Savage Games of Lord Zarak Read online

  “But I thought it wasn’t bad to be proud. I mean, I’m proud to be serving you, Goél,” Josh spoke up.

  “You’re right, my son. Some things we should be proud of. Pride in our country, pride in doing a thing well for the right reason—these are good things. But when one is proud of self and one’s accomplishments and one’s position, that pride can eat away at a man or a woman—or a boy or girl—until there’s nothing noble left. Pride is perhaps the worst crime that a person can commit against himself.”

  Goél talked at great length about pride. As he finished he said, “I am sending you to a land where pride in the heart of the ruler has almost destroyed that which is good. But it is not too late. He can still be rescued. As I said, you will not overcome wholly by arms but largely through the weapons that touch the heart.”

  “What are they?” Dave asked, sounding mystified.

  “What can touch the heart are things such as love and generosity and consideration and courtesy. Swords destroy, but those things give life. And begin by going to the poor, not to the rich. That is my last word. Now come. It is time.”

  They put on their knapsacks, and Goél led them away from the house out into an open field.

  As they stood waiting and looking around curiously, Josh said, “No horses, Goél?”

  “Not this time. Watch.” He pointed upward.

  Everyone looked toward the empty sky.

  Josh squinted upward. He had the best vision of any of the Sleepers and so was the first to see a series of dots against the blue sky. The dots rapidly grew larger, and suddenly he shouted, “It’s the eagles! The eagles are coming!”

  The giant eagles! On their very first adventure, at a time when it seemed they were all doomed, the mighty eagles—strange mutants of Nuworld, enormous birds big enough to carry a full-grown man—had saved them from death.

  The eagles circled above Goél and the Sleepers, their mighty wings outstretched. And then they swooped down and landed. On the back of one eagle sat a small man, who at once slipped to the ground and hurried forward to greet them. “Ah, we meet again,” he said.

  “Kybus!” Josh exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Kybus had been the keeper of the eagles. He took pride in them as a man might pride himself in fine horses. He greeted each of the Sleepers and assigned to each of them one of the mighty saddled birds. When he came to Roland, he said, “I have given you the strongest, my friend, for you are the largest. This is Swift Wing.”

  Roland’s face was pale, and fine perspiration stood on his forehead. He glanced at the Sleepers, all excitedly and happily talking. He swallowed hard.

  “What’s wrong, Roland?” Sarah asked in a worried voice. “You look ill.”

  “Well, I never feel quite . . . good . . . in high places,” he said. “As a matter of fact, heights make me sick.”

  Sarah put her hand on the tall boy’s arm. “It’ll be all right, Roland. We’ve done this before. You’ll be perfectly safe. You see, there are harnesses and a kind of special saddle. Once you’re in the saddle, you can’t fall off.”

  “I guess not,” Roland muttered.

  Goél had not missed this scene. He stepped closer to say, “Would you rather not go, Roland?”

  “I’ll go.”

  “Good. I will tell your father that you are doing well.” Then Goél said, “And now it is time for the flight to begin.”

  The Sleepers mounted the huge birds. Roland watched, then did the same.

  Josh fitted himself into the saddle, and the friendly bird looked back at him. Josh stroked the eagle’s head, noting the powerful beak. “You could take my head off—” he grinned “—but all I want is a ride.”

  Goél stood back and called a final word, “Kybus will lead you to your destination. When you are ready to come back, the eagles will bring you.”

  Kybus gave a cry, and Josh felt the body of his eagle begin to quiver. There was a sudden jolt, and he held on tightly as the bird’s pinions started to beat the air. Then the mighty bird took off, and Josh held his breath. Riding an eagle was like nothing else he had ever experienced. He could still remember the thrill that came the first time he had ridden one. Suddenly he shouted, “How about this, Reb? Doesn’t this beat a bucking bronco?”

  Reb jerked his hat off and, holding to the harness with one hand, swept it around as if he were riding a bucking horse. “Yahoo!” he yelled. “It beats anything!”

