The Creepy Creations of Professor Shock
Transcript of The Creepy Creations of Professor Shock
BEWARE!!DONOTREADTHIS
BOOKFROMBEGINNINGTOEND!
CleanoutProfessorShock’sgarage?Majordrag!yousay.Untilyousneakintohisworkshop—andcheckoutthegadgets.Whoa!He’sgotahugerobotinthere.Andareallycoolpinballmachine.
You’redyingtotrythemall.Butlookout.Someoftheprofessor’sinventionsdoshockingthings!Canyoutakeit?Willyouknowwhattodowhenanmp3playerattacksyou?Andwhat’sthatthinglabeled“Loreo”?Doyouhavethegutstofindout?
Whateveryoudo—don’tpushtheredbuttononthatremotecontrol!Youalreadypushedit?Oops.Sorry!
You’reincontrolofthisscaryadventure.Youdecidewhatwillhappen.Andhowterrifyingthescareswillbe!
StartonPAGE1.Thenfollowtheinstructionsatthebottomofeachpage.Youmakethechoices.
SOTAKEADEEPBREATH,CROSSYOURFINGERS,ANDTURNTOPAGE1TOGIVEYOURSELFGOOSEBUMPS!
Contents
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“School’sout!”youyellgleefully.Leaningonthehandlebarsofyourbicycle,yougazeatyourbestfriends,JasonandStacey.“Whatshouldwedotoday?”
JasonandStaceyaretwins.Bothhaveblondhairandblueeyes.Butthat’sabouttheonlywaythey’realike.
“Let’sridearoundthepark,”Jasonsuggests.“BOR-ing!”Staceyresponds.“Let’sgosomeplacenew.”Asalways,youmakethedecision.“We’llgothatway,”yousay,pointing
northoutofthepark.Youraceupthewideboulevardonyourbicycles.Soonyou’reinapartof
townyou’veneverseenbefore.“Iheardthiswastheoldestpartofthecity,”Jasonsays.“Someofthehouses
gobacktopioneerdays.”“Thatonelookslikeitgoesbacktothedinosaurs,”youjoke.Youpointata
high,crumblingbrickwall.Allyoucanseeofthehousebehinditisarottingroof.
AsignbythefrontgatesaysPLEASECOMEIN.
Youturntoyourfriends.“Let’scheckitout,”yousuggest.Youturnbacktothegate.
Andstop.Inshock.BecausethesignnowsaysDANGER!
TurntoPAGE2.
Yourubyoureyes.Didyoureadthesigncorrectly?Thenyouseethatit’sloose.Itturnsslowlyinthewind—backtotheside
thatsaysPLEASECOMEIN.“Let’sgoin!”Staceysaysexcitedly.“Areyounuts?”Jasoncries.“Thesignsaysdanger.”Asusual,youdecide.“Iwanttoseewhat’sinside,”youdeclare.Therusty
gateisopenacrack.Youpushitallthewayopenandenter.Youfindyourselvesinaweedyyardwithgrassashighasyourknees.
Beyondthelawnstandsahugeoldthree-storyhouse.Paintpeelsfromeverywall.Theporchsags.Severalofthewindowsareboardedup.
“Itlookshaunted,”Jasonsaysnervously.Staceyrollshereyes.“There’snosuchthing,”sheresponds.“ButI’llbetno
one’slivedhereinalongtime.”Youstepontothesaggingporchandpeerinthefrontwindow.It’ssodirty
youcan’tseeanythinginside.Thenastrong,bonyhandclampsaroundyourwrist.
GotoPAGE3.
Yourheartthuds.Afierce-lookingoldmanisholdingyourwrist.He’stotallybald.Abushywhitebeardhangsdowntohischest.Hisdarkeyessquintbehindthickglasses.
“It’sabouttimeyougothere!I’vebeenwaitingallmorning.I’mProfessorShock,”theoldmansays.“Areyoureadytostartwork?”
“Whatdoyoumean?”youdemand,pullingawayfromhim.ProfessorShockfrowns.“Aren’tyoufromAcmeCleanup?”“No,”Staceytellshim.“Wewereridingaroundandsawyourgatewas
open.”“Oh.”ProfessorShockseemsdisappointed.“ThepeoplefromAcmewere
supposedtocleanmygarage,”heexplains.“Buttheydidn’tshowup.Whydon’tIhireyoukids?It’snothardwork—andI’llpayyoufiftydollars.”
Youglanceatthetwins.That’salotofmoney!Jasonnodseagerly.“Sure!We’llbegladto.”“Wonderful!”ProfessorShockreplies.“Rightthisway.”Youfollowtheoldmantothebackyard.Thenyouseethegarage.Andyou
wonderifyou’vemadeabigmistake.
TurntoPAGE4.
Thegarageisasbigasabarn—andpackedwithjunk.Moldyoldfurniture.Rottingcardboardboxes.Pilesofrags.Arusted-outcar.Andthat’sjustinthefrontpart.
“Youwantustocleanthisout?”Staceyasks.“It’llbeeasy!”ProfessorShocksayscheerily.Hehandsyoubroomsand
trashbags.“I’llcheckbacklater.Oh,onething,”headds.“Whateveryoudo,don’tgointhebackroom!”Hepointstoapartiallyopengreendooratthebackofthegarage.
“But—”Staceycries.Toolate.He’sgone.Youandyourfriendsgazeattheincrediblemassof
junk.Isthemoneyreallyworthit?“Let’sgetstarted,”yousaywithasigh.Youfindawheelbarrowandloadpilesofoldnewspapersintoit.Stacey
pushesabroominthebackofthegarage.Jasoncarriesboxestothefront.“Oh,no!”Staceysuddenlycalls.“Myringslippedoffmyfinger!Andit
rolledrightintothebackroom!”
FollowtheringtoPAGE33.
“Becarefulwhenwewhat?”youshoutatthemirror.ProfessorShock’sfaceinthemirrorisfuzzy.Andhisvoiceissofaintyou
canbarelyhearit.Youleaninandpressyourearagainstthemirror.“WhenyouentertheQueen’schambers,”theprofessorcroaks,“donottouch
anyofherthings.Ifyoudo,you’llbelostforever.”“Butwhataboutthemirror?”youdemand.“Gazeintoit,”theoldmansays.“Itwilltellyouhow—”ZZZT!Hisimageflaresforaninstant.Thenit’sgone—forgood.Butitdoesn’tmatter.Youknowwhattodonow!Youhurrytowardthe
twins.
HurrytoPAGE16.
“Let’sworkonthedoor,”yousaytothetwins.Youglancearound.Nothinginthebasementbutfurniture.Well,your
teachersalwaystellyoutobecreative….YouandJasonpickupawoodencoffeetable.Holdingitbetweenyou,you
takeoffrunningandslamitagainstthedoorlikeabatteringram.WHAM!Thedoordoesn’tbudge.Butthecoffeetableshatters!Yougrabalampandbeatitagainstthedoor.Staceyjoinsyou,bashingaway
withametalstatue.WHAM!WHAM!Beatingonthedoorisagreatwaytoletoffsteam.But,
unfortunately,itdoesn’tmakethedooropen.You’realmostreadytogiveup.Thenyouhearavoiceoutside.“Stopthatracket!”thevoicecries.“I’mcoming!”Atlast!Someoneheardyou!Nowyoucangetoutandtrytostopthe
cyborgs.There’saclickasthelockpops.Thedoorswingsopen.Youreyeswiden.Lookwho’sstandingoutside!
TakeapeekonPAGE38.
Youdecidetotrythegreendoor.Itswingsopenatatouchofyourhand.Youstepthrough…
Toanotherroomofmirrors.Butthesemirrorsareallsmallandsquare.Theycoverthewalls,theceiling,andthefloorliketiles.Youglancearoundforthedooryousteppedthrough.
Uh-oh.There’snosignofit.There’snowayout!
GotoPAGE62.
YoudecidetotryFASTFORWARD.Maybeit’llspeedyouup,soyoucanescapeProfessorShock’srobot!
YoujabyourfingerdownontheFASTFORWARDbutton.Everysinglemachineintheworkshopclicksonatonce.Andtheyallrunat
supersonicspeeds!Lightsflickeronandofflikestrobes.Thecomputerprinterspewsoutpaper,hundredsofpagesaminute.Thepowerdrillspinssofastitstartstosmoke.Thepinballmachineflashesandclangs.
Andtheneverythingstops.Justlikethat.“Whathappened?”youdemand.Yourvoicesoundsstrangelytinny.You
reachuptotouchyourmouth.CLANG!Hey!Yourskinfeels…metallic.“Congratulations,”ProfessorShocksays.Youglanceathim.Andgasp.He’sturnedsilver!Lightgleamsoffhis
polishedhead.He’sbecomearobot!Andsohaveyou!“Youfast-forwardedrightthroughallthestages,”ProfessorShocktellsyou.
“Myplanisnowcomplete.Thankyou!”WelcometoMachineWorld.Hopeyoulikeheavymetalmusic!
THEEND
“We’dbettergoafterourreflections,”yousay.“Whatiftheydon’tcomeback?Wecan’tgothroughlifewithoutthem.We’vegottocatchup!”
Youthrustyourfootatthemirror.Itslidesrightthrough!Atinglerunsupyourleg.
Andthenyou’reontheotherside.StaceyandJasonpopthroughamomentlater.Thethreeofyouarerightin
frontofMiller’sIceCream.Thesunisshining.Theairisfulloffamiliarscentsandsounds.
“Wearehome,”Jasonsays.“Thisisgreat!”Youpointtotheplate-glassstorewindow.Everythingisreflectedthere—
everythingbutthethreeofyou.It’sverycreepy.“Wehavetogetourreflectionsback,”yousayfirmly.“Comeon.Theymust
beinthestore.”Butwhenyouentertheice-creamstore,there’snoonetherebutthecashier.
Awhiteceilingfancircleslazily.Staceystepsuptothecashier.“Excuseme,”shesays.“Didthreekidsjust
runinhere?Threekidswholookalotlikeus?”Jasonnudgesyou.“Theretheyare,”hewhispers,pointingtoabigmirroron
theright-handwall.Yourunoverandpeerintothemirror.“HEY!”youshout.
What’salltheshoutingabout?FindoutonPAGE67.
“Okay,let’sgogetUncleJack,”youtellStaceyandJason.“Iguesswe’lljustleaveProfessorShockherefornow.”
Yourunbackintothemallandpeltdownthestairstothestoragebasement.Thedoorisheldclosedbyathickpadlock.Butstrangely,it’snotlocked.JasonpullsoffthepadlockandUncleJackstepsout.
“Redbuiltamonsterrobot!”youblurt.“AndProfessorShockistakinganapinthemiddleoftheparkinglot!”
“Youdon’tsay,”UncleJackremarks.Youstareathim.Howcanhesoundsocalm?Doesn’theunderstandwhat’s
happening?UncleJacksmilesatJason.“Soyoumanagedtogivetheprofessorthenerve
pinchandputhimtosleep.Excellent!Ourplanisworkingperfectly,”hetellsthem.
Youfeelasuddenchill.“Whatplan?”youaskslowly.
GetthedetailsonPAGE19.
Youdecidetoshowtheremotetoyourfriends.Whynot?YoucanreturnittoProfessorShocktomorrow.Youstufftherestofyourcookiesintoyourpocketforlater.ThenyoubikeovertoJasonandStacey’shouse.
Thetwinsareontheirbackporch,whereJasonisbuildingamodelplane.YoutellthemaboutProfessorShock’sgadget.
“Youmeanitcanturnanymachineon?”Staceyasks.“Noway,”Jasonsneers.“Noremoteworksoneverything.”Jasonneedssomeconvincing.Youpointtheremoteathishalf-mademodel
planeandpressoneoftheblackbuttons.Themodelplanesoarsintotheair!“Hey!”Jasoncries.“Howdidyoudothat?Thatplanedoesn’tevenhavea
motor!”Youfindthatyoucancontroltheplane’smotionbyholdingdownthe
button.Soyoumaketheplaneturn.Dip.Roll.“Cool!”Jasondeclares.He’sconvinced.Thentheplanesuddenlyturnsintheair.Byitself.Anddivesstraightatyouandthetwins!
GoontoPAGE17.
Yousqueezethroughanarrowopeningbetweentwotallmirrors.Itleadsintoanentrancehall.Youandthetwinswalkin—andstop,shocked.
TheinsideofthePalaceismadeofmirrors,too!Everywhereyoulook,hundredsofreflectionsofyourselfgazebackatyou.
“Whatastrangeplace!”Staceyexclaims.“Ineversawsomanymirrors,”Jasonsays.“Oneofthesemustbetheone
we’relookingfor.”“Noway!”Staceydisagrees.“Theywouldn’tkeeptheQueen’smirrorin
somelousyentrancehall!ItmustbeinanotherpartofthePalace.Ibetithasitsownspecialroom.”
“Weshouldsearchinherefirst,”Jasoninsists.“It’sawasteoftime,”Staceyretorts.Yousigh.Sometimesyoufeellikeareferee.“I’lltellyouwhatwe’regoingtodo,”yousay.
IfyoustayandsearchfortheQueen’smirrorintheentrancehall,gotoPAGE49.
IfyouskiptheentrancehallandsearchtherestofthePalace,turntoPAGE16.
Atinybeetleclingstoabranchofanenormoustree.Ithasagigantic,trumpet-shapedmouth.
“AROOOOOOO!”thebeetlebooms.“Abug?”Jasonsaysindisbelief.Youstepup,peeringatthelittleinsect.“AROOOOO!”itshouts.Yourheadvibrateslikeagong.“Whyaren’tyouthreeinschool?”asternvoicedemands.Youglanceupto
seeabigmanwearingabadge.“Apoliceman!”Staceycries.“Officer,canyouhelpusfindthePalaceof
Mirrors?”“ThePalaceisacrossthelake,”thepolicemanreplies.“Butyoucan’tgo
therenow.Youkidsaresupposedtobeinschool!”Behindthepolicemanyoucanglimpseawidelakethroughthetrees.
Somethingglittersonthefarshore.IsitthePalace?“Comeon,”theofficersays.“I’lltakeyoutoschool.”Youhesitate.Isitworthtryingtoexplainyourproblemtothepoliceman?If
hebelievesyou,hemighthelpyou.Butyourstoryisprettyweird.Maybeyou’rebetteroffrunningawayandtryingtogettothePalaceofMirrorsonyourown.
Ifyoutrytogethelpfromthepoliceman,turntoPAGE44.IfyourunforthePalaceinstead,gotoPAGE121.
Youdecidetogivethebackwardanswer.“Sevenandeightarefifty-one,”youtelltheteacher.“Wrong!”Ms.Silvercriesintriumph.“Everyoneknowsthatsevenandeight
makefifteen!”“But—”youstarttoprotest.“Arniegaveacorrectanswer,butyoutoldhimhewaswrong!”Staceyyells.“Yeah!Youcan’thaveitbothways,”Jasonadds.“Silence!”Ms.Silverscreams.“Iwillnottoleratebacktalk.Intothecloset.
Allthreeofyou!”Beforeyoucanmove,theteacherhasyourearinanirongrip.Outofthe
cornerofyoureye,youseethatshe’sgotJason’sandStacey’searspinchedtogetherinherotherhand.Youstruggle,butyou’renomatchforMs.Silver.
“Givemyregardstothesharks,”shesneers.Thensheshovesyouallthroughtheclosetdoorandslamsit.
It’spitch-darkinside.Youseemtobesittinginagiantwovenbasketofsomesort.Strawpokesintoyourback.
“Didshesaysharks?”Jasonmoans.Younevergetthechancetoanswer.Becausesuddenlythere’sadeafening
SPRRROINGGGG!Likeagiantrubberbandsnapping.Andthenthethreeofyouarehurtlingthroughtheair!
HurtleontoPAGE85.
Youdecidetotrythewhiteswitch.Youlovepinball!“Whowantstochallengethepinballwizard?”youcallandfliptheswitch.
Nothinghappens.Themachinedoesn’tlightup.There’snonoise.Noflashinglights,noKA-CHING!Nothing.
“Idon’tbelieveit!”yougrumble,smackingthemachine.You’reabouttohititagainwhenyouseemovementoutofthecornerofyoureye.Thegreendoor!It’sopening!
ProfessorShock!Youcan’tlethimfindyouhere!“Backhere!”Staceywhispers.ShepullsyouandJasonbehindthepinball
machine.Yousqueezeinbetweenthemachineandanold,dustymirrorlyingagainstthewall.
Yourelbowknocksagainstthemirror.Suddenly,lightsbegintoflash.Sirensgooff.Themirrorbeginstovibrate.
Horrified,yourunyourhandsoverthemirror’sframe.Howcanyouturnthethingoff?
Butsoonyoustopworryingaboutthat.You’vegotbiggerproblems.Aweird,invisibleforceissuckingyouintothemirror!
TurntoPAGE63.
“Stacey’sright.We’renotgoingtofindthemirrorhereintheentrancehall,”youannounce.
“Hah!”Staceylookstriumphant.“Let’sgothisway!”Shehurriesoutofthemirroredentrancehallanddownadark,chilly
corridor.Jason’srightbesideher,stillarguing.Youmovefast,tryingtokeepup.Afterafewmomentsyounoticethatthefloorslantsdownward.Thetwins
areseveralyardsaheadofyou.Puttingonaburstofspeed,youcatchupwiththem.
“Guesswhat?”youbegin.“Whocares?”Jasongrumbles.“AllIwantistoget—”“Look!”Staceyinterrupts.Withagasp,shestopswalking.Youpeekpasther
shoulder.Thenyoustopandstare.Youhaveneverseenanythinglikethisinyourlife!
FliptoPAGE131.
Theplaneisaimingstraightforyourhead.Eek!Youstabyourfingerattheremotebuttonthatcontrolstheplane.
Theplanemerelypicksupspeed!“Duck!”youyell.Youandthetwinsdiveofftheporch.KAA-RUNCH!Themodelplaneslamsintothesideofthehouse.It’s
completelywrecked.Jasonturnstoyouangrily.“Whydidyoudothat?”“Ididn’t,”youprotest.“Really!Itwasn’tme.Itwastheremote.Ithink
maybeithasashortcircuit.”“Youmeanyoubrokeit?”Jasonshakeshishead.“ProfessorShockisgoing
tobereallymad.”“Hey,Iknow!”Staceybreaksin.“OuruncleJackhasanelectronicsrepair
shopintheoldmall.Ibethecanfixit.”“Theoldmall?”yourepeat,alittlenervously.You’renotsupposedtogothere.Afterthenewmallopened,mostofthe
storesintheoldmallwentoutofbusiness.Thewholebuildingisgoingtobetorndownnextmonth.It’sadangerous,desertedplace.
