Free The Hidden Beast by Christopher Pike Page A

find him by touch alone.
    â€œNo,” she said. “We’re not separating.”
    â€œAll right.” He patted her on the back. “I know you’re scared, Cindy. I’m scared, too. But I think we have to risk it and go forward. To return to the cave is all but a death sentence. We’ll get trapped there, and then we’ll be at the mercy of the dragon.”
    Cindy nodded. “Then if we’re going forward, turn the light back on. Darkness won’t save us. The dragon will hear us coming. At least this way we can see what we’re up against.”
    â€œAgreed.” Watch flipped on the flashlight.
    Their next steps were the hardest ones of their lives.
    They heard their breathing, their hearts pounding.
    And something else. Yes, something big—definitely big.
    Stirring in the dark in front of them.
    Finally the beam from their flashlight fell on it.
    All hope died inside them.
    They knew they were dead.
    It was another dragon.
    â€œOh no,” Cindy moaned.
    Watch hugged her to his side. “Close your eyes.”
    But neither of them closed them.
    The dragon spoke. He spoke modern day English.
    He sounded more like a kid than an ancient monster.
    â€œHi,” he said happily. “Who are you?”
    Watch almost choked on his own voice he was so relieved to hear the welcoming tone. “I am Watch,” he said. “This is my friend, Cindy. Who are you?”
    â€œHarve,” the dragon said and offered a sharp clawed talon. “Pleased to meet you.”
    They stared at his huge claw. “Would it be OK if we didn’t shake just now?” Watch asked. “We don’t mean to be rude.”
    Harve withdrew his claw. “Sorry. I guess myhand is too big for you guys. Hey, how did you get in here? Did you take the tunnel down here?”
    â€œYes,” Cindy muttered.
    â€œCool,” Harve said. “I have been hoping somebody would use that tunnel one day.”
    â€œHow long have you been down here?” Watch asked.
    The dragon seemed to shrug. He was not nearly so big as Slatron.
    â€œI don’t know,” he said. “Maybe five hundred years.”
    â€œBut you sound so young,” Cindy said.
    Harve nodded. “Dragons grow slowly. I didn’t learn to walk until I was a hundred. My mom thought I would never learn to talk.”
    â€œBut you speak good English,” Watch said.
    â€œThank you. My mom says it’s the language most people use nowadays so she taught it to me.”
    â€œIs your mother Slatron?” Cindy asked.
    â€œThat’s her. We’re the only dragons who live here. I guess you must have met her?”
    â€œWe sure did,” Watch said. “She tried to kill us.”
    Harve seemed to frown. “Oh. Sorry about that. You must have made her mad. What did you do, play with her treasure?”
    â€œThis girl we know stole a few pieces of her treasure,” Cindy explained. “Two of her crystals.”
    Harve snorted. “That explains it. She loves those crystals almost as much as she loves me.”
    â€œWhat are they?” Watch asked. “What can they do?”
    â€œYou can talk to anyone anywhere anytime if you have them,” Harve explained. “As long as the other person has one as well. My mom uses them to talk to dragons on other planets.”
    â€œShe talks to other planets!” Cindy said, astounded.
    â€œShe has to,” Harve said. “There aren’t many dragons to talk to here.”
    â€œI see your point,” Watch said.
    â€œHey,” Harve said. “Do you know where my mom went? I haven’t been able to find her.”
    â€œShe left this mountain in order to torch our friends and our city,” Cindy said. “We need to stop her. Can you help us?”
    â€œI can try,” Harve said pleasantly. “I like humans more than my mom does. I want to tell you right now that I’ve never eaten a person.