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light the candle,” said Carrie, taking charge. “Then we’ll take our places around the table.” She was standing by the door, waiting to hit the light switch. As soon as Brian had lit the candle, she darkened the room. “Now, you have to be very serious,” she said as she returned and took a seat. “Otherwise it won’t work.”
    Brian gave Lisa a wink. He was obviously enjoying Carrie’s businesslike manner.
    â€œAll right, who wants to go first?” Carrie asked.
    â€œI do,” said Brian. “I’m not sure I trust the two of you not to pull some stunt on me. Maybe tell one of those ‘socially necessary little whites.’” He smiled at Lisa, and she felt her cheeks flush.
    â€œOkay,” said Carrie. “Here, put this in front of you.” She handed him the pad. “Now, pick up the pencil and hold it as if you were ready to write. Then just relax.”
    Brian did as Carrie instructed. He kept a perfectly straight face, but there was a merry twinkle in his eye. Lisa found it very attractive, even in these uncomfortable circumstances.
    â€œNow, you have to close your eyes,” said Carrie. “Lisa and I are going to hold hands. Then each of us will put a hand on your elbow to complete the circle. All right?”
    Brian nodded.
    Lisa looked at Carrie across the table. The flickering candle made the shadows on her childish face shift and change. Her eyes were shining with excitement.
    Lisa glanced around the kitchen. With nothing but candlelight to break the gloom, it suddenly seemed very spooky. She told herself it was simply because the place was so old-fashioned. The cupboard, the big stove, the door to the cellar—each of them was out of date enough to create a feeling of age that she found unnerving in this situation.
    â€œClose your eyes,” said Carrie. “ Concentrate!”
    Lisa did as she was directed, giving Brian’s elbow a little squeeze.
    Carrie began to speak. “O spirits from the other side, if there are any here who wish to communicate with us, now is the time. Give us your message!”
    Lisa was impressed. As near as she could remember, those were the exact words her grandmother had used.
    They sat in silence for a moment. Suddenly Lisa felt a cold draft on her neck. She shivered and tightened her hand on Brian’s elbow.
    Now she began to hear something. It started so softly she was hardly aware it was there. Slowly it grew more distinct. It was the voice of a woman, weeping quietly, yet sounding as if her heart would break.
    Lisa opened her eyes and looked around. The voice seemed to come from somewhere above them. Carrie’s eyes were pinched shut. Brian’s face showed nothing but intense concentration.
    Couldn’t they hear it?
    â€œCarrie!” she whispered.
    â€œShhh!”
    Lisa shuddered. They didn’t; they didn’t hear it at all.
    And it was still getting louder!
    Suddenly the cupboard door behind her swung open, then slammed shut. With a yowl, Smokey dashed out of the room. Carrie’s eyes flew open. She was about to say something when the table lurched and Brian’s hand began to move across the paper.
    The candle flickered wildly, and the cupboard doors began to slam. Starting at the far end of the wall and moving down the length of the kitchen, each of them flew open and then banged shut.
    Lisa gasped. The candlestick had started to float! Heart pounding, she watched it rise until it was hovering about a foot above the table.
    She became aware of Brian’s hand, scratching across the paper. She looked at the pad, trying to read the words, and choked back a cry of fright. On the first line was a series of exclamation points. Printed in bold letters on the next line was a single word: DANGER!
    As she watched, Brian printed the word again. DANGER! Then he added: LEAVE THIS PLACE AT ONCE!
    Behind Lisa the last cupboard door was slamming back and forth. Suddenly