01 Alosha by Christopher Pike

Author:Christopher Pike [Pike, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

In a hurry to reach Overhang, feeling confident in her powers, Ali decided to risk a return to the path and head north from there. She did not use her newfound abilities to push away the clouds, however, but after the brief hard rain, the clouds cleared on their own and the moon came out. The forest that had been a nightmare an hour ago was now a place of magic again.

Cindy walked in front with Ali, the troll trailing thirty feet behind. The rain had improved his smell but he was still a noseful. Ali had decided to let him keep her sweater for the time being. She didn’t want to handle it until she was close to a washing machine. The troll slobbered as he walked and occasionally belched, but he was remarkably well behaved.

“I have a question,” Cindy said when they had hiked for a few minutes.

“I can guess it,” Ali muttered.

“Why have we invited a troll to join our expedition?”

“He’s strong. He’s on our side now.”

“He could kill us while we sleep!”

“I don’t think so.”

“What if you think wrong?”

“Cindy, you think. The troll is an elemental, like Paddy. He probably knows stuff we need to know.”

“You act like trolls have a sense of loyalty. That’s a pretty big assumption. Your saving his life might mean nothing to him.”

“I’ll ask Paddy about troll loyalties when I see him.”

“You can’t go to a leprechaun to get advice about a troll. That’s like asking a lion if a tiger is safe to wrestle with.”

Ali chuckled. “Hey, that’s pretty funny.”

“Thank you. Have you asked why he has your sweater?”

“Good question.” Ali stopped and called to the troll. The creature lumbered up beside them, his huge yellow eyes glowing in the dark. She pointed to the sweater. “Did you find that in the woods?” she asked.

He nodded. “Found,” he said.

“You found it when you were chasing me the other day?”

He nodded. “Hungry.”

“You were hungry the other day? That’s why you chased me?”

“Huh.”

“Is that yes?”

He nodded. “Huh.”

“Why did you keep the sweater?” she asked.

The troll touched it lovingly. “Pretty,” he said.

“You kept the sweater because it’s pretty?”

“Huh.” He pointed to her. “Pretty.”

Cindy giggled. “He thinks you’re pretty like the sweater.”

Ali blushed. “I’m not pretty to a troll.”

The troll kept gesturing to her and the sweater. “Pretty,” he said again.

Cindy cackled. “The troll has a crush on you!”

“Stop that!” Ali snapped. “It’s a misunderstanding.” She spoke to the troll. “Do you have a name?”

“Huh.”

“What’s your name?”

“Fart.”

Cindy clapped her hands. “Perfect!”

“Calm down, would you? Fart, do you have another name?”

He was confused. “Fart. Fart.”

“Do you have a Christian name? A last name?”

“He’s a troll, not a person. Of course he doesn’t have a Christian name,” Cindy said.

“I was just asking.” Ali felt frustrated. “We can’t call you Fart. It’s not a nice name.” She got an idea. “What if we call you Farble?”

The troll nodded. “Farble Fart.”

“No, just Farble. How do you like it?”

The troll thought a moment. “Mean?”

“No, it’s not a mean name.

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