Lulu Bell and the Cubby Fort Read Free Page A

begged.
    â€˜Don’t like horsies,’ complained Gus. His bottom lip trembled. ‘Bug Boy like Chook.’
    Mum stroked Gus’s forehead. ‘I think someone’s very tired.’
    â€˜I not tir-ed ,’ insisted Gus. His voice rose and wobbled in a sob.
    â€˜Off you go,’ said Dad. ‘I’ll come and tuck you in.’
    â€˜Here are some torches,’ said Uncle Nick. ‘So you can see your way in the dark.’
    The children kissed the parents goodnight. Then they went over to the tents. The four dogs followed them.
    It was dark away from the brightness of the fire. The torches cast an eerie, thinlight. Lulu tripped over a tussock in the grass and squealed.
    â€˜Careful,’ said Lachie.
    â€˜Watch out for the ghost,’ whispered Tom.

    â€˜Why do you keep talking about a ghost? What ghost?’ asked Lulu.
    Rosie grabbed Lulu’s hand and squeezed it.
    â€˜The ghost of the old dairy farmer,’ whispered Tom. ‘He wanders around the house at night, moaning and wailing. He’s terrifying!’
    Lachie stifled a giggle.
    Lulu flicked one honey-coloured plait over her shoulder. ‘I don’t believe you,’ she replied. ‘You’re just trying to frighten us.’
    Tom shook his head. ‘Haven’t you heard him? I hope he doesn’t wake you. Well, sleep tight.’
    Tom, Ben and Tim ducked inside their tent. Their shoulders were shaking with giggles. The farm dogs, Daisy and Polly, followed them inside. Gus stopped and looked back at Lulu.
    â€˜Don’t worry, Gussie,’ said Lulu. ‘The boys are just being silly.’
    The girls crawled into their tent. They changed into their pyjamas and climbed into their sleeping-bags. Lulu’s dad popped by to tuck them in, then went back to join the adults by the camp fire.
    â€˜Goodnight, Rosie. Goodnight, Ella and Meg,’ called Lulu. She switched off the torch.
    They could hear the murmur of the parents talking around the camp fire outside. The flames flickered, leaving dancing shadows on the tent wall. Lulu snuggled down. She felt her eyes grow heavier and heavier.
    An owl hooted. Asha grunted and huffed, and then she started to snore. Jessie climbed onto the end of Lulu’s sleeping-bag. She turned around threetimes and lay down to snooze.
    Lulu was just dropping off to sleep when she heard a snuffling sound. Her ears strained to identify the noise in the darkness. There was a shuffle and a sob. Lulu’s heart jumped into her mouth.
    What was that?
    There was a whisper as something brushed against the side of the tent. Lulu sat up.
    The door to the tent rustled and then a white hand slid through the opening. Lulu gasped.
    In through the flap slid Gus in his superhero pyjamas. ‘Gussie fwightened ,’ he said. ‘Gussie sleep with Lulu.’
    â€˜Come on, Gussie,’ said Lulu. ‘Come and lie between us.’
    Gus cuddled in between Lulu and Rosie. He slipped his thumb in hismouth. Lulu rolled over with her back to Gus and closed her eyes. She tried to go back to sleep.
    Suddenly she heard another noise coming from outside the tent. A creepy, chilling sound that set her teeth on edge.
    â€˜Ooo-aaahhh,’ moaned an eerie voice.
    â€˜Ooo-aaahhhh,’ came another groan from Rosie’s side of the tent.
    Lulu listened carefully. Rosie sat up and clutched Lulu’s arm. Her eyes gleamed white and round in the darkness. Ella huddled against Meg, breathing deeply.
    â€˜Shhh,’ whispered Lulu, holding up her hand.
    â€˜Oooo-aaahhh,’ wailed the ghostly voice outside. The tent rippled as something brushed against it.
    Lulu narrowed her eyes and wriggled out of her sleeping-bag.
    â€˜Lulu?’ whispered Rosie. ‘What are you doing?’
    Lulu tossed a plait over her shoulder and picked up her pillow. She crawled tothe tent opening and crept out.

    Two shadowy figures were crouched beside the tent. One rippled the tent