Ch. 8: Mindy

Back to The Men in Brown

             It   was   Saturday. Chris   had   never   been   so   glad   to   see   the   weekend   before. “And   we   thought   public   school   was   hard.”   he   groused   happily   to   his   brother. It   was   a   deliciously   warm   day,   a   steamy   summery   sort   of   morning   that   promises   heat.

             “I   know,   under   Root   it’s   like   torture.”

             “Under   Root!”

             “Shut   up,   you   know   he   doesn’t   like   that.”

             “He’s   not   around.”

             “Say,   let’s   ask   Mom   if   we   can   go   to   Mindy’s!”   said   Stephen.

             “Oh   yeah,   that   friend   you   told   me   about. I   hope   she’s   nice. I   can’t   stand   any   more   Charlene   for   a   while.”

             Mom   giving   a   grumbled   consent   as   long   as   they   were   back   for   Little   League   at   2:00   (at   which   more   groans   went   up),   the   boys   changed   to   shorts   and   put   towels   in   a   backpack:   if   she   wasn’t   in   they   were   hitting   the   beach.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Yeah,   and   we’d   better   do   it   early   before   all   the   spotted   leopards   show   up.”   said   Stephen. The   term   arose   from   when   a   beautiful   young   woman   in   a   revealing   leopard   print   bikini   had   camped   next   to   them,   and   ever   since   immodestly-dressed   girls   were   called   spotted   leopards.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Stephen   remembered   Mindy’s   last   name,   and   the   phone   book   revealed   her   address   as   273   Rockwell. The   boys   headed   across   the   street   and   up   the   old   paved   mill   drive. The   sumacs   and   locust   and   aspen   thickets   had   been   cut   down   and   were   drying   brown,   and   rubble   was   being   bulldozed   into   the   shallow   swamp   marking   the   millpond. Past   the   open   area   and   upstream   from   the   pool   where   they   met   Ronnie   Wendy,   they   entered   a   small   square   of   oak   forest   between   Woodland   and   Lake   Sts,   below   the   spillway. The   stream   flowed   in   a   bouldery   bed,   sometimes   over   stretches   of   flowing   bare   bedrock. It   was   easy   to   cross,   and   then   came   a   hard   scramble   up   the   clifflike   earthy   bank   that   rose   for   fifteen   feet   on   the   far   side,   just   under   Lake   St. Rockwell   joined   just   above   the   old   stone   house   and   the   downhill   elbow   curve   of   Lake   St,   at   an   ancient   decrepit   house   with   bittersweet   vines   growing   in   some   of   the   windows. 273   turned   out   to   be   a   square   white   house   with   a   square   collonaded   verenda,   low   and   comfortable,   a   white   rail   fence   beside   the   road   and   many   flowering   trees   in   the   yard. Mindy   answered   the   door   herself,   to   the   boys’   relief.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Hey! Stephen!”   she   greeted   with   a   genuine   smile. She   wore   shorts   and   a   swimsuit   top,   and   looked   incredibly   long   and   lanky. “Is   this   your   brother?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Yeah,   I’m   Chris. Hi.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Nice   to   meet   you.”   she   said. “You   guys   look   like   you’re   heading   to   the   beach. Can   I   join   you?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Uh,   sure.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I’d   ask   you   in,   but   Mom’s   not   home   and   Dad   is   sleeping.”   She   gave   a   half-fond   half-condescending   smile   as   she   said   this. “Friday   night,   bar   time. Mom   doesn’t   like   it   much.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “He   gets   drunk?”   said   Chris.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “He’s   not   your   average drunk.”   Mindy   said   critically. “He   gets   even   quieter   and   glummer;   that’s   about   all. Then   he   sleeps. I   guess   we   have   it   lucky. He   only   does   it   Fridays. Mom   insists   on   that. The   other   evenings   she   manages   to   keep   him   busy   playing   with   me.”   Again   that   smile. “Let   me   grab   some   stuff. Be   right   back.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             She   came   out   five   minutes   later   with   a   beach   bag   slung   over   one   shoulder. “I   found   the   cookies.”   she   said   conspiratorially. “So   I   stole   some. I’ll   ask   Mom’s   permission   when   she   gets   back. What’s   that   called   in   the   mystery   novels,    post   factum   or   something? After   the   fact?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   boys   shrugged.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “So,   like,   how   was   it   during   the   Big   Scare   for   you   guys?”   she   said   excitedly. “It   was   thrilling. And   scary,   too,   cause   I   was   thinking   Columbine   all   the   time   they   were   herding   us   outside. Where’ve   you   been   ever   since,   Stephen? I   haven’t   seen   you   at   school.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Mom   pulled   us   out   and   hired   a   tutor.”   said   Chris   before   Stephen   could   say   anything.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Cool! What’s   he   like? Does   he   give   you   homework? Do   I   know   him?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “His   name   is,   of   all   things,   Root.”   said   Stephen. “Mr. Van   Root. And   he   gets   really   analytical    with   you   if   you   make   fun   of   it.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Root.”   breathed   Mindy. “That   is   such   an   awesome   name. It   sounds   like   some   symbolic   elemental   character   in    The   Dark   is   Rising    or   something.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Holy   cow,   you   read   that?”   Chris   exclaimed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “After I   saw    Seeker   on   video,   yeah.”   laughed   Mindy. “The   book’s   way   more   awesomer. I   think   that   Merriman   guy   is   Merlin,   isn’t   he? I   loved   how   the   Old   Ones   were   in   the   movie. First   half,   at   least. The   way   they   seem   like   gruff   common   but   slightly   mysterious   construction   workers   and   farmers,   and   then   suddenly   they’re   pulling   out   folding   crossbows   and   ancient   muskets   and   swords.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “We’ve   read   Lord   of   the   Rings.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Yeah,   I   have   got   to   do   that.”   agreed   Mindy. “I   watched   the   movies. Are   they   different   from   the   book?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Don’t   get   us   started!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh   yeah,   you   were   gonna   tell   me   about   Mr. Root. What’s   he   like? Is   he   mysterious?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “He’s   old   with   a   white   beard,   and   long   straight   hair,   and   looks   a   little   owlish. Very   scary   dark   eyes. He’s   usually   serious   and   a   little   prim. Sometimes   he   gets   sarcastic,   but   that’s   the   closest   he   gets   to   jokes.”   said   Chris.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “And   he   tells   us   stories   for   literature   class.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “And   he   gives   us   torture   the   rest   of   the   day. He   has   a   really odd   curriculum   and   it’s   like   SO   hard. But   at   least   we   don’t   have   to   worry   about   the   Cluster   Bombs.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Did   you   hear? They   were   the   ones   killed!”   exclaimed   Mindy. “In   the ''   boys   room!    With   a    sword!''”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “That   was   Gilbert.”   said   Chris. “Your   school   got   arrows. And   fists.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Funny,   I   don’t   see   calls   for   bans   on   medieval   weapons.”   said   Mindy   tartly.