Free Monster Blood IV by R. L. Stine Page A

feel
better as Kermit’s house came into view.
    Maybe this horrible adventure is over, he told himself.
    But his heart sank, and a heavy feeling of dread swept over him when he saw
Aunt Dee waiting for them on the front stoop.
    “Evan, you are responsible,” she said sternly, narrowing her eyes angrily at him. “I want a full explanation.”
    “Well…” Evan didn’t know where to begin.
    “I shouldn’t have opened the can of Monster Blood,” Kermit told her.
    “That’s what started it,” Evan said. “Then the blue creatures started
exploding, and—”
    “Stop right now!” Aunt Dee ordered, raising her hand in a halt sign. “I don’t
want to hear about your silly blue creatures. If you want to waste your time on
fantasy games, that’s your business.”
    She crossed her arms in front of her and glared at Evan angrily. “I want to
know what happened to my pot of hot sauce!”
    “Huh?” Evan gasped.
    The whole town was nearly overrun by gross, water-sucking monsters. And all
she cares about is her precious hot sauce!
    “I’m waiting,” Aunt Dee said sternly, tapping her foot.
    “Well…” Evan started.
    What can I tell her? he asked himself, thinking hard. What can I say?
    “Evan took your hot sauce,” Kermit chimed in. “He ate it, Mom. Evan loves
your hot sauce. He ate the whole pot himself.”
    I don’t believe this! Evan groaned to himself. After all we’ve been through,
the little rat just got me in trouble again!
    But to Evan’s surprise, he found Aunt Dee smiling at him. “Evan, I’m so
flattered,” she said. “I didn’t know you liked it so much. I’ll make you a big
pot of it every time you come for a visit!”
    “Uh… great,” Evan replied weakly.
    “Go get my stew pot. Then come inside for lunch,” she instructed them. She
disappeared into the house.
    Evan led the way around to the back. He scowled at Kermit. “I can’t believe
you told your mom that.”
    Kermit shrugged. “It was the only thing I could think of.”
    Evan gazed around the backyard. The flower garden was dead and dry. Big
patches of grass lay brown and flat.
    The stew pot sat on its side in the middle of the yard.
    Evan started toward it—but stopped with a startled cry as a figure
staggered out from behind the garage.
    A hulking creature with glowing red eyes!

 
 
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    “Whoa!” Evan exclaimed.
    Kermit and Andy huddled close to him as the creature lumbered into view.
    As it stepped into the bright sunlight, Evan saw that it wasn’t a creature at
all. The three of them were staring at a man in a white work suit.
    The work suit looked like the kind of space suit worn by astronauts. It
covered the man from head to foot. The man’s face was completely covered too. He
peered out at them through bright red goggles.
    “Who—who are you?” Evan managed to choke out.
    The man stopped halfway across the yard. He stared out at them, his eyes dark
behind the red goggles. Finally, he lifted a gloved hand and pulled back his
hood.
    He removed the goggles, took a few deep breaths, and pushed his curly black
hair off his forehead. “No blue creatures here?” he asked, looking around. “I guess I didn’t need the safety suit.”
    “Who—who are you?” Evan stammered again.
    “I’m looking for my little blue guys,” the man replied. “I heard there was
quite a fuss at the playground. The police said you might be able to help me.”
    “Those are your creatures?” Andy cried.
    The man nodded. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Professor Eric Crane. From
the Science Institute downtown.” He glanced once again around the yard. “Do you
have the can?”
    “I—I kept it in the garage,” Evan told him. “But how do we know it’s yours?
Who are you? Why are you wearing that uniform?”
    “Did you really invent those disgusting blue blobs?” Andy demanded.
    The man took a few steps toward them. The safety uniform was so big and
bulky, he walked awkwardly and slowly.
    “Bring me