13 THE CLINKER

CHAPTER 13 THE CLINKER Alexander and Nikki followed the strange clinking sound up the snowy mountain. "So what do you think is making that sound?" asked Nikki as they reached Lake Gloamy. Alexander peered out across the icy lake. "I think we're about to find out," he said. "See that house, out in the middle of the lake?" "Yeah," said Nikki. "Is it moving...?"

Actually, it wasn't a house. It was a gigantic ice cube with icicle fangs, cold eyes, and blocky fists. It used its spiky knuckles to pull itself across the frozen lake. "Oh, no!" shouted Alexander. "That ice block is headed this way!" The monster skidded to a stop, spraying Alexander and Nikki with shaved ice. "Hello, warm-bloods," it said. "Which one of you is the appetizer? And which is the main course?"

Alexander shivered. "You want to eat us?" he asked. "I sure do!" said the monster. "I'm the ice- crusher! I'm made of ice, and I crush things. Kids, mostly Right before I eat them. And right now, I'm ready to eat!" "Uh, we don't taste very good," said Nikki, taking a step back. "Oh, you're too warm to eat now," said the ice-crusher. "That's why I whipped up my snombies—to turn you campers into kid-pops. And then: chomp!" The ice-crusher slammed its fists together. CLINK!

Two more snombies rose up. They began windmilling their arms, hurling a flurry of snowballs at Alexander and Nikki. "Run!" said Alexander. Alexander turned and WHAM! crashed into the canoe rack. One of the canoes fell to the ground.

"Get in!" said Nikki. She grabbed a paddle. "We'll ride out of here!" "Not so fast!" said the ice-crusher. The giant block of ice pressed its fists into the ground, lifting its body above Alexander and Nikki. Nikki gave the canoe a shove as Alexander hopped in. FWOOM! The monster's body came down like a sledgehammer, crushing the rest of the canoes. Alexander and Nikki's canoe shot down the mountain.

The monster raced after them. "You can't out-sled me!" it yelled. "I'm made of ice!"