The Secret Path by Christopher Pike Read Free Book Online

marble was cut in the shape of a raven. The bird glared down at them as if they were its prey. Adam blinked up at the deep black eyes that seemed to stare back at him. Over and around the grave, on all sides, the ground was bare. Adam realized that no grass could grow so close to the remains of a witch.
    â€œWhat a nice place for a picnic,” Sally said sarcastically. She turned to Watch. “What do we do now? Wish ourselves into another dimension?”
    â€œI don’t think it’s that easy,” Watch said. “We have to figure out the last part of the riddle.” He paused and repeated Bum’s words: “ ‘Follow her all the way to her death, and remember, when they brought her to her grave, they carried her upside-down. They buried her facedown,as they do all witches. All those they are afraid to burn.’ ” Watch paused to clean his glasses on his shirt. “I don’t think any of us can walk in here upside-down.”
    â€œThat’s a pity,” Adam said.
    â€œYou look heartbroken, Adam,” Sally said.
    Watch began to walk around the large tombstone. He gestured in the direction of the cemetery’s entrance. “That must have been the entrance even then, so they must have carried her coffin in from over there. We should probably start there and walk this way. But I don’t think that’s going to work. Bum was trying to tell us something more with his riddle.” Watch frowned. “Do either of you have any ideas?”
    â€œNot me,” Sally said, pacing several steps away from the grave and plopping down on the ground. “I’m too tired, too hungry.” She patted the spot beside her. “Why don’t you rest, Adam?”
    â€œI think we’ve done pretty good to figure out any of the riddle,” Adam said, joining Sally on the ground. It was good to rest; he felt as if he’d just walked to the West Coast from Kansas City. He called over to Watch, who continuedto stroll around the tombstone, “We can always decipher the last part later.”
    Sally smiled at Adam. “Do you want me to rub your feet?” she asked sweetly.
    â€œThat’s all right,” Adam said.
    â€œI have a gentle touch,” Sally said.
    â€œSave your strength,” Adam said.
    â€œWe could get a coffin,” Watch suggested from behind the tombstone. “And I could lay inside it upside-down and the two of you could carry me over here.”
    â€œThe coffins they sell in town lock when you close them,” Sally said, lying back and staring up at the sky. “Remember the scratching sounds.”
    â€œI don’t think we have the strength to carry you in a coffin,” Adam said, distracted as he watched the dull red light radiating from the top of the nearby castle tower begin to flicker. Actually, it wasn’t so dull anymore. Maybe Ann Templeton had decided to light more candles or throw another log on the fire. What did she do up there? Adam wondered. Was she really a witch? Could she really turn boys into frogs and girls into lizards? Adam couldn’t get hervoice out of his head. While Watch continued to poke around behind him, and Sally lay snoozing, Adam thought of the strange things she had said to him.
    â€œNothing is the way it looks. Nobody is just one way. When you hear stories about me—perhaps from this skinny girl here, perhaps from others—know that they’re only partially true.”
    But she had seemed to like him.
    â€œYou have such nice eyes, did you know that, Adam?”
    Adam didn’t think she’d try to hurt him.
    â€œ I will see both of you later—under different circumstances.”
    The light in the tall tower flared again.
    Candles didn’t usually burn so red.
    Adam found himself unable to quit staring at the light.
    At the tower.
    He thought he saw the shadow of Ann Templeton step to the window.
    â€œWould you like to visit me there