Read Online Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key - Free Book Online

abroad,” said Tia. “And I'll bet he's being paid to take us back.”
    “Well, he'll never catch us.”
    “I'd feel better if we knew what he was doing now. Tony, can't you see him?”
    “You know I can't see people the way I can places. Anyhow, it's dark.”
    “You can try. Tony, if we just practiced more and really tried, I'm sure we could do all sorts of things we never thought of.”
    “Yeah, I think you're right.”
    He closed his eyes and concentrated on Mr. Deranian. “I see a city,” he said presently. “A city street with a lot of traffic. It could be Washington, but I'm not sure. If Mr. Deranian's there, I can't see him. There are so many people…”
    While the bus sped on through the night, he tried again and again. But the pictures became dimmer, and all he learned was that the city was Washington, for once he had a vague glimpse of the Capitol.
    Had Lucas Deranian actually traced them as far as Washington?
    He fell into a troubled sleep finally. When he awakened it was nearly three in the morning, and they were entering Winston-Salem, where they were to change buses for Fairview.
    Their next bus did not leave until long after daylight. Winkie accounted for part of the wait by scampering off in an alley after they fed him a hamburger outside. Later, in the nearly empty station with Winkie back in Tia's bag, they curled on a bench to get what rest they could. Unfortunately they were seen entering the station by a policeman who had not been around when they arrived.
    The officer was pleasant, but he insisted upon knowing where they had come from.
    “Washington,” said Tony, figuring that half the truth was all that safety would permit. “We got here on the last bus.”
    “Oh? And where are you going?”
    “Fairview.”
    “I see. You live in Fairview?”
    “No, sir. We're just going to visit some of our people.” Tony was wide awake and worried by now, though he was pretending to be half asleep. The policeman jotted something in his notebook. “What's your name, young fellow?”
    “Castaway.” Why he said it, Tony didn't know. It just slid off his lips in place of Malone, which wasn't his real name after all. He saw Tia give him a startled and almost frightened look.
    “Castaway,” the officer repeated. “I never heard that one before. If you are going to Fairview, you must have tickets. May I see them, please?”
    At the sight of their tickets the officer was satisfied.
    “O.K., son. Sorry to bother you, but there are lots of young people on the loose these days, getting into trouble. When things get too hot, they think they can cool off in a bus station without being noticed.” He saw Winkie peering at him from Tia's bag, and suddenly grinned. “What d'you know! Traveling with a black cat! Better not let the bus driver see it.”
    This brush with authority was unsettling, and there was no sleep for them until they at last went aboard their bus. It was old, and the seats were uncomfortable, but by this time they were too weary to care.
    Late in the morning Tony was awakened by Winkie crawling into his lap. He sat up abruptly and looked at Tia, whose eyes were worried.
    “He won't stay in the bag,” she told him. “Fairview's the next stop. I—I'm afraid something's wrong. I wish we'd gotten off before…”
    He glanced quickly out of the window and saw that they were entering a town. It was a squalid and almost treeless little place, with a few old stores, a scattering of run-down houses, and an auto junkyard. Slowing, the bus turned off the highway and braked before one of the stores, which apparently served as a station. Several people stood waiting out front.
    “Fairview,” called the driver, opening the door.
    Uneasy, Tony got their bags and followed a woman and a child outside. Behind him came Tia, clinging tightly to Winkie.
    In front of the store he paused uncertainly, suddenly conscious of the silence about him, of the people watching them curiously. Then someone touched him