14 ON THE WRONG TRACK

CHAPTER 14 ON THE WRONG TRACK Guys, untie me NOW!" shouted Alexander. His arms were numb from the tight scarves. Nikki and Dottie reached over and began fiddling with the knots. "It's tricky!" cried Nikki. "The scarves are all twisted!" "Hurry up!" yelled Rip. "Before Count Crab Cake snips us all in half!" Alexander watched the tunnel wall roll by He could hear the CLICKA-CLICK! of the crab- monster's claw growing louder as they coasted toward the broken end of the track.

Then Alexander noticed the SERVICE TUNNEL switch. "Rip!" he shouted. "Ring toss!" "Huh?" said Rip. Alexander nodded to the switch. "Oh!" Rip pulled the ring off his arm and flung it at the switch. DING! The switch flipped. KA-THUNK! The tracks shifted. The coaster veered left. SNIP! The monster's massive claw lopped off the top of Rip's hair. Rip ran a shaky hand across the top of his head. "Why'd I give my helmet to a cow?" he said. The coaster rolled into the service tunnel. "You're not getting away that easy!" said the crab-ra cadabra.

SLAM! The monster leaped onto the back of the car. Suddenly, the track angled down. Straight down. Alexander's stomach flipped. Everyone screamed as the coaster raced downward at rocket-speed. "Now this is a roller coaster!" Rip shouted. The monster was holding on tight. The coaster roared through the twisting underground passage and thundered around a corner. "Look—daylight!" Dottie shouted. "We're headed outside!"

WHOOSH! The coaster blasted out of the tunnel and onto a set of trolley tracks. The coaster sped along. Rides, game booths, and snack stands flew past in a colorful blur. URGHHH! With a grant, the crab-ra cadabra leaped over the coaster car. He landed on the track and tucked himself into his shell. The coaster barreled toward him. "Hang on!" yelled Alexander. CLANG! The coaster rammed into the monster's hard shell. The shell stayed put. But the coaster launched high into the sky.