But as they got closer to the Hall, Zoe noticed something odd. “What’s that?” she said, frowning. There was a strange flickering orange light in one of the windows of Higgins Hall, and as they got closer she realised it was a Halloween pumpkin wearing a spooky grin. “Mum, did you put that pumpkin there?”
Lucy frowned. “No, I didn’t. How strange,” she said. “And look – there are cobwebs all over the front door! They weren’t there when I walked past earlier—”
“Awoooooooooh!”
Zoe and Lucy froze as a howling sound came from inside the Hall. Meep squeaked in terror and leaped straight into Zoe’s arms. Zoe cuddled him, but she felt quite scared too. What was making that noise?
As Lucy reached out a hand to the cobwebby door, they heard a deep, booming voice cry, “Who’s there?” – and both Lucy and Zoe gasped as the door of Higgins Hall burst open!
Chapter Three
Howling at Higgins Hall
Zoe stared for a moment at the figure standing in the doorway. Then she breathed a sigh of relief, her face broke into a grin and she rushed forward.
“Great-Uncle Horace!” she cried, jumping into his arms to give him a big hug. “It’s you!”
“Wow, what a lovely surprise!” said Lucy. “We didn’t know you were back!”
Great-Uncle Horace chuckled. He was wearing an orange jumper with a pumpkin on the front, and his untidy white hair looked even wilder than usual. His hyacinth macaw Kiki was perched on his shoulder, preening her beautiful blue feathers.
“I hope I didn’t startle you!” he told them. “I just love Halloween, and I couldn’t wait to start decorating the Hall. I got back to the Rescue Zoo about an hour ago from a wonderful trip to North America, where I’d got awfully used to taking taxis, so I did the same when I arrived back here! And the first thing I did when I got home was fetch the box of Halloween decorations down from the attic. And put my special jumper on, of course.”
“So you put the pumpkin in the window, and the cobwebs on the door?” asked Zoe.
“Yes, that was me!” said Great-Uncle Horace, beaming. “Don’t they look splendid?”
Zoe returned his smile, but she was still a little confused. “But what about that strange noise we could hear?” she asked. “Surely that wasn’t you as well…?”
Great-Uncle Horace only smiled mysteriously in response, and then said, “All in good time, my dear! Now, why don’t you come inside and see the rest of the decorations?”
They all stepped inside, and Zoe had to swallow her laughter as she looked around the entrance hall. Great-Uncle Horace had covered every single inch of it in silvery cobwebs, plastic spiders, rows and rows of bunting shaped like skeletons, and bunches of black and orange balloons. “You don’t think it’s a little bit over the top, do you?” he asked anxiously.
Zoe shook her head. “It looks brilliant!” she told him.
“Excellent!” said Great-Uncle Horace, beaming. “I’m so glad you like it. Oh, I saw a poster for the Spooktacular on my way to the Hall, and I must say, it sounds marvellous! I’m really looking forward to it. I have a fun idea for my costume too, but I think I’m going to keep it a secret for now!”
“Wait until you hear the best bit about the Spooktacular,” Lucy told him. “Zoe and her class are going to sing! They’ve all been learning a special song at school, and they’re going to do a concert for us. Everyone’s very excited!”
“Really?” Great-Uncle Horace clapped his hands. “Well, now I’m looking forward to it even more! Was this your idea, Zoe?”
Zoe and Meep exchanged an anxious glance. Zoe didn’t want to talk about the concert – especially not with Great-Uncle Horace. He and Zoe were very close, and Zoe knew he would guess that something was wrong. Quickly, she changed the subject. “Great-Uncle Horace – if you’re back at the Rescue Zoo, does that mean you’ve brought a new animal home with you?” she asked. Then her eyes widened. “Is that what was making the noise?!”
Great-Uncle Horace smiled at her. “You’re quite right, Zoe! I do have a new friend in tow!”
Just as he said that, there was another spooky howling noise from somewhere inside the house, and Lucy, Zoe and Meep jumped again!
“And there he is!” said Great-Uncle Horace. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Great-Uncle Horace led them through the hallway and along a corridor, while the howling sound grew louder and louder. Finally they stopped outside a door, and Zoe held her breath as Great-Uncle Horace pushed it open…
The howling suddenly stopped, and Zoe heard the pad of paws trotting towards them. Then a small furry face with huge dark eyes peered curiously around the door, and Zoe gasped.
“It’s a wolf pup!”
Chapter Four
The Wild Wolf Pup