They drew their weapons, Masha a short sword and Smhee a long dagger. They setout for the base of the ridge of formations that ran down the centre of the islelike serrations on a dragon's back. Before they'd gone far, Smhee put arestraining 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 distractyour attention from others. And don't forget that the thorns of these bushes areprobably poisonous.'
In the dim moonlight she saw the web. It was huge, as wide as the stretch of herarms. She thought, if it's so big, what about its spinner?
It seemed empty, though. She turned to her left and walked slowly, her headturned to watch it.
Then something big scuttled out from under the bush at her. She stifled herscream and leaped towards the thing instead of following her desire to run awayfrom it. Her" sword leaped out as the thing sprang, and it spitted itself.Something soft touched the back of her hand. The end of a waving leg.
Smhee came up behind it as she stood there holding the sword out as far as shecould to keep the arachnid away. Her arm got heavy with its weight, and slowlythe blade sank towards the ground. The fat man slashed the thing's back openwith his dagger. A foul odour vented from it. He brought his foot down on a legand whispered, 'Pull your sword out! I'll keep it pinned!'
She did so and then backed away. She was breathing very hard. He jumped up andcame down with both feet on the creature.
Its legs waved for a while longer, but it was dying if not already dead. 'Thatwas a real spider,' he said, 'although I suppose you know that. I suspect thatthe false spiders will be much smaller.'