Cloud Walker, All Fools' Day, Far Sunset Read Online Free PDF

standing on the green on blustery autumn afternoons, solemnly reeling out string for a kite that climbed higher than any before it. They marvelled not at the height achieved by Kieron but at the indulgence of Master Hobart. Surely the old painter was in his dotage, or Seigneur Fitzalan was displeased with his work, else he would find much for idle young hands to do.
    Kieron’s contemporaries were less passive in their reaction. They madegreat fun of him, which he bore patiently. They thought him witless, and called him Kieron-head-in-the-air because he always seemed to be gazing upwards. Aylwin, apprenticed to the miller, went further.
    Aylwin, a broad-set strong young man of Kieron’s own age, had always envied him. For two reasons. Aylwin had never wanted to become a miller. From childhood he had been obsessed by drawing and painting. More than anything, he would have liked to be apprenticed to Master Hobart. Also, there was the matter of Petrina. Aylwin was contracted to Joan, daughter of Lodowick, the saddler. Joan, at best, was a dumpy girl, lacking grace. True, she would bear children well, and she was versed in the womanly arts. But she was not the kind of girl to make a young man’s heart beat noisily inside his breast.
    Aylwin could have forgiven Kieron for being apprenticed to Master Hobart. Or he could have forgiven him for being contracted to Petrina. But he could not forgive him for both. So, one afternoon when a kite newly designed by Kieron had risen exceedingly high, and when Kieron, impervious to the taunts of his fellows, continued to manoeuvre it yet higher, Aylwin threw discretion to the winds, rushed upon the green and cut the cord that held the kite. The wind was high. The kite swung crazily for a moment or two, then it drifted south towards the sea.
    Kieron gazed at Aylwin in perplexity. ‘Why did you do that?’
    ‘Because you are a fool.’
    ‘Do I not have a right to foolishness, if it is my pleasure?’
    Aylwin was appalled at his own stupidity, but there was no going back.
    ‘No. You should be as the rest of us. Kite-flying is for children. We are beyond childish things.’
    ‘You are not beyond a beating,’ said Kieron. ‘There was much thought in the design of my kite. For that you shall pay.’
    ‘Try me!’ shouted Aylwin. ‘Try me!’ But he did not feel over confident. He had greater strength than Kieron. That he knew. But Kieron had suppleness of limbs and suppleness of mind. A formidable combination.
    ‘Aylwin,’ said Kieron quietly, ‘you have earned some chastisement. I am sorry.’
    The two young men faced each other; Aylwin confident of strength but not of tactics, Kieron confident of tactics but not of strength.
    Aylwin rushed in. If he could come to close grips with Kieron, that would be an end of it.
    He rushed in, but Kieron did not wait to receive him. He gave a mighty leap over Aylwin’s head. Aylwin stopped his charge and turned round – only to receive both of Kieron’s feet in his face – a magnificent flying kick to the jaw.
    Aylwin saw stars. The world darkened, and he fell down. But sight returned, and he looked up to see Kieron waiting patiently for him. With a cry of rage Aylwin leaped to his feet. Again he rushed at Kieron, prepared this time forsome evasive action. There was none. Kieron seemed determined to take the charge on his shoulder, a stupid thing to do in view of Aylwin’s superior weight. But, at the last moment, with splendid timing, Kieron bent. Aylwin could not stop the charge and sprawled helplessly over Kieron’s back. As he did so, Kieron straightened; and Aylwin executed a full turn high in the air then landed flat on his back with a jarring thud. He tried to get up, and could not. His head ached, there was a great roaring in his ears and pain in every part of his body.
    Kieron stood above him. ‘Are you sorry for cutting the cord, Aylwin?’
    ‘Ludd damn you!’ He snatched feebly at Kieron’s leg.
    Kieron trod on his arm, pinning