Beast Quest #3: Cypher the Mountain Giant (6 page)

“Tom! We’re trapped!” Elenna yelled out. “We’re okay, but I think we’re running out of air!”

Tom looked around, his mind racing wildly. He had to free his friends. He began digging frantically at the blocked cave, when all of a sudden, he hit something solid — a boulder. He thought back to the rockslide in Colton. He had to find its weak spot, if it had a weak spot.

“Elenna, don’t move. Stay still and breathe slowly,” Tom called. “I’m working as fast as I can —”

He broke off as a pounding rumble shook through the ground, soon followed by another and another, each one growing louder and closer.

“Footsteps!” he gasped.

Tom turned around.

A huge, terrifying figure came into sight, feeling his way around a bend in the mountain path. He paused and gave a ground-shaking roar. The whole mountain trembled.

Cypher.

He was as tall as the tallest trees, and his body was more massive than a house. His arms and legs bulged with muscle. His feet left huge indentations in the ground.

He walked like a man, but a man he was not. He was a giant Beast; his gnarled hands ended in yellow claws.

A thick gold collar hung around the Beast’s neck.
That must be Malvel’s enchantment,
Tom thought. The Beast’s mouth gaped open to reveal crooked, yellow teeth. Tom felt fear rising up inside him, pushing the air from his throat.

“Tom!” Elenna yelled. “What’s going on out there?”

“Shh!” Tom hissed desperately.

But it was too late. At the sound of Elenna’s voice, the giant stiffened. He swung his head slowly in Tom’s direction. With another thundering roar, he lumbered toward the cave.

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T
HE GIANT TOOK ANOTHER CRASHING STEP
toward Tom. He stopped and sniffed the air. Tom stood completely still. The dirt and silt that covered him was helping him blend in.

Tom tried to breathe as quietly as possible so Cypher wouldn’t hear him. But there was no way to communicate to Elenna and Silver that they had to be quiet, too.

Silver let out a growl that could be heard even through the blocked cave. Cypher turned at the sound and took another thunderous step closer. Tom didn’t dare move. His eyes were level with Cypher’s feet. The rough yellow nails were thick
with grime. If Cypher took another step, Tom would be crushed. He tried to keep his breathing shallow and quiet, but he could feel his body shaking with tension. He clamped his mouth shut and hoped that his teeth wouldn’t start chattering. The Beast swung a heavy fist and let out a roar of frustration.

Cypher gave a loud snort and then let out another roar. He turned and began to stalk his way back up the mountain. Tom felt a rush of relief. The giant had given up! As Cypher lumbered away, Tom saw the clasp that held the collar in place. It gave off a golden glow like Ferno’s and Sepron’s.

Just when Tom thought he was safe, Silver growled again — more loudly this time. Cypher snapped his head back around, his eye narrowing. He let out a roar and stomped furiously toward the cave. Tom had no choice. He had to distract the giant to save Elenna and Silver. He had to run.

Grabbing the rope and his shield from Storm’s
saddlebag, Tom took off running. As he darted through the trees, Tom thought fast.
Somehow I’ve got to climb higher than Cypher, so I’m level with his neck. Then maybe I can undo the lock and get that enchanted collar off him.

Weaving through the pines, Tom could hear Cypher coming after him. Each footstep shook the ground. Tom could hear trees snapping and crashing down as the giant knocked them out of his way.

There was no way Tom could outrun the giant — he was too big and too fast. Tom had to buy himself some time.

Scrambling down the slope, Tom spotted a patch of bushes. He made a quick left into the thicket of mountain berries, hoping the bushes would disguise him. He pushed deeper into them. Coming out the other side, there was a huge tree with a hollow in the base of its trunk. Tom dived inside.

The old tree shook with each pounding step of the giant, but inside the trunk it was mossy and soft — and the perfect size for Tom. He tried to calm his breathing and be as still as possible. Tom waited a few seconds before peering out from his hiding spot.

Just a few short yards away, Tom could see the giant’s massive legs, the size of tree trunks.
He must be looking around,
Tom thought. Now was his chance. If he could climb to the top of the tree, he might be able to lure Cypher toward him — and get close enough to the lock to free him.

But before Tom had a chance to scale the tree, Cypher began moving. Tom listened as the sound of the giant’s footsteps disappeared into the distance.

He had to hurry. Elenna needed his help, but there was no way Tom could save her if Cypher was still on the loose. Tom moved nimbly and
quietly, following the thump of Cypher’s giant footsteps up the mountainside.

It was hard work climbing up the mountain. With each footstep, loose rocks and pebbles shifted under him, threatening Tom’s balance. But he kept climbing until he reached a narrow ridge in the mountainside. Clinging to cracks in the rock, he followed it as it snaked upward to the clouds.

But when Cypher stopped, Tom climbed higher. He hauled himself onto a ledge. Looking down, Tom saw the giant below. Now it was time to free the Beast.

Tom held his breath. The giant was sitting on a wide, flat perch. Above him, a bird gave a harsh cry. Tom glanced up. It was an eagle circling on the currents of air.
This must be the Place of the Eagles,
Tom realized.

Tom lay down flat on the ledge. The stone was hard and cold underneath him but he knew this
was his chance. If he edged forward he might just be able to reach the clasp and try to unlock it.

Heart pounding, he edged forward along the ledge until his arms reached the lock. His fingers tingled as they touched the gold. He drew his hand back and grasped for the key around his neck. Then he inserted it into the lock.
Come on,
he silently begged the lock.
Unlock.
Starting to panic, he twisted a little harder. Too hard.

Cypher suddenly sensed him. With a furious roar, he swung around and lashed out with his huge, clawed hand. It smashed against the side of the mountain, close to where Tom lay. The impact echoed around the mountains. Tom clung to the ledge.

But to his horror, he saw that a crack had appeared in the rock beneath him. Tom watched as the crack zig-zagged its way through the rock.
With a groan, the split widened and the rocks started to crumble apart, dirt and pebbles raining down. Any second now it would give way, and Tom would plunge to his death.

Realizing he had no choice, Tom took a deep breath, scrambled to his feet, and jumped onto Cypher’s shoulder to grab hold of the collar.

The giant roared and climbed to his feet. Tom swung through the air, but somehow kept his grip. Cypher swatted at his head with his enormous hands, trying to get at Tom. Tom twisted this way and that, trying to avoid the blows. If so much as a finger landed on him, he would be squashed flat. But he couldn’t let go — if he did, he would fall to his death.

Enraged, the giant staggered about, trying to regain his balance. The ledge they were on was narrow and the cracks in the rock made every step dangerous. Tom saw that Cypher was blundering
toward the edge of a cliff — beyond it was a sheer drop down into the mist.

With a thunderclap of splitting rock, the ledge gave way. Cypher and Tom plunged into empty space.

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T
OM CLUNG TO THE GIANT, THE WORLD RUSHING
by as they fell. For a few seconds they were in freefall. Then Cypher groaned as his back slammed and scraped against the steep slope of the mountainside.