Frog and the Sandspiders of Aridian (2 page)

In the meantime, he was just a fresh-faced thirteen-year-old who, in Frog's opinion, was the best mate anyone could wish for.

‘Are you listening to me?' Billy's voice jolted Frog's thoughts back to their present situation. ‘We were in your garden,' he continued. ‘I grabbed you; we fell into a hole of swirling lights. I saw weird shooting stars and then I got really dizzy and everything went black. Now I wake up miles from anywhere in the middle of a cold desert at night with not one, but two moons in the sky and you're dressed like Robin Hood.' He took a deep breath. ‘I think that you've already got my attention.'

‘There's a lot to tell you, Billy, but as I'm not sure exactly where we are I think that we had better start moving. We can talk while we walk. Besides, moving about will warm us up,' he said.

‘Okay, Sherlock Holmes, which way do you want us to go?' Billy asked.

‘There seems to be a sort of orange glow coming from those rocky shapes in the distance. I guess that way's as good as any,' said Frog. ‘If we follow the ridge of this sand dune we can at least keep watch around us.'

‘What for?' asked Billy.

‘I'm not sure, but I think someone will turn up eventually,' replied Frog.

Just then, as if on cue, a low wail echoed out across the landscape.

‘Or some
thing
,' added Billy looking around cautiously.

Frog instinctively drew his sword and on seeing the blade glint in the moonlight, Billy took a step back.

‘Wow!' he exclaimed. ‘Is that for real?'

‘Yes,' said Frog. ‘It's what seems to get me into and out of trouble.' He took a cautious look around them. ‘Come on,' he continued. ‘Let's get moving.'

2

Friend or Foe?

As they shuffled along, Frog told Billy about what had happened to him during the summer holidays, starting with the discovery of the suit of armour in his garden, which turned out to be Sir Peacealot, and what the Slipstream was and how time practically stood still between the Dimensions and home. He explained how he had inherited his new name and that for some reason his real name was not to be used in the Dimensions. He described Castellion, the friends (and enemies) that he had made, the journey through the Labyrinth, the battle with Lord Maelstrom and Fangmaster and finally what he was doing when Billy suddenly appeared and grabbed him in his garden. To emphasise the point, he rolled back his sleeve and showed Billy his watch. It was stuck at 17.45.

Billy had listened intently to every word that Frog said, interspersing it with ‘Wow,' and ‘No way,' on several occasions.

After a few seconds of silence, Billy spoke.

‘Do you mean to say that we could be here for days and our parents wouldn't even know that we're missing?'

‘Not just days,' replied Frog. ‘Weeks or even months.'

Billy breathed out with a whistle. ‘Neat,' he said.

‘Aren't you worried?' asked Frog.

‘About what?' replied Billy.

‘Well,' said Frog. ‘You've been transported through time and space into another world and Dimension. I don't exactly know what this place is or what danger we may be in. I don't even know when or how we'll get back home.'

‘Look,' said Billy with a smile on his face. ‘Our parents don't know that we've gone, time is standing still at home and by the looks of things, I won't be going to school tomorrow and if this is going to be anything like your last adventure I might even get to fight some bad guys. This is brilliant. Why should I be worried?'

Frog opened his mouth to encourage Billy to exercise caution, but then he closed it again, knowing that he would be wasting his breath. Things didn't generally frighten Billy and he had always been quite daring. He would always stand up to bullies and although he could be stubborn and a little reckless, above all, he was a good and loyal friend.

They journeyed steadily on and Frog enlightened Billy with more details concerning his previous adventure. Billy was particularly impressed when Frog pointed out his now visibly shortened little finger and how he had come to lose the end of the digit at the hands of the wicked wolf leader, Fangmaster.

Billy could not contain himself. ‘Can I touch it?'

‘Sure,' said Frog. ‘It doesn't hurt, just tingles now and again, particularly if I get near a dog.'

‘It's weird that no one can see it back home,' said Billy, examining the stump with macabre glee.

‘I guess that it's all part of the Magic of the Slipstream,' said Frog.

They had gradually been descending from the ridge and the sand had flattened out beneath them when Billy suddenly stopped and looked down at his feet.

‘What's the matter?' asked Frog.

‘I think that I've stepped in something squishy,' answered Billy inspecting his trainer. ‘Oh! That's gross,' he said, holding his hand out as far as he could.

‘Don't move,' ordered Frog.

‘What is it?' asked Billy.

‘I'm not sure, but there are tracks all around us, lots of them. I would say that whatever made them is pretty big.' He knelt down to inspect the dark shape that Billy had stepped in, noticing several other dark piles in the same area.

