“It will take a while, but it's our only option unless you have a better idea.”
Cindy didn't say anything.
“Okay, then, we’ll take shifts keeping watch.”
***
George was getting nervous when an hour had passed with no word. Drago had gone back downstairs to bring Billy and Badger up to speed but returned to check on his new buddy. “Don't worry, my friend. Anton will find your friends. He is a Schimmige Rider.”
George turned around. “What is a Schimmige Rider?”
“They are mysterious and very old warriors.”
“Like you?”
“No, not like me; their skills are different. They move without being seen. I remember a time many years ago when I was in a great battle. We had caught the enemy off guard, and for half a day we pushed them back into a valley between their land and ours. Both sides suffered many casualties, but we had the advantage and continued to move forward. As the day got later, we started to take losses, but we knew not from where. Men, fighting side by side, would suddenly look up, and their comrade would be dead or, worse, gone completely.”
George was captivated by the tale.
“Nightfall came, and both sides backed off and made camp. We tended to our wounded and rested for the next day's battle. I can only assume they did the same. I relaxed for a couple of hours and then took the first watch. It was the middle of the night, and my replacement was late in relieving me. I went to check on one of the other guards to see if his replacement had shown, but when I got to his post, it was empty. I was about to sound the alarm when I sensed an attack.”
“What did you do?”
Drago pulled his sword and said, “I pivoted to my right and cleared the thrusting attack. With my off hand I countered with my knife. I caught him with the knife and went to attack with my sword, but he disappeared. I sounded the alarm and went after him. It was dark, but it wasn't my first time tracking man or beast, and the drops of blood had a smell unlike anything I'd ever known.”
“You could smell his blood?”
“I learned to enhance my sense of smell from a shaman that very year. Believe me, it has served me well, especially on that day.”
“Can you teach me?”
“Nyet. You, my little friend, are not ready.”
“What happened next?”
“He led me into the mountains. By the time the sun came up, we were many kilometers from the battle field. I finally caught up with him. He sat up against a tree, one hand on his sword, the other on his wound. It took but one swipe and he was defenseless. I said to him, ‘This is not your time to die.’ He looked at me, confused, but then passed out from blood loss. I patched him up and stayed to keep an eye on him.”
“Why did you stay?”
“The creatures of the forest don't pass up a free meal.”
“Was the man Anton?”
“Yes, you are very clever.”
“You saved his life!”
“Yes, but he saved mine, too. It took two days before he was strong enough to move. He surrendered to me, and we returned to the camp, but, when we got there, it was nothing but carnage. The battle had ended, and my side had been routed. If he had not led me on that chase, I would have likely died, too.”
“That is amazing.”
“I told him that we were even, and he was free to go. He didn't believe me, but I untied his hands and told him again. I walked off, and he followed. By the time I made it back to my home, this tiny hut, he and I were fast friends.”
“Anton lives here, too?”
“No, he has a house tree.”
“What's a house tree?”
“That isn't right, no, it is, how do you say, tree house.“
“That is awesome. I'd love to...”
Before George could finish, Anton was peering over the top of the tower at them. He spoke, but George couldn't understand what he was saying. It was a very strange language.
Drago said, “He has found your friends; they are trapped in the Pit of Woe.”
George's eyes got big. He said in a panicked voice, “We have to save them. I mean, I have to save them...how do I save them?”
Drago spoke to Anton who nodded. Drago said, “We will be saving them. It is what friends do. Now, we must be quick.” Drago rushed down the stairs. George sped after him. When they got back inside the cottage, Anton was already there. Drago grabbed his bow and a quiver of arrows. He threw a pair of leather boots to George and said, “Here put these on. They will help you run fast.”
George took off his shoes and slid on the boots. They were too big, but when he stood up, they shrunk to the perfect size. “What are we going to do?”
“We will know when we get there.”
“We will?”
“Well, I will.”
George left the cottage and found Billy and Badger lying outside the door. “We know where everyone is.”
Billy got to his feet and asked, “Where?”
“They’re in the Pit of Woe.”
Drago said, “We are going there now to get them out. It is best you stay here.”
Billy said, “But they may need our help.”
“You know the stories of the pit don't you?“
“Yes.”
“Then you know what we are up against. You will not be able to help.”
Badger said something only Billy understood. “You are right. We will wait for you here.”
George gave Badger and Billy each a big hug, “Thank you for keeping me safe. I'll be back soon.”
The thick trees opened up, and Drago said, “We must go now.” He ran across the field towards the path. George took off, and Anton followed behind. It was but a moment until they were all the way to the other side and into the forest.
***
Cindy, looking a little peaked, said, “I'm fine.”
Stevie replied, “You don't look fine. Come on, what's wrong?”
Cindy was watching Jo who had built stairs that climbed three quarters of the way up the pit's wall. Abby stood with Jo, keeping an eye on her while Jo drew the glyphs. Below, the pack of wolves and other hungry beasts howled and clawed, waiting for a misstep from their prospective lunch. “It's just that...”
Stevie said, “What?”
“I'm sort of afraid of heights.”
