Dr. Dylan MorganM.A.(Oxon.), D.Phil.(Oxon.), MNCP, MNCH Leeds Hypnotherapist

Tel. (0113) 2306333. Leeds Complementary Therapy Centre, 249a Otley Rd. LS16 5LQ. Multimap

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The Everlasting Well

A work of imaginative fiction primarily for children by Dylan Morgan

Chapter 1

Elaine walked up the steep hill side through the snow towards the hut where Assin lived. Assin was a donkey, and his name was simply the Welsh word for donkey. He had been bought by a neighbouring farmer as a friend and companion for his daughter's pony. But the girl had grown up, the pony had been sold, and so Assin was alone in his field. Alone, that is, except for Elaine who climbed the hill to see him every day.

Every day, whether it was bright or wet or cold, she took him some titbit, however small. But this day was special. It was Christmas Day. And so it was a day for special presents. Elaine was carrying, in an old bag, a large piece of Christmas cake, a mince pie, a tangerine, an enormous apple, a large paper bag of the best carrots from the greengrocers along the road, and a bag of assorted substandard fruit and vegetables which they had thrown in free when she had bought the carrots. I would not like you to imagine that Elaine's mother approved of giving Christmas cake to a donkey - she thought that Elaine was going to eat it herself. But Elaine had her own ideas. It did not seem fair that all the nicest food should be eaten by people who were not always nice themselves, while Assin, who was always nice, was given only scraps and left-overs.

Elaine's eyes brimmed with tears of indignation. "And you always listen with your lovely big, soft ears to everything I say," she thought. And I can see in your eyes that you understand every word really understand."

She was now at the field in which the hut stood. There was no sign of Assin. Elaine was surprised, because it was a beautiful day. There was no wind. The sky was blue. And the snow shone bright in the sunlight. "I hope he is not ill," she thought, as she climbed the fence and started to print a line of footsteps across the field with her blue boots. There were no other marks on the snow and so Assin could not have been out since the snow had fallen in the night.

"Or perhaps he has been sold," she worried. That would be even worse. To be sold for Christmas!

When Elaine arrived at the hut, she tapped on the battered wooden door. She listened for movement from within, then tapped harder and said, "Can I come in?" to let Assin recognise her from her voice.

This time there was a brief sound which, Elaine thought, was very like Assin's bray, but different in some way. "Oh dear, I expect he's ill," she worried again as she pushed hard against the door (it had been badly hung) and went in.

But no! There he was, standing as bright-eyed and friendly of face as ever.

"Happy Christmas!" she cried in relief and rushed over, threw her arms around his neck and gave him a tremendous hug.

"Happy Christmas," he replied.

Elaine hardly noticed at first that the donkey had spoken. Assin always seemed so human to her that she could understand, she felt, everything he thought. All the most important things could be said with a gaze from his deep brown eyes, a toss of the head, a soft nuzzle or a laughing hee-haw.

"Welcome to my stable," Assin added, after a pause.

Elaine looked up at this. And then she stepped back in amazement as the words echoed in her mind.

"Don't be afraid." Assin's voice was deep, warm and furry. "There is nothing to fear."

"But...but... how can you talk? Donkeys can't talk. Have you always been able to talk? How did you learn?"

If it had been night-time and she had felt tired, Elaine might have thought that she was dreaming. But this was nothing like a dream. Everything was much more crisp and real than usual. The sunlight falling through the door turned the bedding to gold and she saw each straw clear and distinct. Every hair, every eyelash on Assin's face was bright and his eyes were deep brown pools. It was much more as if she had been asleep before and had now woken up.

"Dear Elaine," replied Assin, "it will take a long time to answer all your questions. Most are not best answered in words. And in truth, that is one answer to your questions. For another answer look at the door. What do you see?"

Elaine turned and looked at the stable door. "Nothing. It is just an ordinary door. Old. Dented. The paint is brown - I would have preferred green - and is coming off. Nothing else."

"Look again. Look deeper, further."

And Elaine looked again at the boards. She had a trick of being able to look at patterns of lines or spots on wallpaper in such a way that she felt that she was looking through the wall. She did this now, and suddenly things were different. She was seeing strange people, strangely dressed. Some wore little more than sacks, while others wore finery. Others wore black. Only the door was the same. It was like flicking through a picture book from back to front. Each page looks the same: only the pictures change. Now the faces were different. They were darker, and more often bearded. But most were leading or pushing or beating a donkey or small pony.

Finally, as if she had come to the first picture in the book, Elaine found her eyes steadying on two strong hands - hands fashioning with care the stable door that was to last for thousands of years. It was funny that she felt tears coming to her eyes as she watched them. The tears blurred the picture, it trembled, and disappeared. The door was just a door again.

Elaine sighed, still remembering the hands piecing together the perfect door, which was now so battered. She turned again to Assin. "But what has that got to do with you talking?" she asked.

"What do you use for talking?" Assin answered back.

"My mouth, of course."

"And what do you use for eating?"

"My mouth."

"One thing. Two tasks." said Assin, and continued,

"What do you use for washing."

"Water, of course."

"And for drinking?"

"Water."

"One thing. Two tasks. And this one door also has two tasks."

"What are they?" asked Elaine, getting very curious. "I suppose that one is just being a stable door?"

"Yes. But today it was also a world door. Not into a stable but into a world."

"Into a world!" gasped Elaine. "What do you mean? There is only one world, isn't there? How could there be anything different?"

"Am I not different? But come, follow me, and see for yourself."

Assin stepped softly through the doorway and printed crisp hoof-marks on the unmarked snow. Elaine followed. It seemed much brighter than before, and bigger, somehow, she thought. But perhaps it was only the contrast after the dim depths of the stable.

As her eyes got used to the light, there was a much stronger feeling of strangeness. Suddenly she realised that although the lie of the land was just as she knew it, all the details were different. There were no distant roof-tops. Where was the town? All she could see below her were trees. And it was so silent! Even on Christmas Day there should be the sound of traffic driving along the main road and filling the valley with its hum. Where was the noise?

Elaine felt something like fear. Then Assin was beside her and she felt safe again. The fear turned to excitement as suddenly as if a switch had been thrown. Perhaps you have noticed something like this in yourself, for excitement and fear are close neighbours. If you choose to go on a roller-coaster for the first time, then your stomach turns over with excitement. But if you are forced to go on, it is likely to turn over in exactly the same way, but with fear.

The strange silence had made Elaine want to run to safety at first. Now she wanted to run and dance with joy. So she did, in a wild acrobatic way, with many a leap and cartwheel. Assin joined in, and the two of them sent clouds of sparkling white flying up into the sky.

After a while Elaine calmed down a bit and stopped for a minute to get her breath back.

"Listen!" Assin's warm breath claimed her attention.

The only sound at first was the thumping of her own heart in her ears. But then she cried, "It is like music, very, very, very high music. Where is it coming from?" As she listened more attentively, it became louder and clearer. It was a strange sound, but exciting: the sound of a million diamonds scattering rainbows; wild like the North Wind, and as full of joy as the skylark. It sent a new thrill though her body. "But of course!" she cried at last. "It is the snow itself, isn't it?" Assin's wise head nodded. "Of course," she continued, "the song says what I have always felt about snow. Now I know why. Oh! It makes me want to ...want to ... fly!"

"Good. I will teach you."

Elaine turned to Assin with a smile, enjoying the joke. But he calmly continued, "Climb on my back."

Elaine climbed eagerly onto his familiar warm back, and held onto his mane.

"Now keep very still. And listen." Elaine was aware that her arms and legs were all tense with excitement, but now as she listened, they slowly relaxed and the excitement went somewhere deeper, quieter. It became like a light shining deep in the centre of her body, a light which changed colours in harmony with the high music.

"Repeat after me," said Assin presently: "All wings are lifted by the wind."

"All wings are lifted by the wind," echoed Elaine, and then repeated each of the other lines in turn.

Where does it come from? Where does it flow?

Come wind of life, lift the wings of my soul.

Wherever you take me, I love to go."

And on the word "go" the ground slowly and easily drifted down from them as Assin's hooves gently left their prints in the snow. As they slowly rose, they chanted the words again, and they soon fixed themselves in Elaine's heart.

If you have not flown in your dreams and want to know what it feels like, then the best that I can suggest is to take a ride in a balloon and then imagine the basket away.

As Elaine and Assin flew higher, the land grew flatter and spread out wider. There was no feeling of wind and the winter sun warmed them from the cloudless sky. They floated between the blue and the white.

Some of the familiar landmarks were still there. The Cow and Calf rocks, drifting away behind them, were still poised on the edge of the Moor. In the distance, though coming closer, was the summit of Beamsley Beacon. But the valley, which should have held houses and shops, was carpeted by trees with snow-frosted, leafless branches. There was no sound except an occasional bird-call. The peace in the valley was so great that it filled Elaine's heart with a joy and life she had seldom known. And they flew on.

It was some time later that she saw a faint blue column of smoke rising through the clear air. When she pointed it out, Assin replied, "Yes. It is a friend of ours - Christopher." And as he spoke, they began to fly down towards the smoke which rose from beside the river. Close to it was a small figure, unaware of their approach. Then something strange happened to a patch on the hillside - it seemed to be rushing down onto the figure like an avalanche. Elaine caught her breath, willing the figure to move. It did not. But suddenly her eyes blinked and she saw that the avalanche was only a flock of sheep, and then the figure was waving up at them.

They landed a little away from the flock and, as Assin greeted Christopher, she gazed at him in wonder. He was a few years older than she was, but much taller. He wore a long jacket of sheepskin and held his crook with an air of authority. The sun and wind had browned his skin and bleached his hair, and his eyes were a deep and friendly brown. .

"Will you join me for a meal, my friends?" There were sweet meadows in his voice, and the echoes of distant hills.

"With pleasure," replied Assin.

Elaine found herself too shy to speak, but nodded. Then she watched in silence as Christopher deftly prepared and cooked two fish which looked as if they were fresh from the river. When they were quite done, he placed them on slabs of bread which served also as plates and said, "It is good to have friends. It is good to have food to share. Will you share with me, my friends?"

