15. Slipping Up

SLIPPING UP 15 Sam and Jasper bounced off the eraser— covered floor. The soft rubber broke their fall— just like a gym mat. Lucy and Antonio ran over to them. "Thank you!" Jasper exclaimed. "Nice save!" Sam said, sitting up. "But we're not in the clear yet!"

The gigantic Orson Eerie was stomping toward them. He was so gigantic that every movement seemed to happen in slow motion. "We have to take him down!" Sam yelled. "That's it!" Lucy exclaimed. "Down! All the way down!" Glancing around, Lucy spotted a huge can of oil paint. "Guys, oil is slippery!" she continued. "Help me open these paint cans!" Antonio yanked the lid off a can. "Bu— bu— but Orson can see what you're doing," Jasper said.

"You guys handle the paint!" said Sam. "I'll keep Orson busy!" Sam stepped forward. He held the hall monitor sash up high. Orson's strange metal eyes focused on the shiny sash. "Come on, you crazy old mad scientist!" Sam shouted.

"ARGHHHH!" Orson howled and stomped closer. Out of the corner of Sam's eye, he saw Antonio and Lucy opening the paint cans. KA-SPLOOSH! They splashed the paint across the floor. Green and orange and blue and red splattered the ground. Orson's hand reached for Sam. Sam stepped backward, leading Orson forward. And just as Orson took his next step—

"ARGHHHH!" Orson howled as his feet went out from under him. Jasper grabbed Sam, yanking him away just as— KA-BOOM!

Orson Eerie's strange and jumbled body smashed to the floor. It was the loudest sound Sam had ever heard. It felt like an earthquake as giant Orson cracked apart and exploded outward.