sheen, the way the ocean had sparkled in the late afternoon sunlight.
The stone was ringed in gold, that ancient, deep yellow gold, soft and unevenly thick on three sides. I first thought that the top of the gold frame was lumpy and uneven with an awkward loop, but as I studied it the lumps became the figure and curling tail of a pinched-faced monkey—an insanely grinning monkey with tiny sharp paws that clutched the top of the topaz. I was drawn to the stone, yet at the same time that horrible monkey made me shiver.
The judge ordered, “Blow out your candles. Now we’ll see the artifact in its full glory under the spotlight.”
The others did, but I hesitated. I wanted to wait until the light came on. I didn’t want to be in this creepy house in the dark. It’s just as well that I didn’t follow orders.
Looking smug while the others were puffing out their candle flames, the judge turned the switch on the lamp, but nothing happened. He wiggled the bulb in the cone of the lamp, then glanced down at the floor.
“Drat!” he exploded. “That stupid Kurt! This lamp was supposed to be plugged in!”
The others were now concerned with what the judge was doing. I forgot that I didn’t belong here. I had even forgotten my manners. How often while I was growing up had I heard “Look, don’ttouch!” And yet with nothing but the artifact on my mind, while everyone’s attention was diverted, I reached out to touch that stone.
It slid under my fingertips as smoothly as tidal-pool water, scummy and warm from the summer sun. For just an instant it lay under my hand.
I don’t know exactly what happened next, because it all took place too quickly. I was aware that the judge had bent down to plug in the lamp, but at the same time everyone seemed to move forward. I was jostled aside. The candle was knocked from my hand and went out. In the darkness there was a cry and a crackling, sizzling sound, a thump and a crash.
Terrified, not knowing what was taking place, I dropped to the floor, trying to roll into a ball. I heard someone scream, but it wasn’t me. I was making little whimpering noises to myself, wishing I were home, desperately wanting to be off this horrible island and back with my parents.
I heard running footsteps, and what sounded like people bumping and slamming into things. Voices were shouting “Where are the matches?” “Light the candles!” “What happened?” Then Aunt Madelyn, practically next to my ear, screamed, “Andrea!”
I opened my eyes and looked directly into the wide-open, sightless eyes of Judge Arlington-Hughes, whose bloodless face was just inches away from mine.
CHAPTER
6
Without consciously thinking about what I was doing, I scuttled backward as fast as I could go. I know that I connected with someone’s leg and for an instant got tangled in the black velvet cloth that lay on the floor next to the overturned table. “He’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead!” I was screeching.
Strong hands grabbed me and jerked me to my feet. “Stop that,” Aldo demanded, so I did.
It was hard to breathe, and my legs had about as much strength as our dinner pudding, so I stumbled into the nearest chair.
Kurt, who had been bending over the judge, got to his feet. He stared down at the judge as though he were trying to figure out what had happened.
“Well?” Norton demanded.
Kurt slowly turned to look at him. “He’s dead,” he said.
“What was it?” Benita whimpered. “Did Justin have a heart attack?”
“Nothing wrong with the judge’s heart,” Ellison said. “The man been younger and litter than me.”
“But he was just sitting there,” Benita said.
“No,” Madelyn said. “Remember? He was fiddling with the lamp. It wouldn’t turn on, and he complained that Kurt was supposed to plug it in and hadn’t.”
“I’m sure I plugged it in,” Kurt said.
Norton shook his head. “No, no. I was at that end of the table. I could see Justin reach down, pick up the plug,
The stone was ringed in gold, that ancient, deep yellow gold, soft and unevenly thick on three sides. I first thought that the top of the gold frame was lumpy and uneven with an awkward loop, but as I studied it the lumps became the figure and curling tail of a pinched-faced monkey—an insanely grinning monkey with tiny sharp paws that clutched the top of the topaz. I was drawn to the stone, yet at the same time that horrible monkey made me shiver.
The judge ordered, “Blow out your candles. Now we’ll see the artifact in its full glory under the spotlight.”
The others did, but I hesitated. I wanted to wait until the light came on. I didn’t want to be in this creepy house in the dark. It’s just as well that I didn’t follow orders.
Looking smug while the others were puffing out their candle flames, the judge turned the switch on the lamp, but nothing happened. He wiggled the bulb in the cone of the lamp, then glanced down at the floor.
“Drat!” he exploded. “That stupid Kurt! This lamp was supposed to be plugged in!”
The others were now concerned with what the judge was doing. I forgot that I didn’t belong here. I had even forgotten my manners. How often while I was growing up had I heard “Look, don’ttouch!” And yet with nothing but the artifact on my mind, while everyone’s attention was diverted, I reached out to touch that stone.
It slid under my fingertips as smoothly as tidal-pool water, scummy and warm from the summer sun. For just an instant it lay under my hand.
I don’t know exactly what happened next, because it all took place too quickly. I was aware that the judge had bent down to plug in the lamp, but at the same time everyone seemed to move forward. I was jostled aside. The candle was knocked from my hand and went out. In the darkness there was a cry and a crackling, sizzling sound, a thump and a crash.
Terrified, not knowing what was taking place, I dropped to the floor, trying to roll into a ball. I heard someone scream, but it wasn’t me. I was making little whimpering noises to myself, wishing I were home, desperately wanting to be off this horrible island and back with my parents.
I heard running footsteps, and what sounded like people bumping and slamming into things. Voices were shouting “Where are the matches?” “Light the candles!” “What happened?” Then Aunt Madelyn, practically next to my ear, screamed, “Andrea!”
I opened my eyes and looked directly into the wide-open, sightless eyes of Judge Arlington-Hughes, whose bloodless face was just inches away from mine.
CHAPTER
6
Without consciously thinking about what I was doing, I scuttled backward as fast as I could go. I know that I connected with someone’s leg and for an instant got tangled in the black velvet cloth that lay on the floor next to the overturned table. “He’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead!” I was screeching.
Strong hands grabbed me and jerked me to my feet. “Stop that,” Aldo demanded, so I did.
It was hard to breathe, and my legs had about as much strength as our dinner pudding, so I stumbled into the nearest chair.
Kurt, who had been bending over the judge, got to his feet. He stared down at the judge as though he were trying to figure out what had happened.
“Well?” Norton demanded.
Kurt slowly turned to look at him. “He’s dead,” he said.
“What was it?” Benita whimpered. “Did Justin have a heart attack?”
“Nothing wrong with the judge’s heart,” Ellison said. “The man been younger and litter than me.”
“But he was just sitting there,” Benita said.
“No,” Madelyn said. “Remember? He was fiddling with the lamp. It wouldn’t turn on, and he complained that Kurt was supposed to plug it in and hadn’t.”
“I’m sure I plugged it in,” Kurt said.
Norton shook his head. “No, no. I was at that end of the table. I could see Justin reach down, pick up the plug,
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