The Deadly Past Read Free Page B

container not far from the burning cloth.
    â€œWhen I throw this liquid on the end,” she said, “there will be a burst of fire. But you’ll have to move fast, Adam. Understood?”
    â€œI understand,” Adam said. “But we have to be clear about what we’re doing. If we’re just trying to get outside, then we’ll be lucky to create a crack where we can slip by the beast. We will have to go one at a time, in order. Cindy, you go first. Then Sally and Watch. I’ll follow you guys out.”
    â€œThat’s OK with me,” Sally said eagerly, nervously eyeing the pterodactyl. “Let’s do this on the count of three. One . . . Two . . . Three!”
    Sally threw the fluid on the fire.
    The end of the stick exploded in flames.
    Adam thrust the stick at the pterodactyl just as the creature leaned forward to take a bite out of one of them. The pterodactyl had its mouth open. Adam got the end of the stick past its teeth andtongue and partway down its throat. The pterodactyl let out a deafening screech of pain and bent its narrow beak down as it tried to be rid of the fire. The stick just flew out of Adam’s hands. He didn’t even have a chance to react.
    But the uproar created the opening they needed to get outside.
    Cindy shoved by Sally and dashed past the creature. Sally followed closely, with Watch and Adam bringing up the rear. Within five seconds of attacking the pterodactyl they were back outside in the fresh air. For a moment they all felt incredible relief. But then the monster screamed from the depths of the cave and they understood that it was far from defeated.
    â€œRun!” Adam shouted.
    â€œWhere?” Sally shouted back.
    â€œAnywhere!” Watch said.
    So they ran, back the way they had come, back up to the bluff where they had first seen the pterodactyl. But the exercise was no solution. They were dealing with an enemy that was twenty times bigger and stronger than they were. One that was used to killing to live. Really, it had been hopeless from the start.
    They were almost to the bluff that overlooked Spooksville and the ocean when the pterodactyl appeared in the sky once more. It rose directly above them, higher and higher, and for a few seconds it seemed that it would keep going into the wild blue yonder and they would be safe. But then it began to arc downward, tucking in its massive wings and pointing its ugly head toward the ground. Once more it raced toward them like a deadly missile, a blur of brown death. And all the while it screeched, a horrible sound of revenge. They had hurt it and now it wanted to hurt them.
    They could only stand, frozen, and watch it come.
    There was only one question in their minds.
    Which one of them would it take?
    At the last instant the pterodactyl spread its huge wings.
    A wave of foul odor and sweeping air passed over them, as well as a dark shadow. Cindy screamed, maybe they all did. But it was Cindy who screamed the loudest because the pterodactyl had chosen her to be its victim. One moment she was standing beside Adam and staring at the horror in the sky. The next she was being dragged kicking and screaming into the air. Now she was apart of the horror, and as the pterodactyl flew off to the distant peaks, it seemed as if they could hear her screaming still. Yet they all knew that was impossible.
    Adam bowed his head. They all did.
    Their friend was gone.

2
    F or a long time they remained rooted in shock. An oppressive weight hung over them, and it seemed as if even the sun had dimmed. There were no words to express how they felt, so they said nothing. But after a while they did begin to stir.
    â€œCould she be alive?” Sally whispered.
    Watch shrugged weakly. “She could be alive at this moment.”
    The implications were clear. Even if she were alive now, she wouldn’t be for long.
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” Sally muttered.
    Watch shook his head.