“I’m not saying that,” Adam replied. “What I mean is these blocks may have come here today because it’s cold.”

“You mean whoever put them here might be making it cold?” Cindy asked.

“Exactly,” Adam said.

“I think we have to take a chance,” Watch said. “We have to thaw one out. Maybe there’s nothing inside any of these blocks.”

“I have my Bic lighter,” Sally said reluctantly. “We could gather some dry sticks and build a fire beside it.”

“But the fire might hurt whatever is inside the block,” Cindy said.

“Personally, I’m not worried about that,” Sally said.

“If we’re careful with the flames,” Watch said, “I’m sure we can avoid damaging the contents of the block.”

Adam nodded. “I do think we have to have a look at the inside. I know I won’t be able to sleep wondering what’s in it. As long as we all understand that we probably won’t be able to freeze the block again.”

Sally nodded. “This is like opening Pandora’s box. There might be no way to close the box.”

2

They didn’t have to go far to gather sticks and twigs to build a fire. Even though it was cold, the ground was dry. Soon they had a respectable pile of wood beside the ice block. Sally took out her lighter.

“Why do you carry a lighter?” Cindy asked. “Are you thinking of taking up smoking?”

Sally made a face. “You will recall how many times we wished we had a lighter in the last four weeks. Spooksville is unpredictable. If I wasn’t such a pacifist, I’d carry a gun in my other pocket.”

Cindy smiled. “You’re as much of a pacifist as a hungry mountain lion is.”

“What does pacifist mean?” Adam asked Watch.

“Sally when she’s totally unconscious,” Watch replied. “Light the pile, Sally, and move back. Adam, Cindy—you get back, too. I’ll take care of the fire.”

Sally flicked her Bic. In the deep shadows from the surrounding trees, the orange flame glowed bright. Sally moved it toward the pile of sticks and twigs.

“Are you worried something might jump out and grab us?” Sally asked.

“There’s no reason to risk all of us,” Watch said.

The flame caught immediately. In seconds they had a crackling campfire. The dark smoke gathered beneath the frost-covered branches. As the white flakes thawed, drops of water fell around them. But the block of ice thawed much more slowly. Taking Watch’s advice, Adam had moved back a few feet. But he could see that the block was hardly reacting to the fire. He pointed it out to the others.