6 DOWNWARD MARCH!

CHAPTER 6 DOWNWARD MARCH! Salamander, you're the most late-to-school kid in history," said Rip, on their way to lunch. "I overslept," said Alexander. "I'm just glad Dr. Tallow wasn't mad. She seems great!" "Yeah, I guess," said Nikki. "Come on, slowpokes!" said Rip. They rushed toward the escalators. "Last one to the cafeteria is a trash-squalch! Huh?!" Rip stopped in his tracks.

The escalators were no longer running at super speed. In fact, they weren't running at all. "Uh-oh," said Nikki. "Looks like we're walking down to lunch." CLOMP! CLOMP! They joined the rest of their classmates in the long march down to lunch. Rip's new shoes lit up with each step.

They passed a tired-looking teacher huffing and puffing up the opposite escalator. He was carrying a big bunch of pens. "Hi, Mr. Plunkett!" said Alexander. "What's with all the pens?" "Oh, hi, students," he said, "Our electric pencil sharpeners are on the fritz! My class needs something to write with." Mr. Plunkett trudged up to the next floor.

That's strange, thought, Alexander. I saw Mr. Hoarsely's lamp flick off too— all by itself. Alexander, Rip, and Nikki finally reached the shiny new lunchroom on the second floor. "Look!" said Nikki, pointing to an electronic screen on the wall. "A normal lunch, for once!" TODAY'S MENU Pizza Corn Peaches Snickerdoodles "Yes!" Rip shouted. He high-fived Alexander.

The friends were jolted back by a quick, painful shock. "Ow!" said Alexander. "Why do I keep getting shocked today?" "Are you dragging your feet on the new carpet?" said Nikki. "Sometimes that can make you get zapped."

BZZZT! Then the menu screen flickered, and the words changed. TODAY'S MENU YOU'D BETTER NOT BUG US. OR ELSE! "You guys." Alexander whispered. "I think that message is a warning! For us!" Nikki scrunched up her face. "What are you getting at, Salamander?" Alexander yanked the notebook from his backpack. "What if there's an invisible monster in our school?!" he said. "Maybe it wrote the message!" He flipped the notebook open.