The Howling Ghost Read Free Page B

see the sun because of the gray clouds.”
    â€œWere both of you walking on the jetty?” Adam asked.
    â€œNo,” Cindy said. “Neil was alone. I mean, I could see him and everything. I was sitting on a boulder. He had walked alone on the jetty many times before. He was always careful to watch where he stepped.He never walked out too far. It was just that this time . . .” Cindy’s voice trailed off and she lowered her head. It seemed, for a moment, that she was going to cry, but she didn’t. She also didn’t finish her sentence.
    â€œIt was just that this time a ghost grabbed him?” Sally said.
    Cindy took a breath. “I think so.”
    â€œBut you’re not sure?” Adam asked gently.
    Cindy shook her head. “It happened so fast. Something came and took him. I don’t know what it was.”
    â€œAre you sure he didn’t just fall into the water?” Watch asked.
    Cindy raised her head. “He didn’t fall in the water. He didn’t drown. I told the police that. I told my mother—but none of them believe me.” She paused and stared at each of them. “Do you believe me?”
    â€œWe told you we did,” Sally said, eyeing Watch to be quiet. “We just want to be sure of the facts. When you’re dealing with a ghost, you have to be careful. Can you describe this ghost to us?”
    â€œNeil was walking along the jetty when a beam of light shot out from the top of the lighthouse. It was a blinding light and seemed to be searching for Neil. When it caught up to him, old hands came out of the light and grabbed him. I know he was lifted into theair before the light went off and he vanished. I saw him floating above the water, above the rocks.”
    â€œThis is what you told the police?” Adam asked.
    â€œYes,” Cindy said. “This is exactly what happened.”
    â€œDid the police examine the lighthouse?” Watch asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Cindy said. “I told them to, but they just said the lighthouse was all boarded up, that no light could have come from it. After hearing my story, they were convinced my brother had fallen in the water and been swept out to sea. They thought I was hallucinating because I was in shock.”
    â€œA typical authoritarian response,” Sally said.
    â€œThere was one other thing,” Cindy said. “When the hands came out of the light and grabbed Neil, the wind howled. But it was a weird sound. It was like some evil monster laughing.”
    â€œWas it a female monster or a male monster?” Adam asked.
    â€œThat’s a very weird question,” Sally remarked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Watch disagreed. “Personally, I’d rather deal with a male monster any day.”
    â€œMy feeling exactly,” Adam muttered.
    Cindy was thoughtful. “I think it was a female monster.”
    â€œLet’s not call it a monster,” Sally interrupted. “It sounds more like a ghost.” She touched Cindy on the knee. “We’re going to get your brother back, no matter what.”
    â€œWe’re going to try to get him back,” Adam corrected.
    â€œAs long as we don’t have to risk our own lives,” Watch added.
    Cindy’s lower lip quivered, and her eyes were wet. “Thank you—all of you. You don’t know what it means to me to have someone believe me. I know he’s alive, I feel it in my heart.” Cindy paused. “The only thing is: what do we do now?”
    Adam stood up, and with more courage than he knew he had, said, “It’s obvious. We break into the lighthouse.”

4
    T he way to the lighthouse was hard. Not only was the lighthouse at the end of the jetty, but also the narrow wooden bridge that crossed from the piled boulders to the lighthouse itself was worn and cracked. Adam took one look at it and wished he’d brought his bathing suit. The bridge looked as