CHAPTER 24

The Comet Chorus

Abbey had found Ghoulia a keyboard, and she was experimenting with it. She played it slowly, following the notes from the comet that she’d charted. Everyone else in the room was too busy playing the satellite “game” to notice what she was doing—except for Abbey.

“I’ve got to say,” admitted Abbey, “for song that comes from a destructive comet, this is a happy tune.”

Ghoulia threw up her hands. If only she could figure out what it meant! Her iCoffin buzzed, and Frankie’s face appeared on the screen.

“Ghoulia! We need your help!” begged Frankie from Boo York. “All the lights in Boo York have gone out, and we have to save Cleo! And now our robot friend Elle is fritzing out. Is there anything you can do to help us?”

Ghoulia’s laptop was scanning the sound coming over the phone. Ghoulia squinted, listening. The strange electronic noises were actually notes! Ghoulia’s eyes widened.

The ghouls were holding on to Elle as she zapped and fritzed. The comet crystal in Catty’s hands glowed brighter for a moment and faded. Elle shivered and shook. She seemed to be coming out of her trance.

Frankie stared at her iCoffin, confused. Abbey’s face appeared. “Sorry. Ghoulia had to go. She just figured out how to save entire world from total destruction. Bye now!” The screen went black.

The ghouls stared at one another. They looked up at the comet. What did Abbey mean—save the whole world from total destruction?

Deuce was the first to speak. “Did she just say…?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” said Clawdeen, practical as always. “Let’s move.”

Back in the lab, Ghoulia pushed her way through the students and teachers clustered around the computer console.

“All right, Ghoulia wants a turn!” shouted Lagoona.

Ignoring everyone, Ghoulia connected the keyboard. She stretched her fingers and cracked her knuckles like a professional pianist.

Clawd reached over and hit a note. “Hey, I didn’t realize you could play the game with that…”

Ghoulia slapped his hand away. She had no time to waste. She hit a key on the computer. She touched a note and began to play. She lined up the satellites and moved them in a perfect orbit around the comet.

“She’s good,” whispered Twyla to Robecca.

Ghoulia played music, and the comet glowed brighter and brighter, pulsing to the rhythm of the new sounds. Was it working? Abbey crossed her fingers. She hoped so.