Read Online Secret of the Giants' Staircase by Amy Lynn Green - Free Book Online
Authors: Amy Lynn Green
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âWhy did they build here?â he asked Parvel. It took Parvel a minute to realize that Jesse was talking to him and another few second to pull his eyes away from the ruins.
âLidia was a center for agriculture in this region,â Parvel said. âNo crops can be grown near the mountains, for obvious reasons. These lowlands, though, were perfect for growing rice. That was what gave the city its wealth from the dawn of the kingdom and even before.â
Then he hurried off, probably to explore a fascinating ancient carving.
âRice,â Jesse said thoughtfully. âI wonder if itâs still growing somewhere.â He shook his head. âStop it. Thereâs no one to talk to here.â
If I were a rice field, where would I be? Parvel had called them the lowlands. Jesse wandered over to the west side of the ruins and climbed outside the city wall. When it came to physical strength, Jesse fell behind his squad members, but he knew how to use his mind. I can find food for us , he thought. I always do .
The grade on this side was steeper, and he almost fell down headfirst. Only a quick stab at the ground with his staff saved him.
Jesse studied the ground beneath him. Actually, he wasnât sure what rice plants looked like. Heâd only seen rice once before, when a merchant staying at the inn had showed him a sack. It was a rare delicacy. âCan only be grown in a few places in the kingdom,â the merchant had said.
Suddenly, Jesse jerked his head up, scanning the thick growth of trees in front of him. He had seen something move. He was sure of it. Something big.
Now, though, everything was still. A few frogs croaked, and somewhere, a bird crowed. Thatâs what I saw , Jesse told himself. Just a bird. Aâ¦very large bird .
Still, he kept his eyes up, glancing down only occasionally to look for a rice field. The ruins had done strange things to his nerves. The idea that a man could disappear from his camp without warning, without leaving a trace of explanation behindâ¦.
It took Jesse a second to realize that he was falling. The dirt had crumbled under his feet, and he slid down into a pit.
He was still getting his balance from the fall when he realized something else. He hadnât landed on solid ground â he was sinking. The swamp was pulling him under.
âHelp!â he sputtered, trying to pull his legs out ofâ¦mud? No, it was thicker and darker than mud, nearly up to his waist. Tar .
Jesse thrashed around, trying to work himself over to the bank. He only managed to twist himself in the other direction. Now that it had him, the tar wasnât about to let go.
Even pushing down with his staff didnât help. The bottom of the pit either didnât exist, or it was made out of sand and mud, not solid enough to push off of. The tar held Jesse fast, and soon he gave up, exhausted, and faced the ruins on the hill. âSilas! Rae! Parvel!â
There was no answer.
Chapter 7
How humiliating , Jesse thought, staring at the ruins. He had shouted until he was hoarse. Silas, Rae, and Parvel must have heard. Theyâll be here soon .
He knew exactly what would happen when they arrived. Parvel would laugh first, tossing out a few of his good-natured insults. Rae would smirk the whole time they rescued him. Silas would scan the area, come up with a plan and then tell him not to go off on his own again. And all of them would tease him about it until the day he died.
Well, it canât be helped , Jesse thought, sighing loudly. Thereâs no way out of here on my own .
He resolved to wait. He couldnât even lean against his staff; when he tried, the added weight only made it sink deeper into the pit. All he could do was stand there. The tar, warmed by hours in the sun, had started to feel like a comfortable blanket. It wasnât an uncomfortable wait.
But no one came. There was no call from inside the city, no movement on the battlements, no
âWhy did they build here?â he asked Parvel. It took Parvel a minute to realize that Jesse was talking to him and another few second to pull his eyes away from the ruins.
âLidia was a center for agriculture in this region,â Parvel said. âNo crops can be grown near the mountains, for obvious reasons. These lowlands, though, were perfect for growing rice. That was what gave the city its wealth from the dawn of the kingdom and even before.â
Then he hurried off, probably to explore a fascinating ancient carving.
âRice,â Jesse said thoughtfully. âI wonder if itâs still growing somewhere.â He shook his head. âStop it. Thereâs no one to talk to here.â
If I were a rice field, where would I be? Parvel had called them the lowlands. Jesse wandered over to the west side of the ruins and climbed outside the city wall. When it came to physical strength, Jesse fell behind his squad members, but he knew how to use his mind. I can find food for us , he thought. I always do .
The grade on this side was steeper, and he almost fell down headfirst. Only a quick stab at the ground with his staff saved him.
Jesse studied the ground beneath him. Actually, he wasnât sure what rice plants looked like. Heâd only seen rice once before, when a merchant staying at the inn had showed him a sack. It was a rare delicacy. âCan only be grown in a few places in the kingdom,â the merchant had said.
Suddenly, Jesse jerked his head up, scanning the thick growth of trees in front of him. He had seen something move. He was sure of it. Something big.
Now, though, everything was still. A few frogs croaked, and somewhere, a bird crowed. Thatâs what I saw , Jesse told himself. Just a bird. Aâ¦very large bird .
Still, he kept his eyes up, glancing down only occasionally to look for a rice field. The ruins had done strange things to his nerves. The idea that a man could disappear from his camp without warning, without leaving a trace of explanation behindâ¦.
It took Jesse a second to realize that he was falling. The dirt had crumbled under his feet, and he slid down into a pit.
He was still getting his balance from the fall when he realized something else. He hadnât landed on solid ground â he was sinking. The swamp was pulling him under.
âHelp!â he sputtered, trying to pull his legs out ofâ¦mud? No, it was thicker and darker than mud, nearly up to his waist. Tar .
Jesse thrashed around, trying to work himself over to the bank. He only managed to twist himself in the other direction. Now that it had him, the tar wasnât about to let go.
Even pushing down with his staff didnât help. The bottom of the pit either didnât exist, or it was made out of sand and mud, not solid enough to push off of. The tar held Jesse fast, and soon he gave up, exhausted, and faced the ruins on the hill. âSilas! Rae! Parvel!â
There was no answer.
Chapter 7
How humiliating , Jesse thought, staring at the ruins. He had shouted until he was hoarse. Silas, Rae, and Parvel must have heard. Theyâll be here soon .
He knew exactly what would happen when they arrived. Parvel would laugh first, tossing out a few of his good-natured insults. Rae would smirk the whole time they rescued him. Silas would scan the area, come up with a plan and then tell him not to go off on his own again. And all of them would tease him about it until the day he died.
Well, it canât be helped , Jesse thought, sighing loudly. Thereâs no way out of here on my own .
He resolved to wait. He couldnât even lean against his staff; when he tried, the added weight only made it sink deeper into the pit. All he could do was stand there. The tar, warmed by hours in the sun, had started to feel like a comfortable blanket. It wasnât an uncomfortable wait.
But no one came. There was no call from inside the city, no movement on the battlements, no
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