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh,   you   should   hear   my   dad   going   on   that. He   was   yelling   the   other   night   that   if   he   hears   one   more   word   about   the   Winsted   massacre   he’s   going   to   shoot   some   legislators   with   a   hunting   bow.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   know,   it’s   getting   seriously   overkilled,   you   know? I   was   biking   over   by   the   Green,   and   I   saw   a   funny-looking   mess   on   the   grass. Turned   out   to   be   a whole   bunch   of   candles   just   randomly   stuck   into   the   ground   in   a   circle   and   allowed   to   burn   out. Guess   what   happens? Great   big   blobs   of   wax   all   over   the   grass! I   know   it   was   probably   some   dumb   candlelight   vigil   thingy,   but   it   looks   like   a   bunch   of   really   messy   witches   were   at   work   there. It’s   so   stupid.”   She   paused. “Do   you   think   dragons   did   it?”   she   asked   eagerly,   meaning   the   school   deaths.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Has   to   be.”   said   Stephen. “We’ve   seen   enough   weirdness   not   to   be   surprised.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   wonder   who   the   dragons   are.”   said   Mindy. “It   would   be   so   cool   to   meet   one. Do   they   stay   dragon,   or   go   back   and   forth?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Frankly,   I   don’t   really   want   to   know.”   said   Chris. “Root   tells   us   such   good   tales. It’s   funny   how   he   does   it;   he’ll   start   talking   in   a   dreamy   voice   and   then   his   words   start   arranging   themselves   into   poetry   and   he   starts   to   murmer,   and   then   all   at   once   he’s   chanting.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Really   epic   stuff,   too.”   said   Stephen. “How   does   it   go? Do   you   remember   how   any   of   it   went,   Chris?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             They   had   reached   the   spillway   by   now. Taking   off   shoes   and   socks   the   children   splished   through   the   shallow   overflow   where   the   road   crossed   the   dam,   ignoring   the   footbridge. “Um,   let’s   see,   I   remember   the   tune. Sort   of   like   a   rising   throb,   then   rolling,   falling   to   a   rumble   like   thunder. Dont – duh – dont – da – dun – da – dun - dun,   Doon – un – don – dun – dun – da - doom-doom.   Over   and   over   again. Sometimes   it   variates. It’s   sounds   really   terrible   when   he   gets   going.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   thought   you   liked   it.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh,   come   on,   don’t   you   know   what    terrible   means?”    Christopher   complained   as   they   put   on   their   shoes. “It   means   inspiring   terror,   majestic,   awesome. I   read   some   guy   on   the   forums   arguing   that   awful,   terrible   and   awesome   are   synonyms.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Well,   not   the   way   it’s   used   nowadays.”   said   Mindy. “But,   wow,   that   sounds   epic. I   wish   I   could   hear   him   singing   that. What   are   the   stories   about?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “He’s   from   Finland,   too,   he   says. He   tells   us   stories   about   this   old—um—well,   he’s   not   exactly   a   wizard,   and   he’s   not   a   magician,   he   sings   to   things   and   they   obey. Sang   he   up   a   boat   of   copper,   sang   he   then   fishhooks   of   silver…Hey,   I   did   remember   some   of   it!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Yay.”   applauded   Mindy.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “But   anyway,   his   name   is   Vainay-moy-nen. Hard   to   say   it. Root   has   this   weird   way   of   pronouncing   it. He’s   a   singer. One   time   he   was   challenged   in   song   by   this   vain   guy,   and   he   let   the   guy   sing   first,   but   all   he   could   sing   was   obvious   stuff   like   ''Birds   build   nests;   fish   swim….” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “No,   it   was    Iron   rusts,   and   rusting   weakens!”    howled   Stephen,   bending   over   laughing.'' ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Bitter   is   the   taste   of   lemonnnnn…. ''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">”   sang   Chris.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   thought   it   was   umber.”   said   Stephen.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   don’t   know   what   umber   is;   lemon   sounds   funnier.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Umber’s   a   color,   right?”   said   Mindy.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Or   maybe   a   dye. That   would   be   pretty   bitter.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   don’t   think   anybody   in   ancient   Finland   had   lemons.”   said   Stephen.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Well,   maybe   they   imported   a   few   from   Italy!”   said   Mindy.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Riiight,   clear   over   the   Alps,   sure.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   were   telling   me   about   those   singers.”   she   retorted.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh   yeah,   way   off   topic,   anyway, Väinämöinen   finally   got   so   irritated   he   sang   back. That’s   where   things   get   creepy. He   sang   so   powerfully   the   cliffs   broke   and   sea-waves   tossed   and   rocks   shattered   all   around   them,   and   the   clothes   and   weapons   of   Youkahainen   started   transforming   into   birds   and   bushes   and   gleams   of   lightning,   and   the   ground   under   him   became   quicksand,   and   Väinämöinen   sang   him   down   into   the   mire,   until   the   vain   guy   screamed   for   mercy.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             They   were   nearing   the   boat   launch   as   Chris   talked. It   was   bright   and   hazy   out,   blue   softness   mantling   the   hills. Nobody   was   at   the   beach   yet   except   for   one   family   of   little   kids   at   the   far   end. They   didn’t   feel   hot   enough   to   go   in,   so   they   sat   on   the   bench,   kicking   their   feet   and   talking. Chris   had   told   Mindy   all   he   could   remember   of   Root’s   tales,   and   she   said   all   at   once,   “Wait,   Stephen   said   you’re   the   one   who   has   epic   dreams.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Yeah,   really   creepy   ones,   too…”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Heyy! Someone   I   know!”   squealed   Mindy. The   boys   looked   around   to   see   a   slim   pretty   brunette   strolling   toward   them,   with   a   lemon   tanktop   and   white   shorts. She   had   glasses   over   a   rounded,   lively   face. The   girls   hugged   and   Mindy   introduced   the   boys. “These   are   my   new   friends,   Chris   and   Stephen. Guys,   this   is   Brianna. She’s   super   fun.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             After   that   they   decided   to   combine   forces   to   drag   Brianna   by   main   force   into   the   water,   a   process   which   resulted   in   the   thorough   soaking   of   all   concerned,   and   any   talk   of   the   Dreams   was   forgotten. After   they   got   done   horsing   around   they   swam   out   to   the   buoy,   Brianna   freaking   out   every   other   stroke   because   the   growing   pondweed   looked   like   a   snapping-turtle.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “We   have   a   theory   about   the   Big   Scare.”   Mindy   said   while   they   were   all   trying   to   cling   to   the   buoy   at   once. “We   think   the   Dragons   did   it.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Brianna’s   pretty,   ordinary   face   sort   of   went   stiff. She   had   tossed   her   glasses   (and   clothes)   back   on   shore,   and   without   them   Chris   thought   there   was   something   queer   about   her   eyes. Something   yellow…

