The Haunting Hour by R.L. Stine Page A

is complete. Ulrick is coming to join the others.”
    â€œBut where is the boy?” Gregory asked. “The boy is nowhere to be seen.”
    The Dragon Master peered out from the doorway. “You are right, Gregory. The dragon comes alone.” He tossed his head back in a cruel laugh. “Ulrick probably had the boy for breakfast!”
    â€œBut then why has the dragon come here?” Gregory asked.
    â€œGo see,” Sir Darkwind said. He gave Gregory a hard push out the door. “Go see at once—while I wait in the safety of the house.”
    His legs trembling, his heart fluttering in his chest, Gregory obeyed his master. He stepped up to the dragon, took a deep breath, and shouted up to it: “Ulrick—the Dragon Master demands to know: Why have you come?”
    Ulrick gazed down at the trembling servant. The dragon’s eyes were cold and blank, like two black rocks. It snorted loudly, a sound that made Gregory quiver all the more.
    In the pen beside the house all the other dragons had lined up. They stood very still, watching the newcomer.
    Gregory glanced back and saw the Dragon Master waving his hands impatiently.
    â€œSir Darkwind desires to know why you have come,” the servant repeated, unable to stop his voice from cracking with fear.
    With a sudden motion the huge dragon swung down its head and almost bumped Gregory to the ground. Gregory gasped and leaped back.
    And then slowly, very slowly, the dragon opened its massive jaws.
    â€œOh nooooo,” Gregory moaned. He saw the boy’s head inside the dragon’s mouth. The head, eyes shut, rested on the creature’s fat red tongue.
    â€œYou have eaten him!” the servant shouted. “You have eaten the boy!”
    Gregory couldn’t bear the awful sight. He spun around wildly. “Sir Darkwind! Horrors! Horrors! The dragon—it—it…”
    â€œWhat is it?” the Dragon Master called from the house. “What are you trying to say?”
    â€œThe d-dragon—” Gregory stammered. “Sir Darkwind! Sir Darkwind! You must come and see this! You must come at once!” And then he fainted to the ground in a heap.
    What must I see? Sir Darkwind wondered. Why is the dragon standing there with its mouth open like that?
    The Dragon Master cautiously stepped out of the house. As he strode up to the dragon, the dragon turned and opened its jaws wider.
    And Sir Darkwind saw the boy’s head, resting so comfortably on the fat tongue.
    He saw the boy’s dark hair matted wetly to his forehead. And saw the boy’s peacefully shut eyes.
    Sir Darkwind scowled up at the dragon. “Did you think that would shock me? You have wasted your time, Ulrick!”
    â€œI do not think so,” Ned said, opening his eyes. “I knew this would get you out of the house!”
    He freed his arms from the dragon’s throat, then grabbed hold of the massive teeth and pulled himself out. Lowering himself to the ground, he brushed back his hair and wiped dragon drool off the front of his smock.
    Sir Darkwind’s eyes bulged in surprise. “How—how have you done this, boy?”
    â€œI made a bargain with the dragon,” Ned said. “Just as you instructed me.”
    The Dragon Master’s face filled with confusion. “And now the dragon is mine?” he asked.
    â€œNot quite,” Ned replied. “That isn’t the bargain.”
    He rubbed his hands dry on the side of his smock. “You see, before the Sorcerer Margolin disappeared, he taught me many of his spells,” Ned said. “And now I’m going to show you one of my favorites.”
    Ned waved his hands, mumbled several strange-sounding words—and the Dragon Master began to change.
    His body appeared to melt. His face sank into his body. Leafy limbs sprouted all around him. And bright-red berries popped out around the leaves.
    Ned mumbled a few more words. And then he smiled. The spell