Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Dink gulped and felt goose bumps climbing his legs. Could it be Emory Scott's ghost? The light winked a few more times, then disappeared. Dink shivered, rubbing his eyes. When the light didn't return, he crawled back into bed. He yawned and closed his eyes, deciding that he had seen a firefly. But just before falling off to sleep, Dink opened his eyes again. He had seen only one light moving out there in the darkness.

Why would there be only one firefly in the woods? He thought about that until he fell asleep. Dink dreamed that he was in the cave again. It was pitch dark. Up ahead, he heard a hideous scream. But this time, the scream didn't stop, it just got louder. Suddenly bats were flying in his face. But these bats had feathers-bright green feathers! Dink bolted upright in his bed. The blankets were twisted around his legs and the alarm clock was buzzing. I'm not in a cave, Dink realized. I'm still in the castle. Relieved, he shut off the alarm. "Josh, wake up," he said. Josh opened an eye. "Why?" Dink climbed out of bed. "Walker's taking us lobstering, remember?" He turned on the light and yanked Josh's covers off. "Come on, let's go catch a lobster!" Josh groaned, but he climbed out of bed. "I hate lobsters." Dink laughed. "You ate one last night." He pulled on yesterday's jeans and a warm sweatshirt over his T-shirt. "I'm going downstairs. Don't go back to bed!"

Dink crossed the hall and tapped on Ruth Rose's door. She was up and dressed in yellow from top to bottom. "Did you see anything strange last night?" Dink asked. Ruth Rose was pulling a brush through her hair. She shook her head. "Well, I did! I'll tell you about it downstairs." There was a light on in the kitchen. Dink saw juice glasses, cereal bowls, and some muffins on the table. He was munching when Ruth Rose and Josh came in. "Guys, I think someone was creeping around outside last night," Dink said. He told them about the light he'd seen in the woods. Josh grabbed a muffin and bit off half. "Told you," he said, trying to grin and chew at the same time. "It was Emory's ghost!" "Very funny Josh," Ruth Rose said. Just then there was a thump in the mud room and the kitchen door crashed open. Josh nearly fell out of his chair. Walker came in wearing tall rubber boots and a yellow slicker. "Ready to go?" he asked.

Dink laughed in relief. "Josh thought you were a ghost," he said. "Did not," Josh muttered. They walked outside and climbed into Walker's Jeep. The sky was pitch black. Dink peered into the woods, half expecting to see the strange light again. A few minutes later Walker turned into his driveway. They got out and walked behind the house to the dock. Their feet made hollow noises on the wooden boards. "Watch your step out here," Walker said, aiming a flashlight at Dink's feet. Dink breathed in the salty night air. A few stars made pinpoints of light above the boat. Somewhere, he heard a night bird call. "Ready to come aboard?" Walker asked. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose followed Walker onto the dark boat.