worships Weda Krizhtawn, still butters himself!
‘And the only reason I quit doing that is that I’m sure that he’s conditioned
his real spiders, and his guardian animals, to attack anyone who’s covered with
butter. That way he can make sure or thinks he can make sure, that no hunter of
him will ever be able to get close. That is why, though it almost killed me with
shame and guilt, I bathed this morning!’
Masha would have laughed if she hadn’t felt so sorry for him. That was why his
eyes had looked so red when he’d shown up at her apartment after bathing. It
hadn’t been fatigue but tears that had done it.
They drew their weapons, Masha a short sword and Smhee a long dagger. They set
out for the base of the ridge of formations that ran down the centre of the isle
like serrations on a dragon’s back. Before they’d gone far, Smhee put a
restraining hand on her arm.
‘There’s a spider’s web just ahead. Between those two bushes. Be careful of it.
But look out for other dangers, since one will be obvious enough to distract
your attention from others. And don’t forget that the thorns of these bushes are
probably poisonous.’
In the dim moonlight she saw the web. It was huge, as wide as the stretch of her
arms. She thought, if it’s so big, what about its spinner?
It seemed empty, though. She turned to her left and walked slowly, her head
turned to watch it.
Then something big scuttled out from under the bush at her. She stifled her
scream and leaped towards the thing instead of following her desire to run away