Beast Quest #3: Cypher the Mountain Giant Read Online Free PDF Page A

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 andquietly, 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 thiswas 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 blunderingtoward 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.

O VER THE E DGE
     
    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