6 Getting Crabbier

Chapter 6 GETTING CRABBIER "Well, howdy-do!" came the growly voice of Soggy Bob. Andrew looked around but couldn't see Soggy Bob's vehicle. "It's mah lucky day!" Soggy Bob continued. "Ah finally found ya little mud puppies! Ah see ya met mah little crab friends. They love that rotten tuna fish juice ah sprayed onto yer silly vehicle! Heh, heh, heh!" meep… "Crab like rotty food!" said Thudd. Suddenly the Water Bug began to move. The crabs were pushing it! Andrew pressed the black Octo-Tool button on the dashboard and yelled into the microphone,

"Stop the crabs!" The hood popped open. The Octo-Tool tentacles slithered out, wrapped themselves around a crab, and flung it away. But the other crabs were nipping the tips of the Octo-Tool tentacles! "Octo-Tool!" yelled Andrew. "Get back in here!" But the Octo-Tool kept fighting bravely. "Get those tentacles back in here now!" yelled Andrew. The Octo-Tool finally untangled its tentacles from the crab claws, curled up under the hood, and slammed it shut. The crabs began pushing and shoving the Water Bug. It was like they were playing a game of ocean hockey! Andrew lurched into Judy. Klink! Klink! Klink! came the sound of Burpp bouncing around in the back. "Whoa!" said Soggy Bob. "Ah hear some-thin' over there! Ah know that sound! It's mah parrot

shakin' his tail feathers! Ya kids kidnapped mah bird!" Usually, Soggy Bob couldn't hear any sounds from the Water Bug. But now he could. That's because Burpp was wearing a pair of headphones and a microphone. Awk! "No!" said Burpp. "The Dubble kids didn't kidnap Burpp. They rescued Burpp!" "Ya better get yer fool feathers over here right now!" said Soggy Bob. "Ya belong to me!"

Awk! "No!" said Burpp. "Burpp is staying here. Burpp won't help you turn giant squids into giant squidwiches!" Burpp turned off his speaker headphones and tossed them into Judy's lap. Just then, the Water Bug began to tip. It tumbled over! Andrew's head bumped against the ceiling. The crabs were rolling the Water Bug along the ocean floor! "Super nutso!" yelled Judy. "What are these stupid crabs going to do with us?" "I don't know," said Andrew, "but at least they're not trying to eat us." "Yet!" said Judy.

By the Water Bug's headlights, they could see tall shadows looming ahead—underwater hills and mountains. In front of them was a narrow space between two rocky hills. Screeeeeek! The Water Bug scratched against the rocks. The crabs were pushing them through! Beyond was nothing but the blackest blackness. It's as dark as the inside of a dog's nose, thought Andrew. "Where are we?" asked Judy. Thudd pressed one of the buttons in the middle of his chest. The button popped open and a bright blue beam zoomed out. Thudd pointed the beam down into the dark below them. meep… "Seven miles deep!" said Thudd. "Challenger Deep!" "Holy moly!" said Andrew. The Water Bug teetered on the edge. It wobbled. It tumbled over!

"Heh! Heh! Heh!" Soggy Bob's hoarse laugh filled the Water Bug. "So long, little guppies. Sleep tight. Don't let the fangtooth bite! Heh! Heh! Heh!"