by Brandon Mull
“Then you can cook your own supper.”
“I’m headed for Ithilum,” Jason said.
His answer defused the argument. Peluthe returned his attention to Jason. “Have you not heard these woods are infested by giants?”
“Another question,” Retta huffed in a low tone.
“In charge,” Peluthe growled back.
“I’ve heard stories,” Jason said. “Any truth to them?”
Saul and Ulrun shared a chuckle.
“Come with us,” Peluthe said, “and judge for yourself.”
The little people led the way along the path, past the tall statue. As they progressed, the trail showed evidence of increasing amounts of grooming. Before long, the foliage along the sides was pruned as neatly as hedgerows. The group passed another large, menacing statue, and then a third.
“Who’s the stranger?” came a cry from up in a tree.
“Matt, son of David,” Peluthe answered. “We have found him trustworthy.”
“Where are you escorting him?” challenged the faceless voice.
“To the village.”
“Is that prudent?”
“He is in my care.”
“Very well.”
A few more paces, and the path emerged into a tremendous clearing occupied by a village. Little people like those who found Jason roamed the streets, but the houses were enormous. The doors rose at least twelve feet high, the windows were huge, and the roofs towered above the ground. The sinking sun cast long shadows.
Jason halted where the forest path became a gravel road. “It looks like giants live here.”
Saul and Ulrun laughed.
Peluthe glared at them. “Once they must have. But not now, or else we all would have been spitted and devoured. We are a small race, an experiment by some long-forgotten, misguided wizard. We’re ill equipped to defend ourselves against larger folk such as yourself. When we discovered that the forest was abandoned, we inhabited this empty village.”
Jason grinned. “And did nothing to discourage the rumors about giants.”
Retta winked. “You catch on quick.”
“So what now?” Jason wondered.
Peluthe shrugged. “Enjoy our hospitality for the evening, sleep with a roof over your head, and tomorrow we will speed you on your way.”
“Thank you.”
Jason drew a lot of attention as he strolled into the village. One little woman shrieked. Peluthe and the others repeatedly explained that “Matt” was their guest. They led Jason to a massive two-story house. Three big steps led up to the bulky door. The little people boosted themselves up each stair, and Jason had to take very large steps.
The little folk entered using a small door built into the oversized one. Jason crouched low to get through. Inside, beneath the lofty ceiling, mingled a bizarre combination of oversized and undersized furnishings. Two little women and one tiny old man appeared busy preparing a meal.
“We have a visitor,” Peluthe announced.
“My goodness,” exclaimed one of the women. “Is he safe?”
“Quite safe,” assured Peluthe. “He is Matt, son of David. This is my sister, Deloa; Saul’s wife, Laila; and my codger, Jep.”
Those mentioned smiled and nodded in turn.
“Pleased to meet you,” Jason said.
Peluthe patted Retta on the shoulder. “If you must make added preparations to accommodate our guest, be quick about it. My stomach is impatient today.”
Retta rolled her eyes. “Stop trying to show off in front of our company. I’m either your wife or your slave. You decide.”
“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” Jason said.
“Nonsense,” Peluthe said. “Retta is happiest when complaining.”
“Must be why I keep you around,” she replied.
“He’s gargantuan,” the old man griped. “He’ll eat us all.”
“Behave, codger,” Peluthe scolded.
The old man toddled toward Jason. “We’ll have to butcher a herd of deer just to feed this behemoth.” He tapped Jason with a gnarled cane.
“Be kind, Jep,” Deloa said, moving between the old man and Jason. She smiled up at Jason with wide eyes.
“Don’t you start getting ideas about kissing giants,” the old man hollered, using the cane to pat Deloa on the rump. “We don’t have a ladder tall enough.”
Peluthe, Saul, and Ulrun burst out laughing. Jason covered a smirk. Deloa looked scandalized.
The small front door opened, and two little men entered. “Evening, Peluthe,” one of them said, rubbing his palms together.
