Prolog

Ellie Smith was just waking up from her first night in Maine. She had moved there a day before from Springfield, Illinois in the middle of the summer and she was very glad to be there. 

 Ellie Smith was unusual. Well, at least that's what she thought. Not in the way you or me might think of as unusual; a special power or a disfigurement, No. That was not the unusual Ellie thought of when she considered herself, no way. She considered herself unusual because she was smart. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, but that’s what she thought. Now, she did have a special reason for thinking that’s unusual but you will find that out in due course. Now is the time for the real story.