  Sarah was enjoying the ascent. She was not afraid this time. She knew from experience that the eagle ride was safe enough. Up, up, up, up, the bird under her rose as the earth fell away. And then, at another cry from Kybus, the eagles all wheeled and began a steady flight toward a range of distant mountains.

  Sarah’s eagle was flying just above and slightly behind Swift Wing. She saw that Roland Winters, for once, was not boasting. In fact, he was clinging to the harness with both hands, and his eyes were shut. Sarah suddenly felt sorry for him. She was not afraid of heights, but at times she had been afraid of close places. She knew what fear was like.

  “It’s really all right, Roland,” she called. “You’re safe. And you’re doing great. Open your eyes.”

  But Roland kept his eyes tightly closed. His lips were glued together, and his hands were white as he grasped the harness with all his might.

  Jake enjoyed the feel of the wind blowing through his hair. He looked down and could trace the rivers that wound through the countryside below. From time to time the flight of eagles would pass over a village, and the people appeared very small. Sometimes they looked up, and Jake thought, They probably think we’re a flock of ducks. He saw, however, that some of the sharper-eyed ones were pointing upward, and he could imagine what they must be saying—“Eagles— with people riding on them!” He grinned. “That’ll shake ’em up a little bit.”

  Hour after hour the flight went on without a break until, late in the day, Kybus shouted, “There is the kingdom of Falmor!”

  Looking ahead, Josh could see a beautiful sight. There was a huge forest, so green it almost hurt his eyes. Sparkling rivers wound between valleys, and he could see the blue of the sky reflected in still ponds and lakes. It’s a beautiful country, he said to himself. I never saw any place prettier.

  The eagles began spiraling downward and soon came to rest in an open spot beside a small, quiet river. The Sleepers slid out of their saddles and stretched their legs. Josh noticed that Roland could barely stand up. In fact, he walked for just a few steps, then sat on the ground and stared at the earth without saying a word.

  “Thank you, Kybus,” Josh said.

  “It was my good pleasure, friend Joshua. I will be back when it is time for you to return.”

  “How will you know when to come for us?”

  Kybus grinned crookedly. “Goél will know. He will tell me. Do not fear. The eagles will be here when it is time for you to leave the kingdom of Falmor.”

  Kybus quickly climbed back onto his eagle. At a word from him, the entire flight rose majestically. Higher and higher the eagles soared. Then as one bird, they all turned in a wheeling motion, their powerful wings beating the air.

  Josh saw that all but Roland Winters were watching the mighty birds disappear into the blue sky. “Well,” he said to no one in particular, “we’re here. It sure beat walking, didn’t it?” Then he said soberly, “Now, we can begin our mission.”

  4

  Friends and Enemies

  Josh stood studying the map that Goél had given them. “I think we’d better leave the river,” he said. He put his finger on the northeast corner. “The palace of King Falmor is up here.”

  At Josh’s side, Roland had been looking at the map, too. “Well, I don’t think that’s the right thing to do at all.” He moved closer to Josh, pushing the younger boy aside with his weight and taking hold of the map. “We can follow the river from here, and it’ll be easier traveling.”

  Josh did not want to argue, but he had had much experience reading maps. He tr
ied to smile. “I know that looks like the easiest way, but walking beside a river is pretty treacherous. We can expect swamps, for one thing, and who knows what would be in them?”

  “That’s right,” Dave agreed quickly. “Nuworld’s full of strange creatures. Remember those snake people we met when we first got here?” A shudder went over him. “There might be some of those things around here.”

  “Nothing to be afraid of,” Roland sneered. “I’ll lead the way if you’re afraid, Josh.”

  Sarah frowned. “It’s not that Josh is afraid, but we’ve found out that following rivers can be dangerous,” she began explaining. “In the first place, they’re used for highways—boats and things like that. Until we know what’s happening and who our friends are and who our enemies are, it would be best if we go through the forest. That way we can hide until we want to be seen.”

  “I’m not much of a one for hiding,” Roland said.

