Lloyd Alexander Chronicles of Prydain 05 The High King

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

walking staff in jointed sections allowing it to be folded up, a cushion with
an extra bag of feathers, two lengths of rope, some fishing lines and large
hooks, two tents, a number of iron wedges and a crooked iron bar, a wide piece
of soft leather which, as Gwystyl reluctantly explained, could be set about a
willow frame to serve as a small boat; several large bunches of dried
vegetables and herbs, and numerous bags of lichens in all colors.
"For my condition," Gwystyl mumbled, indicating the latter. "The
dampness and clamminess around Annuvin is dreadful. These don't help at all,
but they're better than nothing. However, you're welcome..."
The bard shook his head in despair. "Useless rubbish. We might
borrow the ropes and fish hooks. But, for whatever good they may do us..."
"Gwystyl," Eilonwy cried angrily, "all your tents and boats and
walking staves won't answer! Oh, I could squeeze you anyway, for I'm out of
patience with you. Begone! Yes, goodbye indeed!"
Page 46
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Gwystyl, heaving huge sighs of relief, rapidly began packing his
bundle. As he hoisted it to his shoulder, from his cloak fell a small sack
which he tried desperately to recover.
"I say, what's this?" asked Rhun, who had already gathered up the
bag and was about to hand it to the agitated creature.
"Eggs," mumbled Gwystyl.
"Lucky they weren't smashed when you took your tumble," said Rhun
cheerfully. "Perhaps we'd better have a look," he added, untying the string
around the mouth of the bag.
"Eggs!" said Fflewddur, brightening somewhat. "I shouldn't mind
eating one or two of them. I've had no food since midday--- those warriors
kept me harping, but they took no pains to feed me. Come, old fellow, I'm
starved enough to crack one now arld swallow it raw!"
"No, no!" squealed Gwystyl, snatching for the bag. "Don't do it!
They're not eggs. Not eggs, at all!"
"I say, they surely look like it," remarked Rhun, peering into the
sack. "If they aren't, then what are they?"
Gwystyl choked, then went into a fit of violent, coughing and sighing
before he answered. "Smoke," he gasped.
Chapter 6
Page 47
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
A Clutch of Eggs
"AMAZING!" CRIED KING RHUN. "Smoke made of egg! Or is it egg made of
smoke?"
"The smoke is inside," Gwystyl muttered, drawing his shabby cloak
about him. "Good-bye. Crack the shell and the smoke comes out--- in
considerable quantity. Keep them. A gift. If you should ever see Lord Gwydion,
warn him to shun Annuvin at all cost. For myself, I'm glad to leave the place
behind me and hope never to return. Good-bye."
"Gwystyl," Eilonwy said sharply, gripping the melancholy creature's
arm, "something tells me there's more to that cloak of yours than meets the
eye. What else have you hidden away? The truth, now. Or I promise you such
squeezing..."
"Nothing!" Gwystyl choked. Despite the chill wind, he had begun
perspiring heavily. His cobwebby hair hung limp and his brow dripped as if he
had been caught in a downpour. "Nothing, that is, but a few little personal
things of my own. Odds and ends. If they interest you, by all means..."
Gwystyl raised his arms and spread his cloak on either side, a
gesture which made him resemble a long-nosed and dismal bat. He sighed and
groaned miserably while the companions stared in surprise.
"Odd indeed!" said Fflewddur. "And, Great Belin, there's no end of
them!"
Neatly attached within the folds of the cloak hung a dozen cloth
sacks, mesh bags, and carefully wrapped packets. Most of them seemed to
contain clutches of eggs of the sort Fflewddur had narrowly avoided eating.
Gwystyl pulled off one of the mesh bags and handed it to Eilonwy.
"I say," exclaimed Rhun. "First eggs, now mushrooms!"
As far as the Princess could see, the mesh bag held nothing more
Page 48
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
than a few large, brown-speckled toadstools; but Gwystyl waved his arms
desperately, and moaned.
"Beware, beware! Break them and they'll singe your hair off! They
make a handsome puff of flame, if you should ever need such a thing. Take them
all. I'm well pleased to be rid of them."
"It is what we need!" Eilonwy cried. "Gwystyl, forgive me for
threatening to squeeze you." She turned to the bard who was examining the
sacks with an air of uneasiness. "Yes! These will help us. Now, if we can find
a way into the castle..."
"My dear Princess," replied Fflewddur, "a Fflam is dauntless, but I
hardly think it practical, overcoming a stronghold with little more than eggs
and mushrooms in our hands, even eggs and mushrooms of this particular sort.
And yet..." He hesitated, then snapped his fingers. "Great Belin, we might
pull it off at that! Wait! I'm beginning to see the possibilities."
Gwystyl, meantime, had unfastened the remaining packets from his
voluminous, cloak. "Here," he sighed, "since you have most of them, you might
as well have the rest. All of it. Go on, it makes no difference to me now."
The packets which Gwystyl held out in a trembling hand were filled
with a quantity of what appeared to be dark, powdery earth. "Put this on your
feet, and no one can see your tracks--- that is, if someone's looking for your
tracks. That's really what it's for. But if you throw it into someone's eyes,
the can't see anything at all--- for a short while at least."'
"Better and better!" cried Fflewddur. "We'll have our friends out of
the spider's clutches in no time. A daring deed! Clouds of smoke! Billows of
fire! Blinding powder! And a Fflam to the rescue! That will give the bards
something to sing about. Ah--- tell me, old fellow," he added uneasily to
Gwystyl, "you're quite sure those mushrooms work?"
THE COMPANIONS HURRIEDLY returned to the cover of the thicket to set
their plans. Gwystyl, after much coaxing and cajoling, as well as hints of
further squeezing and suggestions of King Eiddileg's displeasure, at last
agreed--- with many a racking sigh and moan--- to help in the rescue. The bard
Page 49
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
was eager to begin immediately.
"In my long experience," Fflewddur said, "I've found it best to go [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Tematy