Still,you’dreallyliketogettheremotecheckedoutbeforeyoureturnittoProfessorShock….
“Let’sgo,”yousay,andclimbbackonyourbike.
CycletoPAGE39.
Thisistheeasiestdecisionyou’vemadeallday.Obviously,you’regoingtoramStacey.She’smuchmorefuntoplaybumper
carswiththanJason!Yousettheremotedownonthedashboard.“Headsup!”youyellandsteer
straightatStacey’sbluecar.Ahugegrinspreadsacrossherface.“Youaskedforit,”sheshouts.
Hunchingoverthesteeringwheel,shespeedstowardyou.WHAM!Youslamintoeachother,headon.Stacey’scarbouncesbackand
spinsoutofcontrol.Theimpactmakesyourlittlecarrock.Andtheremotegoesflyingoffthedashboard.Yourjawdrops.Timeseemstoslowdownastheremotespinsthroughthe
air,endoverend.Allyoucandoisstareinhorror.
PickyourjawupoffthefloorandturntoPAGE37.
Staceyputsahandonyourshoulder.“RememberhowUncleJacktoldyouhebuiltRed’scircuits?”sheasksyou.
Youdon’tlikethewayshe’slookingatyou.“Sowhat?”yousayandshrugherhandaway.
Jasonputsahandonyourothershoulder.“Well,thatwasn’tquitetrue,”hetellsyou.“Actually,it’stheotherwayaround.UncleRed’stheonewhobuiltUncleJack.”
UncleRed?Staceysmiles.“AndthenUncleJackbuiltJasonandme!”You’resuddenlyhavingtroublebreathing.“Youmean—”“Yes.”Jasonnods.“We’recyborgs.”“WeusedyoutostealtheremotefromProfessorShock.Weknewhe’dcome
afterit,”UncleJackexplains.“Wehadtogethimsomewhere,awayfromallhisgadgets,wherewecouldneutralizehim.Yousee,he’stheonlypersonwhocouldhavestoppedus.”
Yourlegsstarttoshake.Youneedtositdown.“Youmeanallthistime,I’vebeenhangingoutwithcyborgs?”yousqueak.“Helpingthem?”
“Right,”Jasonsays.“Asareward,we’rewillingtomakeyouoneofus.Isn’tthatgreat?”
You?Acyborg?Amutantmachinemonster?Ifyoucan’tbeatthem,jointhem.Afterall,theywon,in
THEEND.
Slowly,nervously,youandthetwinsstepoutoftheelevator.Thedoorsswishclosedbehindyou.
You’reinahugeroom.Stepsleaddowntoapolishedwhitefloor.Staringaroundinwonder,youwalkdownthem.
Giantrednumbersarepaintedalloverthefloor,whichslopesgentlydownward.Thickblueandyellowpillarssproutupeverywhere.Hereandthereyouseewhatlooklikearcherytargets,outlinedinneonlight.Odd,wedge-shapedswinginggatesarealsoscatteredaroundtheroom.
“Wherearewe?”Jasonwhispers.“Itlookslikeafunhouse!”Staceyexclaims.Youglanceup.Hey!Theceilingismadeofglass!Throughit,youcan
glimpseanevenbiggerroom—sovastyoucan’ttakeitallin.Then,youspotsomethingelse.Somethingunbelievable.Somethingso
terrifyingyoucan’tholdbackascream.
AAAAAAAAGHHH!TurntoPAGE23!
Youandthetwinsdashthroughthemall,pasttheabandonedKiddieKarnival.Youfindtheemergencyfirestationatthefarendofthefirstlevel.Butthehoseislockedbehindglass!
“Standback!”Staceyshouts.Grabbingaloosetilefromthefloor,sheheavesitattheglass.Itshatters.
Youseizethecanvasfirehoseandracebackthewayyoucame.“Turnonthewater!”youshoutoveryourshoulder.
Youreachtheparkinglotjustintime.ThemonsterrobotisafterProfessorShock!Itrollsafterhim,whackingathimwithitsgiantbulldozer-shovelhands.Behindit,Redworksthebuttonsontheremotecontrol,laughinglikeamaniac.
Theprofessorstaggersaroundtheparkinglot,tryingdesperatelytostayclearofthedeadlyshovels.Helooksexhausted.Youknowhecan’tkeeprunningmuchlonger.
JasonandStaceycomeupbehindyou.“Oh,no!PoorProfessor,”Staceygasps.
“Hurry!”ProfessorShockpants.“Turnthehoseontherobot.Trytoshort-circuitit!”
Thehoseistoohardtoholdalone.JasonandStaceygrabonwithyou.Thethreeofyouaimthewateratthegiantmachine.
Willtheprofessor’splanwork?
Whoknows?TurntoPAGE129.
Inbig,blackletters,thesignsays:
JUNKYARD
Huh?Isn’tthatwherepeoplethrowawayolddishwashersandotherappliances?Whywouldthebicyclebringyouhere?
Thebiketearsthroughthegate.Straighttowardanenormousjunkheap!Yousquint.It’shardtosee,withthewindinyoureyes,butitappearsasif
thejunkheapismoving.Ugh!youthink.Itmustbecoveredwithratsorsomething!
Withoutwarning,thebikescreechestoastop.You,however,keepgoing.Yousailoverthehandlebarsandflytowardthejunkheap.Now,atlast,you
canseeitclearly.It’sasquirming,heavingpileof…people!That’sright.Inthishorriblemachineworld,humanbeingsareuseless.
Garbage.Yourbikewassimplytakingoutthetrash!
THEEND
“AAAAAAGHHH!”youscream.Amountain-sizedmanispeeringthroughtheceilingatyou!Hehasalong,whitebeard.Everyhairofitislikeathickrope.Thewrinkles
onhisfacearesodeepthatyoucouldgetlostforeverifyoufellintooneofthem.Thick,black-framedglassesmakehistremendouseyeslookevenmorehuge.
Waitasecond!Yourecognizethisgiant!It’s…“ProfessorShock!”Staceyshrieks.“Ooohh…”Jasonmurmurs.Andfaints.Yourheartraces.What’sgoingon?Whereareyou?Andhowonearthdid
ProfessorShockgettobesobig?Theprofessorstrokeshisbeardwithhisenormoushand.Thenhereaches
down.Hishanddisappearssomewheretotherightoftheglass-ceilingedroom.CLING!GA-ZURK!SPROINGGGGG!Youfeelachill.There’ssomethinghorriblyfamiliaraboutthoseclanging
noises….
What’sProfessorShockupto?TurntoPAGE74andsee.
Staceyhasgrown!Herarmsandlegsarelikepudgyballoons.Butherheadhasshrunktothesizeofanapple!
“What’swrongwithyou?”yougasp.“Withme?”Staceydemands.Hervoiceishighandsqueaky.Shesoundslike
atalkinggerbil.“Iwasabouttoaskyouthesamething!Yourheadlookslikeaballoon!”
“Youbothlooklikeweirdos!”Jasonscreams.Youglanceathim.Thenyoustareathim.He’sbecometallandskinny.
Really,reallyskinny.Hiswholebodyisnothickeraroundthanabroomstick.Hisarmsandlegsarelikepiecesofspaghetti.Hiseyesaretwotinydotsinhislong,thinhead.
Youcan’thelplaughing.Thetwinslooksoweird!Butyourlaughboomsoutasifit’scomingthroughamegaphone.Youreachupandtouchyourface.
Youcouldfitabasketballinyourmouth!It’shuge!Andyourheadissimplyenormous!
It’salltooclearwhathappened.Goingthroughthefunhousemirrorhassomehowchangedyourbodies.Nowyoulooklikeyourfunhousereflections!
Atthatmomentabankoflightsflasheson,blindingyou.
BlinkandturntoPAGE94.
ThehideousQueenmarchesyoutoamirrored,revolvingdoorattheendoftheroom.
“Ow!”youexclaim.Herbonyfingersarebitingintoyourflesh!TheQueenpositionsyouinfrontoftherevolvingdoor.Thenshegivesyoua
hardshoveintheback.Youstumbleforward.“Whoa!”youshoutasyouwhirlaroundandaround.Whenthedoorfinallystopsrevolving,you’recompletelydizzy.Youtakea
fewweavingstepsandthenraiseyourheadandgazearound.Wow!You’reinahallofmirrors!Everywhereyouturn,youseereflections
ofyourself.Youfrown.Yourhairlooksmessy.Notimetoworryaboutthat,though.You’vegottogetoutofhereandkeep
searchingfortheQueen’smirror.Now,wherewasthatrevolvingdoor?Youturntotheleft.Yourfacesmilesbackatyou.Yougoright.Thereyouareagain.Yourheartthudsasyourealize:Youhavenoideawheretherevolvingdoor
is.Amongallthesemirrors,itcouldtakeyouyearstofinditagain.You’restuck.Inahallofmirrors.
Andtheworstpartis,you’rehavingabadhairday!
THEEND
“I’msorry,”youtellProfessorShock.“Wedidn’tmeantocomeinhere.Andwedidn’tmeantomaketherobotgonuts.Itwasallanaccident!”
“Whataboutthedamage?”theoldmanthunders.“You’vecausedthousandsofdollarsworthofdamage!”
Yougulp.“I’llworktohelppayforit,”youoffer.“You’llpay,allright,”ProfessorShockmutters.Heglancesaround.
“Where’smyremotecontrol?Ileftitonmydesk.”“Youmeanthis?”Guiltily,youpullthetwopiecesoftheflat,blackboxfrom
yourpocket.“Youbrokeit!”theprofessorscreams.“WhatwillIdonow?”Thenhiseyes
narrowthoughtfully.“Nevermind.Ijustfiguredoutwhatyoucandotopaymeback.Followme.”
Nervously,youfollowtheoldmanoutofthegarageandintohishouse.Assoonasheopensthedoor,loudsquawksfillyourears.
“Inhere,”ProfessorShockshoutsabovethenoise.Youstopandstare.Thelivingroomisevenstrangerthanthegarage.
SeewhyonPAGE72.
Screaming,youandthetwinsplungedownward.THUMP!Youlandonsomethingsoft.Yousitupandfeelyourarmsand
legs.Nothingbroken.That’sarelief!Faintlightstreamsinfromawindowhighaboveyourhead.Youseethat
you’velandedonabigcouch.Allaroundyouareothercouches,andchairs,andbeds.Allarecoveredwithdust.
“Oh,”someonegroans.It’sStacey!Shelandedinoneofthearmchairs.“Myanklehurts,”shecomplains,rubbingit.
Acrossfromyou,Jasonsitsupinthemiddleofaking-sizedbed.“Wherearewe?”heasksinadazedvoice.
“Ithinkwe’reinthestoragebasementforoneofthemallfurniturestores,”yousayslowly.
Youscrambletoyourfeetandmakeyourwaytothedooratoneendofthebasement.Locked.Ofcourse.Youpoundonit.“Help!”youcall.“Letusoutofhere!”Butnooneanswers.
Thewindowistoohightoreach.Hmm.Looksasifyou’llhavetowaituntilsomeonecomesdownhere.
Someonewillfindussoon,youthink.Theyhavetomovethefurniturebeforetheyteardownthemall.You’llbeallright.
Thenyouhearahideousmoan.
Seewho—orwhat—ismoaningonPAGE41.
Thetwinsarearguingloudly.It’sgivingyouaheadache!Allyouwanttodoisgohome.
“I’mgoingtotrythemirror,”youcallovertheirvoices.Briskly,youthrustyourfootthroughtheglass.
CRACK!CRASH!SMASH!TINKLE!Themirrorshatters.Whoops!Well,atleastyoustoppedthetwins’squabbling.“Nicemove!”Staceylaughs.“It’sbadlucktobreakamirror,”Jasonadds.Tinybitsofglassrainallaroundyou.Theylandonyourclothes…your
hair….Youtrytobrushthemaway.Buttheyseemtobestuck.Alloveryou.“Help!”Jasoncries.“I’mcoveredwithglass!”Piecesofmirrorswirlaroundthethreeofyou.Theonesthatlandonthe
floorjumpupandclumptogether.“Hey!”Staceyshrieks,pointing.“Twopiecesofglassjustturnedintoone!”Inshock,yourealizethatthebitsofmirrorarerejoiningthemselvesaround
youandthetwins.Trappingyouinside!Thenyounoticesomethingelse.Somethingworse.
GoontoPAGE78.
ThatyellsoundedlikeJason!YouandStaceydashafterhimintothebackroom.
He’sstrugglinginthegripofatall,red-hairedmanwithabeard.Youstare.ThisguyisalmostasbigasDeepVoice!
“Leavemybrotheralone!”Staceyyells.“WhathaveyoudonewithUncleJack?”Jasoncriesatthesametime.Thered-hairedmanletsJasongo.“Sorry,kid,”hesays.“Ithoughtyouwere
tryingtostealsomething.Jack’syouruncle,huh?Myname’sRed.I—uh—boughtthisshopfromhim.”
Jasonscowls.“Whydidn’tUncleJacktellusaboutyou?”Redshrugs.“Maybeheforgot.”You’reinahurrytoleavethiscreepymallbeforeDeepVoicecatchesupto
you.“Comeon,”yousaytoyourfriends.“Wait!”Redcries.“Ididn’tmeantoupsetyoukids.Tellyouwhat.Letme
seeyourremote.I’llfixitforfree.”Youstareathim.Younevermentionedtheremotetohim!Howdoeshe
knowyouhaveit?Oh,no!IsheafterProfessorShock’sgadget,too?
TurntoPAGE61.
YoudecideyourbestchanceistodoastheQueenordered.Soyourubthecarvingoftheturtlesuntilit’sshinyandgreen.Sadly,yousetitasideandcontinuewithyourwork.
Afewminuteslater,youglanceatthepileofcarvings.Hey!It’sonlyhalfasbigasitwasbefore!
Afterward,you’reneversureifyoureallypolishedallthosestonecarvingsyourselforifsomehiddenforcehelpedyou.Allyouknowis,bytheendofthesecondhour,everysingleoneofthecarvingshasbeenbuffeduntilitglows.
You’rehangingupthelastonewhentheQueenreturns.“NO!”shescreams.“THISISALLWRONG!Youdidit!Youpolishedall
thecarvings!Nobody’severdonethatbefore!”Isshegoingbackonyourdeal?Theideamakesyousomadyouforgettobe
scared.“Well,Idid,”youdeclare.“Andwemadeanagreement.”“Iknow,Iknow,”theQueengrumbles.Shesighs.“Allright,I’llsticktoit.
First,yourfriends.”Shestabsafingerattheceiling.Thecarvingoftheturtlesbeginstoglowgreen.
POP!AmomentlaterStaceyandJasonstandbesideyou.Youstareatthemandrubyoureyes.Youcanbarelyrecognizethem!
Whathashappenedtoyourfriends?
AskthemonPAGE79.
Yousnatchtheremoteoffyourbedandpunchfranticallyatthebuttons.Yourfingerlandsononeoftheblackbuttons.
Asecondlater,theawful,blastingmusicstops.Silence!Youneverknewhowgreatitwas!Forawhileyousimplysitthere,shaking.Thenyouexaminetheplayer.It
looksthesameasitalwaysdid.Youpeerattheremote.Thatgreenraythatcameoutofit.Diditreallymake
yourplayergocrazy?Youcrosstotheothersideoftheroomandpointtheremoteattheplayer.
Cautiously,youpressthebuttonthatseemedtoturntheplayeroff.Nogreenray.Buttheplayerblaresoninstantly.Themusicissoloudthat
youcanhearitclearoverontheothersideoftheroom.Eventhoughit’scomingthroughtheheadphones!
Quickly,youpressthebuttonagain.Themusicshutsoff.Youexaminetheremotemoreclosely.Whatareallthosebuttonsfor?
Especiallythatredone…Doyoudaretofindout?
Sureyoudo.PresstheredbuttononPAGE91.
“Findthewhat?”youshout.Butit’stoolate.Theprofessorisgone.Theroaringwindstops.Youlandsprawlingonaslick,hardfloor.Thetwins
plopdownbesideyou.“Whathappened?”Jasoncries.“Wherearewe?”Yougazearound.Theroomyou’reinhasnodoorsorwindows.Theonly
decorationsonthegraywallsaretwobuilt-inmirrors.“Wecamethroughthemirror,”yousayslowly.You’retryingtostaycalm.“That’simpossible,”Staceyobjects.“Lookaround,”youorder.“There’snootherwayin.”“Andnowayout!”Jasonwails.Thethreeofyoustareateachother.Impossibleasitseems,you’reinsidethe
mirror.Andyou’retrapped.
FliptoPAGE59.
YouandJasonhurrytothebackofthegarage.Youglancetowardthefront.NosignofProfessorShock.
“Comeon,”yousay.“Let’sfindthering.”Butwhenyoustepthroughthegreendoor,youforgetallaboutStacey’sring.
Theroomispackedwithelectronicgadgetsandtoys!Everyshelfandtableholdsacool-lookingmachine.Lightsflash.Circuitsbuzz.Ablackboardiscoveredwithmathematicalformulas.Thewallsareplasteredwithdiagramsofmachines.
“IbetProfessorShockisaninventor!”Staceyexclaims.“Thismustbehisworkshop!”
“Whatdoallthesethingsdo?”Jasonwonders.You’restudyingtwohugeswitchesonthebackwall.One’sred.One’swhite.
Fromtheredswitch,aredwireleadstothebackofaneight-foot-tallcopperrobot.Awhitecablefromthewhiteswitchleadstoahigh-techpinballmachine.Itlookslikethecoolestgameyou’veeverseen.
Youalreadyknowyou’regoingtopulloneoftheswitches.Theonlyquestionis—whichswitch?
PulltheredswitchtotherobotonPAGE35.TrythewhiteswitchtothepinballmachineonPAGE15.
Thenyouslapyourforehead.Ofcourse!Theanswerissosimpleyou’reembarrassedittookyouthislongtothinkofit.YouknowhowtoescapethevinesandfindthesigntothePalace!