And Assin replied, "It is good to be your friend. I accept your gifts gladly."

He then looked at Elaine, who shyly and hesitatingly repeated, "It is good to be your friend. I accept your gifts gladly."

She then took the bread and fish from Christopher's hand, while Assin ate only some bread. It was fresh and crusty and Elaine felt that it and the fish disappeared all too soon. This reminded her of the bag of food that she still carried. She was just thinking of offering some of the cake to Christopher when she remembered that it had been intended as a present for Assin. She glanced rather guiltily at him. It was as if he knew what was in her mind because he said, "Perhaps, Elaine dear, you have something for us as well?"

"Well, yes," she replied hesitantly, " I have got some food. But it was yours really - a Christmas present."

"I accept your gifts gladly," Assin said warmly, "but here, as you can see, we share everything, and I would be happy if you were to share it with your hands."

Elaine took the food from her bag, and prompted by another significant look, said, "It is good to have food to share. Will you share with me, my friends?" And first Christopher, and then Assin, replied with great courtesy, "It is good to be your friend. I accept your gifts gladly."

An enormous glow seemed to fill her whole body at these words. As she handed around the food, she felt herself blushing with happiness and joy. And when Christopher praised the cake, she knew that she had never been happier in her whole life.

When they had quite finished, Assin turned to Christopher and in a low voice asked, "And what is the news from your father and his men?"

Christopher looked grave. "It is not good. The darkness spreads ever wider over the land. All the meadows and low pastures have been lost. The men of darkness grow stronger daily and nothing checks their advance."

"Enough," said Assin. "We will talk more of this at another time. But your father still lives?"

"Yes. And I give thanks for it, for always he rides closest to the danger."

Elaine was not sure if she was supposed to have heard these words. It sounded very frightening. But before she had time to think any more, Assin turned to her and said in his usual warm voice, "And now, it is time to go home."

A few minutes earlier she would have found these words bitterly disappointing. But the talk of spreading darkness and danger had changed her mood, and she felt glad to go.

Christopher bade them goodbye with the words, "A true friend is never lost. I hold you in my heart, my friends." And Assin and Elaine echoed him in reply.

Then she mounted Assin again, but instead of flying he walked away.

"Please, Assin," she pleaded, "wouldn't it be nicer to fly?"

"No. You are too downhearted. We will walk for a while."

And gradually, as they walked through the glistening snow which scrunched softly underfoot, Elaine indeed began to feel better. The bright sun drove away thoughts of darkness and deep breaths of the crisp air cleaned away the fear inside, as they usually do. So quite soon Assin was able to say, "All wings are lifted by the wind...." and they were flying high again, chasing their shadow on the snow.

"But why is it that we can fly here," asked Elaine after a while, "without wings?"

"As long as you know how, you know enough for a child. When you are fully grown you may, perhaps, learn why. But it is better to know how than why. Better to know how to eat than why food gives you strength. Better to know how to think, that to know why you can think. Better to know how to love than to know why you can love.

Not long afterwards the small dark shape of the stable reappeared on the white hillside and they swooped down to land just outside it. Elaine dismounted and they entered. Before she left for home, she threw her arms around Assin's furry neck and whispered, "A true friend is never lost. I hold you in my heart. My friend." Assin said nothing but gave a very gentle donkey-chuckle and rubbed his soft head against hers.

The daylight was more subdued when she left again to walk slowly home down the hill. But her heart was full of bright memories of flying and of Christopher, and so she did not really notice.

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Chapter 2

Elaine woke up early on Boxing Day and her first thought was to go and see Christopher again. But the weather had changed. It was raining very hard and the snow was turning to slush. She quarrelled with her parents, who could not see why anyone should want to go and see a donkey in such weather before breakfast. "Why not wait? It might brighten up later," they had said reasonably. But she went.

Assin was out in his field and very wet. She went over to him and said, "I want to see Christopher. Will you take me?" He turned his head to look at her and then returned to eating grass. She pulled at his mane. "Come on. Please. I must see him again." But he just shook his head, in the stubborn way that donkeys do. Elaine was annoyed. Nothing was going right today.

"I'll go myself then," she cried. "I don't need a stupid donkey to take me." She walked over to the stable. The door was open. She went inside and then came out again. The rain was still heavy. Assin was eating his way towards a corner of the field. The houses of Ben Rhydding and Ilkley were still there. For five minutes Elaine walked in and out of the door, shutting it and opening it, but it was always the same. Then she decided that the donkey must be inside for the trick to work. But all donkeys can be stubborn and it took over an hour of hard work, pushing and tempting with juicy bits of greenery, before she finally got Assin inside.

But still nothing happened.

In the end she kicked the door in disgust, adding one more small dent to the thousands there already, and went away.

For the rest of the day Elaine was miserable and bad-tempered. To be miserable only because you are away from a friend can be almost a good feeling. But the bad temper came from knowing inside that she had behaved badly, and this never feels good. She kept imagining Christopher looking at her and saw sadness in his eyes. She wondered if she would ever see him again. The day dragged. Tempers frayed more and more. It was a terrible day.

The next day, when she returned to the field, Elaine was in a chastened mood. The sun was shining again on green grass, but it was not enough to raise her spirits.

"Sorry," she whispered as she gave Assin the juicy carrot she had brought. And his eyes twinkled with pleasure as he crunched it. She then walked over to the stable to clean it out, a task that she did not much enjoy, but felt that she ought to do.

There was an old broom inside and she worked away for nearly an hour, sweeping out all the dirt, every last stale straw and even old cobwebs from the roof. Then she completed the job by scattering a fresh golden layer of straw on the ground.

When, tired but a lot happier, she went out again, the day was brighter still and the grass was greener. But there was no sign of Assin! Elaine was alarmed, fearing that she had left the gate open. She looked, and saw that the gate was not there at all. Neither was the town. With a sudden rush of joy Elaine knew that she was once again in the same world as Christopher.

A few minutes later her joy had faded a little. There was still no sign of Assin. And a strange world is more frightening if you seem to be all alone in it.

But Elaine was no coward, and she knew what she wanted: to find Christopher again. And since she had flown to him before, she naturally tried to fly again. At first she doubted if she would be able to, and was afraid that she might have forgotten the rhyme. But she had an excellent memory for verse and after some hesitation it came back to her.

"All wings are lifted by the wind.

Where does it come from? Where does it flow?

Come wind of life, lift the wings of my soul.

Wherever you take me, I love to go."

And then she was flying. True, it was a clumsy and awkward affair compared with earlier flights. But the satisfaction of doing it herself far outweighed the fact that she could not rise much higher than a table. She was really flying! At once she set off in what seemed the right direction. But after a few hundred yards she landed again. It was amazingly tiring. The tiredness was not like the tiredness of the body which makes you think that it would be nice to sit down and have a rest or a snack. It was more like that weariness which makes it hard to think.

"I would be much better off walking," she thought.

And as she walked steadily she felt her strength returning. She took a course diagonally up the side of the hill towards the Moor, as she knew that if she went down into the trees which lined the valley she would lose all sense of direction and have no chance of seeing any smoke. Her feet led her towards the tarns and the White Wells. She had been sad, on her first flight, to see that the familiar whitewashed cottage did not exist on this side of the stable door. It had been a familiar beacon on the hillside since early childhood. And she had often stood inside it watching the spring water sparkling into the deep, oval, fern-softened pool. People had once come to bathe in the water for their health. Now they came only to look.

She grew warm climbing. It only slowly dawned on her that this was not just due to the exertion. The sun was much higher than it should have been. And then she noticed that the ferns around her were thick and green, and when her eyes turned to the valley, she saw the trees in their summer coats. Somehow the season had changed. She could not work out how.

Even without the landmark of the cottage, Elaine found the lower and upper tarns quite easily despite the absence of man-made paths. Then she came to the level where the White Wells had been. To her surprise and pleasure there was still a bath-like pool in the ground. It was a natural cavity in the rock, with rough, irregular and overgrown walls. The overall shape was that of a key-hole the length of a man. There was an uncannily familiar feeling to it, as if the natural pool and the man-made one she was familiar with were really the same. Or rather, she thought, as if this were the real thing and the other a copy.

From habit she took a coin from her pocket and tossed it into the Well. As it fell she made a wish, again from habit. She wished she might see Christopher again. The coin flashed as it glided, spinning through the water. She watched hard as it slid down deeper and deeper, to see it hit the bottom. Doing this, she became aware of misty shapes in the dark depths. They became clearer. Suddenly she gasped, "Christopher!" For she had seen him: almost as if on a TV screen. He was in a wood, fighting off a band of savage dogs or wolves. He was armed only with his crook and a knife. Even as she watched, he fell and was lost to sight under the surging bodies of his enemies. Elaine's eyes blurred with tears and it became hard to see what was happening.

But after a moment the dark mass of animals moved away and she could just see Christopher's body lying still and bloody. As she strained her eyes to look for signs of life, the picture faded and disappeared.

Elaine wept. She cried from sorrow and loss, but also from anger that she had been able to do nothing. The tears coursed down her cheeks and splashed into the pool.

"My daughter," said an ageless, loving voice, "why do you cry? Why do you call me with your tears?"

Elaine looked up. She saw an old lady in a blue cloak and hood. She was small - not much taller than Elaine herself - and had the frail look of the very old. But it was her eyes, shaded a little by the hood, which drew Elaine's gaze: bright eyes, deep eyes, like the pool itself. You felt that you might dive into them and they would support you like the water, and understand everything that you thought or felt.

Elaine was soon telling her everything. Her earlier visit; her coming again; the wish in the Well and what she had seen: all these poured out in a single stream of words to which the woman listened in silence. Only when Elaine had finished did she speak.

"This Well is a window. Through it hidden things are seen. This Well is a door which leads to many places. This Well is filled with living water, which gives life to many."

She paused and then with a keen glance asked, "Do you choose to save Christopher?"

Elaine looked into her eyes, and on a deep breath said, "Yes."

