CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

SANDSLIMER

The slow rippling of the sand hypnotized Alexander. He knew he should run, but could not move. The soothing sound of the shifting sand was hypnotizing. He swayed like a cobra when its master played the flute.

He knew that his life might be in danger. His breathing slowed. A soothing calmness urged him to close his eyes. He couldn’t move. The ever-changing, rippling sand inched closer. He was under its control. Run, he said to himself, but his body refused to obey. What is that thing? He didn’t know the answer. The heat and the music of the smooth sand combined to make a deathly concoction.

His whole body felt at ease. He eagerly awaited his fate as if it was an expected birthday present. Of course, not many gifts include certain death, and not too many thirteen-year-old boys eagerly await their fate.

The sand arose and formed a ring around him. It like he was the eye of the hurricane. There was no time to feel fear. Alexander’s world went blank.

                                                                       

Alexander awoke with a startle. He was in a dark, smelly cave. Small shards of light filtered in through small gaps in the wall.

He felt his arms, stomach, and head, making sure they were still there. He seemed to be uninjured, except for a small bump on his forehead and a horrible headache. The rumbling in his stomach reminded him he was hungry.

Where am I?

Shadows slowly crept across the cave wall. He was alone in a cave with no weapons, no food, nowhere to hide, and in no mood to fight the creatures causing the shadows. “Alexander?” whispered a familiar voice.

“Abby?” Alexander tried to sit up, but he lacked the strength.

“Whoa, there Alexander,” exclaimed Malley.

“You’re still supposed to be resting.” Abby stooped beside him, pouring water onto a rag. She then applied the cloth to Alexander’s forehead.

“I don’t need to sleep. Where’ve you been? I was alone when the sand moved.” Alexander stopped to take a breath. “It was awful.”

“You’re unbelievably lucky, my lad. We got there just as the sandslimer was about to gobble you up. No one has ever faced that beast and lived to tell about it.” Malley smiled. “It seemed as if you have been leprechaun charmed, which is impossible.”

“It was kinda cool,” Abby smiled. “Where’s O’Toole?”

“So if I was so cool, how come I have no memory of how I got here?”

“You were passed out,” Malley looked beyond Alexander. “Where’s O’Toole?”

Alexander’s eyes got misty. He fumbled for the right words to say. He shrugged his shoulders just as the dam burst. “O’Toole.” Buckets of tears cascaded down his cheeks. “O’Toole … O’Toole saved my life.”

“He has a habit of doing that, but what happened to him?”

“He’s…” tears still flowed. It broke Alexander’s heart.

“Dead?” Abby completed the sentence.

Alexander nodded his head.

“How?” Malley was in shock.

“Don’t badger him. Can’t you see he’s in pain? He’ll answer when he’s able.” Abby hugged Alexander. “We need to figure out what to do next.”

 “You’re right we need to decide the next step in our quest. Give me a few minutes.” Malley glanced at Alexander one last time. “For some unknown reason, the sandslimer beast couldn’t hypnotize you deeply. So he couldn’t eat you.” Malley stroked his chin. “I’ve heard of instances like this.”

“I’m sorry. It should’ve been me that died.”

“You know little about leprechauns. O’Toole is resilient.” I can only hope he’s resilient. This time, his death might be hard to bounce back from.

 “We should get some rest and sort things out in the morning after a hearty breakfast.” Without O’Toole in charge, the whole quest was now in jeopardy. “I suggest we sleep in shifts, as we have little clue about who or what has occupied this cave, and how long ago. I, being the remaining leprechaun, shall take the first watch.”

Malley sat with his back to the fire as it dwindled into ashes. How can I lead the group? I’m here for comic relief. The quest is doomed, and we haven’t even gotten to the dangerous part. His mind wandered, and his eyes grew tired and slowly shut.

The cave became unbearably warm as if they were in a toaster oven.