12 A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons

12. A HERO'S GUIDE TO DEADLY DRAGONS Hiccup had discovered how to deal with Poisonous Piffleworms some six months earlier, observing their behaviour one day dragon-watching at Wild Dragon Cliff. But in the terror of this moment, he couldn't quite remember what he had written in his notebook. He closed his eyes desperately… what was it now? He had a horrible feeling that you had to rub their tummies with the end of a nettle? No, on reflection, he thought that was Deadly Nadders… Thank goodness, because there weren't any nettles lying about… Did you blow in their eyes? No, that was Toxic Nightshades… 'What do we do now, Hiccup?' whispered Fishlegs, with his hands over his ears, trying to cut out the sound of those padding feet getting closer and closer. 'Do you think we can creep

through them without waking them up?' As if in answer to this question, the nearest Piffleworm stirred in its sleep, opening its eyes briefly for a second, yawning and flicking out its little forked tongue, so that a droplet of purple venom landed on the edge of the brickwork. It sizzled through the stone like acid, leaving a little puff of purple smoke rising from the hole. The Piffleworm closed its eyes again. 'Oh, brother…' moaned Fishlegs. If only Father hadn't confiscated my book… Hiccup thought to himself. If only I had A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons with me RIGHT NOW. Hang on a second… what am I thinking about? I do have A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons with me right now. Hiccup looked down at the big, heavy, dusty old book he was holding in his hand. My ancestor must have written about Poisonous Piffleworms in here. Hiccup flung open the book.

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There was a Warning on the first page, written in large ink-smudged capitals. WARNING! READ THE HERO'S GUIDE TO DEADLY DRAGONS AND YOU WILL DIE 'We ALL die,' said Hiccup aloud, '…eventually.'

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...and this time he really did laugh. For written on the next page were the words: