“What about my evidence?” cried Otto. “It was my idea to check out the shop to begin with. If I hadn’t seen the zombie first, you’d never …”
Uncle Tooth broke in. “Otto, there will be no more arguing. If we want to get to the bottom of this, we all have to work together. Your part is just as important as everybody else’s. Now, can I count on you?”
“I guess so.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean … Yes! You can count on me.”
“Excellent!” said Uncle Tooth.
They stopped in a doorway across the street from 1313 Triangular Square. “I know that place,” whispered Uncle Tooth. “It used to be the old button shop.”
Uncle Tooth was a man of action. He marched over and knocked on the door so hard that Otto jumped. Olivia aimed her camera. She was ready to snap a picture of whoever answered the door.
Uncle Tooth knocked again. He gave the door a kick and it swung open.
The shop was dark. It appeared to be empty.
The three entered slowly.
“Is anybody here?” called Uncle Tooth.
Silence.
Olivia checked the closets. Uncle Tooth looked behind the counter. Otto explored the back.
Suddenly, Olivia let out a piercing scream.
Sedley Mether was standing inside a closet with a blank look on his face.
Uncle Tooth rushed forward and waved his hand in front of Sedley’s face.
“He’s been zombified, all right.”
“Come see what I found!” Otto called.
Olivia ran back and snapped a picture.
Otto blinked at the flash. “Will you knock it off?” he said. “It’s just me.
“Look,” said Otto. He pointed to a round table set between two chairs. “Someone has been drinking tea.”
On the table were two cups and a teapot. One of the cups was clean. The other had tea leaves at the bottom.
“Fortune-tellers use tea leaves to read fortunes,” Olivia told Otto. “I thought everyone knew that.”
“No, Otto’s on to something,” said Uncle Tooth. He picked up the used cup and gave it a sniff. “Otto, you may have found just the thing we’ve been looking for.”
“I don’t see how,” said Olivia.
“Unless I’m very much mistaken, these leaves are the kind used to brew Zombie Tea. It turns people into zombies,” Uncle Tooth explained. “The leaves only grow in one place I know of: Mookey Swamp, home of the Cobweb Queen!”
“The Cobweb Queen!” cried Otto. “Do you think she’s involved in this?”
Uncle Tooth nodded. “I’m sure of it. In fact, I believe Madame Webster is the Cobweb Queen. I found these behind the counter.”
He held up a pair of dark glasses and a frizzy wig.
Otto smiled. “I can see the headlines now: OTTO CRACKS ZOMBIE CASE.”
“Get over it,” replied Olivia.
Suddenly, they heard flute music somewhere in the distance.
“What eerie music,” said Olivia. “It makes my flesh creep.”
Otto was about to say something nasty when he realized that his flesh felt creepy, too. “Hey!” he cried. “There goes Sedley!”
Charmed by the music, Sedley Mether walked out the open door and down the street. Otto, Uncle Tooth, and Olivia went after him.
They saw Sedley joining a line of people, all following the creepy music.
“Zombies!” exclaimed Uncle Tooth.
At the jail, Auntie Hick tried talking to Ducky Doodle. But it was hopeless. He just stared straight ahead. Every so often, he would mutter, “Treasure … must find treasure.”
It was all rather spooky.
When she glanced out the window, Auntie Hick saw a large full moon pop from behind some clouds. She heard flute music nearby. Such creepy music!
Doodle perked up. He began shaking the bars of his cell.
“This is too much!” Auntie Hick muttered.
There was a knock on the jail door. Thinking it was Captain Poopdeck, she ran and flung the door open. Auntie Hick found herself staring into the eyes of a large creature. Next to the creature stood the Cobweb Queen, with a flute in her hand.
“I’ve come for my zombie,” she said.
Auntie Hick fainted.
Dozens of zombies were marching along the docks. They came from alleyways and houses. Some even came off ships. All were following the sound of the Cobweb Queen’s flute.
Horrified, Otto, Uncle Tooth, and Olivia made their way past the zombies to the jail. The bars on Doodle’s cell had been bent back. Doodle and Auntie Hick were gone!
