Curse Of The Arctic Star by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Unusual Suspects

I GASPED AS I SAW SOMETHING SCUTTLE over an éclair and disappear behind a pile of brownies. “Was that really . . . ,” I began.

“A tarantula!” George finished. “Whoa!”

“Don’t hurt her!” a voice rang out behind us, cutting through the clamor. “Please! She’s friendly.”

“Tobias!” Bess exclaimed. She and Alan had caught up by now. “What’s he doing?”

We all watched as the kid pushed his way to the buffet. Standing on tiptoes to peer over the pastry tray, he leaned forward and scooped something up. When he turned around, we could all see a huge, hairy spider perched on his hand.

“Tobias!” His father had hurried forward by now as well. “Is that Hazel?”

“Hazel?” George echoed, raising one eyebrow.

“No wonder Coral fainted,” I said, staring as the spider climbed slowly up Tobias’s arm. Her black-and-orange body was thicker than his wrist. “Who wants to see something like that sitting on your dessert tray?”

Glancing at Coral, I saw that she was already sitting up with help from Captain Peterson and other bystanders, looking dazed but sheepish.

The captain cleared his throat and called for attention. “Let’s all calm down, please,” he said in a voice of authority. “Are you all right, ma’am?”

“Oh, yes, I think so.” Coral was on her feet by now. “Though, silly me, I’m not entirely sure what just happened!”

“It’s pretty clear what happened, I’m afraid,” Tobias’s father said grimly, grabbing his son by the shoulder. “Tobias must have sneaked his pet spider onboard, and then decided to cause a ruckus by dropping her in the food.”

“Ow!” Tobias wriggled out of his father’s grasp, the sudden motion almost causing the tarantula to lose its grip on his arm. Hazel gave a little jump, ending up clinging to Tobias’s shirt. A couple of passengers nearby went pale and took a few steps backward.

“I always kind of wanted a pet tarantula,” George commented to nobody in particular.

I looked at her. “Not helping,” I said.

Meanwhile Tobias turned to glare at his father. “You’re right, I did sneak Hazel onboard.” His lower lip stuck out defiantly. “I needed something to keep me busy on this trip.” He carefully stroked the tarantula’s hairy back as she climbed up toward his shoulder. “But I didn’t put her in the food. She could have been crushed!”

The boy’s mother joined them, her face pale and angry. “Don’t lie to us, Tobias,” she said. “The evidence is right there on your shirt, remember?”

“I’m not lying!” Tobias glared at her, his eyes flashing angrily. “The last time I saw Hazel she was in her cage in our stupid cabin. I told you, I’d never leave her where she could get hurt!”

“Hmm.” His father didn’t look convinced. “I think we’d better continue this discussion in our cabin. So sorry for the disruption, everyone.” Stepping over to Coral, he put a hand on her arm. “Special apologies to you, ma’am. I hope you’re okay.”

“Oh, I’m just fine.” Coral smiled as brightly as ever, though she still looked pale. Alice and Babs took her by the arms and led her toward their table.

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