Ghost of a Chance by Pam Harvey

facsimile.’ He gave the magnet to Hannah.
    ‘…and then send it to this number, right?’ Hannah read from the magnet, went ‘yes’ and ‘uh ha’ and then finished the call. ‘He’s onto it.’
    ‘Well,’ E.D. said, jumping up, ‘let’s go and do some more exploring. It’s stopped raining. I haven’t even seen the lighthouse yet.’
    ‘Good idea, E.D.’ Hannah got up too.
    There was a knock on the door and then it opened.
    ‘Hello, everyone,’ Mrs Dalrymple beamed, striding in. ‘Ling, your mother rang earlier and sends her love to everyone. I told her you were all very busy, even with the cold weather.’ She paused, frowning at Gabby. ‘I didn’t mention that you’d been training, Gabby.’
    ‘Thanks, Mrs D,’ Gabby said, smiling.
    ‘Now, I’ve got some super games downstairs—’
    ‘Thanks, Aunt Susie. We’re just going to head out for a walk again.’
    ‘Oh, really? Are you sure? Well, make sure you’ve all got coats on. It’s looking rather chilly out there at the moment.’
    Outside, the sky was blue again but the wind was cool. Angus flipped up the hood ofhis windcheater. ‘Some holiday weather,’ he grumbled.
    ‘Funny, isn’t it,’ said Ling, softly. ‘It’s like the sea doesn’t want it to be sunny.’
    The ocean was dark and marked with white caps. To Hannah it looked as if it was constantly churning, something that wouldn’t be still. She tore her eyes away and pointed towards the cliffs. ‘To the lighthouse!’
    It wasn’t far to the path that wound up the side of the cliff but the wind was so ferocious it seemed to be pushing them back. E.D. took the lead, using his bigger body to block the wind for the others. They followed him with their heads down, sprinkled by the fine cold spray of whipped waves. The further they climbed, the smaller the beach became and the quieter the sounds of the crashing waves.
    ‘Made it,’ said E.D. finally. He stopped in the middle of the path and the others stood next to him.
    The lighthouse reared up in front of them. Its worn sides, which had once been a gleaming white, were now patchy with age and weather. They could just see the windowed area of the light glinting in the sun. At the base, a closed wooden door faced them, solid and uninviting.Small open windows dotted the tower, spiralling up towards the top.
    ‘I don’t know about this,’ Gabby said suddenly. ‘It doesn’t feel right.’
    ‘How’s it meant to feel?’ asked E.D., curiously.
    ‘I don’t know,’ said Gabby crossly. ‘Just not like this.’
    ‘Gabby’s right,’ said Ling. ‘It feels strange up here.’
    ‘That’s just because we’re so far up the cliff face,’ said Hannah practically. ‘You haven’t been up here before. Do you think someone will be inside?’
    ‘No.’ E.D. went to the door and tried the handle. ‘Locked. Told you.’
    ‘Try knocking,’ Gabby suggested.
    ‘You reckon someone’s going to hear us knock?’ E.D. looked at her.
    ‘Well, try the door bell.’
    ‘Gab,’ said Hannah, ‘lighthouses don’t have door bells.’
    ‘Listen!’ said Ling, suddenly. ‘What’s that?’
    Over the soft noises of the faraway sea and the faint cries of circling seagulls, another sound could be heard. It was a soft barking, a bit like a dog, but higher.
    ‘What is it?’ Gabby whispered.
    ‘Down there.’ Angus pointed.
    Below them, in the choppy water, something was swimming. It was a dark shape, darker than the sea, moving back and forth near the jetty. Gabby gasped. ‘It’s a shark! The boat man was wrong; there are sharks in the bay!’
    ‘I don’t think it’s a shark,’ said E.D., ‘but there’s only one way to find out.’ He shouldered his way past the others and started running down the path.
    The others followed, running wildly down the slippery track. Hannah dropped back, unsure of her footing. Gabby caught up with E.D. ‘Why don’t you think it’s a shark?’ she yelled at him as they ran.
    ‘I thought I could see