Read Online The Night of the Solstice by L.J. Smith - Free Book Online

sliding glass door.
    â€œGo with him,” she hissed at Charles.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œKeep him
occupied
.”
    Bewildered but obedient, Charles headed for the hall. An instant later he froze, horrified, as he heard the unmistakable sound of a glass door opening. There was a terrific baying as Zochimilcho exploded into the house and promptly crashed into the dining room table.
    â€œWhat the—” From behind Charles, Dr. Foster came running. Charles, still paralyzed in the hallway, blocked him long enough for Zochimilcho to gain the living room. There was a wavering feline howl and then another crash.
    â€œBad dog! Zochi! No! I said, nooooo!” Dr. Foster pushed past Charles into the living room. He could hardly be heard above all the other sounds. Charles turned furiously on Janie for an explanation, but she was elbowing her way past Dr. Foster’s guests.
    â€œI have to go to the bathroom,” she said, although no one seemed to be listening.
    â€œBad dog! Be quiet, Zochi! Who let him
in
?” Dr. Foster was roaring from the living room. Charles hastily went to help him drag Zochimilcho into the yard.
    â€œMy sister let him in, sir,” he said then, wretchedly. “She—well, I guess she didn’t know any better.”
    â€œOf all the stupid—next time you
tell
her! Oh, well, no real harm done, I guess,” he added, seeing Charles’s face. “That was my dog, Zochimilcho!” he shouted to his guests. There seemed to be a certain note of pride in his voice.
    The mention of Janie had made Charles look around apprehensively. Where was she? Not in the bathroom, he was sure of that.
    â€œGood-bye, Charles,” chorused Amy and Kevin sweetly as Dr. Foster walked him to the door. To Charles’s relief Janie reappeared at that moment.
    â€œGood-bye, good-bye, professor,” she said, sidestepping Kevin. “Good-bye,” she said again, giving Charles a violent shove which landed them both outside before Dr. Foster could say a word. The last Charles saw of the professor he was standing in the doorway, shaking his head.
    â€œWhat was that about?” he hissed at Janie, jerking his arm away. Her bike stood by his on the driveway.
    â€œShut up; we’ve got to get out of here,” she snarled back. “
Hurry
, Charles.” She was on her bike in a flash, launching herself toward the street, rising off the seat to put more muscle into her pedaling. It took Charles a minute or so to catch up with her—with Janie!—she was pumping at such a furious pace toward the hill.
    â€œAre you crazy?” he shouted as he drew alongside her.
    Janie glared at him, nearly ran into a parked car, and refused to answer. She was ahead of him all the way to Morgana’s, and only when they were standing under the beams of the ancient, smoke-stained kitchen, with Alys and Claudia staring at them, did she speak.
    â€œI’ve done it,” she said. “And he’ll probably find out and send me to jail for it. I don’t care. It’s Claudia’s fault in the first place. There!” With the last word she drew a packet out of her sleeve and threw it on the table.
    Alys picked up the little package of toilet paperand unwrapped it. Something like a piece of grayish yellow rock fell out.
    â€œWhat—” began Alys, but then she stopped.
    â€œI took it out of a glass case and chipped a bit off with his letter opener. I’ve ruined an archaeological artifact. I’m a vandal and a thief.
And,”
she added as Alys drew her into her arms as if she were as young as Claudia, “I’m proud of it.”
    Charles was still gazing at the little chip of rock, perplexed. “What are you talking about? What did you do?”
    â€œI vandalized the skull of an Aztec Indian. It was in a case in Dr. Foster’s study.” Janie pulled away from Alys and gestured at the piece of rock. “That’s human