  “You’re not much of a one for riding eagles, either, are you!” Reb snapped.

  Anger washed across Roland’s face, but before he could get out an angry answer, Josh held up his hand. “We’ll take the route that leads through the forest. It may be a little bit longer, but I think it’ll be safer. Come on, everybody. Let’s get started.”

  Roland Winters grew sullen-faced and flung himself away. As they got under way, Josh led the group, and Roland trailed behind, speaking to no one.

  “I didn’t handle that very well, Sarah,” Josh said.

  “Actually, I thought you did very well. I could tell you were angry.”

  Josh suddenly grinned. “You can always read me pretty good. Even back in Oldworld, first time we ever met. Remember?”

  Sarah laughed at the memory. “We didn’t have a very good beginning, did we?”

  “No. But I thought you were the prettiest girl I ever saw, and I was always scared of pretty girls.”

  “You didn’t show it.”

  “Well, I just put on. I guess I was afraid of being rejected.”

  “And there may be some of that in Roland.”

  “Him? Roland? Afraid of being rejected?” Josh shook his head. “I doubt it. He’s too arrogant for that.”

  Sarah eased the weight of her heavy backpack by putting her thumbs under the straps and lifting it. “That’s sometimes just the way. Some of the prettiest girls are very unsure of themselves inside.”

  “Are you, Sarah?”

  “Of course!” she said with surprise. “I thought you would have found me out before now.”

  They trudged onward, and all the Sleepers began to express amazement at the enormous trees.

  “I never saw trees this big around,” Reb said. “Not even back in Arkansas.”

  “I think they’re a kind of yew tree,” Dave said. “They’re not very tall, but look at the size of those trunks.”

  “Lots of game in here, too,” Reb said. “I’ve already seen three deer.”

  “You did?” Dave sounded surprised. “I didn’t see anything.”

  “They’re pretty shy, but I caught glimpses of them. And besides, look at the tracks.”

  Dave looked down at the ground. No one was the woodsman that Reb was, although Josh thought they all had learned a great deal in Nuworld. But Reb had hunted all of his life back in Oldworld and so was the most expert hunter among them.

  They moved along quietly through the forest, everyone’s eyes alert. It was just after three o’clock when a deer showed itself, standing on a slight rise.

  Roland Winters, who was still saying little to anyone, snatched an arrow from his quiver. He stepped to his right, drew his bow, and released the arrow. It struck the deer, and Roland let out a yell. He ran toward the fallen animal, crying, “I got him!”

  All the Sleepers hurried to where he stood over the deer.

  “That was a good shot, Roland,” Josh said sincerely.

  Roland nodded. “This’ll put some meat on the table. Reb, I guess you know how to clean a deer. I don’t want to get my clothes dirty.”

  Reb started to protest, but Josh said quickly, “I’ll help you, Reb. You’re real good at it, and I need to learn.”

  Reb was still glaring at Roland, but Josh’s tone of voice appeared to make him change his mind. “All right,” he said.

  “Come on, Jake,” Wash said. “You and Dave and I can get a fire going and make camp.”

  It was still rather early for stopping, but by the time they had cleaned the deer and set up camp, the shadows were growing long.

  The cooking was simple. They impaled steaks on sticks that they had whittled sharp with their knives, salted them down, and roasted them over the fire.

  “I guess I’ll elect myself chief hunter around here,” Roland said. He had eaten a large steak and now started on another one.

  No one spoke for a while. Josh thought that the very presence of Roland made conversation difficult.

  But then Josh began to talk about some of their past adventures. But when he mentioned Elmas—the chief interrogator who was the right-hand lieutenant of the Dark Lord—and mentioned the spells that Elmas was able to produce, Roland interrupted.

  “Aw, there’s nothing to all that.”

  Josh was offended at being interrupted and especially at being contradicted. “What do you mean, ‘nothing to all that’?”

  “I mean, there’s nothing to magic or spells or any of that stuff.”

