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Chapter 4: THE DOG

“The keeper of what?” Ty inquired as he looked at the old man.
“I am the Keeper of the dead souls in the netherworld,” replied the man on the road.
“Then you know about the stolen soul?” Amy asked the Keeper.
“I know of no stolen soul!” the Keeper flatly stated.
“But you must know!” Parker pleaded.
“I know of no such soul!” the Keeper replied again.
“Could you have made a mistake, Toolook? Are you sure the soul is here?” Amy questioned Toolook.
“Yeah, we could be making this trip for nothing. The Keeper sounds pretty sure the soul isn’t here. Maybe we should turn back,” said Ty, looking at each member of the group pleadingly.
“THE OLD ONE said that if we encountered the Keeper we might have problems with him. THE OLD ONE said the Keeper doesn’t like visitors because he only wants the souls who will be staying in the netherworld to travel the Road-Of-Shadows,” Toolook told the kids.
“What else did THE OLD ONE tell you that you haven’t told us?” Ty wanted to know.
“Ty, we’re all in this together,” Amy said to her brother.

Copyright© 2008 by Lawrence E.R. Adams