Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve - Mary Pope Osborne [4]
“Go away!” a woman yelled at the ravens. She picked up a handful of stones and began throwing them at the birds. “Leave us alone!”
“Stop! Stop!” cried Annie. “You’ll hurt them!”
A stone struck one of the ravens. It fell to the ground.
“Oh, no!” cried Annie.
The grown-ups pulled their children inside. Doors slammed and shutters closed.
Annie dashed to the fallen bird and knelt beside it.
Jack and Teddy hurried over to Annie and the fallen bird. The bird was crouching, slightly spreading its wings. Its head was bowed as it made low, squeaking sounds. One of its tail feathers was bent.
“COO-COO!” Teddy said loudly. He looked at Jack. “I once journeyed to the Isle of Birds to study their language,” he said. “I learned a bit of Dove, but no Raven.”
“Don’t worry,” said Jack. “Annie talks to birds and animals in her own language.”
“I’m sorry for what they did to you,” Annie said softly to the raven. She stroked its silky black head. “What’s your name?”
“ROK,” the raven croaked.
“Rok? Your name is Rok?” said Annie.
“ROK! ROK!” croaked the raven.
“See, I told you,” Jack said to Teddy.
“Rok, they were afraid of you for some reason,” Annie said.
Rok made soft, bell-like sounds: “CRONG? CRONG?”
“Yes, that’s why they knocked you out of the sky,” said Annie. “One of your tail feathers is bent. But your wings don’t seem hurt.”
Rok fluttered his long black wings. He took a few feeble steps.
“Go on, Rok,” Annie coaxed. “You can do it.”
The raven flapped his wings again. “QUORK!” he croaked.
He lifted off the ground.
“Great!” said Annie, clapping.
Rok flapped his wings. He glided up into the twilight. He swooped with ease back down to Annie. “CAW! CAW!” he called, as if thanking her.
“Be careful, Rok!” Annie shouted.
They all waved as the raven sailed off into the sky.
Annie smiled at Jack and Teddy. “He was really nice,” she said.
“Indeed he was,” said Teddy. “I think your gentle words were healing to him.”
“I wonder why the people here are so afraid of ravens,” said Annie.
“Yeah,” said Jack. “And what was that stuff about ghosts?”
“Ghosts?” said Teddy. He smiled. “You needn’t fear ghosts if you’re with me.”
Jack shrugged. “I’m not really afraid,” he said.
“Not afraid?” said a feeble voice.
Jack, Annie, and Teddy whirled around.
An old woman stood in the dark doorway of a cottage. She leaned forward. In a cracked voice, she said:
Where is the girl
who spins wool into thread?
Where are the boys
who play chess before bed?
Where is the hound
who waits to be fed?
The old woman stared at them with a fearful look in her eyes. Then she stepped back into her cottage and closed her door.
A shiver went up Jack’s spine. “That was strange,” he said.
“She must have been old Maggie, who worked at the castle,” said Annie. “I wonder what she was talking about.”
“I don’t know,” said Teddy. Then he grinned. “But she was good at rhyming, eh?”
Jack nodded. “Indeed she was,” he said softly.
“Let’s hurry along!” said Teddy. “Night comes fast upon us!”
Leaving the cottages behind, the three hurried on in the gathering dark. They left the village and followed the path through the woods.
Teddy held up his lantern to light their way. The wind blew the branches of the trees, making them whisper in the chilly autumn night.
When they finally came out of the woods, they all gasped in wonder.
“Oh, man,” said Jack.
Towering before them in the moonlight were the walls of a huge stone castle.
The castle was still and silent. No candles burned in its windows. No guards stood at its gatehouse. No archers patrolled the tops of its walls.
“Hello!” Teddy shouted.
No one answered.
“Not very well protected, eh?” said Teddy. “Our mission should be easy.”
“Yeah,” said Annie.
Jack didn’t say anything. He would have felt happier if guards had been protecting the castle. That would have seemed more normal.
“Come along!” said Teddy.
Jack and Annie followed Teddy over a wooden bridge to the gatehouse.
Teddy held up his lantern before the arched double doors. Cobwebs sparkled in the misty light.