Atherton #3: The Dark Planet (No. 3) by Patrick Carman Read Free Book Online Page A

same time, Edgar was doing just that as he
    charged recklessly down the side of Atherton.
    "Dr. Harding! What's wrong with you!" cried Edgar as the
    monsters flipped wildly back into their holes.
    Whatever was dripping from the mouths of these stoneencrusted monsters was melting the very surface of Atherton. It
    fizzled and crackled and let off a rancid black smoke.
    From below, Edgar heard the clicking and hissing and
    snapping of jaws. Another monster, its rock-covered head
    glowing sickeningly, was out of its hole, and it appeared to be
    sniffing the air. It turned its awful sockets of light on Edgar and
    disappeared with a grinding sound.
    That thing is coiling up down there, thought Edgar. It's going to
    spring!
    Edgar practically dove to one side in the wildest, fastest
    climbing maneuver he'd ever imagined. He was almost rol ing
    out of the way as the beast sprang, swinging its head and
    snapping uncontrollably in the open air. Orange slime flew
    everywhere as the monster reached the end of its hidden spring
    and snapped back.
    Edgar watched in horror as he saw his leather water bag melt
    and steam, covered in deadly sludge. The orange goo fizzed all
    around him, but there was yet a path to the bottom. Edgar
    became so focused on escaping through the field of seven
    holes that he didn't realize how far he'd gone.
    Soon, without a clue of how he'd done so, Edgar found himself
    not only through the field of holes but well clear of them.
    Looking back, he saw four more beams of light emerging, but
    Edgar was far enough out of their reach. They only screamed in
    anger when they trained their hollow eyes on the distant
    intruder.
    Edgar breathed a long sigh of relief, but his eyes were filled
    with concern. By coming this far he had trapped himself behind
    a wall of monsters waiting for his return.
    What am I going to do now? he asked himself, looking up at the
    perilous way he'd passed through. I can't go through that again.
    I'd never make it twice, especially trying to climb up instead of
    down. They'd have me for sure.
    Another twenty feet beneath him, Edgar spotted the largest hole
    of them all. From what Edgar could tell given the angle, it might
    be as big as ten feet around.
    Edgar glanced to his right and left. Everything he saw was
    orange and glassy. It looked as though the inside of Atherton
    was filled with a lake of fire and covered with a thick, foggy
    glass.
    "I have to get out of here," Edgar told himself. He quickly chose
    his route and imagined how fast he could climb past the
    remaining hole, and then he was off and moving like a startled
    spider. He glanced inside the great hole as he passed by,
    expecting to see two beams of light.
    But there was no light, no sound.
    What's this new trick you're trying to play on me? thought Edgar.
    He had come to see Atherton as a living, breathing creature full
    of every kind of surprise. Just because he didn't see any light
    didn't mean something wasn't about to try to eat him.
    Edgar's hands were growing so hot from the surface he could
    hold on with only one hand at a time, letting each hand cool off
    every few seconds.
    At last Edgar came to the very end of the longest path down the
    side of Atherton. The great hole sat much closer to the bottom
    than Edgar had realized at first. There were only a few feet on
    the other side, and he hung there, hot and scared half to death.
    His hands started to slip as he tried to figure out what to do.
    "There's no place left for me to go," said Edgar, pulling himself
    up and peeking into the hole. There was nothing, just a dull
    silence and a dark passageway. He lifted himself and sat down
    at the very edge of the hole.
    He felt heavy. At first he thought this was because he was tired,
    but he soon realized that gravity was now pulling down on his
    feet more than it had on the surface of Atherton. He found that
    even the simple task of walking was difficult, as if he had giant
    rocks tied to his feet. Even his face felt as if