They ran outside. By now, the line of zombies had reached the edge of town. It was disappearing into Mookey Swamp. One especially large zombie was carrying Auntie Hick.
“Clegg!” cried Olivia.
“We’ve got to stop them!” screamed Otto.
Uncle Tooth sighed. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. The spell has given the zombies superhuman strength.”
“But we can’t just let them take Ducky Doodle and Auntie Hick,” said Olivia.
“Of course we can’t,” Uncle Tooth replied. “But it’s too dark to head into the swamp now. Olivia, you come spend the night at our house. We’ll get a fresh start in the morning.”
“This is going to be a scary adventure, isn’t it?” Otto asked.
Uncle Tooth nodded. “It already is.”
That night, before crawling beneath the covers, Otto locked his bedroom window and put his Good-Luck Pebble under his pillow.
Somehow, saying “I told you so” to Olivia hadn’t been nearly as much fun as Otto imagined it would be.
The next morning, they formed a zombie posse.
Uncle Tooth brought a coil of rope, a flashlight, and his trusty wooden sword. Otto brought his slingshot and his Good-Luck Pebble. Olivia brought her camera.
“That should be real effective in fighting zombies,” Otto said.
“Who said anything about fighting them?” answered Olivia. “I’m going to photograph them for the Boogle Bay Bugle.”
Otto laughed. “I can’t wait to see the one of the zombie dragging you into the swamp. That should make the front page. Too bad you won’t be around to see it.”
“We’ll see,” said Olivia.
“Olivia’s right,” Uncle Tooth said. “It’s pointless to try and fight the zombies. The Queen’s magic has made them strong, and there are too many of them.”
“So how do we stop them?” asked Otto.
“That’s the mystery we have to solve,” said Uncle Tooth.
Captain Poopdeck and Jack Whiskers were going to stay in Boogle Bay in case any zombies returned.
“We’re counting on you,” Captain Poopdeck told them. “Good luck.”
Otto felt for the pebble in his pocket and gave it a squeeze. Olivia snapped a picture of everybody, and the zombie posse set forth.
They entered Mookey Swamp. Right away, the air became heavy and damp. The cries of unseen birds echoed through the gloom.
The swamp was a dangerous place, with or without zombies. There were holes to fall into, twisted roots to trip over, and vines to get caught in. It was home to the spinning Kootcha Bugs and the vicious Eenie Meanies. No one ever went on picnics in Mookey Swamp!
To keep their spirits up, Uncle Tooth taught Otto and Olivia a zombie chant.
“This was given to me years ago by the sorceress Madame Ornithon,” he said. “She was part buzzard, part loon, and all magic. But it was good magic.
“We will face the fearful zombies.
We will look them in the eye.
We won’t let the evil scare us.
We are strong enough to try!”
They walked along singing until their throats got dry. Uncle Tooth had wisely brought a Thermos of lemonade. They took turns drinking from it.
Otto asked, “If we can’t find out how to break the spell, will Ducky Doodle and Sedley Mether have to stay zombies forever?”
“Not as long as my
name is Uncle Tooth!” said Uncle Tooth.
“I see one!” cried Olivia. Olivia flashed her camera.
It turned out to be only an old sign peeking through some bushes. It said: PIRATE’S GRAVEYARD.
“Geesh!” said Otto. “Do you have to be so loud? You scared the life out of me!”
“I wouldn’t say that in a graveyard, if I were you,” replied Olivia.
She walked into the thick grass and began to read the headstones.
Suddenly, a rock whizzed past her and bounced off a tree. “Otto, stop that!” she yelled.
Another rock flew past Otto’s head. He ducked.
“We’re being attacked!” he cried.
Uncle Tooth crouched down next to him.
A third rock fell to earth with a thud.
“Go away, you zombies!” called a voice.
“We’re not zombies!” Uncle Tooth called back.
It did no good. The rocks kept flying.
“They’re coming from that shack,” Otto whispered. “I’ll try to sneak up on whoever it is.”