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Why   would   you   think   that?”   she   said   warily.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Oh,   I’m   so   sorry,   Bree,   I   forgot,   you   were   there,   weren’t   you,   at   the   carnival? Sensitive   topic.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Yeah,   kind   of.”   Brianna   said,   letting   go   of   the   buoy   and   dipping   under,   only   to   resurface   shrieking. “Aaa! Omi(gosh)! There’s   a   turtle   down   there!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Is   not,   it’s   only   seaweed.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “No,   it   was   definitely   a   turtle,   I’m   getting   out!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             But   the   water   was   too   nice   for   her   to   carry   out   her   threat,   and   they   stayed   in   at   shoulder-height   and   played   chicken   fights   and   splash   wars. Mindy   plunged   under   when   they   were   talking,   swam   to   Brianna   and   grabbed   her   foot. Brianna   squawked   and   flapped   about   like   a   panicky   chicken,   making   the   boys   howl   with   merriment.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Well,   it   could   have   been   a   turtle!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “You’re   so   funny.”   said   Chris.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Mindy   went   under   again. “Aa! Where   is   that   chick?!”   Brianna   squawked,   swimming   away   for   dear   life. Mindy   surfaced,   grinning.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Hey, it’s   Bell!”   she   screamed,   as   two   kids   on   bicycles   pulled   up. The   girl   was   about   Mindy’s   age,   12   or   so,   slight   and   slender   with   a   rather   dark   complexion   contrasting   with   her   pale   curly   hair. The   boy   was   pale,   sandy-haired   and   so   nodescript   you   barely   noticed   him. Mindy   splashed   out   of   the   water,   sopping   wet,   and   squeezed   Bell   as   hard   as   she   could,   trying   to   soak   her. Chris   looked   again   and   saw—no   one. Bell   was   alone. There   was   no   bike,   and   no   boy   on   a   bike. Had   he   imagined   it? Brianna   was   getting   cold,   so   she   and   the   boys   came   on   shore   while   Bell   and   Mindy   raced   back   in. They   toweled   dry   and   sat   around,   laughing   at   the   antics   of   the   two   girls. Brianna   was   so   lively   and   so   amusing that   both   boys   liked   her.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “So,   like,   where   are   you   boys   from?”   she   asked   all   at   once. Not   even   remembering   to   be   cautious,   Stephen   said,   “Oh,   down   by   Hubbard. Corner   with   Boyd.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Something   happened   to   Brianna’s   eyes. “You.”   she   murmered. “You’re   the   ones…”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Wh-what   are   you   talking   about?”   said   Stephen.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Brianna’s   eyes   were   growing,   swelling   larger,   yellow   and   powerful…they   were   no   longer   human   eyes…”You   are   the   Dreamer. The   one   that   my   Father   cannot   get. How   pleased   he   will   be—when   I   bring   you   to   him.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Dragon.”   a   quiet   but   ominous   voice   made   Chris’s   head   jerk   around,   breaking   the   spell. So   did   Brianna’s. “What   are   you   doing   here?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Brianna’s   eyes   instantly   lost   their   creepy   inhumanity. “N-nothing.”   she   said   warily. “Just   hanging   out. Can’t   I   even   have   some   fun?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Chris   looked   back   and   forth,   from   one   to   the   other. The   pale   boy   was   standing   not   three   feet   away. He   wore   a   dark-green   T-shirt   and   blue   jeans. Startling   in   his   pale   and   rather   expressionless   face,   his   eyes   burned,   dark   and   terrifying.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Only   humans   can   have   fun.”   he   said   quietly. “Dragons…are   damned.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I’m   not—not   fully.”   She   sounded   close   to   tears. “You   won’t   kill   me,   will   you,   Forest? I   just   wanted   a   day   off.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I   have   no   quarrel   with   humans.”   said   Forest,   still   in   that   frightening   quiet   voice. Chris   looked   again   at   him,   but   the   strange   boy   had   turned   and   was   heading   over   to   his   sister’s   towel,   where   he   sat   and   gazed   around   at   the   lake   and   the   hills   and   the   clouds,   and   paid   them   no   further   attention. Brianna   looked   shrunk   within   herself,   glancing   fearfully   at   him   now   and   again:   a   small,   frightened,   ordinary   girl.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “What’s   wrong?”   Chris   said   to   her. “Who   is   that   kid? Why’re   you   so   scared?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “There’s   no   escape.”   Brianna   whispered. “We   can’t   even   pretend   any   more. No   way   out. No   time   off. No   day   at   the   beach. Maybe   we   are   damned. Maybe   this   is   what   Hell   is   like.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I   don’t   understand.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Good.”   Her   voice   was   a   small   scratchy sound. “You   don’t   want   to. You’re   still   a   kid. You’re   good. You   are   not   a   Dragon-born.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Cold   stone   flowed   through   Chris’s   veins. He   stared   at   her,   at   this   plain   pretty   common   high-schooler,   shivers   racing   through   him. His   teeth   began   to   chatter. ''She   wasn’t   human… ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “You’re   one   of   them.”   he   heard   himself   say. “You’re   a   Dragon.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Half   a   Dragon.”   she   corrected,   bitterly. “Slave,   is   more   like   it. We   have   all   these   cool   powers,   and   we   have   to   suck   our   Father’s   (whatever)   just   to   have   some   time   off. Always   fighting. Always   being   killed. Then   back   to   the   Graveyard,   where   the   Dragons   pick   on   you   for   being   little. There’s   no   way   out.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Yes,   there   is.”   Forest   said   from   his   towel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Not   any   more!”   she   shouted   at   him. “Ever   since   Austin   managed   to   smash   his   head   in   the   Dragons   watch   us   constantly   there. We   can’t   even   die!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “That   wasn’t.”   Forest   stopped   in   the   middle   of   his   sentence. He   worked   his   mouth   a   few   times. “Wasn’t   what   I   meant,”   he   finally   forced   out. It   was   odd,   as   if   he’d   finished   the   thought   in   his   head   and   forgot   how   to   articulate   it.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Oh   really. What   did   you   mean,   Mr.   Great   Exalted   Wood   of   the   Road?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             ''Of   the   Road? ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“I.”   Forest   wasn’t   looking   at   her. He   took   a   rather   flustered   breath   and   tried   again. He   was,   Chris   realized,   ordinarily   shy   to   the   point   of   taciturnity. “I   meant   you   can   always   repent.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “No.”   Brianna   whispered,   huddling   her   arms   around   herself. “I   can’t. I   can’t   bear   that   way. They’d   destroy   me. Their   glance   is   like   poison. I’m   ill,   Forest…I   can’t   endure   goodness.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Camilla   Lane   did.”   said   Forest. “Gerald   did. We   can   save   you,   Brianna.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “No!”   she   screamed,   leaping   to   her   feet. “No! I   can’t   bear   it! I   won’t! I   won’t   go   kissing   up   to   God! I   don’t   f--   with   religion. I   don’t   give   a   @#$. You   can   go   to   Hell!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Just   like   that   she   vanished.