explanations from both sides. It appeared that Mr. Knibbs, much impressed both by Cosmo Querulous’ ‘curriculum vitae’ on his application form and by his enthusiasm to ‘get things done’ had taken him on as a product development scientist. Blusterton International Foods were in the business of making ‘healthy and natural’ snacks aimed primarily at children of school age. It was a competitive market and so Blusterton’s were always looking for something “a little different,” as Mr. Knibbs put it. Doctor Querulous had promised just that and had been true to his word. After a few weeks, bright blue apple ‘scrums’ were rolling off the production line, followed by pink banana slices, luminous green milk-shakes and purple ‘cheesy bites.’ Most importantly, these exciting new products were, as Doctor Querulous had assured the quality control team, absolutely ‘natural.’ The secret was in the animal diets and fruit fertilizers. The local cows used for the milk and cheese products had been fed a grass treated by Querulous’ special fertilizer as had the apple orchards.
    â€œWe stored cases and cases of the new products in the warehouse whilst we waited for my boss at head office to finalize an advertising campaign so that we could launch them, nationwide, in the shops,” continued Mr. Knibbs. “It looked as if I had a winner on my hands. And, obviously I was not the only one to think so. The next thing that happened was that the owner of Blusterton International, Chisholm P. Blusterton Jnr. himself, arrived from abroad in his private jet and glided up to the factory in a fancy big car to see the products for himself. He spent more time with Querulous than with me, chatting away behind closed doors hour after hour. Then, guess what? The two of them rolled off together in Mr. Blusterton’s big car and the next thing I heard is that Querulous is heading up a major new research project for the company somewhere abroad.”
    â€œSo, since all was well and Cosmo did you a favour,” interrupted Tim, “why were you so cross with us?”
    â€œBecause all was certainly not well, young man,” responded Mr. Knibbs. “And he did us no favours at all.” Mr. Knibbs went on to explain that almost as soon as Cosmo had gone off with Mr. Blusterton, things started to go wrong. When the packs of products were about to be loaded in the warehouse for delivery to the shops, it was found that all the attractive colours had changed. Most of the milk and cheese products were now a sludgy brown. The apple ‘scrums’ were bluey-grey or black. Most unappetising. Mr Knibbs had rung Mr. Blusterton’s office but been told not to worry. It was just a ‘glitch in the process’ and a little more research would put it right. Cosmo had obviously charmed Mr. Blusterton too. Mr. Knibbs was told to ‘get rid’ of the new products and go back for the time being to making his usual products. But that was over a month ago. Since then not even the original products were coming out properly. Most were not fit to sell.
    â€œBut that’s not the only thing,” added Mr. Knibbs. He pressed a button on his desk and, when his secretary came in, said, “Ask Mary Dungle to come up, please.”
    A short while later there was a knock on the door and a middle-aged lady in an overall and protective cap came in. “Mary works on our production line. She’s fond of cheese and rather liked the new ‘cheesy bites,’ didn’t you, Mary? Would you take off your cap, please?”
    Mary with a reticent smile removed her cap to reveal her short, wavy hair. It was bright purple.
    Jay, Tim and Ella looked at each other, then at the Prof. They had found it hard to follow Mr. Knibbs’ earlier long explanation of happenings at the factory but Mary’s plight they could well