I nodded my head in understanding and got up.
We headed off through the forest leaving behind the carcass of a man that had been as much of a monster in life as the monsters who were terrorizing the island even now.
We met no one else along the way through the forest. It was trickier once we cleared the forest, but these were the sleep hours and no one appeared to be out and about.
We reached the caves where the slaves were held, but drew up before stepping out into the open because of an unwanted sight. A giant was sitting up against the side of the wall just to the right of the cave that had iron bars running across the front of it.
The giant's loud snores rent the still air in an awful way.
I looked from the giant to the iron bars and back again. It was apparent that the giants did not want a potential upcoming food supply to escape from them.
I stared silently at the giant in contemplation of what the best way to kill him would be. He was liable to make a fuss, perhaps even overpower us before we could deliver a killing blow.
It was best that we waited for the diversion to begin and I said as much to those around me. Hopefully once the commotion in the harbor started up the giant would rush off to investigate and leave his post wide-open.
I felt that it was our best hope for success, because if we tried to kill the giant in his sleep and he was able to get out a bellow then all of the giants would be down upon us like a stampeding herd of elephants. I wanted the slaves to know what was up though before everything got started.
As quietly as I could I crept up to the bars of the cave cell alone. It was dark inside and I couldn't see anyone, but I didn't want to call out for fear of waking the giant. Then suddenly a figure materialized out of the darkness and coming closer I recognized her as Mandy.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Mandy and some others pressed up against the bars to hear what I had to say, "Do you still have the keys Mandy?" I whispered out.
Wordlessly she pulled them out of a pocket with a soft jangle.
"Good. Now this is going to be difficult, but I need you guys to wait in here a little longer, because we have to get rid of him." I said gesturing to the giant who could have sawed mature redwood trees in half with the force of his snores.