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Badly   shaken,   the   boys   scrambled   backwards,   closer   to   Forest. He   looked   nothing   so   much   as   extremely   uncomfortable.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “What   was   that? Who   are   you? What   was   going   on?”   both   boys   babbled.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Uh.”   said   Forest.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Boys,   leave   him   alone.”   Bell   called,   laughing,   from   the   water. “He   doesn’t   talk   easily. His   name’s   Forest. I’m   Bell.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Uh,   yeah,   uh,   see   you   at   the   house,   Bell.”   said   Forest,   hastily   snatching   his   own   bag   and   getting   on   his   bike. He   pedaled   off   fast.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “That   was   really   weird.”   said   Stephen. “Who   was   he? Is   he…one   of   the   Children?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Looks   like   it.”   murmered   Chris. “You   know,   if   Brianna   really   is   a   Dragon,   we   can’t   tell   who   is   and   isn’t   one. Maybe   we   better   keep   mum   on   my   Dreams,   and   the   Men   in   Brown.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Good   call.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Bell   came   plowing   out   of   the   water. She   looked   very   like   Mindy,   the   boys   thought. The   same   merry,   pleasant   cast   of   face   (although   the   features   differed)   and   the   same    nice   frankness   of   manner. “Hi   guys.”   she   said. “Sorry   about   that. Forest   is   my   brother,   and   he’s   so   quiet   it’s   hard   for   him   to   explain   things. What   were   you   trying   to   ask   him?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Yeah,   and   how   the   heck   did   Brianna   leave   so   quick?”   said   Mindy. “I   barely   glanced   away   two   seconds   and   she’s   gone. What   did   you   say   to   her?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “She’s   one   of   the   Dragons.”   said   Chris.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Mindy   gave   them   a   weird   look,   so   Chris   told   her   most   of   the   entire   incident. Bell   listened   intently,   her   hair,   stringy   from   damp,   hanging   about   her   oddly   darkish   face. She   had   peculiar   tattoos   on   her   wrists,   like   curliques   and   elaborate   patterned   vines   coiling   up   her   forearms,   glistening.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Wow,   I’m   amazed,   Forest   actually   opened   his   mouth.”   she   commented.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Why   did   she   call   him    Wood?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “That’s   his   title.”   Bell   said. “The   Wood   of   the   Road. I   am   of   the   Churches.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Wait,   wait,   you’re   saying    Bree    is   a   dragon?”   Mindy   exclaimed. “Swear   to   God?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Bell   and   the   boys   exchanged   a   look. “I   suppose   that   qualifies   as   serious   enough.”   Bell   said.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Huh?”   said   Mindy.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “We’re   Christian.”   said   Christopher.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I   thought   so. So   are   we. We   go   to   the   Baptist   churches.”   Bell   told   him.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “We’re   from   the   Faith   Living   Church. You   know,   the   one   that   uses   the   storefront   on   Main   St.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “It’s   not   one   of   the   Five.”   said   Bell.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Is   Forest   of   the   Men   in   Brown?”   Chris   blurted.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I   don’t   think   he’s   that   old.”   said   Bell   dryly. “I   mean,   I   know   Ronnie   is,   but   Forest   only   wears   brown   half   the   time. What   makes   you   think   so?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “The   Hill   and   the   Wood,   the   House   of   the   Hood…”   <span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">said   Chris.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Oh   yes,   Wimbledon’s   famous   rhyme. Ronnie   told   it   to   me. But   no,   I   think   Wood   applied   to   Beleg   more   than   to   Forest.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “What   the   heck   are   you   guys   talking   about?”   said   a   bewildered   Mindy.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Uhh…movie   quotes.”   said   Chris   quickly.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The   witch   hazels   tossed   in the   cold   damp   wind. Oaks   moaned   faintly   overhead,   their   low   tangled   branches   bending   only at   the   tips,   their   small   papery   leaves   as   tattered   as   if   newly   emerging   from   an   assault   by   an   army   of   bugs. Everything   was   grey   and   green,   grey   boles   and   green   leaves   and   grey   lead   sky   seeming   to   stoop   down   to   scrape   the   crouching   trees. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           An   ancient   man   stood   where   two   enormous   trees   reared   like   gateposts,   a   brief   glimpse   of   a   stony height grown with scattered pines   visible   through   them. He   was   unbowed,   great   of   stature,   in   an   odd   sort   of   robed   tunic,   black   leggings   and   great   black   boots   beneath   it   gaitered   and   laced   with   silver. His   eyes   burned,   distant   and   far-seeing,   amid   his   bearded   face:   a   prophet's   eyes. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "Welcome,   Christopher." the   man   said. "You   come   at   last   to   Alderly   Edge." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "You   can   see   me?" the   boy   said,   startled. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "I   am   a   seer.   Of   course   I   can   see   you." He   seemed   to   be   speaking   in   Latin,   but   as   was   usual   in   these   dreams   Chris   understood   him   perfectly. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "Who   are   you?   Are   there   more   Sleepers   here?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "The   mightiest   of   them   all." the   Seer   answered. "Some   of   his   knights   are   laid   here,   and   some   there,   in   divers   places   across   the   length   of   Britainnia;   but   here   they   all   will   repair   when   their   King   is   awakened.   I   cannot   See   at   will.   They   have   not   told   me   what   stirreth   abroad.   So   I   must   ask   thee:   does   the   White   Tree   grow?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">       "The   White   Tree   walks." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">       The   stranger's   eyes   widened. "Tell   me   further.   Do   the   statues   yawn?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "They   have   all   sitten   up." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           The   stranger   took   a   heavy   breath. "Tell   me   one   thing   further.   Do   the   Seven   Stars   shine?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           "The   Seven   Stars   gleam   upon   their   banner." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">            The   man   rose   to   his   full   height. He   threw   up   his   arms,   and   the   trees   leaned   suddenly   to   either   side. "The   hour   is   here." he   said   in   a   voice   like   an   earthquake. "Come,   child.   It   is   time   to   awaken   the   greatest   of   the   Sleepers,   second   only   to   the   Three   Saints:   and   they   are   last   to   come." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           Attached   to   the   two   great   oaks,   Christopher   now   saw   two   immense   gates   of   black   iron. Thick   their   bars,   deep   their   rust,   intricate   were   their   interweaving   wrought   designs. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "The   king   is   laid   in   a   heavy   spell,   which   even   I   can   only   open, but   not   wake." the   man   said. "To   open   these   gates   we   must   get   the   key   laid   in   the   egg   of   the   rock.   Come.   We   have   a   journey   to   make." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "I   thought   we   were   waking   him   up.   Who   is   he?” 

