Authors: Christopher Pike
The Secret Path (9 page)
Adam did not wait to see if she was able to break free.
“Come on!” he shouted to the others.
Holding hands, with Sally in the middle, they leaped toward the tombstone.
The world spun, the universe turned. The earth became the sky and the sky became the ocean. They fell without moving. They flew
without wings. Finally everything went black and time seemed to stop.
Then they were standing on the other side of the tombstone.
A blue sky shone overhead.
They were home. Safe in Spooksville.
A
dam walked Sally home. Watch had gone off to buy another turkey sandwich and talk to Bum. Watch wanted to know if there was another Secret Path. As if the first one had not been enough for one day. Adam and Sally wished him good luck.
“Take your glasses with you this time,” Adam had told him. “I'm not bringing them to you again.”
As they walked the peaceful streets of the
real
Spooksville, they both noticed that the sun was almost directly overhead.
“It looks like the same time of day as when we
met,”
Sally said.
“It probably is,” Adam said. “I think the whole time we were on the other side, we were moving backward in time. I wouldn't be surprised if we run into ourselves leaving my house.” He paused. “Maybe we should hurry and stop ourselves. Save ourselves all the trouble.”
“Why? Let them enjoy the adventure.”
Adam was amazed. “You enjoyed today?”
“Sure. Just another day in Spooksville. You'll get used to Sundays like this.”
Adam felt exhausted. “I hope not.”
They said goodbye at the end of Sally's driveway.
“I would invite you in,” she said. “Except my parents are kind of weird.”
“That's OK I better get home and help my dad unpack the truck.”
Sally leaned closer and stared into his eyes. “I like you, Adam.”
He felt nervous. “I like you.”
“Could you tell me something? Please?”
“What?”
“What was her name?” Sally asked.
“Whose name?”
“The girl you left behind.”
“I didn't leave any girl behind. I told you.”
“You were serious?” Sally said.
“I was and I am.”
“I don't have to be jealous?”
Adam had to laugh. “You don't have to be jealous, Sally. I promise.”
“That's a relief.” She smiled and squeezed his shoulder. “Will I see you soon?”
Adam shrugged. “Probably tomorrow.”
Adam walked home. His parents and sister were in the kitchen, still eating lunch.
“Back so soon?” his dad asked.
Adam tried not to smirk. “Yeah,” he said. “How's your back?”
“Fine,” his dad said.
“What's the town like?” his mother asked.
“It's interesting.” Adam thought a moment. “I don't think I'm going to be bored here.”
Little is known about Christopher Pike, although he is supposed to be a strange man. It is rumored that he was born in New York but grew up in Los Angeles. He has been seen in Santa Barbara lately, so he probably lives there now. But no one really knows what he looks like, or how old he is. It is possible that he is not a real person, but an eccentric creature visiting from another world. When he is not writing, he sits and stares at the walls of his huge haunted house. A short, ugly troll wanders around him in the dark and whispers scary stories in his ear.
Christopher Pike is one of this planet's best-selling authors of young adult fiction.
Books by Christopher Pike
Spooksville #1: The Secret Path
Spooksville #2: The Howling Ghost
Spooksville #3: The Haunted Gave
Spooksville #4: Aliens in the Sky
Spooksville #5: The Cold People
Spooksville #6: The Witch's Revenge
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Aladdin
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
Copyright © 1995 by Christopher Pike
Cover designed by Jessica Handelman
Cover illustrations by Vivienne To
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0-671-53725-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-4814-1051-9 (eBook)
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