The Haunted Lighthouse Read Online Free PDF Page A

stories high, with long rows of cells on either side of both levels. She noticed how small the cells were, with only a sink, a cot, and a toilet. How could anyone live this way for years and years?
    Ranger Huynh continued her patter, often surprising Cody with tidbits of information—the size of the cells (at five feet by nine feet each, they were smaller than her bathroom), how many cells there were (336), and the average length of stay (eight years!). She jotted down notes and answered questions on the paper as she listened, but when one of the students asked if the prisoners ever received visitors (yes, once a month) or letters (yes, but they were screened), her attention drifted back to themessage she and the Code Busters had received that morning.
    She pulled out her notebook and reread what she had copied earlier on the bus ride over: “On the Rock B ware, When you get 2 cell block B, Look B tween 2 seats.”
    According to the ranger, they were currently in Cell Block B—on the Rock—both mentioned in the message. But where were the “2 seats” referred to in the note? And what were they supposed to find “B tween” them?
    Quinn and Luke sidled over to Cody and M.E.
    “Looking for clues?” Quinn whispered.
    Cody nodded. “We’re in Cell Block B, but I don’t see any seats. The cells just have cots, no chairs. Any ideas?”
    Quinn wandered on ahead of the tour, peering into each cell as he passed by. Cody watched him until he reached the end of the long hallway. He signaled to her and the others to follow him.
    Cody slowly wove her way through the crowd of students, hoping not to attract any attention, especially from Ms. Stad or her father, who was keeping a close eye on her.
Is he worried I might get lost in the cavernous cell block?
M.E. and Luke trailed behind her. When they reached Quinn, he pointed down a short hallway to the side that led to the dining area. Cody spotted two folding chairs that sat along the wall, no doubt meant for anyone who needed to rest during the tour.
    Quinn glanced at the ranger, who was talking about the daily routine of the prisoners. Cody checked to make sure her dad and Ms. Stad weren’t watching them.
    “Luke, stand guard,” Quinn said to Luke.
    Quinn gestured for the others to follow, and the three of them tiptoed over to the two chairs.
    Quinn bent down and examined them, including looking underneath.
    “There’s nothing here,” he said, standing up.“They’re just chairs.”
    “Guys!” Luke whispered from his post.
    “Cody! M.E.!” a sharp voice called from behind him.
    Too late. Ms. Stad stood with her arms crossed, a frown on her usually pleasant face. Behind her stood Cody’s father.
    “Stay with the group,” Ms. Stadelhofer said. “You can explore on your own later.”
    Cody nodded, and shot an apologetic glance at her father. “Sorry, Ms. Stad. We were just … excited about seeing everything.”
    “Well, you’ll get a chance. Now go back with the others, or you won’t be able to complete your questionnaire. You, too, boys.”
    The Code Busters shuffled back to the group, not so much upset about being caught but rather more disappointed that they hadn’t found anything special “between the seats.” Cody tried not to make eye contact with her dad.
    She wondered if they’d missed something in their hurry to examine the chairs and thought about sneaking back when she heard the ranger say the word
code
. Her ears pricked up.
    “It was called the ‘Rule of Silence,’ ” the ranger was saying, “and for many years the prisoners weren’t allowed to talk to each other, except during meals and recreation periods. So they used a primitive form of communication by tapping on the metal bars of their cells or on the pipes under their sinks or sometimes even on the walls.”
    “What was the code they used?” Luke asked.
    “Good question,” Ranger Huynh said. She passed out small squares of paper that featured a six-by-six grid of letters to