登陆注册
10431600000002

第2章 The Ashcrumb Castle

Misty had never seen a storm gather so quickly. Within minutes, the skies had gone from a calm blue to a stormy gray.

"Look at the size of that cloud!" said Mr. Gordon, pointing out the window of the truck. "I'm afraid we're going to be driving right into it."

Misty looked. It was an eerie, dark green thundercloud, billowing menacingly over their neighborhood. Little threads of lightning streaked within it, illuminating its insides like a hazy fishbowl.

They pulled in front of their house just when the first drops of rain began to fall. James and his best friend, Hector Figg, were on the front lawn, doing kung fu in weird black helmets.

"What are you boys doing out in this kind of weather?" Mr. Gordon bellowed as he spilled out of the truck. "You could get struck by lightning, you know!"

"Not while we're wearing our anti-lightning helmets," said Hector, rapping on the one atop his head. "They protect the skull up to a billion volts of electricity! They're my dad's invention."

"I see," said Mr. Gordon, impressed.

Hector's dad, Dr. Figg, was a mad scientist of sorts who, besides being a brilliant inventor, was in charge of the construction of Ashcrumb's new, high-tech lighthouse.

"So, was I right?" said James to his dad. "Did you find a lot of creepy stuff today?"

"Why creepy?" asked Hector, peeking into the truck. "Where did you go?"

"We went to Madame Zaster's house," replied Misty.

Just then, a bright green streak of lightning bolted from the sky, followed by an earsplitting thunderclap.

"Boys," said Mr. Gordon, opening the back of the truck. "Give me a hand with Madame Zaster's vanity. I want to get it inside before the storm hits."

The boys groaned.

"Don't worry," said Mr. Gordon. "It's the only piece of furniture we're unloading. I'm taking the rest of the stuff to the Dearly Departed."

They'd just moved the vanity into Misty's room when another thunderclap boomed. The rain began falling in sheets. It was a terrible storm, with blinding lightning and a howling wind that seemed bent on blowing the house down. Misty sat on the couch and stared out the window at the raging tempest.

This was the type of weather, Misty mused, that tossed ships at sea, sending them crashing onto the shore. The powerful lightning that was streaking outside was probably the same sort of wicked jolts that had struck the mast of the Royal Ashcrumb, sending the legendary vessel blazing and sinking to its watery grave in the town's bay.

A loud crack of thunder shook Misty from her thoughts. She put her hand in her bag and felt the thick paper of the photograph. She pulled it out and gazed at the dim image of Madame Zaster. Studying the woman's curling mouth and dark eyes, Misty knew without a doubt that she had met Madame Zaster's ghost. But why had she appeared to Misty?

It was still raining the next morning when Yoshi, who lived across the street, met Misty outside for their walk to school. Standing under a giant green umbrella, Yoshi looked even smaller than usual. Her long black hair was swirling in the wind as she clutched the handle of the umbrella.

"Should we wait for James?" asked Yoshi as Misty darted under the huge green dome.

"He already ran to school with Hector," said Misty.

A gust of wind blew at their backs as they started their wet walk, huddling like two ants carrying a leaf.

"I didn't think you and your family were getting back from your trip until tomorrow," said Misty.

"We had to cut our trip short," said Yoshi. "Dad had to get back to the asylum. There was an emergency."

"What do you mean?" said Misty.

"Well, I really shouldn't say," said Yoshi. "You know how I'm not supposed to talk about what goes on in the asylum. It's confidential."

"Tell me!" cried Misty. "I promise I won't say anything to anybody! Besides, I've got a secret to tell you, too. You go first."

"Okay," blurted Yoshi. "Here's the deal. There's this new patient at the asylum called May Nays. He's a major lunatic. He will do anything to get his hands on mayonnaise. I mean, he'll kill for the stuff. Literally."

"He'll kill for mayonnaise?" snickered Misty. "Are you kidding?"

"No, I'm not kidding," said Yoshi. "Anyway, you know how werewolves go on a rampage during a full moon? Well, that's kinda how it is with May Nays. Except it isn't a full moon that makes May Nays crazy, it's stormy weather. And last night, when the storm hit, May Nays went berserk and busted out of his room. Thankfully, he didn't get far. They found him in the asylum's kitchen pantry, gorging himself on mayonnaise."

