The Secret of Skull Island Read Online Free

too.
    Only Aunt Edith and Mr. Carson seemed not to notice anything wrong. Both swallowed spoonful after spoonful of soup.
    The casserole was even worse. The guests pushed around their portions on their plates.
    The twins, Rae, Maxim, and Mr. Carson introduced themselves. Then Cody asked if anyone thought the place was haunted. That got everybody talking.
    â€œ I definitely think so,” Muriel Esposito said, leaning forward. “I’ve heard footsteps in the hallway sometimes, but no one is there!”
    McNab nodded. “I believe it, too,” he said. “The other day I was walking in the garden, and all of a sudden footprints started appearing on the path just like somebody was walking beside me.” He paused and looked around the table. “But there wasn’t anybody there. Nobody I could see, anyway.”
    â€œOh, this place is haunted, all right,” Barber agreed. “I’ve heard those footsteps in the hallway, just as Ms. Esposito has.”
    â€œMe, too,” said Ms. Wallace. She lifted up a forkful of casserole and examined it before returning it to her plate.
    â€œI heard the pirate talking,” said Steve Cordell. He rubbed his nose. “He was telling me to leave his treasure alone. He sounded pretty threatening. Maybe he’s the one who made the chandelier fall down.”
    â€œHow could a ghost make a chandelier fall down?” Otis asked, looking darkly at Cordell. It seemed as if he wanted people to be scared.
    â€œWell, I think it’s all pretty frightening,” Sam Keller said in a hushed tone. He tapped his foot nervously. “I know it scares me .”
    When nobody said anything, the man threw up his hands. “Well? Come on now, isn’t anybody else scared?”
    McNab started to chuckle. His laughter was so contagious that most of the other guests joined in. “Y’know, I think it’s just a whole lot of fun. I always wanted to go to a haunted house. When I called up to book the place and Edith told me it might be haunted, I thought she was pulling my leg, but doggone it, the place is haunted all right. Hot dog!”
    Nearly everybody seemed to agree with him. They weren’t scared. In fact, they wanted to be in a place that was haunted. It was cool.
    â€œMaybe the ghost is the reason that the cook and the guide left,” Cordell said slowly. “Things have been going wrong here from the beginning. We didn’t have hot water for two days. Maybe that’s the ghost, too. It’s going to be hard to keep a staff.”
    â€œWell, I don’t think so,” said McNab. He threw his napkin down beside his plate. “We heard the cook and the guide left because of family business, and I believe what I was told. If I’m not scared of the ghost, why would they be?” He glared at Cordell. “It sounds to me like you’re trying to spoil the fun, and I, for one, don’t appreciate it.”
    An uncomfortable silence fell over the table. The twins were surprised that McNab had gotten angry. He was such a pleasant man. But they agreed with him about Cordell. He seemed determined to spoil the fun.
    â€œOh, forget what I said,” McNab told everyone after a moment. “I guess I’m just tired.” He smiled his sunny smile once more.
    â€œHardly anyone touched their food,” said Aunt Edith, her brow puckered with disappointment.
    â€œI think we’re all just too tired to eat,” replied Maxim. He was always a gentleman.
    The other guests hurriedly agreed. They yawned loudly and insisted that they were all exhausted. One by one they headed to their rooms, including Mr. Carson.
    â€œWell, I’m afraid I’m exhausted, too,” Aunt Edith said. “I’ll chat with you all tomorrow. Good night.” She plucked nervously at her sundress as she walked away.
    Finally, only Maxim, Rae, and the twins were left sitting at the table. Maxim let out a groan as soon as