Child of Glass Page #3

Sure.

It's kind of private.

Well, uh, let's take it in your office.

- Dad?

- Hmm?

Do you think it's possible

for some people to know special things

about spirits and ghosts

and stuff like that?

Well, I'm more interested in fact

than in fancy, Alexander.

But there are people that, uh, study

what they call "psychic phenomena. "

Of course, you hear stories all the time.

I even heard the ghost

of old Captain Dumaine

still roams around this place

every now and then.

Supposed to be looking

for a hidden treasure.

Treasure? In our house?

A fortune in diamonds, so they saw',

around this place somewhere.

If he didn't find it, could we look for it?

Oh, don't go getting'

your hopes up, Alexander.

It's just a good story.

I think the fearsome ghost is

the invention of Mr. Amory Timmons.

Well, my ghost isn't bad.

She's in trouble and she needs help.

Slow down, Alexander.

Who's in trouble?

Inez Dumaine.

I saw her last night, out in the hayloft.

You know what I think?

I think you've been dreaming.

Nuh-uh. It was real.

The dog woke me up, Moppet.

Alexander, there's no dog in this place.

But you don't understand.

I understand that young men have

overactive imaginations.

Then you don't believe me.

I believe that you believe you saw her.

Uh, let me make a suggestion.

Why don't you leave off

reading these books

before you go to sleep at night?

First thinq you know, you're gonna be

seeing ghosts everywhere.

Next.

Come on, snap to it.

You're gonna miss your school bus.

Boo!

Crass, Blossom. Very crass.

Who'd you think it was? The ghost?

I got some stuff for us to use.

Long as we're dealin' with beings

from the other world,

we may need 'em.

I got 'em from my Aunt Vinia.

She sells them,

and they're all guaranteed.

Aw, come on.

These are lodestones

to drive off bad luck and draw good.

And that chamois has brimstone in it

for keepin' away evil spirits.

This here is shem-shem-touras,

the 10th Seal of Mercury.

What's that?

Tail of a black cat.

Witch-Sayers use 'em to spot witches.

You put it on your nose, like this,

and look across it,

and they become visible.

What's the matter with you?

That stuffs not good for anything.

I figured if it worked

on witches and such,

we ought to make it work

on that ghost, too.

Look, if there is a ghost,

and I'm not saying

there is or there isn't.

It's my ghost and I'm the one

that's a sensitive.

So, just take vour old junk

and quit tryin' to butt in on everything.

Is it the ghost of Inez Dumaine?

What do you know

about Inez Dumaine?

It is her. Oh, my goodness.

Tell me what you know!

I don't know much,

but my Aunt Vinia does.

She can tell you all sorts of things

about spooks and ghosts.

We can go ask her right after school.

It ain't very far.

We live right through them woods

over yonder.

I'll think about it.

You do that, Alexander.

What's the matter?

This is stupid.

You want to find out about

Inez Dumaine, don't you?

What are these?

Fish eyes.

We got dried bat wings

and jellied turkey gizzards, too.

Want me to show ya?

Oh, you've seen her.

You've seen Inez Dumaine,

didn't ya, boy?

I tried to reach her myself,

but I couldn't.

Aunt Vinia, we want you to tell us

all about her.

Folks'd say she was the only child

of a rich New Orleans family.

And when the Yankees was comin',

her ma and pa sent her to stay

with her uncle for safekeepin'

in that big old house

you're staying in now.

What happened to her?

She died.

Nobody knows

exactly.

Folks iust thought her crazy

old uncle, Jacques Dumaine

had somethin' to do with it.

They saw-

Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't.

All I know is she died

and nobody could Drove nothing

one way or the other.

Well, she gave me a riddle to solve

and it has something about murder in it.

Recite it to me, boy.

"Sleeping lies the murdered lass...

"Vainly cries the child of glass...

"When the two shall be as one,

"the spirits journey will be done. "

Oh, that poor child.

What does it mean?

The spirits have chosen you

to discover that.

I have to figure it out before

midnight on Halloween.

She said if I don't do it by then,

she'll never be able

to go to her eternal rest.

That's 'cause she has unfinished

business from her earthly life.

Well, if I only knew where to start.

There's only one place to start, boy.

That's where the dead lie sleeping

in eternal silence.

Where the restless spirits

stand guard over the earthly remains.

What are you waiting for?

I gotta be home by 9:00.

I ain't never been in

no graveyard before.

It's spooky.

I thought you knew all about

graveyards and ghosts,

and things from the other world.

Not me, my Aunt Vinia.

Come on!

Dumaine.

Maybe we better forget it.

I think I just about...

Got it.

Go ahead. You wanted to see

where she's buried.

Not me.

You're a boy, and boys go first.

Whatever happened to women's lib?

You chicken?

Will you stop that?

"Captain Jacques Dumaine. "

It's her.

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness.

Alexander, let's get out of here.

I'm scared.

Will you be quiet? I'm trying to think.

Well, can't you think outside?

I think a whole lot better

when I'm outside.

"Sleeping lies the murdered lass.

"Sleeping lies the... "

Blossom, this is it.

This is where Inez is sleepin'.

This is where she's buried.

That's the first part of the riddle.

Please, let's go, Alexander.

I don't want to hear about

no murder in here.

If I could only figure out the second part.

"Vainly cries the child of glass. "

What's a child of glass?

This is dumb. We don't even know

what we're lookin' for.

What's a child of glass, anyway?

How do I look?

I thought you wanted to help.

I am helpin'.

Just got tired of lookin', that's all.

- Well, I'm tired of looking, too.

- Why don't you stop, then?

We ain't gonna find nothing

in all this old junk up here.

No, do not stop, Alexander.

I need you.

No, do not stop, Alexander.

I need you.

Who said that?

Inez, is that you?

It's the spirit.

Come on, Inez.

What are you trying to do, scare us?

Alexander, I am afraid.

You're afraid!

Tell me, Alexander,

have you solved the riddle?

Do you have the answer?

Well, not exactly.

I figured out the first Dart, though,

about the murdered lass,

but I don't know what

a child of glass is yet.

You must hurry. My time is so short.

We'll figure it out, Inez.

Well, this is Blossom Culp.

She's helpin' me.

Pleased to meet ya.

Enchante, mademoiselle.

Inez, does the riddle have

anything to do with the treasure?

- Treasure?

- What treasure?

The Dumaine treasure.

Don't you remember that?

No, I do not.

Why do you talk of treasure?

What treasure?

Well, Dad saws it's supposed to be

hidden somewhere around here.

Alexander, do not speak of

this treasure again.

Remember what you are to do.

I am depending on you to free me

from this terrible curse.

- What treasure?

- Will you stay out of this?

I hope you understand...

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