The Howling Ghost Read Online Free PDF Page B

Cindy was just stepping down into it. Like the rest of them, the sudden light blinded Cindy. Rather than stepping onto the stairway, she stumbled and slid over the side. Adam saw a falling blur off to his left and heard her scream. Not sure what he was doing, he dove to catch her.
    The searchlight went off.
    Adam saw stars, not much else. But after a second or two he realized he was holding on to one of Cindy’s hands, and that she was struggling desperately at the end of it. If she let go, or if he let go of her, she would plunge over a hundred feet to the floor of the lighthouse. Adam screamed for Watch to help.
    â€œPull her over toward you on the stairway!” Adam called.
    â€œI can’t reach her!” Watch shouted back, cleaning his glasses on his shirt. He did have the worst eyes of all of them.
    â€œI’m right here!” Cindy cried. The trapdoor that led into the upper room was fairly wide. Cindy had stumbled off the side opposite the stairway. As Adam’s vision cleared, he saw her feet kicking in midair. Sally kneeled by his side and tried to grab Cindy’s other hand.
    â€œWe won’t let you go!” Sally cried.
    â€œYou’re knocking my hand loose!” Cindy screamed.
    â€œOh,” Sally said, and sat back on her knees. “Sorry.”
    â€œWatch,” Adam said anxiously, losing his grip on Cindy, “put your glasses back on and reach out and grab her feet. I’m going to lose her.”
    Watch rubbed his eyes. “I really can’t see yet. Cindy, keep talking or screaming or something. I’ll hone in on you.”
    â€œOK, I can talk,” Cindy said breathlessly. “What should I talk about? I’ve always been afraid of heights. I don’t like ghosts much either. But I like ice cream. I like school. I like singing. Some boys.”
    â€œWhich boys?” Sally asked, climbing back up on her knees.
    â€œGotcha,” Watch said, reaching out and grabbing Cindy’s feet.
    â€œAre you sure you’ve got her?” Adam asked.
    â€œDon’t let go of her yet if that’s what you’re asking,” Watch said, pulling Cindy closer.
    â€œThat’s exactly what he’s asking,” Cindy said frantically. But just then her feet touched something solid. “Oh. Thank goodness. Is that the stairs below my feet?”
    â€œIt better be,” Watch said, pulling Cindy fartherover. “It’s what I’m standing on. But I still can’t see.” Watch pulled her all the way on the stairs. “You’re safe.”
    Adam let go of Cindy’s hand. “Whew,” he said. “That was close.” He turned back toward the searchlight and complained to Watch. “I thought you said the light couldn’t come on?”
    Watch came back up the steps, Cindy by his side. Watch studied the wires that led to the searchlight, but once more shook his head.
    â€œDid you guys touch anything?” Watch asked.
    â€œNo,” Adam and Sally said.
    â€œI don’t see how it turned on,” Watch said. “These wires are shot.”
    â€œCould it have another source of power?” Cindy wondered aloud.
    They all looked at one another.
    Then they heard a sound.
    A faint howling sound.
    It seemed to come from far off. From somewhere out over the ocean. But it wasn’t so far away that it didn’t scare them. They hurried down the stairs and out of the lighthouse. Actually, they ran out of the place and worked their way back to the jetty on the rope. They could check it out later, they decided.

5
    W atch couldn’t find Bum, so they ended up at the library. To Adam, the place looked more like a ghost house than a place for books. But he was getting used to such things since moving to Spooksville.
    Mr. Spiney met them at the door. He had to be the thinnest man Adam had ever seen. Tall and bent, he looked as if his skinny bones were about to burst through his wrinkled skin. He had