The Serpent of Eridor (6 page)

Can't. Crocodiles will follow.

Stay.

Can't. No food. No water. Tariq dead. Another two about to follow.

‘We aren't ready to die yet,' yelled Skoodle. ‘You'd better make that jump.' His teeth sank into Alex's chest. ‘If you think that hurts, times it by a hundred for crocodile teeth. Go for it.'

Decision made, Alex launched himself into space. Sheared off by the force of his push-off, the bough crashed to earth. His grasping hands found hard wood, his fingers clutching the branch. Alex's shoulders took his full weight as his body jerked out of free fall. It felt as if his arms had been wrenched out of their sockets.

Looking down made his head dizzy, his hands sweaty. The ground seemed miles down. The closest foothold lay a couple of metres away. To get to it he would have to let go with one hand. Cold sweat poured from his body, making his hands slippery.

‘Move. This branch could crack too,' yelled Skoodle.

Licking his dry lips, Alex let go with his right hand to grab the branch closer to the trunk. Calling on his reserves of strength he crept, hand over hand, to the trunk.

‘Doing fine,' said Skoodle. ‘Uncle Gus would have been impressed.'

One more shuffle of his hand, then a soaking trainer found a solid perch. Transferring his footing to a wide branch, Alex grabbed the trunk.

‘By Vertog, flying is foul,' said Skoodle.

‘Flying's OK, but landing may kill you.'

Alex climbed down to a branch above the path then dropped to the ground, touching down hard, joints robbed of all spring by fatigue.

Pushing onwards, legs working on automatic pilot, Alex raced down the trail, breath rasping in his throat. Relentlessly, the murderous feet thundered closer.
This'll soon be over. They're quicker.

Too much honesty.

As the crocs bring me down, I'll throw you into the jungle.

Great. So I'll die alone.

Stay with?

No chance. Alone's good.

Ikara's voice tore through his thoughts.
Keep running. I see an escape route.

Alex rocketed round a hibiscus bush, wrenching its dense, flower-laden branches aside. Ahead stood a massive redwood tree, its base as wide as a house. Carved into its dark bark face stood an arched entrance. Beyond the open door Ikara's tail was disappearing up the first few treads of a staircase. Keeko dropped from a mahogany tree and ran for the entrance, Alex sprinting in behind her.

Flickering candles suspended high on the dark wooden walls lit the cool, cathedral-like interior, from which low, wide stairs spiralled up out of sight. Keeko and Ikara had already vanished round the first curl upwards.

Alex wrenched at the front door, but it wouldn't budge.

‘Leave it,' yelled Skoodle. ‘Run. Crocodiles can't climb stairs.'

I hope you're right,
returned Alex, too breathless to speak. He belted towards the ancient treads, footfalls echoing across the hall. From behind came the sinister scraping of sharp claws on the stone floor of the entrance.

As Alex climbed the clatter came closer. Disbelief paralysed his mind, yet there could be no doubt. The crocodiles were starting up the stairs behind him.

Although it felt as if his legs were about to drop off, terror forced him to keep running. If he found no hiding place he was trapped. The image of saw-edged white teeth in gaping jaws hung vividly in his mind. The stench of rotting flesh mingled with stinking river mud floated up to him.

Drenched in sweat, Alex ran round the central column of the spiral staircase. From ahead came the faint rhythmical scratch of claws as Keeko swung from lamp to lamp. Pointlessly, painfully, his legs pumped up and down like a machine, slower with every step, muscle power blown away by lack of oxygen.

‘Alex, door ahead,' yelled Ikara from above him. ‘Keep going, Keeko. You're safe on the brackets.'

Around another turn he found Ikara coiling her powerful body around the brass handle, twisting. Alex lunged at the door, battering it open. As he catapulted into the room a coil of dizzy snake landed at his feet. Recovering his balance, Alex twisted back to slam the door. He heard a loud thud as flesh hit wood.

Alex shot the heavy brass bolt home then stood panting, eyes fixed on the door. Heavy blows hammered on to the wood as the huge reptiles blasted at the barrier. The door shuddered as the metal hinges strained to resist the assault. Alex backed away, expecting that at any second he would be nose-to-snout with one of the river monsters.

‘Somnato,'
cried a commanding voice.

The blows stopped instantly. Astonished, Alex turned round to face the room. A tall figure rose from the high-backed armchair which had shielded him from sight. The man appeared to be about thirty, curly black hair tumbling down to his waist. A wide streak of white hair scorched backwards from his forehead. The face was strong, with high cheekbones. Silver writing writhed over his loose black shirt, letters forming lazily as they snaked their way across his chest. Swiftly Alex blocked his thoughts, unwilling to let a stranger into his head

‘Sleep spell. There's no danger now,' the man said.

‘Zorrin?' asked Ikara.

‘Of course he is,' said Skoodle. ‘He exactly matches the description Tariq gave us.'

‘Welcome. Rest yourselves,' said the wizard.

