33 - The Horror at Camp Jellyjam by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead) Page A

chamber.
Water from a dozen hoses splashed over the monster’s purple body. Kids scrubbed
furiously as he sighed and groaned.
    I saw the startled horror on my brother’s face. But I couldn’t worry about
Elliot now.
    “Hit the floor!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, cupping my hands into
a megaphone. “EVERYBODY—HIT THE FLOOR! NOW!”
    I had a plan.
    Would it work?

 
 
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    The monster’s watery yellow eyes grew wide with surprise. His bloated lips
parted. I could see two pink tongues dart and coil inside his mouth.
    A few of the kids dropped their hoses and mops and flattened themselves on
the floor. Others turned to stare at me.
    “Stop washing him!” I cried. “Put down your hoses and brushes! Stop working!
And hit the floor!”
    Beside me, Elliot uttered gasping sounds. I glimpsed him struggling to keep
the sick smell from overpowering him.
    King Jellyjam let out a furious roar as the rest of the kids obeyed my
instructions. Thick, white slime dripped from his nose. His two tongues flicked
out between his purple lips.
    “Get flat!” I screamed to the kids. “Stay down!”
    And then I saw the monster raise a fat purple arm. With a disgusting groan,
he leaned over. His slimy flesh rippled all over his body as he reached out.
    Reached out to grab Alicia!
    “Help! He’s going to eat me!” Alicia shrieked. She started to get up.
    “No!” I shrieked. “Stay down! Stay flat!”
    With a terrified cry, Alicia dropped back to the floor.
    King Jellyjam swung his fat hand down. Fumbled it over her. Tried to lift the
little girl up. Tried again. Again.
    But I had figured right! The monster’s fingers were too big, too clumsy to
pick up anyone who lay flat on the floor.
    King Jellyjam tilted his head back and uttered a roar of disgust.
    I cupped my hand over my nose as the disgusting odor grew more intense.
Snails pop-pop-popped out of his skin. Rolled down his slimy body. Bounced
noisily onto the floor.
    The monster flailed his arms. He leaned down again and struggled to pick up
some other kids.
    But they pressed themselves flat on the floor. He couldn’t lift them.
    He roared again, weaker this time. His eyes rolled wildly in his enormous
head.
    The smell burned my eyes. It swirled around me, surrounded me in its sour
stench.
    King Jellyjam grabbed for a hose. Couldn’t pick it up. He slammed his hand into a bucket. Struggled frantically to splash
water on himself.
    I stood trembling. Watching every move.
    My plan was working. I knew it would work. It had to work!
    The stench grew even stronger. I could taste it. I could smell it on my skin.
    King Jellyjam flailed both arms. Frantically, he struggled to wash himself.
    His roars became groans. His body began to shake.
    I gasped as he narrowed his eyes at me. He raised a swollen purple finger and
pointed. Accusing me!
    He leaned forward. Reached out.
    Swiped out his enormous hand.
    I couldn’t move. I was too stunned.
    I shuddered.
    His hand slid over me. And before I could struggle, he began to tighten his
slimy, stinking fingers around my body.

 
 
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    “Ohhh.” I uttered a horrified moan.
    The fat, wet fingers tightened. Waves of odor rose up around me.
    I held my breath. But the smell was everywhere.
    The fingers wrapped themselves tighter.
    The monster began to lift me off the ground. Raise me toward his gaping
mouth. The two tongues darted and flicked.
    And then the tongues drooped over his purple lips.
    The fingers loosened their grip.
    I slid free as King Jellyjam groaned and fell forward. Kids rolled quickly
out of the way. King Jellyjam toppled over headfirst.
    The gold crown bounced away. The monster’s body made a loud splat as
it spread over the floor.
    “Yes!” I choked out happily. I was still shaking, still trying to forget
the slimy feel of his fingers against my skin. “Yes!”
    My plan had worked perfectly.
    The kids stopped washing—and King Jellyjam suffocated from his own foul
smell!
    “Are