[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
altar by his friends, only to emerge leaping and jumping for joy.
These were but the first of many healed that day. I saw men and women bent double by grief and care
enter the shrine, and leave with heads high and the fire of hope shining in their faces. Many emerged with
tears glistening in their eyes and on their cheeks; more than a few had to be removed from the shrine:
dazzled by the glory of the Blessed Cup and overcome by the holiness of the moment, they were
transported into a rapture of bliss and were borne out by kinsmen and friends.
The evening stars were shining in the eastern sky when the last of the worshippers departed. Bishop
Elfodd lit the torches either side of the doorway, and replaced the Grail in its wooden casket. Only then
were we able to sit down and rest our aching feet. Despite watching all day, Bedwyr, Cai, and Cador
volunteered to take the first night's watch. Llenlleawg and I were allowed to return to the Tor - with Cai's
admonition to remember the watchers their supper.
The first night passed peacefully in the Summer Realm, and the next day remained so tranquil and serene
it was easy to believe that the world had indeed changed. The few folk who visited the shrine went away
manifestly blessed - one crippled woman, a girl given to fits, and two boys with skin diseases were
healed. The prevailing mood of peace and elation made our guard duty pure pleasure. We ended the
second blissful day full of brotherly love and kindly thoughts for all mankind.
Ah, but word of the miracles accomplished in the presence of the Grail was spreading through the land.
Already the news had gone out beyond the borders of the realm, and like a spear hurled from the hand,
there was no calling it back.
TWENTY-ONE
All night long, visitors streamed into the valley. To everyone's surprise, there were more than a few
Saecsens among them. How word had flown so far so fast was more than I could credit. Obviously, they
had been travelling day and night to reach the Grail Shrine and, once arrived, they waited patiently, sitting
in groups on the ground, or sleeping on the hillside. The monks brought food and water, and cared for
the sick through the night until they could be admitted to the shrine the next morning.
Arthur, upon receiving information that Saecsens were coming to the shrine, was visibly delighted, and
declared that the Grail was already fulfilling its highest purpose. 'One day,' he said, 'every citizen of
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Britain will have made his way to this place to see the Most Holy Grail, and the world will be made new.'
There was much in what the Pendragon said. For on the third day more people came to the shrine, and
the arrivals did not stop at dusk, when the Grail Shrine was closed; the people kept coming, and were
contented to wait through the night to be admitted the next morning. On the fourth day the numbers
swelled; a steady flow of visitors trickled into the valley all through the day and into the night. By the fifth
day it was clear that the numbers were steadily rising; thus, the chore of guarding the shrine was growing
increasingly wearing for the five Guardians.
Admittedly, if even one of us had thought beyond that first day's duty, we might have seen how inept our
scheme really was. If we had not been distracted by the blissful exhilaration of our position, and if we had
properly understood the nature of the object we were guarding, we might have anticipated the eagerness
of the people, driven by desperation and need to obtain healing.
Thus, it did not take a bard's wisdom to see that our simpleminded notion of five Grail Guardians
standing perpetual watch was - after only a few days - breaking down under the sheer weight of
numbers. Clearly, a new plan was needed.
'Brothers,' said Bedwyr as we looked out upon the gathered pilgrims in the fading light - so many had
arrived through the day that they would not now get in to see the Grail until the morning - 'you are mighty [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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altar by his friends, only to emerge leaping and jumping for joy.
These were but the first of many healed that day. I saw men and women bent double by grief and care
enter the shrine, and leave with heads high and the fire of hope shining in their faces. Many emerged with
tears glistening in their eyes and on their cheeks; more than a few had to be removed from the shrine:
dazzled by the glory of the Blessed Cup and overcome by the holiness of the moment, they were
transported into a rapture of bliss and were borne out by kinsmen and friends.
The evening stars were shining in the eastern sky when the last of the worshippers departed. Bishop
Elfodd lit the torches either side of the doorway, and replaced the Grail in its wooden casket. Only then
were we able to sit down and rest our aching feet. Despite watching all day, Bedwyr, Cai, and Cador
volunteered to take the first night's watch. Llenlleawg and I were allowed to return to the Tor - with Cai's
admonition to remember the watchers their supper.
The first night passed peacefully in the Summer Realm, and the next day remained so tranquil and serene
it was easy to believe that the world had indeed changed. The few folk who visited the shrine went away
manifestly blessed - one crippled woman, a girl given to fits, and two boys with skin diseases were
healed. The prevailing mood of peace and elation made our guard duty pure pleasure. We ended the
second blissful day full of brotherly love and kindly thoughts for all mankind.
Ah, but word of the miracles accomplished in the presence of the Grail was spreading through the land.
Already the news had gone out beyond the borders of the realm, and like a spear hurled from the hand,
there was no calling it back.
TWENTY-ONE
All night long, visitors streamed into the valley. To everyone's surprise, there were more than a few
Saecsens among them. How word had flown so far so fast was more than I could credit. Obviously, they
had been travelling day and night to reach the Grail Shrine and, once arrived, they waited patiently, sitting
in groups on the ground, or sleeping on the hillside. The monks brought food and water, and cared for
the sick through the night until they could be admitted to the shrine the next morning.
Arthur, upon receiving information that Saecsens were coming to the shrine, was visibly delighted, and
declared that the Grail was already fulfilling its highest purpose. 'One day,' he said, 'every citizen of
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Britain will have made his way to this place to see the Most Holy Grail, and the world will be made new.'
There was much in what the Pendragon said. For on the third day more people came to the shrine, and
the arrivals did not stop at dusk, when the Grail Shrine was closed; the people kept coming, and were
contented to wait through the night to be admitted the next morning. On the fourth day the numbers
swelled; a steady flow of visitors trickled into the valley all through the day and into the night. By the fifth
day it was clear that the numbers were steadily rising; thus, the chore of guarding the shrine was growing
increasingly wearing for the five Guardians.
Admittedly, if even one of us had thought beyond that first day's duty, we might have seen how inept our
scheme really was. If we had not been distracted by the blissful exhilaration of our position, and if we had
properly understood the nature of the object we were guarding, we might have anticipated the eagerness
of the people, driven by desperation and need to obtain healing.
Thus, it did not take a bard's wisdom to see that our simpleminded notion of five Grail Guardians
standing perpetual watch was - after only a few days - breaking down under the sheer weight of
numbers. Clearly, a new plan was needed.
'Brothers,' said Bedwyr as we looked out upon the gathered pilgrims in the fading light - so many had
arrived through the day that they would not now get in to see the Grail until the morning - 'you are mighty [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]