The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 11)

346 Pages·2004·2.45 MB·English

by  Lemony Snicket

A Series of Unfortunate Events 
BOOK the Eleventh
THE GRIM GROTTO
by LEMONY SNICKET
Il lust ra t i ons by Brett Helquist

Dear Reader,
Unless you are a slug, a sea anemone, or mildew, you
probably prefer not to be damp. You might also prefer not
to read this book, in which the Baudelaire siblings
encounter an unpleasant amount of dampness as they
descend into the depths of despair, underwater.
In fact, the horrors they encounter are too numer-
ous to list, and you wouldn’t want me even to mention the
worst of it, which includes mushrooms, a desperate
search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a dis-
tressing message from a lost friend, and tap dancing.
As a dedicated author who has pledged to keep
recording the depressing story of the Baudelaires, I must
continue to delve deep into the cavernous depths of the
orphans’ lives. You, on the other hand, may delve into
some happier book in order to keep your eyes and your
spirits from being dampened.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket
Fo r Beat ric e—
Dead wome n tell no tales.
S ad me n w r ite the m dow n.
Contents
DEAR READER iii
FOR BEATRICE— iv
CHAPTER ONE
After a great deal of time examining oceans, investigating
rainstorms… 1
CHAPTER TWO
“Right down here!” the echoey voice said, as the Baudelaire… 25
CHAPTER THREE
The expression “Shiver me timbers!” comes from the
society of… 45
CHAPTER FOUR
The expression “fits like a glove” is an odd one… 63
CHAPTER FIVE
When you are invited to dine, particularly with people you… 91
CHAPTER SIX
“You youngsters look very spiffy in those helmets!”
Phil said… 115
CHAPTER SEVEN
The word “lousy,” like the word “volunteer,”
the word “fire,”… 139
CHAPTER EIGHT
The water cycle consists of three phenomena: evaporation,
precipitation… 169
CHAPTER NINE
If you are considering a life of villainy—and I… 187
CHAPTER TEN
The way sadness works is one of the strange riddles… 213
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Aye!” Fiona said. “Aye! Aye! Aye! We’ll take you with… 227
CHAPTER TWELVE
The expression “the tables have turned” is not one the… 253
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The water cycle consists of three phenomena—
evaporation, precipitation, and… 283
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
TO MY KIND EDITOR
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
CREDITS
COVER
COPYRIGHT
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER