The Howling Ghost Read Online Free PDF Page A

way back,” Sally said.
    Watch was over in a few moments. The rope was strong; it hardly even sagged under Watch’s weight. As long as there were no great whites in the area, they decided, they should have a safe return trip.
    As a group, they entered the lighthouse. The ground floor was basically empty. Except for the storage area, and a bunch of spider webs, there was only dust. The spiral stairway seemed to wait forthem, daring them, if they had the nerve, to climb its many steps into darkness. Adam gestured above.
    â€œI wish we had at least one flashlight,” he said.
    â€œWhen we left home we were just going for doughnuts,” Watch said. He tested the metal steps with both his hands. “The stairway appears strong enough. I bet it leads up to a door of some kind.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?” Sally asked.
    â€œIt’s dark in here,” Watch explained. “But the lighthouse windows are not boarded up. You can see that from the outside. There must be a floor of some kind above us that blocks us from the windows.” He stepped onto the stairway. “I guess we’ll see in a few minutes.”
    â€œShould we go up together?” Sally asked, glancing around nervously.
    â€œYou can stay here all by yourself,” Adam said, following Watch onto the steps. “But you’ve seen enough horror films to know what happens when you’re all alone in a dark place.”
    â€œI grew up in this town,” Sally snapped. “I watch horror films to relax before I go to sleep.” She put a foot onto the stairway. “I just hope these steps don’t suddenly end.”
    â€œIt would be a long fall,” Watch agreed, taking the lead.
    â€œI just hope my brother’s up there,” Cindy said quietly, walking a step behind Adam.
    The hike up the stairs was very hard. They were panting within a few minutes. And the floor looked so far away so quickly; it made Adam dizzy to look down. Also, it was unnerving to climb into blackness. Occasionally a spider web would settle over their faces and make them jump. Adam wished he had a Bic lighter or something to see with. The higher they climbed, the darker it got, and the warmer. Adam was about to call for Watch to stop and rest when Watch shouted, “Ouch!” He was practically invisible in the dark.
    â€œWe’ve reached the top,” Watch said, rubbing the top of his head.
    â€œIs there a door?” Sally asked, crowding up between Adam and Cindy.
    â€œI smashed my head against something—I hope it’s a door,” Watch said. “Stay cool, I’m about to pound it with my fist to try to open it.”
    Watch pounded on what sounded like a wooden door several times without success.
    â€œYou might want to use your head,” Sally suggested. “You had better luck with it.”
    â€œMaybe there’s a lock,” Cindy said, slipping past Adam, who could hardly see her. Adam listened for a moment while Watch and Cindy ran their fingers overthe wooden door above them. Then suddenly there was a click and a ray of light struck Adam’s face. It was coming from outside, through the windows at the top of the lighthouse. Cindy and Watch had pushed open the trapdoor.
    As a group, they climbed into the top of the lighthouse.
    It was dusty as well, and there were cobwebs everywhere. The dust lay particularly thick on the huge metal mirror that curved behind the giant searchlight that stood in the center of the room. Watch drew his finger over the mirror, and Adam was surprised to see how shiny the metal was beneath the dust. The twin bulbs that formed the heart of the searchlight were not covered by glass; they bulged near the center of the mirror like two watchful eyes. Watch studied the searchlight for a moment, checking on the wires that led to it.
    â€œThis thing hasn’t been turned on in years,” he said finally.
    Cindy was disturbed. “It came on two days