Read Online Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein - Free Book Online

vibrating pedestal chair, thumbing his controller. As his avatar sloshed through a sewer pipe, the subwoofers built into his seat made every
SQUISH!
and
SPLAT!
rumble across the floor.
    “Whoa!” said Kyle. “Knock it off, Charles. You’re pumping out total tear gas.”
    “Because I’m in the sewers underneath the horse stables. It’s the secret way out of the castle. I’m going to win another game. That’s two for me, Keeley. How many for you?”
    “Yo,” said Miguel. “This room is two stories above the café. The ductwork is connected.”
    “What’s your point?”
    “You’re making everybody’s food downstairs smell like horse manure!”
    “Who cares? I’m winning.”
    Charles’s chair went
FLUMP!
again.
    But this time, Kyle smelled … pine trees?
    Like one of those evergreen air fresheners people hang inside their cars.
    “Aw, this stupid thing is broken.” Charles jumped out of the chair and reared back to kick it.
    “Um, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” said Kyle.
    “Why not?”
    “Because there’s a security camera over there and it’s aimed right at you.”
    “What? Where?”
    “See the blinking red light?”
    Suddenly, an image of Kyle pointing up at the camera lens appeared on every video screen in the Electronic Learning Center.
    Until he was replaced by Mr. Lemoncello.

“Excellent escape plan, Charles,” said Mr. Lemoncello on the video screens.
    “Thank you, sir,” said Chiltington, smoothing out his khaki pants. “And just so you know, I saw an ant crawling up the side of this seat. That’s why I almost kicked it.”
    “How very thoughtful of you, Charles.”
    “Mr. Lemoncello?” said Akimi.
    “Yes?”
    “How come the sewer started smelling like a pine tree?”
    “Because I enjoy the odor of pine trees much more than the stench of horse poop. How about you?”
    “Definitely.”
    “Now then, will everybody else please join us upstairs in the Electronic Learning Center? I have a very important announcement to make.”
    Kyle heard feet clomping up the stairs and soon Andrew, Bridgette, Yasmeen, Sean, Haley, Rose, and Kayla hurried into the room.
    “Are we all here?” said Mr. Lemoncello.
    “Everybody except Sierra Russell,” said Kyle.
    “Ah, yes. I saw her downstairs reading
When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead. We’ll reach her later. It’s nearly noon and I’m eager to move on to the next round of our competition.”
    “What competition?” asked Yasmeen Smith-Snyder.
    “The one we are about to begin.”
    “Sir?” said Sean Keegan. “I have stuff to do today.”
    “That’s fine, Sean. You are, of course, free to leave. If any of the rest of you do not wish to stay and play, kindly deposit your library cards in the discard pile.”
    A tile in the floor popped open and an empty goldfish bowl atop an ornate column rose up about three feet.
    “Just drop it in the bowl there, Sean. Attaboy. Follow the flashing red arrows in the floor to the nearest exit, where you will receive a lovely parting gift along with my everlasting admiration for your essay-writing abilities.”
    Bright red arrows danced across the floor. Sean followed them.
    “What happens if we decide to stay?” asked Akimi.
    “You will be given the chance to play a brand-new, exciting game!”
    “Is there a prize for the winner?” demanded Haley Daley.
    “Oh, yes.”
    Now Miguel shot up his hand. “Mr. Lemoncello? What do we have to do to win?”
    “Simple: Find your way
out
of the library using only what’s
in
the library.”
    “Awesome!”
    “Lame,” mumbled Kayla Corson. “I’m outta here.”
    She plunked her library card into the fishbowl and followed the blinking arrows out the door.
    “Does anyone else want or need to leave?”
    “Sorry, sir. I have soccer at two,” said Rose Vermette. “See you guys later.” She dropped her card into the discard bowl.
    The instant she did, bells rang, confetti fell from the ceiling, and every electronic console in the game room