Teacher Screecher Read Free

like the look of it,” said Bella.
    â€œI think it’s a charging machine,” said Billy. “I read about them in Junior Science Freakly . They’re for recharging monsters when their power runs out. A bit like a battery charger.”

    â€œThat’s it!” said Bella. “When Miss Fitt said she was ‘nearly running out,’ she meant she was nearly running out of power. Old Gore’s going to recharge her!”
    â€œCome on,” said Lee. “Let’s go closer while his back is turned.”
    The bats zipped across the attic to the cobwebby shadows just above the machine. And not a moment too soon.

    FLASH!
    flickered the lightning.
BOOM!
    crashed the thunder.
    Mr. Gore swung around and stared through the hole in the roof.
    â€œAlmost time! Almost time!” he whined. “The weather is perfect!”
    â€œSIIILEEENCE,” croaked Miss Fitt, her voice trailing away. “Hurry up, fool!” she rasped.
    â€œNot long now, oh monstrous one!” droned Gore. “When ze lightning is directly overhead, I will give you a super-duper double dose of electricity! After zat it will be no more Miss Nice Monster! Hrurgh! Hrurgh! Hrurgh!”
    Mr. Gore clipped a thick wire to each bolt in Miss Fitt’s neck.
    â€œYikes,” said Lee. “We have to do something!”
    â€œBut what?” said Bella. “I don’t have a clue how that machine works!”
    â€œCould you work it, Billy?”
    â€œEr … maybe,” said Billy. “If we can get close enough without old Gore seeing us.”

    FLASH!
BOOM!
    â€œAlmost time! Almost time!” wailed Mr. Gore, his eyes wild with joy. “Now for the lightning conductor!”
    Mr. Gore scuttled across the attic to a shiny metal pole. There was a brass ball at the tip and a heavy stand at the bottom so it wouldn’t fall over. Grunting with effort, Gore pushed the pole toward the hole in the roof.

    â€œQuick!” said Lee. “Now’s our chance!”
    The four bats swooped down to the Monster Megacharger.
    â€œThere should be a special knob here somewhere,” said Billy, peering at the buzzing, whirring machine with all its flashing dials and buttons and glowing tubes and different colored wires. “Geez! Where is it? It’s all very confusing.”

    FLASH!
BOOM!

    â€œAny second now!” grunted Mr Gore. “Hrurgh! Hrurgh!”
    The brass tip of the conductor was now sticking out of the hole into the storm. Gore was attaching a long cable to a socket in the base. The other end of the cable was plugged into the Monster Megacharger.

    Miss Fitt’s eyes flicked open.
    â€œVampires!” she muttered—too quietly for Mr. Gore to hear, but loudly enough to startle the bats.
    â€œOuch!” said Boris, walloping his head on the machine.
    â€œNow!” yelled Gore. “It is time!”
    â€œOh no!” cried Bella. “Look! We’re too late!”

    FLA-AA-SH!
KERRR-BOOOM!
    A stupendous bolt of lightning struck the conductor with a great BANG !
    As the thunder exploded overhead, brilliant blue sparks flashed down the conductor, along the cable, into the Monster Megacharger, out through the wires—and into the bolts in Miss Fitt’s neck. She jerked and twitched and bounced into the air, nearly snapping her straps.
    â€œCome on!” hissed Lee. “Time to get out of here!”
    The bats darted into the rafters just as Gore swung around and lurched back toward the bench.

    â€œIt is done! It is done!” wailed Gore, switching off the Monster Megacharger. “Zose pesky vampires do not know vot is comink! Hrurgh! Hrurgh! Hrurgh!”
    As old Gore cackled hysterically, the bats shot out of the attic and into the stormy sky.
    â€œWell, that was a waste of time,” said Lee gloomily.
    â€œAnd now Miss Fitt will be even more horrble,” said Bella.
    â€œI’m going home to get out of the rain,”