Free 41 - Bad Hare Day by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead)

Foz!” I ordered.
    He followed me, lugging the kit. I kept my eyes peeled for guards.
    At the back of the mansion we found a door. I tried it. It opened easily!
    We crept inside. We found ourselves in the club’s kitchen. It was long,
narrow, and shiny clean. The lights were off, but we could see by the light from
a window at one end.
    Foz paused in front of a huge, stainless steel refrigerator. “I’ll bet
they’ve got some great food in here,” he whispered. “Lemon meringue pie or
something.”
    I tugged at his arm. “This is no time for a snack!” I snapped. “Come on!”
    We left the kitchen and entered a long, dark hallway. I recognized that hall.
It was the same hallway I’d walked down after my escape from the basement—the first time Amaz-O let me down.
    “There’d better not be a second time,” I muttered under my breath.
    We tiptoed down the dark hall. Up ahead I saw the door to Amaz-O’s dressing
room. It was half-open. A dim light spilled out into the hallway.
    Yes! I thought to myself. That’s a good sign.
    With Ginny in my arms, I crept up to the door. Please, please let him be in
there, I prayed. Please be here, Amaz-O. Please help us.
    I stopped in front of the door. I took a deep breath.
    “Mr. Amaz-O? Are you here?”

 
 
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    No reply.
    I tried again. “Mr. Amaz-O? Hello?”
    “He’s not here,” Foz said. “Let’s go.”
    “Shhh!” I pushed the door open and crept into the dressing room. One small
lamp cast a dim pool of light on the dressing table. The great Amaz-O sat on the
couch, his left side facing the door. He was staring at the wall. He didn’t seem
to notice us.
    “Mr. Amaz-O?” I said politely. “It’s me again. The kid you made disappear in
your magic show.”
    I thought Amaz-O would turn his head to face us now, but he didn’t. He didn’t
do anything. He just sat there.
    Man, I thought. He really hates kids. Or he hates his fans. Or he hates all
people. Or something.
    When I become a great magician, I vowed, I won’t be like Amaz-O. I won’t let
my fame go to my head. I’ll be nice to people. This is ridiculous.
    I didn’t care what Amaz-O’s problem was. I needed his help—badly. And I
wouldn’t give up until I got it.
    I stepped farther into the dressing room. “Mr. Amaz-O, I’m sorry to bother
you. But I really need your help. It’s important.”
    Amaz-O didn’t move. He stared at the wall. Silent.
    “Do you think he’s asleep?” Foz whispered.
    I shrugged. I took another breath and crept closer to the couch.
    “I know you told me to beat it,” I said. “I wouldn’t bother you if it wasn’t
a matter of life and death—I swear.”
    Still no response. I turned back to Foz, who cowered in the doorway. He
looked as if he were ready to run for it. I waved him into the room.
    Foz stepped in. He set the magic kit on the floor, shaking.
    I stared at Amaz-O. He ignored me. Who does he think he is? I thought
angrily. He can’t treat me this way! I’m not leaving until he helps me turn
Ginny back into a girl.
    I steeled myself and approached the magician. He didn’t look at me. I tapped
him on the shoulder.
    He toppled over onto his side. Thunk!
    Foz gasped. “Is he—? Is he—?”
    I peered at the body on the couch. “He isn’t alive!” I cried. “Amaz-O isn’t
alive!”
    “Oh, no!” Foz was wringing his hands in terror. “Oh, no! He’s dead! He’s
dead! Help!”
    “He’s not dead,” I said. “He’s a dummy!
    “Amaz-O is nothing but a big wooden puppet!”

 
 
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    How could it be possible? I stared at the puppet on the couch. I couldn’t
resist touching its cheek—then pinching it—just to be sure.
    Oh, wow!
    It was true. Amaz-O was made of wood.
    Foz sputtered, “But—I saw him on TV. He looked totally real.”
    “And I saw him live,” I said. “On stage. I stood right next to him, and he
made me disappear!”
    How can this be? I wondered. How can the greatest magician in the world be a