Deep Trouble by R. L. Stine Page B

the surface. Then I saw a
flash of red.
    I floated closer, peering through the mask. A few yards ahead of me I saw bumpy red formations. Red coral.
    Oh, no, I thought. Clamshell Reef. Dr. D. told me not to swim this far.
    I began to turn around. I knew I should swim back to the boat.
    But I was tempted to stay and explore a little. After all, I was already
there.
    The reef looked like a red sand castle, filled with underwater caves and
tunnels. Small fish darted in and out of them. The fish were bright yellow and
blue.
    Maybe I could swim over and explore one of those tunnels, I thought. How
dangerous could it be?
    Suddenly, I felt something brush against my leg. It tickled and sent a tingle
up my leg.
    A fish?
    I glanced around, but I didn’t see anything.
    Then I felt it again.
    A tingling against my leg.
    And then it clutched me.
    Again I turned to see what it was. Again I saw nothing.
    My heart began to race. I knew it was probably nothing dangerous. But I
wished I could see it.
    I turned and started back for the boat, kicking hard.
    But something grabbed my right leg—and held on!
    I froze in fear. Then I frantically kicked my leg as hard as I could.
    Let go! Let go of me!
    I couldn’t see it—and I couldn’t pull free!
    The water churned and tossed as I kicked with all my strength.
    Overcome with terror, I lifted my head out of the water and choked out a weak
cry: “Help!”
    But it was no use.
    Whatever it was, it kept pulling me down. Down.
    Down to the bottom of the sea.

 
 
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    “Help!” I cried out again. “Sheena! Dr. D.!”
    I was dragged below the surface again. I felt the slimy tentacle tighten
around my ankle.
    As I sank underwater, I turned—and saw it.
    It loomed huge and dark.
    A sea monster!
    Through the churning waters, it glared at me with one giant brown eye. The
terrifying creature floated underwater like an enormous, dark green balloon. Its
mouth opened in a silent cry, revealing two rows of jagged, sharp teeth.
    An enormous octopus! But it had at least twelve tentacles!
    Twelve long, slimy tentacles. One was wrapped around my ankle. Another one
slid toward me.
    NO!
    My arms thrashed the water.
    I gulped in mouthfuls of air.
    I struggled to the surface—but the huge creature dragged me down again.
    I couldn’t believe it. As I sank, scenes from my life actually flashed before
my eyes.
    I saw my parents, waving to me as I boarded the yellow school bus for my
first day of school.
    Mom and Dad! I’ll never see them again!
    What a way to go, I thought. Killed by a sea monster!
    No one will believe it.
    Everything started to turn red. I felt dizzy, weak.
    But something was pulling me, pulling me up.
    Up to the surface. Away from the tentacled monster.
    I opened my eyes, choking and sputtering.
    I stared up at Dr. D!
    “Billy! Are you all right?” Dr. D. studied me with concern.
    I coughed and nodded. I kicked my right leg. The slimy tentacle was gone.
    The dark creature had vanished.
    “I heard you screaming and saw you thrashing about,” said Dr. D. “I swam over
from the boat as fast as I could. What happened?”
    Dr. D. had a yellow life jacket over his shoulders. He slipped a rubber
lifesaver ring over my head. I floated easily now, the life ring under my arms.
    I had lost my flippers in the struggle. My mask and snorkel dangled around my
neck.
    Sheena swam over and floated beside me, treading water.
    “It grabbed my leg!” I cried breathlessly. “It tried to pull me under!”
    “What grabbed your leg, Billy?” asked Dr. D. “I don’t see anything around
here—”
    “It was a sea monster,” I told him. “A huge one! I felt its slimy tentacle
grabbing my leg…. Ouch!”
    Something pinched my toe.
    “It’s back!” I shrieked in horror.
    Sheena popped out of the water and shook her wet hair, laughing.
    “That was me, you dork!” she cried.
    “Billy, Billy,” Dr. D. murmured. “You and your wild imagination.” He shook
his head. “You nearly