Frog and the Sandspiders of Aridian Read Online Free

of his throat. He was aware that the spider was inches away from him, taking in his scent until it let out a low hiss.
    He heard Billy exclaim. ‘Oh! This is really gross.’
    Next, hands were lifting him up and he found himself sitting in the surprisingly soft hair of the giant spider. He felt the man sit down behind him and his arms reached around Frog. There was a half-whistle, half-hissing noise and Frog felt a lurch as the great beast lifted itself up. Another jolt and they were moving quickly in a rocking motion as the drum of the spider's feet passed over the sand. He could only hope that Billy was not far behind on the other spider.
    After a while, they came to a halt and Frog could hear other voices.
    â€˜What have you got there?’ asked one.
    â€˜Fresh meat for your spider's breakfast?’ laughed another.
    â€˜Maybe, but we must take them to be questioned first,’ replied the rider. ‘Open the doors.’
    There was a grinding, rumbling sound and then the spider lurched forwards again. The atmosphere changed instantly and there was a slight echo to the spider's movements. Frog could sense that they were no longer above ground and their motion was downwards, travelling along some sort of passage.
    Soon, the air became stronger with the spider's musty odour. With another half-whistle, half-whisper from the man, the spider stopped and Frog felt it lowering its body. The man slid away and then Frog felt hands reach up and pull him down to the hard and unyielding ground beneath his feet. His blindfold was removed and he found himself staring at a pair of deep, green eyes; the rest of the man's face was still masked by the Bedouin-style cloth scarf.
    â€˜Stay there,’ commanded the man and he turned back towards one of the spiders.
    Frog took in his surroundings. They were in an enormous cavern, which was bathed in a bluish light; its source was the strange crystal rocks placed around the walls. On each side were large gated stalls; some of them were occupied by more of the giant spiders, and Frog guessed that they were in a form of stables. He turned and saw Billy, still blindfolded, being led towards him by the other man.
    â€˜Tell your friend to stay still. I will not warn him again,’ said the masked man sternly.
    Frog watched as both the men led their spiders into separate stalls. He could also see that the spiders wore a type of harness and reins, which the men now removed.
    â€˜Can you see what's happening?’ asked Billy, tilting his head back and trying to see under his blindfold.
    â€˜Yes, we're in a big underground cavern where they keep the spiders and they're putting them into what look like stables. The whole place is lit up by weird crystals ’
    â€˜How come you can see so much?’ asked Billy.
    â€˜They've taken my blindfold off.’
    â€˜Why haven't they taken mine off?’
    â€˜I don't know,’ said Frog. ‘Perhaps we'll find out in a minute.’
    â€˜Can you get your hands free?’ asked Billy as he twisted and turned his wrists behind his back.
    â€˜No, and I'm not sure what I'd do if I could.’
    â€˜Escaping would be a good idea.’
    â€˜At the moment, I don't know where we would run,’ said Frog. ‘We might end up in worse danger.’
    â€˜If it's a choice between being fed to giant spiders or running away,’ said Billy as he continued to try to free his wrists, ‘then I vote for running away.’
    â€˜Shush!’ said Frog. ‘Keep still. They're coming back.’
    The two men stopped a short distance from the boys and had a quiet conversation. While they stood there, Frog noticed that both of them carried short, curved swords held at their waists, sheathed in highly decorated and ornate scabbards.
    They turned their heads and stared in his direction. Frog felt both pairs of eyes studying him intently. He tried not to feel intimidated and firmly met their gaze. The men then