The Tower Ghost by Natasha Mac a'Bháird

Author:Natasha Mac a'Bháird
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2024-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

After their last class of the day, Clare, Rose and Molly ran out to the rose garden, but it was already full of girls – some of the sixth years were sitting on the low wall that ran along one of the beds, comparing study notes, and Nancy, Beth and Mary were in another corner, lounging around and chatting.

‘This is ridiculous,’ Rose grumbled. ‘Everyone seems to be meeting here now! We need to find somewhere more private.’

Clare thought at once of the little graveyard, with its stony pathways winding between the old graves, its sense of tranquillity, removed from school life. For a moment she hesitated. Although she had only gone there a few times, it had been so nice to have somewhere that was just hers.

But this was more important.

‘I think I know somewhere,’ she said. ‘Come on – I’ll show you.’

She led them around the back of the school, past the caretaker Bill’s rickety old cottage, Sister Bridget’s gardening shed and the kitchen garden, and in through the little gate.

Molly drew back at once when she saw where Clare was bringing them. ‘Oh, no, Clare. A graveyard? I’m sure we shouldn’t be here.’

‘No one ever comes here,’ Clare said. It was almost true – apart from that one time she had seen Sister Frances, the graveyard had always been deserted. ‘I mean – not at our break times, anyway. I suppose the nuns come here on Sundays, or anniversaries, or something.’

‘It’s fine, Molly,’ Rose said. ‘In fact, it’s perfect! Look at these high walls – no one will be able to see us here.’

‘I don’t think a lot of people even know about it,’ Clare said. ‘Come on, there’s a little corner down the back where we can sit down.’

At the back of the graveyard, behind a tall gravestone, there was a semi-circular bench. Leaves from the overhanging sycamore tree in every shade of red, orange and yellow were scattered over it.

Still Molly hung back, saying, ‘It just doesn’t feel right.’

‘I know how you feel, Molly, but remember, we’re trying to solve a mystery, and we need somewhere people won’t overhear us,’ Clare said. ‘Honestly, you forget you’re in a graveyard – it’s just so peaceful here.’

‘Is this where you disappeared to before?’ Rose asked shrewdly.

Clare blushed. ‘A couple of times. I just like being on my own sometimes, you know? Anyway, let’s get on with it!’ She cleared her throat with the air of someone calling a meeting to order. ‘Let’s make a plan for what we need to do.’

‘Find out what people know about the ghost,’ said Rose.

‘How will we do that?’ Molly asked.

‘I can ask Rita,’ Clare said. ‘She’s been here a long time, and she’s very friendly. She’s more likely to tell us something than one of the teachers.’

‘And I’ll ask Niamh,’ Rose said. ‘She obviously knows something about the story of the ghost – even if a lot of it is made up or exaggerated, there must be some truth in it!

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