The Riddle of the Frozen Phantom: Part 6

By MARGARET MAHY, Illustrations by CHRIS MOULD

How strange! The pendant had changed her. She had suddenly become a girl with a secret.

She touched it wonderingly. It must have been shut up in the drawer for years and years, and during that time no one had worn it or warmed it or wanted it. It's meant for me, thought Sophie. Even though Christmas was a whole five days away she felt that the house had given her a sort of early Christmas present.

"It's meant for me," she repeated aloud, and nobody argued or contradicted her. However, just to be on the safe side, she slipped the pendant down under her T-shirt. For some reason she felt certain that, although it wanted to be worn, it also wanted to be hidden.

Perhaps there was something it needed to hide from.As it slid down over her heart, stroking her warm skin, Sophie gasped, for it still felt as cold as no! even colder than ice! She clapped both hands against her chest as if she were in pain. But within a second or two the pendant began to feel a little less cold. Sophie's skin was working on it.Aha! I'm the boss! thought Sophie, and began packing photographs back into the drawer, but neatly this time.

She looked at the photographs of her mother all over again.We do look alike, she thought. That means she's still here in a way. I'm watching the world for both of us. And this thought made her happy.

Publisher: HarperCollins

Price: $12.95

Age group: 9-11 years

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