  “You’d better not be so quick to say that, Roland,” Sarah said right away. “We’ve had some experiences that convinced us that truly there are dark powers at work in Nuworld.”

  “Stories like that are just for children,” Roland scoffed. He took a bite of steak, then grinned. “The Dark Lord—he’s just got all of you scared of nothing! The Dark Lord is just a man like everybody else.”

  “But he’s powerful. And how would you defeat the Dark Lord?” Josh inquired quietly.

  “Well, I wouldn’t depend on a spell, I’ll tell you that.” Roland nodded vigorously. “I’ll tell you what I believe in. I believe in me, Roland Winters! You kids just don’t have enough confidence. A lack of self-esteem. That’s what some call it. You’ve got to believe in yourself.”

  Dave had been studying Roland’s face. He said thoughtfully, “Some things are bigger than you are, Roland, believe it or not. There are some things you won’t be able to handle on your own.”

  Roland shrugged his shoulders. “Speak for yourself, Dave.”

  Roland began to brag then of all the things he had done. He really spoiled the rest of the evening for his companions. The Sleepers had always enjoyed sitting around a fire talking, but the arrogant behavior and the boastful talk of Roland Winters soon wearied them all.

  “I’m going down to the creek and fix a trot line,” Reb said abruptly. “Catch us some fish for breakfast.”

  “Guess I’ll go with you,” Wash said quickly.

  “I might as well go, too,” Dave said.

  And then Jake decided that he wanted to go as well.

  Roland found himself alone with just the two girls and Josh. “Guess they can’t stand to hear the truth,” he said. “What about you, Josh? Are you really scared of this Dark Lord?”

  Josh had once been in the clutches of the Sanhedrin and had known the terror of Elmas’s dark spells. He had faced death more than once at their hands. He said carefully, “I know there is a power in Nuworld that is not good. And I know I wouldn’t trust myself to deal with it. Without the help of Goél, yes, I would be afraid.”

  “You have to trust in Goél, Roland,” Sarah said. “Not in yourself. Goél has strength that somehow he’s able to put into his servants. Let me tell you about the time that he saved me from certain death . . .”

  Sarah told about the time she had faced death in the Dark Tower. “It was Goél,” she said, “who assured me that all would be well. And it was all well, thanks to him.”

  Roland listened to all this with a superior smile on his face. “I believe they call that self-hypnosis,” he sa
id when she finished. “You two can believe whatever you want. Goél seems like a nice enough fellow, but I’m trusting in Roland Winters.”

  Josh and Sarah exchanged glances.

  Later, just before they separated to roll up in their blankets for the night, Sarah said softly, “Don’t let Roland get you down, Josh. He just doesn’t know.”

  Josh nodded grimly. “Somehow, I think he’s going to have to learn the way all of us did. The hard way.”

  The next day the Sleepers cooked a quick fish breakfast. Roland Winters did not help. Then everyone packed hastily, and they broke camp.

  All morning long the Seven Sleepers and Roland Winters trekked through the forest. More than once Roland tried to change Josh’s mind about their route. It was obvious to Josh that, in spite of Goél’s warnings, Roland wanted to be the leader himself.

  They stopped at noon for a brief break and were about to eat leftover deer steaks when Roland suddenly jumped to his feet. “There’s someone out there,” he whispered. He quickly drew an arrow and notched it. “There he is. I think I can get him!”

  Josh leaped forward and pulled Roland’s arm down.

  “What are you doing? You spoiled my aim!” Roland groused.

  “Don’t be so quick to kill somebody! It may be a friend.”

  “A friend!” Roland scowled at him. “If they’re friends, why don’t they show themselves?”

  “Maybe they will,” Josh said. “Put that bow away.”

  Several times Josh himself had seen movement among the trees as they were winding through the forest. Nothing was ever very clear, but from time to time he would catch just a flash of something. Now he walked a short distance from the group and stood still, looking intently into the thick trees. He saw nothing, but he was sure that someone was there. Holding up his hand with the palm turned outward, Josh called, “We come in peace. We are the servants of Goél.”