"Then fill this cup. Give it to him."

Elaine took the cup which the lady held out to her. It was in fact a metal goblet, well used and somewhat scratched and dented, but clean. She lowered it into the Well to fill it with water. But a strange thing happened. When she lifted it out again, all the water flowed out over the rim of the cup and back into the pool. She tried again. And again the water refused to stay in the goblet. She tried filling it a little at a time, using a cupped hand. But the result was the same.

In frustration she turned to the old lady, who had been watching in silence. "It is impossible," Elaine snapped. "I can't fill the cup at all."

"No, not yet." The reply was calm. "Only those who have drunk of this water may bear it to others. And - " she added, as Elaine turned from her and bent to try to get a mouthful of water, "And the only way to drink is to plunge deep. This minute."

Elaine was taken aback. She knew how cold the water was. And she would get soaked to the skin. She could not see the bottom. There might be sharp stones. All these and a thousand more doubts filled her mind like nervous, chattering monkeys. But there also came, distant and clear, one other voice: "I hold you in my heart, my friend." And she jumped.

It was- cold - and dark - and very deep. She seemed to sink down deeper and deeper, as if drawn down by the heavy goblet she was still holding. But strangely there was no fear. Only a kind of wonder and exhilaration. And as she went deeper, it got warmer. Then she was no longer sinking but rising. It grew brighter. Suddenly she was standing on land in daylight again, with a full cup in her hand. But the Well and the Lady and the open moor were gone, and there were many trees all around.

If she had paused, she would have realised how full of energy and life she was. And she might have marvelled at the fact that she was quite dry. But her whole attention was fixed on the sight before her. It was Christopher, lying just as she had seen him in the pool. His face was white. There were terrible bloody wounds on his hands and body and face and his clothes were fearfully stained with red. Now Elaine did feel afraid. For a moment she wanted to run from the dreadful sight. Then the feeling passed and she walked forwards. She raised his head from the ground. It was heavy. The eyes were closed, the flesh cold. There was no sign of breath. Tears rushed to her own eyes. She held the goblet to his mouth since there seemed nothing else to do, and a few drops flowed in.

Then, suddenly, she felt a shudder in Christopher's body. He drew a breath. His eyes opened for a second and met hers. They closed again but a small smile formed as he mouthed the words, "I hold you in my heart, my friend."

A few minutes later his breathing was strong and deep, his face warm and rosy, and he passed into a peaceful sleep. With great care Elaine then began to clean his wounds, using the remaining water from the goblet and her handkerchief. As she washed away the darkening blood, she was amazed and delighted to see how small the wounds themselves seemed to be. It was ten minutes before she really noticed that they were knitting together as she watched and that those she had first washed had nearly disappeared. She continued until all the water had gone and most of the injuries she could reach had healed.

Elaine's heart was great with happiness and life as she sat there with Christopher's head pillowed in her lap. Birds sang in the branches of the trees or searched for food among the fallen leaves and undergrowth.Shafts of bright sunlight turned slowly. A rabbit hopped past, quite unafraid. The afternoon seemed to last forever. You have probably known times like that, when everything seems brighter and clearer and time has stopped. It is like taking a holiday in Heaven. Now whether it was the water in the Well which made her feel that way, or being with Christopher again, who can tell? Perhaps it had something to do with both, or perhaps something else as well.

But in the end, as the shadows grew long and the air cool, Elaine decided that she would have to wake Christopher. His welcoming smile as he awoke was cut short by a grimace of pain as he started to move. Elaine was dismayed to see further wounds, which he had been lying on, oozing more blood.

"I give you thanks. You have saved my life." were his first words. "But we have little time. And I have little strength. We must reach the Good House - before night."

He tried to get to his feet but only managed by leaning heavily on Elaine and his crook. He looked curiously at the goblet on the floor. "You must tell me later," he said, "where you found that. But now, put it in here." He took a soft sheepskin bag from his shoulder and handed it to her. Elaine put the goblet inside and then slung the bag behind her back.

"Which way do we go?"

"I am not sure," replied Christopher. It is somewhere here, on the North side of the valley. But I am weakened. I cannot feel it yet. Let us try this way."

They made their way slowly through the darkening forest. Christopher had little breath to talk further and leaned heavily on his crook.He was losing more blood. It was soon hard to see where they were going, as twilight deepened into night. Then far away they heard a baying.

"They are hunting again," gasped Christopher. "Quick! Run downhill. Cross the river. Lose your scent."

"But what about you?"

"Too slow. Hold you back."

"I am not leaving you." When Elaine made up her mind, she was as fixed as a rock, and this showed in her voice, though it was too dark for the determination on her face to show. Christopher heard it and wasted no time in argument.

"Then find a tree. Climb."

It took some minutes of stumbling and fumbling to find a tree easy enough to climb and large enough to promise safety. And all the time the baying grew closer and louder. Elaine climbed up first and then leaned down to give Christopher a hand. As she did so, the cup slipped out of the bag and fell onto the ground below, narrowly missing Christopher's head. She gasped. He turned to look at it. They both grew still in awe. For the goblet was filled with light. A soft golden light seemed to be pouring out of it as it lay on its side, like a stream of gentlest sunlight, filling this corner of the forest with its glow. Elaine had never seen anything more wonderful. Even in their great danger, with the sound of huge bodies crashing through the undergrowth in her ears, that light was the most peaceful thing on earth.

Before they had time to move, the baying of the wolves grew loud and triumphant as they burst into sight. Then their triumph turned to terror. The leader of the pack turned as if burned and fought his way, snarling, back through the pack. The others followed, tails down, howling, scrambling away from the light.

Christopher was quick to understand. He lifted the goblet reverently. As the light streamed further after them, the wolves chased their shadows with renewed panic until they disappeared into the depths of the wood.

Christopher spoke. "Let us go. Their masters may be near. Carry this." And he handed the goblet to Elaine, who had clambered down beside him. She felt nervous at first of the aura which glowed around it, but it sat easily and comfortably in her hand as they moved on.

In the darkness of the forest they now moved more easily because of the soft light which the cup threw, but Christopher was still clearly uncertain which way to go. He would stop frequently, turn his head from side to side as if listening, then shake it, and move on doubtfully. It was during one of these pauses that Elaine noticed a strange thing as she moved the goblet this way and that.

"Look," she said.This is strange. The light does not shine the same in all directions. No matter how I turn the cup, the light always seems brighter that way." And she pointed.

Christopher looked. He took the goblet and tried for himself. Then he said, "That is the way. Follow it." And though it meant almost retracing their steps, he led the way along the path of light. Each step was now causing him great pain, and Elaine again had to carry the cup. As they walked, the way ahead of them seemed to get steadily brighter.

Then the noises started again, over to their left: shouts as well as howls. They were distant at first, but were coming closer. They quickened their steps, but the danger was gaining on them with each stride. It was impossible to run through the trees as there was no clear path and fallen branches were causing them to stumble. The baying was now nearly on them again. But again, as soon as the bright eyes of the wolves could be seen reflecting the light from the goblet, the hunting tone turned to fear. But this time, with the hunters themselves not far distant, they did not turn tail, but circled out of the pain of the light, a tree-length away.

Christopher was now gasping hard for breath, and stumbling frequently. The shouts were drawing closer. Despite her haste Elaine suddenly heard a strange buzzing which grew louder, while seeming to come from within her head. It stopped. But it left a pain where it had been. This happened several times. And each time it happened after a particularly loud shout from the thick of the threatening woods. The pain weakened her will to run on. She was ready to drop - to give up. But with almost his last breath Christopher gasped, "We're here!"

The trees had suddenly ended. Ahead of them was an open grassy space centred on a building - a simple stone building. But it was surrounded by the same light that was pouring from the cup, now with greater strength than ever, like a stream running into a lake. And on the air was carried the sound of voices raised in song - a sweet song; a holy song in those dark woods: and a powerful song. For it, and the light, had created confusion and dismay in the enemy. There was snarling and shouting. The buzzing noises started coming thick and fast, but they only grew and faded away again, as if they no longer had the power to lodge in the brain. Nothing and no one followed Christopher and Elaine as they walked slowly across the open grass to the door of the Good House.

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Chapter 3

The door to the building opened as they approached it and a white figure seemed to glide out and then stand still. Elaine thought of ghosts, but Christopher did not falter, seeming rather to gain strength, and so she followed on. But there was a trembling in her body at they walked through the strange light towards the door and its stationary, silent guardian.

Christopher halted a few steps away and spoke. "We come as friends. And we come in need. May we enter your door in peace?"

There was silence for a moment as deep eyes looked into them both. Then, "Friends in need are special friends. Enter our door in peace."

The voice was not loud but had a deep music in it which echoed the song that was still coming from somewhere. As she passed close to the man, Elaine saw clearly that he was no ghost - that the whiteness came from his simple long white garment. And she noticed also a scent which reminded her of the incense in church.

They entered a room bright with firelight and candles. It was small and the roof beams were low, but somehow it had a feeling of openness. But Elaine had little time to explore it with her eyes because they were immediately held by a woman of her mother's age dressed in a long flowing gown of blue.

"Come with me, my child." Again the voice was musical.

Elaine looked inquiringly at Christopher. He smiled and nodded, and so she walked towards the blue lady. As she passed Christopher, she handed him the goblet, which seemed heavy now. Then she followed the lady out of the room and up a narrow stairway to a bedroom. It also was very simple, with a bed, a chest, a chair and a small copper bath set before the wood fire. In a dream-like state, Elaine found herself undressing and slowly bathing. A nightgown and a towel had been taken from the chest, but her own clothes, now very torn and dirty from the flight through the woods, were removed.

When she had finished, the lady returned to brush and comb her long fair hair while she sat on the chair in front of the fire. The fingers were gentle as they teased out tangles, and there was nothing said until, "My child, why did you not mention these pains in your head?" Elaine roused herself. She had been feeling so good and so drowsy that she had half-forgotten the pains, which seemed so much less anyway. Now she said, "Oh, they are not very bad. They will go away. It was only the sound of buzzing in the wood that did it, you know."

