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.""But what if it were a ghost you knew?" Spence asked.He addressed the whole group."Fm serious about this.Why don't we take a vow that the first one of us to die is to make every effort to contact the rest of us? What do you think, Kevin?""You are suggesting that the one in question give us a sign?" Kevin asked."Yes," Spence said."Do you want us all to agree upon a prearranged sign?" Kevin asked."No," Spence said."But if the sign is random, how will we know it's from the dead person?" Kevin asked."The sign could be anything," Spence said."We could meet late at night as usual and our dearly departed could knock over a lamp or something.""It might not be possible, as a ghost, to do something so dramatic," Kevin said."Let's stop talking about this," Sandra said."I don't like talking about it.""It's intriguing," Anya admitted.Sandra was outraged."When people die, they don't hang around the earth and give people signs.It just isn't done.""If it isn't done, then it doesn't have to scare you," Spence argued."I am not scared," Sandra said indignantly."I just think it's unnatural.Ilonka, say something.""Could the person who dies communicate with us telepathically?" Ilonka suggested, warming toCHRISTOPHER PIKE the possibility.She realized that when she got right down to it she was as curious as anybody else.Spence shook his head."That would be too abstract," Spence said."We would never know for sure if we didn't imagine it.""But what if the dead person made us all dream the same dream?" Ilonka asked."That would be proof, of sorts.""That's an interesting idea," Kevin agreed."Assuming someone on the other side can influence our dreams.How about if we use a Ouija board and try to contact the person?""We could ask Dr.White to buy us one," Spence said, interested.Sandra shook her head."I will not agree to this.If I die I'm going straight to heaven, and that's the end of it.""Don't worry," Anya said."If you're the first one to die none of us will be in a hurry to talk to you.""Now, now, be nice," Spence said."Sandra, I didn't ask for a contract, you don't have to sign anything.But if you don't want to do it, that's fine.But think how you could put the rest of us at ease if we see that you're still kicking on the other side.""You're assuming it will be a relief to know that we do have souls," Anya said."You really are in a bad mood tonight," Sandra told Anya."It's my natural state," Anya said sweetly."That's why I'm not anxious to make it eternal.""I think the first of us who dies will have toTHE MIDNIGHT CLUB decide on the other side the best way to contact the others," Spence said."That may be true, but we should give him or her some idea of where we will be looking for a sign," Kevin said."But we can think about that later.""Not too much later," Anya said."You never know in a place like this.""Are we all agreed then?" Spence asked."Sandra?""As long as I don't get in trouble with God I guess it will be all right to try," Sandra said, doing an about-face."I'm for it," Kevin said."Me, too," Ilonka said."We should take a blood oath," Anya said."It will add power to our intent.""I don't think that's necessary," Spence said."I don't mind taking a blood oath." Ilonka said."It will add a pagan flavor to our vow.""It doesn't exactly matter if we catch anything from each other," Kevin said."Somebody get a needle," Anya said."We'll smear it altogether and chant our vow in unison."Spence was shaking his head."Let's not turn this into a sideshow.We all agree to try our best to contact the others.That's all that matters.""But we want the blood ceremony," Anya said."You can have it if you want," Spence said, standing up."I'm going to bed." He turned toward the door."Good night, everybody.Sweet dreams.No one die during the night."CHRISTOPHER PIKE"He left all of a sudden," Ilonka said when Spence was gone.She didn't feel tired herself, probably because she had slept half the day away.Kevin was beginning to nod in the chair beside her, his messy brown hair hanging over his bony face.She touched his arm."Hey, sleepyhead, you have to get to bed."Kevin raised his head, his face brightening."Why don't you give me an escort?"She felt herself blush."I should probably take Anya back to our room.""I can get back to the room without your help," Anya said."Sandra can help me.""As long as you don't bite my hand," Sandra said, getting to her feet and stepping behind Anya's wheelchair.Anya had cancer in her right arm as well as her remaining leg and didn't have the strength to push her wheelchair.Dr.White was trying to get her a motorized chair but it was going to take time he said—and would probably be too late when it did arrive.Sandra and Anya left the room on a chorus of good nights and Ilonka was left alone with Kevin."I guess we're not having a blood ceremony," she said."I guess not," Kevin said."What did you think of Spence's suggestion?""I thought perhaps he might have been up to some scheme to make us all look foolish," Ilonka said."Until he said that someone might fake the sign.That's what I thought he might do.But I think it's an interesting idea."THE MIDNIGHT CLUB"Yeah.""I really did love your story," she said.Kevin had a faraway look in his eyes."Thank you.""How was your visit with Kathy?" she asked."Fine.""She seems like a nice girl.How long have you been going together?""On and off for the last two years.""Why sometimes off?" she asked.He glanced at her."I've been in the hospital a lot.""Of course, silly me."He shook his head."I just wish I had told her at the beginning that I was sick.I knew, you know, I just thought I'd get better.The doctors did, too.""Maybe you will," Ilonka said.He smiled, but his face remained sad."I'm not counting on it.""Why were you looking for me today?""I heard you're going to get a scan tomorrow.""Who told you that?""Dr.White.Don't be upset with him, he just confirmed what I had heard.You must have told someone [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]