P6 Reading Comprehension Johnson

The ancient door swung open. Johnson hesitated. His mouth felt dry and he tried to swallow. "Go on in!" taunted the old man. Johnson could see that inside, it was pitch black. There was also a strange smell that made him gag. He changed his mind but before he could leave, the old man shoved Johnson through the door and locked it. "Let me out! Let me out!'' shouted Johnson, pounding incessantly on the door.

But it was of no use. The dried-out wooden door was like iron. Pausing to catch his breath, his fists throbbing, Johnson looked around suspiciously. Slowly, his eyes grew accustomed to the dark as he took in the dreadful sight in front of him. There must be a way out, he thought.

Despite the heat in the barn. Johnson shivered. He gingerly made his way across the barn and found himself standing in front of a boarded-up window. Blocking his exit was a huge board nailed haphazardly into the frame.

I can probably pull it off with my bare hands," he smiled triumphantly. The bottom comer of the board was half-rotted and fell apart in his hands. Light streamed in as it came away from the frame. Then he shifted his attention to the top corner of the board. If he could get this part off, he could easily climb out.

But this part of the board was like the old door of the barn, dried out and as tough as steel.

Gripping the remaining part of the board with both hands, he began pulling. The nails squealed in protest and the board started to move. Only a little bit further, grunted Johnson. Then it stopped.

Desperately, Johnson yanked at the board, but it would not yield. That was when he realised that he was trapped

Turning around slowly, he could see, in the light from the window, his attacker. It was a spider. No doubt one of the old man's experiments. But this was no ordinary spider. It was enormous. About the size of a cat, with legs that extended out three or four feet on either side. Its eyes stared coldly at him.