6 Not on My Watch

Chapter 6 Not on My Watch "I can't believe the lighthouse keeper won't help us!" Laila whispered, breaking the silence. "I hope we didn't freak him out," Sofia said thoughtfully. "I know he was really rude, but I feel kind of sorry for him," said Max. "He's right that lighthouses aren't needed much anymore. They used to save a lot of lives. But now, boats like Grandpa's have electronic

equipment to help guide them to shore." Sofia lifted her chin, determined not to be defeated. "We have to try and talk to him again." She took a deep breath and banged on the door. "Please, sir, we need to talk to you. Your lighthouse can save lives again—tonight—if you'll just help us!" She waited, crossing her fingers. The door cracked open again and Sofia's heart leaped.

"What lives?" the old man asked, studying her face.

"Baby turtles!" Laila blurted. "Near the Aloha Inn. They're hatching, but the inn's having a big party and the lights will confuse them. They'll get lost. But your lighthouse can save them. Its beacon can guide them out to sea!" The lighthouse keeper's forehead creased with worry. "Sea turtles are beautiful animals," he said. "They've been here a very long time. They're much older than humans. They're even older than dinosaurs." "And now they're in danger of going extinct," Max said. The lighthouse keeper shook his head. "Not on my watch," he said firmly. He flung the door open wide and stepped out. "C'mon, follow me." As the old man led them to the lighthouse, Max pumped his fist in the air. At the lighthouse, the man fiddled with a set of keys. With a click and a creak, the heavy door swung open. He grabbed a flashlight that hung on the wall and flicked it on, lighting up the room. They were at the bottom of a spiraling flight of wooden stairs. White paint peeled from the brick walls of the lighthouse. The air was thick with the smell of must

and salt water. The spiral staircase ahead beckoned. "Careful!" called the old man as Sofia raced toward the stairs. Sofia tried to slow down, but her feet wouldn't

listen. The turtles needed her! Step after step, around and around, she sprinted up the stairs. Finally, she could see the stone landing at the top. Then, crack! The world fell out from under Sofia's feet. She cried out, lunging for the wooden stair rail. Max looked up in time to see a foot dangling through the rotted wooden step above. "Sofia!" he shouted. "I'm okay," Sofia called back down. A moment later, the foot disappeared as she scrambled up onto the next stair. Phew, she thought. That was a close one. When the others reached her, Max's stomach sank. Sofia stood above a set of broken stairs, and he and the others stood below. "Can you all climb over them?" Sofia asked. The lighthouse keeper shook his head, frowning. "No," he said. "We shouldn't go any farther. I shouldn't have brought you this far. You could have been badly hurt. Can you get back down?" Sofia nodded. "I can, but... what about the turtles?" The lighthouse keeper was about to argue. But Sofia looked deadly serious. "I can do it," she said with determination.