We didn’t see any ghosts.
Minutes of the Tenth General Meeting of the Exorcists’ Club Held at Peter Cresciani’s House
1. The President (Alethea Gebhardt) declared the meeting open.
2. The Secretary (Bettina Berich) read out her minutes from the last meeting.
3. The Treasurer (Peter Cresciani) asked Alethea for her report on the Jenolan Caves Ghost Tour, which no one had read yet.
4. Alethea said that she’d written one, but that it was a bit long. She promised to write a short one that everybody could read.
5. The Publicity Officer (Michelle du Moulin) said that she would write one too.
6. Bettina asked if they had seen any ghosts, at the Jenolan Caves.
7. Michelle replied that they hadn’t.
8. Alethea explained that they might have seen something, but they weren’t sure what it was. Then she pulled out some photographs that her mother’s friend Ray had taken underground, while he was on an adventure tour in the Elder Cave. Most of these photographs were kind of dark, and it was hard to make out anything in them – just vague shapes, like the inside of someone’s stomach. Two of them showed the mouths of dark tunnels, or holes, that Ray had to squeeze through. In one of the holes, far off in the distance, you could see two round, shiny, yellowish things glinting. Alethea admitted that they could have been two shards of calcite, reflecting the light of the flashbulb.
But they really, really looked like a pair of little yellow eyes.
9. Mrs Cresciani shouted up the stairs, because afternoon tea was ready.
10. Alethea quickly distributed copies of a letter she’d received from Richard’s girlfriend, Rosemary, in case anyone was interested.
11. The meeting was adjourned, and everybody ran downstairs to eat Mrs Cresciani’s delicious sugared pastries before Peter’s brothers managed to finish them off.
Appendix to the Minutes of the Tenth General Meeting of The Exorcists’ Club: Letter from Rosemary Prescott to Alethea Gebhardt
Dear Alethea
It was very nice to meet you at the Jenolan Caves last weekend. Richard had talked about you a lot, so I knew how mature and well-informed you were. But I never expected that you would be such a big help when it came to my strange dreams about Gran.
It was your opinion that I should probably tell my grandmother what was going on in the family. You said that if I gave her what she wanted, then she might leave me alone. Well, I did exactly as you advised. Three nights ago I sat in my bedroom and quickly ran through the latest family gossip, in a loud voice. On Richard’s recommendation, I even held a piece of my grandmother’s jewellery while I was talking. And guess what? Since then, my grandmother hasn’t bothered me.
I can’t thank you enough for your input. I was finding it increasingly hard to sleep, so you’ve solved that problem. And it’s wonderful to know that, at some level, my grandmother still exists – even if it’s only in my heart.
Please accept my compliments. Richard has told me about your Exorcists' Club, and it seems to me that you’ve performed yet another successful exorcism – without going anywhere near the haunted house.
If I can ever help you with anything, please let me know. Meanwhile, I hope to see you at the next PRISM ghost tour.
Yours sincerely
Rosemary A. Prescott
PRAISE FOR ALLIE’S GHOST HUNTERS:
‘[Eloise] is a very addictive book, and I recommend it to anyone who wants an original mystery story.’ Ambrose, Year 8, YARA
‘[Eglantine] is a delightful spine-tingler and a great read . . .’ Sunday Tasmanian
‘An original twist on an old, old theme . . .’ Sunday Age on Eglantine
‘Full of mystery, ghost-busting and humour . . .’ Townsville Bulletin on Eloise
‘[Eloise is] gripping, creepy and unputdownable.’ Queensland Times
‘Anyone who says they don’t believe in ghosts just might be encouraged to think again.’ Reading Time
Catherine Jinks, Elysium
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