Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9 AROUND 10:15 A.M. THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THE PAGODA BATHHOUSE There was a big overflow, even bigger than the one that he and Sarah had played in a few days ago. People were lined up on the sidewalk on the

edge of the water. Excited voices rose up over the thundering roar of the waves. "Look at those huge rollers!" a man shouted, pointing at the waves. "Incredible!" cried a woman. "Mama!" a little boy squealed. "Take me closer!" Each wave towered up—as tall as Charlie's house—and then crashed down. Ba-ROOM! Ba-ROOM! Ba-ROOM! Kids weren't splashing and floating in the street like last time. Today's big game was to stand on the flooded beach, wait for the waves to rise up, and sprint away before a wave could crash down over you. Lots of kids were doing this, shrieking and laughing as they ran back and forth. A few bigger kids were at least halfway down the beach. It looked fun—but Charlie had to admit that the waves scared him a little. The entire Gulf

looked different—churning, foaming, furious. He thought of Lulu's cloud monster. And what Sarah had said about how people once blamed storms on angry gods and goddesses. Watching the crashing sea, it was easy for Charlie to imagine Poseidon standing above on a cloud, his long beard whipping in the wind, raising his arms to create each wave. Ba-ROOM! Ba-ROOM! Ba-ROOM! Charlie's stomach did a flip. Poseidon seemed very angry. But no one else seemed worried. The whoops and claps of the excited crowd got louder with each enormous wave. Charlie felt almost hypnotized by the waves—until he spotted a tall, beefy kid in the middle of the beach, one of the risk-takers closer to the Gulf. Even from the back, Charlie could tell his chest was puffed out.

Gordon. Before he could lose his nerve, Charlie reached into his pocket. He plucked a cockroach from the box. He tucked the insect into his palm, locking it into place like he'd practiced. His hand was shaking—bad. He waited for a lull between the waves—the big ones came every two minutes or so—then he took his chance. His knees wobbled as he waded onto the beach, where the water came up to his thighs. The wind pushed against his back like an invisible hand. Go. Go. Go. Before he knew it, he was standing behind Gordon Potts. He took a breath and tapped Gordon on the shoulder. Gordon looked at Charlie with surprise, and then his usual sneer. "What do you want, twerp?" He practically spat the question.

Charlie opened his mouth. But the words he'd practiced were all gummed up on his tongue. "Did you know…?" His voice was high and squeaky. "An ancient trick… cockroaches…" Charlie's hand was suddenly slick with sweat. The cockroach slipped out and plopped into the water. He looked up at Gordon, who seemed ready to pounce. What had Charlie been thinking? He needed to get out of here. Now! Some kids around them had the same idea. Most were laughing, but a few were shouting. "Look out!" "It's a big one!" And then the sky seemed to disappear above Charlie as a giant wave towered up, bigger than any that had come before. It rose higher, higher, higher… Charlie and Gordon turned to run. But this wave was too fast and too big. Charlie barely had

enough time to take a breath before the wall of water curled over and swallowed him up.