Finding The Soul Bridge (The Soul Fire Saga Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

he was satisfied that it would not die, he grabbed several tufts of long grass together, handed half to Thist and said, “Now light the perimeter, and don’t let it spread to the rest of the forest.”
    Jem and Thist stood for a moment and let the fire burn from the outside in, while Jem explained how most of the strange ants had run out of the ant nest to defend it, leaving the nest defenceless if they didn’t return. A popping noise could be heard as the ants started to fry and then explode. Jem started jumping around trying to put out a small fire outside of the safety circle, and Thist was soon doing the same on the other side, but they had the situation under control in no time.
    “They smell like… like fried eggs.” said Thist.
    “They taste very much like eggs too, just oilier.”
    The fire reached its climax, and then subsided as all the grass burned out, leaving ash and nothing of the ants. The gash in the nest was still busy, but no longer belching ants like an angry volcano.
    “What do we do now, Jem?”
    “We reward ourselves for our good work so far by having a drink of water.”
    “Yeah, I’m parched.” said Thist.
    The two boys drank while admiring their handiwork. “We make a good team Jem.”
    “We are the best!” said Thist. “Now let’s get to phase two.”
    “Tell me first, the big tree that supports the nest, isn’t it going to be a problem for us?”
    Jem took the rope. “Not at all, you will see,” he said, and climbed to the top of the nest where he had tied the first pulley, Jem threaded the rope through the two pulleys. One was attached to the dead tree and the other was attached to the closest sapling.
    “Jem, what are you doing?”
    “Do you remember when uncle Bret came to town with that old donkey cart full of barrels and the one wheel broke?”
    “Ha! That was a sight.”
    “Remember how Maxwell the blacksmith hoisted it out of the mud using a block system?”
    Comprehension dawned on Thist. “Now I know, and now I know my part in your vicious plan.”
    Thist jumped down from the log he had been loitering on and grabbed the end of the rope.
    “Be careful Thist! Stand to the side or the tree will fall on you!”
    Jem and Thist stood away from the fell zone and pulled on the rope. The rope fed itself through the set of pulleys and Thist was surprised at the strength that the pulley system gave them. A deep snapping sound announced their success and the large old tree and the ant nest tipped over and crashed down onto the bare earth. The nest broke open in several places and a thick tar-like substance was exposed in the centre.
    “Quick! The jars!” shouted Jem.
    Jem and Thist hurried to gather as much of the goo as possible.
    “Take your time Thist. There is much more than we can carry so just get hum, we don’t want nest.”
    The two boys worked frantically for a while until Thist said, “My jars are full.”
    “Then eat your fill! It’s really good. No, don’t eat too much - we have to go swimming in a moment.” said Jem.
    “Don’t animals eat this stuff? I mean, if it’s this good?”
    “They don’t know how to deal with the ants I guess.”
    “Your father taught you a lot about the forest, didn’t he?!”
    Jem sighed. He missed his father in many ways.  “Yes, he did.”
    “Did he think of this rope trick or did your grandfather teach him? It’s a nifty trick.”
    “No, it’s my own idea. Let’s go.”
    “How many times have you done it like this?”
    “It was the first time.” said Jem with a grin. “The whole thing was my idea; the ropes, the pulleys, the fire, pulling the nest down. Most folk use shovels and get chewed to bits.”
    “Well aren’t we the master.” mocked Thist. “Let me just step aside to allow your head some space.”
    Jem filled his last jar, capped it and shouldered his loaded rucksack.
    Thist made a ducking motion as if avoiding Jem’s head, and made a rubbing motion with his hands as if rubbing Jem’s head but