"My new invention," Hartson Brant said seriously. "Oh, and one other clue. Yesterday morning the mail brought me a bill for a thousand feet of 16-millimeter infrared motion-picture film."
So that was it. Rick grinned. "I hope your new invention told you I asked the film company to send the bill to me and not to you."
"It did. The bill actually was addressed to the Spindrift Foundation, attention Mr. Brant. Since I didn't know which Mr. Brant was meant, I opened it. Don't worry, Rick. I'll let you pay it."
"Thanks, Dad," Rick said. "But don't make any sacrifices. You can pay it if you want to."
"Don't want to," Hartson Brant replied. "I haven't the slightest use for motion-picture film."
"Because Rick has the only motion-picture camera on the island," Scotty finished. He frowned at his friend. "Keeping secrets, huh?"
"I'm not sure it will work," Rick explained. He hated to brag about an idea and then have it turn out to be a dud. Consequently, he seldom mentioned that he was working on anything until he knew it would be successful.
"What does the film have to do with penetrating the darkness?" Jerry Webster inquired.
Rick caught the look of interest on his father's face. "Ask Dad," he said. "The electronic mind reader probably has told him all about it."
"Of course." The scientist chuckled. "Rick is planning to take movies at night without lights."