First Draft of Narrative Short Story for class...

ENG 150
Professor J. Jones
Assignment: Short Story
First Draft
P. Allan Frederick
February 7, 2007

I could scarcely believe what my eyes beheld as I pulled open the ancient aching wooden hatch. The howling reeking beast towered over me. Its rancid stench filled my nostrils as I trembled from the dreadful mien on its face. I could hardly stand as I held my spear with as much courage as I, Prince Lion, could muster. I pulled my shaking arm back, ready to launch my lance into its face, when, to my great astonishment, it stopped its ferocious roaring, and sniffed at my head. I paused -- was it possible that this massive mountain of a creature could be pacified? Then, without notice, it sat on its hind haunches. Foul breezes wafting from its mouth blew in and out as it stared at me with a look of expectancy. Confused, I lowered my spear and stood, looking back at its relaxed face. It appeared as though this “watch dog” would let me pass after all.
Its features looked like a man but with a single horn protruding from its forehead. Fur or perhaps filthy hair surrounded it face like the petals of a hideous flower. Its body was that of a bull, but like a gigantic mound of scales mixed with hide. Its color was pitch but for its face, which was scarlet like blood. Its hooves were twice my size, and I a man of great girth and height. Its pungent odor would prevent any type of surprise it might gain on its foes, or should I say victims; however, its size would make up for any need of surprise. I slowly started to walk around it heading towards the great massive door.
“HOLD!” it roared.
I froze in my tracks.
“You may not pass.” said the great monster. “You must solve the riddles three, before you journey this tunnel free.”
I looked at it and felt a slight tinge of fear come back. Solving riddles? I hadn’t expected a game of wits to come from such a terrifying creature.
“What are these riddles?” I boldly questioned.
“The first,” it responded, “goes like this – Round as a ball, but flat as a board, altar of the lupine lord. Pearl on black velvet, face of a man, bringing brilliance like the candle can. What is it?”
I repeated the riddle in my mind, rushing to solve this quandary. Quickly, it came to me.
“I know what it is that you describe, ‘tis the moon that which you speak of!”
“Well done, young prince. You’ve done one, now two is next, time for the other for you’ll be vexed.” He had a creepy bitter smile that covered his yellow teeth as he spoke. Still with each word and each breath putrid foul gases rose through the air in the domed chamber that we were in. I looked and just past this rank living thing was the smaller tunnel that I wished to gain access to. I feared that I would still not pass this war of words that this overwhelmingly massive animal, if you can call it that, had yet to reveal. I needed a back up plan, and needed one quick. Was I up to solving these puzzles, while coming up with a plan? I needed to find its weak spot; I new that it had to have one.
“Wind through feathers,” the hideous beast snorted, “Gallop through clouds.
This fabled creature makes Perseus proud. What is it?”
“Perseus, Perseus, Perseus…” I thought to my self. Where had I heard that name before? Then, like a lightning bolt, it hit me! The Greek hero of the days of old -- he rode the Pegasus!
“I know what it is that you are thinking of, Giant…” I answered. “It is the Pegasus that you speak of!”
The huge brute let out a diminutive nervous growl. “I see that I face a learned man this night. But I don’t fear, as the keeper of the gate, I’m always near. But still there is one riddle left. One for sure you’ll never get.”
I didn’t like that little growl. The beast had started showing signs of nervousness. It was erratically waging its bushy, bristly tail. It keen round eyes were slightly bulging. I was evident that he was not used to people winning. I figured that this next riddle would for sure stump me, but there was always hope. I though of our patron saint, Brother Bugglebee of Southforkton, in all his grace would surely guide me by his spirit, bless his dead soul. Still, I did not see the creature’s weakness.
“I must warn you Lion Prince, that if you do not solve this riddle third, I will eat you like a broken bird.”
“But if I win, you’ll let me pass?”
“That is the tradition. In all my years of this slavery to the Grand Master, only once had I failed him. That one man who passed is now the new Grand Master, who spared my life. In his pretentious pomposity he concluded that no man was his equal, so he continued to let me live and serve has his humble watchman.”
“BE AFRAID!” he roared with exploding bits of spittle, rancid fumes, and ear splitting bells tones cracking my skeletal cage to near powder. The cavern filled with flaming funk as his front pig iron hooves sparked the cold stone floor. His countenance still had that eerie revolting smirk that could blind a seeing man and revive a sick man only to die upon its gaze.
I am a hero, I said to myself, and I am up to this. Still no weak spot, and one riddle left. “What is your last riddle for me my gargantuan friend?” He was opening his mouth to speak, and I peered my head forward into his gapping maw, and I saw it. I saw what I wanted. It had an infected tooth. This orange pumpkin was bleeding with bits of bone wedged between its black gum. One throw to the tooth should all be that I need to distract enough so that I may pass. All I needed to do was make it through the eye burning, nose wrenching, and bone rattling gasses that seep out its mouth like poisonous pit snakes ejecting their venom at their foes. I’m as brave as any man, or half man in my case, could be, I told myself in my mind. This was it, this was the go time.
“I’m ready for your final riddle oh proud creature!”
“Then my final riddle is this, what type of bird would I eat?”
“What?” I asked in a nary-mannish squeaky voice.
“ Bird my young Prince, what kind of bird would I eat?” He glared at me with fiery globes fixated on me like burning bushes. Bird, bird, bird…bird I thought. “What was it I had seen in his teeth?” I asked to myself. Bones, but wait, was it bones? I had to look again. There was something about those bones, and his teeth that made it seem like a wrong question.
“Well young Prince? What is your answer?”
That time I saw what I thought. Molars! It was molars, with sticks stuck in them, not bones. With his bull body, he had to have been a tree eater, and not a meat eater!
“You would want me to name a bird if you will, perhaps the goose, or chicken or swill? Perhaps you would like me to mention the eagle, vulture, or hawk, but then we would have to have fought. I know for sure that it is trees that you eat; perhaps even eating flowers as your treat. If that be so, then the bird I know, ‘tis the flower, Birds of Paradise!”
The beast roared with echoing madness making bits of dust, gravel and stone fall from the domed chamber. “You are right young Prince, you are right. I said that I would let you pass, but my master would have my head. Perhaps we could strike up a deal instead.”
“I know what it is that I can do for you, my friend, with my spear. Not gouge your eye or stab your foot, but to solve your tooth ache and severe wretched breath!”
“Um, I have bad breath?” it whimpered. “None have told me this. Why have not all those who have tried to pass told me this?”
“Perhaps it is fear that stops them?” I answered cautiously. After we discussed the matter, he opened his mouth, I took my spear and wedged out the stick and weeds from his teeth and gums. The behemoth let out a slight whimper. I took the sticks and greens in my hand, held them high, and he smelled them.
“Weeeooooo those smell bad. The shame I feel. Thanks to you young Prince; perhaps you do deserve to pass after all.” We said our farewells and good bye’s as he let me pass. A few feet into the tunnel -- I heard a wail from deep within the bowls of this cave. I knew that my adventure had just begun!