The Secret Path Read Online Free Page B

asked.
    â€œOh yes,” Bum said. “But those are the hardest to reach. Only the best people get to them. Most just get stuck in twilight zone realms and are never heard from again.”
    â€œThat wouldn’t bother me,” Watch said. “I love that old show, The Twilight Zone. Please tell us the way.”
    Bum studied each of them, and even though the smile left his mouth, it remained in his eyes. Adam liked him but wasn’t sure if he was a good man. The words of Ann Templeton, the supposed witch, came back to haunt him.
    â€œThere are a few grown-ups who know its real name. You’ll meet another one today. He’ll tell you things you might not want to listen to, but that will be up to you. I give you this warning because you have done me a favor this day.”
    â€œIf I tell you the way,” Bum said, “you have to promise not to tell anyone else.”
    â€œWait a second!” Sally exclaimed. “I never said I wanted to know the secret.” She put her hands over her ears. “This town is bad enough. I don’t want to fall into a worse one.”
    Bum chuckled. “I know you, Sally. You’re more curious than the other two. I’ve watched you this past year. You go out looking for the Secret Path all the time.”
    Sally pulled down her hands. “Never!”
    â€œI’ve seen you searching for it,” Watch said.
    â€œOnly to block it up so that no one else could find it,” she said quickly.
    â€œThe Secret Path cannot be blocked up,” Bumsaid, and now he sounded serious. “It’s ancient. It existed before this town was built, and it will continue to exist after this town has turned to dust. No one walks it and remains the same. If you choose to take it, you must know there is no going back. The path is dangerous, but if your heart remains strong, the rewards can be great.”
    â€œCould we find some treasure?” Adam asked, getting more excited. Bum stared him right in the eye.
    â€œYou might find wealth beyond your imagination,” Bum said.
    Sally brightened. “I could use a few bucks.”
    Bum threw his head back and laughed. “You three are a team, I see that already. All right, I’ll tell you the secret. After you promise to keep it secret.”
    â€œWe promise,” they said together.
    â€œGood.” Bum asked them to come close again, and he lowered his voice to a whisper. “Follow the life of the witch. Follow her all the way to her death, and remember, when they brought her to her grave, they carried her upside-down.They buried her facedown, as they do all witches. All those they are afraid to burn.”
    Adam was confused. “What does that mean?” he asked.
    Bum would tell them no more. He shook his head and returned to feeding the birds.
    â€œIt’s a riddle,” he said. “You figure it out.”

6
    W ell, that’s just great,” Sally said a few minutes later as they walked back up the hill in the direction of Adam’s house. “He gets us all excited about hearing the big secret, and then he just tells us a stupid riddle.”
    â€œYou were excited?” Adam asked. “I thought you didn’t want to find the Secret Path.”
    â€œI’m human,” Sally said. “I can change my mind.” She glanced over at Watch, who had been silent since Bum sent them on their way. “Aren’t you disappointed?”
    â€œNot yet,” Watch said.
    Sally stopped him. “You’re not trying to figure out the riddle, are you?”
    Watch shrugged. “Of course,”
    â€œBut it’s meaningless,” Sally said. “How can we follow the life of the witch who founded this town? She’s been dead almost two hundred years. And what does it mean anyway? A life isn’t a line on the ground. You can’t follow it as you would a path.”
    â€œThat part of the riddle is easy,” Watch said. He glanced