按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
‘Then maybe we should drop it down a deep hole； or destroy it。’
‘Can’t。 We may need it。’
‘What if we hide it？’
That’s what I’m thinking。 The problem is where。 There are things to take into consideration。 I need to take Adie to Aydindril and study the prophecies with her before I know for sure what to do with the stone； and what to do about the boxes。’
‘And until then？ Until you know for sure？’
Rachel looked over to the dark thing。 It was closer； as close as the wall came to them。 With its claws over the top of the wall； it lifted its head up and looked right into her eyes。
The thing grinned at her； showing long； sharp teeth。 Her breath caught in her throat。 Its shoulders shook。 It was laughing。 Rachel’s eyes were as big as they would go。 She could hear her heartbeats making a whooshing sound in her ears。
‘Father 。。。’ she whined in a small voice。
He didn’t look down。 He just shushed her。 The thing put its leg over the wall and dropped down in front； still looking at her； still laughing。 Its shiny eyes looked at Chase and Zedd。 It hissed and then laughed as it hunched down。
Rachel tugged Chase’s pant leg and strained to make her voice work。 ‘Father 。。。 it’s ing。’
‘All right Rachel。 Zedd； I still don’t know 。。。’
With a howl the dark thing sprang into the open。 It ran like a streak； just a blur of black。 Rachel screamed。 Chase spun just as it hit him。 Claws flashed through the air。 Chase fell to the ground as the thing leapt on Zedd。
The wizard’s arms flailed about。 Flashes of light shot from Zedd’s fingers； bouncing off the dark thing and tearing up dirt or stone where they hit。 The thing knocked Zedd to the ground。
Laughing in a loud howl； it jumped back on Chase as he was pulling his axe from his belt。 Rachel screamed again as the claws tore at Chase。 The thing was faster than any animal she had ever seen。 Its claws were just a blur。
Rachel was terrified Chase was being hurt。 It flung the axe out of Chase’s hand； laughing that awful laugh。 It was hurting Chase。 Rachel had the fire stick in her hand。
She jumped forward and put the fire stick on its back。 She screamed the magic words to make the fire stick work。 ‘Light for me！’
The dark thing burst into flames。 It made a horrible scream as it spun to her。 Its mouth opened wide； teeth snapping as flames burned all over it。 It laughed again； but not like people laughed when they thought things were funny。 Its laugh made her skin prickle。 It hunched over and started walking toward her； still on fire； as Rachel backed up。
Chase let out a grunt as he threw one of the clubs with the sharp spikes sticking out of it。 The club hit the thing’s back； and stuck in its shoulder。 It looked around at Chase and laughed as it reached behind and pulled the club from its back。 It started for Chase again。
Zedd was up。 Fire flew from his fingers； covering the thing with even more flames。 It laughed at Zedd。 All the fire went out。 Smoke rose from it。 Its body looked the same now as before it got burned。 In fact； it had looked like it was dark from being burned even before Rachel had set it on fire。
Chase was on his feet； and there was blood on him。 Rachel got tears at seeing that。 Chase snatched the crossbow off his back and in a blink he shot an arrow。 It stuck in the thing’s chest。 With that terrible laugh it snapped the arrow off。
Chase threw aside the crossbow and yanked out the sword from over his shoulder； then ran for the thing； jumping over it as he stabbed with the sword。 The thing moved so fast Chase missed。 Zedd did something that sent the thing tumbling across the grass。 Chase put himself in front of Rachel； pushing her back with one hand while he held the sword out in the other。
The thing sprang to its feet again； looking at each of them。
‘Walk！’ Zedd yelled at them。 ‘Don’t run！ Don’t stand still！’
Chase grabbed Rachel’s wrist and started walking backward。 Zedd started walking backward； too。 The dark thing stopped laughing and looked at each of them； blinking。 Chase was breathing hard。 His chain…mail shirt and the tan leather tunic under it had big rips from the claws。 Rachel got more tears at all the blood on him。 Blood was running down his arm onto her hand。 She didn’t want him to be hurt。 She loved him something fierce。 She clutched Sara and the fire stick tighter。
Zedd stopped。 ‘Keep walking；’ he told Chase。
The dark thing looked at Zedd standing there； and a big grin with sharp teeth came to its face again。 It laughed that awful laugh and tore at the ground as it started in a rush toward the wizard。
Zedd threw his hands up。 Dirt and grass flew up in the air around the thing。 It was lifted into the air。 Bolts of blue lightning struck it from all around before it hit the ground。 It howled in laughter as it thudded to the ground； smoking。
Something else happened； Rachel couldn’t tell what； and the thing stopped with its arms stretched out； like it was trying to run； but its feet were stuck。 It howled and twisted； but couldn’t move。 Zedd’s arms swirled around in circles and he threw them out once more。 The ground shook as if from thunder and there were flashes of light hitting the thing。 It laughed and there was a breaking sound； like wood snapping； and the thing started toward Zedd。
Zedd began walking again。 The thing stopped and frowned。 Then the wizard stopped and threw his arms out again。 A terrible ball of fire went through the air toward the thing as it ran for Zedd。 The ball of fire made a loud scream and grew bigger as it flew toward the dark thing。
The fire hit so hard it made the ground shake。 The blue and yellow light was so bright Rachel had to squint as she was walking backward。 The ball of fire stayed in that one place as it burned and made a loud roar。
Smoking； the dark thing stepped out of the fire； its shoulders shaking as it laughed。 The flames went out in little sparks that flew around in the air。
‘Bags；’ the wizard said as he started walking backward。
Rachel didn’t know what ‘bags’ meant； but Chase had told Zedd not to say it in front of little ears。 She didn’t know what that meant either。 The wizard’s wavy； white hair was all messed up and sticking out in clumps。
Rachel and Chase were on the path through the trees； almost to the door。 Zedd was walking backward toward them as the dark thing watched。 Zedd stopped and the thing started ing again。
Walls of flame shot up in front of it。 The air smelled like smoke and roared with noise。 The thing stepped through the wall of fire。 Zedd made another； and it stepped through that； too。
When the wizard started walking again； it stopped by a short； vine…covered wall； watching。 Fat vines ripped off the wall by themselves and grew suddenly longer。 They whipped around the dark thing as it stood there； tangling all around it。 Zedd was almost up with them。
‘Where are we going？’ Chase asked him。
Zedd turned。 He looked tired。 ‘Let’s see if we can shut it in here。’
The thing tore at the vines as they pulled it to the gr