“Damn, I didn't think you were afraid of anything.”
“Shut up.”
“Relax, you'll be fine.”
Cindy looked down at the pack of gnashing teeth and started to breathe heavy. “I'm not sure I can do it.”
“The steps are sturdy. You can do it.”
Cindy's face was white, and she put a hand on the pit wall to steady herself. “I think I'm going to be sick.”
“Hey, girl, don't do that. We got this. I have a plan.”
Cindy looked at Stevie with his broad smile and asked, “What plan?”
“We will go slow. I'll hold your hand, and I won't let go. You can use your staff to steady yourself. One step at a time, okay?”
“They'll laugh at me if you have to help me like some baby.”
“The wolves? Nah, they won't laugh.”
Cindy couldn't help it; a smile crept onto her face. “Don't you let go.”
Stevie started up the stairs. Abby and Jo were about a hundred steps ahead, well up the massive wall. It looked like they would soon have all the steps they needed and be free of the pit.
Stevie said, “Do like me. Just look at the next step, and when I step up, you follow behind.” He didn't say, “Don't look down,” because the moment he had thought it he had and didn't like what he saw. Stevie eased his way up the stairs with Cindy close behind.
Without looking back Stevie asked, “How you doing?”
“I'm fine; keep going,” she said as she looked down. “Oh my god, look!”
“You shouldn't look down. It doesn't help.”
Cindy squeezed Stevie's hand extra hard, “I mean it. Look, they've figured us out!”
The pack was crossing the pit and heading for the path out of the pit. Stevie yelled, “Jo, stop making the stairs!”
Jo and Abby looked back and saw where Stevie was pointing. They retreated back to their little fort.
Cindy looked worried.
Stevie said, “They're smarter than we thought.”
Jo said, sounding defeated, “We're stuck.”
“Only for now. We'll figure a way out of this,” Abby said.
Stevie replied, “We need to get all the beasts back down in the pit.”
Abby said, “If we keep their attention, Jo can finish the stairs.”
Cindy said, “Where are we going to go when we get out? They'll just run up the path and chase us down.”
Jo said, “Cindy's right; we can't out-run them.”
Abby started to pace. The first part of their problem took care of itself as the wolves and other creatures streamed back down the path to continue their assault on the earthen walls Jo had built.
Stevie said, “This must be part of the test. We just need to figure out how to escape.”
Abby stopped pacing. She pointed to the sky, “The sun!”
They all looked up, but nobody understood.
“The path didn't appear until the sunlight hit it this morning. That means it will disappear at night. We just need to be patient and make sure all our hungry friends stay with us in the pit.”
Cindy said, “What's going on?”
Stevie asked, “What do you mean?”
“They've stopped howling,” Cindy said.
The scratching, clawing, and crying of hungry creatures had suddenly died out. A moment of complete silence was shattered as all of the feet of their attackers scattered. The wolves headed towards the path while the badger and other beasts made for the opposite side of the pit.
Abby looked up expecting to see the giant hawk or something and said, “Why did they stop attacking?”
Jo climbed up a few stairs to get a better look. “They seem scared.”
Stevie said, “You hear that? Somebody is coming.”
They all listened. The sound of dozens of feet marching towards the pit grew louder. The wolves bolted up the path, and, just as the first one reached the top, a giant head snatched it. The rest of the pack halted. They growled and snarled as they backed down the path. The giant beast reared up and swallowed the wolf whole.
Stevie said, “We need to get inside now!”
Cindy quickly scrambled down to the lower level of their little fort. Abby and Jo were frozen. Jo said, “It's huge. What is it?”
Abby said, “It looks like a bug.”
Stevie, pulling at Abby's sleeve, said, “Come on, let's go.”
The beast, its mandibles snapping, poured over the edge of the pit and down the side. Long, like a snake, but with hundreds of legs, the creature peered over the edge of the pit. Its slow pace was unnerving. One wolf fell, crashing to the ground, while the others simply disappeared under the massive creature.
Jo said, “I think it's a millipede or a centipede.”
Stevie said, “It's a hundred legs of hungry, and we're going to be the second course if you don't get inside.”
Jo and Abby snapped out of it and went below. Stevie followed and ran his finger along the glyph on his sword. The faint light showed a group of worried and tired faces.
***
George couldn't believe how fast he was running. The tunnel of vines, bushes, limbs, and leaves was a blur as he zoomed through, following close behind his new friends. Drago kept the lead. The forest seemed to bend to his will.
The sound was muffled, but as soon as the tunnel opened through the thick forest, he could hear it clearly. Drago stopped at the edge of the pit. Anton leapt into the trees. George slid to a stop next to Drago. He couldn't believe his eyes.
“What's that?”
“It is one of the creatures of the pit. A magical creature that takes many forms. Today, it seems to be a millipede.”
“Can we fight it?”
“Das, one can always fight, but the question is, my friend, can we survive the battle?”
“We have to survive, or my friends will...”
“First, we must find your friends. Do you see them?”
“No, but I bet they’re in that little building.”
“Building, there aren't any...oh, yes, I see. That was very clever of them. It looks like they were making stairs, too.”