“Walkbackward!”youtellthetwins.Asfastasyoucan,youshufflebackward.Theorangevineimmediately
startsunwinding.Youbreatheasighofrelief.It’shardtomovethroughthethickvinesandtrees.Shootsandstemsgrabat
yourlegsandarms.Butyoukeepgoing.And,asyoususpected,thepathquicklyclears.
Inafewmomentsyouarriveatafamiliarfork.Aheadofyouaretwosigns.OnesaysLOREO.TheothersaysPALACEOFMIRRORS.
“Let’stakethepathtothePalacethistime,”Jasonsays.Younod.It’sgottobebetterthanthepathyoujusttried!
TurntoPAGE109.
Youdecidetotrytheredswitch.YoureachupbehindthegiantrobotandfliptheswitchtoON.
Atfirstnothinghappens.Butthentherobot’seyesblinkopen.Redpinpointsoflightshineoutofthem.Itswivelsitshead.Left.Right.Left.Right.
“Whoa.Excellent!”Staceyexclaims.“Itlooksdangerous,”Jasoncomplains.Youthinktherobotisthecoolestthingyou’veseeninalongtime.“Maybe
wecanmakeitcleanupthegarage!”yousuggest.Youaren’tsurehowtocontroltherobot.Youtrypushingittowardthegreen
door.Themetalman’sarmswaveclumsilyintheair.Thenittakesajerkystepforward.
“Thisisgreat!”Staceysays.EvenJasonagrees,foronce.“Wewon’thavetodoanyworkatallnow!”He
whackstherobotenthusiasticallyonitscopperbackasitlumbersbyhim.“Gotoit,pal.”
Therobotblinks.Gearswhir.ThenitspinsaroundandgrabsforJason’sthroat.“Help!It’sgonecrazy!”Jasonshouts.“Stopit!”
HurrytoPAGE86.
“Wh-who’sthere?”youstammer.“Nevermindthat.Justgivemetheprofessor’sremotecontrol,”thedeep
voicegrowls.Theremote?HowdoesDeepVoiceknowaboutProfessorShock’sgadget?Didhefollow
youtothemall?Yourmindraces.Youdon’tknow!Butyoudoknowyoucan’tgiveuptheremote.IfDeepVoicewantsitso
badly,itmustbeevenmorepowerfulthanyouthought.You’vegottogetitbacktoProfessorShock!
“Yaaah!”youshoutandshoveyourbikebackward.CRASH!CLANG!BANG!“OWWW!”DeepVoicebellows.“Grabhandsandrun!”youorderthetwins.Holdinghands,thethreeofyoustumbleforward.Youcantellbyhisheavy
footstepsthatDeepVoiceisclosebehindyou.Then,deadahead,doorssuddenlyswishopentorevealasmall,lighted,
wood-paneledroom.Anelevator!Notimetowonderhowitknewyouwerecoming.Youdashin.Thedoors
close.Theelevatorstartstorise.Amomentlater,analarmbellrings.Thelightsgoout.Andtheelevator
lurchestoastop.
TurntoPAGE89.
Theremotetumblesdown.Hitsthefloor.Bouncesonce.Andthen—CRUNCCCCCHHHHH!Stacey’sbluecarrollsoverit.Andflattensit.“Oh,no…”yougroan.“NO!”someoneelsescreams.Someonewithadeep,hollowvoice.Youglanceup.RedandDeepVoicearebothstandingbytheedgeofthe
bumpercarring,staringinhorror.“Yourottenkids!”Redbellows.“Youbroketheremote.Youruinedallour
plans!”That’saplus.Youstilldon’tknowwhatRedandDeepVoicewereupto,but
you’resureitwasnogood.Soyou’regladthatyoustoppedthem.Butontheminusside,nowthattheremoteisbroken,youhavenowayto
turnoffthebumpercars.Infact,you’restuck.Asthelittlecarszoomaroundandaroundthering,you
realizethatthey’regoingwaytoofastforyoutoriskjumpingout.Goodthingyoulikebumpercars.Becauseyou’regoingtobebumping
aroundinthisoneforalong,longtime!
THEEND
“What’sallthefuss?”ametallicvoicegrumbles.It’sProfessorShock’srobot!Anditcantalk!ProfessorShockisthemost
brilliantinventorever,youthink.UncleJackpushespastyou.“Where’sProfessorShock?”hedemands.“We
needtoseehimrightaway.Wemustjoinforces.”“Noneed,”therobotanswers.“Thebattleisalreadyover.”“Thebattle?”yougasp.“Whatbattle?”Therobotturnsitsredeyesonyou.“Thebattlebetweenthehumansandthe
cyborgs,”itanswers.“Wewon.”“Wewon!”Staceycries,clappingherhands.“Didyouhear?Wewon!That’s
greatnews!”You’renotsosure.“Uh,bytheway…whichsideareyouon?”youaskthe
robot,tryingtosoundcasual.“Thesideofthemachines,ofcourse,”therobotreplies.“Ourageisjust
beginning.Now,followme…slaves!”TheMachineAgemaybejustbeginning.Butforyouhumans,thisis
definitely
THEEND.
You,Jason,andStaceyrideouttotheoldmallontheedgeoftown.Asyoudrawnear,youbegintowonderifthiswassuchagoodidea.Themalllooksevenworsethanyouremembered!Weedssproutfromcracksinthepavement.Severalofthewindowsareboardedup.
“Whyisyouruncle’sstorehere?”youaskthetwins.“He’stryingtosellitandretire,”Jasontellsyou.“Butnoonewantstobuy
it.Sohe’skindofstuck.”“UncleJack’sstoreisonthethirdlevel,”Staceycallsoverhershoulder.
“Let’scutthroughthegarage.”Sheveersdownthedrivewayintothelowerleveloftheparkinggarage.
YouandJasonfollow.Privately,youwishshe’dgonearoundthegarage.SometimesyouwishStaceywasn’tsofearless.
Likenow.It’spitch-darkinthegarage.Sodarkthatyouhavetoclimboffyourbike.Youcan’trideifyoucan’tseewhereyou’regoing!
AreStaceyandJasonstillwithyou?“Guys?”youcall.“Here!”Staceycalls.Hervoicecomesfromyourleft.“Overhere.”That’sJason.Onyourright.“Behindyou,”adeepvoicesaysinyourear.Yikes!Who’sthat?
Shh!TiptoetoPAGE36.
“Whatareyoukidsdoing?”ProfessorShockdemands.Dashingtotheredswitch,heturnsittoOFF.Agrindingsound,likeadyingcarengine,comesfromtherobot.Slowlyitsarmsstopswinging.Itslegsstopchurning.Itsheadfallsforwardandclangsagainstitscopperchest.
Anawfulsilencefallsovertheroom.Yougazearoundatthehorriblemess.Theflat,blackboxfromthedeskis
lyingintwopiecesatyourfeet.Tryingnottodrawattentiontoyourself,youpickthemupandstufftheminyourpocket.Maybeyoucanfixtheboxlater.
ProfessorShockstepstowardyou.Hisfaceisredwithanger.“IthoughtItoldyounottocomeinhere!”hegrowls.
“Let’sgo!”Staceycries.SheandJasonboltoutthedoor.Youreallywanttofollowthem.Butmaybeyououghttoapologizeinstead
andoffertohelpcleanthingsup.Whatwillitbe?
FollowyourfriendsoutthedooronPAGE54.ApologizeandoffertohelponPAGE26.
“D-didyouhearthat?”Jasonasks,hisvoiceshaking.Themoanswellsagain.Louder.“There’ssomeoneelsehere!”Staceycries.Who?Where?Youglancearoundtheshadowybasement.“Itcamefromoverthere,”Staceywhispers,pointingtowardthecorner
nearestthedoor.“Comeon—wehavetoinvestigate!”Youandthetwinscautiouslyapproachthecorner.Thenyouspottwolegs.Stickingoutfromunderabed.Youandthetwinsstareatoneanother.Who’sunderthere?Nervously,you
benddownandtugonthelegs.Amanslidesoutfromunderthebed.Hishandsareboundbehindhim.A
gagistiedtightlyoverhismouth.Staceygasps.“UncleJack!”shecries.
FliptoPAGE51.
“IagreewithJason,”youannounce.“Let’swaithereforourreflections.Theyhavetocomeback.”
Youhope!Yourwordswerebraveenough.Buttheemptymirrorisgivingyoumajor
creeps.Shivering,youturnyourbacktoit.“Imean,whoeverheardofareflectionthatcouldexistonitsown?”yougoon.“Right,guys?”
There’snoanswer.“Guys?”yourepeat.“Uh…”Stacey’svoiceisveryfaint.Whenyouglanceather,hereyesare
liketwosaucers.She’sstaringatthemirror.Youspinaround.Yikes!
TurntoPAGE58.
Thecopperrobotlurchestowardyou.It’sgoingtotaketheUniversalRemoteandgiveittoProfessorShock.Whoisdefinitely,completely,unquestionably…crazy!
Youcan’tlethimhavethegadget.“Noway!”youshout,anddodgebehindthedesk.Therobotclanksafteryou.
“Whymakeafuss?”ProfessorShockwantstoknow.“It’llbenicewhentheworldismechanical.Machinesareclean.Theyworkhard.Theyneveraskfordaysoff.They’remuchbetterthanhumans!Don’tfightme.Giveuptheremote.”
Therobotbacksyouintoacorner.There’snowayout.Desperately,youaimtheremoteattherobotandpunchsomeoftheblackbuttons.Afewoftheshopmachineswhiron.
Buttherobotpaysnoattention.Itkeepscomingafteryou.Youclutchtheremote.Youwon’tgiveitupwithoutafight!Thenyouhaveanidea.Therearetwobuttonsontheremotethatyouhaven’tpushedyet.REWINDand
FASTFORWARD.Theymightnotdoanythinguseful.Ontheotherhand,whatdoyouhavetolose?Goahead.Pressone!
IfyoupressREWIND,turntoPAGE100.IfyoupressFASTFORWARD,gotoPAGE8.
Youdecidetotrytotalktothepoliceman.“Officer,it’slikethis.Wearen’treallyfromthisworld—”youbegin.
Thepolicemansnorts.“Buttonit,kid.Idon’twanttohearyourtalltales.”Hehustlesyouandthetwinstowardthelake.
Youdon’targue.Thelakeiswhereyouwanttogoanyway.Thepolicemanshovesyouintoarowboatandthenrowstoasmallisland
justoffshore.Ontheislandisaredschoolhousewithabellontheroof.“Laststop,”hetellsyou.“Goonin.Anddon’tletmecatchyouplayinghookyagain!”
“But—”Jasontriestosay.Thepolicemanraiseshishand.“Getgoing!”Youandthetwinswalkthroughthedoorintoaclassroom.Severalstudents
sitatdesks.Infrontofablackboardstandsascowlingwomaninanold-fashionedlongdress.
“Welcome,newstudents.I’mMs.Silver,”shesays.“Actually,wedon’tbelonghere,”yousay.“We’re—”“Ofcourseyoubelonghere,”Ms.Silverinterrupts.“Allchildrenbelongin
school.”“But—”“Silence!”sheorders.“Takeseatsinthebackrowandprepareforaquiz.”
GoontoPAGE56.
“I’llstayonthebike,”youdecide.Thethingistravelingalongadefiniteroute,almostasifit’sbeenpreprogrammed.Whichisprettycreepy.Youfigureyoushouldstickaroundandfindoutwhereit’sgoing.Andwhy.
Thebikezoomsdownahill.Faster.Faster!Beforelong,it’smovingsofastthewheelsstarttogiveoffahigh-pitchednoise.Almostlikeascream.
Youclutchthehandlebarsandhunchdown.Winddragsatyourhair.Yourclothes.It’sallyoucandotostayontheseat.
You’rereallyscarednow.Butit’stoolatetojumpoff.Atthisspeed,you’dsplatonthepavementlikeabrokenegg!
Thebiketurnsleftatawhitesignboardandthenracestowardahigh,barbed-wirefence.There’sagatedeadahead.It’sopen.
Asyouwhizpastthewhitesign,youmanagetoglimpsewhatitsays.Uh-oh!
Whatdoesthesignsay?ReaditonPAGE22.
“You’reright!”youcalltoStacey.“Splitup!”Staceyveersofftotheright.Jasonturnstotheleft.Youkeepracingstraight
ahead.Youglanceback.Thebullisafteryou!He’ssoclosethatyoucanfeelhis
hotbreathonthebacksofyourlegs.Hishoofsthunderlouder….Andlouder…Itlooksliketheendforyou.AtleastStaceyandJasonaresafe,youthink.
UntilJasonstreakspastonyourleft.Abulljustliketheonebehindyouishotonhisheels!Hearingascream,youglancetotheright.AthirdidenticalbullischasingStacey.Somehow,thebullhassplitintothree!Andallthreemadbullsareafteryou
andyourfriends.Toobad!Splittingupseemedlikeagoodidea.Butnowyou’regoingtobe
splitforreal—bythebull!
THEEND
You’refascinatedbythemirrorshowingthecountryscene.“Let’strythisone,”yousay.“Ifwedon’tlikewhatwefind,wecanalwayscomeback.”
Thetwinsagree.Tryingnottofeelsilly,youpokeyourleftfootattheglass.Hey!Itgoesrightthrough!Theglassfeelsrubbery.It’slikewalkingthrough
abowlofJell-O.Yourarmsandlegstingle.Andthenyou’reontheotherside.Youglancearound.You’reinaflower-dottedfield.JasonandStaceyare
besideyou.Warmsunpoursdown.Birdsaresinging.Inthedistance,cowsmunchongrass.
Butthere’ssomethingwrongwiththewholescene….“Thegrass!It’sblue!”Jasoncries.“Andthesky’sgreen!”He’sright!Andnowthatyouknowwhattolookfor,younoticethatthe
cowsareredandyellow,whiletheflowersarespottedblackandwhite.Thecolorsarereversed.Backward!
“Wherearewe?”Staceycries.“Whocares?”Jasonsays.“Iwanttogoback.”Heturnsaround.Thenhe
gasps.“Themirror!”heshouts.“Where’sthemirror?”
GotoPAGE60.
“Headsup!”youyellasthebikecarriesyouaway.Itracesdownyourwalkandintothestreet.Straightforaspeedingbus!Youjamonthebrakes.Nothinghappens.Youtrytoswervetotheleft.Butyoucan’tcontrolthehandlebars.Theyturn
themselvestotheright.Thebus’sradiatorloomsinfrontofyou.Youstare,frozeninterror.
Thenyouscrapepastthebus.Withonlyinchestospare.Whew!Thebikedartsinandoutoftraffic.It’snerve-wracking,butthere’snothing
youcandotocontrolit.Soyouhangonandtrytoignorethedangerwhileyoufigureoutwhat’sgoingon.
CouldthismechanicalmadnesshaveanythingtodowithProfessorShock’sremotecontrol?Whenyoupressedthatredbutton,didsomethinghappenafterall?
Yousuddenlynoticethatthebicycleispickingupspeed.You’realreadygoingsofastthatthewindismakingyoureyeswater.Ifyouhitanything,you’llbeagonerforsure!
Shouldyoujumpoffnow?Orwouldyouratherstayonandseewherethebiketakesyou?
Ifyouwanttogetoff,jumpoffthebikeonPAGE69.Ifyou’drathernotjump,stayonuntilyoureachPAGE45.
“Jason’sright.WeshouldlookfortheQueen’smirrorinthishallbeforewegoon,”yousay.
Youexaminethemirrorsnearyou.Someareround.Somearesquare.Someareshapedlikehearts.Youpeerintoeachofthem.Theyallseemordinarytoyou.
Butthen,youdon’tknowwhataqueen’smirrorlookslike.“MaybetheQueen’smirrorhashernameonit,”Staceysuggests.It’sanidea.Youbegincheckingthemirrorsfornames.Buttheonlywriting
youfindsaysMADEINTAIWAN.Thenyouspotsomethinggreenglitteringinacorner.Youstepoverthe
mirrorsforacloserlook.Butallyoufindisagreenmirroreddoor,setbackintoanookinthewall.
Hmm.Shouldyouinvestigatewhat’sbehindthegreendoor?Orshouldyouforgetitandrejoinyourfriends?
Ifyoutrythedoor,turntoPAGE7.Ifyourejoinyourfriends,turntoPAGE128.
Sittingup,youpullthetwohalvesoftheboxoutofyourpocketandexaminethem.Onehasasingleredbuttononit.Theotherhalfhaselevenbuttons.Nineareblack,withmysterioussymbolsprintedonthem.Thelasttwoarewhite.They’relabeledREWINDandFASTFORWARD.
Youtwistthepiecesinyourhands.Howdotheyfittogether?SNAP!Thetwohalvesclickintoplace.Wow!Thereisn’tevenacrack
wherethebreakwas.Theboxlooksasgoodasnew.It’sclearlysomefancykindofremotecontrol.
ShouldyoureturnittoProfessorShock?youwonder.Beforeyoucandecide,agreenlaserbeamshootsoutfromtheendofthe
remote.Theendthat’spointingtowardyou.
What’sgoingon?TurntoPAGE57tofindout.
Quickly,thetwinsripthegagoffUncleJack’smouth.“Stacey!Jason!”hecries.“Howdidyougethere?”“It’salongstory,”Staceyreplies.AssheandJasonuntiehim,shetells
UncleJackaboutfindingRedinhisstore.“Hetoldusheboughtthestore,”Jasonadds.“He’slying,”UncleJackdeclares.“Hecameintothestorelastnight,asking
questionsaboutmyfriend,ProfessorShock.ButIknewbetterthantotrusthim.WhenItriedtocallthepolice,hetiedmeupandlockedmeinhere.I’vegottogetout!IhavetostophimbeforehegetshishandsonShock’snewinvention,theUniversalRemote!”
Youwishhehadn’tsaidthat.“He—well,hemightalreadyhaveit,”youadmit.Youexplainabouttheremoteyoutookfromtheprofessor’sworkshopandhowRedgrabbeditfromyou.“Ididn’tknowitwasanimportantinvention,”youfinishlamely.
“Oh,no!”UncleJackcries.“Thisisadisaster!”“What’sthebigdeal?”Jasonasks.“Itdoesneattricks.Butit’sstillonlya
remotecontrol.”“It’smuchmorethanthat!”UncleJackdeclares.“Inthewronghands,it’sa
deadlyweapon.AndRed’shandsarethewronghands,believeme.Yousee,Redisacyborg!”
TurntoPAGE68.
