Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe [156]
Wataru recalled once more the painting he’d seen in the corridor. He also thought about the discarded lanterns and broken torches. Kee Keema, Kutz and Trone were not carrying lanterns. Doubtlessly, the black hand had confiscated whatever lights they brought with them.
Maybe it doesn’t like light?
It appeared at first as though the creature were protecting the white light at the bottom of the lake. That’s why it stood steadfast at the shoreline. But what if it’s the other way around? Maybe it couldn’t look at the light, it couldn’t stand it.
Right!
Wataru ran to the water’s edge and dove in. Lit by the white light, the lake’s water was incredibly clear. Despite this, the irregular depressions in the rock floor made it difficult to find just where the bottom was. Wataru kicked with all his strength, and once he had the creature behind him, he resurfaced.
The creature was facing the Highlanders, spitting out ball after ball of flame. Wataru was now directly behind the creature. This has to be it, he thought
The light. The rocks near the bottom of the lake were practically glowing with it. Driven by some impulse he didn’t understand, he drew his sword. Then, of its own accord, the sword jerked to the right. Okay, I guess I should swim over there. Wataru kicked at the water and dove farther down.
He was coming to the end of his breath. Just a little farther…
Just then, the bottom of the lake came into view. There, in the middle of a small flat patch of rock, was a white gem about the size of a baseball. It was shining with an incredible light.
Wataru reached and grasped it with his empty hand. In his other hand, the Brave’s Sword shone, almost as if it were happy.
Wataru shot toward the surface. His lungs felt like they were ready to explode. The one-eyed creature roared, shaking the cavern with its thunderous voice. Quickly catching his breath, Wataru dove down again. This time he swam fearlessly to the front of the bellowing monster.
Timing was everything. Staying underwater, he held his breath until he was directly in front of the beast. Then he kicked hard and came to the surface, holding the white gem in both hands.
The gem shone brightly—directly into the creature’s eye. That baleful eye opened wide, and a roar of pain rocked the cavern walls. Its two arms rose in a last-minute attempt to shield the eye from the light.
“Now!” Wataru shouted. Trone threw his last spear. It flew true, cutting straight through the air, hitting the eye dead center.
Wrrrrroooowwwr!
The monster howled and flapped its arms and fins, trying in vain to pull out the spear. Like a punctured balloon, the creature began to deflate.
As it dwindled in size, its scream lessened in volume. Slowly the howl became less bestial, and more like the screaming of a person.
Before long, the creature had shrunk down until it was no larger than one of them. Then ever so slowly, it sank beneath the waves, no longer a threat.
Chapter 9
The Escape
Wataru slumped into the water.
“Wataru! Are you okay?” Kee Keema charged in, and yanked him up onto the shore.
When he came to, Wataru was still clutching the glittering gemstone to his breast. The stone glowed with a soft light and seemed warm to the touch.
“What was that thing?” Kutz muttered, glaring at the water. “And all those hands? Anybody ever heard of a monster that’s all hands?”
“The old records say that Cactus Vira called the believers who gathered at his feet his good working hands,” Trone offered.
“Working hands, indeed,” Kutz spat. “I guess they didn’t need brains. Sad that even in death they were bound to follow the every whim of their one-eyed master.”
Just then, on the far side of the lake, another column of water rose. The party jerked to attention, but there was no monster to be seen. Instead, the rock wall of the cavern had began to crumble. Giant chunks of rubble broke free and fell into the water, accompanied by a great overall shaking.
“Run! This place is coming down!” Trone shouted. As