The Empty Grave (Lockwood & Co., #5)

by Jonathan Stroud

“Piffle. Know what this is an example of? Skullism.” “What nonsense are you spouting now?” “You’ve heard of racism. You’ve heard of sexism. Well, this is skullism, pure and simple. You’re judging me by my outward appearance. You doubt my word solely because I’m a skull, lurking in a jar of slime-green plasm. Admit it!”

In its jar, poking out of the top of the backpack, the skull nodded amiably. “Nice one. Shut that just in time…” It left a significant pause. “So the inside of that flagstone’s lined with iron, is it? Lucky!” Right then I could barely speak. “No, no iron…” “Or silver, then?” “No….” The skull chuckled. “Of course—silly idea! Far too expensive. Must be some kind of barrier, though.” It grinned at me. “Or…” Or…Oh. “Lockwood…” I said.

I freakin love the Skull 😂

“Well, none of us are here for very long. While we’re alive, all we can do is keep on fighting. Try to make our contribution count.

-Lockwood

“Don’t look at us,” George said. “We haven’t burned anyone’s house down for ages.”

It was higher and shriller than Holly’s, so we knew that it was Kipps.

At my shoulder, the skull gave a long, low chuckle. “These old geezers are completely mad! I’ve got to say I like them.”

Love the Skull so much

“What is it, Lockwood?” I asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.” “It’s a sapphire. My father got the gem out East somewhere, and he had this necklace made for my mother. It was her favorite piece of jewelry.

“I don’t think she wore it in the ordinary way. It was too special to her. My dad gave it to her soon after they met. It was a symbol of his undying devotion.”