A Steampunk Guide to Hunting Monsters 11 | Page 12

still locked . I helped the workers attach the ropes to the iron truss which we then hoisted into the sky . We rigged the pulleys so that , at a moments notice , we could fling the iron into the troll , knock him down , and pry off his helmet as the sun rose over the embankment !
Being an accomplished student of archery , I took up the bow and arrow and shot it straight into the troll ' s tent to get his attention . The arrow whipped through the canvas and we heard it hit his armor with a clunk . This did not rouse him , so I fired another and another , until he woke with some agitation . When he saw that it was arrows that were pelting him , he burst out of the tent angrily , staff in hand . He frantically looked around for the attacker .
At that , our group let loose our crane which swung the iron truss into the beast ! We intended to capture him under the weight of the bridge , but as the truss swung , the ropes came loose ! Only a portion of the iron smashed into his helmet , cracking and tearing a section of it , as the truss fell to the ground . And then the entire crane collapsed ! I knew the workers would blame me for this , and they began yelling at me , but it was in Chinese , so I paid it little mind . I can assure you that it was not me that caused the accident , however . I know there was some gremlin out there in that camp haunting me .
The troll glowered through the tear in his helmet . There was no time for Thunderboy to give us the keys ! Instead , he used his grace and skill to leap up the back of the beast ' s armor . The boy ' s magnificent headdress billowed in the gathering winds ! The troll could not reach Thunderboy because the armor limited its movement . Protection from the sun came at a loss of mobility !
Thunderboy thrust his spear into the cracks of the broken helmet and pried a large chunk off , revealing the troll ' s face to all the enslaved Chinese workers ! They all staggered back in horror ! However , the force Thunderboy exerted to break the iron apart caused him to fall from the troll and onto the ground .
Light began to fill the valley and the troll looked