"That is completely twisted," said Misty.

"Tell me about it," agreed Yoshi. "So, now it's your turn. Tell me your secret."

There was so much that Misty wanted to tell Yoshi that she didn't know where to begin.

For a few seconds, Misty said nothing and just scurried along with her head down, watching autumn leaves float past on the flooded path while she thought of what to say.

Suddenly, they were met with the piercing screech of a whistle.

It was Margie Medford, the school's crossing guard. She was a large, horsey woman with bushy brows and a booming voice. She was also a menacing bully who loved to push kids around when parents and teachers weren't watching.

"Move it, move it, move it!" Medford shouted, waving Misty and Yoshi across the street. A small boy running with an armload of books slipped and fell down. Medford banged him on the head with her STOP sign. "Get up, Jimmy Winn, you little slowpoke!" she yelled, yanking him up by his ear and dragging him the rest of the way. She gave Misty and Yoshi a dark look as the girls dashed into the safety of the school's entrance.

Though, truth be told, Ashcrumb Elementary looked anything but safe. It looked downright scary. Originally built by King Charles I of England in 1633-when the town was a royal colony-Ashcrumb Elementary happened to be a real castle. It was gigantic, several stories tall, with vine-covered turrets stretching into the sky. A stone wall enclosed the castle's sprawling grounds that were filled with towering elm and maple trees, all of which had a nasty habit of scratching their limbs against the milky windowpanes of the school during class. In the far corners of the grounds stood little slate-roofed buildings. Once used for housing horses and carriages, the buildings now sheltered the teachers' cars.

The castle had everything a castle would have, except for a moat. Which was a bit of a shame, Misty always thought, because Margie Medford, who was quite the troll, would surely have relished hiding under a drawbridge.

At the moment, the crossing guard was stomping through a puddle to her next victims, a frightened group of first graders.

"I can't stand Medford," said Yoshi, collapsing her umbrella and shaking the raindrops from it. "My dad says she has issues with power and anger."

"What does that mean?" asked Misty.

"It means that she likes to terrorize small things because it makes her feel bigger," explained Yoshi.

"Oh," said Misty. "I guess your dad would know."

Yoshi's father, Dr. Yamamoto, was an expert at figuring people out. That's why he ran Ashcrumb's insane asylum. Yoshi had inherited her father's knack for understanding people. Not only was Yoshi the smartest person in the class, she was the most feared. Nobody dared mess with a girl whose father could lock you up and throw away the key.

Misty, on the other hand, was a different story altogether. She was smart, but she daydreamed a lot, gazing out the window instead of minding the chalkboard. Sometimes when teachers called on Misty, she didn't reply. It wasn't because she didn't know the answer, it was simply because her mind was a thousand miles away. While the other kids at school didn't bother Yoshi, they thrived on making Misty miserable. Her secondhand clothes, lopsided glasses, and family's odd business-not to mention the ice-cream truck-made her the target of endless jokes.

There was one girl in particular who loved to torture Misty. Her name was Alexis Lenox, a snobby, spoiled redhead. Not a day passed that Alexis didn't say something cruel to Misty.

Walking into the school, Misty winced to see Alexis and her crowd approaching.

"Nice coat," Alexis smirked, tugging on Misty's shabby trench coat. "I think I just saw some moths fly out of it!" Then Alexis gave a taunting pull on Misty's bag and sneered. "And just what is with this relic? Are you delivering mail for the Pony Express these days?"

Alexis let out a peal of laughter, and she and her friends sauntered off.

Misty's face reddened as she felt the familiar sting of embarrassment.

"Forget her," said Yoshi. "Alexis Lenox has issues with superiority. Anyway, what's your secret?"

Just then, over the intercom system came the voice of the school's principal, Mr. Ableman. "ALL STUDENTS REPORT TO TOWN FATHERS HALL FOR ASSEMBLY."

"I'll tell you after school," said Misty, completely deflated.

Town Fathers Hall was a cavernous, drafty chamber, with narrow and murky windows reaching to its vaulted ceiling.

