9. A PUZZLING BOX

CHAPTER 9 A PUZZLING BOX The Dragon Masters studied the three paths in front of them. Rune's Dragon Stone glowed, and then Lysa shone her light on the walls. Carved words became visible. DAY CAN SOMETIMES LOOK LIKE NIGHT. A BABY BIRD WILL ONE DAY TAKE FLIGHT. SOMETHING SMALL CAN HAVE GREAT MIGHT. BUT WHAT IS WRONG WILL NEVER BE BLANK. "The last word must be 'right'!" Drake said.

"Yes, but why is that word missing?" Darma wondered. Hema relayed Darma's question to Lysa, and the dragons gave Rune's answer to the boys. I think I know! The word "right" has two meanings. We should go right, not left. Drake grinned. "I think Rune is right." Darma signed to Rune. Yes!

They all headed down the path until they came to a dead end at a large, wooden door. Rune pulled at the handle, but it wouldn't open. Then Drake spotted something. To the right of the door was a stone pedestal topped with a wooden box. "I wonder if this box holds a key to the door?" he asked. He picked up the box and shook it. "Something is rattling inside. But how do we open it?" The box was made of slats of wood with lines carved in them. Rune took the box from Drake. Rune says: It's a puzzle box, like the ones I have in the castle! If you arrange the slats just the right way, the box will open. Rune started to push the slats with his hands, and they moved! He moved them several times, then he frowned. The box was not opening.

"Perhaps when all the slats are arranged correctly, those carved lines form a picture," Darma suggested. Drake studied the lines, and the way they curved. He started to recognize some shapes. A tail an ear Dragon! Drake signed to Rune and Darma. Rune looked at the box again and his eyes lit up. He moved the slats until the lines joined together to show a dragon on the box. Then one slat popped open!

Grinning, Rune shook the box and a brass key slid out. "We did it!" Drake cheered, holding up the key. "Look at these prongs. Don't they look like dragon's teeth?" Ca-caw! Suddenly, a crow swooped down. It plucked the key out of Drake's hands and flew away!