As Bum had said, the army surplus store was not located in Spooksville proper, but on the outskirts. Between the store and the hills was nothing but a road and a grass field littered with clumps of bushes and rocks. As they rushed outside, they saw several blue-clad figures coming over the hills. Mr. Patton had correctly identified them as Cold People because they were moving both stiffly and rapidly. There were six that Adam could see, but he had a feeling there were another half dozen just behind them. He was relieved that Watch wasn’t with the group of monsters.

But otherwise he was more scared than he had ever been in his life.

Even from far away, the Cold People’s eyes shone with a strange light.

“What do we do now?” Adam whispered.

Mr. Patton shouldered his M16 and grenade launcher. “It’s party time, guys. Get your flame-throwers ready. Let’s head them off before they make it into town. It’s our day to be heroes.”

“Where’s your flamethrower?” Adam asked.

“Inside the store,” Mr. Patton said, marching forward toward the advancing enemy. “You can use it if you want. Just don’t blow yourself up.”

“Wait for us,” Bum said. “We should attack together.”

Mr. Patton waved him away. “They’re already dead meat. I don’t need backup.”

Bum turned to Adam. “Get the other flamethrower. It’s behind the counter. It’s already fueled up. Hurry!”

Adam rushed inside and got the weapon. He was stunned by its weight. He had to drag it outside. He figured the gasoline alone in it weighed twenty pounds. The tip was already lit, and it appeared easy to operate. If he squeezed the trigger, the flame grew longer.

Adam stepped back outside just in time to see Mr. Patton raise his M16.

The surplus store owner took aim at the nearest one of the Cold People.

Which just happened to be a woman.

“Take this, you ice-sucking monster!” Mr. Patton screamed and fired.

He obviously didn’t have the weapon on rapid fire. He fired off only one bullet. He was an excellent shot; the bullet struck the creature in the center of the chest. The round made an odd sound as it struck, like a bullet bouncing off a steel plate.

But it did not hurt her. There was no blood.

Not breaking stride, the creature kept coming. Yet the cold blue light in its eyes grew brighter. The shot had not hurt it but had angered it. Mr. Patton briefly lowered his weapon and shivered. He was two hundred feet away from Adam, but Adam could see he was stunned.

“Don’t stand still!” Sally yelled. “It’ll freeze you solid!”