Dipper closed the door.
It was pitch-black inside the shop. As the windhowled outside, the broken shutters banged againstthe brick walls. A gust of damp air blew through theroom.
"It's dark in here," said Annie. "And cold.""It's creepy," said Jack.
"Yup," said Dipper. "Let's leave. I've changed mymind about staying here. We can find some otherplace to get out of the storm.""Good idea," said Annie.
81"Greatidea!" said Jack.
Jack heard Dipper rattle the door handle. "Uh-oh,"said Dipper.
"Uh-oh what?" said Jack.
"Won't open," said Dipper. "It's stuck."Jack felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. Theshutters banged in the wind.
"Hold on a second, I've got some matches in mypocket," said Dipper. "I just hope they didn't get wetin the rain."Jack heard Dipper trying to strike a match. He triedone, two, three times--then he held up a small flame.
"Yay," breathed Annie.
Jack looked around the room. In the dancing light,he could make out wooden buckets on the floor, acouple of broken chairs, a doorway leading to a backroom, and-Squeak!A bat flapped above their heads.
"Ahhh!" Jack, Annie, and Dipper ducked.
The match went out.
82Dipper quickly lit another match. He held it uphigh, trying to light the room. Jack didn't see the bat,but he saw a bricked-over fireplace, some rustylanterns, and lotsof spiderwebs.
83[Image: Jack.]
84"Yikes!" said Annie. The match went out.
"Help," said Annie in a small voice. "More light,please.""Nobody panic," said Dipper. "I got two matchesleft.""Just two?" said Annie.
"Hey, I thought I saw some lanterns," said Jack.
"Near the fireplace. Maybe we could light them.""Good idea," said Dipper. "Maybe there's oil still in'em. I just hope I can light the wicks. Or we'll be leftin the dark with the bats.""And spiders," said Annie.
And ghosts,Jack thought.
Dipper struck his next-to-last match. He held it upto find the lanterns.
"Over here," said Jack, pointing.
"I see," said Dipper. But as he knelt on the floor, thematch went out. "I got just one more," he whispered.
"So we better be realcareful."Dipper lit his last match. Jack slowly lifted the glasson both the lanterns. Very carefully, Dipper85touched the match flame to the wick of the firstlantern. The wick sputtered and flickered to life. Ayellow glow filled the room.
"Ahh!" said Dipper. He lit the second lantern.
"Beautiful. You can each carry one."Jack picked up one of the lanterns. Annie put downher trumpet and picked up the other one. The firelightcast eerie shadows on the walls.
Screeeee!
A sound from the back room startled them. Itsounded like the creak of a door opening. Jack's heartbegan to pound.
WHAM!The sound of a door slamming shut!
Jack's heart beat faster and faster.
"Hey!" called Dipper. "Who's back there?"No one answered.
Clump. Clump. Clump. The sound of footsteps onstairs!
Jack held his breath.
"Who's there?" yelled Dipper.
"WOOOOOOO!""Show yourself!" yelled Dipper.
86The shutters outside banged harder against thewalls.
"WOOOOOOO!""Mercy," whispered Dipper.
Jack's hand trembled, shaking the lantern andmaking the shadows in the room dance even morewildly.
The moaning came again: "WOOOOOOO!""Annie!" said Jack. "The trumpet! The time is right!""I know it! I feel it!" said Annie. She put down herlantern and grabbed the trumpet. "Sing, Jack!"Annie lifted the magic trumpet to her lips and blew.
A pure, smooth sound flowed from the trumpet andfilled the room. As Annie played, Jack started singing:
Ghost, ghost,Leave us atone!
Stop, stop!
Stop your moan... ing!
87What a stupid song,Jack thought, but they were theonly words that came to his mind. Then heremembered Dipper's advice: When you can't think ofwords, just sing sounds. Make 'em up. Put your heartin it.
So Jack started singing nonsense sounds. He sangwith all his heart, pouring all his feelings into thesounds, telling the ghost to go:
Skid-dat-de-dat!
Skid-dat-de-dow!
Skiddle-skiddleDaddle-daddleOutta here NOW!
Thumping noises came from the other room, as ifheavy things were falling.
"Who's there?" shouted Dipper. Annie stoppedplaying.
Jack stepped back in fear, waiting for somethingawful to happen. Then he heard laughing andwhispering.
88"Hey!" shouted Dipper. He picked up Annie'slantern and headed into the other room. Jack andAnnie followed.
Little Mack, Happy, and Big Nose Sidney werecrawling toward the back door.
"Stop!" yelled Dipper. "What are y'all doing here?"The three boys all talked at once: "We fell out of theattic!""Felt like something was pushing us out!""Yeah! Then down the stairs and toward the door!""Jack's song pushed you downstairs!" said Annie,laughing. "He ordered the ghost to leave us alone! Hissinging was magic.""Your playing was magic, too!" Dipper said toAnnie. "You two really put your hearts in it.""Thanks," said Jack.
Dipper looked down at Little Mack. "Now tell uswhat you three fools were up to!" he said.
"We decided to play a joke on y'all," said LittleMack. "So we snuck through the back door and up tothe attic."89"We thought you left because you were scared ofghosts!" said Annie.
"Heck no, man," said Little Mack.
"We're not afraid of ghosts," said Happy.
"Not even a little bit," said Big Nose Sidney.
Suddenly a cold wind blasted through the room.
The lanterns flickered out. An eerie green light lit theblacksmith shop.
"WHAT?" a voice roared. "NOT AFRAID OFGHOSTS?"The voice seemed to come from everywhere-- andnowhere.
"AHHHHHHH!" the kids all screamed together.
"HAH-HAH-HAH!" Mean-sounding laughterechoed through the shop. It grew louder and louder.
"HAH-HAH-HAH!""AHHHHHHH!" the kids all screamed again.
Stomping noises thundered in the attic overhead.
Everyone shrieked and froze with terror. Downfrom the attic came a pirate. His face90was hidden by the brim of a black hat. He wore agray jacket with a double row of buttons, a red sash,and dark pants tucked inside black boots.
The pirate looked like a real person, except youcould see right through him. |