Read Online They Came From Planet Q by Laura Dower - Free Book Online

grandma who lifted a car to get to her kitty-cat out from underneath? I felt like that grandma.
    Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrgh!
    As I rushed forward, the biggest robot paused and raised up his steely arm. I held up that very large chunk of firequartz in front of me, sort of like an offering. I was testing the bot.
    Would he take it?
    â€œStop!” Stella screamed. “He’s going to squash us like pancakes, I just know it. Lindsey, back up! Run away! This is dangerous!”
    â€œNo, he sees the rock!” Damon cried. “Way to go, Lindsey! He sees the rock! He wants the rock!”
    He wants the rock!
    Turns out, he didn’t go for the rock.
    Instead he grabbed me and lifted me high into the air. I lost my grip and the slab went careening for the ground, breaking it in two.

CHAPTER 15
    MAGNETIC NO MORE

    I screamed.
    Well, of course I screamed.
    Who wouldn’t scream if a massive robot from outer space grabbed her with its metal claw?
    â€œLindsey!” the other three members of the Monster Squad cried. They were screaming, too—a lot. From where I was dangling, I could see them waving their arms around, too.

    Damon turned white as a ghost. No big surprise there.
    Stella had assumed her usual “I’m gonna kick your butt” pose. Hard to believe that she actually thought she could take on thirty-six robots! But she was always ready to try!
    I could not see Jesse, though. Had the robots gotten him, too?
    I swooshed through the air. The giant robot was not wasting any more time. He didn’t care about bargains or deals. He wanted me.
    I was a goner.
    â€œHey!” I yelled. “Tell my mom and dad I love them, will ya?”
    The noise in the parking lot outside the mall was deafening. With all of our focus on getting the bots, I’d forgotten just how noisy and nuts the mall had become. From up here, I could see everything spread out for an acre or more. I wondered if Walter could see me, up here, clenched by this B-Monster. This was so not how I wanted to end today.
    All of a sudden, without warning, the robot opened its claw and let me roll right out.
    Thunk.
    I landed hard on the ground.
    I was alive! I was free! I was . . . confused .
    I darted back over to Stella and Damon, gasping for air.
    â€œWhat happened?” I said. “Why did it let go of me?”
    â€œLook at yourself,” Stella said. “The bot thought you were the firequartz rock. You’re covered in red dust. It got mixed-up.”
    â€œWhere’s Jesse?” I asked. “Where’s the rock?”
    Jesse let out a whoop and a howl. “I’m over here!” he cried. “FIREQUARTZ IS OVER HERE!”
    He wanted us—and the robots—to hear him.
    What a fabulous photo opportunity that scene would have made! We watched as the army of bots turned their attention—and their clunky bodies—toward Jesse. Now they were definitely moving more slowly.
    Damon and Jesse each took a slab of the split firequartz and raised it over their heads. The bots moved toward them.
    What were we supposed to do?
    â€œFollow me!” Jesse bellowed.
    Their eyes were on the stone.
    â€œTo the left,” Jesse called out to Damon. They moved from side to side like they were on the TV show Stars Who Dance .
    When Jesse and Damon ran to the left, the Bots ran to the left. Then Jesse signaled to Damon to switch to the right. They switched and ran right . . . and left . . . and right. They zigzagged in circles, lugging the heavy rock close to their chests. The bots tried to keep up.
    But they couldn’t.
    Some stumbled and tripped over their own robot feet. Others slowed to a stop. The robot leader was the only one who was keeping up—and even its red bulbs were beginning to dim.
    Jesse and Damon were winning! Monster Squad was winning!
    Stella and I ran to catch up with the boys.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” I cried to Jesse. “You’re a genius!”
    â€œHurry