43 The Beast from the East by R.L. Stine

Author:R.L. Stine [Stine, R.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

17

I didn’t give up. I tickled harder.

The trunk started to jiggle.

Bunches of leaves shook free and floated down. They landed in my hair and covered my arms as I jabbed and scratched at the tree trunk.

I tickled harder. The branches shook and swayed. The trunk wriggled.

Yes! I thought excitedly. It’s working! I think it is ticklish!

I’ll make this tree collapse with laughter!

I tickled harder. The trunk squirmed under my fingertips.

I glanced up. Nat’s boots poked through the leaves.

Then his legs. His arms. His face.

The branches were shaking. Quivering and shaking.

Nat swung free. He leaped from branch to branch. His tree-climbing skills were finally coming in handy!

“Hurry!” I shouted up to him. “I can’t keep this up much longer. Jump!”

Nat wriggled down the tree trunk.

“Here goes!” Nat cried. He let go of the trunk and leaped into the air.

He landed in a crouched position at my feet. “Whoa! Good job, Ginger!”

I grabbed his hand and we hurtled away from the tree.

Nat brushed twigs and leaves from his hair. “I saw some beasts!”

I bit my lip. In all the excitement over the living tree, I had forgotten we were playing a deadly game.

“I saw three of them,” Nat reported. “Fleg, Spork, and another one with a smashed tail. That way.” He pointed to the right.

“What were they doing?” I asked.

“They are all hiding behind a big, gray boulder. You can sneak up on them, easy.”

“Right.” I rolled my eyes. “Piece of cake.”

“You can do it.” Nat’s dark eyes locked on mine. “I know you can, Ginger.”

Nat led the way. We crept slowly through the woods toward the boulder.

The sky dimmed overhead and the air grew cooler. I knew that it was nearly evening. Soon the sun would disappear behind the Gulla Willow tree.

I hoped I had enough time.

“There’s the rock!” Nat whispered.

I saw a small clearing in the trees. In the middle of the clearing a craggy, gray boulder rose up from the flat ground.

It was big enough to hide a dozen beasts.

My heartbeat quickened.

“I’ll hide behind this cabbage plant,” Nat said.

He ducked behind the plant. I followed. I wasn’t quite ready to face the beasts alone.

I bent down and tightened my bootlace, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach.

“Just sneak up on them,” Nat whispered.

“Come with me,” I begged.

Nat shook his head. “Too noisy if we both go,” he said. “It’s safer if you go alone.”

I knew he was right.

Besides, I told myself, it was pretty easy. The beasts behind the big rock had no idea I was coming. All I had to do was tag one of them.

I felt a thrill of excitement. I could do it.

And the game would be over. We’d be safe.

I took a deep breath. “Ready or not, here I come,” I whispered.

I crept toward the boulder. I glanced back. Nat poked his head from behind the cabbage and flashed me a thumbs-up sign.

A few more steps and I’d be at the rock. I held my breath.

The gray rock rose up in front of me.

I reached out.

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