Krypendorf - The Fourth Lesson

      "Drop the anchor!" ordered Captain Mitchell as he eyed the dense forests of Wermod.

      Mike edged closer to the swing bow and placed the winch hook to its string.

      "I wouldn't worry," added Richard.  "If he saw us, we would have heard him by now."

      "Are you a dragon expert?" asked Mr. Mitchell.

      Richard smiled and slowly nodded in the captain's direction.  "I've known two or three in my life...so far, and consider them to be good friends."

      "Dragon's!?!" exclaimed Wade as he studied the young wizard.

      Mr. Mitchell rubbed his chin and looked at Richard curiously.  "I thought dragons were a thing of the past - sources of fables and stories from overactive imaginations."

      "Well, there's not many left," agreed Richard.  "Right now, let's concentrate on this one, and after him, or her, I'll finish this little story."

      "Agreed," said Mike.  "Let's lower the dingy.  I want a closer look at that clouded stream."

      "Make it so," added the captain.

      Mike, Kimbrough, and Richard climbed down the netting and entered the small craft. 

      Mike then pointed to a place on the bank where a tree had fallen into the water.  "let's put in there.  It'll be easy to secure the dinghy and hide it also."

      Richard guided the small boat to the far side of the dead oak and then put to the bank among its branches.

      "Remember," advised Kimbrough, "This creature is a great swimmer but he doesn't climb well.  Don't try to run from him.  You won't make it.  Take to the trees.  They are our best bet."

      "I really would like to see this one," added Mike, "but don't count on me to back you up.  I'll be the first one up a tree."

      All three laughed as they entered the woods.

      "No more loud talking," warned Richard.  "I would prefer to see him before he sees us."

      "How big are these things?" whispered Mike.

      Kimbrough paused.  "The two I have seen have been at least thirty feet long and too big to hug...  Shhhh!" prompted Wade as he pushed through the bushes.  "If he hears us we could have him in our laps before you know it.  Remember, we just want to find his lair."

      As the three continued to ease through the tall brush, Wade paused again.  "Over here," he whispered.  "What do you make of this?"

      Richard eased up to where Wade was and looked around him.  A path more than three feet wide had been worn in the grass by something evidently going to and coming from the stream a short ways ahead of them.

      "Look at this," added Mike, holding up a thumb-size sapling which had been torn up by its roots.  "This thing is no baby.  What about making some smoke and signaling the Ghost?  They can bring the swing bow."

      "The smoke is between your ears," answered Wade, not even looking up.  "All you want to do is shoot something.  Can't we just go and look?"

      "Perfect," snapped Mike.  "I'll find the thing for you and you two can look all you want."

      Mike stepped onto the rubbed out path and followed it deeper into the island.  In not more than ten minutes, he slowed to a stop and squatted down.  With his index finger across his lips, he signaled the other two and pointed ahead.

      Richard eased up to where Mike was all but sitting and joined him.  From there, the lad could see why Mike had stopped.  The almost level ground fell away quickly to a wide, grass-covered gully starting from where they were and moving toward the lake.  On the east side of where it started, yawned a huge opening to a very dark cave.

      "It's in there," added Mike.  "The slide goes right into the cave."

      "Drat!" exclaimed Richard as quiet as he could.  "It has a sandy floor.  It might not be hard enough to burst my acorns."

      "Acorns?" said Wade, moving up closer to Richard.  "What in blazes are you talking about?  We're fixing to face a dragon and you're talking about acorns?"

      Richard sat back in the grass, smiled, and then looked at Wade.  "Do you believe in the fireball I made while I was on the Ghost?"

      Wade nodded his head.

      Richard reached into his pocket and pulled out three dusty-looking green acorns.  "These are gifts, sort of, from a whtch named Laphidius Monks.  When they are shattered, a fog-like mist will come out of them and put anything it touches to sleep for a short while."

      Wade sat down in the grass and pushed his hair back from his eyes.  "First dragons, then witches," he groaned.  "What next?"