Alex collapsed into a nearby chair, legs in spasm, muscles screaming. He closed his eyes for a moment, sweat trickling down his face as relief washed over him. Every deep, painful breath reminded him that he was alive. Desperation fell away like a heavy cloak, loosening the tight band round his chest.

After a few minutes he opened his eyes and surveyed his refuge. High-ceilinged, it was lit by groups of slender candles each the height of a man. Heavy crimson rugs covered the flagstone floor. On one wall hung an immense tapestry depicting a snarling panther battling strange winged creatures, while goblins and trolls lay dying nearby. A fire of silver and blue flames crackled in the great stone fireplace.

‘Seems like heaven,' said Alex, stretching his stiff legs out in front of him.

‘Haven, anyway,' replied Skoodle. ‘Well decorated for a prison. How do we get back out? Jump over the playful old crocs?'

‘The crocodiles will remain unconscious. Forget them,' said the wizard. ‘Tell me, why have you journeyed here?'

‘To bring you a message from my parents, Mark and Virginia Weston. They've disappeared. They said it was really important that you knew,' said Alex, relieved to have this off his chest.

‘Also, we're seeking the Sapphire of Akan,' said Ikara. ‘Can you help us?'

‘Doubtless. But before we talk, eat and drink. As you see, food is ready for you.'

Fragrant warm bread, bowls of steaming rice, hot chicken, a hand of bananas and an enormous bowl of golden-yellow ice cream appeared on a table near the fire. A huge pitcher of red juice sprang up in the middle.

‘Great,' said Alex, struggling to his feet, but before he could get to the table there was a loud banging on the door.

‘Let me in,' yelled Keeko.

Alex ran to the door, opening it a crack, allowing Keeko to swing in. He slammed it and rammed the bolt home.

Trembling, Keeko pointed at the man. ‘He's an impostor. He's not Zorrin.'

‘What would you know, ignorant ape?'

Lifting his arm, the wizard pointed straight at Keeko. A bolt of purple light shot from the tip of his finger hitting Keeko in the chest, slamming her backwards. She screamed as she hit a wall.

Alex flung himself on his knees beside her, not daring to touch her body in case any bones were broken. ‘You OK?'

‘No. I hurt.'

Alex glared at the wizard. ‘Why did you do that?'

The wizard raised an eyebrow. ‘The monkey is delirious. Perhaps it's the air in the corridor, or maybe she has eaten something unwise. She needed to be tranquillised so that I can help her.'

‘Believe me,' whispered Keeko through her pain. ‘It's not Zorrin.'

The man raised his arm again. ‘I'll just—'

‘No,' exploded Ikara, as Alex swung his body between Keeko and the wizard. ‘Keeko doesn't lie. You're a fake.' Ikara coiled to strike, the hood on the sides of her head flaring out as she swelled and lengthened. As she lunged forward to attack, the killing finger swung towards her.

Alex grabbed a pewter vase from the table next to him and flung it at the wizard's hand. Metal met bone with a sharp crack. The wizard's deadly bolt of light missed Ikara, exploding in a shower of red sparks on the wall beyond, carving a jagged black fissure deep into the wood.

Ikara struck, whipping round the wizard – tightening, wrestling, trying to drag him to the floor. He grabbed her round the throat and started to squeeze.
She'll only have seconds to live
, thought Alex. Grabbing a heavy brass candlestick he lunged forward, brandishing it above his head. The deadly finger swung to aim at his heart. Instinctively, Alex swung the candlestick across his chest.

The narrow beam blasted the weapon out of Alex's hands, throwing him backwards, slamming his head on to the stone floor. Sick, unsteady, he tried to stand, but could not make it up past his knees. Clinging to the back of a heavy chair he hauled his body up, legs sagging – forcing himself to move despite the pain in his pounding head, desperate to get to Ikara.

The wizard screamed. As Alex looked up he saw the furry body of Skoodle, front teeth buried deep in the wizard's wrist, blood oozing from his mouth. In agony the wizard let go of Ikara's neck, raising his fist to pulverise the hamster.

Alex tried to launch himself forwards but his legs failed. He crumpled to the floor, yelling, ‘Jump.'

With terrified eyes fixed on the approaching fist, Skoodle dug his teeth in deeper, body stiff, braced for the blow.

Her body still wound around the wizard, Ikara swung her head above Skoodle. The fist hammered on to her skull. Eyes rolling, she sagged as her body loosened.

‘Let go, Skoodle,' Alex yelled as the wizard's hand rose again.

Skoodle dropped to the floor, claws skittering, then bolted under a chair. The wizard's furious eyes focused on him for a second then swept unpityingly past Keeko, who was clutching a chair leg, trying to scramble upright.

Alex's fingers found the candlestick. He grabbed it, clawing his way up the wall to a standing position. He lurched towards the man's back like a seasick fencer with the candlestick as a foil.

‘Die, snake.' The wizard aimed his deadly digit straight at Ikara's head.

