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Chapter 2

"Boots!" Gregor was beginning to panic She'd been right here a , he'd lost track of how much tione? Into the trees? Out onto the street? What if someone had taken her? "Boots!"

There wasn't even anyone around to ask The park had eor tried to follow the trail of footprints that she'd beenin the snow But there were so many footprints! And he could barely see!

Suddenly he heard a dog barking nearby Maybe it had found Boots, or at least its owner h the trees to a sht A feisty little terrier was running in a circle around a stick, barking its head off Interood shake, and drop it on the ground Then it would begin its frantic barking again

A pretty wo clothes, appeared "Petey! Petey! What are you doing?" She scooped up the dog and shook her head at Gregor as she walked off "Sorry, he goes a little crazy soor didn't respond He was staring at the stick, or what he'd thought was a stick, that had been driving the dog wild It was smooth and shiny and black He picked it up and it bent in two Not like a broken stick But like a leg An insect leg Froiant roach

His head whipped around the area When they had returned froh a series of tunnels that led to Central Park They had been near the street, just as he was now

There, on the ground That big slab of rock It had been moved recently -- he could tell by thered was trapped under the edge of the rock He pulled it out It was Boots's iant roaches from the Underland had idolized Boots They'd called her the princess and done some special ritual dance to honor her And now they'd kidnapped her right out from under his nose

"Boots," he said softly But he knew she couldn't hear him at this point

He pulled out his cell phone They couldn't afford a cell phone, but after three members of her family had et one, anyway He dialed hoor Look, so bad I'm in Central Park, near that place where we caiant ones? They were here and they took Boots I wasn't watching her close enough, it's or knew he had to hurry

"ButGregor" His dad's voice was full of confusion and fear "You can't --"

"I have to, Dad Or we ain You kno crazy the roaches are about her Look, don't let Mo they can do If I'ot the flu or so with you I'll be there as quick as I can," said his dad Gregor could hear hile to his feet

"No, Dad! No, you'd never or

"But Ibut I can't let you" He could hear his dad beginning to cry

"Don't worry I'll be okay I o, Dad, or they'll get too far" Gregor puffed as he struggled to slide away the slab of rock

"Gregor? You have any light?" asked his dad

"No!" said Gregor This was a real probleiven hihts ever went out when he was on the subway He had clipped it to his key ring "I've got a flashlight Dad, I've got to go now"

"I know, son GregorI love you" His dad's voice was shaking "Be careful, okay?"

"I will be Love you, too I'll see you soon, okay?" said Gregor

"See you soon," his dad whispered hoarsely