第10部分(第4/8 頁)

nsidered

growing　beans？”　she　asked　me。

My　father；　however；　understood　that　you　can't　refuse　to　do　your　teacher's　assignment；　and

he　promised　to　help。　“An　incubator's　not　difficult　to

build。　We'll　make　one　after　dinner。”

How　my　father　knows　exactly　where　things　are　in　our　garage　is　one　of　the　wonders　of　the

universe。　How　he　knew　about　incubators；　however；　was

revealed　to　me　while　he　was　drilling　a　one…inch　hole　in　an　old　scrap　of　Plexiglas。　“I　raised　a

duck　from　an　egg　when　I　was　in　high　school。”　He

grinned　at　me。　“Science　fair　project。”

“A　duck？”

“Yes；　but　the　principle　is　the　same　for　all　poultry。　Keep　the　temperature　constant　and　the

humidity　right；　turn　the　egg　several　times　a　day；　and　in　a

few　weeks　you'll　have　yourself　a　little　peeper。”

He　handed　me　a　lightbulb　and　an　extension　cord　with　a　socket　attached。　“Fasten　this　through

the　hole　in　the　Plexiglas。　I'll　find　some

………　Page　31………

thermometers。”

“Some？　We　need　more　than　one？”

“We　have　to　make　you　a　hygrometer。”

“A　hygrometer？”　“To　check　the　humidity　inside　the　incubator。　It's　just　a　thermometer　with　wet

gauze　around　the　bulb。”

I　smiled。　“No　mushy　chick　disease？”

He　smiled　back。　“Precisely。”

By　the　next　afternoon　I　had　not　one；　but　six　chicken　eggs　incubating　at　a　cozy　102　degrees

Fahrenheit。　“They　don't　all　make　it；　Juli；”　Mrs。　Brubeck

told