The Hidden Beast Read Online Free PDF

that had to be as big as factory furnaces.
    â€œWhat is that?” Sally whispered anxiously.
    â€œIt’s something large,” Adam whispered. “That’s for sure.”
    â€œProbably large and ancient,” Watch said.
    â€œThe ancient pet?” Cindy gasped.
    â€œIt has to be,” Watch said.
    â€œWe have to go back,” Cindy said quickly.
    â€œWe don’t need any treasure this much,” Sally agreed.
    â€œWhat do you think?” Watch asked Adam.
    But before Adam could reply Bryce spoke.
    â€œWhatever it is, it sounds as if it’s asleep,” he said. “We should be able to go around it.”
    â€œBut if we wake it,” Adam said, “it could kill us.”
    â€œI’m willing to take that risk,” Bryce said.
    â€œYou don’t even know what you’re risking,” Adam snapped. “You don’t know what it is.”
    â€œWe could shine our lights on it,” Cindy said.
    Simultaneously the rest of them said, “No!”
    Sally added, “Do any of you notice how hot it has gotten since we first heard it?”
    â€œâ€Šâ€˜But beware the ancient pet,’ ” Watch quoted. “ ‘The fire that burns yet.’ ” He added, “Do you guys see a faint red glow coming from the direction of it?”
    Adam squinted. “There is something there. A fire perhaps.”
    Cindy fretted. “We can’t just stand here talking. Let’s either go around it or go back. I’m for going back.”
    â€œI will not go back,” Bryce said flatly.
    â€œYou realize that you are forcing us to go with you,” Watch said.
    â€œHow?” Bryce demanded.
    â€œWe can’t leave you alone,” Watch said.
    â€œI don’t mind,” Cindy said.
    â€œLook,” Adam said. “Let’s sneak up and see how much room we have to move around it. For all we know this creature takes up all of the cavern in front of us. Even you, Bryce, wouldn’t try to walk over it.”
    They headed to the left of the thing in front ofthem. To their relief the cavern was wide enough to let them pass, and soon the creature was slumbering behind them, still off to their right. But the sound of it receding behind them was not all that comforting.
    â€œWe’ll have to go past it again,” Cindy said.
    â€œPerhaps,” Watch said. “It’s this creature that guards the treasure. Remember the next to the last line. ‘She who remembers old debts.’ ”
    â€œIf that’s true,” Adam said, “and if we find the treasure, we might not want to touch it.”
    â€œWe’re never going to find anything in all this darkness,” Sally said.
    â€œExcept maybe our deaths,” Cindy added quietly.
    Sally was wrong. Not long after passing the sleeping beast, the cavern narrowed and they entered a space that was no bigger than a school gymnasium. As they panned their flashlights around, they jumped, listening to their own hearts pound in wonder and amazement.
    The room was filled with treasure.
    Gold coins and bars, piled in hills that reached to the black ceiling, surrounded them. And jewels in every color of the rainbow glistened in the seaof yellow. There were even pearls, strung on exquisite chains and wrapped around tiny but precious statues of jade. Truly, they had found the riches of the ages.
    Yet all the wealth seemed to be gathered as a mere ornament to glorify a couple of foot-tall crystals that stood in the center of the room on a pedestal made of silver. They were narrow, rising up to sharp tips. As they drew near, they saw that special grooves had been carved in the silver stand to support the crystals.
    Yet there were four grooves, and only two crystals.
    Watch spoke softly in the darkness.
    â€œâ€Šâ€˜Therein lie the jewels that speak in dreams,’ ” he said. “ ‘The crystals that whisper words that are more