The Zombie Chasers #4 Read Free Page A

state-of-the-art, remote-controlled noisemaker.” He held up the tiny remote. “With the click of a button, that little gizmo under there will mimic the sound of any bodily function a human being has to offer. It’s like a whoopee cushion, except way awesomer.”

    â€œSick,” Zack said, and looked away, trying to ignore his older sis for fear he might give Rice’s plan away. Over his shoulder he spotted a guy in a red polo shirt and cap walking toward them. He was balancing a dozen pizza boxes on his upturned palms. “Hey, pizza guy’s here!”
    â€œOkay, everybody line up,” said their Spanish teacher, Mrs. Gonzalez. “Only two slices per person, please!”
    As all the hungry middle schoolers raced to form a line, Madison stood in front of their music and drama teacher, Ms. Merriweather. “Excuse me, Ms. M,” said Madison. “I need another Band-Aid. This one’s getting all grody.” She peeled off her old Band-Aid and tossed it into the trash can.
    â€œHold on one second,” Ms. Merriweather said, turning to Madison. “Oh, my gosh.” She slapped her forehead. “Honey, I’m so sorry; I forgot to order you a personal vegan pie.”
    â€œBut,” Madison said, whimpering a little, “I’m, like, totally famished, Ms. M. . . .”
    The delivery guy scratched his head. “I don’t think we have vegan anything.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Madison said, making a pouty face. “I’ll just pick off the cheese, I guess.”
    After everyone got their pizza, Zack sat back down on the picnic blanket between Ozzie and Rice. He folded his pepperoni slice in half and took a monster bite. The pizza was the best he’d ever tasted, Zack thought, as he polished off the slice.
    â€œThis is the life . . . real New York City pizza,” Rice said, airplaning a stray pepperoni into his mouth.
    Zack glanced over at his sister, who was talking to Madison with her mouth full of pizza crust. They were both giggling as they watched two college-age boys playing catch with a football. Madison grabbed another slice of pizza, peeled the cheese off and started to scarf it down.
    â€œWell, what are we waiting for?” Ozzie whisper-yelled. “Let’s try this thing out!”
    Rice pressed one of the remote-control buttons with his thumb, and a series of hideous fart noises erupted from underneath the girls’ blanket. Zoe and Madison both sat up and lifted their sunglasses. “Ew, dude,” Zoe said. “Gross.”
    â€œUh-uh.” Madison laughed. “That wasn’t me.”

    â€œTwinkles?” The girls jinxed each other.
    Twinkles barked defensively. “Arf-arf!”
    Zack and Ozzie covered their mouths, cracking up silently.
    Rice pressed the remote control again and a louder barrage of grotesque bodily sounds reverberated from underneath the girls. Heads began to turn toward Madison and Zoe.

    â€œWhat are you freaks looking at?” Zoe yelled at the class. “It’s not us!”
    â€œYeah,” Madison said. “Stop looking at us. It’s totally rude!”
    Rice hit the button one more time and another foul-sounding noise erupted, causing the entire class to burst into a fit of laughter. Just then an adult-size silhouette appeared, casting a shadow on Rice’s moment in the sun.
    â€œArroz!” Mrs. Gonzalez stood towering over them. “ Dámelo . Give it to me.”
    Rice glanced up at their Spanish teacher, gave her his best aw-shucks face, and then passed her the remote control.
    Zoe stood up and walked over. “Thanks, Mrs. G,” she said, handing their chaperone the other half of the mischievous gadget, shaking her head. “Kids today.” Zoe then turned to the boys as their teacher walked away. “I’m glad you three had your little fun.” She scowled. “Because for the rest of this trip you all