But the lady did not seem to take them so lightly, for she said, "They are poisonous. They must be removed or they will bury themselves deeper into your mind. Now - feel them strongly. Picture them as wasps. I am going to take them away." The lady was still standing behind her, and there was no mirror, so Elaine could not see what happened next, but she had the strangest feeling that cool fingers were reaching in towards the pain and removing it. The pain grew briefly worse, then there was a fizzing sensation in her head, and then a wonderful feeling of relief as if something unpleasant had been there, hardly noticed, but was now gone.

This was repeated for each of the three pains. Then the lady said, "There, that is better. You will sleep well now. We will talk tomorrow. Now eat this supper and then sleep."

Elaine did indeed sleep very well and woke with a tremendous sense of health and well being. She soon hopped out of bed and quickly put on a plain smock of uncoloured linen, thinking all the time about Christopher.

What had happened to Christopher was this. When Elaine had left the room, he turned to the man in white and said, "So, Amuel, I return as you prophesied at our parting."

"Even so, Lord Christopher - and bearing our chalice."

"Do not call me Lord. My father is King, but has disowned me. I seek no such title of my own. I am now only a shepherd."

"To his sheep, the shepherd is Lord."

"I return the chalice to its rightful place. Do you know how it came to the girl?"

Amuel took the goblet from Christopher's hand and nodded. "Yes, we know. It was intended so. Now you must bathe and eat and rest and be healed of your wounds, for tomorrow we must talk of weighty things."

The following morning Christopher woke early, well before Elaine, and went from his bedroom to the room below before the sun had risen. Amuel was there already, and with him there were two other men. Christopher walked over to them eagerly. "My Lord Loyan! And Nathan, your son! I greet you, friends."

Both men wore swords and the look of soldiers, but their words were warm and graceful. "We greet you, Lord - and King." And they each went down on one knee, with bowed heads and with the hilts of their swords held forward to Christopher. He stood still as if in shock and then looked at Amuel.

"It is true, my son. The King, your father, is dead. His responsibilities fall upon your shoulders. Do you now choose to care for your greater flock?"

Christopher stood like a rock for many minutes before he finally announced, "I will lead those of his flock who will follow me. But I will not wear the Crown, nor sit on the Throne, nor wield the Sword, for their power is the power of the Enemy."

He then turned to Loyan and Nathan and said, "I swear to lead you with all the strength of my body. Will you follow?"

And they each replied, "I swear to follow you with all the strength of my body."

"I swear to speak to you with all the strength of my mind. Will you listen?"

And they each replied, "I swear to listen to you with all the strength of my mind."

"I swear to love you with all the strength of my heart. Will you love me?"

And they each replied, " I swear to love you with all the strength of my heart."

"I swear all this in the free choice of my soul. Do you also choose freely?"

And they each replied, "I swear all this in the free choice of my soul."

"Then rise, friends. Sit with me and tell me of my father's death.

Loyan then began, "As you will know, the Enemy have been pressing steadily onwards for years, using their customary tactics. Against the King and his Army they have been using crude strength, for they outnumber us greatly. (We are safe in the high places where they do not yet venture, but if we advance down to the valleys and plains, we have no chance.) But in their dealings with villagers they resort to bribery. Rich are their gifts of clothing and objects, all bearing some of the precious Malatite, which we have found so rare that only a King may wear it. These gifts then turn their minds and they change their allegiance, forgetting their old oaths of loyalty. In this way the ranks of the enemy grow monthly stronger."

"Yes, all this I knew."

"Your father saw his army grow smaller, his villages fewer, his fields growing food for the enemy, and decided on a desperate plan. His strength to compel the wills of men rests in the Throne and the Crown and the Sword of which you spoke, each wrought of purest Malatite. For each subject has sworn - you know the formula - "I must obey the Throne, and the King who sits thereon. I must obey the Crown, and the King thereunder. I must obey the Sword, and the King who wields it.

"And so the King planned to use the full force of the Royal Power by bringing, in stealth, the Three from their places of safety to the centre of Undain. Undain, the city which was once the Palace of Kings, high in all the arts which grace the life of man, but long since subject to the Enemy's servants. His plan, then, was to restore the Three to their rightful place in the Old Palace and there, by sheer force of will, made great by the Power of the precious Throne and Crown and Sword of Malatite, to compel his lost subjects to obey again the Royal Will.

"All at first went well. He and we, his trusty followers, made our way, disguised and by various roads, towards Undain. There were no difficulties. Our path was made smooth. We do not know if this was chance, or whether the Enemy knew of the plan and allowed it. After weeks of slow journeying we reached the goal and with still greater stealth concealed ourselves near the Palace itself. At night we entered, and installed the King in the old Throne Room. At the stroke of midnight he held the Sword, donned the Crown and sat on the Throne to proclaim, "I, Gregory, King of all these lands, do now demand by the power of this Throne and Crown and Sword, the sworn allegiance of all who live within the realm.

"The Power that filled the Palace that night flowed out to the bounds of the Kingdom as rivers run to the sea."

"I felt it," Christopher murmured, half to himself, as Loyan continued.

"At first we were high of heart. Scores of city dwellers came and threw themselves at the foot of the Throne, with tears. Then came more. Like the stars in the sky coming out at night, they came. All that day the power of the King waxed mightier. The gifts of the Enemy - the Malatite and the rest - were brought to us and thrown into the coffers. And this increased the King's strength still further. All seemed won.

"But then, I fear, the enormous effort of will, poured out by the King that day, had to be paid for. The light of madness appeared in his eye. Few, perhaps, except myself noticed it at first. My words of caution were dismissed. Indeed my reward was to be thrown into a dungeon."

The muscles in Christopher's throat tightened, but he said nothing.

"I heard later that the madness grew. He began to mouth all manner of nonsense in high language, such as, "The world is mine to command. The very stars in their courses obey me. The powers of darkness themselves are mine to command." And all the time he had been ordering his men to search for the person of the Enemy - the faceless, nameless being who has been overtaking the realm through his soldiers, slaves and servants. But nowhere was he to be found. `Perhaps he has fled these shores,' the King cried wildly, now foaming at the mouth, `but he will never escape my vengeance.'

"But this rage on top of his earlier expenditure was too great a toll on his strength. He suddenly collapsed. And was dead. And his body was shrivelled like an old, old man, scarcely larger than a child again, as if all its substance had been consumed by some inner fire."

Loyan paused for a minute before continuing.

"Soon all our gain was loss. There was anger all around. All demanded their gifts back, with menaces and rage. Then there was the killing of any who had been seen with the King. My own life I owe to the very dungeon which seemed at first the deepest disgrace. There were very few of us indeed who were able to make our way back to our refuges here in the hills. And so the strength of the Enemy is more than fully restored. For he has turned your father's deeds and death against us in the minds of your people. Those who once wavered in their allegiance now turn to the Enemy freely, accept his gifts and succour his soldiers. So, my Lord, you will have but a very small flock to lead, and no merry life."

Loyan fell silent. For a long time no word was spoken. Then Christopher asked, "And the Three are now in the hands of the Enemy?" Loyan and Nathan nodded silently. "It is as well. It was my counsel never to use their power, as you know, and it was for this reason that I was banished from my father's heart and side. Now my words have proved all too true. But yet I wish that their proving had not been so costly."

He paused for a while, then added, "Today I will grieve for my father. And tomorrow I will lift his burden. Will you, good friends, go now and summon all who will hear the oath that I have sworn, to meet me at noon on the aftermorrow. I will then be at the Sacred Yew. All must take care, for the Enemy are hunting us more boldly now, with dogs and the helmets of death. I myself would not have escaped the grave yesterday had it not been for a certain child, brought by Assin."

Loyan and his son began to kneel again, but Christopher stopped them. "My sheep do not kneel to me, though I may kneel to them at times," he smiled, and held their hands. "A true friend is never lost. I hold you in my heart, my friends." And they replied in kind, with tears in their eyes, before turning and leaving.

When they had gone, Amuel said only, "It was well said, my son."

"Thank you for those words, Father. Now I must go to the Chapel to grieve and to pray for a day and a night. But before I do, can I ask if there is a way to return the girl Elaine to her home, or may she stay with you? For my path will be a perilous one indeed, and I would not endanger the life of one who has given me mine."

Amuel smiled gently. "Open the door, for she is coming."

And it was indeed at this point that Elaine, feeling hungry, had made her way down the stairs by the light of the new day, and was about to tap on the door which Christopher opened.

"Good morning," she said, rather shyly.

"And may the whole day satisfy your soul," he replied courteously. "Now, we wish to speak concerning you. Will you join us?" And he showed her to a seat beside the fireplace, and sat on the other side himself.

"You have now seen the dangers that beset me and mine. I must soon face greater dangers yet. But Assin has asked me to care for you. As you were coming, I sought Father Amuel's mind - should you remain within the shelter of the Good House, or should we seek Assin's help to return you home?"

Elaine could be stubborn, as we have seen, though the same character can be called steadfast if it is set on a good path. In this case she had no intention of leaving Christopher and though he wasted a lot of breath explaining to her the dangers and difficulties, it was of no more use than if he had tried to cut stone with a feather. Amuel said nothing but watched with the slightest of smiles on his face.

In the end Christopher gave up and said wryly, "So be it. There is a headstrong ewe in any flock. But will you at least go with Mother Margaret, who will teach you certain arts, until I am ready to depart?"

"Yes," Elaine replied simply, "as long as I can go with you."

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Chapter 4

Not long after Christopher and Amuel had left the room, the lady who had helped Elaine the night before entered with a simple breakfast which she placed on the table.

"Are you Margaret?" Elaine asked tentatively.

"Yes, Elaine. Now eat this food, for you have much to do and much to learn."

Elaine sat down to a bowl of creamy porridge, which she ate with a good appetite, and drank milk from an earthenware mug. Then Margaret returned with two plain wooden flutes. One she handed to Elaine: on the other she played a tune that made Elaine's whole body quiver with the beauty of it.