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">        The   man   walked   on,   shaking   his   head. Chris   followed   him. Over   thick   dark   moss   and   through   queer   evergreen   bushes   under   the   sparse   trees   they   travelled,   until   after   many   miles   that   passed   unnoticed   as   they   do   in   dreams,   they   emerged   onto   a   vast   moor. They   stood   in   a   place   of   great   eerie   mountains,   dark   blue   and   woolly   green   under   the   leaden   sky. Down they descended, till far beneath them Christopher descried the sea. In   the   cloudy   light   it   was   a   dark   grey,   like   slate,   and   chill   as   stone. Still   farther   down   they   descended,   until   they   were   near   enough   to   hear   the   breakers   spume   amid   the   stones. Merlin   led   him   down   a   treacherous   path,   banked   with   hummocks   of   salt-grass   and   moss,   the   sea   fuming   in   the   black   rocks   on   his   right. Then   they   came   to   a   gap   in   the   cliff,   beaten   into   the   living   rock   in   the   ages   of   the   sea's   intrusions. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">        Quietly   they   crept   through   the   strange   ragged   grots. A   thick   harsh   stink   of   briny   rot   and   weed   hung   in   the   air. A   queer   faint   radiance   made   the   walls   visible. At last they came out into a cave, and there stood a mighty detached stone, shaped somehow like a person; though the shape was barely even figureoid, Chris felt it somehow, as if the stone lived. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "Stone   alive   and   rock   aliving,   not   male   nor   female,   he   nor   she,   man   nor   woman   nor   fleshly   thing,   waken   hearken   unto   me!" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          With   a   groaning   like   stony   hinges   stone   eyelids   rose. Rock   dust   fell   as   they   slid   back   into   the   rock. Stone   eyes   like   milky   quartz   blinked   at   them. A   voice   like   the   deeps   of   the   earth   said   from   the   rock,   "What   dost   thou   seek?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "We   seek   the   egg   that   thou   hast   laid." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           There   was   a   grinding   moan   as   the   rock   hitched   itself   to   one   side. "Here   I   laid   it,   here   I   kept   it,   as   Niume   bid   unto   me.   Who   art   thou   that   know   my   secrets,   speaks   the   words   that   compel   me?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "I   am   Merlin,   Myrlynn   Wylde,   bard   and   druid   and   magician.   Blaise   taught   me.   Ambrosius   girt   me.   Arthur   ruled   me.   I   return.   I   know   what   I   am   needed   to   know.   Be   thou   now   freed,   thy   trust   fulfilled;   the   hour   awakens,   the   King   arises!" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "I   thank   thee,   Myrlynn." sighed   the   rock. Stone   eyes   shut. Stone   voice   stilled. The   rock   was   no   longer   living,   whatever   unhappy   creature   it   held   chained   was   now   released   and   in   its’   place. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "Take   the   egg." said   Merlin. Reaching   down   into   the   hollow   the   huge   tor   had   occupied,   Chris   pulled   out   a   great   egg,   the   shell   pearly   and   suffused   with   colors. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "Break   it." said   Merlin. Chris   tapped   it   and   the   shell   broke   like   thin   glass. He tipped   his   hand   and   the   shards   flowed   out   like   sand,   and   hung   in   the   air,   and   there   soldified,   until   from   his   hand   dangled   a   gossamer   shirt,   long-tailed,   nearly   transparent,   silky   but   untearable. Colors   like   sunset   shimmered   within   it,   like   the   egg's   shell   had   done. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "This   shirt   will   grant   thee   the   power   to   walk   unseen,   when   thou   wish.   When   thou   wear   it,   not   dragon   nor   device,   not   engine   nor   spirit,   not   even   the   Black   Lord   himself   can   see   or   find   thee.   All   prints   will   vanish.   All   smell   erase.   None   save   God   Himself   could   see   or   find   thee." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           Dazed,   Chris   slipped   it   on   over   his   shirt. Merlin   was   still   looking   at   him. "But   you   can   see   me." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           "My   sight   comes   from   God." the   wizard   answered   with   a   slight   smile. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           As   they   set   off   on   the   return   journey,   Chris   said,   "I   thought   you   were   laid   asleep   too.   Weren't   you   trapped   under   a   rock?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           "Inside   one,   more   accurately." said   Merlin. "I   loved   her.   Niume,   the   Lady   of   the   Lake.   I   knew   that   she   only   went   along   with   me   to   gain   my   secrets,   and   I   Saw   that   I   was to   be   by   her   betrayed,   but   that   this   betrayal   was   foredoomed   and   I   must   let   it   happen.   So   I   taught   her,   and   watched   her,   and   loved   her,   the   maker   of   Excalibur;   until   at   last   I   taught   her   how   to   cast   a   Sleeper.   I   knew   as   I   did   that   I   signed   my   own   doom,   but   I   knew   also   I   was   needed   at   the   end   of   the   world,   and   I   could   not   lay   myself   asleep,   and   one   who   loved   me   would   never   entomb   me." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">        Sadness   was   in   his   voice. "So   she   bound   me   into   the   substance   of   the   rock,   spoke   the   words   that   cast   a   Sleeper,   words   no   other   knew   besides   me.   And   I   felt   bitter   sleep   come   over   me,   and   I   heard   her   happy   laughter   as   I   fell   into   suspension.   For   many   ages   I   dreamed   on,   until   at   last   one   day   I   woke.   I   had   known   that   I   would;   for   I   taught   her   the   words   that   I   knew   would   only   keep   me   until   certain   things   had   happened.   Then   I   smashed   the   tomb   assunder,   rose   out   of   my   stony   prison;   but   I   could   not   waken   Him   without   another,   and   so   I   perforce   have   since   awaited." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "For   me." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "Yes,   child,   for   the   Dreamer.   For   the   one   who   bilocates   inside   his   sleep,   walking   in   Lindon   while   dreaming   in   New   England." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">            "Were   you   really   born   of   an   Airish   Man?   Without   a   father?" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           "I   was." Merlin   answered. "But   not   of   an   incubus.   Of   a   being   far   stranger.   The   last   of   the   Rational   Plants.   They   died   in   the   Deluge,   those   ancient   plants,   the   trees   that   walked,   the   berries   that   spoke,   the   blossoms   that   sang.   They were   creatures,   even   as   you   and   I;   they   survive   now   only   in   protected   places   concealed   from   the   mortal   worlds.   They   begat   by   fruit   and   seed,   and   from   these   grew   other   plants   alike   them.   The   last   of   these   old   speaking   bushes   felt   in   him   that   he   was   dying,   and   he   pled   with   his   Creator   that   his   race   should   still   yet   linger.   Then   God   bade   him   grow   one   last   berry,   and   the   dying   bush,   only   a   few   blackened   leaves   yet   clinging   to   its’   withered   stems,   brought   forth a   red   and   gorgeous   berry. A   maiden   passed,   a   human   girl   ate   the   berry,   and   she   conceived,   she   bore   a   son. I   was   him. I   was   that   child." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          "You're--half   plant." breathed   Chris. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "That   is   why   I   am   a   wizard." Merlin   answered. "I   speak   to   plants,   and   they   respond.   I   speak   to   nature,   and   I   have   authority   to   rouse   it.   Not   as   mighty   as   those   singers   of   the   far   and   ancient   Northland,   but   still   enough   to   become   magician." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">        They   stood   as   he   spoke   before   the   gates   of   ancient   iron. How   they   had   travelled   so   fast   Chris   did   not   know;   but   he   knew   what   he   must   do. In   his   hand   he   was   now   holding   a   large   and   intricate   key   of   gold   set   with   many   gems:   holding   out   the   jewelled   key   he   inserted   it   into   the   great   black   lock. With   a   sound   like   the   rolling   of   great   stones   one   over   another   the   tumblers   turned,   and   the   hinges   creaked,   and   rust   broke   off   of   them   as   they   groaned   apart. Through   the   open   gates   they   passed. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "Go   ahead   of   me." the   wizard   breathed. "The   guardian   will   slay   all   who   approach   the   horn.   Even   my   power   cannot   match   him." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          The gates led, not up onto the height, but into it. A great grey mouth yawned in the rock. Trees leaned over it, and green grass reached up to its   portals. They passed inside. At   last   they   peered   over   a   lip   of   stone,   and   saw   a   mighty   cave,   and   in   the   cave   a   host   of   sleeping   men   in   armour   that   was   part   Roman   and   part   Saxon:   hauberks   of   mail   and   breastplates   and   pauldrons   on   their   shoulders,   and   helmets   conical   and   helmets   with   Roman   crests   and   cheekguards   sheathed   their   heads. Mighty   lances   and   axes   with   great   double   blades,   and   swords   five   feet   long, and   broadswords,   and   short   Roman   swords;   square   Roman   shields,   and   long   wooden   Saxon   shields,   all   manner   of   strange   devices   blazoned   on   them,   lay   beside   them,   as   if   ready   to   be   grasped   in   an   instant. In   a   circle   they   lay,   their   heads   inward,   and   upon   a   throne   amid   this   ring   above   all   the   others   sat   a   King   asleep. Hundreds   of   white   horses   stood   unmoving   outside   the   circle. Far   more   steeds   than   there   were   knights. