The Mansion in the Mist by John Bellairs Read Free Book Online Page A

recall, your solo expedition took place during a storm. But the stars had been out earlier that night, before the storm arose. All I can say is this: The star must make the chest appear, and once it's there, the chest stays until morning and then vanishes. Does that sound reasonable to you?"
    "About as reasonable as pineapple upside-down cake," said Miss Eells tartly. "As I recall, the very first time Anthony saw the chest, the stars were out, all right. But he took us straight up to the room, and the chest had disappeared. How do you explain that, Emerson Einstein Eells?"
    Emerson looked cranky, but then he chuckled. "Elementary, my dear Myra. Anthony said he opened the chest and then closed it again. Obviously, opening the chest prepares it for its journey to Whatsis Land. We know what a person then has to do to travel in the chest: Climb in and say the magic words. But suppose you didn't want to make the trip yourself?"
    Miss Eells muttered, "That wouldn't strain my supposer at all."
    Emerson ignored her. "Let's say you only wanted to send some object to Foggy Bottom, something like, oh, a CARE package or an A-bomb. An object couldn't say the magical abracadabra, so you'd simply put it inside the chest and close the lid. Closing the lid puts the con traption on automatic pilot and sends it on its merry way. So when Anthony closed the thing, he dispatched it to the other dimension. By the time we got to the room, the chest was off to the land of mist."
    Miss Eells snorted. "You have an answer for everything, don't you, Mr. Smarty? I suppose we have to wait for a clear night to see if your theory works. Personally, I hope the sky stays clouded over till Labor Day. I think you're crazy to want to go back to that mansion!"
    Emerson said nothing, but he got up and went to the cookstove to see if there were any fish fillets left. He had caught the fish himself, so of course he thought they tasted delicious.
    Three straight days of rain and cloudy weather followed. All day it drizzled, and at night heavy downpours hid the lake from sight. Finally, though, the weather cleared, and Emerson began to get all worked up. It was a Thursday in mid-July, and that night he would be going back. Meanwhile, Miss Eells and Anthony had done a lot of talking in secret, and they had finally reached a decision: Come hell or high water they would go with Emerson. Anthony was sure he could help Emerson in some way, and Miss Eells felt that she would go out of her mind waiting for the other two to return. Besides, she was beginning to believe in the power of the amulets.
    When Miss Eells and Anthony told Emerson about their decision, he nearly had a fit.
    "Nonsense!" he exclaimed, folding his arms indignantly. "It's far too dangerous! I won't hear of it!"
    "I thought you told us that anyone wearing one of your amulets would be safe," said Miss Eells with a malicious gleam in her eye.
    Emerson got flustered. His face turned red and he began to splutter. "Well, I... that is, I... oh, blast it all, I'll tell you the truth! I said that to keep you from worrying. The place is as dangerous as a quicksand bog. But someone has to go to find the clue that may lead to the Logos Cube. When I let Anthony go with me last time, it was because I felt lonely and afraid. But since then I've regretted that decision, and now I say to you both: Stay home!"
    Miss Eells glared at her brother. "Em, dear," she said, "if you want the two of us to stay here you'd better be good at knots and tying people up with clothesline. And remember, while you're working on one of us, the other one will be beating you over the head with a breadboard or a frying pan."
    Emerson was feeling desperate. "I... I won't let you use my amulets," he said with a pouty frown. "And may I remind you that I have the only key to the storage case?"
    Miss Eells grinned. "You think you have the only key. Years ago you gave me a duplicate, because you felt I was levelheaded and wouldn't do anything rash." She