the_hungry_giant_25 cuckoobird chapter 25...in which peet is injured by the giant i thought for a while about what the giant said concerning the costume wearing him as if it possessed a diametrically opposed magical life force. i knew he wouldn't stop. as soon as he got hungry, he would put it on again and go to king mal's garden for the second tree. i knew there had to be a reason why he must be stopped. "i met the king's chef," i told him. "he said you can eat from all of the trees except for the figs." "you don't understand do you?" the giant said. he reached out so fast and had me tight in his fist before i could even take my next breath. he climbed back up the ladder, steadying himself with his other hand. drips of water echoed as we emerged back into the light. his grip was excruciatingly tight around my wings. the pain was making me nauseous. abei hovered nearby. "let him go!" abei yelled. he buzzed angrily around the giant's head, threatening to sting. the giant chuckled. "yeah," he said. "i'll let him go." he brought me straight up to his face. "you are to fly away and never come back." he opened his hand. i tried to flap my wings but fell haplessly to the ground. the giant kicked me and i rolled several times and then came to the rest at the base of a stone. abei zipped down next to me. the giant disappeared back into his hole. 120123 what's it to you? who go blather from