Free Secret of the Giants' Staircase by Amy Lynn Green Page B

sure how to summarize a month’s worth of adventure in a few sentences. “But, I tell you, you’re in danger. You and your squad need to leave here.”
    â€œI’m all for that,” Owen said, shrugging. “I’m through with this madness. We’ve been here for weeks now, barely finding enough food and clean water to stay alive. Searched the whole swampland three times without any sign of a giant or a giant civilization. Ever since Barnaby disappeared—”
    Jesse’s hand automatically went to the token around his neck. It was still there, tar pit and all. “What happened to him?”
    There was no trace of Owen’s grin now. “We don’t know. That’s the worst of it. He left to gather fruit from the orchard early one morning just before dawn, and he…never came back.”
    Jesse swallowed hard. “That seems to be the theme in these swamps.”
    â€œAnd his bird too,” Owen added. “I think Barnaby left and went back to his family. They live near the swamps, you know. That’s what kept us alive for so long—Barnaby knew things about the swamp. What to eat, how to make shelters, all that.”
    That was good. Jesse hoped Owen had paid attention to Barnaby’s lessons. They might need that information. Then he started thinking about what Owen had said about Barnaby’s disappearance.
    â€œLike I said,” Owen continued, “this mission of ours is pointless. Giants, they said. A staircase, they said. What kind of crazy—”
    â€œDid you say Barnaby was in an orchard?” Jesse asked. “An orchard back in the ruins of Lidia?”
    Owen stopped, blinked at the sudden change in subject. “Yes. There were several in different parts of the city that he—”
    â€œWhat time of day was it?”
    Owen squinted at Jesse. “You know, you have a bad habit of interrupting people when they’re talking.”
    That didn’t seem particularly important to Jesse at the moment. “Owen. Was it night when Barnaby disappeared?”
    â€œYes,” Owen said. “Just before dawn, anyway. But what—”
    Jesse was already running back up the hill, toward the ruins. Barnaby had disappeared at night looking for food in the city. The Guard Rider had probably disappeared during the night while making camp in the city.
    Parvel, Silas and Rae were all in the city. And night had fallen.

Chapter 8
    There was no one in the city.
    As soon as he stumbled over the city walls, Jesse half expected Silas to scold him for leaving the ruins, Rae to laugh at his tar-covered clothes and Parvel to lead him to a rare mural he had uncovered. But none of them did.
    We have to find them , Jesse thought, his panic growing every time he and Owen turned onto a new street and saw no one.
    On the way up the hill, through the growing fog, Owen had peppered Jesse with questions, but now, in the city, they moved silently, pressing themselves against crumbling walls and ducking under old archways, always keeping their backs to the wall, always looking for something, anything.
    Jesse wasn’t sure if he should call for Parvel, Silas and Rae. What if they’re making camp on the outskirts of the city or in the swamp somewhere? Or what if they’re looking for me?
    Or what if someone else is looking for me…but for a different reason?
    They wandered through a street that looked like it had once been the home of a bustling marketplace. The moonlight, reflecting off the white stone, was their only light. At least here there aren’t any tar pits to fall into , Jesse thought.
    â€œLet’s go up higher,” Owen said, louder than he should have. Some of the buildings had two stories, with pillared porches jutting out over the street. Jesse examined them doubtfully. A few looked like they might fall apart and crumble into dust. Some already had.
    But Owen was already inside one of the buildings, a