Read Online The Road to Nevermore by Christopher Lincoln - Free Book Online Page B

started up and a bony hand shot up in the crowd.
    “Excuse me, Mr. Bones?” The hand belonged to Mrs. Ribtuck. Her knobbly features were reminiscent of a potato.
    Mr. Bones, consulting a map, looked up. “Eh?”
    Mrs. Ribtuck said, “My neighbor’s not here.”
    “Who is it?”
    Her reply —“Liam Slackbones”— left everyone shaking their heads.
    Mr. Bones looked in the direction of Stonehamm Cottage, home of Mordecai Cleansington, and sighed. “Well, I guess that’s no
     surprise. Probably sleeping on the job.” Liam Slackbones’s lazy reputation was well known. “I’m sorry, everyone. Looks like
     we should carry on.”
    But before the skeletons could turn again, Mrs. Bones said something that later caused Mr. Bones to thank his blessings he’d
     had the good sense to marry her, though at first he was quite annoyed.
    “Lars,” she whispered, “don’t you think we should have a look anyway? You never know.”
    “I’ll look a fool for changing my mind,” he whispered back.
    “Lars …” Her voice was beyond a whisper now. “How foolish will you look if something
did
happen and we’re too late to help?”
    Mr. Bones sighed and said, “Er … sorry, everyone. It’s best we check.”
    Mr. Bunyon seemed amused by what looked to be a good spat brewing. He grinned like a picket fence. Mrs. Bunyon frowned at
     him. “I wouldn’t smirk. You’ve been far more mulish.”
    With Mr. Bunyon properly shushed, the secrets-closet skeletons set off, each wondering what kind of power could overwhelm
     the most formidable skeleton in the Afterlife.

Chapter 17
Gateway to Darkness

    A few blocks from the Boneyard, Ned assumed his official Skeleton Guide duties by collecting his transferees. They were twenty
     of the scruffiest ghosts Billy had ever laid eyes on. Billy was not happy to see Martha’s Uncle Mordecai among them, but had
     to admit that he was not particularly surprised. Condemned prisoners in hand, the group marched out of Edgeton and crossed
     a quarter mile of barren plain. Ned drove the shackled ghosts double-time, so there was plenty of grumbling.
    Like: “What’s the rush? Dark Side running low on souls?” and, “I just died—you’d think a fellow could have a few minutes’
     peace.”
    When they arrived at the checkpoint, the sight greeting them quickly silenced their complaints.
    A huge wall marked the Dark Side. It was a thousand feet high and bristling with spikes. Nestled at its base lay a bustling
     skeleton cavalry encampment.
    “How come bad guys don’t go directly to the Dark Side when they die?” Billy asked. “You’d think that would be a lot simpler
     than collecting them all on this side and then sending them over there.” Billy turned to Pete, who was fiddling with his package,
     so Roger answered. “The beings in the Realms Above trust us Lightsiders to do a better job of administrating judgment procedures.
     It’s something like applying to university.” He closed his eyes. “Let’s see if I can remember all the steps.
    “I arrived through the Tunnel of Light. After docking at the Hall of Reception, I was conducted to an immense lecture room,
     where a lengthy application form was waiting. That had to be filled out—then there’s the biographical essay, of course. These
     were then packed off to the Realms Above. Sadly, no amount of family pull can help you there.” Roger looked back toward the
     Edgeton sky. “Then, I had to wait.” He gripped Billy’s sleeve, turning his white knuckles whiter. “It felt like an eternity.”
    “Clackers! Were you nervous?” Billy was curious.
    “I should guess I was! Felt like I was about to die all over again. But at last I had letter in hand, and when I finally worked
     up the nerve to open it up, it sparkled with a golden light. I was in!” Roger clacked his jaw into a bony grin.
    The skeleton’s smile was contagious, but melted from Billy’s face when he turned toward the looming wall. Of all its spiky