The Dark Giants Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Eiffel Tower, saying, ‘You’re nothing
but a common thief – I know you stole my necklace,’ and he replied, ‘All’s fair in
love and war. After all, you stole my heart ,’ all three kids covered their faces
with their hands and howled.
    ‘No wonder nobody’s leaked the film onto the internet yet,’ said Sophie T. ‘Who could
be bothered?’
    Amelia giggled. ‘I don’t know, I think it’s starting to grow on me. Look – Harry’s
about to burst into song again.’
    Sophie T rolled her eyes and turned away from the screen in contempt. She lolled
on the arm of the sofa and made a gagging noise, which made Charlie laugh, and then
jerked upright with such violence she knocked the pizza out of Amelia’s hands. As
Harry Badenburger hit a high C, Sophie T went a whole octave better and screamed .
    ‘It’s bad,’ Charlie agreed. ‘But not that bad.’
    ‘It’s a ghost!’ Sophie T’s voice was so constricted by fear, little more than a
gasp came out. ‘Look – a vampire!’
    She pointed and Amelia saw something glowing yellow outside the library’s French
doors. Two somethings, seeming to hover about a metre from the ground. Almost like
ghostly eyes, staring straight at them. Amelia’s heart sped up in recognition, but
then she caught herself. No, it couldn’t be Grawk out there. But if not, then … what ?
Sophie T wasn’t stopping to wonder. Before Amelia could say anything, she was already
out the library door and across the lobby. Amelia and Charlie rushed to follow.
    The lobby was quiet at this time of night, but Mum was standing over at the reception
desk, busy with a couple of guests. Amelia did a double-take: no, that wasn’t a guest.
It was Lady Naomi, and she was holding Foxy firmly by the elbow (though he was, of
course, holo-disguised once more as the man in the corduroy suit.)
    ‘I’m trying to tell you, my research is time-sensitive!’ Foxy was whining. ‘If I’d
waited for approval, I’d have missed the whole reason for the study.’
    ‘Mmm, very frustrating,’ Mum agreed. ‘But not my concern.’
    ‘How can you say that? How is it not your concern to see science and exploration
push back the darkness of ignorance? How is it –?’
    Mum regarded him levelly. ‘You can save your breath, sir. My concern is to see that
every one of the people in this hotel is safe.’
    ‘But science –’
    ‘Is extremely important. But people matter more. I’m keeping this.’ She took the
bio-scanner off the desk in front of her, put it into the hotel’s safe, and locked
it without further comment.
    Sophie T took that as her cue and dashed over to Mum and Lady Naomi without a single
glance at the fuming man with them.
    ‘Mrs Walker! Mrs Walker! Excuse me, but –’
    Mum shot a glance at Amelia who tried to shrug ( I couldn’t help it ) and grimace ( sorry! )
and look serious ( but there is a problem ) all at the same time.
    Mum seemed confused, but nodded her head toward the man ( OK, Amelia, but you can
see I’m busy ) before saying to Sophie T, ‘I’m so sorry, dear, but I have to finish
my work here before I can talk with you.’ She lifted her eyebrows at Amelia. ‘Perhaps
Scott or Mary could help you? Or James is somewhere.’
    Sophie T blushed in embarrassment and said calmly, ‘I’m sorry to interrupt you, Mrs
Walker.’
    ‘That’s perfectly all right.’ Mum smiled at her warmly, but quickly turned back to
Lady Naomi and Foxy.
    Sophie T turned away just as quickly, looking dangerously close to tears, and whispered,
‘That was so humiliating.’
    ‘No, it was fine,’ Amelia assured her. ‘Come on – Mum’s right. Let’s go and find
Dad. He’s probably in the kitchen and we can at least get some cake for a midnight
feast.’
    Sophie T shook her head. ‘No, don’t. I was just imagining things. I can’t even remember
now what I thought I saw.’
    ‘You said it was a ghost,’ Charlie reminded her. ‘Or a vampire. You didn’t decide.’
    ‘Yes, thank you,