The Children of Fear by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

backs.
    Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will think of something. Tomorrow I must find a way for us to survive.
    He listened to the leaves whispering in the breeze, hoping the soft sound would lure him into sleep.
    A shrill whistle broke the night’s silence.
    Luke’s eyes flew open. What was that?
    The whistle came again. Louder. Longer.
    Luke scrambled out of the hollow log. He stood. His legs buckled beneath him. He stumbled to the ground. His legs had no feeling. Groaning, he rubbed his cramped calves.
    He heard the whistle again.
    It’s calling me, he thought. I must find out what is making that sound.
    He worked his way to his feet. He staggered through the woods until he came to a clearing that looked out over the valley.
    The clouds shifted away from the moon and cast a silver light over the train tracks.
    Breathing heavily, Luke watched the steaming locomotive roll over the tracks.
    A train! If only we had money left to buy tickets …
    He stared hard at the train. One of the boxcar doors was open. Are those children sitting in the doorway? he wondered. Children?
    Yes, they were children, he realized with excitement. That’s the orphan train!
    The orphan train that Earl Wade had mentioned. Luke had read about it in the newspaper as well. The train was headed west. At each town it stopped in, people had the chance to choose children to work for them. If they liked the children, they could adopt them.
    Luke felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He’d neverplanned to put Leah and Corey up for adoption. He’d always planned to take care of them himself. He would still care for them, but he would find a family to help him. In a town where people had never heard of the Fiers. Had never heard of Leah’s gift. Had never seen Leah feed a wolf and walk through town with a snake coiled around her shoulders.
    He decided the orphan train offered the perfect solution.
    With renewed energy, he turned and strode quickly back into the woods.
    The train will take us out of town. It will give us a chance to find a new home.
    It will carry us away from the fear.

Chapter
7

    T he next morning, when Leah and Corey awoke, Luke explained his plans.
    â€œBut you promised,” Leah answered angrily. “You said you wouldn’t put us on the orphan train.”
    â€œWe have no choice,” Luke told her, his voice grim. “We can’t return to the farm. You need a home, and Corey needs parents.”
    â€œWhat about you?” Leah asked, her face red with anger.
    â€œI’m old enough to take care of myself,” Luke told her.
    â€œI can take care of myself too,” Leah insisted.
    Corey tightened his lips and bobbed his head up and down.
    â€œI promised I wouldn’t leave you or Corey, and I won’t. I’m too old to be adopted, but somehow we’llstick together. Maybe a family who needs another hand on their farm will take us all in,” Luke added, forcing a hopeful note into his voice. “At least, the train will give us food and shelter. And carry us away from Stormy Ridge.”
    Luke watched as Leah’s expression slowly turned from anger to a sad pout. But Luke felt relieved when she didn’t argue with him anymore.
    â™¦Â â™¦Â â™¦
    As the sun rose, brightening the sky, Luke lifted Leah and Corey into the empty boxcar. Then he climbed inside to join them.
    He glanced around. Straw and blankets littered the floor. Sunlight streamed in between the red slats of the boxcar.
    â€œGrab a blanket, Leah,” he ordered. “We’ll sit over here and wait.”
    He led them to a corner and dropped down. Corey plopped into his lap. Leah sat stiffly beside him.
    They’ll be happy, he told himself. I’ll find them a new home, with nice people.
    Luke heard the tread of many feet.
    Suddenly children climbed into the boxcar. Each wore a solemn look of defeat. Their mouths were turned down at the corners. Some had tears in their eyes.
    Luke noticed