Read Online Undergardeners by Desmond Ellis - Free Book Online Page B

Alkus’s hands got smaller and smaller and had almost run out completely when they heard a cry and a thud from the darkness as though someone had been hit.
    â€œTake that, you monster!” It was Digger. Stifling a desire to cry out with joy, they all ran quietly forward, stumbling over each other in their haste.
    â€œWhy did you— ow! —hit me?” came Chuck’s pained voice.
    â€œChuck? Sorry, Chuck, didn’t know it was you. Expecting the Creepscreech I was.” Digger was all apologies. “Who’s that?” he suddenly asked the darkness anxiously.
    â€œIt’s only us,” said Alkus, lighting a lantern. The sudden flare of light hurt their eyes for a second; then they got a good look at a disheveled and bloodied but still feisty Digger, and at poor Chuck, who was tenderly feeling his punched snout and knuckling tears away from his eyes.
    Forgetting the danger they were in, they gathered in a circle around Digger and all began talking at the same time. What happened? Did the Creepscreech bite you? How big is it? Where is it now? Did you fight it off? Poor Digger was almost ashamed to admit that he hadn’t been close to the Creepscreech at all, that he had only seen its eyes in the distance and that the cut on his head wasn’t a bite from the creature’s terrible fangs.
    â€œI gashed it when the ground I hit,” said the mole, feeling the top of his head gingerly. “It seems now to have stopped bleeding. I called and called but only an echo replied. And then the monster thundered around the bend. Oh, I was sure I was done for. In the dark I felt something sticking from the wall. I grabbed it and pulled, thinking it was something I could as a weapon use, but all just went black and I was covered with shooting stars. The Creepscreech went silent, but I did not know if it had stopped or was maybe sliddering toward me in the dark.” Digger shuddered as he recalled the fear and despair he had felt at finding himself alone in this awful place. “That was why I punched you. I thought maybe you were it.” He looked apologetically at Chuck, who was gently massaging the end of his muzzle.
    They were all delighted to see Digger safe and sound and began bombarding him with questions, but Alkus decided it would be better to continue the discussion in the safety of one of their own tunnels and began hustling them back the way they had come.
    Meanwhile Mouse was examining this tunnel. He felt the smoothness of the walls. It wasn’t earth; it was…stone. This Creepscreech must be quite a brute if it could chew through stone. He didn’t have much time to puzzle about it, however, because coming toward them, cutting off their retreat, was a cluster of dancing lights.
    Alkus quickly blew out the lantern and they huddled together in the dark. As the lights came nearer, Mouse and the Undergardeners retreated as silently as they could. Back over the sharp stones they went. Back past where Digger had been knocked flat by a shower of stars. Mouse stumbled and, putting out his hands to steady himself, found what he thought was an opening to another tunnel. He pulled everyone in, but to his horror the opening didn’t lead anywhere—it was just a little alcove a few feet deep. It was too late to escape because now the lights were close, clustered around where Digger had seen the shooting stars.
    â€œHere’s the problem,” said a voice.
    â€œThe switch is open,” said another.
    There was a clunk, a few sparks, and pale blue lights lit the tunnel. There was a squeal and the eyes of the Creepscreech opened and began to move closer. The Undergardeners shivered with fear.
    â€œIt’s coming,” they chattered.
    â€œIt’s seen us,” they cried.
    â€œWe’re done for,” they whimpered.
    â€œWhat’ll we do, Mouse?” they pleaded.
    Mouse began to laugh. A quiet chuckle at first, which grew in volume as the