Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke Read Free Book Online

on, quick!” He pulled Sorrel to her feet and ran toward the factory building. “We must find Firedrake. We have to get him out of there somehow. Fast.”
    “Hey, you two! What are you up to?” someone called after them.
    They swiftly disappeared into the dark shelter of the tall building, but within seconds they heard footsteps following them down the stairs. Heavy footsteps. “That’s the way they went!” someone called. “Couple of kids, it was!”
    “Darn it, how could a thing like this happen?” replied someone else.
    Ben and Sorrel ran through the empty, dilapidated factory basement. Their footsteps echoed down the long corridors, giving them away. But what else could they do? They had to warn the dragon before anyone discovered him.
    “Suppose we’re too late?” gasped Sorrel. As she ran the hood slipped off her pointy ears, and she quickly pulled it upagain. “Maybe they’ve already found Firedrake. Maybe they’ve already gone and stuffed him.” She sobbed.
    “Nonsense! Come on!” Ben took her paw, and they ran on side by side. The footsteps behind them were coming closer and closer. Sorrel’s legs were trembling, but it wasn’t far now to Firedrake’s hiding place. Then Ben stopped suddenly, gasping for breath.
    “Wait a minute — why didn’t I think of it before? We must lead them
away
from Firedrake. You go on. Tell him to follow the canal to safety. The two of you must swim as far away from the factory as possible. This whole place is about to go up in smoke.”
    “What about you?” panted Sorrel. “What will you do?”
    “I’ll be okay,” Ben managed to say. “Go on, run! You must warn Firedrake!”
    Sorrel hesitated for a split second, then turned and ran. The stairs were quite close now. She rushed around the corner and into the room where she had found Ben. The dragon was lying asleep by the hatch.
    “Firedrake!” Sorrel jumped between his paws and shook him. “Wake up, we’ve got to get out of here. Quick!”
    The dragon sleepily raised his head. “What’s the matter? Where’s the human boy?”
    “I’ll explain later!” whispered Sorrel. “Quick, through the hatch and into the canal.”
    But Firedrake pricked up his ears. He rose and went slowly toward the corridor down which Sorrel had run. He heard human voices: two deep male voices, and Ben’s as well.
    “So what d’you think you’re doing in here?” snapped one of the men.
    “Looks like a runaway to me,” said the other man.
    “No, I’m not!” cried Ben. “Let me go! I haven’t done anything — nothing at all!”
    Looking anxious, the dragon stretched his neck farther forward.
    “Firedrake!” Sorrel tugged desperately at his tail. “Firedrake, come on! You have to get out of here.”
    “But the boy may need help.” The dragon took another step. The men’s voices grew harsher and Ben’s more and more uncertain. “He’s afraid,” said Firedrake.
    “He’s a human!” hissed Sorrel. “And they’re humans, too. They won’t eat him. They won’t stuff him, either, but they’ll stuff you and me if they catch us and no mistake! So will you for goodness’ sake come on?”
    But Firedrake wouldn’t move. His tail was lashing the floor.
    “Hey, watch out, he’s trying to make a break for it!” yelled one of the men.
    “I’ll get him!” shouted the other.
    Feet scuffled on the ground and there was a sound of running footsteps. Firedrake inched a little farther forward.
    “Got him!” shouted the man.
    “Ouch!” cried Ben. “Let go! Let go of me, you great toad!”
    Then Firedrake sprang. Like an enormous tiger, he shot across the cellar of the factory. Sorrel ran after him, cursing under her breath. The human voices grew louder and louder, until the dragon suddenly saw two men standing with their backs to him. One of them was holding the struggling Ben.
    Firedrake uttered a low growl. Deep and threatening.
    The men whipped around — and dropped Ben to the floor like a sack of potatoes.