Standing on the hall's dim stage, watching the students file into the building, were Principal Ableman and Vice Principal Barrel. While the short, bald Mr. Ableman tested the microphone, the tall, beady-eyed Mr. Barrel tilted his head back, as if watching the children through his nostrils. Plagued with bad nerves, Mr. Barrel had a twitchy eye. And in his back pocket he always kept a small paddle.

"Okay, okay, okay," said Mr. Ableman to the assemblage. "Everybody get to your seats."

"To your seats, to your seats," said Mr. Barrel.

Misty sat with the rest of her class, taking a seat next to the window. From her spot, she could see out onto the playground, where the Royal Ashcrumb's original figurehead-a large, creepy-looking bronze mermaid that had decorated the prow of the ship-lay, her tail half buried in the earth. The mermaid was the favorite piece of playground equipment among the first graders, but they wouldn't slide down her slimy scales today. Outdoor recess, Misty guessed, was out of the question with this kind of weather, especially now that another dark cloud was moving toward the school.

"Good morning," Mr. Ableman said into the microphone. "As you all know, Halloween is this weekend."

Some students clapped and cheered.

Mr. Barrel yanked out his paddle the way a cowboy would flash a six-shooter and waved it at the audience. The crowd went quiet. He jammed it back into this pocket.

"Trick-or-treating is a lot of fun," continued Mr. Ableman. "But you have to be careful! Mr. Barrel is going to give you some tips on how to be safe this Halloween."

Mr. Barrel threw his hands open wide and declared at the top of his lungs, "RAZOR BLADES IN APPLES! NAILS IN CHOCOLATE! LUMPS OF POISON!" He trotted to the side of the stage and pointed at a section of second graders. "That's right! There are weirdos who work around the clock, all year long, devising clever ways to disguise killer candy!"

Having achieved everyone's undivided attention, Mr. Barrel strolled back to the center of the stage, thunder rolling ominously.

As he began to read a list of trick-or-treating dos and don'ts, Misty glanced back at the playground. She scanned the stormy scenery, watching the seats of the swing sets pitch to and fro, the rain pelt the seesaws, and leaves scatter across the grass.

"DO NOT eat candy if the wrapper has been tampered with!" warned Mr. Barrel.

Misty squinted through the downpour. What was that lone figure standing beneath the trees? Dark and hunched, it hovered above the ground, moving slightly in the wind. As Misty watched it draw closer, she got the sinking feeling that it was watching her, too.

"DO NOT eat anything that smells or tastes like battery acid!" Mr. Barrel declared.

Trying to get a better view of the mysterious form on the playground, Misty leaned forward in her seat.

In an instant, the thing sprang up, just outside the window.

Misty screamed, but not as loudly as Mr. Barrel.

"WHAT IS THAT?" the vice principal shouted, clutching his chest.

Shrieks filled the room as the entire assembly spied the creature leaning against the windowpane, its long hair bristling in the wind and rain. They jumped to their feet, craning to see it better.

"It's hairy!"

"It's floating!"

"It ain't got a head!"

"It doesn't have a head," a teacher corrected. "And it doesn't have any feet, either!"

Mr. Ableman thumped the microphone in an attempt to get the frantic group's attention. "Calm down!" he blared. "Back to your seats. Now!"

The group reluctantly followed his orders, whispering hysterically as they fumbled for their chairs. Returning to her seat, Misty knew there was something about the figure that seemed familiar.

"I'm going to see what this is all about," said Mr. Ableman.

"B-b-be careful," warned Mr. Barrel, his eyes glued upon the creature.

Mr. Ableman marched to the side door, flung it open, and ventured outside. Everyone watched in nervous silence as the principal approached the mysterious figure. By the way his head bobbed, one could tell Mr. Ableman was shouting, though nothing could be heard over the steady downpour of rain.

"It's leaving!" someone cried as the dark form backed away from the window and hurried off.

Mr. Ableman, knowing all eyes were on him, shook his fist one more time and headed back into the building.

"Show's over!" he announced as he sloshed indoors, completely drenched.

"What was it?" said Mr. Barrel.

"Um-well, uh," stammered Mr. Ableman. "Er-it appears to be just some matty old dog."

While the older students groaned, saddened that the drama had ended, the younger ones sighed in relief and emerged from their hiding places. A few first graders remained under tables, sobbing and shaking, some even sucking their thumbs while teachers tried to coax them out.