“Stay close to the ground,” Uncle Tooth whispered back.
Otto nodded and crawled away.
“We don’t mean you any harm,” Uncle Tooth called.
“That’s what they all say,” came the voice. Another rock shot over.
“You’d better not hit my camera, or I’ll come over there and kick your butt,” said Olivia.
The thrower said, “Why would a zombie have a camera?”
By now, Otto had reached the shack.
On the porch, he saw an old sailor, surrounded by a pile of rocks, bottles, and bricks.
Otto fitted a stone into his slingshot, just as the sailor prepared to toss a bottle.
BING!—he knocked the bottle from the sailor’s hand.
“Now!” cried Otto.
Uncle Tooth rushed forward and pounced on the old fellow. There was a furious tussle, but the sailor was no match for Uncle Tooth. In no time, Uncle Tooth had him tied up.
“This is the last straw!” shouted the sailor. “If it ain’t zombies, it’s thieves!”
“We’re not thieves,” Olivia told him.
“But we won’t untie you until you explain why you were throwing rocks at us,” Uncle Tooth added.
The old sailor looked suspiciously from Otto to Tooth to Olivia.
Finally, he sighed and said, “Very well.”
“My name is Copper Bill. This place used to be a pirate hangout. There are caves to camp in and a lagoon for docking ships. But for as long as I can remember, it’s been abandoned. For the last six years, I’ve lived here with my daughter, Little Effie. It’s a lonely life, but we like it. At least we did until about a week ago.
“That was when this weird woman and her friend, a patch-eyed parrot, moved into the old mansion round back. People say it used to be the home of a zombie priestess.
“The strangers took a peculiar interest in Little Effie. They said how small she was and how good she would be at getting in and out of tight places. They tried to get her to visit them in the mansion. But I wouldn’t allow it. Still, you know how stubborn children are—no offense intended. One morning, Little Effie was gone!
“I looked everywhere for her. When I went toward the mansion, the trees were filled with snakes and bats and I couldn’t get through. Sadly, I returned home.
“As I brewed a cup of coffee and pondered my next move, there was a creak on the porch. I opened the door and saw Little Effie standing there—or, what used to be Little Effie. They had turned her into a hideous zombie!
“I brought her in and set her before the fire. I tried talking to her, but it was as if her brains were stuffed with cornbread. She just sat there, not speaking. Then I heard organ music coming from the old mansion. Creepy music. As soon as it started, Little Effie rose, walked out the door, and vanished into the swamp. I followed, but couldn’t get past the snakes and bats.
“I was sick with grief. Last night, I saw the weird woman walking through the trees followed by a whole line of zombies! When I saw you, I thought you were zombies coming for me next.”
Uncle Tooth untied Copper Bill.
“The zombies you saw last night are friends of ours,” he said. “And that weird woman is the Cobweb Queen. If we’re going to stop this zombie curse, we need you to show us where the mansion is.”
“Gladly,” said Copper Bill. “But you won’t get past the snakes and bats.”
Copper Bill led them through the Pirate’s Graveyard, past the lagoon and pirate caves, to the darkest part of the swamp.
“Do you think the Cobweb Queen is searching for pirate treasure?” Olivia asked.
“She may be,” said Copper Bill. “But if there was any treasure here, I bet it was dug up long ago. I think she’s after something in the mansion. Something belonging to the zombie priestess.”
“Like what?” asked Otto.
“Beats me,” said Copper Bill.
He stopped and pointed to an opening. “Right in there. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Uncle Tooth said, “We’ll be all right. We have a zombie chant to help us.”
“And my Good-Luck Pebble,” said Otto. “Hey! Where is it?” He dug in the pocket of his sweater. “It’s gone! Where …”
Suddenly, a chill ran through him.
“Oh, no! I used the pebble in my sling-shot. How could I have been so stupid?”
“Just practice, I guess,” said Olivia.
“The pebble was used for a good cause,” said Uncle Tooth.
“But I need it for protection!” Otto cried. “You don’t understand!”