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           "There." whispered   Merlin. Chris   looked   to   the   right. Between   sleepers   and   steeds   a   dragon   lay,   violet   and   bronze,   great   bronze   wings   furled   along   his   back,   his   violet   scales   tipped   with   red,   one   purple   eye   open. Before   his   grey   nostrils   lay   a   great   sword,   sheathed   in   stone,   in   a   block   of   red   marble;   and   red   was   both   blade   and   hilt. Above it   hung   a   magnificent   horn   all   red,   edged   with   interwoven   gold. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           "Draw   the   sword   before   you   blow   the   horn." Merlin   bade   him. "For   that   is   the   sword   of   Galahad,   which   I   forged   for   the   Quest   of   the   Holy   Grail;   but   Galahad   rests   in   peace,   and   comes   only   when   the   last   trumpet   blows.   Go.   The   dragon   will   not   sense   you,   but   I   must   slay   him   while   he   is   stunned   from   the   sound   of   the   horn." ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">           Timidly   Christopher   ventured   out   on   the   floor. The   dragon   twitched   one   ear. It   could   nether   see   nor   sense   him,   but   he   was   still   more   terrified   than   he   had   ever   been   even   in   nightmares. When   a   pebble   crunched   under   his   feet   he   cringed,   but   he   heard   no   echo,   and   wondered   if   the   magic   shirt   quenched   all   sound   he   made. Now   the   marble   block   was   in   front   of   him. It   was   dull   red,   veined   and   marbled   with   brilliant   crimson   and   with   gold   ore,   the   most   beautiful   stone   he   had   ever   seen. The   sword   had   a   hilt   of   curling   gold   and   red   metals,   and   red   gems   burned   in   it   like   fire,   and   the   red   metal   of   the   blade   was   a   soft   and   luminous   hue. Gripping   the   hilt   he   drew   it   from   its’   sheath. It   was   so   heavy   he   rested   it   on   the   block   of   stone   as   he   picked   up   the   horn. The   funnel   was   bordered   with   red   metal,   and   gold   ran   in   intricate   patterns   up   it,   but   underneath   it   was   made   of   the   horn   of   a   ram. He   set   it   to   his   lips   and   blew. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">          The   sound   that   thundered   through   that   cave   was   so   great   it   would   wake   the   very   dead   themselves. Rocks   snapped. Chunks   of   stone   dropped   from   the   ceiling,   to   smash   soundlessly   upon   the   floor. Both   the   dragon's   eyes   popped   open,   its   head   rearing   backward   in   pain. Merlin   moved   like   fire. He   was   beside   Chris   in   an   instant,   seizing   the   heavy   sword   and   driving   it   full   into   the   unarmoured   neck   of   the   monster. Power   lanced   down   the   sword   like   lightning. The   dragon   reeled,   lashing   and   sprawling,   gusts   of   fire   escaping   from   the   wound. Then   at   last   it   fell   still. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         The   sleepers   were   stirring. Men   arose   as   if   pulled   by   strings,   phantoms   all   of   them,   all   of   them   were   ghosts. Upon   his   throne   the   King   stirred. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Is   he….Owain?”   Where   the   name   had   come   from   Chris   did   not   know;   there   was   a   more   famous   name   that   he   knew,   but   he   couldn’t   recall   it… ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">         "Nay,"   the   monarch   boomed,   "King   Arthur.   Well   hast   thou   blown.   The   fool   before   thee   blew   the   horn   before   the   sword,   and   bare   escaped   with   life   from   the   guardian.   Let   my   Table   Round   gather   from   the   places   they   are   laid,   who   fell   around   me   in   my   last   battle,   from   Glastonbury   and Craig-y-Dinas, Llyn Llydaw the Snowdon Mount, underneath the Sewenshields: let   those now led by Pellinore, by Launcelot and Kay and Gawain come to ride forth under Arthur!" ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             The   lovely   warmth   was   only   a   memory   by   Monday. It   was   cool   and   gloomy,   though   not   cold:   in   fact   so   humid   the   forest   steamed   like   a   jungle. Root   looked   rather   grumpy   when   he   showed   up.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “It   is   far   too   damp.”   he   grumbled. “I   found   mushrooms   growing   in   my   cellar!   And   then   of   course   I   had   to   get   the   stove   going   to   dry   out   the   house.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “One   of   the   few   advantages   of   oil   heating.”   Mom   laughed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “The   strawberries   are   beginning   to   ripen.”   Root   said   to   the   boys. “Ronnie   is   doubtless   bagging   his   first   harvest;   so   will   be   Nuncle   Jimmy,   if   I   do   not   miss   my   guess.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Oh,   Mr. Root.”   said   Chris. “I   Googled   the   Sleeping   Heros   legends,   and   I   counted   over   33.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I   do   not   understand,   a   ‘google’?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Oh,   sorry.”   laughed   the   boys. “Don’t   you   even   have   a   computer?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I   leave   the   comprehension   of   the   new   machinery   to   my   brother. Ilmarinen   always   was   more   apt   in   such   things. I   presume   you   are   speaking   of   their   searching   tool?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Uh…yeah. It’s   a   search   engine. They   named   it   Google. So   when   you’ve   looked   up   something   you’ve   Googled   it.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “An   intriguing   linguistic   development.”   said   Root   thoughtfully. “But   I   should   have   thought   your   Dreams   would   have   solved   your   question. How   many   Sleepers   have   you   seen   arise?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Uhh…some   happened   when   I   wasn’t   dreaming.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “England   has   no   less   than   four   different   locations   sporting   legends   of   King   Arthur   asleep.”   said   Root. “Several   other   legends   repeat   themselves,   suggesting   a   variation   and   misapplication   in   the   telling   of   a   single   legend. As   the   aforementioned   multiple   Arthur   sites   are   merely   the   tombs   of   one   or   another   of   his   knights,   I   counted   them   as   one. Nor   did   I   count   my   own   land’s   legend,    Väinämöinen;   for   he   never   went   asleep,   but   sailed   into   the   West,   along   the   Straight   Road.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Can   you   tell   us   about   that?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “Not   until   literature,   and   not   a   long   story:   we   have   other   writings   to   study.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Accordingly   when   the   time   came   Root   settled   back   in   his   chair   and   took   off   his   glasses. Without   them   he   looked   somehow   different:   more   powerful,   and   majestic,   and   not   funny   or   owlish   at   all.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “It   is   a   common   theme   in   all   of   Northern   European   folklore   and   tales   that   with   the   coming   of   Christian   light,   the   things   of   old   faded   away. In   Iceland,   the   Airish   Men   died   one   by   one. In   the   North   the   heathen   powers   often   waged   bitter   war:   foolishly,   for   by   so   doing   they   drew   on   themselves   the   gigantic   power   of   the   Church. Others,   such   as   the   French   and   German   fairies,   being   wiser,   amended   themselves   and   their   powers   until   the   Church   no   longer   burned   them   with   Her   approach:   and   then   you   have   the   fairy   godmothers. In   like   manner   did   Väinämöinen;   or   at   least   he   tried. He   sang   no   longer   songs   of   power,   but   only   songs   of   lore   and   healing,   and   left   the   warfare   to   the   Christians,   the   battles   to   the   holy   priests. So   he   was   revered   as   sage   and   teacher,   and   men   would   come   to   him   for   answers. For   he   had   always   held   that   there   was   only   one   God, the   Creator,   mighty   Ukko.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “But   it   came   to   pass   that   Väinämöinen   made   a   great   and   grievous   error,   falling   into   evil   custom,   advice   bestowing   flawed   with   wrongness. A   maiden   out   in   the   fields   and   pastures   saw   a   magic   lingon-berry,   glowing   red   and   on   stem   dancing;   it   rolled   itself   up   on   her   fingers,   kissed   her   lips   already   thirsting,   and   she   bit   and   down   it   swallowed. And   the   berry   made   her   pregnant,   and   a   child   grew   within   her:   driven   out   by   her   cold   parents,   who   thought   the   child   was   born   of   Hell,   Marietta   wandered   far   seeking   shelter   to   give   birth   in. A   farmer   let   her   use   his   stable,   and   there   the   fatherless   boy   was   born. The   farmer   took   her   to   her   parents,   who   relented   and   consulted   the   village’s   head   leader,   as   he   was   also   catechist. He   was   in   doubt   as   to   whether   the   boy   was   a   human   or   a   fiend,   and   sought   the   words   of   Väinämöinen.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Root,   as   usual,   at   this   point   began   to   chant. Most   unlike   the   other   chants   the   boys   had   heard   from   him,   this   one   he   sang   very   slowly   and   sombrely,   as   if   it   was   a   dirge,   or   as   if   recounting   something   he   drew   pain   from   remembering.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Since the berry is his father; ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Let him lie upon the heather, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Take the young child to the marshes, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Dash his head against the birch-tree!” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Then the child of Mariatta, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Only two weeks old, made answer: ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">"O, thou ancient Vainamoinen, 

