12. Volcano!

VOLCANO! 12 A giant volcano was rising up from the gymnasium floor. It was a volcano built of floorboards and metal pipes and old brick. A blast of heat sent Sam and his friends stumbling back. "There's a volcano..." Antonio said, eyes wide. "A real volcano. Inside the gym!"

Sam kept his eyes on the book. It was near the mouth of the volcano: the crater. As the volcano continued to grow taller, the book was raised higher into the air. Every second it moved farther from Sam's grasp. Soon the volcano was completely formed. The book rested on the edge of the crater.

A sudden, tremendous BURP sound echoed through the gym. Lava began splashing and spitting from the mouth of the volcano.

Sam's heart started to pound. The lava was made from the materials in his experiment: dish soap, baking soda, food coloring, and vinegar. But it was boiling and red-hot. Cracks formed at Sam's feet. Lucy and Antonio jumped back as lava began to bubble up from the floor.

"We need to climb the volcano! We need to reach that book!" Sam said. "How do we fight a volcano?" Lucy cried. Sam's eyes darted across the gym. Hanging near each doorway was a fire extinguisher. There were three in total. "Grab those!" Sam yelled to his friends.

Moments later, they had each lifted the heavy fire extinguishers into their backpacks. Then, using all their might, they slipped their backpacks over their shoulders. They grabbed the nozzles and held them, ready to fire. Lucy squeezed the spray nozzle to test it. A stream of white foam burst out. "That stuff looks like marshmallow fluff!" Antonio said.