The Beast From the East Read Online Free PDF Page B

deep breaths and tried to get rid of the panic in my chest.
    “Okay,” I said finally. “Okay. Okay. I’ll try it. What should I do?”

 
 
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    Nat beamed at me. “First I’ll climb a tree,” he said. “I can spot the beasts’
hiding places from up there.”
    I gazed up at the tall, leafy trees around us.
    I thought about it. All we needed was to tag one beast. Any beast.
    “Do it,” I told Nat. “But don’t stay up there too long.”
    Nat searched the woods for the best tree. “That one,” he said finally.
    The tree was tall. Dozens of sturdy branches sprang from its sides. In the
center of each branch was a big, strong knot. Tiny golden leaves covered the
branches. The tree looked strong, strong enough to hold Nat.
    “This is a cinch,” he assured me. “As easy as climbing a ladder. I’ll be able
to see everything from up there.”
    I waited near the base of the tree.
    Nat placed his foot on the lowest branch and hoisted himself up.
    He climbed slowly. Steadily.
    “See anything yet?” I called anxiously.
    “I see a weird nest,” he shouted down. “With big eggs.”
    “What about the beasts?” I yelled. “Do you see them?”
    “Not yet.” Nat climbed higher. A few seconds later, he disappeared from view.
    “Nat! Can you hear me?” I called. I cupped my hands around my mouth. “Nat!
Where are you? Answer me!”
    I rushed around the tree, peering up through the branches. I spotted Nat near
the very top.
    Nat was moving carefully. He let go of one branch and pulled himself onto the
next highest branch. The top of the tree swayed dangerously.
    I caught my breath.
    Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
    Not if I had to climb up and rescue him.
    “Nat!” My throat hurt from shouting so loud. “Be careful!”
    The trunk swayed back and forth. Slowly at first. Then faster.
    Bits of loose bark broke off and fell in slow spirals toward the ground.
    The thick branches swished back and forth. Each branch started to bend in the
middle.
    At the knots.
    I stared. The branches reminded me of something. Something familiar.
    Arms, I thought. The knots were like elbows. And the branches were like big
arms, reaching…
    I blinked. Was I seeing things?
    The branches were reaching.
    They were reaching for Nat.
    “Nat!” I screamed.
    High above me, I saw him grasp onto a slender branch.
    “Nat!” I ran frantically around the base of the tree, pounding my fists on
the trunk. “Nat! Come down!” I yelled. “The tree is alive!”

 
 
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    Nat peered down at me from the top of the tree. “What’s wrong?” he called
down.
    “Come down!” I screamed. “The branches—”
    I was too late.
    The upper branches grabbed at Nat’s arms. Pinned them to his side. I saw him
gasp in shock.
    Other branches lashed out, slapping at him.
    Slapping him. Whipping him.
    “Ginger!” Nat screamed. “Help me!”
    What could I do?
    I gazed up in horror as two lower branches reached up toward Nat. The top
branches passed him down to the lower branches.
    The branches wrapped around him, hugging tight.
    This isn’t happening! I told myself. This can’t be happening!
    Nat’s feet dangled in the air. He kicked furiously at the tree. “Let me go!
Let me gooooo!”
    More branches lashed out. Some held him tight. Others swiped at him, slapping
at him.
    The branches passed Nat down.
    They were carrying him lower, down to the center of the tree.
    Where the branches were the thickest.
    Where the tree’s arms were strongest.
    Nat cried out. He kicked out again and again. The branches wrapped around his
legs.
    No way to climb up to him. Every branch was thrashing wildly. Even the little
thin ones that couldn’t reach Nat were clawing upwards. Straining to take a
swipe at him.
    As I watched helplessly, the thickest branches pulled Nat into the center.
    He disappeared.
    “Help!” His muffled cry drifted down to me. “Ginger—it’s going to swallow me!”
    I had to do something. Had to pull him