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

the mountainside.
    The slope began to level out to a small ledge. The cliff face was steep, but the rough surface of the rock was scattered with ledges and gullies. Tom felt relief flood through him as they landed with a hard thump on a ledge. But they were falling so fast that they skidded straight across the smooth rock. Without time to stop, they went over the edge and were falling again.
    The giant tried to thrust his gnarled fingers into some cracks and holes in the mountainside. But he couldn’t stop them from falling. Cypher roared and threw back his head.
    Tom was shaken free. His fingers closed around thin air as his hands were torn away from the collar. He went hurtling through the air and landed heavily on a steep rocky slope, scrabbling for a handhold. His fingertips dug into a crack in the rock. Terror swept through him as he glanced down. A vast misty chasm was waiting to swallow him below.
    This is it,
Tom thought,
this is the end!
    To his right, he saw that Cypher had managed to cling on to the edge of the ledge, too. But they were both hanging helplessly.
    Tom looked up. He was only an arm’s length from the edge of a ledge. But he was barely managing to hold on. His fingers were already numb, his arms tingling fiercely with pins and needles.
    Swinging his feet, Tom found a foothold. Then, with the last of his strength, he dragged himself up onto the ledge. Once he reached safety, Tom lay there gasping. Time was running out. He had to get to Elenna before it was too late. But he still had to free Cypher. There might not be another chance.
    Tom looked to his left. The giant’s fingers were latched onto the edge of a fissure in the rock. Cypher’s massive body dangled from the cliff, his feet disappearing into the mist below.
    If Tom was ever going to free the Beast, now was the time. He crept on his hands and knees to where the giant’s fingers gripped the rock face. Tom was going to have to climb down the Beast’s arm in order to reach the lock on the collar.
    Tom took his rope and tied one end around a tree root sticking out of a crack in the cliff face. He then tied the other end around his waist. It was now or never.

    Creeping slowly, Tom climbed onto the giant’s hand and began to shimmy his way down Cypher’s enormous arm. Tom felt a burst of warm, wretched air hit him from behind as the Beast let out a ferocious roar. But Tom was safe. So long as Cypher was clinging to the ledge, he wouldn’t be able to swat at Tom.
    Tom inched his way down until he reached Cypher’s massive shoulder. With sure feet, Tom scrambled across his shoulders and to the back of his neck. Holding on to the gold collar for balance, Tom could almost reach the lock.
    He shimmied a little further until he was hanging onto the collar with just one arm while he reached for his key with his free hand. If Cypher moved now, Tom would surely fall.
    He took a deep breath as he slid the key into the golden lock. With a popping sound, the gears clicked free and the locked opened. The collar loosened. Cypher was free!

N EW B EGINNINGS
     
    C YPHER LET OUT A ROAR OF RELIEF AS THE collar fell away into the misty depths below. Tom fell along with the collar but stopped with a jerk. His rope held fast.
    Dangling above the misty chasm, Tom could see a small ledge just to the left of the giant’s knee. He didn’t know if the Beast would understand, but he called up to him.
    Amazingly, Cypher moved his foot to the ledge. With something to stand on, the giant was able to raise himself up onto the ledge above. With a great struggle, Cypher pulled himself to safety.
    From below, Tom watched in awe as the Beastclimbed up the rock face, and disappeared over the ledge. Tom sighed with relief. He had succeeded in his mission. Another Beast was set free from Malvel’s evil magic.
    Tom’s relief didn’t last long. With a lurch of his stomach, Tom remembered Elenna. He had to get her out of the cave — and soon.
    As he searched for a hold,