Read How I Got My Shrunken Head Online
Authors: R. L. Stine
How I Got My Shrunken Head (9 page)
As Mark knows all too well, night in the jungle belongs to the creatures. And, boy, does it get loud! But what is making all that noise?
FROGS
compete to be heard in the wet jungle at night—it’s not surprising to find hundreds of frogs in a section of jungle the size of a big backyard, and all of them have a distinct croak. Luckily for Mark, most frogs aren’t dangerous. Some are poisonous, but none of them have a habit of jumping into human mouths.
The male
HAMMER-HEADED BAT
of the Congo is built for loud
HONKING.
Where most bats let out barely perceptible squeaking, this one can cut through the noise of the jungle! These bats eat fruit and are harmless to humans (unless your head tastes like a mango).
Many other insects and animals add to the symphony of the night, but it’s the
quiet
creatures that you should be fearful of. They’re the ones that can really creep up on you.
Although most people think
VAMPIRE BATS
come from Transylvania, they actually call the jungle their home. They quietly creep up on animals in the night and drink their blood, usually while the animal is asleep. Their teeth are so sharp and small that their bite doesn’t wake the sleeping animal! Vampire bats consume half their weight in blood in about twenty minutes and then take off to roost and digest their meal.
And that’s not the only blood-sucking creature in the jungle; there are V
AMPIRE MOTHS
(no, we’re not kidding) and kissing bugs. The
KISSING BUG
gets its name from its nasty habit of biting tender parts of a human’s face, like the lips, to draw and drink blood.
Some of the stealthiest killers live in the jungle: big cats like
JAGUARS, LEOPARDS,
and
TIGERS.
Jaguars are especially fond of the deepest jungles and will stalk and ambush their prey—silently creeping up and pouncing—rather than chasing it. FIERCE FACT: The jaguar has the most powerful bite of
any
big cat (even more powerful than the lion’s) and has a unique habit of biting right through the skull of its prey!
WE CAN SEE YOU! Some nocturnal primates, such as the
AYE-AYE
and the
TARSIER,
have huge buggy eyes to see in the dark jungle night. Although completely harmless, they look almost alien. The tarsier is especially creepy looking, with gnarled, witchlike hands!
GLOW IN THE DARK FUNGUS. In some jungles, a
GLOWING FUNGUS
grows on the trunks of trees, giving them a mysterious shine.
Do you know the magic words?
Kah-lee-ah!
Chant this word to unleash Jungle Magic!
Karru marri odonna loma molonu!
These five words have an eerie and often surprising effect on dummies, like Slappy.
Hocus-pocus, Presto chango, Abracadabra,
and
Alakazam
are all common words spoken by magicians around the globe while making a magic trick happen.
Voilà!
(Pronounced VWAA-LAA!) Another word used by magicians, but usually as they reveal the result of the magic.
Open Sesame.
A phrase that opens a magically sealed cave filled with treasure.
And don’t forget …
Please.
This is the magic word that everyone wants to hear. It’s perfect for practicing the magic trick known as “being polite.”
Interested in other magical forces?
Then check out
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Jillian and Jackson freak out when they suddenly realize they can read people’s thoughts. But the trick turns to terror when the twins are stalked by a strange scientist who wants to know exactly what’s on their minds. Will the twins ever lead normal lives again?
Not in Horrorland they won’t. There are free meals, free games, and free falls down the Doom Slide. Someone’s watching their every step. But are they friend or foe?
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#2 CREEP FROM THE DEEP
#3 MONSTER BLOOD FOR BREAKFAST!
#4 THE SCREAM OF THE HAUNTED MASK
#5 DR. MANIAC VS. ROBBY SCHWARTZ
#6 WHO’S YOUR MUMMY?
#7 MY FRIENDS CALL ME MONSTER
#8 SAY CHEESE — AND DIE SCREAMING!
#9 WELCOME TO CAMP SLITHER
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BOOK
FOR EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR INTERVIEWS AND MORE.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY
DEEP TROUBLE
MONSTER BLOOD
THE HAUNTED MASK
ONE DAY AT HORRORLAND
THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY’S TOMB
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
SAY CHEESE AND DIE!
THE HORROR AT CAMP JELLYJAM
HOW I GOT MY SHRUNKEN HEAD
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A NIGHT IN TERROR TOWER
ONE DAY AT HORRORLAND
RETURN Of THE MUMMY
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First printing, May 2009
“Behind the Screams” bonus material by Matthew D. Payne
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e-ISBN: 978-0-545-28365-6