11 DON'T LET YOURGUARD DOWN

CHAPTER 11 DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN Alexander sprinted up the steps and into the lobby. His dad and Mr. Plunkett were laying out the sleeping bags. Rip and Nikki saw Alexander. They ran over. "Salamander!" said Nikki. "Where did you go?" "You totally missed the gift shop!" said Rip, holding a toy gopher. "Check it out! A Stermont Stella bobblehead!" Alexander grabbed his friends' shoulders.

"Guys," he said, "I don't care about the gift shop! Listen to me. I was right! The Bumpy Mummy is alive! Rip and Nikki looked at each other. "The mummy is not in its case! Mr. Hoarsely is down there right now," said Alexander. "Ask him!" Rip, Nikki, and the bobblehead nodded. "IT'S BUMPY-MUMMY TIME, STUDENTS!" shouted Mr. Plunkett. "Gather around to hear about Stermont's most famous mummy! Then we'll head downstairs to the mummy's chamber,"

Alexander, Rip, and Nikki joined the rest of their class. "Some people say the Bumpy Mummy was an old circus dummy created to sell tickets," said Mr. Plunkett. "Others say it was a near sighted cowboy who sat on a cactus, and had to be covered in bandages. Or even worse: a wart-covered toad-person!" Alexander's dad munched a handful of popcorn. "So scary," he whispered. "And," continued Mr. Plunkett, "the Bumpy Mummy will come back to life if The Ruby Scorpion has been stolen!" Everyone gasped. Ms. Sargent stomped into the lobby, swinging her flashlight.

"Someone got past my lasers!" said the guard. She shined her light in Mr. Plunkett's eyes. "I've been working here for years with zero funny business, But on the night your class arrives, our greatest treasure goes missing!?" Ms. Sargent swept her light across the students' faces. "You toddlers stay put while I search the museum. If so much as one toe leaves a sleeping bag. I'll lock you up!" Her footsteps echoed across the stone floor as she marched away. "Whoa," whispered Nikki. "she's so— "Awesome!" said Rip. Alexander grabbed Rip's elbow. "Look!" He pointed up to the balcony. A grayish-white figure, covered in strange little bumps, stood at the railing. It was staring at Alexander.