"17 - The Thing in the Closet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pike Christopher)

Adam stepped into the closet and felt along the walls.
'There don't seem to be any hidden trap doors,' he said, running his fingers along the wood. 'At least none that I can feel.'
Watch nodded. 'But that is not necessarily good news. It might mean the light has a supernatural origin.'
Cindy cringed. 'Are you saying my closet is haunted?'
'Not necessarily,' Watch replied, turning to Tira. 'Do you feel anything strange here?'
Tira stood still for a moment.
'No,' she said finally. 'But it is not dark. That might make a difference.'
'Why do you say that?' Cindy asked.
'You mentioned on the way over here that your lamp went out while the green light was there,' said Adam. 'It only came on when the glow left. There might be a connection.'
'Maybe you just need a nightlight,' Sally said to Cindy. 'Sissy.'
'A battery-powered nightlight might not be a bad idea,' Watch said.
'Why battery-powered?' Cindy asked.
Watch shrugged. 'The glow appeared to short the wall socket the last time.'
'Personally I think we are making a big fuss about nothing more than a bad dream,' said Sally, trying on another one of Cindy's hats. This one was like a Girl Scout's cap, only the emblem was missing.
'But you're the one who is always warning us about every little omen,' Cindy said.
'Maybe I am getting more sensible in my old age,' Sally said.
'I don't know,' Adam said. 'I don't like leaving you alone tonight, Cindy.'
Cindy put on a brave front 'That's not necessary. If the green glow returns, I'll call you immediately, Adam.'
He nodded reluctantly. 'I'll be over straight away.'
'Sounds like true love to me,' Sally said, with a smirk on her face.


Three

That night, unsurprisingly Cindy had trouble falling asleep. She had not told her mother or little brother about the light. When it came to fighting ugly aliens and other evil forces of darkness, the gang usually kept to themselves. Cindy could hear her mother and brother sleeping peacefully in their adjoining bedrooms. She only wished she could do likewise. But she could not keep her eyes off the closet, even though she had closed the door firmly. She had even propped her desk chair against the door knob, to prevent anything from trying to break into her room. She was just being foolish, she knew, but she wanted to be safe.
But safe from what?
She wished she had bought a nightlight.
Cindy hadn't even lain down yet, at least not for any length of time. Each time she relaxed she thought she heard a faint sound from the direction of the closet and it would make her sit up with a start. Of course each time there would be nothing there. Yet it did not stop her from jumping up the next time as well.
'This is stupid,' she said aloud. 'I'll be exhausted in the morning. And I have to study all day tomorrow.'
She glanced at the clock.
It was already one in the morning.
Outside the window it was very dark. Something scratched at the glass but it was only the branch of a tree, moved by the wind. Gathering her blanket close to her chin, she tried lying down again.
It was then she noticed the green glow.
Coming from beneath her closet door.
Cindy practically flew out of her bed, she sat up so quickly.
She reached for the lamp switch. But the lamp would not go on. She grabbed the phone beside her bed, and was grateful to hear the dialling tone. But she had trouble dialling Adam's number in die dark, in her terror. It was true, the green glow seemed much more horrible tonight. Finally, though, his phone began to ring. It took Adam three long rings before he answered. He sounded sleepy.
'Hello?' he said.
'Adam!' she hissed. 'It's back!'
He took a moment. 'The green glow?'
'Yeah! It's on right now in my closet.'
'Wow.'
'What should I do? Can you really come over?'
'Yeah, I can come. I can be there in ten minutes. But don't do anything until I get there. Stay away from the closet.'
'Should I call the others?'
Adam considered. 'Not yet Let me look at it.'
'All right.'
'Stay cool, Cindy. It's only a light It can't hurt you.'
'Then why do you want me to stay away from it?'
He hesitated. 'You can never be too careful in this town. I'm on my way.'
They exchanged goodbyes and then Cindy was alone again, with the green glow. Even though the closet door was closed, it definitely seemed brighter than the previous night. That just scared her all the more. Yet she was hesitant to leave the room, to just leave the glow to its own devices. Even though she got out of bed, she found herself pacing almost helplessly in front of the closet. It was if the green glow had some kind of sick hold over her. She was afraid to be near it and afraid to let it out of her sight.