儿童英语读物 The Vampire Mystery CHAPTER 8 Intruder

“What’s that?” Violet asked as the children walked up Whittaker Street. “Did you see that light in Mr. Hudson’s house?



The others had not seen it. “Maybe it was the moon shining on the window glass,” Jessie suggested.



Violet was not so sure. But now the light was gone.



The rain had made the ground wet and muddy. The children’s shoes squished in the lawn as they made their way toward the shed to retrieve 1 the key to the house.



They each flicked 2 on their flashlights. Jessie shone her beam on the shed door. Henry lifted the latch 3 and the door squeaked 4 open. The four Aldens stepped into the dark shed.



“Careful,” Jessie warned. “Don’t trip over the bicycle again.”



“That’s odd.” Henry pointed 5 his flashlight at the bike. “Didn’t we move the bike to the left side of the shed today?”



“We did,” Jessie agreed.



“Well, now it is on the right side of the shed.”



Benny stood beside the bike. “And it’s wet!” He shone his flashlight on the roof above the bike. “Even though there aren’t any leaks in the roof.”



“Someone has been riding this bike.” Henry ran his hand over the dripping handlebars.



Violet walked over to look at the bike, but stumbled over an old suitcase. “What is this doing in the middle of the floor?”



“A suitcase?” Benny grabbed the handle and moved the suitcase against the wall. It was heavy. “Wouldn’t Mr. Hudson have taken his suitcase with him when he went on his trip?”



“It looks old,” Henry said. “Maybe Mr. Hudson has a newer one that he uses.”



Jessie shone her light on the flowerpot. She lifted it up. “It’s gone!” she cried. “The key is not here. I know I put it right back under this pot before we left this afternoon.”



“Are you sure?” Henry felt around on a lower shelf. “Maybe it fell down here.”



Violet and Benny searched the floor.



“I’m positive,” Jessie said. “Someone has taken it!”



The Aldens hurried from the shed. They quickly shut and latched 6 the door and ran to the front of the house.



“Look at this!” Benny did not even need his flashlight. In the light of the moon, the children could clearly see a set of muddy footprints leading right up to Mr. Hudson’s front door!



Henry put his hand carefully on the doorknob and turned. It was not locked. He entered the house. “Hello! Mr. Hudson! Are you home?” Henry turned to the others. “There’s no one here.”



“Let’s get Benny’s book and get home,” Violet said.



Jessie flipped 7 the light switch, but nothing happened. “The lights are out!”



“It’s probably the circuit breaker,” Henry said. “Sometimes a storm can shut it off, especially in an old house like this. I know where the switch is. Mr. Hudson pointed it out when he was showing me around the house. I might be able to get the lights back on.”



Henry and Jessie carefully walked down the stairs into the basement. Violet and Benny waited by the front door.



“Did you hear that?” Violet asked, looking over her shoulder.



Benny cocked his head. “Yes. It sounds like footsteps. Do you think it could be Henry and Jessie?”



“No,” Violet whispered. “I think it is coming from outside. I wish Henry and Jessie would hurry up.”



“You don’t think it could be the vampire 8, do you?” asked Benny.



“There’s no such thing,” Violet said, but her voice was shaking. She turned and shut the front door, quickly turning the bolt.



A shaft 9 of moonlight was shining through the window and it fell across the carpeted floor. The rest of the house was dark. As Violet and Benny watched, a dark shadow flitted slowly across the moonlit carpet.



“What was that?” asked Benny, grabbing Violet’s hand.



“I’m not sure,” Violet answered. “Maybe it was a cloud passing in front of the moon.”



“But it was shaped like a bat!” Benny cried.



Violet didn’t want to frighten Benny, but she knew he was right. A large bat had just slowly passed by the window.



Suddenly the lights flashed on. Henry and Jessie pounded up the basement stairs.



“It was only the switch, just as I thought,” Henry said, coming through the door. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the kitchen. Sitting on the table was a glass of milk and a plate with a half-eaten sandwich. Next to them was Benny’s library book, The Legend of the Vampire, open to page 136.



Violet gasped 10. “Someone was here!”



“You’re right, Violet.” Henry walked to the table. “And whoever it was left in a hurry. This glass of milk is still cold.”



“And here is the missing key!” Jessie picked up the key from the kitchen counter.



“I think we should go,” Violet said.



Henry agreed. “We need to let Mr. Hudson know that someone has been inside his house.”



“And it wasn’t a vampire,” Benny said, nodding at Violet, “because vampires 11 don’t eat sandwiches.” He picked up his library book and stared at the front cover. “They only like blood!”



“Benny and I heard footsteps outside while you were in the basement,” Violet explained. “We need to be very careful.”



The children stepped outside and peered up and down the street. Jessie locked the door tightly and put the key into her pocket. She left the porch light on. The children hurried home as fast as they could.