First, I saw the layer of solid ice that covered the ledge. The glassy cave rose up behind the ledge. The gaping entrance to the cave was blacker than the darkest night. I stood staring into the darkness. Trying to catch my breath. Trying to slow my pounding heart. Clouds reflected in the glassy ice drifted rapidly to the right. They made the cave appear to move. Sharply pointed icicles stabbed down from the roof of the cave opening. They reminded me of sharpened teeth about to close. I stared into the black cave opening and waited. Waited to see if anything would appear. I didn’t have to wait long. A rumble as loud as thunder made the ledge quake. Afraid I might slip off, I dropped to my knees. The rumble grew to a roar. And a tall, white figure lumbered out from the blackness of the cave entrance. An enormous snowman! I gasped—and stared in horror as the mountain of snow moved toward me. “Nooooo!” I wailed. I forgot where I was. Forgot I was perched on a narrow ice ledge. And started to back up, to back away from the tall creature.
