Part 13 (2/2)

”We have to call Kristy and the others at Shadow Lake and warn them!” Mary Anne cried. ”He could already be there!”

For the third time, Shannon picked up the phone. She called information for Shadow Lake, and asked for the number for Watson Brewer. She gave that and the phone to Mary Anne.

”Stacey!” cried Mary Anne a few seconds later. ”Is that you? Are you all right?”

She listened for a moment and said, ”Oh, no. Stacey, can you hear me? . . . Okay. They caught the Seger burglar. . . . No, I'll tell you about it later. This is much, much more important. It wasn't him who was bothering you. It was Karl Tate. . . . Stacey? Can you hear me? . . . Karl Tate! He's out of jail and . . . Stacey? Stacey! STACEY!”

Chapter 17.

Stacey.

”h.e.l.lo?” I shouted into the phone. But Mary Anne's voice, coming over the wires from Shannon's den that Sunday, had stopped abruptly.

I gave the phone a thump. I still couldn't hear Mary Anne.

”Karl Tate,” I muttered. Was that what I had heard? Why had Mary Anne hung up so suddenly? Then I realized that the phones were down. The blizzard had officially arrived.

I left the small bedroom where the phone was and entered the main room of the cabin, where everyone had just finished breakfast.

”That was Mary Anne,” I announced. ”But I couldn't understand or hear everything she was saying, and then the phone went dead.”

”The phone lines must be down,” said Watson, standing up.

At that moment, the lights went out, and all the power in the cabin fizzed off.

”And that, I'm afraid, was the power,” he added. Since it was daytime, it wasn't dark. But the leaden gray light outside didn't make things very bright. And the white falling snow was like a curtain closing in around us. The cabin suddenly seemed gray, and colder.

Karen gave a little shriek. ”Are we trapped?

Is the monster in the snow going to come and take us away?”

”Like in the movie?” David Michael's voice rose.

”We are not trapped,” said his mother firmly. ”In fact, we're about to go into town for some more food and supplies, and I think you younger kids should come with us.” In the dim light, I could see her eyes meet Watson's, and see Watson nod.

”We'll take the station wagon,” Watson said. ”It has four-wheel drive.”

”That means it can drive anywhere, even through the worst snow,” Kristy told her stepsister.

Karen said, with relish, ”If we get lost in the snow, we can just live in the station wagon until they find us. Or until spring.”

”We're not going to get lost, Karen,” said Watson. ”And the roads are kept clear even in the worst weather. But bundle up warmly now.”

Claudia said, ”We'll help you guys get ready.” She and I followed Karen to her bunk. Abby caught on and went with David Michael and Andrew, leaving Kristy with her family to go over any details, such as what to do if the blizzard really did bury the cabin.

When we returned, Watson had left to pull the station wagon up to the door. We went out onto the porch with Kristy and Sam and Charlie, and the kids climbed into the station wagon.

Kristy's mom turned and said, ”Remember, if it gets too bad, you can go to the lodge. But don't try to go if you can't see your way or find the trail. The phone lines will be back up soon. So will the power.”

”Don't worry, Mom,” said Sam. ”I'm here.” He flexed his arm like one of those nerd body builders in the backs of magazines.

I rolled my eyes.

Just then a voice said, ”Hey! You're not leaving, are you?”

We looked up. ”It's that guy we saw at the lodge yesterday, Woodie Keenan,” said Abby softly. ”He has a cabin nearby.”

Woodie Keenan was bundled up so you could barely see him. I suddenly s.h.i.+vered, realizing how cold I felt.

”Just going into town for a few things,” said Mrs. Brewer. ”Do you need anything?”

”Firewood,” said Woodie. ”I'm running low, and so is the lodge.”

”We're running low ourselves. We'll be glad to pick some up for you too,” Mrs. Brewer a.s.sured him. ”And we'll be back before very long.”

”Thanks,” said Woodie. ”See you later.”

We watched as Woodie disappeared down the trail, then waved good-bye as the station wagon disappeared into the swirling snow.

It seemed darker. And colder. I realized that the day was fading away as the blizzard grew stronger.

”We're almost out of wood,” said Charlie. ”I think we should bundle up so we don't use as much.”

We huddled around the fire for awhile. We couldn't make hot chocolate or coffee because there was no electricity. And it wasn't easy to see in the gray gloom that was enveloping the cabin.

Suddenly Claudia lifted her head. ”What was that?”

”What? I didn't hear anything,” I said.

”I heard something. Outside.”

”The wind,” said Kristy impatiently.

Sam said, ”There's a little more wood outside under the porch by the back stairs. We should bring it inside and put it near the fire to stay dry.”

”Good idea,” I said. I was going crazy just sitting there. I jumped up. ”I'll go get some.”

”I'll go with you,” said Sam.

<script>