انتقام کوتوله های حیاط فصل 09

Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes - Chapter 9

“Is that a melon seed?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“A what?” Moose stomped up behind me.

“A melon seed,” I repeated.

Moose shook his head. He clapped a big hand against my shoulder. “You’re seeing things,” he declared. “Come on, let’s play!” I pointed to Chip’s mouth. “I’m not seeing things. There! Right there! Don’t you see it?” Moose’s gaze followed my finger. “Yeah. I see a seed. So what?” “It’s a casaba melon seed, Moose. Like the ones scattered on the ground.” How could a casaba seed find its way into Chip’s mouth?

There had to be an explanation. A simple explanation.

I thought hard. I couldn’t think of one.

I brushed the seed from the gnome’s lips and watched it flutter to the grass.

Then I stared at the gnome’s grinning face. Into those cold, flat eyes.

And the gnome stared back at me. I shivered in the heat.

How did that seed get there? I wondered. How?

I dreamed about melons that night. I dreamed that a casaba melon grew in our front yard. Grew and grew and grew. Bigger than our house.

Something startled me out of my melon dream. I fumbled for my alarm clock. One A.M.

Then I heard a howl. A low, mournful howl. Outside the house.

I jumped out of bed and hurried to the window. I peered into the shadowy front yard. The lawn ornaments stood in silence.

I heard the howl again. Louder. Longer.

It was Buster. My poor dog. Tied up in the back yard.

I crept out of my room and down the dark hall. The house was quiet. I started down the carpeted stairs.

A step squeaked under my foot. I jumped, startled.

A second later, I heard another creak.

My legs were shaking.

Cool it, Joe, I told myself. It’s only the steps.

I tiptoed through the darkened living room and into the kitchen. I heard a low, rustling sound behind me. My heart started to pound.

I whirled around.

Nothing there.

You’re hearing things, I told myself.

I stumbled forward in the dark. Closed my hand around the doorknob.

And two powerful hands grabbed me from behind!