22-GOLD DOUBLOONS？

GOLD DOUBLOONS? We started hiking toward the X again. According to Thea's map, we had almost reached the Emerald Eye. Trap practically skipped the rest of the way. I'd never seen him so excited. Well, there was that time he won a free cheeseburger at Burger Mouse.... Trap's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Hey, Cousinkins, do you think we'll find other things besides the Emerald Eye? I mean, you're the expert on this stuff, right? Could we find jewels or lots of money?" "Well, we could find some old coins," I answered. "Maybe we might find gold doubloons.

They have a picture of the cat prince Meow Iron Claw, also known as Snarls the Mouse Muncher, on them." Trap did a little dance. "Doubloons! Doubloons! Gold doubloons! I just love the sound of that word!" He chuckled. Meanwhile, Thea was checking the map. She pointed straight ahead. "That's it!" she announced. "The Emerald Eye should be right in front of us!" Trap ran ahead. Then he stopped. He looked around, confused. "I don't see any emerald here. All I see is water!" he squeaked. For once, my cousin was telling the truth. On the exact spot where we were supposed to find the Emerald Eye, there was a deep lake! "ASTROLAMP? STRANGULATION? CONGARHYTHM?" snorted Trap furiously.

"But this is exactly where the X is on my map," Thea murmured. "If it is the right place, then we are on the wrong island! And it's all your fault!" Trap cried, chasing after Thea. I sighed, my head between my paws. Benjamin sat beside me, looking sad. Just then, I heard leaves rustling. The sound was coming from the forest nearby. "Sssssh! Keep quiet, everyone!" I whispered. "Something back here is moving!" We all strained our ears to listen. "Something... or someone!" whispered Trap in a shaky voice. He looked at us. "Let's see. Who can go check things out? Ben is too young. Thea can't be of any help because she is a FEMALE. And it's really only right that I

stay behind to look after those two. So that only leaves you, Geronimo. Better get going!" he concluded, pushing me toward the bushes where the noises were coming from. At that moment, Thea sprang into action. "Just because I'm female doesn't mean I can't take care of things!" she shrieked. She grabbed her knife with two paws and charged toward the bushes. "SHOW YOURSELF, IF YOU DARE!" she squeaked, moving aside a few leaves. Little Benjamin trembled beside me. Trap whimpered. Even my tough-talking sister was shaking. I chewed on my whiskers. I imagined a pack of ferocious wild tomcats or maybe lions on the other side of the bushes. nkledc. So

this is how it would end? We would all become snacks for some mouse-munching monsters? All of our sailing and swimming and hiking and sweating for nothing? It was almost too much to bear. I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I saw the strangest sight. In front of us stood a group of animals. No, not a band of drooling tomcats. Not a pack of roaring lions. It was a party of mice. They were dressed in bathing suits. Some had cameras and camcorders. One of the mice stepped forward. "Hello. Are you guests of the resort?" he asked.

"RESORT? WHAT RESORT?" we all squeaked at the same time. "RaTliN's Tropical Resort and Health Spa, of course," the mouse said, giving us a strange look.