42 - Egg Monsters from Mars by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead) Read Free Book Online Page B

I didn’t care.
    I leaned over the tray and held my hands over the plate of macaroni. The
steam warmed my hands.
    At least it’s hot, I thought.
    I sat down on the floor and lifted the tray to my lap. Then I gulped down the
macaroni, just for the warmth.
    It tasted horrible. I hate that wet, clotted, cheesy taste. But it did warm
me up a little.
    I didn’t open the milk. Too cold.
    Feeling a little better, I shoved the tray aside and climbed to my feet. I
strode over to the window and started pounding the glass with my fists.
    “Dr. Gray—let me out!” I shouted. “Dr. Gray—I know you can hear me. Let me
out! You can’t lock me in here and make me eat macaroni and cheese! Let me out!”
    I screamed until my voice was hoarse. I didn’t hear a reply. Not a sound from
the other side of the glass.
    I turned away from the window in disgust.
    “I’ve got to find a way out of here,” I said out loud. “I’ve got to!”
    And then, I had an idea.

 
 
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    Sad to say, it was a bad idea.
    The kind of idea you think of when you’re freezing to death in a total panic.
    What was the idea? To call home and tell Mom and Dad to come get me.
    The only problem with that idea was that there were no phones in the room.
    I searched carefully. There were metal shelves up to the ceiling against the
back wall. They contained only scientific books and files. There was a desk in
one corner. The desktop was bare.
    Nothing else.
    Nothing else in the whole room. Except for the dozens of egg creatures and
me.
    I needed another idea, an idea that didn’t call for a telephone.
    But I was stumped. I tried the door again. I thought Dr. Gray might have
gotten careless and left it unlocked.
    No such luck.
    I checked out the slot where my food tray had been delivered. It was only a
few inches tall. Way too narrow for me to slip through.
    I was trapped. A prisoner. A specimen.
    I dropped glumly down to the floor and rested my back against the wall. I
pulled up my knees and wrapped my arms around them. I curled into a ball, trying
to stay warm.
    How long did Dr. Gray plan to keep me here?
    Forever?
    I let out a miserable sigh. But then a thought helped to cheer me. I suddenly
had a little hope.
    I remembered something I had forgotten. I had told Anne where I was going!
    This morning in her backyard, I had told Anne I was going to take the egg
creature to the science lab.
    I’m going to be rescued! I realized.
    I leaped to my feet and shot both fists into the air. I opened my mouth in a
happy cheer. “Yesssss!”
    I knew exactly what would happen.
    When I don’t show up for dinner, Mom or Dad will call Anne. Because that’s
where I’m always hanging out when I should be home for dinner.
    Anne will tell them I went to the science lab on Denver.
    Mom will say, “He should be back by now.”
    Dad will say, “I’d better go get him.”
    And Dad will come and rescue me.
    Only a matter of time, I knew. Only a matter of a few hours, and Dad will be
here to get me out of this freezer.
    I felt so much better.
    I lowered myself back to the floor and leaned against the wall to wait. The
egg creatures all stared at me. Watched me in silence. Trying to figure me out,
I guess.
    I didn’t realize that I fell asleep. I guess I was worn out from all the
excitement—and the fear.
    I’m not sure how long I slept.
    Voices woke me up. Voices from out in the hall.
    I sat up, instantly alert. And I listened.
    And heard Dad’s voice.
    Yes!
    He was here. He was about to rescue me.
    Yes!
    I climbed to my feet. I stretched. I got ready to greet Dad.
    And then, from the front hall, I heard Dr. Gray say, “I’m sorry, Mr. Johnson.
Your son never stopped here.”

 
 
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    “Are you sure?” I heard Dad ask.
    “Very sure,” Dr. Gray replied. “I’m the only one here today. We’re closed. We
had no visitors.”
    “He’s about this tall,” I heard Dad say. “He has dark hair, and he wears
glasses.”
    “No. Sorry,” Dr.