Part 7 (1/2)

The great, fat, bearded man who had had his teeth punched out staggered around for a few moments, wiped the blood from his face, clenched his fist, wound up, and returned the favor.

This continued for a good many minutes. The children watched in horror.

”They look huge . . .” Jack whispered in awe.

”Giant . . .” Jill agreed.

”Not giant,” whispered the frog. ”Giants. Those are giants.”

Neither child asked how the frog knew this, for as soon as he had said it, they knew it was true.

”I'll go talk to them,” whispered Jack.

”WHAT?” cried the frog.

”What?” hissed Jill, not quite as loudly.

”Maybe they want to be my friend,” Jack murmured.

Jill and the frog looked at Jack like he was crazy. They were just about to tell him so, in fact, when he stood up and started for the giants.

”Jack!” Jill spat. ”Stop!”

”Come back!” cried the frog.

But Jack was already walking toward the giants as if in a trance.

He had not gotten more than a few paces closer, though, when the giants suddenly wiped their b.l.o.o.d.y faces on their sleeves, turned, and trooped up a tall, thin, white staircase that led directly into a hole in the face of the cliffs. In a matter of moments, they were gone.

Jack hurried forward. Jill, reluctantly, picked up the frog and followed him.

Little Jack found himself at the base of the tall, narrow staircase that led into the cliff. He could see, at the top, a round door. Above the door ran gold lettering which read, THE CAVE OF HEROES. Before the door stood a tall, thin giant with a gaunt face and a long beard and a s.h.i.+ning s.h.i.+rt of mail.

Jack gazed up at him. ”h.e.l.lo?” he called.

The tall, thin giant did not stir.

”Can I come up?” Jack called again.

Jill arrived at his side. ”Jack!” she hissed. ”What are you doing?”

But Jack was staring, fixedly, up the narrow staircase.

Jack stepped onto the first stair. The sky suddenly shook with the booming voice of the gaunt giant.

To enter here ye must be brave, and do what no man dare: Enter into our killing cave And face to face encounter fear.

Little Jack nodded his head. ”I'm brave!” he called up to the giant.

Jill said, ”Jack! Be quiet!”

But Jack took another step up the stairs.

In response, the giant guard boomed out: A band for heroes only- But join us, brave one! Try!

Many before have tried to, too, And one by one each one has died.

”I can do it,” answered Jack.

”ARE YOU CRAZY?” the frog shouted. He looked to Jill. ”Does your cousin have a problem or something?”

Jack took another step up the stairs.

Again, the guard bellowed to the sky: Who shall submit his life to us?

Who shall sever his life's left hand?

Who shall place his final trust In our unbreakable band?

”I will!” cried Jack.

”What are you doing?” Jill exclaimed, grabbing him by the sleeve. But Jack jerked his arm away and took another step up the stairs. And then another. And then another. Up, and up, and up, until he was standing directly in front of the giant. Jack came up to the middle of his thigh.

”What is he thinking?” whispered the frog, staring in abject terror.

Jill could only shake her head.

Do you have any idea what Jack is thinking right now?

No?

Me neither.

But of course, when I was Jack's age and saw people I took for giants, I never understood half the things I did either.

Suddenly, the gaunt giant guard seemed to notice Jack. He bellowed, ”Who volunteers to taste fear and feel death?”

”I do,” Jack replied, in his bravest voice. ”Me. Jack.”

Jill and the frog could only watch in horror.

”Jack, will you subject yourself to fear?”