Vampire Lodge

“It’s a dump, like I told you,” Becky said. Her frown now seemed to be a permanent part of her face, and she fussily held her hands up as though touching anything in the lodge would get her dirty. “My nice new dress is going to get all dusty and gross.”

“You’re the one who’s gross,” Kevin muttered under his breath.

“What!” she said and glared. “What did you say to me?”

“Nothing,” Kevin muttered.

“Hey, Dad,” Becky complained. “Kevin just said that I was gross!”

“Kevin,” Mr. Bennell scowled. “Don’t call your sister gross.”

Kevin sighed.

CHAPTER FIVE

“I’ve reserved the best rooms for you,” Aunt Carolyn said.

“How many guests do you have staying right now?” Mr. Grimaldi asked.

“Well,” Aunt Carolyn said, and then she paused as if she were embarrassed. “None at the moment. Thanksgiving weekend is never a good time for business.”

Again Kevin sensed that Aunt Carolyn was making excuses. He knew that fishing and camping was big business in most places except for the coldest months of winter, and, again, this only reminded him of what his father had hinted at early, that Aunt Carolyn wasn’t making enough money. Going bust, he thought.

“So I guess you and your friend Mr. Grimaldi will want to be hiking out to the lake, is that right?”

“Yes, we’re looking forward to it,” Kevin’s father said.

“Well let me tell you, it’s still some of the best fishing you’ll ever find in these parts.”

“Sounds great,” Mr. Grimaldi said. “I haven’t been to a good fishing spot in years.”

“Hey, Dad?” Jimmy asked. “How come we can’t go fishing with you and Mr. Bennell?”

“Well, son, because the lake is a good ten-mile hike through the woods, and Mr. Bennell and I will have to camp out for several days.”

“But you kids will have a great time here at the lodge,” Mr. Bennell added. “With Aunt Carolyn.”

“Oh, yes!” Aunt Carolyn agreed. “The kids and I will have a wonderful time together. There’s plenty to do around the lodge. And I hope you boys brought your kites.”

“Yes, Aunt Carolyn,” Kevin told her. “We got brand-new ones last week.”

“Oh, wow, neat!” Jimmy interrupted when they stepped into the hearth room. The hearth room had lots of big soft couches arranged around the giant brick fireplace which was full of burning logs that crackled and popped. “Look at all the animal heads!” Jimmy said.

Mounted above the fireplace mantle were the heads of deer and bears and foxes, and even one moose head.

Aunt Carolyn explained, “When I bought the lodge years ago—twenty years ago, to be exact—it was mainly a hunting lodge that had sat vacant for a long time, but I don’t really like the idea of hunting. So I changed it to a fishing and camping lodge.” Then she pointed to the next wood-paneled wall, and hanging there in frames were lots of stuffed fish, and some of them were over three feet long.

“That’s really cool!” Jimmy said. “Man, this lodge is terrific. We’re going to have a blast!”

“We sure are,” Kevin said. “And wait till we get out onto the bluffs with our new kites.”

They all sat down around the crackling fireplace, and Aunt Carolyn brought out glasses of spiced, hot apple cider for everyone. “So when will you two want to be heading out on your fishing expedition?” she asked the fathers.

Mr. Grimaldi rubbed his hands together eagerly. “The sooner the better. Packed in an office five days a week and nine hours a day, there’s no better way to relax than to get right out into the great outdoors.”

Mr. Bennell nodded in agreement. “I’ve been looking forward to this since… well, since last year!”

The hot cider tasted sharp and tangy; it was just one more thing that Kevin loved about coming to his aunt’s. He never understood why his aunt never drank any herself, though; it was really good. Maybe she just doesn’t like apples, he considered. Then he asked, “Hey, Dad, how long will you and Mr. Grimaldi be camping and fishing?”

“We’ll be back Sunday morning,” Kevin’s father replied.

“Great,” Becky whispered to Kevin. “Two whole days I’ll be cooped up with you two nitwits. I’ll go absolutely nuts.”

“You’ve been absolutely nuts for your whole life,” Kevin couldn’t resist.

“But I want you kids to mind Aunt Carolyn,” Kevin’s father went on. “No monkeying around and no arguing. And no staying out after dark.”

“That goes for you too, sport,” Mr. Grimaldi added aside to Jimmy.

“Right, Dad,” Jimmy said. “I won’t get into any trouble.”

“Make sure you don’t.”

“Oh, I’m sure the kids will be just fine,” Aunt Carolyn said. “Don’t worry about a thing. Just go out and have a good time, and enjoy the fishing.”

They sat around and talked for a few minutes more, Mr. Grimaldi chatting about his job at some computer place, and Mr. Bennell telling Carolyn about the real estate convention, and other things like that. Then they all went back outside. Kevin and Jimmy helped their fathers strap on their big back-packs which were full of supplies, tents, and, of course, lots of coffee.

“Have fun, Dad,” Kevin said. “Bring back lots of fish.”

“Don’t worry,” Mr. Bennell said. “We will.” Then he leaned over and whispered, “And give your Aunt Carolyn a break, will ya? Try to get along with Becky.”

“I will, Dad,” Kevin said, but then he thought, At least I’ll try. Sometimes getting along with his sister was about as easy as building a snowman in July.

Then, Mr. Bennell and Mr. Grimaldi checked their pack straps one last time and walked off into the main trail in the woods, waving.

Kevin glanced after them. A strange notion occurred to him then, and he couldn’t imagine the reason. But as his father disappeared into the trail with Mr. Grimaldi, Kevin couldn’t escape the feeling that they were in danger…

CHAPTER SIX

“You think they’ll really catch a lot of fish?” Jimmy asked skeptically, as autumn leaves floated down from the trees.

“Sure,” Kevin said. “They’ll catch tons of fish.”

“If you ask me,” Becky said, “the only thing they’re going to catch are colds.”

“Yeah, well nobody asked you,” Kevin told her. But one thing he had to admit, it was getting chilly out, and the wind was stirring up.

Aunt Carolyn waited for them back at the huge front door. “Come on, kids,” she said. “It’s getting very cold. It’ll be winter in less than a month.”

They all came back across the court, passing the parked station wagon.

“Hey, what happened to our suitcases?” Becky asked.

The suitcases, which they’d left beside car, weren’t there any more.

“Wally and Bill must’ve taken them up to your rooms while we were talking by the fireplace,” Aunt Carolyn told them.

Bill and Wally, Kevin thought again. Just who were these guys?

They all filed back into the lodge and at once felt the shimmering warmth given off by the huge fire in the fireplace. Aunt Carolyn closed the big door behind her. “Why don’t you kids go on up now. The second floor. Bill and