Pampaa's heart pounded and fluttered at the same time, unable to keep its pace without stuttering. He felt light-headed. A fizzy pain shot up his neck and into his jaw.

He forced himself to stop running.

Leaning heavily against the wall, Pampaa caught his breath in great shuddering gasps.

"Too old," he muttered, gripped by helpless despair. "I went and got too old for this."

Somewhere up ahead, the monster roared in ...