Trouble in the Land of Dwarves
Chapter 7
The Cave
It had been a long climb up the
rocky slope of the dark mountain and Prince
Nathan�s arms were getting very tired. He
wasn�t sure how much longer he could hold
on and was just about to say something to
the giant about taking a rest when it pulled
them over one last rock and stopped on a
flat surface near the top.
Nathan dropped to the ground and sat
there rubbing his aching arms. They were
on a narrow path that wound around the
mountain and ended about twenty feet in
front of them at the entrance to a large
cave.
The giant took a step
toward the cave and then stopped. �Oops. I
almost forgot about you, didn�t I?� It said
as it turned and scooped the prince up
again. �Can�t have dat now can we? Da
Boss, would punish me good.�
Nathan wondered who the giant was
talking about, and he didn�t like the look of
that cave entrance that was drawing nearer
with every step. It was dark and he could
see smoke or steam or some other gas
billowing out of it. Whatever it was, it
smelled terrible!
As they stepped
into the darkness, Nathan heard the giant
take a deep breath of the stinky air and then
blow it out with a satisfied sigh. �Ah!
Home sweet home! I hope da boss is here.
He�ll be so happy to see you. Maybe I�ll
get a bonus dis month.�
The
prince tried to see in the smokey darkness.
He thought he could see light somewhere
further inside the cave that flickered like
fire and he could feel it getting warmer as
they went.
Finally they stepped
out of the darkness of the cave entrance and
a hot gust of air blew aside the curtain of
smoke revealing a large room with
thousands and thousands of clam shells
piled at one end. Nathan wrinkled his nose
in disgust. Now he knew what smelled so
bad; clam shells!
To one side of
the shells was another cave opening going
further into the mountain. Next to that was
a huge fire pit with flames that reached to
the ceiling where a wind blew through a
crack in the side of the wall and made them
dance.
The giant turned and
lumbered to the opposite side of the
cavernous room where a square box, taller
than Nathan, stood. It had a small door on
the side of it which was held shut by a bolt
and was decorated with all kinds of colors
and sloppy pictures. Whoever decorated
the box was not a very good artist, Nathan
decided.
�Hey boss, are you
here?� the giant bellowed as he reached for
the latch on the side of the box.
Suddenly the top of the box popped
open and out of it sprang a funny little
dwarf in a jester suit. He did a flip in the air
and bounced right onto the giant�s shoulder,
little purple bells jingling from his floppy
hat.
�Hey boss! Hey boss! Are
you here? Huh, huh? Are ya?� He
mimicked, tossing his head from side to side
as if searching. Nathan wondered how he
could see anything with the oversized cap
over his eyes. Then the colorful little
fellow cocked his head toward a little
puppet head on a stick that he held in his
hand and began a conversation with
it.
�I don�t see the boss, Q.
Why? What did you want him
for?�
The puppet, who�s hat was
also too large for his head, said nothing, it�s
rubber tongue sticking out at it�s master.
This didn�t seem to bother the jester. He
held the puppet to his ear as if listening
carefully, then, with a look of shock, he
held it back and pointed a finger in it�s face
scoldingly.
�Wha�da ya mean,
you didn�t call for the boss? I heard you
with my own two eyes. Quattle D. Bom,
you remember what happened the last time
you told a fib. Don�t make me yank your
tongue out again! Now tell me the
truth!�
This time the puppet
appeared to shake it�s head and it�s tongue
wagged back and forth as the jester leaned
closer. �Gart called for the boss? Are you
sure you�re not making this stuff up, Q?
Where is he?� he glanced upwards. �I
don�t see the big guy
anywhere.�
The puppet leaned
toward his ear again, and he looked below.
�Oh there he is! Hey, Gart! What are you
doing down there? Me and Q here, were
beginning to get worried! Weren�t we,
Q?�
He nodded the puppets
head in agreement as the giant grunted and
brushed him to the floor. �Where�s da boss,
little flea? I got somethin� he�s really gonna
like dis time.�
The jester
scrambled to his feet below the giant and
clapped his hands with excitement. �Oo,
oo, is it something for me? Huh? Huh? Is
it? Is it? Tell me!�
Gart
shook his head �no� and the jester�s
shoulders slumped. �Oh. I should have
known. It�s probably for Q. He always gets
the gifts.� The puppet�s head shook up and
down in anticipation, it�s tongue flapping
against it�s nose and chin.
�It
ain�t for either of ya. I already told ya, it�s
for da boss. Now, where is he?�
The giant brushed the jester aside and
opened the door on the box, preparing to
shove his new captive into it. That was
when the silly little dwarf noticed
Nathan.
�Hey! What gives?�
An oversized frown appeared on his face as
he bounced over to block the door of the
box. �You can�t put him in MY box! I
have to share with Q as it is! And he keeps
me up half the night with his
snoring!�
The giant began to
rumble in anger and lifted his large fist to
crush the dimwitted little dwarf, when a
voice from behind stopped them all in their
tracks.
�What is going on in
here?�
Chapter 8
Back to Title Page