Read Online Secret of the Giants' Staircase by Amy Lynn Green - Free Book Online Page B

so he couldn’t see them. He knew it would be too much work to turn. “Owen, what—” a girl’s voice started.
    Jesse realized he was not making a good first impression. “Let me explain,” he said, trying to focus his tired mind enough to come up with an explanation. “I—”
    â€œWho are you?” a strong male voice demanded, interrupting him.
    Jesse decided to attract their attention right away. “Jesse. I’ve come to rescue you.”
    Silence. “Are you sure you have that right?” Owen asked. “Because we’re just fine. You’re the one in trouble.”
    Jesse just closed his eyes, trying to figure out how to explain. If only he knew .
    â€œI don’t trust him. How do you know he won’t kill us once we get him out?” the girl – Talia? – pointed out. “Or lead someone to us? He knows where we are now.”
    Jesse fought a growing frustration. “We’re here to rescue you, not kill you!”
    â€œExplain yourself,” Nero ordered. It seemed like everything he said was an order. “Quickly.”
    Jesse tried to think. This was not how he pictured their meeting with the missing squad. Besides, his head felt like it was full of the tar around him. “Parvel got sick, so I went into the desert…and we were almost executed…a Patrol captain is chasing us…and we went into the mountains with the dwarves…before escaping the Rebellion…and finding the Forbidden Book….”
    He trailed off. I must sound like a madman . “It’s a long story,” he finished weakly. “Several long stories, actually.”
    â€œParvel,” Talia muttered. “Silas and Rae are in his squad, aren’t they?”
    Something about the way Talia said their names made Jesse want to deny it. “Yes?”
    â€œExcellent,” Owen muttered, still flopped on the ground, almost at eye level with Jesse. “You had to bring them up, didn’t you?”
    â€œI should have known,” Talia said. “They always taunted us during training. Said that we’d fail in our quest. Rae especially. You say the others are nearby?”
    â€œYes,” Jesse said, “in the ruins.” Something caught his eye, over in the sand of the tar pit bank. Odd . Was that…?
    No. Your imagination. That’s all . But Jesse wasn’t sure that it was. For a moment, he thought he had seen something moving in the sand of the bank.
    â€œThen let them find you.” Talia’s voice got more distant. She’s walking away . “I say we—”
    The movement again, this time sending a trickle of sand down into the tar in front of Jesse. “There’s something in the bank,” Jesse said, trying not to panic.
    â€œDon’t interrupt,” Talia said coolly.
    â€œNo, there’s something alive,” Jesse said, trying to back away from…whatever it was. He didn’t care if it would make him sink deeper into the tar. “In the bank.”
    Owen winced. “Not good, not good.” He looked up. “You two, get back over here and help me haul him up.” No movement. “Now!”
    Apparently Owen, unlike Nero, didn’t give orders very often, because Talia and Nero came over and grabbed on to the end of the staff. The force of the pull nearly tore Jesse’s arms out, but he held on.
    He let go with one hand and grabbed at the edge of the bank, tearing away mossy plants. “Stop it,” Owen shouted. He threw Jesse’s staff on the ground. “Let us pull you.”
    The sound of more sand falling, then something like a hiss. “Pull fast!” he yelled back.
    Two pairs of arms grabbed him and the tar pit surrendered. Nero and Owen helped Jesse away from the edge.
    â€œWatch yourselves.” Talia’s voice. When Jesse looked up, he saw a girl aiming an arrow…right at him.
    He gasped and rolled to the side.