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Summary: Johnny Dixon cannot believe it! One of his best friends, Father Higgins, who is the priest at the church in town, has just been transferred to a different church. Johnny and another close friend of Father Higgins, Professor Childermass, decide to visit him. When they do, they find Father Higgins deeply depressed. He mentions something about seeing a ghost and having dreams of his mother. When the professor and Johnny return home, they find that Father Higgins has unexpectedly gone missing. The professor has a hunch that Father Higgins has probably gone to see his mother's grave in England.
On the following morning, Johnny and the professor stop by the home of a friend of Johnny's, Byron Ferguson ("Fergie") and ask him if he would like to join them on their trip to England. Fergie says he would. When they reach the church in England where Father Higgins' mother's ashes lie, the professor sees a strange-looking man with the same eyes as Father Higgins. The professor is very sure that the man is Father Higgins, and think that an evil spirit may be inside of him, giving him the strange look.
Sure enough, that night a man with the same description steals Father Higgins' mother's ashes. The trio quickly follow the strange man to Bristol, England. To help them find Father Higgins, the professor asks Father Higgins' brother, Humphrey, to help him. Humphrey tells them about an island in England called Lundy. On this island there live six dark knights who kills for fun. The six knights are killed by a group of people who have had enough of their evil doings. One of the knights escapes, however, and dies of natural causes. His spirit still lingers.
Humphrey also tells them that this knight who has escaped is called Dr. Rufus Masterman. Dr. Masterman is also the name of the strange man the trio has been following, who is probably Father Higgins' body, invaded by the knight's evil spirit. Humphrey has a hunch that the knight's evil spirit is making Father Higgins go to the castle on the island of Lundy to free his fellow dark knights. They all decide to go to the island. Strong winds force them to stay at a motel and wait until a boat can depart for the island.
That night, Masterman kidnaps Humphrey and the Professor and puts them under spells. When Fergie and Johnny learn of this, they are very scared, but decide to carry out their mission anyway. When the boys reach the castle, they see Masterman sink into the ground. They finally gather up their courage and follow him. When they reach level ground, the boys find the mummies of the five knights starting to rise. Masterman is attempting to connect two pieces of glass, but suddenly his hands start to shake. He drops the pieces of glass, shattering them. The knights fall back and Masterman's body becomes Father Higgins again.
Johnny and Fergie quickly usher Father Higgins back to their hotel. They then call their hotel on the mainland and find out that Humphrey and the professor are safe. When they all finally meet up at Humphrey's house, they discover that Father Higgins has overcome Masterman's evil spirit, because Father Higgins was carrying holy water when the evil spirit of Masterman entered his body.
Amazon.com: * * * *
Behind the Books: A Closer Look at John Bellairs: "Great suspense and an action-filled book." * * * * *