‘What is it?' Billy asked again impatiently.

‘Well, it could be a lot of creatures with big feet, or a big creature with lots of feet. Either way, I think that you've trodden in its droppings,' said Frog with a smile.

Billy looked at his dark, stained hand in horror. ‘Oh, Pooo!' he exclaimed.

‘Exactly,' replied Frog.

‘This isn't funny,' complained Billy. ‘How am I going to clean this off?'

‘In the absence of water I would suggest that you use some sand to rub off as much as you can. But do me a favour Billy.'

‘What?'

‘Stand down wind; you're starting to whiff a bit.'

‘Right! That's it!' shouted Billy. ‘I'm going to use you as a toilet roll.' He lunged towards him and Frog twisted away at the last moment sending Billy rolling in the sand.

‘You're for it now,' said Billy and then he was on his feet and after Frog, chasing him out across the sand.

Frog was keeping a good distance between himself and the enraged Billy when he suddenly lost his footing. He turned as he fell and found himself on his back, staring up at the stars. He had underestimated how fast Billy was moving, because before he could get himself back up, Billy was on him. He straddled himself across Frog's chest and pinned his arms down with his knees.

‘Let's see how this mixes with your hair,' he said gleefully as he raised his soiled hand in the air above Frog's face. Before he could carry out his threat, however, he was struck still and even in the pale light, Frog could see the colour drain from his face. He was transfixed, his eyes wide open, staring in wonder and in fear, and then Frog began to hear the low, menacing hiss come from behind him. Sensing danger, he thought back to the battle training that he had received on Castellion. He threw Billy to one side and rolled in the opposite direction, drawing his sword as he sprang to his feet. What greeted him made him step back, more in surprise than fear. Towering over them, no more than a couple of metres away, was a gigantic, hairy black spider. Its dark eyes stared out at Frog and a hissing, almost wheezing, sound was escaping from its partly open mouth, which revealed a pair of ivory white fangs.

Frog ran over to the now kneeling Billy and stood in
front of him. He raised his sword, ready to defend them both, but knowing in his heart that the odds were not good.

‘Stay that sword,' commanded a voice and the spider lowered itself forwards in a crouch to reveal a white robed rider. His clothing was Bedouin in style and a cloth headdress masked his face. He held a small crossbow in his hands. The bowstring was taut and loaded with an arrow aimed directly at Frog's head. Frog slowly lowered his sword and sheathed it, and then he put both of his hands in the air.

‘That's better,' said the voice. ‘Tell your friend to do the same.'

Frog turned to Billy. ‘Get up and put your hands in the air,' he said. ‘And be careful; this isn't a game,' he warned.

As Billy got to his feet, another giant spider silently appeared beside the first. Its rider was dressed similarly, but his robes were sand coloured and as he dismounted, the material seemed to merge with the surrounding landscape, taking on the same hues as the sand and making it difficult to see him. As he approached Frog and Billy, the other rider kept his crossbow aimed at Frog.

‘What do you want?' asked Frog.

‘I don't think that you are in a position to ask questions,' the man snapped. ‘Now turn around and put your hands behind your backs.'

Frog and Billy did as they were told and the man very quickly tied their hands and blindfolded them.

‘Hey, what's going on?' he heard Billy complain. ‘Chris? Are you okay?' he asked.

‘It's Frog. I told you that my name in the Dimensions is Frog,' he said.

‘Okay, okay! Frog. Are you all right?' Billy asked.

Before Frog could answer, a voice spoke very close to his ear.

‘So, you say that you are the one known as Frog? If this is true then our mistress will be very pleased. She has been waiting for you. We were told to look out for one boy, but never mind; we can always feed your friend to the Sandspiders if he is of no use to her.'

‘Not the sort of adventure that I was expecting,' said Billy.

‘I did warn you,' replied Frog.

‘Enough,' said the voice. ‘No more talking from now on; you just do as we tell you.'

Frog was guided forwards until he could sense a strong, musty smell. This was then replaced by a wave of hot, rancid breath that washed over him and caught in the back of his throat. He was aware that the spider was inches away from him, taking in his scent until it let out a low hiss.

He heard Billy exclaim. ‘Oh! This is really gross.'

Next, hands were lifting him up and he found himself sitting in the surprisingly soft hair of the giant spider. He felt the man sit down behind him and his arms reached around Frog. There was a half-whistle, half-hissing noise and Frog felt a lurch as the great beast lifted itself up. Another jolt and they were moving quickly in a rocking motion as the drum of the spider's feet passed over the sand. He could only hope that Billy was not far behind on the other spider.

