The Sword Bearer Read Online Free PDF Page A

many seconds he remained silent Then he sighed again. "Sit down," he said, easing himself cautiously to the ground himself.
    "I wish I could be more sure," he said when once he was seated. "But how certain can anyone be of these prophecies? If they are true, they must be fulfilled during the next three years. Ninety-six years of this century have now passed and as yet there is no sign that the prophecies will be fulfilled. Moreover several things must happen before the Regents can appear."
    He frowned and shook his head. "Is there a tower on the Island of Geburah? I haven't been there for a couple of hundred years. But there was no sign of a tower when I was there last. And, about the Mystery, that evil being from whom you are trying to escape. You know better than I his power, his malice and his subtlety. The prophecies say he will attack the island persistently before the Regents come, from the vile swamps he will create along the shore of Lake Nachash. If the prophecies are true, we may have to cross those swamps to get to the lake."
    He paused once more and his face was clouded with doubt and sadness. "I have, of course, a personal grief over the prophecies. Their fulfillment means my death. I have lived here since the dawn of Anthropos—for five hundred and ninety-six years. Even though the promise made to me remains unfulfilled, the coming of the Sword Bearer ushers in the time of my death—"
    "The Sword Bearer?" King Bjorn interrupted.
    "Yes, the Sword Bearer. When he appears we shall know that the rest of the prophecies will come to pass. And it is the Sword Bearer who will slay the prince of goblins, the day the Regents arrive. When the Goblin Prince is slain, the Mystery of Abomination will leave Anthropos—and on that day Mab the seer will die."
    For a while nobody spoke. John did not want to intrude, but he felt a strange desire to talk to the little group on the grass. He stepped forward hesitantly and began to walk slowly in the moonlight toward them. As Mab caught sight of him he started, then struggled to his feet, his eyes wide with sudden excitement. He pointed at John and John stopped. John could see his face had become pale.
    "There he is!" he cried hoarsely. "There he is! It is the Sword Bearer!"
    "I see a shape, a ghostly shape, but that is all I see," Vixenia breathed.
    Bjorn and Bjornsluv swung round, but it was plain to John that they could not see him. Mab brushed past them to stand facing John. "You are here, yet you are not here," he breathed, "for your body is transparent I can also see that you see us, for you are looking me in the eye. Sword Bearer, what is your name? From whence do you come?"
    "My name is John Wi—"John began. But he was interrupted by cries almost of terror from the pale lips of Bjorn and Björnsluv, who heard a voice but saw nothing.
    "Remember that voice!" the wizard cried, "you will hear it again! Now I can be sure that the Regents will come to the Island of Geburah."
    But John could hear another voice, a familiar voice, the voice of Mrs. Smith. The glade, the wizard, the vixen and the Matmon king and queen began to fade from before his eyes. Mrs. Smith's voice was growing louder. "Young John? No—young John's still asleep, poor little lamb! But come inside!"
    Suddenly he was back in the dingy little back bedroom at the Smith's house. Morning sunlight streamed through the window. He sprang to his feet. He had failed to get away in time. It was eight-thirty. He should have left by now. He must lose no more time.
    But John Wilson's escape was to prove more difficult than he had anticipated.

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SIap foot Comes
for John
     
     
    "Mind you, Nicholas Slapfoot, I must say I'm a bit surprised to see you 'ere," Mrs. Smith's voice continued.
    Nicholas Slapfoot? Old Nick? John was stunned. What could Old Nick want at the Smiths'? His heart rose slowly toward his mouth.
    "It's about young john Wilson. I 'ear 'is gran'mother's passed away. I know I'm not much of a good