Mystery of the Mummy's Curse by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

you think Sam will get here?” Benny asked.
    â€œI wish she’d told us what she needed us to do today” said Jessie. “We could have gotten started—we have only two days left until the exhibit opens.”
    â€œI know what we can work on,” Violet said. “Remember Sam said she was meeting with the person who’s designing the guide for the exhibit? Well, what if we made a special guide for kids?” Violet asked.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” asked Jessie.
    â€œIt could give some information about ancient Egypt that kids might like to know,” Violet said.
    â€œIt could explain how they make mummies,” Benny put in.
    â€œAnd we could make up some games and activities about the exhibit, too,” Violet added.
    â€œThis is like doing a report on Egypt, only more fan,” Jessie said. “I’ll go down to Pete’s office and see if he has some books we can use for research.”
    â€œGreat idea,” Violet said. “I’ll come with you.”
    When they had left, Benny said, “I’ll make up some games for the guide. I’m good at games.” He looked around the room for a place to sit. It was a small room. Most of it was filled with the tables of artifacts, waiting to be arranged in the display cases. Benny didn’t think it would be right to sit down at Sam’s desk. The little bit of extra space at the end of the room held the coffin. Benny remembered the mummy’s curse and shivered.
    â€œWhy don’t you go in the exhibit hall? You can sit down on the floor in there,” Henry suggested, unlocking the door for his little brother. “I’m going to stay in here and look at the artifacts to get some ideas.”
    â€œOkay,” Benny said. He pushed open the door to the exhibit hall. There were no windows and it was dark and eerily quiet inside. He felt on the wall for a light switch but didn’t feel any. “Henry?” he called back into the prep room.
    Henry was concentrating on the artifacts and didn’t answer.
    â€œHenry?” he called again.
    â€œYes?” Henry said at last.
    â€œWhere’s the light switch?” Benny asked.
    â€œIt’s over by the main entrance,” Henry said.
    â€œOh, okay,” said Benny. All he had to do was walk across the room and turn on the light. But for some reason he felt nervous. He felt as if he weren’t alone in the room, as if someone were hiding in the darkness.
    â€œThis is silly,” he said to himself. “That mummy has me spooked.”
    Benny began walking across the room. As he walked, he again had a strange feeling that someone was watching him. He could feel someone’s eyes on him.
    He stopped walking and looked slowly around. “Hello?” he said, his voice shaky in the large, dark, silent room. No one answered. “Hello?” he called again.
    Benny felt a prickling sensation on the back of his neck. His palms began to sweat.
    He walked quickly to the other door and was relieved when he found the light switch there. He turned it on and looked back around the room. Everything seemed so different in the bright light.
    Benny sat down on the floor with his paper and thought for a moment. Then he began to draw a maze. It was supposed to look like a path through a tomb, and you had to find the mummy at the end.
    But even with the light on, he didn’t feel comfortable. He kept looking over his shoulder, sure that someone, not just a person in a painting, was watching him.
    At last, Benny gave up and went back into the prep room to see what Henry was doing. He came in just as Violet and Jessie were returning from Pete’s office, their arms full of books.
    Henry was standing at one of the tables of artifacts, studying them. He looked upset.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Jessie asked.
    Henry looked around at all the tables once more before answering.
    â€œRemember that blue hippo that Dr. Snood was