Grail Quest by D. Sallen Read Free Book Online

days we followed the course of the Potomac. At a break in the hills, another big river flowed from the south into it. Here the Potomac turned a definite north through hilly country. Often by staying on the higher ground we were able to see bends in the river. We saved time by skirting the elbows. Some days traveling fast through wide valleys, on others slowed down by the hilly terrain, we never lost sight of the river.
    On a dark gloomy day, heavy overcast and occasional drizzle, I began to feel that twitch on my back that someone or something, was behind me; that someone was watching me. We followed a narrow trace along a mountainside. Above us the forest was broken up with patches of boulders strewn by an ancient hand. Ahead of us our path appeared to twist among them. Down hill was more open, but too steep to ride across. I stopped to look at the trail ahead and listen. I looked back at Moyock. He said, “A doe ran scared above us.”
    Not a good sign. Something frightened it. Well, I didn’t know of anything that ought to scare us. Seeing nothing or no one, I pushed forward. “Keep your eyes open for any other movement.”
    “Above us! Above us!”
    ” HAAhhhh yayaya! ”  
    A grotesque figure sprang out on a rock above me. Leaping and screaming it jabbed a spear at me! I knocked it aside! The demon missed. Howling and dancing about, other Naturals appeared above and behind us. I fired at the leader. Missed. The thunder of my flintlock brought religion to suddenly frozen warriors. I fired my pistol, causing en masse retreat back up into the woods. Behind me I saw Moyock’s horse stumble and fall down the hill.
    There was no use in trying to follow the villains up the rocky and thickly wooded hillside. Once I was sure they no longer threatened us, I turned my attention to Moyock. Downhill, he was standing, but this horse was not. Farther along I saw a shallower grade, so leading the two horses, I brought them down to Moyock’s level. He was shaking his arm.
    “What happened?”
    “Demon threw rock. Struck horse’s leg. Make her stumble. We slide down hill. I leap off. I not hurt bad.”
    Moyock‘s arm was injured but not broken. The horse was not so lucky. The compound fracture of a front leg meant her day was over.   Her almost crying noises prompted me to reload my pistol and dispatch her to horse heaven.   Not forgetting the banshees, I reloaded both weapons.
    I cleaned Moyock’s forearm as best I could. It quit bleeding and he could move it. As young and healthy as he was, I figured at worse his arm might be stiff for a few days. I didn’t   want to remain in such a vulnerable situation. We loaded as much as we could, of the dead animals pack, onto our remaining horses and set out again. We left behind some goods that I regretted our tormentors would get. I wondered if they would eat horseflesh?
    When it became evident that the river was turning south, we set out away from it in a northwesterly direction. Naturals we talked to along the way were certain great rivers lay in that general direction.
    After several days we came upon the largest village we’d seen in our travels. It sat on the shore of a ‘Big River.’ Scouts met us at some distance. After determining we weren’t warlike, they escorted us in to the town center. With Chief Canawaha and other important men we smoked and talked. Moyock carried the burden with sign language. I distributed tobacco. The Chief said, “We not see White Man before. Not know White Men in world. Not hear of White Man living along river.”
    “If no White Men called Welsh, maybe I’m on a wild goose chase. Are there other big rivers around here?”
    “None we know of. Only this Oh-Hi-Oh. I think you not know where to go. You welcome here.”
    Deciding to stay for awhile, we arranged for space in one of their wikkiups. To recover from the rigors of three weeks of mountain travel, I thought it best to rest for at least a week.
    After getting over the initial shock