Link's Curse 8

   chapter 8

      The bearded stranger led Link into one of the dark passage ways, as the little green monster still carrying Link's shield followed behind. The Little monster
   following them made Link feel uneasy, but he said nothing and kept walking close to the strangers side. They walked down a long narrow tunnel, lit only by torches
   fastened to the rock walls. The ground beneath them had become earth again, with only a few patches of stone and brick lining the floor. The battle with the spider
   monster had exhausted Link, and he was ready for a little rest and maybe something to eat. He did not expect what was to come. Link silently followed the stranger
   a bit farther down the tunnel until they came to a large stone room with a stone floor and four square lamp posts in each corner of the room. They were lit
   brightly. In the center of the room sat a modest stone chair, and sitting on one of the arm rests was a silver chalice. Not much else was in the room. At the far
   end of the room was a barred door. Link got an uneasy feeling peering through the bars into the inky blackness beyond.
  
      Link cleared his throat and said, "What is this place? And, if I may ask..." he paused a moment, thinking carefully about how to say what he wanted to say.
   "Spit it out, boy!" snapped the bearded man, a touch of anger sounding in his voice. So Link continued. "I don't even know your name, sir." The man nodded, grinning
    "I suppose I should tell you, shouldn't I, especially after you trespassed on my land, entered my domain without asking permission and even killed my be-
   loved Leila and Violet! My girls weren't horrible monsters like you may have believed, they were gentle creatures. So to answer your second question, I won't
   be revealing my name to you, not now or ever. As for you're first question, as to where we are, this is my home. I consider it home, at least. Many a weary travel-
   er have been frightened off by my bats or by Winky, my Moblin assistant. Very few have ever made it as far as you. You are brave indeed, boy. But as I warned you
   back at the tavern in Kakariko village, you are still in a great deal of danger! I wish you hadn't gotten mixed up in all this. Your caretaker, Rob, is a foolish
   man to have sent you on a journey that you have no business traveling."

      When Link heard this, he became angry. "No!" he shouted. "Rob is not a fool! He is a good and kind man! You're the fool! I'm getting out of here, now!" Link stamped
    his foot and turned to run. He was now in a foul mood. But as he tried to find his way back through the tunnel leading back towards the entrance, heavy metal
   bars suddenly appeared, blocking the way. Then out of nowhere, Winky grabbed Link from behind. In surprise, Link dropped his sword. It clanked in the stone floor.
   "Not so fast, boy!" said the stranger, sneering. "You're not going anywhere! Except into the dungeon...!" He laughed wickedly. "Take him away, Winky. He won't see
   the light of day for a long time!" Link was so shocked, that he didn't even try to struggle or escape. He just let the Moblin lead him over to the other barred
   door way. The Moblin placed a large green hand onto a particular brick in the wall next to the barred door way, and the bars slid up. The Moblin pushed Link into
   the darkness. Link heard the bars snap shut behind him. He was now trapped in some underground dungeon belonging to a madman who loved strange monsters. "How will
   I ever get out of this one?" link thought, sadly. Things looked hopeless.

      Hours passed, and Link couldn't do nothing but sit in the darkness. He hadn't even moved, except to scratch an itch or two. A few times he found himself nodding
   off, but he was even too heart sick to sleep. Finally when he could take sitting there no longer, he stood up and started walking to the bars that held him inside
   the dark prison. It was then that he realized the weight on his back. It couldn't be, could it? Link reached up and felt for the straps of his back pack. Too his
   amazement, it was still on his back. "But how?" he wondered aloud. "How could they have been so foolish as too lock me away with my back pack still on me?" He shook
   his head. He couldn't figure it out, but he was great full for their mistake. He took full advantage of the situation and pulled off his back pack, laying it on the
   dirt floor. He glanced out into the lit throne room, making sure nobody could see what he was doing. The room appeared empty. So with that, Link began to open his
   pack and go through everything he had.

      There was an extra set of clothing, tunic and breeches. There was an extra pair of boots, but one boot had a small hole in it. There was another old apple, some
   cheese, the remaining rupees and finally a thin metal wire at the very bottom of the pack. Link wondered why Rob had packed the wire in his pack. As he was thinking
    there suddenly came a raspy voice from somewhere nearby. Link froze. At first he thought the voice had come from outside the prison, and feared it was the stranger
    returning. But his fear turned to utter terror when he realized the voice was coming from inside the prison! Someone, or something, was in there with him!