Excerpt: “According to this, we should be coming upon a group of caves.” Erik held his torch close to the map. “This says that a couple of creatures named --”
Erik was suddenly hanging upside down by his ankles, held in the grasp of a very large hand. Adam ran forward beating at the enemy and soon was dangling next to his brother.
“Let go of my brothers,” Brian yelled, holding his sword high.
A very large finger came down and knocked the sword out of Brian’s hand. The next thing they knew, all three boys were dangling side by side.
“Nice of ye all to come along just now when I’m in need of a snack with me tea.” The voice echoed through the caves as if a hundred giants surrounded them. As the giant raised the boys to his mouth Adam’s torch lit up the hideous face.
“I’ll burn you with this torch,” said Adam, frantically swinging it in front of the giant’s eyes.
“Ahh, a feisty one is it?” Roared the giant. “Ye’ll be puttin’ me eye out then will ye?”
With a blast of his rank breath, the giant blew out the small flame.
“You can’t eat my brothers!” Kami screamed.
“Give me one good reason why not,” said the giant. Lowering the boys a bit, he bent down to get a closer look at the person who belonged to the voice. “Looks like we’ve got a sweet little girl for dessert.”
STOP! Spoilers Beyond this Point:
Scroll Down for the Answers to the Riddles in Chapter 13: A Pair of Grumpy Wizards
Kami’s Riddle:
The sun could search all day, but she’d never find them. They come out to play, When the day’s behind them.
Answer: The Stars
Amy’s First Riddle:
Old Mother Twitchett has but one eye, And a long tail which she can let fly, And every time she goes over a gap She leaves a bit of her tail in a trap.
Answer: Needle and Thread
Adam’s Riddle:
Two bodies have I.Though both joined in one. The stiller I stand, The faster I run.
Answer: An Hour Glass
Amy’s Second Riddle:
A water there is I must pass, A broader water never was, And yet of all water I ever see, I pass over with less jeopardy.
Answer: Morning Dew or Fog
Brian’s Riddle:
The fiddler and his wife, The piper and his mother, Between them ate three half-loaves, three whole loaves and Three-quarters of another If each had an equal share, how many loaves did each eat?
Answer: One and three-quarter loaves each. (The mother and the wife are the same person, so divide by 3 not 4).
Erik’s Riddle:
Two brothers are we, Great burdens we bear, All day we are bitterly pressed. Yet this I must say, We are full all the day, And empty when we go to rest.
Answer: Shoes
Becka’s Riddle:
I saw a fight the other day. A damsel did begin the fray, She with her daily friend did meet, Then standing in the open street, She gave such hard and steady blows, He bled ten gallons at the nose. Yet seemed to neither faint nor fall, Nor give her any abuse at all.
Answer: The Town Water Pump