The Howling Ghost Read Free Page A

tall pillar of white plaster. At this first sight of the structure, Adam shuddered, although he wasn’t sure why. He had never seen a lighthouse before he saw this one. It was hard for him to tell a normal one from a haunted one. It was only a quarter of a mile away.
    â€œIt’s tall,” was all Adam could think of to say.
    â€œIt’s old,” Watch said, finally sitting down. “It was built before there was electricity. From what I heard, they used to burn oil in lamps in the top and shine the light over the sea to warn ships away from the rocks.”
    â€œI heard they used to burn people,” Sally said.
    â€œPeople don’t burn that well,” Watch replied matter-of-factly. “Bum once told me it was the Spaniards who built the lighthouse, that it was the first one constructed in America. But it’s hard to imagine it’s that old.”
    â€œBut later electricity was installed?” Adam asked.
    â€œSure,” Watch said. “The waters around Spooksville are treacherous. Even modern ships have to be careful. Yet the lighthouse was closed down before I was born. I’m not sure why. Nowadays, ships don’t get near this place. The last boat that did go by was a transport ship from Japan. It had hundreds of Toyotas on board. It sunk out by the jetty. For a while you could go down to the beach and pick out any color Camry or Corolla that you wanted. They washed ashore for months.”
    â€œThey all smelled a little fishy,” Sally said.
    â€œBut you couldn’t argue with the price,” Watch added.
    â€œI’d never go out with a guy who had fish on his backseat,” Sally said.
    â€œThere must’ve been a reason the lighthouse was closed down,” Adam said.
    â€œProbably because it was haunted,” Sally said. “That’s the most logical reason.”
    â€œBut why did it become haunted?” Adam asked. “That’s what I want to know.”
    A look of wonder crossed Sally’s face. “Why, Adam, you’re beginning to sound like you were born here. Congratulations—from now on I won’t have to yell at you half as much.”
    â€œI don’t know why you yell at me at all,” Adam said. He glanced in the direction of where Cindy had disappeared. “She looks so sad.”
    Watch nodded. “Like a flower that’s been stomped.”
    â€œA rose that’s been crushed,” Adam agreed, feeling in a poetic mood.
    â€œWait a second,” Sally complained. “You guys aren’t falling in love with her, are you?”
    â€œLove is an emotion I only know about from textbooks,” Watch said.
    â€œI just met her,” Adam said. “I don’t even know her.”
    â€œBut as soon as you met me you liked me, didn’t you?” Sally asked.
    Adam shrugged. “I suppose.”
    Sally suddenly looked worried, and a little annoyed. “Just don’t go flirting with her while I’m around.”
    â€œWe’ll wait and do it behind your back,” Watch said tactfully.
    Cindy returned a minute later. She had two tall glasses of Coke, with ice, and one lemonade. Offering a Coke to Sally, Cindy apologized that there was no ginger ale.
    â€œI suppose I could use the caffeine,” Sally said, sniffing her drink before sipping it.
    Adam gulped down his lemonade. “Ah,” he said between gulps. “There’s nothing like lemonade on a hot day.”
    â€œIt was cold a couple days ago,” Cindy remarked sadly, sitting down.
    Adam set his drink down and spoke gently. “It was cold when your brother disappeared?”
    Cindy nodded. “Yes. There was a strong wind—it whipped across the water, stirring up the waves.” She stopped to shake her head. “We shouldn’t have been walking by the jetty.”
    â€œWhat time of day was it?” Sally asked seriously.
    â€œSunset,” Cindy said. “But you couldn’t