The Haunting Hour by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

cool and damp. Ned leaned his head against the wall and shut his eyes.
    I have been walking for two days. Perhaps a short nap will refresh me, he thought. Then I shall continue my journey to the top.
    He didn’t sleep long. A shrill whistling awoke him. It sounded like a thousand flies droning in his ear.
    Ned’s eyes shot open—and he let out a cry.
    Giant albino cave rats!
    They had dragged a goat into the cave and were eating it alive!
    The goat kicked and squealed. But the rats swarmed over it—dozens of them. They held it down with their fat, white-furred bodies and buried their fangs in its belly, ripping away chunk after chunk of red flesh.
    I’m next! Ned thought. As soon as they discover me…
    Too late to run. Whistling and chattering, the cave rats turned from the now-silent goat—and scurried around Ned.
    They were as big as dogs, with long fangs still dripping with goat blood. They had round red eyes that glowed like burning embers.
    Their fat pink tails slapped the stone cave floor, beating a terrifying rhythm of attack. The circle tightened, and the ugly creatures began to shriek as they closed in on Ned.
    â€œ Eeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeee! ”
    Their shrill cries sliced through Ned’s head, so loud he covered both ears.
    And jumped to his feet.
    The albino rats were as tall as his waist! Their snapping jaws competed with the thumpthumpthumpthump of their battering tails.
    â€œI’LL MAKE YOU A BARGAIN!” Ned yelled.
    Startled by his shout, the rats stopped their shrieks. The glowing red eyes burned like fires against the blackness of the cave.
    â€œHere is my bargain,” Ned announced. “If you give me half achance, I’ll run away and never come back!”
    He didn’t give them time to decide. He jammed his hands onto the tops of the heads of the two nearest cave rats—and leapfrogged over them.
    Then he took off, racing out of the cave and up the steep, rocky side of Stone Hill. From below came the albino rats’ shrieking and whistling. But he knew the rats wouldn’t chase after him. They couldn’t survive in sunlight for long.
    By the time Ned reached the top of the hill, his heart was thudding and his legs felt heavy as lead. The sun was a red ball sinking behind the hill, giving everything a rosy glow.
    Ned struggled to catch his breath. He gazed at the cave opening in front of him. It rose like a giant triangle. Enormous bones, dry and bleached white by the sun, were strewn at the entrance.
    Those are too big to be human bones, Ned told himself. But the ugly sight made his chest feel fluttery and his stomach lurch.
    â€œOh!” Ned cried out as a low grunt echoed from the cave. He heard rumbling footsteps. Another grunt. A sour odor floated out and washed over him. Holding his breath, he took a step back.
    The dragon is in there, he knew. He suddenly realized his whole body was shaking.
    A bellowing roar from deep in the cave made the stones shake beneath the peasant boy’s feet. I have no choice, he told himself. I have to go through with this. But I am terrified. Will I be able to speak?
    He sucked in a long, deep breath. The air tasted foul and damp.
    â€œUlrick!” he called. “Ulrick—my name is Ned, and I have come to see you!”
    He didn’t have to wait long. He heard another grunt. And then more heavy, plodding footsteps. The ground shook again, and thecave appeared to explode, as a giant brown creature burst out and rose over Ned. A dragon bigger and more fierce than any in Sir Darkwind’s collection.
    Its roar made the tree limbs shake. The dragon snapped its jaws, revealing rows of jagged yellow teeth. It clicked its long talons as if preparing to pounce.
    Leathery wings flapped furiously on its back. Its huge round eyes gaped at Ned like two cold, dark suns. As it lowered its massive head over him, hot yellow drool splashed from its open maw and sizzled on the ground.
    It—it’s going