Page 19 (1/2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

WE FROZEon the altar, , demonic eye As we stood rooted, helpless, its body unfurled and its head rose ato attack, but by raising its head, it broke eye contact with us We snapped out of our daze, realized as about to happen, and dropped to the floor as thefangs caughtinto my flesh and ripped down my back I yelled with pain and fear, rolled over as the beast released me, and slithered behind the crystal cylinder

The Grotesque jabbed at iant baby’s angry cry, then turned on Harkat He was lying on his back, with his face and stoet The Grotesque raised itself up to strike Harkat got ready to throw his vial of poison at it The Grotesque shrieked fiercely and withdrew a couple ofit away fro at him like dozens of snakes or eels A detached part of er where its nails would be if it was human, and the sweat came out of these holes in steady streams

Harkat scraasped, turning so that he could examine it "How bad is it?"

Harkat studied runted "It’s not very deep It’ll leave the mother of - all scars, but it won’t kill you"

"Unless there was poison in the fang," I muttered

"The Kulashkas milked it," Harkat said "Fresh poison couldn’t - have formed already - could it?"

"Not in a snake," I said, "but there’s no telling with this thing"

I had no time to worry about it The Grotesque slid around the altar, to attack us again We backpedalled, keeping the cylinder between us and the Grotesque’s bobbing head

"Any plans for - getting out?" Harkat asked, drawing a knife but keeping his vial of poison in his left hand

"I’ this second by second," I panted

We retreated steadily, circling around the cylinder again and again, the ue flicking between its lips, ready to strike the instant we relaxed our guard The Kulashka boy was standing on the path to the altar, cheering the Grotesque on

A minute later, the rest of the Kulashkas poured into the te weapons, and their faces were filled with fury Hurrying to the altar, they spread out around it, crawled over the Grotesque and ry white eyes

"This would be a good ti to them," I said sarcastically to Harkat, but he took my wry advice seriously

"We mean no harm!" he shouted "We want to be - your friends"

The Kulashkas stopped and murmured with astonishuessed it was their chief - stepped ahead of the others and pointed a spear at us He shouted a question at Harkat but we couldn’t understand what he was saying

"We don’t speak your language," I said, following Harkat’s lead, keeping one eye on theafter us, though it had pulled back slightly to ain, but slower this ti each word I shook my head "We can’t understand you!" I cried

"Friends!" Harkat tried desperately "Aos! Comrades! Buddies!"

The Kulashka stared at us uncertainly Then his expression hardened and he barked so, they advanced, their weapons raised offensively, herding us towards the fangs of the giant Grotesque

I stabbed at one of the Kulashka wo to ward her off, but she ignoredwith the others Even the children were converging on us, small knives and spears held fast in their tiny hands

"Let’s try the poison!" I screaht scatter if we throw it at their eyes!"

"OK!" he roared, and held his vial up high

When the Kulashkas saw the vial in Harkat’s grey hand, they froze with fear and most took a hasty step backwards I was confused by their reaction, but seized on their fear and raised mine as well When they saw another of the vials, the men, wo fearfully, wildly waving their hands and weapons at us