Read the passage from "Cruel Tribute.”"He is coming!" cried Theseus, and he ran forward to meet the beast. The seven maidens shrieked, but tried to stand up bravely and face their fate; and the six young men stood together with firm-set teeth and clinched fists, ready to fight to the last.

The passage builds suspense around the beast: Theseus rushes to meet it, while the others prepare for danger, but the beast itself is not described yet. This suggests the author is waiting to reveal the Minotaur. The details about the maidens and young men help build tension rather than being the passage’s main purpose.

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