14 RUNNY NOSE

CHAPTER 14 RUNNY NOSE The octo-schnozz hopped down from the dam, landing in a cluster of palm trees. Alexander, Rip, and Nikki hid in a fake coral reef at hole #11.

The octo-schnozz snorfled its way to a trash can. Then FWOP! —a sharp eagle's beak popped out. It snipped through the trash can. Garbage spilled onto the putting green. "That's how it tore into the milk cooler!" Alexander whispered. FWOP! The eagle beak became a pig snout. With a happy grunt, the monster rooted through the garbage.

FWOP! Out popped a seal nose. The monster balanced the trash on its nose, and waddled over to the edge of the lagoon. "It's tossing garbage into the water!" said Nikki. The octo-schnozz looked out at the floating garbage and made an oinky-snort. "It sounds happy!" said Rip. Then the monster looked across the bay, and stopped oinking. It was staring at a skeleton ship with a huge cannon. The monster began hopping and grunting. "Why is it so worked up about that ship?" said Nikki.

Rip scratched his ears. "Cannons don't smell bad, do they?" "Rip, your blue spots are back!" said Alexander. "Maybe we should "Not now!" said Rip. "Let's go get this odor-eater!" Alexander, Rip, and Nikki watched the octo- schnozz charge toward the ship. The monster trampled a field of tropical flowers, and began to whimper. It steered away from the flowers, and continued toward the ship. Nikki snapped her fingers. "I have an idea!" She got to her feet. "I'll meet you on the ship!" Nikki turned and ran toward the lighthouse.