By the soft bluish light of the fire demons’ glow, they finally reached the other end of the winding tunnel. Against the cave walls, they could now see daylight from around the next bend. Unfortunately, directly in their path and blocking their way, was a rather fearsome looking statue of a giant demon.
“Oh, great,” Jenny said. “There’s no way we’re going to get around this thing.”
Sid shrugged. “It could be worse.”
Josh chimed in. “The way is completely blocked. How could it be worse?”
Just then the statue came to life. Standing before them now, rather than a mere statue of stone, was a living, breathing demon. At the sight of the four travellers he gave out a roar of anger.
“Like I was saying…,” Sid said.
Josh glared at him. “If you say `I told you so’, I swear I’m going to kill you before that big ugly demon does.”
The demon glared at them and bared his giant teeth. “You have disturbed my slumber. Perhaps you will be my next meal.” He took one fearsome step toward them, and the four travellers cowered back in fear.
Then his eyes alighted on Sid, and his monstrous face broke out into an enormous grin. “Sid?”
For a moment Sid looked nonplussed. Then he too broke out into a grin. “Charlie, is that you? You’re kinda, well, big.”
The big demon let out a laugh, and the deep rumbling sound echoed through the tunnel. “Yeah, needed to be big for this gig. You’re one to talk. You’re kinda, um, orange, if you don’t mind my sayin’.”
“Dammit Charlie, you gotta rub it in? You know I don’t get to pick the color. Comes with the job.”
Mr. Symarian, who had been quietly watching this exchange, at last spoke up. “I take it you two know each other?”