"I will play it twice more. Listen. Then you will try."

Although Elaine could play the flute and recorder, the fingering on this wooden flute, without keys, was unfamiliar, and it took much of the morning for her to learn the one tune without a wrong note. Margaret was patient but persistent. When she was satisfied, she said, "You must practise this one tune each day, so that the strength and colour may deepen. And you must keep the flute safe, for in its music lies the safety of your friends."

After a break for a mid day meal the lessons went on, this time walking on the grass around the building. There was no sign of the glowing light of the night before in the bright sunshine, but the singing was still there, and now Elaine could recognise in it from time to time harmonies and echoes of the tune that she had just learned.

"Now you will learn words to fit the music. Listen.

The love of light is in my head,

The love of light is in my heart,

The love of light is in my body,

The love of light is in my soul."

Elaine learned this very quickly, of course.

"Do you understand the words?"

"Yes. They are easy."

"No. You do not really understand them then. But they will mean more with each singing. And they will deepen as you deepen. And you will learn. For dark thoughts of many kinds may try to fill your mind, as doubts and lies. Dark feelings of hatred, jealousy or anger may seek to enter your heart. Deeds of darkness, of violence, cruelty and theft are done by many bodies. And many a soul chooses the darkness instead of the light.

"But these words are not only words of wisdom, they are words of protection. Those pains of yesterday - are they still gone?"

Elaine searched within her head. "Yes."

"They could never have entered if your mind had been filled with this song."

"I don't understand. I thought that they were just headaches."

"Listen. I will explain. The men who chased you two through the woods were filled head, heart, body and soul with darkness and anger. With their shouts they directed their anger at you. They also wore helmets wrought with

Malatite which makes greater and sharper the powers of the mind over others. Those three sharp pains were places where the darkness that they fired at you found a home, in three shady corners of your mind. Dark thoughts, like spiders, love a shady and neglected house. This song is a daily cleaning of your being. This song is the sun on a dark day and a snug cottage against the worst storm. If you wish to help and not hinder Christopher, then make this song a part of you against the hard times to come.

"I will leave you now. Spend the rest of the day either practising what you have learned or carrying firewood from the barn to fill the great chest by the house, which is falling empty."

The barn was filled half with straw and hay, and half with sawn logs. Sunlight streamed though the south-facing door, and Elaine sat in it on some hay, turning things over in her mind, and from time to time playing the flute or singing the song with her lips or in her mind. She slowly became aware of the way in which the high clear notes that went with the first line did indeed seem to fill her head and make her thoughts clearer. The lower and more breathy notes for the second line aroused deep, sweet feelings - about Christopher and Margaret especially. The deep notes of the third line echoed through her body and created a sense of health and well-being. The last line, very pure and sweet, was hardest to describe or place, but it reminded her of flying with Assin.

And there was his face around the door of the barn. For a moment Elaine thought that she was imagining him, but then she was patting him and giving him some hay. His eyes twinkled until he finished the mouthful.

"Well, Elaine. Are you happy to have returned here at the right time and not before?" She had to think for a moment what he meant, and then blushed a little as she remembered trying to push him into the stable to get the "magic" to work, and her bad temper.

"I'm sorry, Assin," she said, and buried her face in his mane.

"You are learning well. Now come with me."

"Oh. But I am supposed to stay here..."

"It is all right. Margaret and Christopher both know. Now, up on my back. Bring your flute."

Elaine put the flute into its lined wooden case, which was provided with a long strap, slung it over her shoulder, and climbed eagerly onto Assin's back.

"Do you remember your flying lesson?"

Elaine recited, "All wings are lifted ..." and they were flying again, up and over the trees which surrounded the Good House at a distance; up, until the hills began to look flat. Then Elaine saw that they were moving swiftly, though there was no wind in her face. From this height, and with no familiar landmarks, it was impossible to tell where they were going and so she just settled down to enjoy the thrill and beauty of it all. Time did not seem to mean anything when she was close to Assin and far from the earth, and she had no idea if it was minutes or hours later when

the ground started to rise to meet them. From a height there seemed to be a thin, low lying mist which vanished as they descended. A village became visible, but they landed in a rough lane, some distance outside it. At Assin's request Elaine dismounted and walked beside him, with a hand on his mane.

After a few minutes she began to hear voices. One was deep and angry. Another was that of a furious girl. The third was that of a woman. Soon they were close and Elaine could just see, through the hedge, what was happening.

"You wretched, insolent, disobedient girl!" the man was shouting. "Clean them, I tell you!"

"I won't!" the girl screamed back.

"You will. Or it will be the worse for you."

The woman then spoke. "Come on, dear. It is not much to do. Just clean his shoes. Think of all we do for you."

"I won't."

"On your knees at once and clean my shoes." There was the sound of a heavy blow and Elaine saw the girl fall to the ground. Her own hands were clenched and she felt tears of rage rising.

"I am your father! It is your duty to obey me! If you don't, then I will send you to the place where they train bad girls like you. They will not be as tolerant as your mother and I are. Clean them."

"I won't." The voice was muffled but still defiant.

"Assin, can't we do something?" pleaded Elaine.

"Now is a good time to practise your flute, as you promised."

Elaine thought that she had misheard him at first, but as Assin said no more, she followed the suggestion, taking the flute from the case, screwing it together and then placing it to her lips.

The pure notes of the music had an immediate effect. The mother screamed, put her hands over her ears and wailed, "My head, my head! It's bursting." The father roared with rage, "My helmet! My sword! Fetch them, woman. We are attacked. The devils are upon us. I must defend myself." But his wife, moaning on the floor, was in no state to fetch anything, so he rushed off himself to the house that was in the background. Then Elaine looked at the girl, expecting her, too, to be upset. Instead she saw a sweet smile as she turned, looking for the music. Slowly the girl rose to her feet and walked towards the hedge. Then Assin spoke gently to Elaine. "Go to the gateway. Bring her away with us."

Still playing softly, Elaine did as she was told and soon she was looking into the brown eyes of a girl of about her own age, richly dressed in red and with short red hair. The girl followed her unquestioningly as Elaine beckoned her first to follow, and then to climb onto Assin's back, while she herself walked alongside.

When they were a short distance down the path, Assin started to float and so Elaine, saying the words in her mind as she kept on playing, did so too. Soon they were rising high on the wind and on the song."Like a skylark," Elaine thought. She kept glancing at the girl, who seemed to be in a dream of wonder, but did not say anything until they landed back at the barn and the girl slipped off Assin's back.

The girl spoke first. "My name is Umber. What is yours?"

"Elaine."

"You two are friends. Help each other. I am going now." And with these words Assin walked away.

It took a few minutes for the girls' shyness to wear off, but soon Umber was asking scores of questions and by the time that Elaine had answered them, she had told all she knew of the world they were now in and quite a bit of her ordinary life, too.

In return Umber told her story. Her father, she said, had once been a small farmer, and she still recalled those days, which had lasted until she was five or six, as being golden. "We were poor, as they keep telling me, with no shoes and only very plain clothes. But though they must have had to work hard, there was laughter and smiles. And I loved feeding the hens and any lost lambs. Then a man came and offered my father a job as what they call a Protector. He was given a helmet heavy with Malatite, and now most people must obey him and give us what he wants. So we are rich. But it does not work on me. I hate him now. I hate everything."

And Umber then furiously tore her red dress off, and ripped it up; took off her shoes of fine, soft red leather and tugged and pulled ferociously until they came apart. Elaine watched, very upset. When Umber was quite naked and had calmed down a bit, Elaine said, "Look, you can't stay like that. Wait in the barn and I will go and ask Margaret for some clothes for you."

But soon after she had left the barn to walk towards the house, she caught a glimpse of a flash of white out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Umber running like a hare towards the woods. Elaine raced after her. But Umber had a long start and was soon lost to sight amidst the trees.

Leaning, panting, against a tree, Elaine wondered miserably what to do. It was terrible to have lost her new friend so soon. And she was worried about what would happen to Umber in the woods. What about the Wolves in the night? A little later she felt discomfort in her back, and realised that she had been leaning against the flute case. This made her think that it would be calming to play something - it might make it easier to think of the right thing to do.

So she sat down beneath the tree and played. She lost herself in the new tune, and came to with a start when she heard a noise coming from deeper in the wood. Her heart leapt with fear, but then steadied rapidly when she looked and saw Umber, with tears coming down her face, slowly returning between the trees.

"I'm sorry," Umber sobbed. "I had forgotten the music. It reminded me of kittens in the barn and home-baked bread and stories by the fireside and .. everything that was good... and is gone."

After Umber had finished crying, they went back to the house together, hand in hand. They were met by Margaret, who seemed quite unsurprised and soon brought out some new clothes. Some of Umber's spirit had returned by then and she protested, "No, I don't want those. They are girls' clothes. I am sick of being a girl." Without a word Margaret went and returned with a simple leather jerkin and trousers, which Umber put on eagerly.

"It is nearly time for us to eat. Come and wash."

Twilight was deepening, and candles were lit in the small oak-beamed room where the girls washed with water from a large earthenware bowl, and then sat at the wooden table which was set for the meal.

Before they began, Margaret said, "It is good to have friends. It is good to have food to share. Will you share with me, my friends?"

And the two new friends repeated together, "It is good to be your friend. We accept your gifts gladly." (Though Umber seemed to stumble over her words as if she had not used them for a long time.)

After the meal they sat by the flickering fire and Margaret slowly and carefully brushed and combed Elaine's long hair (which had got terribly tangled) and plaited it. While she did so she told them this story.

"Once upon a time there was a sweet spring on a hillside, that bubbled out to fill a beautiful pond. Can you see the bulrushes? And the ducks building their nests in the rushes? And the fluffy baby ducklings taking their first swim? And there are silver fish in the clear water. Can you smell the flowers which grow nearby and see the cool green

of the grass? Good. I want you to enjoy lying on that grass or paddling in the pool for a while. For that pool was beautiful for a long time."

