have help. Send to Goél. Ask him to send those who will help your people.’” The Ancient One stirred. “I then told my vision to the chief.”
“And I sent Fairmina to find Goél and ask for help.”
Fairmina started to say something but then did not.
Josh thought he knew what she was thinking. “I know you are disappointed, Chief,” he said. “You were expecting Goél to send a large army, and instead you have seven very young people, two dwarfs, and a giant.”
Denhelm straightened his back. His face was stern, and he said confidently, “Goél is wise. I have served him for many years. Indeed, I did look for an army, but Goél’s ways are past finding out.”
Suddenly the Ancient One said in a clear, strong voice,
“The House of Goél will be filled,
The earth itself will quake!
The beast will be forever still,
When Seven Sleepers wake!”
The words hung in the air, and with that the meeting appeared to be over. The elders got up and left. The Sleepers bowed before Rimah, who had supervised the dinner.
“It was a fine meal, Queen Rimah,” Reb said.
She took their thanks, and then Fairmina was approached by Jake.
“You almost told your father that we weren’t much, didn’t you, Princess?”
Fairmina suddenly smiled, although she looked troubled. “Yes, I almost did. But he has always believed in the wisdom of Goél.”
“Have you ever met Goél? Before this trip, I mean,” Josh asked.
“Oh, yes! He has been to our village many times.”
Josh was puzzled. “He’s everywhere!” he exclaimed. “I don’t see how he gets around so much.”
“I think there is more to Goél than you and I will ever know. In any case, my friend Josh, I am glad that you have come. We need help, and you are the help that Goél has chosen. So, welcome to Whiteland.”
Josh felt pleased that they had been accepted by this strong woman who could fight as well as any man. He bowed to her and returned to the igloo that he shared with Dave and Jake. They were all filled with warm food and sat talking for some time.
Josh did not take part in much of the conversation. He was listening, but he was thinking,
Fairmina is kind, but actually we do need an army. If there’s going to be a war, there aren’t enough of us to be of much help
.
6
The Ice Wraith
T he Sleepers fell into the patterns of the Lowami tribe with little difficulty. The trip from the south had hardened them, and they found that they could bear the cold much easier now. Their warm, insulated underwear and furs made a big difference, but they knew also that the fatty food they were eating was building up their strength and their resistance to the cold.
From time to time the snows came. Then they would huddle in their small houses or else in the Long House. They learned to admire the spirit and the kindness of the Lowami people. Chief Denhelm was a man of great natural courtesy. His wife had a spirit that was quiet and gentle. The villagers, with few exceptions, were friendly, and as the days passed they found themselves liking their hosts very much.
A boy named Conmor had grown especially close to the Sleepers. He was a bright young fellow, short and muscular, very strong, and also very curious. He could never get enough stories of what Oldworld was like, and he plied the Sleepers with questions constantly.
Early one sunshiny morning, Conmor announced to the Sleepers, “We’re going hunting. The meat is getting low. You are invited to join.”
“Hey, that’s cool, Conmor!”
“Cool?” Conmor looked puzzled. “Yes, it is cool. You would think it cold, I suppose. But why do you tell me that?”
“Oh, it’s just something we say.” Josh laughed. “That means it’s nice—it’s good—that we can go hunting with you.”
Conmor’s white teeth flashed against his dark, tanned skin. “I see. So when you like something, you say it’s cool.”
“That’s right.”
“Good. I will say that, too,” Conmor said. “Yes. It’s cool to
“And I sent Fairmina to find Goél and ask for help.”
Fairmina started to say something but then did not.
Josh thought he knew what she was thinking. “I know you are disappointed, Chief,” he said. “You were expecting Goél to send a large army, and instead you have seven very young people, two dwarfs, and a giant.”
Denhelm straightened his back. His face was stern, and he said confidently, “Goél is wise. I have served him for many years. Indeed, I did look for an army, but Goél’s ways are past finding out.”
Suddenly the Ancient One said in a clear, strong voice,
“The House of Goél will be filled,
The earth itself will quake!
The beast will be forever still,
When Seven Sleepers wake!”
The words hung in the air, and with that the meeting appeared to be over. The elders got up and left. The Sleepers bowed before Rimah, who had supervised the dinner.
“It was a fine meal, Queen Rimah,” Reb said.
She took their thanks, and then Fairmina was approached by Jake.
“You almost told your father that we weren’t much, didn’t you, Princess?”
Fairmina suddenly smiled, although she looked troubled. “Yes, I almost did. But he has always believed in the wisdom of Goél.”
“Have you ever met Goél? Before this trip, I mean,” Josh asked.
“Oh, yes! He has been to our village many times.”
Josh was puzzled. “He’s everywhere!” he exclaimed. “I don’t see how he gets around so much.”
“I think there is more to Goél than you and I will ever know. In any case, my friend Josh, I am glad that you have come. We need help, and you are the help that Goél has chosen. So, welcome to Whiteland.”
Josh felt pleased that they had been accepted by this strong woman who could fight as well as any man. He bowed to her and returned to the igloo that he shared with Dave and Jake. They were all filled with warm food and sat talking for some time.
Josh did not take part in much of the conversation. He was listening, but he was thinking,
Fairmina is kind, but actually we do need an army. If there’s going to be a war, there aren’t enough of us to be of much help
.
6
The Ice Wraith
T he Sleepers fell into the patterns of the Lowami tribe with little difficulty. The trip from the south had hardened them, and they found that they could bear the cold much easier now. Their warm, insulated underwear and furs made a big difference, but they knew also that the fatty food they were eating was building up their strength and their resistance to the cold.
From time to time the snows came. Then they would huddle in their small houses or else in the Long House. They learned to admire the spirit and the kindness of the Lowami people. Chief Denhelm was a man of great natural courtesy. His wife had a spirit that was quiet and gentle. The villagers, with few exceptions, were friendly, and as the days passed they found themselves liking their hosts very much.
A boy named Conmor had grown especially close to the Sleepers. He was a bright young fellow, short and muscular, very strong, and also very curious. He could never get enough stories of what Oldworld was like, and he plied the Sleepers with questions constantly.
Early one sunshiny morning, Conmor announced to the Sleepers, “We’re going hunting. The meat is getting low. You are invited to join.”
“Hey, that’s cool, Conmor!”
“Cool?” Conmor looked puzzled. “Yes, it is cool. You would think it cold, I suppose. But why do you tell me that?”
“Oh, it’s just something we say.” Josh laughed. “That means it’s nice—it’s good—that we can go hunting with you.”
Conmor’s white teeth flashed against his dark, tanned skin. “I see. So when you like something, you say it’s cool.”
“That’s right.”
“Good. I will say that, too,” Conmor said. “Yes. It’s cool to
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