Secret of Light by K. C. Dyer Read Free Book Online Page A

Darrell shook her head. “I guess I’m stuck with this stupid leg after all.”
    Kate walked along the opposite wall of the cave, shining her light on the glistening surface. “I think you’re wrong, Darrell,” she said, her voice a jumble of gentle echoes. “Your drawings do have magic in them. Maybe not the same kind of magic that sent us through the wall into the fourteenth century, but they are magical in a different way.” She paused. “Did you do this one, too? It looks like one of yours.”
    Darrell was puzzled. “No, only the one I brushed away.”

    Brodie stepped over to Kate’s side. He pointed his flashlight at the spot on the wall and his headlamp bobbed, making the image dance.
    â€œHold your head still, Brodie,” commanded Darrell, as she looked over his shoulder. The three gazed in silence at a small picture drawn onto the rock wall of the cave.
    â€œIt’s a lighthouse,” said Kate.
    â€œNot just any lighthouse,” said Brodie, excitement in his voice. “It’s the lighthouse on the point at the other end of the beach. See the checkerboard pattern painted around the base?”
    â€œI’m sure lots of lighthouses have a similar pattern,” muttered Darrell. “But it really does look like our lighthouse and I most definitely did not draw it.”
    Brodie pulled out his camera and snapped a couple of pictures. He reached over to touch one corner of the drawing. “This looks like it’s the same chalk you used, Darrell. It doesn’t seem like the other glyphs at all.”
    Darrell traced one finger across the corner of the lighthouse. The surface smudged under her touch.
    Kate looked around and shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Someone must have found our cave,” she said anxiously. “Let’s head back out, okay?” She tugged on Darrell’s arm and started back.
    Brodie looked at Kate with some exasperation, his headlamp making her blink as he strode along beside her. “It’s not
our
cave, Kate. It’s been here for thousands of years before we were born and it will probably be here for thousands of years after we die.”
    â€œThis isn’t making me feel any better,” said Kate. “
Someone
drew that lighthouse.”

    â€œI’ve got an idea,” Brodie said with a grin. “What about if we make our next expedition aboveground? Let’s go to the lighthouse and check it out.”
    â€œAnything to get out of this place,” Kate answered. “It gives me the creeps.”
    Darrell, trailing behind, didn’t answer. They walked awhile without talking, and the filtered grey light grew brighter as they approached the entrance. The distant cry of a seabird echoed mournfully in the cave.
    They managed with some difficulty to pull Brodie’s pack through the crack at the entrance to the cave, and then sat down outside on the warm sand.
    â€œHave you got any food in that thing?” inquired Kate. “Now that we’re out of that creepy place, I’m suddenly starving.”
    â€œI told you I was prepared,” said Brodie, pulling out a large container of crackers and cheese. “Let’s grab something to eat and then hike over to the lighthouse.”
    Kate grinned and opened the container. “Nice to know you’re good for something other than crawling around underground,” she said, her mouth full. She glanced over Darrell’s shoulder. “Oh-oh.”
    Darrell looked up and saw Paris hiking along the beach with Lily in tow. “Looks like our trip to the lighthouse might not work out after all.”
    Kate brushed cracker crumbs off her shirt. “Not if we want to go alone.”
    â€œHey,” Paris said, puffing a little as he strode up. “We were going for a hike and then spotted you guys down here.”

    â€œThis is great,” Lily said, beaming. “A picnic!” She plopped down