Betterthinkupalie!“Wecameherebyaccident,”yousay.“Wewerejustabouttoleave—”
“LIAR!”theQueenthunders.“Iknowwhyyou’rehere!Mymirrortellsmeeverything!”
“Thenyouknowwe’retryingtogetbackhome!”youexclaim.“Please,won’tyouturnmyfriendsback—”
“Yourfriendswillremaincarvings,”theQueensayscoldly.“Butyouwon’tjointhem.Notyet,anyway.NotaslongasyoudowhatIwant.”Shesmiles.
It’snotanicesmile.“Wh-whatdoyouwant?”youask.“Itoldyou,mymirrortellsmeeverything,”theQueenanswers.“Except
howbeautifulIam.Forthat,Ineedyou.”“Youwantmetolietoyou?”youblurtout.TheQueenscowls.“AreyousayingI’mnotbeautiful?”“Of-ofcoursenot,YourHighness,”youstammer.Yougazeatherhideous,
blotchyface.“You’reactually,uh,verypretty.”“That’sbetter,”theQueenmurmurs.Shesmiles.“Tellme,whatdoyouthink
ofmynose?”Uh-oh.TheQueenwantslies.Ifyoudon’tkeeptellingthemtoher,you’llbe
turnedtostone.Thiscouldgoonforalongtime.Averylongtime.Totellthetruth,thislookssuspiciouslylike
THEEND.
Thewaterofthelakeonlycomestoyourknees.Youstartfortheboat.“Thisiseasy!”Jasonmarvels.Tooeasy?youwonder.Youglancenervouslyaround,scanningthewaterfor
darkfins.Butit’sallclear.Nosharks.You’vealmostreachedtheboatwhenStaceyscreams.Youwhirlaround.Somethingbigandblackhasswoopeddownfromthesky
andgrabbedher.Somethingwithfins!Andlotsofsharpteeth!“Whatwasthat?”Jasonshrieks.Youcan’tbelieveit!It’sashark.Aflyingshark!Whenyouglanceatthesky,youreyeswideninhorror.Headingforyouare
moreflyingsharks.Hundredsofthem!Thenoneofthethingszoomsatyou.Youduck.Butit’snogood.Daggerlike
teethcloseonyourbody.You’rewhiskedup,upandaway.Jasonisnexttoyou,screaminghorribly.
Toobad!Itlooksasifthisadventurehascometoaveryfishy
END!
“Waitforme!”youcall,dashingafterStaceyandJason.Youracepastthepilesofboxesandoldfurnitureinthegarage.Youdon’tevenglanceattherustedcarandmachinery.
Speedingoutside,youjumponyourbike.Thetwinsarealreadywaydownthestreet.Youpedalasfastasyoucanforyourownneighborhood.
Afterafewblocks,youglanceback.Whew!NosignofProfessorShock.You’rehomefree.
Whenyoureachyourhouse,yougrabsomecookiesfromthekitchenandheadupstairs.Youfeellikerelaxingforawhile.Yousliponyourheadphonesandliedownonyourbedtolistentosomemusic.
That’swhenyourememberthebrokenblackboxinyourpocket.
TurntoPAGE50.
Youdidit!Youescaped!Youandthetwinsbobinthemiddleofthelake.Onthefarside,thePalace
gleamsinthesun.Coloredlightreflectsoffitsshinysides.Itseemstobemadeentirelyofmirrors.
“It’sbeautiful!”Staceyexclaims.“Sowhat?”Jasongrumbles.“It’sprobablyascrazyaseverythingelseinthis
backwardplace.”You’velearnedyourlesson,soyourowashardasyoucaninthewrong
direction.TheboatmovesswiftlytowardthePalace.Soon,withagentlebump,youlandontheshore.
Youandthetwinsclimboutoftheboatandgazeupward.ThePalaceofMirrorsisenormous!Thegleamingwallsreflectthelake,thetrees,andthesky.
Youmadeit!NowallyouhavetodoisfindtheQueen’smirror.
BeginyoursearchonPAGE12.
Aquiz?Youandthetwinsexchangeglances.Then,shrugging,youheadforthebackrow.You’llwaitandseewhathappens.
“Arnie!”Ms.Silvershouts.Ablond,freckledboystandsup.“Whatisseventimesseven?”sheaskshim.
“Forty-nine,”theboyreplies.Ms.Silverfrowns.“Ican’tacceptthatanswer!Gostandinthecloset.”Arnieturnspale.“No!”hecries.“Notthat!”“Youknowtherules!”Ms.Silverinsists.GrabbingArniebytheear,she
marcheshimtoadooratthebackoftheroom.“Please—”hebegs.Hisvoiceisshaking.Ms.Silverthrowsopenthedoor.“Enter!”shesnaps.Sheshoveshiminside
andslamsthedoorbehindhim.Amomentlaterthere’salong,horriblescream.Yourheartraces.What’sinthatcloset?Butbeforeyoucanfigureitout,Ms.
Silverpointsatyou.“Let’sseewhatournewpupilsknow,”sheexclaims.“Foryoursake,Ihope
youcandobetterthanArnie!”
GoontoPAGE73.
ZZZT!Thelaserbeambouncesoffyourmp3player.Themusicsuddenlygrowslouder.Quickly,youturnthevolumedown.Butthesoundkeepsswelling.It’s
hurtingyourears!Youswitchthedeviceoff.Themusicplayson!Itblaresinyourears,soloudyouthinkyourbrainwill
fry!Droppingtheremote,youtrytoyanktheheadphonesoffyourhead.But
theywon’tbudge.It’sasifthey’regluedinplace.“Help!”youcry.Butyoucan’tevenhearyourownvoice.Themusicissoloudyourwholeheadisvibrating.Youreyesfeelasif
they’reabouttopopout.You’vegottodosomething.Thisisdangerous!Think!youurgeyourself.Yourdevicewentcrazyrightafteryouputthe
remotetogether.Maybeifyoubreakitapartagain,theplayerwillleaveyoualone.
Ormaybeyoushouldtrypressingoneoftheremotebuttons.Betterdecidequickly—beforeyourbrainexplodes!
TrytobreaktheremoteapartonPAGE80.PressoneofthebuttonsonPAGE31.
Agiant,bloodredeyeisstaringbackatyou.It’ssobigitfillstheentiremirror.Itspupilisjustaslit,likeacat’seye.And
itsexpressionispureevil.Jasonscreams.Andscreams!“Don’tworry,”youmanage,thoughyourthroatisdrywithfear.“Itcan’tget
us.It’sonthewrongsideofthemirror,remember?It’sjustareflection.Atrickofsomekind.”
Youreallyhopeyou’rerightaboutthat!“It’sgettingsmaller,”Staceywhispers.“Ithinkmaybeit’sbackingaway.”Youforceyourselftostudytheeye.Stacey’sright—itisgettingsmaller.
Whatarelief!Everything’sgoingtobeallright,youthink.Untilyounoticethegianthand.Withclutching,gropingfingersandlong,
talonlikenails.Thehandthat’sreachingrightthroughthemirror.Reachingforyou!“Ithoughtyousaiditcouldn’tgetus!”Jasonyells.Thegianthandclosesaroundyou.Thenitstartstosqueeze.Okay.Youwerewrong.Butdon’tfeeltoocrushedaboutit!
THEEND
Jasonjumpsup.“Help!Iwantout!”“Holdon!”youcall.“Don’tpanic!”“There’sgottobeawayout,”Staceydeclares.Youstareatthemirrors.Anideaisforminginyourmind.“Ifwecamein
throughthemirror,maybethat’sthewayout,too.Maybewecanescapethroughoneofthesemirrors.”
“Butwhichone?”Jasondemands.Youstudythetwomirrors.Theoneonyourrightseemsordinary.Itreflects
youandthetwins.Theoneonyourleftisadifferentstory.Infact,youwonderifthere’sa
hiddenmovieprojectorintheroom.Becausethemirrorshowsapeacefulcountrymeadowfullofgrazingcows.
Whichmirrorwillyoutry?
Ifyouchoosetheonewiththecountryscene,turntoPAGE47.Ifyoupicktheonethatreflectsyouandthetwins,gotoPAGE123.
Jason’sright.Themirrorhasvanished!Youcan’tgobacktothelittleroom!“We’llbefine,”Staceydeclares.“ProfessorShocksaidallwehavetodoto
getoutofhereisfindsomething.”“Buthedidn’tsaywhatweneedtofind,”Jasonretorts.“We’retrapped.
Maybeforever.”YousurehopeJason’swrong.Youstarearound.Theremustbesomeclue,
somethingthatwilltellyouwhattodonext.Then,acrossthefield,youspotagreensign.Itlookslikearegularroadsign
—exceptthatthere’snoroadnearby.“Maybethatsignwilltellussomething,”yousuggest.Staceyimmediatelyracestowardthesign.YouandJasontakeoffafterher.
Tall,bluegrassticklesyourankles.Itfeelsgoodtorun.Untilyourealizethatsomethingiswrong.
You’vebeenrunningforseveralminutes.But—“Thesignlooksfartherawaythanwhenwestarted!”youblurtout.
Youandyourfriendsstoprunningandturntogazebackthewayyoucame.You’vedefinitelycoveredsomeground.
“Weird,”Staceypants.“Maybeit’sanopticalillusion,”Jasonsuggests.Beforeyoucanreply,somethinggrunts.Rightbehindyou.
JumptoPAGE97.
Youthinkyou’dbetternottakeanychances.“Run!Again!”youscreamatStaceyandJason.Thethreeofyoutearoutofthebackroom.Redpoundsafteryou.“Notso
fast,”heyells.“Iwantthatremote!”Heisaftertheremote!IsheworkingwithDeepVoice?youwonder.But
there’snotimetothinkaboutitnow.Youracetothefrontoftheshopandgrabthedoorknob.ZAP!Afatbluesparkleapsoutfromthemetal.“Ow!”youyell.Thedoorknobiselectrified!YoufaceRed.“Letusout!”youdemand.“Firstgivemetheremote,”hereplies.“Why?”youcry.“Whatwillyoudowithit?”“AndwhatdidyoudowithUncleJack?”Jasonadds.“Enoughquestions,”Redsnarls.Hepacesslowlytowardyou.Yougulp.He’shuge.He’smean.Helooksstrong.“There’sabackwayout,”Jasonwhispersinyourear.“Usetheremote,”Staceysuggestssoftlyinyourotherear.It’suptoyou!Butchoosequickly.
Ifyoutrytoescapeouttheback,turntoPAGE71.Ifyoutrytousetheremotesomehow,gotoPAGE134.
“WelcometotheHallofTenThousandMirrors!”ahollowvoiceechoes.“Whoareyou?”youcry.Youspinaroundtoseewhoisspeaking.Butall
youseeishundredsofyourreflections,gazingatyoufromthesmall,squaremirrors.
“Itdoesn’tmatterwhoIam,”thevoiceresponds.“Couldyoutellmehowtogetoutofhere?”youask.“Icould,”thevoicesays.“Butthatwouldspoilallthefun.Findthewayout
foryourself.”“Letmego!”youdemand.“Ineverdidanythingtoyou.I’mgettingtiredof
beingshovedaround!”“Calmdown,”thevoicetellsyou.“I’llgiveyouahint.Toescapefromthis
room,allyouhavetodoisfindthemirrorwithatinyreddotinthecorner.Thatmirrorwillleadyouout.”
Searchoutonetinyreddotinallthosemirrors?It’simpossible!“WhatifIcan’tfindit?”youask.
“Thenyou’llremainhereforever,”thevoicereplies.“But—”youstarttoprotest.“Bettergetstarted,”thevoiceinterrupts.“Therearetenthousandmirrorsin
here.”
Quick!GotoPAGE110.
Windroarspastyourears.It’sasifyou’recaughtinatornado!Youcan’tseeyourlegsanymore.They’reinsidethemirror!Yougrabtheframeandhangon.Invisibleforcesripatyourfingers,tryingtoprythemloose.
“Stacey!Jason!”youscream.“Helpme!”Butyourfriendsarescreaming,too.They’rebeingpulledintothemirror
withyou!You’reinsideasfarasyournecknow.Thenawrinkledfaceappears,framed
bythebacklegsofthepinballmachine.It’sProfessorShock!Hepeersatyou.“Helpus!”youshout.“Ican’t!”hescreams.“Itoldyoutostayaway!There’snowayoutofthere
unlessyoufindthe—”POP!Yourhandslosetheirgrip.Andtheprofessorvanishes.
LetthewindblowyoutoPAGE32.
“Turnaround!”youshout.“Huh?”Jasongasps.“Didyouhappentonoticewe’rebeingchasedbya
ragingbull?”“IthinkIknowhowtobeathim!”youpant.“How?”Staceydemands.“Runtowardhim!”youexclaim.“We’reinamirrorworld.Thingsare
backwardhere—likethecolors.Somaybethischaseisbackward,too.Maybeifweruntowardthebull,we’llgetawayfromhim!”
Staceydisagrees.“That’scrazy.Let’ssplitupandkeeprunningaway.Thebullcan’tchaseallthreeofus!”
MaybeStacey’splanisbetterthanyours.Ifonlyyouhadalittletimetothinkitover.
Butyoudon’t.Quick!Makeadecisionnow!
RuntowardthebullonPAGE105.SplitupandkeeprunningawaytoPAGE46.
YourememberthewarningProfessorShockgaveyoufromthemirror.“Wait!”youcry.“Don’ttouchit!”
“Stacey!”Jasonshouts.Hegrabsherandtriestopullherback.Butit’stoolate.Staceytouchestherose.POP!Bothyourfriendsvanish.Justlikethat.Yougazearoundinpanic.Butthere’snosignofthem.They’regone.
GoontoPAGE82.
Yougazeintothemirror,hopingtoseetheworldyoucamefrom.Therealworld.
Instead,yousee—nothing.Thereisnoreflectioninsidethismirror!Behindtheglass,there’sjust—
nothing.“Creepy!”Staceymutters.“Whatkindofmirroristhis?”“Abackwardmirror,”youanswerwithasigh.“Butmaybewecanstep
throughit.Maybeitwilltakeusbackhome.”“Idoubtit,”Jasonsaysglumly.“Westillhaven’tfoundwhateverProfessor
Shocktoldustofind.Butlet’stryit.”“Idon’twanttogoyet!IwanttoseetheLoreo,”Staceyobjects.“Comeon,
let’ssitdown.”“No!Let’sgo!”Jasonwhines.You’refeelingcrankyyourself.ShouldyoujustgiveupontheLoreoandtry
themirror?OrwouldyouratherwaitfortheLoreoafterall?
Whichwillitbe?StepthroughthemirroronPAGE28,orwaitfortheLoreoonPAGE125.
“Oh,no!It’shappeningagain!”Staceycries.She’sright.Onceagain,yourreflectionsareshriekinginsoundlessterror.
Yoursthrowsupitshands.Stacey’sstartstotremble.Jason’sputsitshandsoveritseyes.
Then,justasbefore,theyturnandrunaway!“Wait!”youscream.Lungingforward,youdiveheadfirstintothebigmirror.
JasonandStaceyarerightbehindyou.Yourbodytingles.Thenyoutumbleoutontothewoodenfloorofanempty
ice-creamparlor.Amovingshadowmakesyoulookup.Awhiteceilingfancircleslazilyoverhead.You’reinMiller’s!“Notagain!”Staceyexclaims.“It’sdéjàvu,”Jasonmoans.Thistime,themirrorisontheleft-handwall.Youpeekatyourreflection.
Andassoonasyoulockeyes,ithappensagain.Thescreaming.Therunningaway.
Finally,yougetit.Yourreflectionisrunningawayfrom…you!Youdon’tknowwhy.Allyouknowis,you’vegottokeepafteryour
reflectionuntilyoucatchit.Evenifittakestherestofyourlife….
THEEND
YoustareatUncleJack.Maybebeingtieduphasmadehimalittlefunnyinthehead!“Redisacyborg?”yourepeat.
Yeah,right!ButUncleJacknodssolemnly.“He’shalfhuman,halfmachine.Professor
Shockinventedthetechnologytomakecyborgsyearsago.Ihelped.IbuiltRed’scircuits.Andnowhe’stheleaderofabandofrebelcyborgs!”
UncleJackisstartingtoscareyou.Hesoundscompletelyserious.Couldhebetellingthetruth?
StaceyandJasonappeartobeconvinced.AndtheyknowUncleJackbetterthanyoudo.
“Wh-whatdothecyborgswant?”Staceystammers.“Power,”UncleJackreplies.“Cyborgsarebigger,stronger,andfasterthan
naturalhumans.Theythinkthatmakesthembetter.Redtoldmeabouttheirplan.”
Hestaresateachofyouinturn.Leaningforward,hewhispers,“Theywanttomakeustheirslaves!”
TurntoPAGE81.
Yourealizeyou’dbetterjumpoffthebikenow,whileyoustillcan.“Aaahh!”youscreamasyouthrowyourselfoffthespeedingmachine.
THUD!Youhitthegroundrolling.You’llprobablyhaveafewbruises,butyoudecidebruisesaren’tsoterrible.
Standingup,yougazearound.Excellent!Bysheerchance,youendeduponlyablockfromProfessorShock’shouse.Soonhe’llputanendtothismechanicalnightmare!
Yourunpastspoutinggardenhosesandwhiningweed-whackers,straighttoProfessorShock’sgarage.Theprofessorisprobablyinhisworkshop.Cleaningupthemessyoumade!
“ProfessorShock?”youcall.“Areyouhere?”Noanswer.Youwalkslowlythroughtheclutteredgaragetowardthegreen
workshopdoor.It’sclosed.Frombehindthedoorcomesawhirringsound.Slowly,carefully,youpushthedooropen.It’shardtoseeinside,becausethe
lightskeepblinkingonandoff.“Comein,”avoicecalls.“I’vebeenexpectingyou.”
Who’sbeenexpectingyou?TurntoPAGE98tofindout.
Youpressyourleftthumbdownononeoftheremotebuttons.Thelightsintheelevatorblinkon.Youhearafaintwhirringsound.Slowly,slowly,theelevatorbeginstodrop.“Butwewanttogoup,”Staceycomplains.“Whocares!”Jasoncries.“Ijustwantoutofhere!”Theelevatorbumpstoastop.Somethingmakesyoutucktheremoteinto
yourpocketjustbeforethedoorsslideopen.You’rebackinthegarage.Someonedressedallinblackisstandinginfrontoftheelevator.Someone
huge.ThisguymakesShaquilleO’Neallooklikeamidget!Ahatpulleddownlowhideshisface.Butyouknowitmustbetheperson
whochasedyoubefore.DeepVoice.Hereachestowardyou.Hisblack-glovedhandlooksbigenoughtopalma
beachball.“Giveittome!”hegrowls.
