Free The Hidden Beast by Christopher Pike Page B

I’m a vegetarian.”
    â€œThat’s good to know,” Watch said. “Can we communicate with your mother right now using one of the crystals?”
    â€œNot unless she’s got one with her,” Harve said.
    Cindy looked at Watch. “Slatron left here in a hurry,” she said. “I doubt she took a crystal with her.”
    â€œI’m sure she didn’t,” Watch said. “But Leah has two with her. We might be able to talk her into bringing them back.”
    â€œThat sounds like the best plan,” Harve said. “Once my mom gets in a bad mood, it’s hard to calm her down. The only thing that will cool her off is to see the crystals again.”
    â€œLet’s go to the treasure chamber,” Watch said. “We’ll see if Leah will answer us.”
    â€œAre you guys tired?” Harve asked. “Would you like a ride there?”
    â€œYou don’t mind?” Cindy asked. “We are exhausted.”
    â€œNot at all,” Harve said. “I love giving humans rides.”
    They climbed up on the dragon’s back.
    â€œHave you seen many humans before?” Watch asked.
    â€œA few. Nice creatures.”
    â€œWhere are they now?” Cindy asked.
    Harve lowered his voice as he lowered his wings for them.
    â€œI’m not sure,” he said with a note of reluctance. “I think my mom ate them.”
    In the treasure chamber Harve explained how to use the crystals to communicate with Leah.
    â€œHold one in your right hand and think of her,” he said. “Then begin to speak. If she has a crystal nearby, she will hear you.”
    Watch picked up a crystal and offered it to Cindy.
    â€œDo you want to try to reason with her?” he asked.
    Cindy shook her head. “No.”
    â€œI’ll try it then.” Watch held the crystal tight and closed his eyes. He had no troublevisualizing Leah. Indeed, the image of her face and other features popped into his mind with unusual clarity. He wondered if the crystal was responsible. It seemed to boost the power of his thoughts. He spoke in a soft but clear voice. “Leah,” he said. “Can you hear me?”
    There was a long pause. Then a worried voice seemed to speak from the center of the room. “Who’s there?” Leah asked.
    â€œIt’s me, Watch. I am speaking to you via the crystals. They are interstellar communication devices, but they can also be used to make local calls.”
    There was another pause.
    â€œI don’t believe it,” Leah said.
    â€œIt’s true,” Watch said. “How else could you hear me? But I don’t want to argue about that right now. We need you to bring those crystals back. You see, there’s this dragon looking for them and she’s in a really bad mood. If she finds you, she’ll probably kill you.”
    â€œAre you calling for Bryce?” Leah asked impatiently. “He just called an hour ago and said the same thing. I hung up on him.”
    â€œHe was telling you the truth. Where are you right now?”
    â€œWhy should I tell you?” Leah said. “I’m home free, that’s where I am. If these crystals are so magical then I should be able to sell them for millions of dollars. I won’t have to worry about working the rest of my life. That’s why my father gave me the treasure map, you know. He wanted me to be taken care of. I don’t know why all of you are treating me like a criminal.”
    â€œWe don’t judge you for wanting financial security,” Watch said. “We’re just worried about this angry dragon. When she left here, she said she was going to wipe out our friends and all of Spooksville.”
    â€œYour friends are with Bryce and they are fine,” Leah said. “But Spooksville is going to have to take care of itself. I am not going to return my inheritance.”
    â€œBut you didn’t inherit these crystals,” Watch