Running Scared Read Online Free PDF Page B

television shows about monsters and they start to think they’re real. But they’re not real! There’s no such thing as vampire bats three feet tall with spikes down their backs.”
    â€œOh, sure, you’re right,” Ashley agreed, getting the message. “No such thing as aliens, either. But, Jack—did you realize Roswell was near Carlsbad? I mean—I saw it on TV about aliens landing in Roswell. But I know that isn’t true,” she added hastily.
    Consuela came toward them, carrying two old-fashioned looking lanterns, one in each hand. Ten inches tall, they were made of wooden posts with glass panels between the posts, and handles above. Inside each lantern was a thick, white candle, unlit.
    â€œWhat’s with the lanterns?” Ashley asked.
    â€œOh, there’s no light in Left Hand Tunnel. It’s completely dark. Everyone is supposed to carry a lantern, but there were only two left, so Jack can have one and I’ll carry the other.”
    â€œYou’re going with us?” Jack asked her.
    â€œJust until we catch up with the tour group. Then I’ll go back. Come on, we’ll wait at the door until the ranger arrives to let us in.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    A nd if you look closely at the door you’ll see bullet holes,” Consuela was telling them, pointing to the top of the rounded wooden door that separated the lunchroom from the entrance to Left Hand Tunnel. “I bet you didn’t know that Carlsbad was the setting for a siege that happened many years ago.”
    â€œBullet holes?” Ashley breathed. “Are you serious?”
    They all looked at the gouge marks, small and round and darkened with grime. When Sam hung back, Consuela told him, “Four young men who were, how do I put this—under the influence—stormed the lunchroom here to make a political statement about the plight of Native Americans. They demanded a million dollars and a flight to Brazil.”
    She shook her head and said, “No one was hurt, thank heavens, but it just goes to show that people say and do the stupidest things.”
    That was true. People got all kinds of crazy ideas in their heads. Jack suddenly wondered if Consuela knew what Sam had said about her, but when he looked at Consuela’s warm, unflinching gaze, he realized she didn’t have a clue that Sam had accused her of being a drug addict. A drug addict with a needle jammed into her arm—how insane was that? People like Consuela didn’t get high! The whole idea would have made him angry if he hadn’t remembered that in Sam’s life, all kinds of unimaginable things had happened to him every day. Ms. Lopez told them that Sam had been left to get his own food and take care of himself since he was small, and that he’d spent most of his time staring at a television set, hungry and dirty and alone. No wonder the kid was so afraid. No wonder he acted so much younger than he was. If Jack had been raised the same way, how might he have turned out? Sighing, he rubbed the top of Sam’s round head. Later, when they were done with the tour of Left Hand Tunnel, he’d have to think of a way to make Sam understand that regular people were good. The people that worked for the Park Service, especially, were the best folks in the world. He’d have to straighten Sam out when they were alone, just the two of them.
    â€œYou OK, Jack?” Ashley asked, her dark eyes serious. “You’re awfully quiet.”
    â€œYeah. I’m fine. How about you, Sam? You OK?”
    Sam’s voice was barely above a whisper when he said, “I d-d-don’t want to g-g-get shot.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have told that story. I didn’t mean for it to upset him.” Crouching down, Consuela tried to take Sam’s hand, but he pulled it away and clasped his hands together behind his back. If it bothered Consuela, she didn’t let it show.