“Out of here, you two,” Peluthe cried, hustling over to the door. “I realize everybody in town wants to dine with our visitor, but we don’t have enough as it is. Spread the word.”
Dejected, the two men retreated out the door. Peluthe locked it behind them.
Over at the immense fireplace, in front of a huge cauldron, Laila tended a pot on a small bed of coals and ash. “Find a seat,” she invited.
The little people gathered around a low table. Moving a chair out of the way, Jason sat on the floor, putting himself at about the proper height.
“Perhaps you would be more comfortable at the big table,” Peluthe suggested.
“I’m not that large,” Jason said. “Plus, I would miss all the conversation.”
Laila carried the pot over, and Deloa walked with her, spooning stew into the wooden bowls on the table. They served Jason first, then worked their way around. Retta collected tough, dark rolls into a pan and offered one to every guest. The little women served themselves last. Once they took a seat, everyone began to eat.
“This is good,” Jason said. The thick, meaty broth was loaded with chopped vegetables.
“It better be,” the codger griped. “Grew those carrots myself. Best in town. Which gives me an idea.” He turned to Peluthe. “What do you say we throw a harness on this great brute and let him plow my field?”
“That is enough, codger,” Peluthe admonished, then turned to Jason. “Forgive him.”
The codger was shaking silently with laughter.
“No problem,” Jason said, after swallowing another mouthful of stew.
Jason remained hungry after finishing his stew, but pretended to be fully satisfied when he complimented the meal.
“Why, thank you,” Retta replied. She glanced at Peluthe. “At least some people in the world still have manners.”
“Oh, yes, very fine work,” Peluthe mumbled.
From the westward windows, golden light streamed in: the final rays of the setting sun. “How far before I reach the northern coast of the peninsula?” Jason asked.
Peluthe squinted. “With those long legs, not more than two days. That about right, codger?”
The old man grunted. “If he fell over, his head would be halfway there.”
“Of course, I give you my word to keep your secret,” Jason said.
The little people shared sidelong glances.
“Secret?” Peluthe said.
“That the giants have abandoned these woods,” Jason clarified.
“Oh, yes, that secret.” Peluthe glanced up at the windows. “You know, we have another secret. A bigger one. Retta, close the shutters.”
Retta snatched up a pole and moved about the room, using it to secure the shutters. The last ones she closed covered the westward windows. “The sun is almost gone,” she said.
“Right,” Peluthe agreed. He winked at Jason. “Ready for a shocker?”
Each of the little people rose from his chair and collected a coarse, brown blanket from a folded pile beneath the huge table. Most of their knowing eyes remained on Jason as they began wrapping themselves in the blankets. Jason stood up and backed a few steps away, concerned by the peculiar change in attitude. He did not trust the new atmosphere in the room. Their bearings seemed suddenly menacing. Beneath the large blankets, the little people appeared to be disrobing.
As one, the little people dropped to their kne
es. They clenched their teeth and tightened their fists. A couple of them groaned.
“Are you all right?” Jason asked, growing distressed.
“Be right with you,” Peluthe gasped.
Their small bodies began to swell. As the expansion became more pronounced, they all commenced moaning and crying out. After a slow start, the growth came rapidly. A few staggered to their feet, now the height of regular people. Peluthe and Retta shot up taller than Jason. And the growth continued.
Hoping he was not too late, Jason shrugged on his backpack and dashed for the front door. The little door in the base of the larger one had been locked with a key. He slammed his shoulder against it, but the portal would not give. A large hand caught Jason by the shoulder, hurling him to the floor. Eight feet tall and still growing, Peluthe blocked access to the door. Grimacing and coughing, Peluthe doubled over as his body inflated more.
Panicked, Jason turned in a circle. There were no other doors. The windows were out of reach and shuttered. The stairs to the second floor were now guarded by Deloa and Saul, whose sweaty bodies continued to thicken and grow taller. Jason could now tell that the blankets were actually large tunics.
