The Smoky Corridor

94

“That’s the zombie!” said Malik.

“Come on, we need to get out of here.” Zack swung the flashlight back and forth. Twenty feet away on either side of the watch wall was the top of a staircase. “Zipper? Keep an eye up the tunnel while we figure which way to go.”

Zipper hunkered down on all fours in his preferred prepare-to-pounce position.

“If that thing comes back …”

“I already figured it out,” said Malik. “The pocket watches on the wall are another code!”

“Numbers for letters?”

Malik shook his head. “Semaphore flags!”

“Huh?”

“A system for sending messages by placing your arms, two flags, or, in this case, two clock hands in certain positions! They use it on ships all the time—to communicate with other ships.”

“Stand watch like a sailor should and your prospects shall be very good!” said Zack, remembering the last line from the stone.

“Exactly.”

“Malik, tell me you already translated this thing.”

“Yes. It took me longer than anticipated, however.…”

“Which staircase?”

“The one on the left!”

Zack whistled; Zipper sprang up.

“Let’s go!”

They raced down the steps, which were quite steep.

“Would you like to know how I figured it out?”

“Sure. Once we get away from that thing.”

“I don’t think the zombie is allowed to come down these steps.”

“Really?”

“So the coded message would seem to say.”

Breathing hard, after clomping down thirty-nine steps, they reached a landing.

“Okay,” said Zack. “Tell me what you figured out.”

“I propose,” said Malik between gasps for oxygen, “that, whenever we’re presented with a choice, we always head left.”

“Really?”

Malik nodded. “Heading left will keep us zombie free.”

Malik started making gestures, placing his left arm in the six o’clock position, his right at seven. “A.” He raised his right arm to nine o’clock, so it was pointing straight out. “B.” He nudged the right arm up and was about to say, “C,” when Zack interrupted him.

“Um, maybe you could teach me the whole alphabet later?”

“Ah. Of course. The message on the wall says …”

“The new me?” said Zack. “That could be Azalea!”

“Huh?”

“Captain Pettimore’s soul somehow got inside Azalea’s body!”

“Well, Zack, we need to get it out!”