After a while, they came to a halt and Frog could hear other voices.

‘What have you got there?' asked one.

‘Fresh meat for your spider's breakfast?' laughed another.

‘Maybe, but we must take them to be questioned first,' replied the rider. ‘Open the doors.'

There was a grinding, rumbling sound and then the spider lurched forwards again. The atmosphere changed instantly and there was a slight echo to the spider's movements. Frog could sense that they were no longer above ground and their motion was downwards, travelling along some sort of passage.

Soon, the air became stronger with the spider's musty odour. With another half-whistle, half-whisper from the man, the spider stopped and Frog felt it lowering its body. The man slid away and then Frog felt hands reach up and pull him down to the hard and unyielding ground beneath his feet. His blindfold was removed and he found himself staring at a pair of deep, green eyes; the rest of the man's face was still masked by the Bedouin-style cloth scarf.

‘Stay there,' commanded the man and he turned back towards one of the spiders.

Frog took in his surroundings. They were in an enormous cavern, which was bathed in a bluish light; its source was the strange crystal rocks placed around the walls. On each side were large gated stalls; some of them were occupied by more of the giant spiders, and Frog guessed that they were in a form of stables. He turned and saw Billy, still blindfolded, being led towards him by the other man.

‘Tell your friend to stay still. I will not warn him again,' said the masked man sternly.

Frog watched as both the men led their spiders into separate stalls. He could also see that the spiders wore a type of harness and reins, which the men now removed.

‘Can you see what's happening?' asked Billy, tilting his head back and trying to see under his blindfold.

‘Yes, we're in a big underground cavern where they keep the spiders and they're putting them into what look like stables. The whole place is lit up by weird crystals '

‘How come you can see so much?' asked Billy.

‘They've taken my blindfold off.'

‘Why haven't they taken mine off?'

‘I don't know,' said Frog. ‘Perhaps we'll find out in a minute.'

‘Can you get your hands free?' asked Billy as he twisted and turned his wrists behind his back.

‘No, and I'm not sure what I'd do if I could.'

‘Escaping would be a good idea.'

‘At the moment, I don't know where we would run,' said Frog. ‘We might end up in worse danger.'

‘If it's a choice between being fed to giant spiders or running away,' said Billy as he continued to try to free his wrists, ‘then I vote for running away.'

‘Shush!' said Frog. ‘Keep still. They're coming back.'

The two men stopped a short distance from the boys and had a quiet conversation. While they stood there, Frog noticed that both of them carried short, curved swords held at their waists, sheathed in highly decorated and ornate scabbards.

They turned their heads and stared in his direction. Frog felt both pairs of eyes studying him intently. He tried not to feel intimidated and firmly met their gaze. The men then turned back to each other and exchanged a few more words, until the man wearing the sand-coloured robes turned and walked back towards the rows of spiders in their stables.

‘What's going on?' whispered Billy, shifting his hands again.

‘Keep still. He's coming back,' warned Frog.

The man stood in front of Frog and stared down at him.

‘You don't frighten me,' said Frog defiantly. ‘It's easy to hide behind a mask; there's nothing brave about that,' he added.

The man reached up and pulled the cloth to one side to reveal a tanned face, which was surprisingly kind in appearance. He wore a short, dark moustache and tattooed on his right cheekbone was the image of a small, black spider.

‘Be careful that you do not see too much for your own good,' he said.

‘What are you going to do with us?' asked Frog.

‘What is to be done with you has not yet been decided,' he replied. ‘So you must now come with me.'

‘I want my blindfold taken off,' said Billy.

‘If you wish, but what you see may seal your fate,' said the man.

‘I'll take my chances,' Billy boldly replied.

The man reached forwards and with one movement, released the blindfold.

Billy squinted at the light and looked at Frog.

‘Hiya mate. Fancy seeing you here,' he grinned.

‘It is well that you have a sense of humour,' smiled the man. ‘We have a saying amongst my people. ‘Better to laugh in the face of death than to cry for all eternity.'

‘I'll try to remember that when I have my hands free,' said Billy, ‘and I have something to fight with,' he added as an afterthought.

‘Your bravery will be tested all in good time, but for now stop trying to free yourself. You only succeed in tightening your bonds by wriggling like a girl.'

This was too much for Billy and he launched himself head first at the man. What happened next took both Billy and Frog by surprise. The man swiftly stepped back and with one effortless movement swung Billy up and over his shoulder in a fireman's lift, with Billy's head facing forwards. A small, viciously serrated dagger appeared against Billy's throat.