The Stranger by Caroline B. Cooney Read Free Book Online Page A

only first names, since she did not know Jethro’s last name. The young men stared at each other warily. Christo extended his right hand. They shook hands, also warily, as if they were about to be contestants in some duel.
    “I’m glad you came,” said Jethro. His voice calm now, even bland. “Would you mind giving Nicoletta a ride home? She shouldn’t be down here. We were arguing about it. The woods are dangerous. Nobody should be in these woods without a compass.”
    Christo was amazed. “You don’t seem like the outdoor type,” he said to Nicoletta. “Do you hike? Do you camp?”
    “No. Never.”
    “That’s why I told her to stay away,” said Jethro. “It’s dangerous for somebody who’s ignorant about it.”
    “I love the woods,” said Christo happily. “I’ll teach you, Nickie. That’s what we’ll do this weekend! We’ll go to the state forest and hike down to the waterfalls! They’re so beautiful in winter.” Christo led Nicoletta to his van as he gave her a long, lyrical description of frozen waterfalls and gleaming ice.
    How easily he used words! Not like Jethro, who could hardly bear to let a syllable out of his mouth. “Nice to have met you,” Christo called cheerfully back to Jethro.
    How strange romance is, thought Nicoletta. I was following Jethro and Christopher was following me. To Christo this is the beginning of a beautiful romance in which we share the great outdoors. I don’t care about the outdoors at all. I don’t care about Christo either. I care about Jethro.
    And I wonder about the cave.
    And the monster.
    And the promise that mattered so much.
    To whom was I making that promise? she thought suddenly, frowning. To the creature? Or Jethro?
    Christo, backing his van down the narrow rutted lane, suddenly lifted his right hand from the wheel and stared at it. He shook his hand slightly.
    “What?” said Nicoletta. Her eyes were glued to the place where Jethro had stood. He stood there no longer. He had circled the stone, and must even now be tracing the straight path. Even now Jethro was going toward the cave, on a path that seemed to go nowhere else, a path he had wanted her to promise she would never follow again.
    But I will, thought Nicoletta. I will follow Jethro forever.
    “There’s sand on my hand,” said Christo. “That guy’s hand was all sandy.”

Chapter 8
    N EVER BEFORE IN HER life had Nicoletta intentionally done something stupid and dangerous. Her parents were cautious in all things but money. They had taught Nicoletta and Jamie to steer clear of strangers, to look both ways before crossing streets, to be home before dark. They were full of warnings and guidance, and Nicoletta had spent a lifetime listening carefully and obeying completely.
    But not today.
    The snow was falling lightly when she left the school building. She had hidden in the library stacks until Christopher had definitely driven away. Hidden among the dusty pages and unread texts until there was not a single soul left in the school whom she knew.
    Little homework had been assigned for the night. Nicoletta was able to leave her bookbag in her locker. How strange to be unburdened, to have hands and arms free. She ran all the way, feet flying, hair streaming behind her, heart filled with excitement.
    How lovely the woods were, dusted with snow, crisp and clean and pure in the fading afternoon.
    The snow was dry and separate. Snowflakes touched her cheeks like kisses.
    The road narrowed and she had to slow down, unable to find easy footing on the snow-hidden ruts of the dirt lane. At first she did not even see the boulder; snow had draped it like a cloak. It did not look like a stone, but like an igloo, a place that would be cozy inside. She patted the stone as she rounded it and her glove left a perfect five-fingered print.
    On each side of the slim, straight path, the dry weeds stood up like snow bouquets. Ice flowers.
    The snow came down more heavily.
    There was no sky anymore; just a