R. L. Stine_Mostly Ghostly 07 Read Online Free PDF Page A

said.
    “How could you do that to them?” I cried. “How could you get their hopes up like that?” I felt as disappointed as Nicky and Tara.
    “Please let me explain,” Dr. Smollet said. He lifted Mr. Harvey onto a tall wooden lab stool at the counter. The chimp reached out and started to play with Dr. Smollet's white hair.
    Dr. Smollet pulled the chimp's hand away. “Be a good boy, Mr. Harvey. This is a big day for you,” he said.
    He turned to us. “Yes, Mr. Harvey is a chimp. But he was here in the lab when Phears escaped. He saw what happened to you and your parents. He was the only witness.”
    “But he
can't talk!”
Tara screamed.
    “Hoo hoo hoo,” Mr. Harvey said. He reached for Dr. Smollet's hair again.
    Dr. Smollet raised a finger. “But I've found a way to make him talk,” he said. “Just listen to me.”
    He motioned to the stools at the counter. The three of us took seats.
    “It's simple, really,” Dr. Smollet said. “It sounds more frightening than it is.”
    “What are you talking about?” Tara demanded.
    “There's only one way to learn what Mr. Harvey knows,” Dr. Smollet said. “We switch his brain with the brain of a live human.”
    Nicky and Tara both turned to me. “You mean
Max?”

D R . S MOLLET NODDED . H E narrowed his eyes at me.
    I slid off the stool. “Bye,” I said. I started toward the door.
    “Max, wait—!” Tara called. “Just let him finish.”
    I turned to Dr. Smollet. “You want to cut out our brains and switch them?” I cried. “Are you some kind of mad scientist? Like from a horror movie?”
    I realized I was shouting. Normally, I'm a pretty quiet, shy guy. But I was trembling with fear. I wanted
out
of there!
    “There is no cutting,” Dr. Smollet said. “No surgery. Max, there is no danger at all. I promise you.”
    “Then how are you going to do it?” I asked. My voice cracked.
    Dr. Smollet reached up to the cables that ran along the ceiling. He pulled down a set of headphones.
    “I attach these to your heads. Then I allow the brain waves to flow freely between you and Mr. Harvey.”
    “Yeah, right,” I said. “Then I'm going to pull off my head, turn it upside down, and fill it with M'M's!”
    “I'm totally serious,” Dr. Smollet said. “And I'm not crazy, Max. I know I can do this. When Mr. Harvey's brain waves are in your body, he will be able to speak.”
    “Hoo hoo,” Mr. Harvey said. He jumped up onto the lab table and did a little dance.
    “Max, with the help of your brain, tongue, and vocal system, Mr. Harvey will reveal everything he knows,” Dr. Smollet said.
    I jammed my hands into my pockets to stop them from shaking. I realized my whole body was trembling.
    He wasn't serious about this.
    He
couldn't
be serious!
    “M-my brain?” I stammered. “Will my brain switch to his body? Will I be a
chimp
?”
    “Hoo hoo.” Mr. Harvey stomped along the lab table—and jumped into my lap. He gave me another toothy grin, raised both hands, and started playing with my face. Patting it and pulling at my cheeks.
    “It will take only a few minutes,” Dr. Smollet said. He tried to pull Mr. Harvey off me. But thechimp wrapped his arms around my waist and wouldn't let go.
    Tara laughed. “He likes you, Max! I think he's in love!”
    “He … he wants my
brain!”
I choked out.
    “It won't even take half an hour,” Dr. Smollet said. “I promise. No pain. You won't even feel it, Max. Mr. Harvey will reveal his secrets. Then I'll switch the brain waves back. It's totally safe. And so fast, you'll hardly realize it's happening at all.”
    I swallowed hard. Everyone was staring at me. Even Mr. Harvey.
    “I … don't… think … so,” I said. “In fact, read my lips:
No way!”
    I handed the chimp to Dr. Smollet. Then I headed for the door again. I expected Nicky and Tara to follow me. But when I turned back, they hadn't moved from their lab stools.
    “Stop staring at me like that,” I snapped. “What's your problem?”
    Tara tugged at