GotoPAGE112.
Youdecidetogofortheshop’sbackdoor.MaybeyoucanoutfoxRed.“Splitup,”youwhispertothetwins.
Youducktotheleft.Jasonlungestotheright.AndStaceydivesstraightatRed’sknees!
“Hey!”thehugemanyells.Helookssurprised.Andfurious!“Who-o-oa!”hecriesandtopplesoverbackward.
CRASH!Thefloorshakeswhenhisbodyhitsit.“Nicemove,Stacey!”youcheer.Thethreeofyouracethroughthebackdoor,teardownthehall,andclatter
downstairstothemall’sfirstlevel.YouhurrypasttheoldKiddieKarnival.Yourmomusedtoleaveyouthereto
ridethebumpercarswhileshewentshopping.Nowthelittlecarsarecoveredwithdust.Thepolesthatconnecteachcartothepowergridhavebeenremoved.
Toobad!youthink.Youusedtolovethosebumpercars.Staceysuddenlycriesout.Youstopandturnaround.She’slimpingandclutchingherankle.“Itwistedit,”sheexplains.“Ican’t
walk!”“Iwantthatremote!”Red’svoiceroarsfromthestairwell.Uh-oh.He’scoming!Thenyouhaveagreatidea.
HelpStaceyhobbletoPAGE122.
Theonlyfurnitureintheprofessor’slivingroomisabigarmchair.It’ssurroundedbydozensoftelevisions.Allareon,theirvolumecrankedup.It’ssonoisyyoucan’tthink!
Theprofessorseatshimselfinthechairandthenturnstoyouwithasmile.“IliketowatchalltheTVsetsatonce!”heshouts.“ButIhatetogetupandchangethechannels.Sinceyoubrokemyremote,youcanchangethemforme!”
“But—”youstarttoobject.“Gettoit!”heorders.“Ordoyouwantmetocallyourparentsandtellthem
whatyoudid?”Quickly,youshakeyourhead.“Good.”Theprofessorleansbackinhischair.“Changethatonetochannel
33,”hetellsyou,pointingatoneoftheTVs.“Thenturnthevolumeuponthatone.Thenchangethatoneovertheretochannel72.Thenfixthepictureonthatone….”
Youdasharoundtheroom,tryingtofollowhisorders.“Faster!”ProfessorShockcommands.Thereisn’teventimetocatchyourbreath!It’sawful.Youlovetochannel
surf.Butnotlikethis!ProfessorShockmightkeepwatchingforever.Butforyou,theshow’sover.
It’s
THEEND.
Yougulp.Ms.Silverispointingstraightatyou.You’reonthespotnow!“Idon’tgetit,”Jasonwhispers.“Arniewasright.Seventimessevenisforty-
nine!Whydidshepunishhim?”“Don’tforget,we’reinabackwardworld.Maybeshewantedabackward
answer,”Staceyreplies.“Silence!”Ms.Silvershrieks.“Nowtellme:Whatissevenpluseight?”You’restartingtosweat.Ifyoudon’tgiveMs.Silvertheanswershewants,
you’llendupinthecloset,justlikeArnie.Andyouknowthatwouldbereallybadnews!“I’mwaiting,”Ms.Silversnarls.
Ifyouthinkthebestansweristherealanswer,fifteen,turntoPAGE88.Ifyouthinktheanswertheteacherwantsisfifty-one,tryPAGE14.
GUGUGUGUGUGUG!Thefloorsuddenlystartstoshake.Agiant,silverballshootsfromatubeonyourright.Itslamsintothebackwall,bouncesoff,andhurtlesdowntheslopingfloor.Righttowardyou!
“Lookout!”Staceyyells.“Yipe!”yousqueak,anddivetotheside.Justintime.Theenormoussilverballrumblespastyouandsmashesinto
oneofthetargets.DING-DING-DING!Bellsring.Thetargetflashes.That’swhenitallfallsintoplace.Youknowwhereyouare.Andyourealize
it’snotProfessorShockwhochangedsize.It’syou!Maybeitwastheremote.Maybeitwasthebluelightintheelevator.But
somethinghasmadeyoushrinktothesizeofamarble.Andsomethinghasdumpedyouwhereyouarenow—
InsideProfessorShock’spinballmachine!Yougazearoundfranticallyforthesilverball.Toyourrelief,itappearstobe
losingspeed.Thentheentirefloorheavesuptotheleft.Youloseyourbalanceandtumble
tothefloor.Thesilverballzoomsatyou.Nofair!ProfessorShockistilting!Andyou’re
FINISHED!
“We’vegottofindawaytogothroughthewindow,”yousay.“Wecouldpilesomeofthefurnitureupanduseitlikealadder,”Jason
pointsout.He’sreallyprettysmart.UncleJackhelpsyouandthetwinsshoveatableunderneaththewindow.
Youstackanarmchairontopofit.Thenyoubalanceastoolontopofthat.Thepilelooksveryshaky.Butitreachesalmosttothebottomofthewindow.
“I’mtoobigtofitthroughthewindow,”UncleJacktellsyou.“Youkidswillhavetogothroughandthencomebackandunlockthedoorforme.”
Youclimbupontothetable.Thenthechair.Thenthestool.Thewholepilewobbles.Youfeellikeacircusacrobat.
Verycarefully,youslidethesmallwindowup.Luckilyforyou,itisn’tpaintedshut.Graspingthewindowsill,youpullyourselfthrough.Intoarowofgarbagecansatthebackoftheemployeeparkinglot.
Itstinks.Yuck.Butyoumadeit!Thenacoldhandgripsyourshoulder.“Wheredoyouthinkyou’regoing?”a
voicedemands.
Seewho’sgotyouonPAGE104.
Youstare,frozeninterror,atRed.You’regoingtorunhimoverwithyourbumpercar!Thisisterrible!
Redmaybeevil,butyoudon’twanttoflattenhim!Atthelastsecond,Redjumpsaside.Reachingdown,hesnatchestheremote
controloffyourdashboard.“Gotit!”hegrunts.Oh,no.Ifonlyyou’dflattenedhim!Red’shugefingersdanceovertheremotecontrol,punchingbuttonafter
button.Yourheartsinksrightdowntoyourtoes.Obviously,heknowsexactlyhowtousethegadget.
Amomentlater,yourbumpercarswervesaroundandzoomsoutofthering.Youspinthesteeringwheel.Nouse.Youcan’tcontrolthecar.
JasonandStacey’scarsracealongoneithersideofyours.Thethreeofyouareheadingstraightforabankofelevators.
Youstarttopanic.Reallypanic.IsRedgoingtomakeyoucrash?
TurntoPAGE96fortheanswer.
Youstandonyourporchsteps,staring.You’vewalkedintoamechanicalmadhouse!
Alawnmowerroarsaroundyourlawn,cuttingfancypatternsinthegrass.Nooneispushingit.
Carsweaveupanddownthestreet.Youpeerthroughthewindows.Theredoesn’tappeartobeanyonedrivingthem!
WHZZ!WHZZ!Anelectriccanopenerwrigglesthroughtheopenfrontdooranddowntheporchsteps.Itscordtrailsbehindit.Itisn’tevenpluggedin,butsomehowit’srunning!
Therearenopeopleinsight.Theymustallbeinside.Hidingfromthemachines.
Youcloseyoureyesandgiveyourselfapinchonthearm.Canthisreallybehappening?Orareyouhavinganightmare?
Whenyouopenyoureyesagain,thefirstthingyouseeisyourbike.Zoomingrighttowardyou.Thepedalschurn—aroundandaround.Butthere’snooneridingit.
Yikes!Notimetomoveoutoftheway.Yourreflexestakeover.Withoutthinking,
yougrabthehandlebarsandjumpon.
RideyourbiketoPAGE48.
Asthelastbitsofmirrorsealthemselvesaroundyou,threekidsappearinthetent.Rightwhereyouwereamomentago.Thethreenewkidsgazeintothemirror.
OnelooksjustlikeStacey.AnotherisidenticaltoJason.Andthethirdlooksexactlylikeyou!Theonethatlookslikeyouraisesitsarm.Yourownarmrisesatthesame
moment.Youcan’tseemtostopit.ThekidthatlookslikeStaceyjumpsupanddown.Besideyou,thereal
Staceyjumpstoo.ThekidthatlookslikeJasonclapshishands.YouhearJasonclappingatthesametime.
Oh,no…“Thanks!”thekidthatlookslikeyoushouts.Youfeelyourownmouthform
thewordThanks.“Wehatedbeinginthemirror,”theonethatlookslikeStaceysays.“Now
it’syourturnforawhile!”“Like…fortherestofyourlives!”theJason-cloneaddswithanastylaugh.You’vetradedplaceswithyourownreflections!Jasonwasright,youthink.
Itisbadlucktobreakamirror.Oh,well.That’sthebreaks.
THEEND
“Stacey!”youcry.“Jason!Isitreallyyou?”“Ofcourseit’sus!”Jasonreplies.“Butyou’reso—soclean!”youexclaim.“Youbothhavenewhaircuts.And
newclothes!”JasonandStaceystareateachother.Thentheyglancedownattheirnewclothes.“Cool!”Staceycries.“Howdidthishappen?”Jasonasks.
“Yougotpolished,”theQueenmutters.“Whatdidyouexpect?”You’rereadytoleavethisplace.“Youpromisedtoletususeyourmirror,”
youremindtheQueen.Sheglaresatyou,thenopensasecretpanelinthewall.Around,gold-framedmirrorappears.Youandthetwinsrushuptoitandgazein.
“Look!”Staceycries.“Therearewordsinit!”Youpeerattheswirlinglettersintheglass.You’resurethewordsare
instructionsforreturningtoyourownworld.There’sonlyoneproblem.They’reinastrangewriting.
Ifyoucanreadthissecretwriting,youknowwhattodo.TurntoPAGE107.
Ifyoucan’treadit,gotoPAGE93forahint.
Yougrabtheremotefromyourbedwhereyoudroppedit.Youdon’thavetimetofiddlewiththething.Thisisanemergency!
Ashardasyoucan,youhurltheremoteagainstyourbedroomdoor.CRASH!Theblackcaseshatters.Springspop.Sparksfly.
Andthedeafeningmusicstops.Whew!Youripofftheheadphonesandthrowthemp3playeracrossthe
room.Ithitsthefloornexttotheremote.ZAP!Agiantyellowsparkleapsoutofthebrokenremotecontrol.Andinto
yourplayer.Uh-oh.Whyisthedevicequivering?youwonder.Andwhydoesitlook…
bigger?Inseconds,theawfultruthisclear.Somehow,whenthatsparkhitthemp3player,itmadeitstartgrowing.You
don’tknowhow.Orwhy.Butthethingisexpandinginfrontofyoureyes.Andexpanding!Soontheplayerisbiggerthanyouare!Andit’sstillgrowing.
It’salsoblockingthebedroomdoor.You’retrapped.Youcoweronyourbed,watchinginhorrorastheplayerloomsoveryou.It
bulgesagainstthewallsandceiling.Youalwayswantedtofillyourroomwithmusic.Unfortunately,thisisn’t
whatyouhadinmind.Infact,thisis
THEEND!
Yourheartisbeatingdoubletime.You’reconvinced.IfUncleJacksaysabunchofcyborgswanttomakeyoutheirslave,youbelievehim!
Jasonispale.Buthisscientificmindisatwork.“WheredoestheUniversalRemotefitin?”heasks.
“ProfessorShockwasafraidthecyborgsmightturnagainstus.SohebuilttheUniversalRemotetocontrolthem,”UncleJackexplains.“Nowthattheyhaveit,wehavenocontrol.Butit’sworsethanthat.”
Worse?Youshudder.Whatcouldbeworsethanabunchofeight-foot,super-strongman-machinesrunningwild?
“Yousee,theremotecancontrolallmachines,”UncleJackgoeson.“Thecyborgscanuseittoturnappliancesagainstus.ImaginebeingattackedbyyourownTV!”
“Oh,no!”youexclaim.YourememberJason’smodelplanedive-bombingyou.“Wehavetogettheremoteback!”
“Right,”UncleJackagrees.“Butfirstwemustbreakoutofthisbasement.”Yougazearound.Youcouldtrytoreachthewindow.Whichlooksawfully
smallandhighup.Oryoucouldtrytobreakdownthedoor.Whichlooksawfullythick.
TrytowrigglethroughthewindowonPAGE75.TrytobreakdownthedooronPAGE6.
“Stacey!”youcry.“Jason!”Noanswer.Amomentlateryouhearfootsteps.Youwhirl.Anightmarecreaturestandsrightbehindyou.Blueblotchescoverits
leatheryfeatures.Itshairlooksmorelikefilthygrayfeathersthanhair.Itwearsalong,shapelessblackdressdrapedwithstringsofcarvedstonebeads.
Thecreatureopensitsmouth,revealinglong,pointedyellowteeth.“Whodarestrespassinmyroom?”itdemands.
You’reshakinginterror.Butyoumusthelpthetwins.“We—wethoughtthiswastheQueen’sroom,”youreply.
“IAMTHEQUEEN!”thecreaturethunders.“You’retheQueen?”yourepeat,shocked.“Thisismychamber,”shetellsyou.“Yourfriendstriedtostealoneofmy
carvings.Ipunishedthem!”“Where—wherearethey?”youstammer.TheQueensmiles.It’sanugly,uglysmile.Shepointstotheceiling.You
stareupatthehundredsofhangingstonefigures.Andthenyougasp,asyouunderstandwhatshemeans.
She’sturnedthetwinsintocarvings!“Whatdoyouwant?”theQueendemands.
Thinkoveryouranswer.Ifyoudecidetotellthetruth,turntoPAGE101.Ifyouthinkaliewouldbesafer,turntoPAGE52.
Youdecidetotaketheremotebacktotheprofessor.Hemusthavemisseditbynow.Youdon’twanthimtothinkyoustoleit!
Asyou’releavingyourroom,youhearasoundbehindyou.Youglanceback.Yourmodeltrainischuggingtowardyou.
Andit’soffthetracks!Youfeelasuddenchill.Howdidthathappen?Youweresureyouturnedthe
trainoffbefore.Quickly,youaimtheremoteatthetrainandclick.Thecarsstopmoving.
Maybethere’ssomethingwrongwiththeremote.MaybeitsinsidesgotscrambledwhenitfellonthefloorofProfessorShock’sgarage.Maybethere’sashortcircuitsomewhere.
Whateveritis,ProfessorShockcanprobablyfixit.You’resuddenlyinahurrytogettheremotebacktohim.There’ssomethingaboutitthatgivesyouthecreeps.
Yourushdownstairs.There’salotofnoisecomingfromthekitchen.Itsoundsasifyourmomisrunningallherappliancesatonce.Butyoudon’thavetimetopopinandfindoutwhat’sfordinner.
Youraceoutthefrontdoor.Andthenyouscreechtoahalt.Whatintheworldisgoingon?
TurntoPAGE77.
YoudecidetogiveProfessorShockfiveminutestonap.Butthenthemonsterrobotstirsintolife.VROOM!VROOM!Itsengines
roar.Itstartsrollingtowardyouonitshuge,steamrollerfeet.“Yikes!”Jasonshrieks.“We’redoomed!”YoushakeProfessorShock’sarm.“Wakeup!”youyell.“Telluswhattodo!
Timeisrunningout!”Theoldman’seyespopopen.“Eh?What’sthat?”Youpointatremblingfingeratthemonsterrobot.“Oh,that.”ProfessorShockfrowns.“Allright,here’stheplan:Youkidsrun
tothefiresubstationinthemall.Turnonthewaterandbringthefirehosebackhere.”
Water?Afirehose?Doeshereallythinkthat’sgoingtohelpagainstthisgiantmetalmenace?
Butit’stheonlyplanyouhave.Soyou,Stacey,andJasontakeoff.
Hurry!LookforahoseonPAGE21.
Yougazedown,terrified.Waterrushesbybelowyou.It’sthelake!Therewasagiantslinginsidethecloset,anditshotyourightoutofthe
building!Screaming,youandthetwinsplungetowardthewater.Theshark-infestedwater.
SPLOOSH!SPLOOSH!SPLOOSH!Youlandinawhitefroth.Youcloseyoureyes,waitingtofeelsharkteethrippingintoyourbody.Nothinghappens.Youopenyoureyes.You’rebobbingnexttoasmallbluerowboat.The
policeman’sboat!It’sempty.Itmusthavecomelooseanddriftedaway.Whatabreak!
“Getin!”youorderStaceyandJason.Youholdtheboatsteadywhiletheyscramblein.Thentheygrabyourarmsandhaulyouuptojointhem.
Notasecondtoosoon!Asyou’recrawlingoverthesideoftherowboat,Staceyyells,“Shark!”
“Makethat‘sharks’!”Jasonadds.Youturnaroundandpeerovertheside.Sharpblackfinscircletheboat.
Thesesharkslookbig.Andhungry.“Toobad,sharks,”youcall.“We’reoutofhere!”
GotoPAGE55.
Youreyeswideninhorror.TherobotistryingtostrangleJason!“Duck!”youshout.
ButwhenJasonducksoutoftheway,therobotdoesn’tseemtonotice.Insteaditlurcheswildlyacrosstheroom.Bangsintothewall.Spinsaround.Walksintoachair.Next,itstartsknockingthingsoffthetables.Itsarmswhirllikewindmills,smashingintoeverythingthat’snearthem.
Therobotisoutofcontrol!YouwonderifJasonknockeditscircuitsloosewhenhewhackeditontheback.
“Turnitoff!”Staceyscreeches.Snappingoutofyourhorrifieddaze,youstartforthebackoftheshop.
You’vegottoreachtheredswitch!Oh,no!TherobotismovingtowardProfessorShock’sdesk.It’sstacked
withbooksandcomplicatedcharts.Aflat,blackboxwithrowsofbuttonsbalancesatopapileofpapers.
“No!”youshout.ProfessorShockwillboilyouinoilifyoulettherobotmessuphiswork.Youleaptowardthedesk.Ifyoucanonlymovethepapersoutoftheway…
Buttherobotisfaster.SMASH!CRASH!Itsmetalarmsweepsacrossthedesktop,knockingeverythingtothefloor.