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Son of Folly and Injustice, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Senseless hero of the Northland, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Falsely hast thou rendered judgment. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In thy years, for greater follies, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Greater sins and misdemeanors, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Thou wert not unjustly punished. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In thy former years of trouble, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">When thou gavest thine own brother, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">For thy selfish life a ransom, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Thus to save thee from destruction, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Then thou wert not sent to Swamp-land ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">To be murdered for thy follies. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In thy former years of sorrow, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">When the beauteous Aino perished ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In the deep and boundless blue-sea, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">To escape thy persecutions, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Then thou wert not evil-treated, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Wert not banished by thy people." 

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Root   resumed   normal   speech. “Putting   down   the   tiny   infant,   Väinämöinen   stood   with   stricken   face;   for   he   knew   at   once   his   error,   recognized   his   bitter   folly. For   he   had   long   since   forgotten   every   child   conceived   by   woman   is   at   least   half-human   and   as   such   should   be   baptized   and   not   murdered. Then   sang   he   him   unto   the   child,   and   with   wise   eyes   the   child   stared   back,   ancient   sage   and   little   infant   faced   each   other   in   the   forest.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Baby,   thou   dost   me   injustice ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Just   as   I   have   done   unto   thee. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Aino   never   I   persuited ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Aino   drowned   in   her   self-pity! ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   it   was   that   did   restore   her ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Sang   from   her   her   fishy   burden. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Though   thou   hast   an   early   speaking, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Thou   hast   not   yet   learned   wisdom! ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">There   are   things   that   thou   know   nought   of 