Jason rushed to the huge fireplace, dodged past the fading coals of the small cooking fire, and raced around the great cauldron. The stones at the rear of the fireplace were rough and fitted imperfectly, offering abundant handholds. A hasty glance over his shoulder revealed the former little people wracked by a final onslaught of painful expansion, completing their transformation into powerful giants. The codger stood up. Jason was no longer much higher than his waist.
With speed born from desperation, Jason scaled the soot-blackened stones, certain that a horrible death awaited if he missed a handhold and fell. After reaching the dark throat of the chimney, Jason climbed higher, unsure how far up the giants could reach.
“He’s getting away!” boomed a mighty voice.
“After him, you dunce,” called someone else.
The chimney narrowed as he scrambled higher. Jason did not believe the giants could follow him. He heard the cauldron being dragged out of the way.
“Prongs!” spat a voice directly below him. “He climbs like a lizard!”
“Grab him!”
Jason heard hands scuffing against stone not far below his feet.
“I can’t reach.”
“Well, climb, you oaf!”
“You want to try to squeeze up there?”
Jason reached a narrow ledge where there was a slight elbow in the chimney. He paused, panting, seated as if on a bench.
“Come on down, Matt,” suggested the husky voice of a woman—probably Retta—trying to sound sweet. “We mean you no harm.”
“You’ll have to do better than that,” Jason called.
“Blast!” the woman shouted. “Why were you so rough with him?”
“I thought we had the pest cornered.”
“Why didn’t somebody guard the fireplace?”
“Who knew he’d head up there?”
“He might get away.”
“No, he won’t.”
Jason heard the big front door open and shut. Not long after, he heard the roof creaking. He was trapped.
“Ho, Matt! This is Peluthe. You hear me?” The voice came from above.
“I hear you.”
Peluthe spoke calmly. “Why not end this silly game and climb down? You cannot possibly escape. We promise to kill you quickly. No prolonged suffering.”
“Think about it,” Jason said. “If you were in my position, would you come down?” He shifted on the ledge, legs dangling.
“If I were being reasonable, I just might. Even if you last in there until dawn, there are plenty of us to easily slay you. We have weapons.”
“You’re only big at night?” Jason verified.
“Now you know our real secret,” Peluthe answered. “You can understand why we can’t allow you to leave here alive.”
“Plus, we haven’t had fresh human in ages,” the codger called from below, his voice now deeper.
“I promise to keep your secret,” Jason tried. “Why not just let me go?”
“Deal,” Jep replied. “Come on down.”
“No, I mean for real.”
“Fresh human is a rare delicacy,” Jep explained. “It’s nothing personal—you seem like a good enough lad. If you would rather not be eaten, a wise policy is to stay away from these woods, and especially from our village.”
Jason stared down the chimney in silence. He really was trapped. His demise was only a matter of time. At least he had sent Tark off with a message for Galloran, so his return to Lyrian wouldn’t be a total waste.
“Be reasonable,” Peluthe pleaded.
“Sorry for the inconvenience,” Jason said, trying to keep the fear out of his voice, “but I’m going to make this as difficult as I can. You should be ashamed for inviting a guest into your home and then trying to eat him.”
“Suggestions?” Peluthe asked, no longer addressing Jason.
“Find a pole,” someone proposed.
“Smoke him out,” growled the codger.
“Saul!” Peluthe called. “Trade places with me. I’m coming down.”
A commotion of voices ensued, with some giving directions and others complaining. Jason heard the giants clomping about. A big pair of hands began piling wood into the fireplace.
“Find greenery,” Jep instructed. “It makes more smoke.”
Jason heard the front door open and close.
He examined the little ledge he was on. If he put his nose against the rear corner of the ledge facing the wall and breathed through his shirt, he might last for some time. But no matter what precautions he took, eventually he would asphyxiate. If they piled the wood high enough and it burned hot enough, he might even cook! Jason had known returning to Lyrian might get him killed, but deep down he had not believed it would happen. At least not so soon!
