Snowflake Read Online Free PDF Page B

dropped his voice to a whisper: “If only we do not meet our greatest enemy . . .”

    Snowflake said softly:
    “Who is our greatest enemy, Raindrop? Whisper it to me. I don’t want the children to see how frightened I am.”
    “Shhh,” Raindrop replied. “Have courage. Perhaps it will never happen. Remember, I am with you.”
    But the tunnel through which they were dashing grew more chill and narrow all the time. It had many branches that opened to left or right. Fortune, good or bad they knew not which, swept them this way or that but always onwards.
    The speed increased. The space through which they were rushing became always smaller. It changed from stone to brick and then from brick to iron as they entered the mains pipe beneath the city.
    Faster, faster, faster! Some mighty power had them in its grip. Then without warning they felt themselves being snatched upwards. Sounds reached them, the clanging of bells, shouts, the breaking of glass, a thumping and a roaring . . .
    Raindrop cried: “Courage, Snowflake! It is our most bitter foe.”
    “Who is it?” Snowflake gasped.
    Raindrop then pronounced the terrible word: “Fire!”

    There was so little time left now even to be afraid.
    Above, the powerful pumps were drawing them up from the depths at blinding speed. Snowflake felt helpless and lost. The children were snatched from her though they still managed to cling to Raindrop.
    As the pipe narrowed and the pressure increased she thought she would be crushed to death. But worse was yet to follow. Caught in a grip like that of a giant she was forced into a long, flexible tube at such speed that she could barely cling to her senses. Nothing so painful or terrible had ever happened to her before. Snowflake threw one last, despairing look at Raindrop, for she was certain she could bear no more.
    Then with a great spurt and a cry of agony, she burst into the open and for an instant gazed upon an awful scene.
    There was a house in a crowded city street before her. Black smoke and yellow flames were pouring from the roof and windows. Orange tongues of fire were licking upwards.
    She heard Raindrop call to her: “Give all your strength, all your heart and soul, Snowflake! We must win!”
    Then, with the powerful stream of water shot from the brass nozzle of the hose held by the firemen, she was hurled straight for the centre of the fiery furnace.

    At once she was enveloped by flames and fearful heat while from all about her came a terrifying crackling and roaring, a splintering and tearing, a thundering and a crashing.
    Stifling black smoke filled the air. The heart of the fire glowed red and evil. Bright blades of yellow flames leaped like sword strokes to destroy all in their path. Water was turned to steam and with it the blaze hissed its defiance.
    Gasping for life, all but seared by the blast from the raging furnace, Snowflake was near to giving way to despair and defeat. Who could prevail against an enemy so savage and so strong? Another second and she felt she must shrivel, boil and turn to vapour. And yet she did not surrender.
    She recalled what Raindrop had said: “Give all your strength, all your heart and soul. We must win!”
    And in that moment she thought of the One from whom her heart and soul had come, and she cried out to him: “Help us. Remember, when I was a child you loved me . . . If you must, take me, but spare Raindrop and my children.”
    Then having done so, she bent all her will and tried with might and main to fight against the enemy.

    In that instant, Snowflake and all those who were rallied beside her in the fight against the red destroyer struck at the glowing heart of the living flame and vanquished it.
    There was the sound of drenching, frothing and hissing. With a mortal shriek and emitting clouds of steam and smoke, the wounded fire made a final effort to survive. One last darting orange spear of flame was cast to try to snatch victory from defeat. It was drowned beneath the tons