Free Secret Pony Society by Janet Rising Page B

said.
    â€œThere is something…”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œSomething about this place, this icehouse.”
    â€œYeah, it’s really spooky!” I said, shivering.
    â€œSomething bad has happened here.”
    â€œGive the girl a peanut!” exclaimed Drummer. “I could have told you that!”
    What did she have to go and say that for? The place was spooky enough. It didn’t need any more drama. And what did Drummer mean? He could have said something sooner. I gulped. Suddenly, my mouth felt very dry.
    â€œHow bad?” I asked. My voice sounded a bit croaky.
    â€œIt feels, it feels…” Jazz hesitated, putting her hand on the inner wall of the icehouse. “It has the feel of a…”
    I so didn’t want to ask the question. I so had to.
    â€œA what?”
    â€œA tomb.”
    â€œGot it in one!” interjected Drummer.
    â€œCan you just leave it, please Drum?” I said.
    â€œOK, OK, suit yourself!” said Drummer huffily. A tomb. Oh, is that all? I had thought that myself. I didn’t welcome Jazz agreeing with me. Could she really tell or was she just being melodramatic? Was it just an excuse not to stay?
    â€œ Okaaaay! ” I said slowly, glancing around. “So, then this is a no-no. I don’t have anywhere else I can show you. No second choice, I’m afraid.”
    â€œThis will be fine,” said Jazz, switching off the flashlight and dumping her bag on the ground. “Whatever occurred here happened a long, long time ago.”
    Did that matter? I thought. I wouldn’t stay in the icehouse overnight if you paid me a million bucks. I wasn’t sure I’d even volunteer to hang around in daylight now.
    â€œYou mean, you’ll stay here?” I said, appalled.
    â€œYes, until my father moves on.”
    â€œBut…but…aren’t you… scared? ”
    Jazz laughed. “No, I’m not scared. Spirits are all around us, all the time. I’m not frightened to stay here.”
    â€œBut you’ll freeze!” I said, trying to find some excuse for her to abandon her plan.
    â€œKasali will keep me warm.” Jazz patted her dog. The dog’s tail almost wagged. He licked her hand.
    â€œWhat’s it like inside?” I asked.
    â€œThere’s enough room for me,” said Jazz. “The entrance falls away into a huge pit with steps down. The door is strong, and it will keep out the rain. Can I keep this?” Jazz lifted the flashlight.
    I nodded, knowing that Jazz wouldn’t be able to keep it on all night. I couldn’t imagine sitting in the icehouse in total darkness, even with Kasali. Imagine the spiders! Imagine…I shuddered. Then I had a thought.
    â€œYou can have Drum’s exercise sheet to lie on if you like,” I offered, unfastening Drum’s girth and pulling the sheet out from under his saddle. “It’s waterproof.”
    â€œThat’s generous of you!” exclaimed Drum indignantly. “I mean, don’t ask or anything. Just feel free to give my stuff away to anyone!”
    â€œYou’ll be OK, and you won’t have to put up with the fillet string,” I whispered to him. I knew he didn’t mind.
    Jazz took the sheet gratefully. It would make a difference.
    â€œHere.” Jazz pressed something into my hand. It was two ten-dollar bills. I gasped. I didn’t expect payment. But I had jumped to the wrong conclusion.
    â€œI’ll need some food,” she said. “I couldn’t take anything from home. As far as my dad’s concerned, I’ve just gone for a ride.”
    â€œBut I can’t!” I heard myself say. I didn’t dare tell Jazz that I was going to stay with my own father for two days.
    A pair of vivid violet eyes bored into me as Jazz frowned. “I only have a chocolate bar and a small bottle of water,” Jazz said. “I thought you were going to help me.”
    I chewed the