AtthatmomentProfessorShockrushesthroughthedoor.
GotoPAGE40.
Youspinaround,followingProfessorShock’sgaze.Theemployeeparkinglotisfullofwreckingequipment.Bulldozers.
Steamrollers.Cranes.Wreckingballs.Standinginthemiddleofallthesemachinesisafamiliar,eight-foot-tall
figure.Red.Hisfingersflyovertheremote.CLANK!CLANK!Thewreckingmachinesroarintosuddenlife.Twohuge
steamrollerspositionthemselvessidebyside.“Feet,”ProfessorShockmutters.You,Stacey,andJasonexchangeworriedglances.Feet?Abigcraneliftsuptwobulldozersandsetsthemontopofthesteamrollers.
Thebulldozers’shovelswaveintheair.“Hands,”ProfessorShocksays,nodding.TINKLE-LINKLE-LINK!Glassshattersoverhead.Glancingup,youspottwo
big-screenTVssailingthroughtheair.“Eyes,”ProfessorShocksaysgrimly.“Eyes?”youecho.You’realmostafraidtoask.“Feet?Hands?Wh-whatare
youtalkingabout,Professor?”ProfessorShockpointsatthepileofmachinery.“Can’tyousee?”heasks.
“Redisusingmyremotetobuildamonsterrobot!”
Oh,no!DoyoureallywanttoturntoPAGE120?
Youdecidetogivetheteachertherealanswer.Butjustincase,youwhisperabackupplantothetwins.
“Whatissevenandeight?”Ms.Silverdemands.“Fifteen,”youreply.“Wrong!”sheshouts.“Tothecloset!”“Nothanks!”youdeclare.Yougivethetwinsathumbs-upsignal.Thenthe
threeofyousplitupandzoomtowardthedoor.“Comeback!”Ms.Silvershouts.“You’llneverescape!Therearesharks!”Youignoreherandrunoutside.ThePalacegleamsontheothersideofthe
lake.Abluerowboatbobsatanchorjustafewfeetfromtheshore.“Comeon,”youtellyourfriends.“We’llwadetotheboatandthenrowto
thePalace.”“Wh-whataboutthesharks?”Jasonstammers.“Idon’tseeany,”Staceysays.Thethreeofyougazeintotheclearwater.
There’snosignofsharks.“Sharksdon’tliveinlakes.Ms.Silverwastryingtoscareus,”youdeclare
andwadeintothelake.
GoontoPAGE53.
“We’restuck!”Staceycries.“Theelevatorwasatrap!”“Help!”Jasonyells.“Staycalm,”yousay,eventhoughyou’restartingtopanic.Yougropeinthe
darknessandpresstheelevatorbuttons.Nothinghappens.“Canweclimbout?”Staceysuggests.“Toodangerous.Trytheremote!”Jasontellsyou.Hey!Itmightwork.Afterall,theelevatorisamachine.Youpulltheremote
outofyourpocket.Youholditinbothhands.Somanybuttons.Youcan’ttellwhichonesare
whichinthedark.Shouldyoupressthebuttonunderyourrightthumb?Ortheoneunderyourleft?
CRRREAKKK!Theelevatorsways.Thendropsthreefeet!Youallscream.“Comeon!”Staceyurges.“Chooseabuttonnow!”
You’vegotafifty-fiftychanceofgettingitright.Theoddsareeven.Whataboutyou?Areyouevenorodd?Countupthelettersinyourfirstname.
Ifyouhaveanoddnumberofletters,gotoPAGE135.Ifyouhaveanevennumber,turntoPAGE70.
YouturntoProfessorShockin—well,inshock.“Whathappened?”youdemand.“Wasitthewater?”Jasonadds.“Didweshortouttherobotafterall?“No,Idon’tthinkso.”ProfessorShockstrokeshisbeardthoughtfully.“It
wastheremote.Itstoppedworking.”“Butwhy?How?”Staceyasks.“Thebatteriesmusthaverundown,”ProfessorShockanswers.“Thebatteries?”yousputter.Youjustescapedbeingcrushedbyabulldozer,
andthehumanracejustescapedbecomingslavestoacyborg,becausethebatteriesrandown?
ProfessorShockshrugs.“That’sright.”Thenhesmiles.“What’ssofunny?”youwanttoknow.ProfessorShock’ssmilegrowswider.“Iwasjustthinking….GoodthingI
didn’tuseSupergizers!”
THEEND
Takingadeepbreath,youpunchyourfingerdownontheredbutton.Theremoteletsoutashort,high-pitchedbuzzingsound.ButyourWalkman
doesn’tturnon.Infact,asfarasyoucantell,nothinghappens.“Whatarip-off,”yougrumbleandpressanotheroftheblackbuttons.Allthelightsintheroomblinkon!Youhitthebuttonagain.Thelightsgooff.AthirdbuttoncontrolsyourTV.Afourthturnsyourmodeltrainonandoff.
Eventhoughit’smadeofwood!Cool,youthink.ProfessorShock’sboxissomekindofSuper-remote!Thatremindsyou.TheremotedoesbelongtoProfessorShock.Youknow
youshouldreturnit.Butmaybeyoudon’thavetoreturnitrightthisminute.You’dreallyliketo
showittoJasonandStacey….
Whatdoyouthink?Ifyouchoosetoreturntheremotetotheprofessorrightaway,gotoPAGE83.
Ifyou’drathershowittothetwinsfirst,turntoPAGE11.
You’llnevermakeitthroughthegapfastenoughtoescapetheLoreo.“Alltogether!”youshout.“We’llgothroughthefunhousemirror.”
“Whatifit’snotthatkindofmirror?”Jasonasks.“Thenwe’remonster-meat,”Staceytellshim.TheLoreo’shotbreathsearsthebackofyourneck.Inthefunhousemirror,
itappearsevenbigger,moreterrifying.Itsteetharethesizeofshovels.Itopensitsmouthwide,wider.
It’sabouttobiteyourheadoff!“One.Two.Three.Geronimo!”youshoutanddivestraightintothemirror.
JasonandStaceyareoneithersideofyou.Toyourrelief,itssurfaceissoftandrubbery.Yourarmsandlegstingleas
yourbodypassesthrough.Youhitthegroundontheotherside.THUD!THUD!JasonandStaceylandbesideyou.You’relyingonsomekindofwoodenplatform.“Whew.We’resafe!”you
exclaim,pickingyourselfup.ThenyougetagoodlookatStacey.Andyourealizeyouspoketoosoon.
GoontoPAGE24.
Getthehint?TurnbacktoPAGE79.
“What’sgoingon?”Jasoncriesinpanic.“Where’sthedoor?”Staceyyells.“Who’sthere?”youdemand.Adeepvoicespeaksfromthedarkness.Itasks,“Contestants,areyou
ready?”“What?Weneedhelp!”youexclaim.Youreyesareadjusting.Butyoucan’t
tellwherethevoicecomesfrom.“Thejudgesareready,”thevoicesays,asifyouhadn’tspoken.“You’rethe
mostbeautifulentrantswe’veeverhad.”What’swiththisguy?youwonder.Ishenuts?Isthissomekindofsickjoke?
Youandthetwinsaretheweirdest-lookingfreaksyou’veeverlaideyeson.“Thisisamistake!”youcry.“Wedidn’tenteranycontest!”“Bequietandlookbeautiful!”thevoiceorders.“Thebeautycontestisabout
tobegin!”
StepuptoPAGE103.
Aheadofyou,Jasonstopssofastthatyouplowrightintohim.ThenStaceyplowsintoyou.Thethreeofyousprawlonthegroundinapile.
Whenyouuntangleyourselves,youseewhatmadeJasonstop.There’saforkinthepath!Ontherightbranch,asignsaysPALACEOFMIRRORS.AsignontheleftsaysLOREO.
“ThePalace!”Staceycries.“Let’sgo!”Youstarttofollowher.Butthenyouremembersomething.“Wait!”youcall.
“Lotsofthingsinthisworldarebackward.Whatifthesignsarebackwardtoo?”“Iseewhatyoumean,”Jasonexclaims.“ThepathtothePalacemightreally
bethepathtotheLoreo.”“What’saLoreo,anyway?”asksStacey.Jasonshudders.“Ihopewedon’tfindout.”“AROOOO!”“Hurry,”Staceyurges.“Pickoneofthepaths!”
It’suptoyou.IfyouthinkthepathlabeledPALACEOFMIRRORSwillleadtothePalace,turntoPAGE109.
ButifyouthinkthepathlabeledLOREOwilltakeyoutothePalace,gotoPAGE102.
Attheverylastsecond,Redpushesanotherbutton.Yourbumpercarsjerktoahalt.
“Getout,”Redsnarls.“Andturntofaceme.”Youdoashesays.Yourheartisthundering.What’sheupto?Behindyou,theelevatordoorsswishopen.“Stepback,”Redcommands.You,Stacey,andJasonbackintotheelevator.Hey!There’snothingunderyourfeet.Whathappenedtothefloor?Toolate,
youguessthetruth.Theelevatorcarismissing!“Help!”youscream.Amomentlater,you’refallingthroughblackness.
PlummettoPAGE27.
Staceypeeksoverhershoulder.“Don’tlooknow,”shewhispers,“butthere’sabullbehindus.Andhe’sgrouchy.”
Ofcourse,youspinaroundatonce.Staceywasn’tjoking.Thered-and-yellowbullisthebiggestyou’veever
seen.Hisgleaminghornsmustbetwofeetlong.Theylookevenbigger,becausehe’sonlytenfeetaway.Pawingtheground.Withanastyglareinhislittleredeyes.
“Run!”Jasonscreams.Thethreeofyoupeltacrossthefield.Backthewayyoujustcame.“It’safterus,”Jasonreports,glancingback.“We’vegottomovefaster!”Youpouronevenmorespeed.Butwhenyouriskalookoveryourshoulder,
youseethatthefuriousbullisgainingonyou.“Thefasterwerun,thecloseritgets!”Staceygasps.Thatdoesn’tmakeanysense,youthink.Ordoesit?
Quick!RuntoPAGE64.
Nervously,youstepintotheworkshop.Thenyoubreatheasighofrelief.StandingattheworkbenchisProfessor
Shock.He’susingapowerdrilltotightensomescrewsinhisrobot’shead.Thatexplainsthewhirringnoise.
“AmIgladtoseeyou!”youcry.Youpulltheremoteoutofyourpocket.“Ididn’tmeantotakethis,”youexplain.“Ijustdidn’twantyoutoknowIbrokeit.ButwhenIputitbacktogether,Ithinksomethingwentwrong.See,Ipressedtheredbuttonand—”
“Wrong?”ProfessorShockinterrupts.“Whatdoyoumean?”Boy,hereallyisanabsent-mindedprofessor!“Uh—haven’tyounoticed
anythingstrange?”youask.“Likethefactthatallthemachinesaroundhereareoperatingthemselves?”
“Oh,that.”ProfessorShocksmiles.“What’swrongwiththat?That’swhatmyUniversalRemoteissupposedtodo.It’sworkingperfectly!StageOneiscomplete.”
Yourmouthfallsopen.StageOne?Youstareattheprofessorinhorror.Ishecompletelycrazy?
“Youmean…youmeantallthistohappen?”yousqueak.“Ofcourse.NowontoStageTwo,”ProfessorShocksays.Hetightensone
lastscrew.Thenheturnstherobottowardyou.“Robot!”hebarks.“Bringmethatremote!”
Yikes!HurryupandturntoPAGE43!
YoudecidetoramJasonwithyourbumpercar.Heneedstolightenupalittle.Maybethiswillhelp.
Youplacetheremotecontrolonthedashboard.Nowbothyourhandsarefreeforthesteeringwheel.
“HereIcome!”youshoutandzoomtowardJason’scar.Jasonglancesup.Hefrowns.“Cutitout,willyou?”hedemands.Andyanks
hissteeringwheeltotheright.Youshootpast,inchesfromtherearofhiscar.Missed!Hejustdoesn’tknowhowtohavefun.Youturnaroundinyourseat.“Come
on,Jason,beasport,”youcall.YouwonderwhyJasonandStaceyarebothstaringatyou.Andwhyaretheir
eyessowide?Youturnaround.Oh,no!Ahuge,angryfigureisstandingrightinfrontofyourbumpercar.Red!Hecaughtupwithyou!
TurntoPAGE76.
YoutakeadeepbreathandpresstheREWINDbutton.“Nnn…ON!”ProfessorShockscreams.On?Whatdoeshemean?youwonder.Butyoudon’thavetimetopuzzleitout.Therobotisstillafteryou!Its
copperfingersreachfortheUniversalRemote.Andthenitstepsback.Itshandfallstoitsside.Itkeepswalking.Backward.Backthewayitcame.“Etomerehtpuevig!”ProfessorShockcommands.Etomerehtpuevig?Soundslikenonsense.Butthere’ssomethingfamiliaraboutit….That’swhenyoufinallygetit.“Etomerehtpuevig”isthebackwardversionof“Giveuptheremote.”
That’swhatProfessorShockorderedyoutodoaminuteago.Thesceneisrewinding!Amomentlater,youstarttorewind,too.Allthewaybacktothebeginning!
TurnbacktoPAGE1.
You’rescared.Butyoudecideit’sbesttotellthetruth.“We—wecameforyourmirror,”youstammer.
“Mymirror?”theQueenscreeches.“Never!Noonemayhavemymirror!Ineedit.Ittellsmeeverything!”
“Weonlywantedtoborrowit,”youtellher.“Wewantedtolookatsomethingthroughit.”
TheQueenstaresatyouinsilenceforamoment.Thisisit,youthink.I’mabouttobecomeacarving!Shemakesahorribleface.Thenyourealizeshe’ssmiling!Shebeginsto
laugh.Itsoundslikeacowchoking.“Ilikeyourhonesty,”shesays.“Allright,I’llgiveyouachancetousemy
mirror.AndI’llrestoreyourfriends.Butyouhavetoearnyourchance.”“I’lldowhateveryousay,”youtellher.“Notsofast!”shewarns.“ThetaskIhaveinmindisdifficult.Andifyou
fail…”Shetrailsoffandgivesyouthatuglysmileagain.“Yourpunishmentwillbemylittlesurprise.”
Yougulp.Soundsrisky.Butyourfriendsneedyou!“I’lltakethechance,”youtelltheQueen.
TakeyourchancesonPAGE126.
YouchoosethepaththatsaysLOREO.Inthisbackwardworld,you’resureyou’llfindthePalacethatway!
“AROOO!”Asyouhurryalongtheleft-handpath,thehideoussoundgrowsfainter.Yourelax.Soonyou’llreachthePalace.Then,somehow,you’llfindthewayhome.
Theproblemis,youaren’tgettinganywhere.Afterwalkingforatleastanhour,you’restillinthewoods.Youpeerahead.Allyoucanseeis—morewoods!
“I’mtired,”Jasoncomplains.“I’mthirsty,”Staceyadds.Youpushthroughatangleofleaves.Andthenyoustop.“Oh,no!”Jasongroans.“Youandyourbrightideas,”Staceysnapsatyou.
What’sthematter?FindoutonPAGE115.
Youhearapplause.“ContestantNumberOne!”thevoicecalls.AspotlightskewersJason.“Turnaround!”
Jasonshrugs,thenturnsaround,showingoffhisweird,tall,skinnybody.Anunseenaudienceclapsenthusiastically.
“Numbertwo,”thevoiceordersStacey.“Smileatthecrowd.”Staceysmileswithhertinymouthandwaveseagerly.Theapplauseispolite.
Butitisn’tasloudasitwasforJason.“Numberthree,”thevoicebooms.Aspotlightshinesdownonyou.“Open
yourmouth.Showtheaudienceyourfabulousteeth.”Youdon’tknowwhatelsetodo,soyouobeythevoice.Yourmouthissobig
yourlowerjawhitsthefloor.Theaudienceyellsandhoots.Theyloveyou!“Andthewinneris—ContestantNumberThree!”thevoicedeclares.You’vewon!It’sweird,butyoufeelalmost…proud.Youwaveandbow,
blushingalloveryourenormousface.Thenthestagelightsgoout.Youcanfinallyseetheaudience.They’refun
housefreaks,justlikeyou!Theirfacesandbodiesaretwistedandwarped,bloatedandbent.
Andeverysingleoneofthemisgazingadoringlyatyou.Butdon’tletitgiveyouaswelledhead!
THEEND
Youglanceupfearfully.ThepersonclutchingyourshoulderisProfessorShock!“I’vebeenlooking
foryou,”hesays.Staceycrawlsthroughthewindow.Jasonisrightbehindher.“Professor!”
Staceyexclaims.“Whatareyoudoinghere?”“Wereyoufollowingus?”Jasondemandssuspiciously.“OfcourseIwas!”ProfessorShocksnaps.“Ihadtogetmyremoteback!
Luckily,youkidspushedtheredbutton.That’sahomingdevice.Still,myrobotandIhavebeenchasingyouallafternoon.”Hescowlsatyou.“Myrobottellsmeyouthrewcrumbsinhiseyes.”
YourememberthecookiecrumbsyouthrewatDeepVoice.ThatwasProfessorShock’srobot?Youstarttoblush.“I’msorryIcausedallthistrouble,”youmumble.“Well,there’snoseriousharmdone—yet,”ProfessorShockreplies.“Just
giveitback.”“Ican’t,”youadmit.“Thecyborgstookit.”“Oh,no!”ProfessorShockexclaims.“That’stheworstthingthatcould
possiblyhappen!”Thenhisgazefocusesoveryourshoulder.Hegasps.“Itakethatback,”hemurmurs.“Thisisworse.”
GotoPAGE87.
“IknowI’mright!”youshout.“Turnaround!”“You’recrazy!”Jasonwails.Buthedoeswhatyousay.Youspintofacethebull.He’schargingstraightatyou.Hishornslookas
sharpasshishkebabskewers.Whatifyou’rewrong?Toolatetothinkthatway.You’vemadeyourchoice.Soyousprinttowardthebull.Thetwinsrunoneithersideofyou,yelling.Youblink.Isityourimagination?Oristhebullalittlebitfartheraway?“Yes!”youshouttriumphantly.Witheverystepyoutake,thebullgets
smaller.Inaminute,it’saspeckinthedistance.Thenitvanishescompletely.“Itworked!”Staceycries.“Ifeelsick,”Jasongroans.Youlaugh.“Let’sgofindthatroadsignandseeifwecangobackhome
again!”