With an unsteady swipe Alex crashed the wizard's arm away. The killer shaft of purple light missed Ikara's head by a centimetre, blasting a smoking hole in the ceiling.

The wizard kicked Alex hard in the stomach, doubling him up. A red beam shot out of the tip of the wizard's finger, transforming a coffee table into a snarling Rottweiler. The huge beast leapt at Keeko, who flung herself on to a wall bracket. The dog stood below her, snarling.

Swiftly, the finger moved on. Another shaft of light hit a walking stick, transforming it into an enormous serpent twice as large as Ikara. It towered upright over Alex who froze, powerless to do anything.

Before the wizard could morph anything else, Ikara sank her teeth into his forefinger. Sparks flew from the tip beyond her mouth, sending balls of red and blue light flying round the room like small meteors.

The wizard grabbed Ikara's neck. ‘Here is the deal, boy. You have information I want. Give it to me and command your snake to let go. In return I'll keep my serpent at bay.'

‘But if Ikara lets go you'll kill us anyway.'

‘Of course, but I'll make it quick and fairly painless. It will be better than watching the monkey and the snake get torn apart as you die screaming in agony from the venom of my serpent.'

Alex could feel the hard blade of his hunting knife against his belly, frustratingly useless. In the time that it would take to reach it, the serpent would attack him. Anger surged through him.
Death either way. But I'd rather die fighting than give in.
Balancing himself mentally, he prepared to grab the knife for one final desperate effort.

The last fighter bolted from under a chair. Skoodle halted directly under the nose of the serpent. The vast lidless orange eyes swung to fix on the tiny animal. The terrifying jaws started to open as the serpent arched for the strike. Yet he hesitated. His master had not yet given the command to kill.

It was the two seconds that Alex needed. He wrenched out his knife. The serpent's glittering eyes flicked back to him.

‘Kill,' screamed the wizard.

The serpent's huge head plummeted down, venom-filled fangs aiming straight at Alex's heart. With a scything uppercut, Alex struck at the snake. The knife's arc slashed through the serpent's throat with a rasp, releasing a jet of bright green blood.

The amputated body of the serpent fell to the floor like a cut-off rope, as the monster's venom-filled head rocketed towards Alex's heart. Instinctively, Alex flung himself out of the path of the severed head, crashing to the floor. The knife spun out of his hand, slippery with snake blood.

With a heavy thud the huge scaly head landed inches away in a sticky emerald pool, vast dead eyes open. A moment later, the snake had transformed back to a walking stick, top broken off, lying in a patch of sawdust.

‘The dog,' squealed Skoodle.

Alex's head jerked up. The dog was crouching only feet away, ready to spring, teeth bared. Glancing over at his knife, Alex realised it was too far away. He'd never get to it before the beast sprang.

Keeko launched herself on to the Rottweiler, landing legs astride his back, grabbing his ears. The dog snapped at her legs, teeth ripping through the flesh of her foot. She squealed but hung on like a rodeo rider, clamping her legs round the dog even harder, claws digging into his ears.

Alex snatched the hunting knife. Lunging forward, he rammed the blade deep into the dog's chest. The animal sagged to the floor, howling. As his life evaporated, the Rottweiler transformed back into wood.

‘What happened?' cried Keeko, legs now astride a table.

‘Two dead. Progress,' Alex said, wrenching hard at the deeply embedded knife. It wouldn't budge at all.

Keeko sprang at the wizard, landing flat across his face. Digging her claws into his scalp, she fixed herself to him like a living balaclava. Fur blocked the wizard's nose and mouth, suffocating him. The wizard pulled his hand away from Ikara's throat to try and claw Keeko off his face: the more he fought the tighter she clung. Ikara coiled her body around the wizard's chest and began to squeeze, forcing air out.

Giving up on the knife, Alex grabbed a book to pummel the wizard – then realised how pointless it would be. The two animal faces in front of him were determined, victory in their eyes.

‘Squeeze him, squeeze him, ape and snake. Take his air, that evil fake,' sang Skoodle.

The man's writhing became more frantic as the agony in his air-starved lungs built up. He swayed, knees sagging, then slid to the floor. As he went limp Keeko jumped off, landing heavily on the dog-table next to Alex.

‘That was close,' said Ikara, hoarse from the wizard's stranglehold. ‘Keeko, how did you know?'

Breathing hard, Keeko peered down at her bleeding leg. ‘I found the true Zorrin. He's trapped upstairs.'

‘How are you so sure that the other one is the real wizard?' asked Ikara, loosening her hold around the wizard's chest. ‘We were convinced by this one at first.'

Keeko stopped licking the blood off her dark fur. ‘Zorrin bears the mark of an eagle on his right forearm.'

‘Like a tattoo?' asked Alex, lying flat on his back, arms outstretched, waiting for his heart to stop banging.

‘A bit, but much more complex. It's made of streaks of gold and silver, which shine with the brightness of sunlight. Really pretty. It's ancient elemental magic which no one else could copy. Only Zorrin's got one.'