Margaret stopped speaking for a few minutes, though her hands were still busy. She saw the small smiles on the girls faces as they gazed open-eyed into the fire, and knew that they were seeing the beautiful place in their minds.

"Then one day a man came by. He took a great stone and covered the spring. Why did he do it? Perhaps he did not like to see things that he could not control. I can tell you that he lived in a house with no windows. But whatever his reason, the stone stopped the spring. Only a small trickle forced its way past it. The pool grew stagnant and covered with scum. The rushes died. The ducks flew away to find a better place. The fish died. All that remained was drying, smelly mud."

Margaret paused again, noticing the girls' reactions - a mingling of sorrow and anger. She continued.

"Most people now ignored the place, and passed by hurriedly, as you might expect. Even the wild creatures would no longer drink there.

"But one day a man did stop. And his mind's eye beheld the pool as it had been when he was a child. And he cried with his child's heart. But his hands were now the strong hands of a man. So he explored and found the damming stone, and moved it, to release the spring once more.

"It took a season before all the mud was washed away. But then, with the help of friends, rushes flourished again, and the fish and ducks returned. And all was as it had been again. And the rock he moved? It was left nearby, with this story written on it, as a caution and a hope: as a warning that there are men who will try to block the very streams of life; and as the certain hope that what one man can destroy, another, with a good will, can restore again."

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Chapter 5

The next morning the girls were woken early. When they went downstairs, they met Christopher. Elaine thought that he looked changed - deeper, stronger. She wondered what had happened to him the previous day. Umber seemed frightened of him despite his friendly greeting and sat as far away from him as she could at breakfast.

When the meal was finished, Christopher spoke. "Today I am to begin the journey to the Sacred Yew. It will be a path of danger and adventure. You two have been sent into my life, and but for one of you, I would already be dead. It may be that you will now choose to follow me and join my small flock. If not, you may shelter here; though in these dark days even the Good House may not stand forever. What is your choice?"

Elaine did not hesitate. She had not changed her mind. "I am coming with you," she said simply.

Umber did hesitate. On the one hand she had a friend in Elaine: on the other she was wary of this Christopher. He might (who knew?) turn out like her father and try to make her into his slave. This Good House seemed nice, but again, if she were alone here, things might turn nasty.

Christopher said nothing while Umber thought, her eyes moving from one to the other. Then she put her hand on Elaine's and said very quietly, "Play your song again." Elaine got her flute out and played the song in a gentle and thoughtful way. As she did so, Umber's eyes were fixed on Christopher. It was clear that she had decided to test him by seeing if the music drove him mad, as it had done her parents. But he smiled at her, and in his twinkling eyes she saw that he understood her mind, and was happy.

"That's enough," Umber said with a contented sigh. "Yes, I will come."

"Good," said Christopher. " Let us all three hold hands." And they held hands in a ring. "It is good to have friends. It is good to have a path to share. Will you share with me, my friends?"

And the two girls replied together, "It is good to be your friend. We share your path gladly."

"Now," continued Christopher in a brisk tone, "we must waste no time. Our packs, with food and clothing, are prepared and waiting."

After a brief farewell to Margaret and Amuel - "A true friend is never lost. I hold you in my heart, my friend." - they were soon marching out into a morning bright with the newly risen sun. There was dew underfoot as they walked a path to the woods, but once they were under the trees, it became dry. Christopher indicated with a finger to his mouth that they were to remain as quiet as possible. Elaine noticed that he was moving with a soft, cat-like tread which was almost soundless, and she concentrated on copying it as best she could. It was perhaps harder for Umber, last in the line, to copy. In any case she was the noisiest of the three.

When they had walked for half an hour through the

trees, Christopher halted and stood, listening. Elaine could hear only the sound of her own and Umber's breathing. But Christopher seemed to sense danger for he led them off the path deeper into the woods, and hid them behind some oaks. He himself waited behind a thick holly bush, a short distance from the path, where he could see without being seen.

It was five minutes before Elaine could hear the sound of feet approaching. She did not dare to look. A glance at Umber showed her to be trembling slightly. Thoughts of the Defenders and their dogs were running through their minds, and they felt small and weak.

Then there came a loud cry from Christopher. Another voice re-echoed back between the trees. As is the way of things when you are expecting the worst, both cries seemed terribly warlike and frightening, and the girls were tempted to run for their lives.

"Elaine! Umber! You can come out. It is Nathan, my friend." Christopher's voice was cheerful.

Soon the four of them were standing together, close to the path, and Nathan was speaking urgently but quietly.

"There is danger ahead. My father and I had begun to foregather with our followers, spreading news of the gathering at the Sacred Yew. Then we were surprised by the Enemy in force. They set upon us from all sides. Even as they did so, my father commanded me to fly to warn you. This I did, though my heart called me a coward for fleeing from the battle. And so I am here, but with a very heavy heart,

for when I turned on a crest to look back on the field of battle, I saw only a small knot of action, and many dead or taken prisoner."

"This is grave news indeed," said Christopher solemnly, "For all those the Enemy captures, He makes into slaves, obeying His will through the power of the Malatite. He will now know all our plans, and will undoubtedly be at the Yew before us. Nevertheless I must go there, for I have sworn so to do."

"But that is mad," cried Umber. "If you know that they are there, it is the last thing to do."

"My path, which is now also your path, runs past the Sacred Yew," replied Christopher solemnly. "And if even one of my father's people makes the journey there to meet me, I must be there. But we will not walk a needlessly foolish way. Come! Follow me."

He turned off the path that they had been following, and went deeper into the woods. It was much harder to walk now, as trees and fallen branches were constantly forcing little detours - and they were climbing. The girls started to feel the effort fairly Umber grumbled, "This is hopeless. I can't go on."

Nathan turned to her and said, "You may dress like a boy, but you talk like the silliest and weakest girl I have ever met!"

Umber was furious; the blood rushed to her face and she ran at him with clenched fists. But he only laughed at her and ran ahead.

Much later when the finally climbed out above the trees, they were near the summit of a mountain. Christopher pointed to some rocks.

"Go and rest there. I will view the country ahead and then return to join you for a meal." He then crawled slowly and cautiously up the final slope, with his sheepskin jacket up over the top of his head, and lay near the summit for five minutes.

When he returned, the three asked questions with their eyes.

"I fear," he began, "that we cannot now follow the natural path. The Enemy's web now crosses it."

Elaine was puzzled and frightened. The word "web" reminded her of spiders, which she had always hated. She did not like to ask questions, but Christopher realised her ignorance and explained.

"If you were to look down from the summit with me, you would see a long cloud of thin darkness in the valley below. The Enemy's servants love always to move within such corridors of His power, and His slaves are forced to. The lines of the web usually follow the valley bottoms, but grow thicker and more numerous near the centres of His power. At Undain, the present centre of this web of dark threads, there is scarcely space between them, and the cloud pervades all.

"Within the darkness His power is greatest and it is as if, like a spider, He feels any touching of His web. If we were to cross one, it would at once be known, and an army would arrive in force at once."

Elaine shuddered. A vision of a large and hairy and poisonous spider had filled her mind.

"What can we do then?" demanded Umber. Can we get around?"

"It may be that we can," Christopher replied doubtfully. "But I fear that this new extension has formed a section of net within which we are now enclosed."

"Let us cross boldly then and fight if we must." Nathan spoke strongly, with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "A man must face and not flee danger. Death in battle is no disgrace."

"True, friend," replied Christopher, "and yet blind attack is no virtue. I have sworn to reach the Sacred Yew and intend so to do. There is a way we may pass the web unnoticed. But we must wait until nightfall. Now let us eat."

He then led the way back down into the woods, and in the shelter of mighty oaks he opened his pack, which was by far the largest and heaviest of the three, took out a loaf and a bottle and said, "It is good to have friends. It is good to have food to share. Will you share with me, my friends?"

"We accept your gifts gladly."

He broke the bread into four and handed a portion to each of them. They shared the bottle, drinking from it in turn.

If Elaine had been a bit disappointed to find that there was only bread to eat, and none of the tasty sandwiches and cakes that she was used having on picnics, the feeling soon vanished. Strength seemed to flow back into her with each mouthful of food and cordial; her fears simply vanished and her senses became heightened. She was aware of the scents of the heather and grass, and everything, especially her companions, seemed clearer and brighter. Her spirits rose too, and hope returned.

They talked freely. Christopher seemed to think that they were in no danger of being discovered. "They will feel secure in their own dark paths. They will not freely venture out into the high and bright, but await our certain descent, We can use this time to prepare ourselves."

Preparation for Elaine turned out to mean more practising on the flute. Christopher explained why. "I hear that you have already seen what the music does to an unarmed Defender." He glanced at Umber, who had tightened her hands to fists and was frowning as she remembered her father, "And so you know how it acts. Either it drives the darkness of the Enemy's power from the mind on one who will choose the light; or the pain of resisting good will be so great that His servant will flee. This you have seen."

Elaine and Umber both nodded. "So, in battle, we may find that some of those who are merely enslaved will find the chains of their minds loosened by the music, and turn back to us. Others will flee to a safe distance, where they will remain a danger. But the worst danger of all will be the Defenders, with their heavy helmets rich with Malatite, for the power of the evil one will be strong within them, and the music will have little power. These we must meet with force. But even then we will find it easier to fight within the sound of the flute, which will defend our minds against the poison darts of the fore."

"You talk of fight," interjected Nathan at that stage, "but it will not be much of a fight, with just the two of us."

"Three," said Umber fiercely, but Nathan went on as if she had not spoken.

"There were a score of us at the last fight, which my father asked me to flee to inform you. And we were losing."

"True. And why was that?"

"Some fiendish power was clouding my mind and deflecting my sword."

"Our minds will be clearer within the sphere of the Sacred Tune. And as for swords: we will not use them. It has been given to me that the power of the Malatite flows also into steel. We will fight only with wooden staves. And with them our goal will be first to smash the frontal horns on the helmets, and second to remove and destroy the helmets. We may then have some slim chance."

