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 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?”