The Ministry of Ghosts by Alex Shearer

Author:Alex Shearer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471403897
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Published: 2014-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

‘A sticky end?’ Tim said. ‘What does that mean?’

‘You know,’ Thruppence said. ‘An end. That’s sticky.’

‘But what sort of sticky?’

‘Not very nice sticky, I would imagine.’

‘Hmm.’

‘But we should be all right on that score. I noticed plenty of glass jars and bottles in the tackle room.’

‘Me too.’

‘And they all seemed to have glass stoppers to them as well.’

‘Good.’

‘You know, those hinged ones, on springs, like you get on lemonade bottles sometimes. Plus some screw tops.’

‘I know. Okay. So we know what to trap a ghost in. But how do we get it to go in there?’

‘Yes,’ Thruppence said. ‘That could be a problem.’

‘I mean,’ Tim said, ‘you can’t just say, “Excuse me, Mr Ghost … ”’

‘Or Mrs Ghost. Or Miss Ghost.’

‘Yes, all right, Thruppence. Or Miss Ghost.’

‘Or Ms Ghost.’

‘Yes, all right.’

‘Or Dr Ghost … Professor Ghost … Bishop Ghost –’

‘Thruppence!’

‘Sorry. Carry on.’

‘Anyway, what I’m saying is you can’t just expect a ghost to climb into a bottle because you want it to. It needs an incentive. Some motivation. Something to get it in there.’

‘Let’s look it up.’

Thruppence turned back to the index and found what looked like an appropriate entry.

‘Bottle. Persuading Ghost to Go Into. Suggested Methods. Page three-seven-one,’ she read out.

She turned to it.

It is one thing to lure your ghost to appear before you. To bottle it is another. There are tried and tested methods for the bottling of ghosts. But none can be guaranteed. The temperaments of ghosts are as varied and variable as those of the living. Ghosts are individuals, and what works for one ghost will not work for another. In all things the ghost hunter must be alert and adaptable.

Suggestions for entrapment of ghosts in bottles.

1) Place something into the bottle relating to the ghost’s past. A small picture from a locket. An item of jewellery. A fragment of a once loved thing. NB: The problem with this method is that the ghost catcher may know nothing of the ghost’s past, or possess no such personal items.

2) Place something into the bottle of an enticing nature. A bon-bon, perhaps. A gold coin.

3) Place something into the bottle to excite the ghost’s curiosity. A folded note, for example, with something written upon it. A rare and unusual item. A novelty of some sort, a puzzle, a curio, a toy.

4) Some ghosts may be lured into a container by a burning candle – but, caution, the candle will not burn long from lack of air, and the heat may explode the glass.

5) Many ghosts may be seduced by scents and perfumes. Dried flowers, for example. Tinctures and essences and exotic oils. They are particularly fond of the smell of roses and even more so of the scent of fresh strawberries.

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