The Lad of the Gad by Alan Garner Read Free Book Online Page A

of the Red Shield was stretched there, blood and sinews and bones in torment. He saw a musical harper walking on the battlefield.
    â€œWhat are you looking for?” he asked the harper.
    â€œI am sure that you are weary,” said the harper. “Come up and set your head on this little hillock, and sleep.”
    He went up and he lay down. He drew a snore: and then he was on his feet, brisk, swift and active.
    â€œYou are dreaming,” said the harper.
    â€œI am,” said he.
    â€œWhat did you see?” said the harper.
    â€œA musical harper, taking a rusty old sword to lift off my head.”
    Then he seized the harper, and he drove the brainin fiery slivers through the back of his head.
    And after that time he was under spells that he should not kill a musical harper for ever, except with his own harp.
    He heard weeping about the field. “Who is that?” he called.
    â€œYour three true foster-brothers,” they said, “looking for you from place to place today.”
    â€œI am stretched here,” he said, “blood and sinews and bones in torment.”
    â€œIf we had the Great Dug of the World that the hag has, the mother of Dark of Dim,” they said, “we should not be long in healing you.”
    â€œShe is dead herself up there,” he said, “and she has nothing you may not get.”
    And they said, “We are out of her spells for ever.”
    They brought down the Great Dug of the World and bathed him with the stuff that was in it, and he rose up, the Warrior of the Red Shield, as whole and as healthy as he had ever been. He went home with them, and they passed the night in pleasure.
    The next day, the three foster-brothers looked out and they saw the Warrior in the Wet Cloak, the Big Son of the Son of All, coming to the town. And he was their true foster-brother also.
    They went to meet him, and they said, “Man of my love, avoid us and the town this day.”
    â€œWhy?” said the Big Son of the Son of All.
    â€œThe Warrior of the Red Shield is here, and he islooking for you to kill you because of the fist that you put over the day you took the three teeth from the king’s mouth.”
    â€œGo home,” said the Big Son of the Son of All, “and tell him to run away and to flee, or else I shall take the head off him.”
    And although this was secret, the Warrior of the Red Shield knew: and he went out on the other side of the hall, and he struck a shield blow and a fight kindling.
    The Big Son of the Son of All went after him, and they began at one another.
    Â Â Â Â  There was no trick done by shield man or skiff man
    Â Â Â Â  Or with cheater’s dice
    Â Â Â Â  That the heroes did not do:
    Â Â Â Â  The pen trick, trick of nicking, trick of notches,
    Â Â Â Â  The apple of the juggler throwing it catching it
    Â Â Â Â  Into each other and their laps,
    Â Â Â Â  Frightfully, furiously,
    Â Â Â Â  Bloodfully, groaning, hurtfully,
    Â Â Â Â  They would drive three red sparks from their armour,
    Â Â Â Â  Driving from the shield wall, and flesh
    Â Â Â Â  Of their breasts and tender bodies,
    Â Â Â Â  As each one slaughtered the other.
    â€œAre you not silly?” said the Big Son of the Son of All, “To hold wrestle and combat against me?”
    â€œHow am I silly?” said the Warrior of the Red Shield.
    â€œBecause there is no warrior in the great world alive that can kill me till I am hit above the top of my britches,” said the Big Son of the Son of All. “And the king’s three teeth are in my pouch. Try if it will be you that shall take them out.”
    When the Warrior of the Red Shield heard where the Big Son of the Son of All kept his death, he had two blows for the blow, two stabs for the stab, and the third into the earth, till he had dug a hole. Then he jumped backwards.
    The Big Son of the Son of All, the