Read Who Won the War? for Free Online

out of her pocket. “ ‘This rounded hill west of the city was once the burial ground for a little-known tribe of Native Americans, known as the Shanatee. They were both admired and feared by neighboring tribes, due to a superstition regarding their shadows. It was said that if, on Knob Hill, the shadow of any person were to fall on the shadow of another, they would be the next two persons to die. When the tribes fought, therefore, neighboring warriors were reluctant go up the hill, for fear their shadows would touch. For this reason, the Shanatee had full possession of Knob Hill for many years, until the tribe mysteriously disappeared. It is generally believed that an epidemic wiped out this short-lived tribe, but legend has it that when the chief warrior died, the tribe committed mass suicide by walking across the face of the land and allowing their shadows to commingle.’ ”
    Beth stopped and looked around. “Well! What do you think of that?”
    The Hatford boys sat speechless. They had never bothered to look up Knob Hill on the Internet. They hadn't known about the shadows.
    “So,” said Eddie. “I want to go see this place.”
    Wally glanced at his brothers. It was another hot day—too hot, really, to go climbing. But that wasn't what he was worried about. As long as the sun was shining, one of their shadows was bound to fall on someone else's.

    Fifteen minutes later, they were all walking across a pasture toward the high round hill, Peter taking big steps to keep up, the stubble of grass and weeds pricking his short legs. Everyone seemed to be spreading out as they started up the hill, keeping their shadows definitely separate from each other.
    It took longer than they'd thought it would to get to the top. They grew hotter with every step, but at last, when they reached the crest, there was a bit more breeze, which helped dry the perspiration that dripped down their faces.
    “So this is it, huh?” Eddie said, her voice hushed and reverent. “Where the Shanatee are buried? Doesn't it sort of spook you out that we might be standing on the very grave of one of their warriors?” She moved a step closer to Jake, and instantly Jake took a step closer to Josh. Their shadows almost touched, and Josh jumped.
    They fanned out some more, studying the ground, stepping on large rocks strewn here and there. Suddenly Jake knelt down and said, “Hey! Look what I found!”
    Caroline hurried over, getting just close enough to see him holding an almost perfect arrowhead. “It was just lying there? You found it just like that?” she asked.
    “I kicked it,” said Jake. “There are supposed to be a lot up here.”
    Instantly the girls began kicking at the ground with the toes of their sneakers. Beth even got down on her knees and began digging around the rocks. Eddie seemed especially intent on finding another arrowhead.
    Jake and Josh and Wally and Peter worked to stay off each other's shadows. The girls didn't seem that concerned, Wally thought, but he didn't believe in taking chances.
    At last Eddie said, “Hey, Jake, can I see that arrowhead a second? I want to know what to look for.”
    “Sure,” Jake said.
    Eddie turned it over and over in her hand. “You're a big fat liar, Jake,” she said.
    “What d'you mean?” asked Jake. “That's a real Indian arrowhead, and I can prove it.”
    “Yeah, but you didn't just find it this morning,” said Eddie. “It doesn't have a speck of dirt on it. Not even dust! It even looks like it's been polished! You brought this along this morning, just as a joke.”
    Jake laughed. “Well, it worked, didn't it? You and Beth down on your hands and knees, digging away …” He and Josh hooted.
    But Wally was sitting on a rock, reading the folded-up paper that Beth had read to them that morning. Somehow she had dropped it while she was searching for arrowheads.
    “You know what else is fake?” he said. “The Shanatee Indians.”
    Beth jumped up and tried to grab the paper, but