Free The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau Page A

next thing she knew, it was twilight outside and Crystals voice was calling from downstairs.
    She leapt up and rushed out of the room, not forgetting to cram the rags under the door, and she sped downstairs before Crystal could come up looking for her.
    What a day! Crystal said. She hung her coat on the coatrack that stood in the hall. Ive been all over the place. What have you been doing? Just reading?
    Mostly, said Nickie.
    Found anything interesting?
    Lots, Nickie said. This house is just full of interesting stuff. I dont see how you can stand to sell it!
    Crystal just shrugged. Interesting stuff like what? she said.
    I found a really strange old photograph, for one thing. Wait a second and Ill show you.
    She dashed upstairs again. Otis trotted over to her when she went in. Feeling sorry that hed be alone from now till morning, she knelt down and patted him for a while. She rumpled his ears and, when he rolled over, scratched his stomach. Then she took the picture of the twins from its envelope and hurried back downstairs, where she found Crystal talking on the phone.
    Try not to worry, Crystal said. Im sure hes fine. Okay. Okay. Bye. She hung up. That was your mother, she said.
    Nickie cried, But I wanted to talk to her!
    She was exhausted, said Crystal, too tired to talk. She just wanted to let us know that shes had another postcard from your father. I wrote it down for you. She handed Nickie a scrap of paper.
    Nickie read:
    Dear Rachel and Nickie,
    We are working hard here on a big project.
    I am well, and I hope both of you are, too. I miss you.
    Love, Dad
    P.S. Sure would like to have one of Rachels peanut butter cookies right now!
    Again, not much news. But also again, a puzzling P.S. She couldnt remember her motherever making peanut butter cookies. What was going on in her fathers mind?
    Crystal had gone into the kitchen, and Nickie followed her. Heres the picture, she said, putting it on the table.
    Oh, yes! Crystal said. I remember hearing about this! These men are Chang and Eng, who came from Siamthats what we now call Thailand. They were the original Siamese twins. They came to the United States and traveled around being exhibited for years, and then they retired to North Carolina, not far from here. Grandfather told me theyd visited this house onceit was at the time of his great-grandfather, sometime after the Civil War. They must have given this photo to the family as a sort of thank-you gift. She turned the photograph over. Look at this! she exclaimed. Theyve written on the back.
    Nickie peered at the old-fashioned handwriting. It said, With gratitude for your hospitality, and it was signed with two names.
    If this is authentic, said Crystal, it could be worth something.
    How much? said Nickie.
    I have no idea. Not a great deal, probably, but something.
    Nickie took the photo and turned it over again. I guess those two boys are their children, she said.
    Yes, said Crystal. In fact, I think they had something like ten children apiece.
    Wouldnt it be hard to be married to Siamese twins? said Nickie, looking at the grumpy faces of the two big women.
    I surely think so, said Crystal. In fact, as I recall, the two women were sisters, but they didnt get along. After a while, the twins got themselves two houses, one for each wife, and the husbands alternated between them. She shook her head. Amazing, isnt it, that they managed to work things out at all? I tried twice, under much easier circumstances, and failed both times. She opened up a cupboard and took down a can of soup. Can you bear to have soup again for dinner? she said. Im too tired to do anything else.
    Thats okay, said Nickie. She wondered if she should tell Crystal about the Prophet, and Mrs. Beeson, and how Yonwood was battling the forces of evil by building a shield of goodness. But she hesitated. Crystal might decide that Nickie shouldnt be getting involved in that battle. She might decide that Nickie needed more supervision. Nickie didnt want that at