Murder On Ice Read Online Free PDF Page B

Nancy pushed off, heading down the slope in a flurry of glittering snow.
    Behind her she heard Ned let out a surprised bellow, and then he was after her. Nancy shot a glance over her shoulder just in time to see him swoop down and pass her with only inches to spare. He shot ahead, zooming through a couple of quick turns before coming to a perfect parallel stop a little farther down the slope.
    Nancy waved one of her ski poles as she shot by him. She could feel him racing after her.
    Ned put on a burst of speed and shot past Nancy again. She could tell that he was determined to win the race. Nancy watched the taut lines of his body as he skipped from mogul to mogul.
    But suddenly, with a cry of pain, Ned flipped face forward into the snow. He tumbled down the hill, one ski coming off and then the other flying after him.
    Horror-struck, Nancy streaked down to where Ned was lying and pulled to a stop. She heard no sound except the whistling of the wind. Ned was absolutely silent, his eyes shut. He was as still as death.

Chapter

Five
    N ED LAY MOTIONLESS , one leg bent unnaturally beneath his body, his face frozen in a grimace of pain. Frantic, Nancy unsnapped her skis and dropped to her knees beside him. “Ned, ” she called sharply. There was no response.
    Nancy refused to consider her worst fear. She scooped up a handful of snow and rubbed it against Ned’s face. Luke had brought her back to consciousness that way after the rope tow accident. Maybe it would help Ned.
    She leaned over him, so close their faces almost touched, her ears straining for the sound of breathing. After a moment, she detected a faint groan.
    â€œNed!” Nancy was almost sobbing. Her eyes scanned his face for any sign of a response. Toher relief, Ned’s eyelids twitched and then opened slightly.
    â€œNed,” Nancy called again. “Can you hear me?”
    Ned’s faint voice cut her off. “I must be dead . . . there’s an angel rubbing noses with me.”
    â€œYou clown!” Nancy scolded, relief washing over her.
    â€œGoing to kiss me to make it better?” Ned joked weakly.
    The kiss that followed was anything but a joke. When Nancy drew back at last, she knew her heart was in her eyes. But her loving expression quickly turned to alarm as she watched Ned, his teeth gritted, slowly try to straighten his bent leg.
    â€œDon’t! Don’t move at all until you’re sure it’s not broken!” Nancy gasped.
    â€œI’m pretty sure it isn’t,” Ned said, wincing. “Have a look, will you?”
    Nancy unfastened his boot and eased it off. Then she explored his leg carefully with her fingers, trying not to hurt him. “I think you’re okay,” she said finally.
    â€œGood. Put my boot back on and help me get to my feet.”
    â€œNo way! This leg is bad news—your ankle’s already swelling.”
    â€œI’ve been hurt worse playing football.”
    All at once Nancy and Ned heard someone call to them from farther up the slope. George and Luke were silhouetted against the shining snow.
    â€œFantastic,” Ned said. “They must have takenthe lift back up the mountain while we were skiing down.”
    â€œCome give us a hand!” Nancy shouted.
    George swooped toward them, with Luke following close behind. “Everything all right?” she called. “We saw you—” Then she got a good look at Ned’s leg, and whistled. “How did that happen?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Ned replied. “One minute I was doing fine. The next, my boot was out of the ski and I was rolling down the mountain like an out-of-control snowball.”
    Luke bent down to check Ned’s leg. “It looks like nothing’s broken, but you could damage the ligaments seriously if you try to use it and you fall again. I’ll ski down and get a carrier.” Luke sped away.
    â€œI don’t need a carrier!” Ned shouted