Ghost Club 3 by Deborah Abela

Author:Deborah Abela [Abela, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Published: 2013-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

‘It is so very wonderful to meet you again, Ripley.’ Endora’s cheeks were almost as red as her hair. She spoke from the screen of a large TV that Angeline had plugged her Tracker into.

‘The pleasure is all mine!’ Ripley replied, ‘although it is criminal that while the rest of us age, you haven’t changed one bit.’

Endora giggled while Zelda pushed her way in front of the computer’s camera and meowed.

‘Or you, Zelda,’ Ripley added.

‘She really is terribly excited to see you. We both are,’ Endora gasped as if she had just been for a long run.

The others waited for her to start the briefing until Dylan decided it was time to end the awkward silence. ‘Have you made any discoveries about what happened in the Great Hall?’

‘Oh, yes, certainly.’ Endora shuffled through some papers. ‘I’ve analysed the footage of the incident from different angles and it has been very illuminating.’

Endora’s fingers flew over her keyboard. Her image on the TV reduced to a small square in the corner, while the rest of the screen filled with vision of the Grand Hall being thrown into chaos. A howling wind blasted into the curtains, decorations swirled into the air, and ghost-catchers were sent scuttling for cover, all while trying to hold their recording devices steady.

Then they heard the scream.

‘I’ve seen a lot of ghosts cause a lot of chaos,’ Angeline said, ‘but this one’s pretty good.’

‘The curious thing is,’ Endora frowned, ‘not one catcher recorded vision of a ghostly presence.’

‘But some kind of entity obviously created this,’ Edgar said.

‘I agree, but it wasn’t until I searched through the footage from Ripley’s speech earlier that I had more luck.’

The screen image changed to that of the famed ghost-catcher on stage.

‘We all know that during your speech, Ripley, there was the incident with the chandelier, which of course could simply have been an accident.’

They all watched as Ripley addressed the audience. ‘But one night, things went too far.’

‘As Ripley keeps talking,’ Endora said, ‘observe what happens near his shoulder.’

Ripley’s speech continued. ‘While the guests sat in front of the fire, they heard an ominous sound upstairs.’

‘There it is!’ Angeline pointed at the screen where a pale figure hovered behind Ripley.

‘The guests at the chalet were unable to move, their eyes wide and their fingers gripping their armrests. There, at the top of the stairs, staring directly at them, ready to pounce, ready to –’

‘Mr Granger, watch out!’

Suddenly Dylan entered the picture, leaping onto the stage and sending Ripley crashing to the floor.

‘And at that exact moment,’ Endora said, ‘the figure disappears.’

‘There was a ghost behind me?’ Ripley asked.

‘It seems so,’ Endora said.

‘But the room was full of catchers who are able to see ghosts.’ Dylan frowned. ‘Why didn’t anyone notice her then?’

‘If ghosts are reluctant to be detected,’ Edgar explained, ‘they can reduce the intensity of their spectral core so that it’s very difficult to see anything – even for us ghost-catchers.’

‘Do you know who it is?’ Ripley tugged at his collar, as if the room had become very warm.

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