“We need to get the creature to leave the pit so they can escape.”
“My friend, that is exactly what we are going to do,” Drago said, waving for Anton to come down. Anton joined them and Drago said, “I will draw off the creature from over there.” He pointed off to the right.
“What do we do?” George asked.
“You and Anton will head around to the left until you make it to where the stairs stop. Then, Anton can climb down and find your friends. What are their names?”
“Abby, Stevie, Jo, and Cindy, but...how do they get out?”
“They'll have to make a few more stairs and then you can help them climb up. Can you do that?”
“Yes. Then what do we do?”
“You and Anton lead them back to my hut. They won't be able to run as fast as you can with their boots, so it will take a while, but I'll meet you there. I hope I can lose the beast, but if I can’t, be prepared.”
George took off running. Anton was right behind him. Drago moved to his right and circled the pit until he got to the exact spot he wanted. There was a small clearing behind him and a path in the forest that led away from his home. George saw Drago stop and draw his bow. He sent an arrow that went right through the very first right foot. The beast looked up and saw another arrow, but it just bounced off its thick armor-like shell.
George said to Anton, “Tell them you know George and that we're here to save them.”
Anton disappeared over the side of the pit. George got down on his stomach and watched him scale the wall. It looked like it was about a four meter drop to the next step. Anton zipped down the stairs and into the small building. A moment later George saw Abby and he waved, not wanting to yell for fear the millipede might hear. He didn't know if millipedes had ears.
Everyone started up the stairs, but Stevie and Cindy seemed to be move slower than the rest. When Jo got to the top of the final stair, George said, “Can you make more stairs?”
Jo yelped, “George, you're okay.”
“Well, for now, but we better get you out of there. Did you guys make the stairs?”
“I did; it's a spell that is in my book.”
Abby said, “Jo, we need you to make us some more. Make them a bit further apart, and we can climb up.”
Jo made the next stair about two feet above the others then crawled up. Cindy and Stevie arrived. She looked pale. George asked, “Are you okay, Cindy?”
She didn't answer or look up but just kept staring straight ahead. Stevie said, “She's fine. We got this.”
Soon there were two more stairs. Across the other side of the pit, the creature was almost completely over the top and starting to follow Drago. Abby asked, “Where is it going?”
“My friend Drago is helping,” George said. “We need to get to his house. We must hurry. He might need our help if he can't shake the millipede.”
Two more stairs, and George was able to give Jo a hand as she crawled out of the pit. Anton stood behind Cindy with a hand on her shoulder. When it was Stevie's turn, he turned around to say something to Cindy, but Anton had already climbed up the wall with Cindy and put her down safely. Stevie pulled himself out. They all stood at the top and looked down. The rest of the beasts that had been trying to eat them were still huddled in a group and didn't seem keen on giving chase.
Jo threw her arms around George. “You saved us.”
Abby said, “Great job. How'd you find us?”
“It's a long story. Billy and Badger are waiting for us.”
Jo squealed, “They're okay, t
oo?”
“Yep, but we should go.”
Stevie said, “You heard the man; let's move.”
George took off first, forgetting how fast he was. He didn't notice until he got to the forest tunnel. “Sorry, guys, it's these boots,” he said when they caught up.
“Those are some great kicks. Where'd you get them?”
“Drago let me borrow them. He's fast and so is Anton.”
It was a long run, but everyone kept going.
When they entered the clearing, the first thing they saw was Billy who started to speak piggy and hop around. Jo yelled, “Billy!” and ran to give the giant guinea pig a hug. Everyone else slowed to a walk except Anton who seemed to fade into the trees.
The tunnel through the thick cluster of trees closed up as if it had never been. Stevie asked George, “What happened to you?”
“I got lost. I came through the door, and nobody was around.”
“I guess we were pretty lucky you did.”
George whispered so that Abby and Cindy wouldn't hear, “I was really scared I wouldn't find you.”
Stevie leaned over and said, “I knew you had our backs.”
Badger came out from behind the cottage, gave a loud “wheek,” and made a beeline for Abby and Cindy.
Abby threw her arms around Badger and said, “It is good to see you, too.”
Cindy said, “Hey, furry,” and patted him on the rump.
After Billy and Badger had been sufficiently hugged by everyone, George said, “Drago needs us to be ready in case he can't shake the millipede.”
Abby said, “Cindy and I should get up in the tower.”
Cindy pounded her staff on the ground and a spark flew out of the top. “I'll have my lightning bolts or fire balls or whatever ready.”
George asked, “You can shoot fire balls, too?”
“Yes, but I'm not really sure which will come out. I'm still getting the hang of it.”
“Cool!”
“Is the tower through here?”
“Yep, just take the stairs at the end of the hall.”
Abby and Cindy ran off. George said, “The door is too small for Billy and Badger to get inside.”
Jo said, “I could build a wall...I think.”
Stevie held up his sword and went outside. “We'll guard the front.”
George stepped out of the cottage and said to Billy, “There may be trouble coming, big trouble.”
Secret Doors: The Challenge Page 11
