Rigante Series 04 - Stormrider Read Online Free PDF

a rise. The sled left the ground. The spear started to fall, but Feargol grabbed the haft, holding on tight. 'Good boy!' shouted Kaelin.
    They closed on the river at terrific speed. Kaelin realized the sled would strike the ice with great force. If the surface gave way they would be plunged into the water, and swept below the ice. He tried to turn the sled and slow it, but to no avail. It hit the river bank, sending up a huge spray of snow. Finbarr's musket and pistol flew out. Feargol was hurled back into Kaelin, who grabbed him. This time the spear also fell clear. The sled rose into the air, landed on the ice and spun wildly. Kaelin and the boy were thrown out. Kaelin held tightly to Feargol, and managed to turn himself so that he struck the ice on his back, shielding the child from impact. They slid across the frozen river, slamming into the far bank. For a moment Kaelin lay still, his head spinning. Then he pushed Feargol to the bank and rolled to his knees. Far above on the slope he could see the bear. It was padding along the ridge, and making no attempt to follow them down.
    Kaelin stood. His legs were trembling. 'Are you all right?' he asked Feargol.
    'That was really fast,' said the boy.
    'Yes, it was.'
    Kaelin stumbled out onto the ice. The sled was lying on its side. He righted it, and saw that it was relatively undamaged. His pack was lying close by, as were the spear and Finbarr's musket. The pistol was nowhere in sight. Replacing pack, spear and musket he dragged the sled to the bank.
    'The bear isn't following us,' said Feargol, happily.
    'It looks that way,' agreed Kaelin.
    It took some time to find a way out of the river bed, but eventually man and boy hauled the sled up onto more solid ground. It was here that Kaelin discovered his snowshoes had also been lost.
    His temper snapped and he swore loudly.
    'Those were bad words,' said Feargol. Kaelin took a deep breath.
    'Yes, they were.' He grinned at the child. 'Not a word to Chara about them.'
    'She'll send you to bed without supper,' said Feargol.
    'Aye - and more than that,' said Kaelin.
    The journey to the cliff cave took more than six hours. Feargol was cold and trembling as they reached the cliff, and could not make the climb to the cave entrance. Kaelin swung the boy to his back. 'Hold on tight,' he said. Then, removing his gloves, he reached up for the first hold. The cliff face was ice-covered, but the holds were deep, the climb easy. The cave entrance was only some ten feet above the ground and Kaelin made it in moments, carrying the child inside and lowering him to the floor. There was wood stacked by the far wall. Kaelin prepared a fire, and, once it was started, sat Feargol beside it. Then he returned to the sled, removing the pack, musket and spear. The spear he threw haft first into the cave. The pack and musket he carried up.
    Feargol was lying beside the fire asleep. Kaelin shook him awake. 'Not yet, boy,' he said. 'First we must get you warm. Otherwise you'll die.' Removing the boy's topcoat and hat he rubbed at his arms and legs. The fire grew brighter and warmer. Feargol began to tremble and shiver. His lips were blue. His eyes closed. 'Stay awake!' roared Kaelin.
    'S-s-sorry,' said the boy.
    'I'm not angry,' Kaelin told him. 'You can sleep in a little while. First we let the fire warm our bodies. Then we eat a little. All right?'
    'Yes, Uncle Kaelin.'
    'You are a tough boy. You'll be fine.'
    'Who left the wood here?'
    'I did. A man should always be prepared. There are lots of places around these highlands where I have left fuel, or supplies. My uncle Jaim taught me that.'
    Feargol's colour was better now, and Kaelin relaxed a little. Fetching his pack, he took out more of the dried meat and cheese and shared it with the child. The cave was warmer now. Some sixteen feet deep and fourteen feet wide, it had once been considerably larger, but, on the western side, a rock fall had collapsed part of the roof. One wall was now merely a wedged