“I understand you’re acting like a baby,” said Olivia.
“What do you know? You and that stupid camera! I wish you’d never come to Boogle Bay!”
“Otto! That’s enough,” Uncle Tooth said firmly. “There’s no reason to attack Olivia. Now listen to me.”
He knelt and placed a hand on Otto’s shoulder. “A lucky object is easy to lose. But you have something that can never be lost unless you choose to lose it.”
“What’s that?” sniffed Otto.
“Your own courage. A pebble can’t stand up to the Queen. You can. If you used the pebble in your slingshot, it’s because you don’t need it anymore.”
Otto thought about this. “You think so?”
“I’m sure of it,” said Uncle Tooth.
Copper Bill wiped a tear from his eye. “Dang! It’s as if you were talking to me. I’ve let my fear of the snakes and bats hold me back from going after Little Effie. I have courage, too, and I want to use it.”
“Excellent!” said Uncle Tooth.
He turned to Olivia. “And I’d like a little more sympathy from you, young lady. We all need to stick together at a time like this.”
“Sorry,” said Olivia. “It won’t happen again.”
Halfway down the path, a band of bats came out of nowhere and flew at their faces. Our heroes swatted at them blindly.
Uncle Tooth aimed his flashlight at the bats. Presto!
They turned out to be nothing but dried leaves!
“Tricks! All tricks!” Uncle Tooth huffed.
“Watch out!” shouted Copper Bill.
A mean-looking snake was curling down a tree branch toward Olivia’s neck.
Uncle Tooth sprang forward. He grabbed the snake in both hands and flung it to the ground. He hacked at it with his sword.
“Look. It isn’t a snake at all!” cried Otto.
Uncle Tooth held up his sword.
Dangling from it was a long, limp vine.
“More tricks! This time, she even had me fooled,” he said.
In the confusion, Uncle Tooth dropped his flashlight. The swamp ooze sucked it up. Otto felt helpless, until he remembered his courage. “If a Good-Luck Pebble can’t stand up to the Cobweb Queen, I guess a flashlight can’t either,” he thought.
Just ahead, the mansion loomed eerily. Uncle Tooth snorted. “This looks like zombie terri
tory, all right!”
A crew of zombies was digging up the grounds in spooky silence. Watching over them was One-Eyed Eddy, the Cobweb Queen’s parrot.
“Dig faster, you zombies!” he ordered. “Or I may have to use my whip.”
Olivia shuddered. “The swine!”
“Do you see Little Effie?” Otto asked Copper Bill.
“Nope. She must be inside. I hope they haven’t forced her into some small space she can’t get out of.” Copper Bill removed his cap and scratched his head.
“I have an idea. Suppose I enter the yard walking like a zombie,” Bill said. “The zombies won’t notice. But that parrot probably will. While he’s looking at me, you three try to get inside the mansion.”
“Good plan,” said Uncle Tooth.
It was a good plan. One-Eyed Eddy did notice Copper Bill. Bill sped up his zombie walk and led the parrot on a merry chase.
Otto, Uncle Tooth, and Olivia snuck past the zombies to the side of the mansion. Uncle Tooth tried the front door. Otto and Olivia went to check for other ways in.
The back door had boards nailed across it. But they found an open basement window.
Otto paused to gather pebbles for his slingshot. Olivia started to crawl in through the window. Suddenly, she heard Otto scream. She spun around to see him in the clutches of the huge zombie, Clegg!
If only Olivia had brought a weapon … but maybe she had!
She ran forward and flashed her camera in the zombie’s face.
He groaned, blinked his eyes, and tottered about. Otto slipped free!
“Thanks. I owe you one,” Otto said.
They crawled through the basement window.
It was dark and smelly and cobwebby down there. There were some coffins, all empty, and in one corner, a bunch of cereal boxes.
Olivia set her camera on a shelf while she bent down to examine a small rug. Suddenly, she screamed.
“GAA! Spiders! They’re crawling all over me! Get off! Get off!”
Swamp of the Hideous Zombies Page 2