Part 1: Chapters 16, 17, and 18 Summary

After tearing through the carnival all day having fun, at sunset Will realizes that Jim is nowhere to be found. After looking around for a while, he figures he knows where Jim is, and finds him at the Mirror Maze. Jim is halfway in and halfway out, with a dazed look in his eyes. Over Jim's protests, Will urgently pulls Jim away from the mirrors. Jim has obviously seen something in there, but cannot say exactly what it is. Will is scared and wants Jim to follow him home for supper. Jim insists that they must come back after dark. Will doesn't want to come along, but Jim pleads with Will to never leave him, and Will agrees.

While walking, the two boys stumble over a leather bag on the ground. They realize that it belongs to the lightning...