TurntoPAGE132.
“Iwantoneofthosecarvings,too,”youcryandreachforalittleonyxguitar.Asingle,piercingtoneringsinyourears.Theneverythingbecomesquiet.Veryquiet.Youtrytoglancearound.Hey!Youcan’tmoveyourhead!Infact,youcan’t
moveanypartofyourbody….Youcanfeelyourselfswaying.Stonewallsglidepastyoureyes.Backand
forth.Asifyou’reonaropeswing.Thenagustofwindspinsyouaround.Yourheartskipsabeat.You’re
staringatalife-sizestonecarvingofagirl.AgirlthatlooksalotlikeStacey.Itswingsfromathickchain,nexttoanequallylargecarvingofaredrose.
How’dtheygetacarvingofStacey?youwonder.Andwhataboutthatstonerose?Isn’tthatthesameoneStaceywastryingtopick?Somehowitgotbigger.Or…yougotsmaller.
Achillrunsthroughyou.Nowyourealizewhathappened.You’vebecomeoneofthecarvingsintheQueen’schamber!Youcatchsightofyourselfinamirrorasyouswingbyit.It’strue.There
youare,ingorgeousgreenmarble.Foreveryoung—that’snice.Butalsoforeverfrozen,danglingfromachain—whichisnotsonice.
Hanginthere,kid!
THEEND
Nowyouknowthesecretofescapingfromthemirrorworld.Allyouneedtodoisstepbackwardthroughamirror.
YouthanktheQueenandrushbacktotheentrancehall.Youandyourfriendsturnyourbacksonthelargestmirror,thenstepbackwardintoit.Youfeelthatstrange,rubberyfeelingagain,likewalkingthroughJell-O.
Thenextthingyouknow,you’rebackinProfessorShock’sgarage!Youandthetwinsgazearound.Everythinglooksnormal.Themirrorleans
againstthewall.Thebigcoloredswitchesareoff.“Let’sgetoutofhere!”youexclaim.Youandthetwinshurrythroughthefrontpartofthegarage.It’sstillpiled
withjunk.Butyoudon’tfeellikedoinganymorecleaning.Youjustwanttogetawayfromthisplace!
Thefrontdoorisopen.Youcanseeyourbikes,rightthereintheyard.Thenadarkfigureloomsinthedoorway.ProfessorShock!Andhe’sblockingyourwayout!“Oh,noyoudon’t!”heexclaims.“You’renotleavingnow—notafterwhat
you’vedone!”Heholdsupastrange-lookingblackboxwithalongtubeononeend.He
aimsthetubeatyou.“Don’tmove!”heshouts.
GotoPAGE116.
Youaren’tinthewoodsforlongbeforeyourealizethatsomethingiswrong.Verywrong.“Thisdoesn’tlooklikethepaththatwetookbefore,”Staceymurmurs.“This
pathisnarrower.”Yougazearound.Stacey’sright.Thepathisnarrower.Becausethevinesare
closinginagain!Youswallowhardandkeepwalking.Butsoonthere’shardlyanyroomto
move.Andyourfootiscaughtonsomething.Youglancedowntoseewhatitis.Athick,orangevinehaswrappeditself
aroundyourankle!Themoreyoutug,thetighterithugs.Andit’sclimbingyourleg….
“Atreejustgrabbedme!”Staceycries.“Let’sturnback!”“Backwhere?”Jasonyells.“TotheLoreo?Anyway,wecan’tgoback.We
canbarelyevenmove!”Thevineispastyourwaistnow.Yourmindchurnsfrantically.Isthishowit
willend?
TurntoPAGE34tofindout.
YouandthetwinshurrydownthepathtothePalace.Atonceyouheartheterrifyinghowlagain:“AROOOO!”
“Oh,no!”Staceycries.“What’smakingthatawfulnoise?”“It’sfollowingus,”Jasondeclares.Hestartstorun.YouandStaceytear
afterhim.“AROOOOO!AROOOOOO!”Thesoundgrowslouderandlouder.Itseemstobecomingfromeverywhere.
Itfillsyourhead.“Upthere!”Jasoncries.Hepointsupahead.Youscreechtoastopasahugeshadowfallsacrossthepath.Ashadowas
tallasabuilding.Withhundredsofarms.Andthousandsofgrasping,twitchingfingers.Frombehindtheshadow,thenoisethunders:“AROOOOOOO!”
“Getdown!”youwhisper.“Maybewecansneakpastit.”Youandthetwinsdroptoyourbelliesandcrawlalongthepath.Thenyou
stopinshock.Nowyoucanseewhat’scastingthathorrifyingshadow.Andwhat’smakingthatawfulsound!
TurntoPAGE13.
Youpeerintothenearestmirror.Yourfacegazesbackatyou.Butnoreddots.Nodotsofanycolor.
Youexamineanothermirror.Thenanother.Andanother.Youseeadot!No,wait—that’safreckle.
Yougazearoundindespair.Andthen—youspysomethingredinacorneroftheroom.
Yourushovertothecorner.Leaningagainstthewallisabottleofglasscleaner.Nexttoitisarag…withatinyredsmudgeonit.
Youpickuptheragandgazeatitindespair.Nowonderyoucouldn’tfindthedot.Someonecleanedallthemirrors!The
reddotisgone!Andyou’retrapped…forever.Toobad.Dot’sthewaythecookiecrumbles!
THEEND
“Gothroughthere!”youshouttothetwins.YoupushJasonthroughthegapbetweenthetentandtheground.Thenyoudiveforityourself.
TheLoreopounces,pinningyoutothefloor.Itsmouthissocloseyoucancounteveryoneofitspointedteeth.
“Help!”youscream.“Goaway!”Staceyshouts.Shepicksuponeofthenearbymirrorsand
smashesitovertheLoreo’shead.TheLoreoisstunned!Onlyforamoment.Butthat’sallthetimeyouand
Staceyneedtosqueezethroughthegap.BehindyoutheLoreoscreamsinanger.Alongtearappearsinthesideofthe
tent.Thenanother.It’stryingtoclawitswayout.Itwantsitsdinner!Youdon’twaitaround.Thethreeofyourunasfastasyoucanawayfrom
thewoods.Injustamoment,you’rebackamongthetrees,pushingthroughvines.You’removingtowardtheforkthatwilltakeyoutothePalaceofMirrors.
Orareyou?
GoontoPAGE108.
DeepVoiceloomsoveryou,hishandoutstretched.Yougulp.Anychanceyoucanbluffyourwayoutofthis?“Givewhatto
you?”youask,tryingtosoundinnocent.“Theremotecontrol,dimwit!”Jasoncries.“Jason!”yougroan.“Idon’thavetimetoexplain,”DeepVoicesays.“Trustme.Youmustgive
meProfessorShock’sremote!”“Maybeweshouldtrusthim,”Staceywhispers.Youaren’tsure.Maybeitwouldbebettertotrytorun.“Hurry!There’snotimetolose,”DeepVoiceinsists.
IfyougiveDeepVoicetheremote,turntoPAGE119.Ifyou’drathertrytorun,gotoPAGE124.
Andthen…themonsterrobotfreezes.Itsshovelhandsareonlyinchesfromyourhead.“What?”Redyells.Heholdsuptheremoteandpunchesbuttonsfuriously.Nothinghappens.Youstarttobreatheagain.Cautiously,youputthehosedownandstepout
fromundertheshadowoftheshovel.Redisstilljabbingattheremote.“Arrgh!Idon’tbelieveit!”thecyborg
screams.Hehurlstheremotecontroldownonthepavement.Itsmashesintoahundredpieces.
Redsinkstohiskneesinthemiddleoftheparkinglot.“Allmyplans…mydreams…”hewails.“Ruined!”
“Idon’tbelieveit!”yousay.Thecyborgiscryinglikeababy!ProfessorShockputsahandonyourshoulder.“Welldone,”hetellsyou.
“We’resaved!”
TurntoPAGE90.
“Calmdown!”thevoicecries.Yourelax.That’sProfessorShock’svoice.Andit’shisfaceinthemirror—
notyouasanoldperson.Whatarelief!“Whatareyoudoinginthere?”youask.“Itisn’treallyme,”heanswers.“It’smyreflection.Anditwasmoretrouble
thanyouknowtogetittoappear.”Youdon’thavetimetochat.“Please—getusoutofhere!”“Ican’t,”theprofessoranswers.“YouneedtheQueen’smirrortoescape.”“Weknowthat!”youexclaim.“Butwecan’tfindit!”“It’sinoneoftheQueen’schambers,”theprofessortellsyou.“TheQueen’s
chambersaretheroomsfullofstonecarvings.Unfortunately,that’sthemostdangerouspartofthebackwardworld.Bevery,verycarefulwhenyou—”
Youwaitfortheprofessortofinishhissentence.Buthisimagesuddenlybeginstoflicker.Hislipsmovebutyoucan’thearhisvoice.
“What?”youyell.“Speakup,Professor!”
TurntoPAGE5.
You’veemergedfromtheforestintoameadow.Inthecenterstandsabig,yellow-stripedtent.AsignoverthetentdoorwaysaysSEETHEAMAZINGLOREO.
Thesignonthepathwasn’tbackwardafterall!ThePalacemustbetheotherway!
“Let’sstartwalkingback,”Jasonsaysgrumpily.“Wait!”Staceyexclaims.“IwanttoseetheLoreo.”You’recuriousyourself.“Me,too,”youtellJason.Youstepuptothedoorwayofthetent.Athinmaninatallblackhatholds
uphishandtostopyou.“Tickets?”hedemands.“Wheredowebuythem?”youask.“Buythem?”themanrepeats.Helaughs.“Whatanidea!Youdon’tbuy
them.Igivethemtoyou.”Youshouldhaveguessed.It’sbackward!Themanhandseachofyouaticket.“Haveaseatinside,”hesays.“The
Loreowillappearshortly.”Youstepthroughthedoorway.Theinsideofthetentislinedwithmirrors.
Andoneofthemlooksexactlylikethemirroryoucamethroughtoenterthisbackwardworld!
Yourushuptoit.Maybeyourproblemsareover!
TurntoPAGE66.
Youcan’tbelieveit!Aftereverythingyou’vebeenthrough,thiscrazyoldmanhaspulledsomekindofraygunonyou!
“We’resorry!”youexclaim.“Weknowweweren’tsupposedtogointhebackroom.”
“Wedidn’tmeanto!”Staceyadds.“Letusgo!”“Please,don’tshootus!”Jasonbegs.“Shootyou?”ProfessorShocklooksannoyed.“Butyoumadeitthroughthe
mirrorworld.Noone’severdonethat!Imustcapturethemoment!Now,juststepintothelightsoIcanshootacoupleofpictures.Thenyoucanleave.”
You’renotsureyouheardcorrectly.Pictures?“Youmeanthat’sacamera?”Staceyasks.“Yes,”theprofessorreplies.“Iinventeditmyself.It’sveryspecial.”Ashe
talks,heclicksaway.“Yousee,onceI’vephotographedyou,youcanstepintothefilmnegativeandfindyourselfinanegativeworld.I’msureyou’dloveit…”
You’veheardenough.“Soundscool,Professor,”yousayasyoupushJasonandStaceytowardtheirbikes.“Butwehavetogonow.Maybesomeotherday.”Maybesomeotherlifetime!
Butasyourideaway,Stacey’salreadystartingtosay,“Itmightbefun.Maybeweshouldcomebacktomorrow….”
“Noway!”youshout.“I’vehadenough.Andthat’s
THEEND!”
“What’sthatnoise?”Jasoncries.“Idon’tknow!”youwhisper.“AROOOOO!”Thesoundisloudernow.Closer.EvenStaceyisscared.“Maybeweshouldgoback,”shesays.Youstopandglanceback.Thickvineshavegrownovertheplacesyou
walked.Thepathisgone!Youtrytobreakthevinesapart.Buttheygrowbackinstantly.
Yougulp.“We’llhavetokeepgoing,”youassert.“AROOOOOO!”Thistimethehowlissoloudthatthegroundshakes.Your
eyesdartaroundfearfully.Youcan’tseeanythingthroughthesethickvines!What’soutthere?
“Comeon!”Jasoncries.Hetakesoffrunning.Yourheartthudding,youtearafterhim.Stacey’srightbehindyou.
Quick!DashtoPAGE95.
Thecarvingisoftwoturtlesfacingeachother.Buttheyaren’tordinaryturtles.Theyhavehumanfaces—angryhumanfaces!Theturtlesappeartobearguingwitheachother.
Youcan’thelpsmiling.TheylooklikeJasonandStacey.JasonandStacey!Yourheartpounds.Youexaminethecarvingclosely.Thefacesareyour
friends’faces.You’resureofit!ThisiswhattheQueentransformedyourfriendsinto!You’vefoundthem!
Butwhatshouldyoudonext?You’retemptedtoslipthecarvinginyourpocketandmakeabreakforit.If
youmanagetoescape,you’llhavethecarvingwithyou.Andthen,somehow,maybe,you’llfindawaytoturnJasonandStaceybackintoreal,livekids.
Ontheotherhand,maybeyoushouldpolishthecarvingandhangitup.Afterall,theQueensaidthatifyoudidn’tpolishallthecarvings,you’dbepunished.Whoknowswhatherpowerscando?Maybeyou’dbetterobeyher!
Quick!Makeadecision.Timeisrunningout!
Ifyoupockettheturtlesandmakeabreakforit,turntoPAGE133.Ifyougoonwithyourpolishing,turntoPAGE30.
Youbiteyourlip.“Allright,”yousay.“I’lltrustyou.”Pullingouttheremote,youhandittoDeepVoice.Youhopeyoudidthe
rightthing.DeepVoicewhipsoutawalkie-talkie.“We’resecure!”hebarksintoit.Thenextinstant,banksofheadlightsflashon,blindingyou.Dozensofmen
insuitspouroutofparkedcars.“What’sgoingon?”Staceycries.“Whoareyouguys?”Jasondemands.“I’mAgentJones.We’rewiththegovernment,”DeepVoicereplies.
“ProfessorShockisourtopweaponsdesigner.”Hewavestheremoteintheair.“Youkidshavebeenplayingwithaverydangeroustoyhere!AllIcansayis,thankgoodnesswegotitbackbeforeyoupushedtheredbutton.”
Yourheartthuds.“Uh,well,actually…”youmumble.AgentJonesstaresatyouinhorror.“Youmeanyoudidpresstheredbutton?
Oh,no!When?”“Aboutanhourago.”Yougulp.“Wh-whatdoesitdo?”AgentJonesshakeshisheadsolemnly.“Youdon’twanttoknow.Let’sjust
say,we’realldoomed.Wehaveonlyafewsecondsleftbefore
THEEND.”
Inthecenteroftheparkinglot,themonsterrobot’sTV-screeneyesblinkon.It’sready.Readytocrushyou!“Whathappensnow?”Staceygasps.“ProfessorShock,telluswhattodo!”youcry.“Helpus!”Jasonbegs,grabbingtheoldman’sarm.“Stopthat!”ProfessorShocksnaps.“I’mtryingtothink.”Closinghiseyes,
hebeginstomumbletohimself.Andthenhestartstosnore.Youcan’tbelieveit!Youfeellikescreaming.Whatatimefortheprofessor
totakeanap!Jasontugsyoursleeve.“Theprofessor’stoooldforthis.Let’sgogetUncle
Jack,”hewhispers.“He’llknowwhattodo.”Youhesitate.Youhavetoadmit,it’sabadsignthatProfessorShockfell
asleep.Butstill,youbelievehe’sagenius.Maybethisisthewayhegetsallhisideas.
Maybeyoushouldwaitforhimtowakeup.
IfyouwanttowaitforProfessorShocktowakeup,turntoPAGE84.Ifyou’drathergetUncleJack,doitonPAGE10.
“Run!”youshout.Youandthetwinstakeoff.“Stop!”Thepolicemanpoundsafteryou.Thelakeisjustahead.Abluerowboatbobsatasmalldock.“Headforthe
boat!”youcall.Youreachthedockandjumpintotheboat.Amomentlater,Staceyjumpsin
afteryou.ButwhereisJason?“Help!”Jasonshouts.YouandStaceyglanceback.Jasonhastrippedonarock!Thepolicemanaimsalongtubeathim.There’s
apop.ThenanetsailsthroughtheairanddropsoverJason.“I’vegotyounow!”thepolicemanyells.“Untietheboat!”youinstructStacey.“I’llhelpJason.”Yourunbacktoyourfriend.He’sstrugglingagainstthenet.“Holdstill!”
youcommand.Graspingthenet,youwrapitmoretightlyaroundJason’sbody.“Stopit!”Jasonshrieks.“You’remakingittighter!”“Don’tsquirm,”youtellhim.Tighteningthenetistheonlywayyoucan
thinkoftomakeitloose.Youpulliteventighter.Thenetfallsoff!YouhelpJasonupandstartrunning.Thepolicemanisrightbehindyou.You
jumpintotheboat.“Row!”youshout.
RowtoPAGE55.
“Getintothebumpercars!”youorderthetwins.Jasonstaresatyou.“Areyoucrazy?We’rebeingchasedbyamaniac!This
isnotimeforgames!”hesnaps.“Iknowthat,”youanswerimpatiently.“Justgetin.Ihaveaplan.”Grumbling,Jasonclimbsintoagreenbumpercar.YouhelpStaceyintoa
blueone,thenyoujumpintoaredone.YoupulloutProfessorShock’sremoteandstartpunchingbuttons.
Whenyouhitthesixthblackbutton,thebumpercarsstarttomove.Itworks!Youcancontrolthemwiththeremote!
“See?Wecanridetheseoutofthemall,”youexplain.“Cool!”Staceysaysenthusiastically.“Nicethinking,”Jasonadmits.Hestartstosteerhiscaroutofthering.“Waitaminute,”youcall.Youpeerthroughthegloomtothestairwell.No
signofRedyet.Youknowit’scrazy.Butyou’rejustdyingtoplaybumpercarsonemore
time.Justonce,beforethemallistorndownandtheKiddieKarnivalisgoneforever.
Thequestionis,whoshouldyouram?
Ifyou’dratherbumpJason,gotoPAGE99.IfyoudecidetobumpStacey,turntoPAGE18.
“It’sobvious,”youdeclare.“We’llgothroughthemirrorthatshowsourownreflections.That’lltakeusbacktotherealworld.”
