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Authors: Andrew Symon
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blow, but once again the Urisk avoided this, hopping into the shallow water. Then, seeing Caskill overstretched, it leapt forward, snarling ferociously. Its jaws locked onto Caskill’s neck, and the giant dropped the branch. Caskill pulled at the beast’s body, trying desperately to tear it away, but it was obvious he was unable to breathe. Finally, with a thundering swipe and thump, he succeeded in dislodging the Urisk, which fell to the side, yelping and whimpering.
The two creatures circled each other now, each looking for an opening. Blood spurted from Caskill’s neck into the oncoming waves, and also trickled from his chest and sides, where the Urisk’s hooves and claws had slashed him. The Urisk dragged one leg as it circled cautiously.
“Won’t the humans hear them?”
“They can’t see the beach from the castle,” replied Phineas. “They’ll put any strange noises down to the wind.”
“Can’t we help?” Jack tugged his father’s sleeve.
“Against that thing? We’ve no chance. Look at the size of him.”
“Won’t your sceptre work?”
“Not here. The islands just don’t work for us.”
Jack looked with dismay at the two battling figures. Although taller, Caskill was slow and lumbering; and he looked exhausted already. But if he didn’t get past the Urisk, he’d no chance of getting into the castle.
Please. It’s what must happen!
Jack felt powerless. And when the Urisk leapt again, his heart sank.
The Urisk knocked Caskill to the ground, and began to tear noisily at his throat. Caskill flailed at the beast’s body, landing punch after punch. The Urisk, though savagely wounded by these blows, still clung on. Caskill’s swipes became weaker …
No!
Jack closed his eyes and concentrated hard.
Marco taught me to think positively. To get the Kildashie out, we need the Hebseelies’ help; and we can’t get to them without the flag. So we must get that flag. Which means Caskill must win this fight … He will win it! I know he will!
A screech from the air distracted Jack, and he looked up. An eagle!
The great bird swooped down and fastened its claws on the Urisk’s face. The Urisk, startled by this sudden change of tactics, yelped in pain and released its grip on Caskill’s throat. Thrashing with its claws, it succeeded in freeing its face from this unwanted attention. But one eye had gone; and the eagle’s retreat was just momentary. In a flash it had jumped forward, locking its claws into the Urisk’s remaining eye.
With a great roar the beast fell back, swiping manically at the bird; but the damage was done. Blinded now, and exhausted by the multiple body blows, he tried to crawl away.
Caskill, seeing his adversary weakened like this, found new strength, and stood up. Picking up the Urisk, he flung it hard against a rock. The beast had no time to recover, for Caskill was on it again, grasping and hurling it down again. The Urisk made a final attempt to defend itself, snapping its jaws ferociously. But Caskill was out of range; and, retrieving the branch he had used earlier, he swept it up into the air before bringing it crashing down onto the Urisk’s skull. Blood, bone and brains flew up.
The crowd watching stood up, expectantly. The Urisk lay, lifeless; Caskill, leaning on the branch, gasped in pain and exhaustion. Then he let out a roar that echoed around the bay.
Armina was first to move. She bounded down towards the shore, quickly followed by Phineas and Jack.
“You did it!” yelled Jack as they drew close.
Caskill, still gasping for breath, did not seem to hear. Jack saw with alarm that the charmstone in his chest was hanging loose.
“Will he be all right?” he asked anxiously.
Tutting, Armina drew a jar of paste from her sack, and started to smear this on the wounds on Caskill’s leg.
“I can’t reach his chest or neck; and he’s losing blood! Can’t you get him to lie down?”
Jack stood in front of Caskill and waved to him. A pause. Then Caskill
The two creatures circled each other now, each looking for an opening. Blood spurted from Caskill’s neck into the oncoming waves, and also trickled from his chest and sides, where the Urisk’s hooves and claws had slashed him. The Urisk dragged one leg as it circled cautiously.
“Won’t the humans hear them?”
“They can’t see the beach from the castle,” replied Phineas. “They’ll put any strange noises down to the wind.”
“Can’t we help?” Jack tugged his father’s sleeve.
“Against that thing? We’ve no chance. Look at the size of him.”
“Won’t your sceptre work?”
“Not here. The islands just don’t work for us.”
Jack looked with dismay at the two battling figures. Although taller, Caskill was slow and lumbering; and he looked exhausted already. But if he didn’t get past the Urisk, he’d no chance of getting into the castle.
Please. It’s what must happen!
Jack felt powerless. And when the Urisk leapt again, his heart sank.
The Urisk knocked Caskill to the ground, and began to tear noisily at his throat. Caskill flailed at the beast’s body, landing punch after punch. The Urisk, though savagely wounded by these blows, still clung on. Caskill’s swipes became weaker …
No!
Jack closed his eyes and concentrated hard.
Marco taught me to think positively. To get the Kildashie out, we need the Hebseelies’ help; and we can’t get to them without the flag. So we must get that flag. Which means Caskill must win this fight … He will win it! I know he will!
A screech from the air distracted Jack, and he looked up. An eagle!
The great bird swooped down and fastened its claws on the Urisk’s face. The Urisk, startled by this sudden change of tactics, yelped in pain and released its grip on Caskill’s throat. Thrashing with its claws, it succeeded in freeing its face from this unwanted attention. But one eye had gone; and the eagle’s retreat was just momentary. In a flash it had jumped forward, locking its claws into the Urisk’s remaining eye.
With a great roar the beast fell back, swiping manically at the bird; but the damage was done. Blinded now, and exhausted by the multiple body blows, he tried to crawl away.
Caskill, seeing his adversary weakened like this, found new strength, and stood up. Picking up the Urisk, he flung it hard against a rock. The beast had no time to recover, for Caskill was on it again, grasping and hurling it down again. The Urisk made a final attempt to defend itself, snapping its jaws ferociously. But Caskill was out of range; and, retrieving the branch he had used earlier, he swept it up into the air before bringing it crashing down onto the Urisk’s skull. Blood, bone and brains flew up.
The crowd watching stood up, expectantly. The Urisk lay, lifeless; Caskill, leaning on the branch, gasped in pain and exhaustion. Then he let out a roar that echoed around the bay.
Armina was first to move. She bounded down towards the shore, quickly followed by Phineas and Jack.
“You did it!” yelled Jack as they drew close.
Caskill, still gasping for breath, did not seem to hear. Jack saw with alarm that the charmstone in his chest was hanging loose.
“Will he be all right?” he asked anxiously.
Tutting, Armina drew a jar of paste from her sack, and started to smear this on the wounds on Caskill’s leg.
“I can’t reach his chest or neck; and he’s losing blood! Can’t you get him to lie down?”
Jack stood in front of Caskill and waved to him. A pause. Then Caskill
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