Down below, green boughs were heaped atop the growing pile of wood.
Jason patted his pockets, considering his options. He had money and jewels from Tark, but the giants would not likely accept a bribe when they could just kill him and rob his corpse. He had Ferrin’s hand, but there was no chance the displacer was near enough to offer direct assistance. Were these giants loyal to Maldor? If so, could he pretend to be a displacer by dropping the hand, maybe bluff that he was on an errand from Maldor? He doubted whether the giants would care.
Peluthe called to him again, this time from below. “Are you sure you refuse to come down? This won’t be pleasant.”
“Not to mention that the smoke will sully your flavor,” Jep added.
“We could provide a quick, clean death,” Peluthe offered. “Dignified and painless.”
Jason wondered if he should keep answering. His responses might only encourage them.
“Don’t bother playing possum,” Retta said. “We’re going to get you down one way or another, even if we have to climb up there in the morning.”
“I hope I taste like ashes,” Jason snapped.
“He’s a rather poor sport about all of this,” the codger grumbled.
“I’m going to light it up,” Peluthe announced. “I don’t mind my humans lightly toasted.”
Jason watched Peluthe bend forward over the logs. He was clacking some stones together to make sparks. Whatever Jason was going to try, it had to be quick.
“Use the coals from the other fire,” the codger said.
“They were swept aside,” Peluthe replied. “They’re not hot enough.” He kept clacking the stones.
“Let me do it,” Retta insisted.
“I have it.” Peluthe clacked for a few moments to no avail.
“I do this every day,” Retta sighed.
“I have it!” Peluthe snapped.
“I’m a servant of Maldor,” Jason called down. “I’m here on official business.”
“Little late to claim friendship with Maldor,” Peluthe replied disinterestedl
y. “You didn’t have any idea what we were when you met us.” He huffed with exasperation. “Fine, Retta, you light it.”
Jason decided he should send a final message to Ferrin. He took off his backpack and started rummaging around in it.
“Uh, Peluthe, Saul, we have a visitor,” warned a wary female. Perhaps Deloa.
Jason heard multiple gasps.
“Great demons from Beyond!” Peluthe exclaimed, moving away from the fireplace and out of view.
“Get out!” Jep cried urgently. “Don’t look at it!”
Jason heard the giants clomp across the floor and out the door. Silence followed. Was it a ruse to fool him into climbing down? A ploy to avoid having him taste too smoky?
“Come down from there, Saul!” Peluthe called from outside.
“Why?” The response came from near the top of the chimney.
“Don’t argue. Trust me.”
Jason heard the roof creaking, then nothing else. After waiting for a moment, he decided to leave the hand in his backpack, and zipped it back up. The zipper seemed unusually noisy.
If the giants had only pretended to leave, they would pounce on him as soon as he exited the chimney. If they truly had run off, Jason could only conclude that his situation had grown worse. What would frighten away a house full of giants? Deloa had mentioned a visitor. Could it possibly be somebody friendly? A good guy?
Biting his lower lip, Jason peered down the chimney. The fireplace remained vacant. He heard nothing.
“Hello?” Jason called softly. “Anyone there? Anyone who hates giants and likes people?”
The silence continued unbroken.
Time passed. Jason breathed the charred odor of the chimney. He became fidgety. Using his pocketknife, he scratched the sooty stones around him, seeing if he could remove the blackness. He couldn’t. Above him, visible through the mouth of the chimney, dusk began to fade into night.
Given the bickering he had heard until they left, Jason did not believe the giants were capable of such patience. Not only was the house silent, the whole village was quiet. Still, he waited. He had no desire to let impatience kill him.
As stars became visible through the mouth of the chimney above him, Jason’s little ledge grew very dark. He listened for clues as to what might have frightened the giants, but heard nothing unusual.