And so through the long afternoon there was much practising with wooden staffs. Christopher taught them how to deflect or block sword blows, and they all practised striking out at leaves or branches that were at the height of a man's head until they could hit them very accurately. Elaine had the least practice because Christopher insisted that her most important task was the playing of the flute, and had her do it walking and running as well, which was a very difficult thing to do.

There was a lot of fierce rivalry between Umber and Nathan at first. Neither was used to the quarter staff. Nathan felt that, as a soldier, he should be excellent already, and that really he should not be fighting alongside girls. Umber, on the other hand, really took to the new skill, and put into it a lot of the pent-up anger that her parents' treatment had given her. Moreover she did not like Nathan's attitude to her at all. So in certain exercises they hit each other harder than was necessary. But there is nothing like hard work and hand to hand fighting for breaking the ice, and after few hours, when tiredness set in, they all felt a good deal closer to each other and more of a band.

They had another light meal and then rested until nightfall, on Christopher's orders - "For we will be moving all night."

When the stars began to appear, they set off, each now carrying a staff and a lightened pack. The path they followed seemed well known Christopher, and led out onto moorland, while avoiding the very summits of ridges and hills. The moon, past its full, had not yet risen. Have you ever walked the hills by starlight, far from a town? You can see the lie of the land, and vague shapes, but if a wild animal were to be lying still, you would take it for a rock or tussock until you stepped on it. There was no wind, and no sound on the open moor except that of their own feet and breathing. Elaine was following Christopher, Umber was third in line and Nathan was last, to defend their rear.

They had been walking for about an hour when Christopher stopped suddenly, taking the others by surprise.

He said nothing, but seemed to be listening. Elaine looked around in the darkness to see what might be about to happen. Suddenly she heard a rustling, like that of a heavy body moving through the bracken. She gasped and turned towards it, to see a grey form moving steadily towards them, indistinct in the darkness. It comforted her later to remember that Umber and Nathan had also been frightened, and had swung up their staffs ready to defend themselves against the fury of one of Christopher's flock of sheep!

The sheep came right up to his legs and seemed pleased to see him, in its woolly way. Christopher than started calling with a curious, sheep-like call. And as they moved here and there over the hillside, more and more sheep came out of the night to join them, until there must have been about thirty altogether.

When the last one had been gathered in, Christopher spoke. "Now we must make our way back to our path," he said, and began to lead them all back in the direction from which they had come. And hour later they had returned to the hills which Elaine thought must be the Beamsley Beacons, and paused to learn the strategy.

"You can probably guess what we are to do," began Christopher. "the enemy cannot be alert to every animal crossing the web, just as a common spider will not move if a feather or leaf touches its web. It is my plan for us four to move like sheep within this flock as it crosses the line, so that our auras may be hidden from His gaze. So follow me. When I go on all fours within the flock, do you likewise. The sheep's minds will have thoughts only of following other sheep, or of grass or water. We must do the same."

Some clouds had sprung up to cover the rising moon and the stars, and the darkness became almost complete. As they moved forward Elaine lost all sense of direction, but knew only that they seemed to be descending, moving at the slow ambling pace of sheep. Then there came the time when she felt Christopher's hand pulling her down, and she started to crawl. It was almost fun at first, pretending to be a sheep, with the big woolly bodies packed around her. But it was even less possible to see anything, head down in the middle of the flock, and Elaine found that her whole attention was devoted to the task of avoiding thistles and sharp pebbles with her hands and knees.

It seemed a long time before Christopher whispered, "The crossing. Think sheep." Elaine tried to think like a sheep, but a horrible crawling started to grow over her as they ambled on, and she found that thoughts of spiders kept coming instead. Then it became hard to breathe as well, as if there were no life left in the air. She could hear Umber breathing heavily , close behind her, so she knew that it was more than just her own fear. The ground beneath her felt different, too - more muddy and marked and rutted. "This must be the Enemy's roadway itself," she thought, and held

her breath and forced her mind to picture what seemed like Heaven - a sunny hillside with sheep grazing peacefully upon it. But all the time a part of her mind was listening for the stealthy movement of an enemy approaching in the dark on long, thin legs.

It seemed an age before the air grew rich again, though they could not have covered more than a stone's throw. But it was not long afterwards that they were able to stand upright and move freely over the hill beyond.

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Chapter 6

The great reward of facing danger is the wonderful feeling you get when the danger is past. The girls felt this very strongly as they walked again over the open moors. Nathan and Christopher, who had braved greater dangers, felt it also, though less strongly, and so the little band pressed on happily and swiftly in the silver magic of moonlight. The clouds too had cleared.

The hours passed; and their legs grew weary. The sheep were left behind in a grassy spot. The children's stomachs started to ask for food again. But still Christopher led on. "I want to have sight of the Yew before daybreak," he replied to a question from Nathan. "The Enemy will not expect us yet."

Finally he gave the signal to stop and left them in a grassy hollow carved by a small, tree-set stream. He moved carefully to the top of a nearby crest, which was outlined against the lightening sky.

"Are we here now?" demanded Umber rather petulantly. "My feet are sore."

"Yes," Nathan whispered back shortly. "Soak them in the stream if you must. But be silent or you may soon be suffering from far more than sore feet."

Ten minutes later a grim-faced Christopher returned. "They surround the Sacred Grove in force, not daring to enter its virtue. I see none of our fellows within it. But,"

and here he looked at Nathan, "I saw one captive, kept as bait or hostage, who from his build and aspect is, I fear, my friend and your father."

Nathan leapt to his feet, white of face with anger.

"Wait!" said Christopher. "I know your mind, but we must first plan what we are to do."

This was the problem they faced. The Sacred Yew, a large and ancient tree, was set in the middle of an open area the size of a sports arena. Surrounding this area was a circle of lesser trees, to one of which Loyan was tied. Outside these the Enemy were camped in a ring, over a hundred strong. Christopher judged that Loyan would be badly wounded by the battle in which he had been taken, and would be unable to fight or run far. "And neither would we be able to make a surprise attack and carry him off to the hills in safety. Their numbers are far too great. So this leaves but one path. We must approach with stealth; cut him free and then move within the shelter of the Yew, which they do not yet dare approach."

"But we would then be trapped," protested Umber, "with no way of escaping!"

"Truly it looks so," Christopher replied gravely, "and yet the true path, however narrow, is always the best. I will lead the way. Now, before the sun is yet up, we may gain a few moments of surprise."

They made use of the shelter of the little valley for as long as they could, and then there was a small stand of trees which gave them shelter as they moved closer yet to

Loyan. There came the time, though, when they had to walk out into the open. They were not noticed at first. As Christopher had judged, a small group walking slowly did not attract attention in the half-light. But when they were within a stone's throw of their goal, a Protector noticed and turned his head towards them. Elaine heard the familiar buzzing in her ears. Christopher shouted, "Play! Run!" She lifted her flute to her lips and started to play as loudly as she could while running.

Christopher himself made straight for the Protector, his staff whirling in a great circle around his head. The Protector, taken aback by the speed of the attack, barely had time to draw his sword. One sweep of the staff knocked it flying, and another had the Protector reeling to the floor and his helmet rolling away. Umber had the satisfaction of jumping on it and crushing it so that it could not be worn again. Meanwhile Nathan was working furiously at his father's bonds, while Elaine stood by, enveloping them all in the sweet strength of the Holy Music.

As soon as he had lost his helmet, the Protector started to whimper like a child and crawled away.

"Strange that the Enemy should choose such great cowards for his chief servants," mused Christopher. But soon other Protectors came running up, and with them crowds of the common soldiers, without helmets. These the Protectors were driving ahead. But as soon as they got within sound of the flute, they started to cry out in fear and to hold their heads and try to retreat. They came like waves up a beach,

carried forward at first by their own speed, and then falling back in pain. But all the time more and more were being driven forward, and the waves got closer and closer; and the louder their cries, the more the sound of the flute was drowned. And the more it was drowned, the closer they could get. The Protectors were directing from a distance so that they themselves would not be in the slightest danger, and the tide of bodies closing in on the small band was too thickly packed for Christopher to get through to attack the Protectors themselves.

Only one good thing happened in this affray: as Elaine gazed at the heaving mass of bodies approaching ever nearer, with their faces distorted in agony, she saw one which was somehow different. Its owner was a young man, scarcely more then a boy. She looked him in the eye - and he looked back whereas all the rest, like zombies, had eyes which slid away soullessly. Then - and it was a sweet magic to watch - the look of almost unbearable anguish faded from his face, a smile of peace appeared, and he struggled became only to emerge from the tortured crowd into the light of the Holy Song. Umber nearly attacked him, but Christopher, also aware of what had happened, stopped her.

At that moment Nathan finally managed to cut his father free. Loyan slumped to the floor.

"Help me to carry him," Nathan gasped. Between them he and Christopher, Umber and the young man lifted the body easily and carried it within the circle of trees and into the Sanctuary of the Sacred Yew.

I wonder if I can describe what it felt like in that place? You may be able to imagine being in a large palace, surrounded by lords and ladies in rich clothes and gold and jewels. In the centre are the Thrones of the King and Queen, bright and shining. And you are having to walk across a thick carpet laid across a marble floor, with all eyes on you. You would, I think, feel nervous or even frightened, but there would also be a good feeling that came from being is such a wonderful place. Next I want you to imagine the people away, but keep the feeling of their being there, ghost-like smiling at you. This will put an extra tingle of something like fear into the picture, but also a kind of happiness because they are glad that you are there. If you can manage all this, then you may understand the word numinous. The Sacred Grove was a numinous place.

As they walked into the open area, it was as if the noises coming from the Enemy outside were absorbed and deadened by thick blankets. Elaine stopped playing. There was already something like music in the air which sent shivers up and down her spine. At first there was a lot of fear, like the fear of ghosts, and she understood why the Enemy could not enter, but as she followed the others in towards the centre, the fear faded in waves, to be replaced by great joy.