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">There   are   things   thou   hast   not   heard   of. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">But   in   what   I   spake   unto   thee ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   have   fallen   into   error ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   have   fallen   into   danger ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   have   brought   the   Church   upon   me. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">For   infanticide   She   frowns   on 

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">And   such   I   have   advocated!” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “And   so   it   was.”   Root   went   on. “For   he   found   after   this   that   his   songs   were   losing   power,   that   his   words   would   work   no   longer. For   he   had   his   power   forfeit   by   the   crime   of   foul   abortion,   even   when   was   uncommitted. At   last   he   took   the   boat   of   copper,   the   bronzen   vessel   he   had   made   him,   the   one   for   whom   he   searched   the   world   to   find   the   words   for   his   boat-building. On   this   boat   as   sun   was   setting   he   bade   farewell   to   all   his   people,   to   his   land   of   Kalevala,   the   countless   lakes   of   Sariola.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Suns may rise and set upon   thee ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Rise and set for generations, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">When the North will learn my teachings, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Will recall my wisdom-sayings, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Hungry for the true religion. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Then will Suomi need my coming, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Watch for me at dawn of morning, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">That I may bring back the Sampo, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Bring anew the harp of joyance, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Bring again the golden moonlight, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Bring again the silver sunshine, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Peace and plenty to the Northland." 

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Thus the ancient Wainamoinen, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In his copper-banded vessel, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Left his tribe in Kalevala, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Sailing o'er the rolling billows, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Sailing through the azure vapors, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Sailing through the dusk of evening, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Sailing to the fiery sunset, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">To the higher-landed regions, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">To the lower verge of heaven; ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Quickly gained the far horizon, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Gained the purple-colored harbor. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">There his bark be firmly anchored, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Rested in his boat of copper; ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">But be left his harp of magic, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Left his songs and wisdom-sayings, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;">''<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">To the lasting joy of Suomi.” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “So   he   sailed   off?”   said   Stephen. “And   what   happened   to   the   baby?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “He   became   the   Wizard   Merlin.”   said   Chris.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             Root   gave   him   a   sharp,   penetrating   glance. “Is   that   what   happened   to   him.”   he   said   softly. “I   had   not   known…For   your   handwriting   assignment,   Chris,   I   want   you   to   write   me   down   every   single   one   of   your   Dreams. The   Men   in   Brown   need   them. Arheled   is   not   always   around   to   tell   us   things.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “I’ll   get   around   to   it.”   Chris   moaned.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">             “It   must   be   started   by   tomorrow.”   said   Root   firmly.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">

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