“Areyousure?”Jasonasksanxiously.Youstandinfrontofthemirrorandgazein.Behindyourthreereflectionsis
afamiliarscene.“Look!”Staceyexclaims.“It’sMiller’s.”Whenyouseetheice-creamstore,yourlastdoubtsvanish.Miller’sisin
yourneighborhood.Whenyoustepthroughthismirror,you’llpracticallybehome!
“Let’sgo!”youurgeandstepforward.Butasyourfootmovestowardthemirror,yourreflectedfacetwistsinterror.
Yourreflectedmouthopensasifyou’rescreaming.Youfeelyourrealface.Itseemsnormal.Yourmouthisclosed.What’sgoing
on?“Ourreflections!They’regoingcrazy!”Jasondeclares.“Somethingisscaringthem,”Staceyadds.Thenshegasps.“Hey,look!
They’rerunningaway!Quick!Let’sgoafterthem!”“Andgetcaughtbywhateverisscaringthem?”Jasonscoffs.“Noway!Isay
westayrighthere.They’llcomeback.”Whatdoyouthink?
Ifyougoafteryourreflections,turntoPAGE9.Ifyou’dratherwaitandseewhathappens,turntoPAGE42.
Thinkingfast,youreachintoyourpocket.“Smartchoice,kid,”DeepVoicetellsyou.“Iknow,”youanswer—andhurlahandfulofcrunched-upcookiecrumbs
athisface.Remember?Youtookthecookieswithyouwhenyouleftyourhouse.In
Scoutcamp,theytaughtyouthatit’salwaysagoodideatocarryasnack.Goodthingyouwerepayingattentionthatday!“Aaaagh!Ican’tsee!”DeepVoicebellows.Hestumblesbackward,rubbing
hiseyes.“Run!”youshouttoJasonandStacey.Thethreeofyoupeltthroughthegarage.Enoughlightshinesfromthe
elevatortoshowyouastaircaseahead.Youdon’thesitate.Youtakeoffupthestairs.
SpeedontoPAGE127.
“We’llwaitfortheLoreo,”youdecide.Yourememberwhathappenedlasttimeyousteppedthroughamirror.It’stooriskytotrywithoutknowingwhatyou’redoing!
YouandJasonseatyourselves.Stacey,ofcourse,hastoomuchenergytostayinoneplace.Shewandersaroundthetent,peeringintoalltheothermirrors.
“Hey!Lookatthis,guys,”shecallssuddenly.YouandJasoncrosstowhereshe’sstaringintoabig,strange-lookingmirror
witharedframe.Youpeekin.“Cool!”youexclaimwhenyouglimpseyourreflections.Stacey’sheadistiny.Yourheadisasbigasawatermelon,whileyourbody
iswide,fat,andveryshort.Jasonisincrediblytallandskinnyandcrimpedlikeacrinkle-cutfrenchfry.
“It’safunhousemirror!”Jasoncries.“Maybewecouldstepthroughit,”Staceysays,hereyessparkling.“That
couldbereallyfun!”Beforeyoucananswer,aloudroarsplitstheair.Itsoundsasifawholepride
oflionsisapproaching!
GoontoPAGE130.
TheQueenleadsyoutoanother,smallerroom.It’spiledhighwithlittlestonestatues.Butthesearen’tshinyandbright,liketheonesinthebigcave.Thesesimplylooklikecarvedrocks.
“Thesearemynewcarvings,”theQueentellsyou.“Polishthem!Ifyoufinishthemintwohours,I’llreturnyourfriendstotheirtrueforms.I’llalsoletyouusemymirror.Butifyoufail—lookout!”
Yougazeatthepilesofcarvingsinpanic.Therearethousandsofthem!TheQueenhandsyouaragandacanofwax.“Bettergetstarted,”shetells
you,cackling.Thensheleaves.Yougrabthenearestcarvingandstartrubbingwaxoverit.Graduallyit
becomesadeep,glowingblue.Yousetitasideandgrabanother.Asquicklyasyoucan,youpolishcarvingaftercarving.Yourubwaxona
stoneapple,alittlehouse,awoodpecker.Allofthemgrowshinyandbeautiful.Butafteranhour,you’vebarelyevenmadeadentinthepile.Bitingyour
lip,youpickupanothercarving.Youstartpolishinggrimly.Thenyounoticesomethingveryoddaboutthe
littlestatue.
Findoutwhat’ssooddonPAGE118.
Youandthetwinsraceuptothethirdlevelofthemall.Youglanceoveryourshoulder.Whew!NosignofDeepVoice.
Youpushthroughthefiredooratthetopandstoptorest.“Whowasthatguy?”Staceypants.“Somebodybad,”Jasonretorts.Youstaredownattheremoteinyourhand.WhoeverDeepVoicewas,he
wasdesperatetogetthegadgetfromyou.Why?youwonder.Allitdoesisturnthingsonandoff.
Oristheresomethingelseyouhaven’tfoundout?Thetwinsleadyouthroughtheempty,echoingmalltoasmallstorelabeled
JACK’SELECTRONICS—REPAIRSANDSALES.It’stheonlystoreyou’veseensofarthatisn’tboardedup.
“ThisisUncleJack’sstore,”Staceyannounces.Youwalkin.Thestoreisfilledwithtelevisions,telephones,amplifiers,and
dozensofothermachines.Butthere’snoonebehindthecounter.Thesilenceiseerie.
“UncleJack!”Jasoncalls.Heducksunderthecounterandvanishesintothebackroom.
Amomentlateryouhearayell.
GotoPAGE29.
Youdecidetofinishinvestigatingtheentrancehallbeforeyoutryanydoors.You’returningbacktorejointhetwinswhensomeonecallsyourname.
That’sfunny.Thevoiceisfamiliar,butitdoesn’tbelongtoeitherofthetwins.Andit’scomingfromnearby!
Youglancearound.Atfirstyoudon’tseeanything.Thenyouspotanold,crackedmirrorhangingbyitselfinadarkcornerofthedoorway.Youpeerintoit.
Andgasp.Ahideous,witheredoldfacestaresbackatyou!It’ssowrinkledyoucan
hardlyseeitseyes.Yourheartthunders.There’ssomethingfamiliarabouttheface.You’veseen
itbefore.Itremindsyouof…Coulditbe—you?Asanoldperson?Youscream.
GoontoPAGE114.
ThesprayofwaterhitstherobotsquarelyinitsTV-screeneyes.FZZZTT!Thegiantscreensexplode.Bitsofglassraindownonthe
pavement.“Allright!”You,Jason,andStaceycheerlikeidiots.ButyouforgotaboutRed.Waterwon’tstophim.Andyou’vejustmadehim
very,veryangry.“Youkidsarereallystartingtobugme!”thecyborgbellows.“Timetodeal
withyouonceandforall!”Hejabsanotherbuttonontheremotecontrol.Andthemonsterrobotturnstowardyou.“Help!”Jasonshrieks.“No!”Staceycries.“Spray!”youyellatthetopofyourlungs.Youaimthewaterattherobot’slegs.Itsarms.Yousoakeverypartofits
metalbody.Butbulldozersandsteamrollersaren’tlikeTVs.They’rebuilttoworkinthe
rain.Themonsterrobotkeepscoming.Onehugebulldozershovelloomsoveryourhead.Theotherispoisedover
StaceyandJason.Youknowyou’redoomed.“Crushthem!”Redcries.Andthen—
ThenWHAT??TurntoPAGE113tofindout.
Yourstomachknots.“Wh-what’sthat?”youstammer.“Ibetit’stheLoreo,”Jasonpredictsglumly.“RRROWWWWWRRRR!”Ahuge,tanbeastboundsintothetent.It’sbuilt
likealion,onlybigger.Itstoesaretippedwithknifelikeclaws.Butthething’sclawsaren’tnearlyasscaryasitsface.Itlookslikeafurrycrocodile,withapointedsnoutandsharp,jaggedteeth.Hundredsofthem.Andthey’resnappingatyou.
Theticketmanpopshisheadthroughthedoorway.“Here’stheLoreo,”heannouncescheerfully.“Tah-dah!”
“We’veseenenough!”youshout.“Takeitaway!”“Sorry,”hereplies.“It’stimefortheLoreo’sdinner.”“Whatdoesiteat?”Staceyasks.Theticketmansmiles.“Kids!”hereplies.Staceygulps.“CouldweforgetIasked?”shemutters.TheLoreoamblestowardyou,drooling.Youglancearounddesperately.
There’sagapbetweenthetentandthegrassoutside.CanyousqueezethroughbeforetheLoreopounces?Orshouldyoutrytostepthroughthefunhousemirror?
DuckthroughthegaponPAGE111.TrythefunhousemirroronPAGE92.
Thecorridoropensintoabigcave.Hangingfromtheceilingarehundredsoftinyobjects.Allaremadeofcarved,polishedstones.Theytwistandturnontheirchains,andrainbowsofcoloredlightbouncethroughthehugeroom.
“Cool!”Staceycries.Sherushesin.Thestoneobjectstinkleasshepasses.Youglanceuptoseeatinyhorsehangingonaslendersilverchain.Itlooksjustlikearealhorse.Butit’smadeofpolishedrock.
“Lookatthis!”Jasonshouts.Hepointstoatinybluemotorcyclehangingjustinsidetheentrance.
“Whatabeautifulflower!”Staceygushes,pointingtoaredrose.“Itlookssoreal!I’mgoingtopickit!”
DidyoujustgetapieceofadvicefromProfessorShock?Ifyoudid,turntoPAGE65.
Ifyoudidn’t,turntoPAGE106.
Thesignisasfarawayasiteverwas.Butnowyouknowhowtogettoit.“Allwehavetodoiswalkinthewrongdirection,”youpointout.
“Cool!Let’sgo,”Staceysays.Inafewminutes,youreachthesign.Itsays:
THEPALACEHOLDSTHEKEY.
DISCOVERTHEQUEEN’SMIRROR
ANDYOU’LLSOONBEHOMEFREE.
Anarrowpointsaheadintoathick,darkforest.“ThePalace?”Staceyexclaims.“TheQueen?”“Whowrotethis?”youask.“Whatdoesitmean?”“Ithinkit’sforus,”Jasonannounces.“Ithinkitmeansthatthewayhomeis
throughthisPalaceplace.”Jasonmaybekindoftimid,buthe’sprettysmart.“Soundsgoodtome,”you
declare.“Let’sgo.”Bywalkingintheoppositedirection,youandthetwinsaresooninthe
forest.It’sagloomyplace.Thetreesaresothickthathardlyanylightcangetthrough.Long,slimy,purple-leafedvineschokethepath.Youhearthingsmovinginthebushes.
“AROOOO!”Aloud,deepsoundboomssomewhereupahead.It’sacrossbetweenahowlandagrowl.
TurntoPAGE117.
Quickly,yousliptheturtlecarvingintoyourpocket.Youglancearound.Theroomisempty—whocouldbewatchingyou?Still,youcan’thelpfeelingasthoughthereareeyesonyou.Hiddeneyes.
Nervously,youreachforanothercarvingandstartpolishing.Betterkeepbusyincaseanyonecomesinwhileyou’replanningyourescape.
Thenthedoorslamsopen.“HOWDAREYOUTRYTOSTEALMYCARVING?”theQueenrages.
Shetowersoveryou.Herblotchyfaceistwistedinfury.“I—Ididn’tmean—”youstammer.“Itwasjust—”“SILENCE!”theQueenorders.“Ithoughtyouwerehonest.Butyou
betrayedmytrust!”Shegrabsyoubythearm.“Nowyou’llhavetobepunished!”
TakeyourpunishmentonPAGE25.
MaybeyoucanturnonalltheappliancesinthestoreanddistractRed!Youpulltheremoteoutofyourpocket.
Badmove.“I’lltakethat!”Redsays.Movingunbelievablyquickly,helungesatyou.Theremotefliesoutofyour
handandskidsunderthecounter.Youandthetwinsleaptowardthecounter.Redisfaster.Hedivesunderthecounter.Amomentlaterhebobstohisfeet.Theremote
isclutchedinhishand.“Thanks,kids!Andgood-bye,”Redcalls.Laughingnastily,hepointsthe
remoteatthefloorbeneathyourfeet.Atrapdooropensup.Youandthetwinshurtleintothedarknessbelow.
PlungetoPAGE27.
Youpressabuttonwithyourrightthumb.Nothinghappens.Foramoment,thatis.Thenadim,blueglowfillstheelevator.Asittouchesyou,youstarttotingle
allover.“What’sgoingon?”Staceycries.“Thisfeelssoweird!”“Idon’tknow,”youadmitnervously.Thebluelightsuddenlywinksout.Thenextthingyouknow,theelevator
leapsintomotion.Sideways.Thesuddenmovementknocksyouoffyourfeet.Theremotefliesoutof
yourhand.“Whoa!”youyell.Theelevatoristravelingsofastthatyou’replastered
againstthewall.Youcan’tmove!“Wherearewegoing?”Staceycries.“Makeitstop!”Jasonscreams.“Usetheremote!”“Ican’t.Idroppedit!”youshout.Then,assuddenlyastheelevatorstarted,itstops.Thedoorsslideopen.Lightpoursin.
TurntoPAGE20.
BEWARE!!DONOTREADTHIS
BOOKFROMBEGINNINGTOEND!
MeTarzan.YouDoomed…You’reonvacationinSouthAmerica.Allreadyforsomerealjungleaction:
tigers,quicksand,swingingonvines!Thenyoueatsomeenchantedfruitandstartchangingintoahideousscaly
monster!Nowtigersaretheleastofyourworries…You’vegottofindawaytogetbacktonormal.Andfast.Beforeyour
friendsleaveyoubehindinthejungleofdoom!Butfirst,you’llhavetoescapealakefullofviciouspiranhas.Orfindyour
wayoutofanundergroundcavern.Ortakeyourchanceswithatribeofheadhunters!
You’reincontrolofthisscaryadventure.Youdecidewhatwillhappen.Andhowterrifyingthescareswillbe.
StartonPAGE1.Thenfollowtheinstructionsatthebottomofeachpage.Youmakethechoices.
Maketherightchoicesandlivetotellthetale.Makethewrongchoice…andBEWARE!
SOTAKEALONG,DEEPBREATH,CROSSYOURFINGERS,ANDTURNTOPAGE1TOGIVEYOURSELFGOOSEBUMPS!
“Allright,JuniorExplorers,IdirectyourattentiontothismagnificentspecimenofBromeliadaechmea…”
Onandontheguide,Mrs.Wheedle,drones.Youcan’tbelieveyou’restuckonanaturestudytour!
WhenyousawthebrochurefortheJuniorExplorerAdventureClubatthefrontdeskofyourhotel,itlookedgreat.Threedayshikinginthejunglewithtenotherkidsyourageandan“experiencedjungleguide.”Howcool!
“Comeon,”youbeggedyourparents.“We’reinSouthAmericaandyouwantmetositbythepoolallday?Icoulddothatathome.Whydidyoutakemetoaforeigncountryifyoudidn’twanttoexposemetonewthings?”
NowyouwishyourparentshadsaidNO!Atleastyourbestfriend,Zoe,iswithyouonthehike.And,eventhoughtheguideisasboringaspossible,thejungleisprettycool.Heavyvineshangcrisscrossedoverthetrail.Strangeandbeautifulflowersindeepcolorssproutfromeveryside.
AsyoufollowbehindZoe,younoticeastrangespikyflowerwithbrightbluepetalsofftothesideofthetrail.Absentmindedly,youreachouttotouchit.
Asuddenbreezemakesthebrightbluepetalsshiver.“NOOOOOOOOO!”theflowerscreams.Youpullyourhandbackatthelastsecond!
RacetoPAGE2.
“NOOOOOOOOO!”thescreamcontinues.“Don’ttouchthatflower!”It’sonlyMrs.Wheedle.“What’swrong?”youask.“Isitpoisonous?Doesitshootvenomor
somethingcool?”“Ofcoursenot!”Mrs.Wheedlehuffs.“Thatflowerisanendangeredspecies.
Youcouldhavekilledit!”Sheturnsandmarchesbacktothefrontofthegroup.“Whew!Thatwasacloseone!”Zoesays,brushingthebangsawayfromher
eyes.“Forasecondthere,Ithoughtsomethingexcitingwasactuallygoingtohappen!”
Zoe’scool.Waycool.That’soneofthereasonsshe’syourbestfriend.Shehasasarcasticremarkforeverysituation.Andshe’snotscaredofanything.
That’swhyyouknowshe’sjustasanxiousasyouaretobreakawayfromthegroupanddosomerealexploring.
Justamomentago,throughthetrees,yousawsomethingelsethatwasdefinitelyworthcheckingout.
Thereitisagain.Offtotheright.Abouttwentyyardsaway.Incredible!Yourheartskipsabeatatwhatyousee.
FindoutwhatitisonPAGE37!
R.L.Stine’sbooksarereadallovertheworld.Sofar,hisbookshavesoldmorethan300millioncopies,makinghimoneofthemostpopularchildren’sauthorsinhistory.BesidesGoosebumps,R.L.StinehaswrittentheteenseriesFearStreetandthefunnyseriesRottenSchool,aswellastheMostlyGhostlyseries,TheNightmareRoomseries,andthetwo-bookthrillerDangerousGirls.R.L.StinelivesinNewYorkwithhiswife,Jane,andMinnie,hisKingCharlesspaniel.Youcanlearnmoreabouthimatwww.RLStine.com.
GoosebumpsbookseriescreatedbyParachutePress,Inc.Copyright©1997byScholasticInc.
Allrightsreserved.PublishedbyScholasticInc.,Publisherssince1920.SCHOLASTIC,GOOSEBUMPS,GOOSEBUMPSHORRORLAND,andassociatedlogosare
trademarksand/orregisteredtrademarksofScholasticInc.
Thepublisherdoesnothaveanycontroloveranddoesnotassumeanyresponsibilityforauthororthird-partywebsitesortheircontent.
AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,transmitted,
downloaded,decompiled,reverseengineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofthepublisher.Forinformationregardingpermission,writetoScholasticInc.,Attention:PermissionsDepartment,557Broadway,New
York,NY10012.
Thisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,andincidentsareeithertheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously,andany
resemblancetoactualpersons,livingordead,businessestablishments,events,orlocalesisentirelycoincidental.
Firstedition,February1997
e-ISBN978-0-545-84176-4