Read Online Jack and the Beanstalk (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jenni James
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from where he had been watching them.
Verity snuggled in closer to Jack, who whispered to her.
Rachel watched as the giant locked them in and then lifted the whole thing up. It tilted wildly to the right.
“Sit down!” Jack called out as he did so himself. “And hold on to the golden bars. I believe this is not going to be a pleasant ride.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ONCE GLEEFLAK HAD GONE, carrying Jack and Rachel and the baby in the cage, Jill came in from outside and snuck into the great living area, hiding herself within a tall bookshelf. She assumed the giant would be back with them all eventually, and she did not want to be too far away—or on the other side of a closed door—when it was time to rescue them. Having overheard most of the conversation from behind the pillar in the courtyard, she was amazed at Jack’s quick thinking and his interactions with the large man.
Gleeflak even believed they were friends!
She grinned as she climbed up and sat atop a grouping of books that were nearly as tall as she was within the shadows of the shelf. Pulling off her pack, she rummaged for some food and began to eat dried meat and a bit of an apple. Her eyes roamed around the elegant room as she marveled at its sumptuous décor. Honestly, the giant was quite a simpleton—how could anyone of such a small mind even think of such luxuries? It did not make sense that he would be so picky or refined in his tastes.
Huh. She wondered a bit more, trying to piece together the oddity of it all, when commotion from a room down the hall made her pause. Gleeflak was shouting at someone. He was angry. Goodness. She glanced around the room, realizing he might be coming back any moment now. Was there something, anything she could use to defend herself or Jack and Rachel if need be?
Upon a carved end table across the room sat a letter opener which would serve as a very nice sword, if somewhat heavy, but she was too far away from it now. On her left was a long, tasseled curtain tieback that looked like a thick rope. That might do!
The shouting grew louder as she jumped from the bookshelf and ran to the dangling lanyard. Climbing up the rope, she quickly unhooked it from its gold catch attached to the wall and allowed it to fall to the ground as she slid down the length of the blue velvet curtain.
She heard steps right outside the door. Gleeflak was here!
Jill did not have to time to collect the tieback or hide it. Instead, she left it right upon the floor and climbed up the shelf, tucking herself into the spot above the books. She made sure the pack was hidden within the shadows as well and peered out toward the door just as the giant walked in, swinging the large cage.
She heard shouting and looked in the golden cage to find Rachel and Jack holding on to the bars while it swung wildly back and forth, the furniture in the cage careening into them. As the giant came closer to her shelf, she held her breath and scrunched in tighter. The cage drew closer into view and just before it was lifted to perch somewhere above her, she saw that Jack was holding the witch’s baby with one arm and the bar with the other.
Jill heard a great slamming noise as Gleeflak shouted, “There! This is where bad people stay. You stay here and think about how bad you are all night.”
She watched his legs as they stepped back before the sound of Rachel’s voice caused him to pause. “Do we get supper?” she asked.
The giant knees began to quake before he announced, “No! No supper for anyone! And not for you either, Jack! You are bad!”
“I am sorry you feel that way,” he answered above her.
“No, you aren’t. But you will be sorry. Tomorrow I’ll drop you off the edge of this land and you can go back to your village.” He laughed. “You’ll be dead and smushed! It will teach you to come here to my castle and like my singing girl! She is mine! Mine! No one likes her but me!”
Silence followed as the giant remained there. Jill had no idea
Verity snuggled in closer to Jack, who whispered to her.
Rachel watched as the giant locked them in and then lifted the whole thing up. It tilted wildly to the right.
“Sit down!” Jack called out as he did so himself. “And hold on to the golden bars. I believe this is not going to be a pleasant ride.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ONCE GLEEFLAK HAD GONE, carrying Jack and Rachel and the baby in the cage, Jill came in from outside and snuck into the great living area, hiding herself within a tall bookshelf. She assumed the giant would be back with them all eventually, and she did not want to be too far away—or on the other side of a closed door—when it was time to rescue them. Having overheard most of the conversation from behind the pillar in the courtyard, she was amazed at Jack’s quick thinking and his interactions with the large man.
Gleeflak even believed they were friends!
She grinned as she climbed up and sat atop a grouping of books that were nearly as tall as she was within the shadows of the shelf. Pulling off her pack, she rummaged for some food and began to eat dried meat and a bit of an apple. Her eyes roamed around the elegant room as she marveled at its sumptuous décor. Honestly, the giant was quite a simpleton—how could anyone of such a small mind even think of such luxuries? It did not make sense that he would be so picky or refined in his tastes.
Huh. She wondered a bit more, trying to piece together the oddity of it all, when commotion from a room down the hall made her pause. Gleeflak was shouting at someone. He was angry. Goodness. She glanced around the room, realizing he might be coming back any moment now. Was there something, anything she could use to defend herself or Jack and Rachel if need be?
Upon a carved end table across the room sat a letter opener which would serve as a very nice sword, if somewhat heavy, but she was too far away from it now. On her left was a long, tasseled curtain tieback that looked like a thick rope. That might do!
The shouting grew louder as she jumped from the bookshelf and ran to the dangling lanyard. Climbing up the rope, she quickly unhooked it from its gold catch attached to the wall and allowed it to fall to the ground as she slid down the length of the blue velvet curtain.
She heard steps right outside the door. Gleeflak was here!
Jill did not have to time to collect the tieback or hide it. Instead, she left it right upon the floor and climbed up the shelf, tucking herself into the spot above the books. She made sure the pack was hidden within the shadows as well and peered out toward the door just as the giant walked in, swinging the large cage.
She heard shouting and looked in the golden cage to find Rachel and Jack holding on to the bars while it swung wildly back and forth, the furniture in the cage careening into them. As the giant came closer to her shelf, she held her breath and scrunched in tighter. The cage drew closer into view and just before it was lifted to perch somewhere above her, she saw that Jack was holding the witch’s baby with one arm and the bar with the other.
Jill heard a great slamming noise as Gleeflak shouted, “There! This is where bad people stay. You stay here and think about how bad you are all night.”
She watched his legs as they stepped back before the sound of Rachel’s voice caused him to pause. “Do we get supper?” she asked.
The giant knees began to quake before he announced, “No! No supper for anyone! And not for you either, Jack! You are bad!”
“I am sorry you feel that way,” he answered above her.
“No, you aren’t. But you will be sorry. Tomorrow I’ll drop you off the edge of this land and you can go back to your village.” He laughed. “You’ll be dead and smushed! It will teach you to come here to my castle and like my singing girl! She is mine! Mine! No one likes her but me!”
Silence followed as the giant remained there. Jill had no idea
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