"In conclusion, there is much to fear about Halloween," said Mr. Ableman. "Assembly dismissed. Back to your classes."

The rest of the school day was blown. No one believed the dog explanation, and everyone was so alarmed about the "playground beast" that nobody could concentrate. Even the teachers couldn't quit looking out the window. By the time the bell rang signaling everybody to go home, nobody had the guts. What if the hairy thing was waiting for them?

Margie Medford offered little comfort for the students as they faced their journeys home. "RUN!" she yelled. "Run home as fast as you can!"

Like racehorses out of the starting gate, the children exploded onto the street, dashing down the sidewalk, their eyes as big as pies. Misty and Yoshi were among them, bumbling along with their huge umbrella.

"Just a little farther," Yoshi told Misty. "Then we'll be home."

Misty stopped in her tracks. That's it! Suddenly, she realized where she had seen the hairy, armless, footless, and headless form before.

"Fannie Belcher's coat!" she gasped.

"What?" said Yoshi. "What are you talking about?"

"I think it's time I told you my secret," said Misty.

同类推荐
  • Forever and a Day (The Inn at Sunset Harbor—Book 5

    Forever and a Day (The Inn at Sunset Harbor—Book 5

    "Sophie Love's ability to impart magic to her readers is exquisitely wrought in powerfully evocative phrases and descriptions….This is the perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads."--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan re For Now and Forever)FOREVER AND A DAY is book #5 in the bestselling romance series The Inn at Sunset Harbor, which begins with book #1, For Now and Forever—a free download!
  • Shadow of Apollo

    Shadow of Apollo

    When her gorgeous stepmother, Sylvia, makes plans to marry Glavcos Kyrou, an older, wealthy Greek gentleman, Jenny can't help but disapprove. Glavcos is domineering and arrogant--and Sylvia is clearly only after his money. Glavcos'son, Daros, is devastatingly handsome--and Jenny falls helplessly in love. But Sylvia is not immune to Daros'undeniable magnetism, and soon she has her eye on the son rather than the father. Sylvia always gets the man she wants--this time, will she take Jenny's?
  • Could You Succeed as a Business Leader?

    Could You Succeed as a Business Leader?

    Have you ever thought about moving from an individual contributor role or management role into a business leadership role? Maybe it sounds like fun, but are you ready to take the plunge? Find out in this fun yet informative ebook that explores the ups and downs of business management. It also includes a short personality quiz to see if you have what it takes.
  • Black Book

    Black Book

    "The Black Book"is Orhan Pamuk's tour de force, a stunning tapestry of Middle Eastern and Islamic culture which confirmed his reputation as a writer of international stature. Richly atmospheric and Rabelaisian in scope, it is a labyrinthine novel suffused with the sights, sounds and scents of Istanbul, an unforgettable evocation of the city where East meets West, and a boldly unconventional mystery that plumbs the elusive nature of identity, fiction, interpretation and reality.
  • Once Upon a Crime (Sisters Grimm #4)
热门推荐
  • The Country of the Pointed Firs

    The Country of the Pointed Firs

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 网游之召唤道士

    网游之召唤道士

    灵域中,道士系的进阶职业为召唤师和炼阵师!我本求逍遥,奈何他人不安生。不爱惹麻烦,却也不怕麻烦!运气逆天,演绎巅峰游戏神话!游戏因他而疯狂!
  • 江湖老友:蔡澜散文集(修订版)

    江湖老友:蔡澜散文集(修订版)

    本书精选了蔡澜写文化名人的文章,所写者是耳熟能详的名家,如金庸、黄霑、黄永玉、丁雄泉、张彻、胡金铨、古龙、成龙、吴宇森等。作者妙笔生花,对这些人物的描写,妙趣横生,具有很高的文学价值。蔡澜已在国内出版了近百本简体字版的著作,本书选取的角度比较独特,从蔡澜的文章中精选了写人物的文章,其中不少文章是首次结集出版。
  • 裴太太你已婚

