儿童英语读物 The Deserted Library Mystery CHAPTER 8 The Locked Door

That afternoon it was so windy the Aldens left their bikes at home. They each struggled against the ferocious 1 wind to reach the library. Violet and Miguel held Benny’s hands. Henry, leaning against the wind, was the first to the library. He unlocked the door and pushed his way in. The other children followed.



“Whew, what a storm,” Jessie said, collapsing 2 in a chair. “I need a rest.”



“Me, too,” Violet agreed.



“Not me!” Benny said. “I’m ready to work!”



Henry laughed as he removed his rain jacket. “It’s no wonder you’re ready to work, Benny. You had a little help in fighting the storm!”



“I know.” Benny grinned impishly. “You look tired. Go and rest, Henry, and I’ll straighten a pile of books.”



“You do that,” Henry said. “But I’ll be working!” He peered at the nearest shelf. To his astonishment 3, he saw very fresh fingerprints 4. Could they belong to the person Jessie had heard humming the night before?



Casually 5, Henry piled books over the telltale prints. There was no sense in alarming everyone, he thought. Why was someone searching the library? Was he looking for the sword?



He turned around and faced his sisters and Miguel. “Let’s work especially hard today and try to find the missing sword point. I think we’re all ready to go home.”



“Not until we find the whole sword, though,” Benny shouted as he came racing 6 downstairs. He smiled at Violet and Jessie. “Right?”



“Right,” Jessie answered, laughing at Benny’s determination.



“And I don’t want to quit, either,” Miguel said, stepping forward. “Until I find out what happened to my father, I’ll stay and help everyone. You’ve been kind to me.” He smiled.



“Good!” exclaimed Henry. “We’re kind to you because you’re a splendid fellow, Miguel.”



Miguel felt safe and secure with the Aldens. He wished he would never have to leave.



For a moment, no one said a word. Their hearts went out to Miguel.



Henry broke the silence. “I’ll work upstairs and sort through the books.”



“May I go with you?” Benny asked. “I can help you, Henry.”



“I’m sure you can,” Henry said with a chuckle 7.



All afternoon they worked—Benny and Henry upstairs, and Violet, Jessie, and Miguel downstairs. Almost every bookshelf was neat and clean. The books were upright on the shelves, but not a clue turned up as to where the sword point could be.



Finally, Jessie stopped. She glanced at the rattling 8 windows and the rain pelting 9 against the glass panes 10. “I’m ready to go home,” she said. “Are you, Violet?”



Violet rose to her feet, several volumes in her hand. Her face was smudged, and her shirt wrinkled. “Yes,” she said. “I’m more than ready.”



“Did I hear someone say they wanted to go back to the house?” Henry questioned. “In this rain?”



“I don’t care how wet I get,” Benny said, dragging himself down the steps. “I’m hungry and tired, and I want to go home.”



“Shall we make a run for it?” Henry asked. “If we do, we’ll get soaked.”



“It doesn’t matter,” Jessie replied. “I don’t want to stay in this library all night.” She flung her blue coat over her shoulders. “Just think! The person I heard humming might stay here at night.”



Henry gave her a sharp look, but soon realized she hadn’t seen the new fingerprints.



He helped Benny with his red raincoat, then struggled into his own.



Violet buttoned her lavender raincoat but propped 11 her purple umbrella by the door. There was no sense in letting the wind whip it inside out. Miguel wore a yellow slicker, just like a fisherman, which he had hidden under the window seat.



“Okay,” Henry yelled. “Let’s run all the way to the house.”



With a whoop 12, Benny was the first to rush out the door. The raindrops fell faster now, but Benny didn’t care. He lifted his head to the rain, enjoying the fresh drops on his face.



“I’ll race you!” he challenged, but his words were lost in the roar of the wind. Benny raced down the path. All that could be seen below his red rain gear were his sneakers.



Everyone ran through the mud and the rain. When they reached the house, Benny splashed about in a mud puddle 13. “Let’s stay outside and play in the rain.”



“Not a chance,” Jessie said, shivering from the wet cold.



“I thought you were tired,” Violet said to Benny softly, her eyes twinkling.



“I was,” Benny said. “The rain made me awake! It was fun!”



Miguel, drops of water glistening 14 on his long lashes 15, laughed, too. “It was fun, wasn’t it?”



“All right, you two. Time to remove your wet things. Go upstairs and get into your dry pajamas,” Jessie ordered with a smile.



“Okay, Jessie.” And Benny was upstairs before Henry had his coat off.



Jessie built a blazing fire in the fireplace while everyone changed into warm dry clothes.



Henry, in jeans and a sweater, and Violet, in a violet blouse and jeans, took the leftover 16 soup out of the refrigerator and set it on the stove.



While the soup was simmering, everyone drank hot apple cider and sat before the fireplace. They felt cozy 17 and warm as they watched the orange flames.



In the morning, feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep, they had hot cereal, buttered toast, and cocoa for breakfast, and were ready for a day at the library. Maybe today they would find the rest of the sword. The wind still howled, but the rain had stopped.



“Do you think the Coast Guard will bring in the two fishermen today?” Miguel asked in a low tone, barely above a whisper. His father was always in his thoughts.



Henry glanced out the window at the gray sky and the swaying tree branches. “Not today, Miguel. The wind isn’t as bad as yesterday, but the ocean waves are too high. I’m sure, though, your father will be found safe and sound in a day or two.”



Miguel met Henry’s eyes and his voice was husky. “I wish I were as certain as you that he’s alive. I pray you’re right!”



Benny piped up, changing the subject. “That was a good breakfast.” He jumped up and ran to the door. “I want to see how windy it is.”



“Careful you’re not blown over,” Henry teased.



Benny tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge 18. He leaned against it with his shoulder and shoved as hard as he could. The door was stuck fast!



“Henry,” Benny panted. “The door won’t open!”



Henry laughed. “The wind is strong, Benny, but I don’t think it’s that strong.” He turned the handle and pushed against the door, but Henry couldn’t open it, either. He pushed three times, but the door remained shut.



“Let’s all try,” Jessie suggested. All five put their shoulders to the door, but it remained closed.



Puzzled, Henry shook his head. “Maybe something has blown in front of the door and jammed it shut.”



“I don’t think so,” Jessie said. Worry lines creased 19 her forehead.



“I need to check the door from the outside,” Henry said, “but I have a problem.” He stared at the narrow windows. “The windows are too small. I can’t squeeze through.”



“I could!” Benny shouted. “Let me! Let me!”



Henry nodded. “Okay, Benny, you’re the only one small enough to crawl through.”



Henry opened a window and lifted Benny up. Benny wiggled through the narrow opening and dropped to the ground.



Benny hurried around the cabin to the front door. There, to his surprise, was a heavy branch shoved through the door handle. No wonder it wouldn’t turn. He tugged 20 with all his might and was able to pull the branch out. “You can open the door now,” he yelled.



Henry opened the door, and Benny showed him the branch that had locked them in.



“Someone deliberately 21 tried to keep us from getting out, didn’t they?” Violet asked.



“I’m afraid so,” Henry answered.



Jessie’s throat tightened 22, and her mouth was dry. Was someone trying to keep them from getting to the library? She pulled her sweater tighter around her. What would they find when they reached the library?