Close to the Yew there was a slab of stone, as large as a bed and high as a table. Christopher led the way to it and with care the four lifted Lord Loyan onto it. Tears were falling from Nathan's eyes as he looked down and whispered,

"Father." The others stood around, silently watching the very slow and slight rise and fall of Loyan's breast. "Father," said Nathan again. Then, almost imperceptibly, the eyes opened and looked up at Nathan's face set against the green background of the Yew. At this sign of returning consciousness, Christopher brought a small flask from his pack and put it to Loyan's lips. Drop by drop the cordial went down, and little by little colour returned to the white face.

"It is good" - the voice was weak but warm - "to come to this Sacred Place... to die... as my fathers did... before me."

"No, Father, you will get well and strong again. Do not talk of death."

"My time has come. My prayer is answered. My one fear... not to be here to die... in the heart... of my fathers." Then his head turned slowly to Christopher. "Will you... be my bridge?"

Christopher's voice was vibrant with life after Loyan's fading tones as he replied, "I will be your bridge gladly." Then he stood tall and, turning to the Tree, with his eyes set above the topmost branch he said, "This Tree is a living bridge between Earth and Heaven. May I also be a living bridge whose strength may carry my friend?" The branches above him moved in response to a strong wind that seemed to come from nowhere, and swept down to toss his hair and shake his clothes. It seemed strange to Elaine that she felt

nothing but the slightest breeze herself. It reminded her somehow of flying with Assin.

Then Christopher turned again to Loyan and said, "I have been accepted. Now we must prepare you for your journey. You must travel light. May I lighten your soul?"

For some minutes Nathan then spoke in scarcely more than a whisper. Christopher had to bend low to hear what was said, then he rose again. "By the power which I have been given I remove from your soul these burdens. You are free." Then he dipped his hand into a small spring of water which Elaine had not noticed before amid greater things, and sprinkled some on Loyan's face.

"May this living water wash away all stain -

Free you from all pain;

May this living water wash away all dirt -

Free you from all hurt;

May this living water wash away all tears -

Free you from all fears."

Then he took from his pack the loaf of bread, and picking up the flask, he lifted them both up high and said, "I hold this food and this drink between Earth and Heaven. They were made by the meeting of Heaven and Earth. May they now give strength to our friend on his journey between Earth and Heaven."

Turning to them all he continued, "It is good to have friends. It is good to have these gifts to share. Will you share with me, my friends?"

Loyan's lips moved silently as they all replied, "It is

good to be your friend. We accept your gifts gladly." With gentle hands Christopher broke off the smallest of morsels and placed it in Loyan's mouth. And a few minutes later he poured in a few drops of the wine. The others took a share, though they were not hungry, despite the long time which had elapsed since their last meal.

"Are you now ready for the journey?" Christopher had turned again to Loyan.

The silent lips mouthed the word, "Yes."

"Then we will begin. Hold my hand. I am your bridge."

Seeing Christopher's strong brown hand holding the weary white one reminded Elaine of something that she had seen, but she could not remember what. She found her eyes flowing with tears, though she was not sad. Looking surreptitiously around, she saw that most of the others also had wet cheeks, and felt better about it.

Then as she looked up at Christopher's face, something strange started to happen. Everything around it became grey and misty. She could not see anything else. Then it was as if she were being drawn upwards, along a tunnel in the mist. She lost sight of the face, but was aware that she was not alone. The journey seemed to go on and on. She was floating or flying through cloudiness. Then the tunnel walls became clearer and started to change colour: reds came, and then greens and later on a beautiful blue. Suddenly there was brightness at the end of the tunnel, and she was out in the open.

At first she noticed only greenness underfoot and

Christopher and Loyan standing to one side of her. But Loyan was standing strong and healthy again, with a happy smile on his face. "Has he been cured then?" she thought in confusion.

Then her vision broadened and she saw a great crowd of people approaching over the grass, brightly dressed, and heralded with music. She felt scared. She did not know if she was allowed here. So she moved slowly until she was hidden, she hoped, behind Christopher.

Lord Loyan moved forward with open arms to greet a man and a woman who were foremost in the throng. "Father! Mother!" There were joyous smiles and the spirit of laughter was in the air. Then more and more people came forward to greet him, until he could no longer be seen in their midst. All the people seemed so happy and so big, somehow, Elaine thought, that she at once wanted them to notice her and let her share in the party. At the same time she was terrified that they would notice her and be angry with her for coming and spoiling such a wonderful time.

Christopher was just watching calmly as if it were all the most ordinary thing in the world, but since he, too, seemed unaware of her presence, this did not help much.

Then, just as her fears were reaching their peak - she was imagining either that all these people were only ghosts, or, even worse, that they were real and she was the ghost - there came a very friendly and familiar sound from behind her. She thought of straw, warm and golden in the sun. She thought of an old but cosy stable. She thought of Assin. And

there he was, close beside her. She threw her arms around him and hid her face against his neck.

"Do not be afraid." The familiar voice was wonderfully soothing. "You are right, you do not belong here - yet. When the time comes you will be welcomed also."

"But - Is he dead? Or alive?"

"Both."

"But I don't understand."

"Have you forgotten your lesson? Is your mouth for speaking or eating?"

"Both."

"When you see a butterfly coming out of the chrysalis, is the caterpillar dead or alive?"

Elaine pondered a bit. "Well, sort of both. The caterpillar is no longer there, so I suppose that is like being dead. But the butterfly is alive and was the caterpillar."

"You will find that many questions have the same answer. Even in your own world you will find that if a scientist is asked if atoms are like grains of sand on the beach, or like the waves on the shore, he will answer, `Both.' And if you ask a poet which of two meanings his poem has, he will answer, `Both'" also."

"Now look. Are you in Heaven or by the Sacred Yew?"

As Elaine looked around with this question in her mind, she saw at first the crowd around Lord Loyan; but they seemed to fade a little, and a shadowy tree appeared and grew more real. And Umber and Nathan and the stranger were there too. Then they faded and she noticed the people again. For a while the two pictures faded in and out like that. You can see what it was like if you place two photographs on a table to touch each other. Then look at them with one eye on each side of a third photograph or piece of card running from your nose to the line where they touch. After a while you will notice a sort of tunnel opening up with two shadowy walls made by the card, at the end of which the two pictures seem to overlap. If you keep on staring you will at times find that the right hand picture becomes ghostly and you notice mostly the left. At other times it will be reversed. Sometimes you see a ghostly mixture of both.

And this is how it was for Elaine as the two visions faded in and out of each other. The clearest thing of all was Christopher, who was the same in both, and so stood out boldly. She watched as Loyan returned to him to give him a last farewell. "We will be watching over you. Fear not," said Loyan as they embraced. "A true friend is never lost. I hold you in my heart, my friend." And then, as the two men drew apart, the pictures switched quite suddenly and Elaine found herself back in the Sacred Grove with the others. She felt that she had been away for half a day, but they had scarcely moved. The only change she noticed at first was that Nathan was weeping openly. Then she saw that the body on the stone table was quite still. But she was no longer frightened as she would once have been.

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Chapter 7

Christopher went over and put an arm around Nathan. "He is well, and was welcomed. Fear not. Now we will lay his body to rest in accordance with the ancient customs. Come."

The funeral procession was a short one. At Christopher's request Elaine improvised a slow and solemn music on the flute while the others carefully lifted Loyan's body and walked with it around to the other side of the Yew. There they came to a stone-set opening in the ground within which were wide steps leading downwards. As they walked steadily down them, the air grew chill, and the hewn stone of the entrance walls gave way to the natural pale walls of a limestone cavern, which had been widened here and there by masons.

At first it grew darker, until Elaine feared that it would soon be possible to see nothing at all. But then it seemed to get easier - she could make out dim shapes at least, and avoid bumping into things. It was hard to say if this was because of some change in her eyes, or some natural luminance in the walls, or even the air itself.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, their path continued along a natural tunnel, hung with stalactites, in which the music echoed and re-echoed as if they were accompanied by a ghostly band of flautists.

After some quarter of an hour the tunnel opened out into a large cave in which a lot of work seemed to have been done, for there were many regular openings in the walls, and many carved slabs. "You know where your family lie," said Christopher to Nathan, and Nathan led the way to a certain part of the huge chamber. There, at his direction, they lifted the body up and slid it, feet first, into one of the hewn openings in the limestone wall. Finally they lifted a large rectangular slab which fitted the opening like a lid.

Nathan then looked around and found a hammer and chisel, and with them cut into the soft limestone slab the simple words: "Lord Loyan, son of Neri." When he had finished, they all retraced their way back to the surface and the sunlight.

After all that had happened, Elaine was now quite ravenous and so was delighted that they were to eat before doing anything more. The newcomer, whose name they found to be Timothy, joined in the sharing shyly. But even though they emptied all their packs, when the food was shared among the five of them, there was not enough to really fill them up.

When the meal was over, Umber spoke from the lingering hollowness inside. "If that was the last of our food, what are we going to do? Are we going to starve to death? We are trapped here. I wish I had never come. It may be all right for an old man like Loyan to want to come here to die. But I want to live."

"Peace." Christopher spoke. "Life comes but one day at a time. You can eat but one meal at a time.You are safe for the present, and have eaten. Be content with what you have and your heart will grow stronger. I counsel rest or sleep for the present - our bodies are weary, and the Enemy is still safely outside."

These words reminded Elaine that she had not slept all night, and she at once felt very tired. Nathan, a seasoned soldier who knew how to sleep whenever time allowed it, found a soft place in the shadow of the Yew, lay down and was soon fast asleep. Timothy followed his example, and so Elaine copied them, using her empty pack as a sort of pillow. She did not think that she would get to sleep at first, after all the strange things that had been happening. But there was something in the aura of the place that, now she had got used to it, made her feel totally safe, as if held in warm and loving arms, and she soon drifted off.

Christopher did not at first join them. Instead he walked around the boundary of the arena. "Come with me, if you choose," he said to Umber, who was still too restless to sleep. "Let us survey the Enemy's ranks together."

When they approached to within about ten paces of the encircling small trees, it was like stepping out of the peace of an ancient church into the roar and bustle of a city street. The Protectors had been on watch, and sent their men forward. It was not pleasant t