Read Online Herculeah Jones Tarot Says Beware by Betsy Byars - Free Book Online Page A

roll his eyes upward and watch the stairs.
    He saw nothing. This made him more afraid. And he found, as the seconds passed, that the longer he saw nothing, the more afraid he became.
    Silence.
    Silence.
    Step.
    Silence.
    Silence.
    Meat knew he should warn Herculeah, but his voice had departed with his ability to move. He understood how deer and rabbits became frozen with fear, even when they might get away if they ran.
    Step.
    From the parlor, Herculeah called, “It’s too bad I didn’t notice what page the book was opened to when I first came in the room. That would really help. I know it was in the middle, and I know there was a picture on it. The trouble is, there’s a picture on almost every page.”
    Step.
    â€œI don’t know why,” Herculeah continued, happily unaware of the danger, “but I just have the feeling I’ll know it when I come to it. Maybe my amulet is bringing me luck. I still have it on, by the way. And you know what I’ve decided? That I’m never going to open it. I’m going to keep the good luck inside. Because what if I did open it and a piece of old, chewed chewing gum or something equally gross fell out? Believe me, Meat, a lot of luck comes from just feeling lucky. And right now I feel lucky.” This was followed by the sound of vigorous page turning.
    Meat had never felt less lucky in his life. His eyes were rolled up so far into his head they might never come down.
    Now he saw it: a foot.
    He couldn’t tell in the faint moonlight whether it was a man’s foot or a woman’s. It didn’t matter. It was the scariest foot he had ever seen in his life. He had not known a foot could be so terrifying.
    He wanted to scream. He wanted to run for his life. He wanted to disappear.
    He did the next best thing. His eyes continued their painful roll up into his head.
    Meat fainted.

17
    VOODOO DOLLS AND ALL THAT JAZZ
    â€œWell, this is really frustrating,” Herculeah continued as she studied the book. “I know there’s something important on one of these two pages, and I cannot figure out what it is.”
    There was no answer from the hallway.
    â€œI held the book up, and I let it fall open on its own. Sometimes, Meat, books open to the exact place you want them to. It’s like the book has its own intelligence. It knows what you want and it helps you.” She gave a little laugh at herself. “Maybe I think that because I love books so much, but I really feel that’s what has happened here.”
    Still no answer from the hallway.
    â€œBut you know what else I’m wondering? Maybe the book was closed for another reason, something I haven’t even considered. Did you ever think of that?” When he still didn’t answer, she called, “Meat, are you listening to me?”
    She heard the sound of a footstep in the hall.
    â€œWell, at least I know you’re alive.”
    Again no answer.
    â€œI wish you’d come look at this page and see if anything rings a bell. It’s a page about, well, voodoo dolls and fetishes and all that jazz. You know the stuff I’m talking about. A doll stands for a person and, like, you stick a pin in it and the person dies.” She paused. “Are you listening to me, or what?”
    This time when there was no answer, Herculeah turned from the table. “Meat?”
    Herculeah gasped. She gripped the edge of the table for support. The flashlight slipped from her hand and fell with a thud to the carpet.
    Madame Rosa stood in the doorway in her black cloak. The hood was pulled over her head, hiding her face.
    Outwardly Herculeah did not move. Inwardly she shrank back in horror.
    There was a long moment while they faced each other in the darkness. The only light was from the moonlit window behind the figure and from the flashlight at Herculeah’s feet.
    The nightmare seemed to stretch and grow. It became almost a living thing.
    Herculeah blinked, and the