    裴太太你已婚

    ☆全本完,新书已开,书名《郁太太又在装娇弱》☆傅家大小姐傅芊芊是个废柴学渣,一场蓄意的绑架,体内的灵魂变成了拥有第六感的黑鹰突击队队长。恶毒继母抢她母家的家产?送你去黄泉陪阎罗喝茶。闺蜜要抢她的渣男未婚夫?打包踹走,收好不送。☆☆强与强的对决,拼的是段数和演技。
  • 曙光纪元

    曙光纪元

    灵气复苏,武道兴起,地球出现一个个连通异度空间的通道。无数超凡生命进入地球,神灵入侵、法则降临、怪异再现,人类开启进化纪元少年认主知识之书,推演功法,优化秘籍,第三视角,属性异能,踏上超凡之旅。
  • 追着幸福跑

    追着幸福跑

    一边工作一边玩,幸福就在你身边;美女青春值万金,做事拖拉是大忌;快乐人生刚开始,职场抱怨要不得;单身贵族自白,感悟人生不算迟;婚姻教女人懂得责任与关怀,“全职太太”更有青春活力,没有丑女人,只有懒女人,今天永远是轻的一天,爱美就是爱自己,女人要越活越青春。
  • 王船山礼宜乐和的和谐社会理想:以礼之调适为中心

    王船山礼宜乐和的和谐社会理想:以礼之调适为中心

    王船山追求“礼宜乐和”的和谐社会理想,对这种和谐社会理想的追求因礼乐价值而铸就。船山礼宜乐和的和谐社会理想,涵盖着小康与大同两个基本阶段,以礼之调适并实现的和谐社会的最高阶段即为大同。船山以礼之调适并建构和谐社会,船山在和谐社会的建构方面作出了极大的贡献,船山以礼之调适并建构和谐社会,不会因此而扭曲人性。船山以礼之调适并建构的和谐社会,必将为社会主义和谐的建构奠定一种崭新的路径。当代和谐社会的建构,必然要从船山先生的和谐思想中汲取营养。
  • 影子不会痛(闪小说励志篇)

    影子不会痛(闪小说励志篇)

    本套书精选3000余篇闪小说,所有篇目均在国内公开报刊发表过。每篇都有独到的思想性,画面感强,适合改编手机短信小说。这些闪小说除了通过故事的演绎让读者了解这些闪小说的可感和领悟其中的深刻含义外,特别对广大初高中生读者的心灵是一次很好的洗涤。
  • 那片星空,那片海

    那片星空,那片海

    你听过美人鱼的浪漫故事吗?你听过“沧海月明珠有泪,蓝田日暖玉生烟”的动人诗句吗?你能想象曾有一份这样穿越了时间,跨越了界限的爱情吗?如果你也曾对爱情有过想象。爱情和人生一模一样,永远都是鲜花与荆棘同在。如果我的爱情是鲜花,我愿意拥抱它的美丽芬芳;如果我的爱情是荆棘,我也会毫不犹豫地拥抱它的尖锐疼痛。因为,当我拥抱鲜花时,是吴居蓝用甜蜜和微笑为我种下的美丽芬芳;当我拥抱荆棘时,他的整个胸膛早已长满了用自己鲜血浇灌的荆棘。如果我们的相拥只能隔着荆棘,那么我愿意用力、更用力一点地抱紧他!即使荆棘刺穿我的肌肤,刺进我的心脏,只要能距离他近一点、更近一点!
  • 此生为你,念恋不忘

    此生为你,念恋不忘

    重生之前她单纯好骗,被最亲近的人欺骗,被自己的丈夫出轨,还被夺走公司股份,最后被陷害致死;一朝重生,她心狠手辣,只为报仇。却没想到那个天天缠着她(从小缠到大)的人;在前世,人人都说少帅不喜欢女人,而且只要是女的靠近他,就会被他身边的人给扔出去,其实她们不知道的是他爱的人和想要给温暖的人没有在他身边而已。所以这一世,她只想好好待在他的身边,跟他并肩作战,还要做他的妻子。(有人说她运气好,遇到一个这么帅气又霸气的男人。有人说她真幸福,遇到一辈子只喜欢她,爱她的人。可是他们不知道的是,其实是他运气好,遇到她是他这辈子无法言语的幸福。她能够陪在他身边是他这辈子最大的幸福。)