The Herb Maker The herb maker was not far from the Inn, and was a jolly old soul, he was short, and as round as he was tall, with a long beard and mustache, he liked to tell stories of King Arthur, and about the old priests who would journey through the tunnels of the Tor, and came out crazy. He said he was standing by one of the old entrances of the tunnels in the Tor over 50 years ago and waited for one of the priests to come out, but he never did. I don't know how old he was but he was older than grandpa, and I think that is old. When he wasn't making or selling herbs, he was telling stories. Grandpa liked him a lot, and so did I. As I got to his house, at the other end of town, I went to the back and looked in his basement window, for that was his work place, everyone did that. If he wasn't there, then I'd knock on his door, for he was usually sleeping. Or a maid was cleaning his house. He never married, but I think he liked his maids. He was in his seller and waved me to come on. I pick up the wooden door to the seller which was outside the house, and walked down the steps into his basement. He had an entrance in the house also, but this was the one everyone used when doing business with him. I told him I needed strong sleeping medicine that my grandpa was not sleeping well lately and it would help him. I wanted a lot of it I told him. I gave him one silver coin, and boy did he give me a bundle. I really didn't know how much money was worth. I have never bought anything before, or handled money. I only picked up things before for mom and dad or grandpa they would pay the merchants later. That maybe why the tall thin man, and the bar keep looked at me a little strange, I had silver. I never thought of it. Often times mom and dad would barter with the neighbor, and trade a hog for two weeks labor, something like that; they have never really had much silver, and I doubt ever seen any gold coins. And here I got silver; unbelievable. I had two pieces of silver left now. I bid my farewell, and left in a hurry. I didn't want to have to answer any questions. He was looking at me also, a little strange when I pulled out my silver. I then went back to my grandpa's house for early dinner, after I had arranged everything at the Magog tree, that is. I loved that tree, it was full of spirits; the kind that either love you or hate you. And these spirits knew me well, and loved me. I talked to the tree spirits and told them my plans that I needed to use their ground for my crusade, like King Richard I, I needed to plan my war, my three battles, of which the first was already completed, and to be quite honest, there was not a whole lot of planning in that one; but none-the-less, it was quick planning. And like always they were more than obliging. They told me I had a lion's heart, like King Richard, I was very proud to hear that. They also told me someday I would meet King Richard, and that King Arthur's Guenevere was like me, beautiful, with golden hair, and stunning eyes, and although I was not a princess like her, I would someday in the summer country find my knight, so not to worry. My Camelot was here, I need not search any farther. These spirits know many things. Sometimes I feel sorry for them; I think they are left behind for some reason; trying to find their path, their soul. I pray Jesus will guide them. Mom says spirits are different than ghosts, but I really do not know the difference, I just know some are evil and others are good ones. And these spirits have shown me goodwill. That evening grandpa and I sat by the fire place as always, and I filled up his cup with the wine I bought. I told him it was for dad. I know I lied, because dad hardly drinks at all, and he doesn't like grandpa drinking, so I knew he wouldn't say a word. "Tell me grandpa about the war, you know the Crusades?"? I asked. I guess I was feeling I should know more about this, for these men used it to hurt me, and then justify their ways, or so I believed. "Well, it is as all wars, much killing. This was a war of the world you know. France, the Franks [Germany], England, and many countries from such areas of the world like Anatolia, the Balkans, Macedonia, Baghdad, Syria, Sicily; oh, grand-daughter there was so much fighting, and blood shed. The whole world went crazy. And the Holy Sea, the Pope he ordained it God's Will. But you know, I don't think God said a word to the Pope on this issue."? "Oh, grandpa, you must not say that outside of your home, for if anyone heard you say that, you would be killed, or tortured."? "I know, but it is true. But I will go on with the Great War, and let us pray we do not have a 4th Crusade. The Germans lost their leader, and for the most part, their spirit to fight, and so it was up to the English and French. This was, back around 1188 AD, you were about three years old. Incidentally, Angelina, I have a birthday present for you."? "Later grandpa, later, I want to hear the story of the war."? "All right, well, as I was saying, King Richard had his coronation I think in 1188, I think I was saying that, at Westminster, and he wanted to get to the Holy Land and get on with the war. He liked war I think. He always did. Well, Saladin, the other leader, whom was against King Richard and France, wanted to keep Jerusalem for himself. You know the war was over this holy city called Jerusalem, which is called "The City of God,"? and everyone is fighting over it. What a shame! But to make a long story short, everyone was having problems, Cyprus, the Turks, the Normans; the Germans waiting for the English. But the end result was as you know peace. And surely it is not the peace everyone wanted, but safe passage to the holy sites was given any man or woman who wishes to make a pilgrimage to them by Saladin; but then, what is safe passage when the Arab's do not want you visit; do you say, "Saladin the Arab King says it is ok,"? but still Saladin is not there at that moment, so what do you do, die? You know what I mean. It really doesn't matter, dead is dead. During this time anyway though, there was a knight who tried to make peace with Saladin; called the Green Knight. Some get him mixed up with King Arthur's knights of the famous roundtable, for there are many tales of him in that time period, but this one was different. He came out of Spain. Saladin admired him, but peace did not materialize, because of their talks. And that is all I know my little nosey granddaughter."? "Oh, thank you so much grandpa-pa..."? "You should be going to bed, get some sleep."? "I want my gift, please?"? "Here you are."? "Oh, grandpa, I love it, it's a diary."? "Now please take it, and go to sleep."? "I love you grandpa."? Chapter Seven The Wolf As the moon came up I was at the huge Magog tree. I had arranged everything. I even put a blanket down for my guest, or should I say prey. And this would be my second conquest. Just like the crusades; one, two, three. This was number two, the beast who robbed me. But he hurt me the worse of all three [Angelina's Thoughts: --You are almost there, he will be easy for he is clumsy, and not too smart. His heart is in his penis, and his eyes want you. Stay calm, and then it is time to kill him. --Who are you? Do I know you? --I am the secret]. He didn't have to hurt me. What was the sense in that? If you rape a person why hurt them, for what? He was 350 lbs, as tall as two of me. He did not have to drop me, or push all his hairy and sweaty weight on me. He could have just raped me and left it at that. But he had to watch my head bob up and down like a ball. My head was not made of pillow feathers. It still hurts [a tear], there was no light in my eyes, and my nose felt like blood; I should stop thinking about this. I want to sing: ANGELINA "London rain, coming down...nnn It's ..... All around ddd But I don't... really care er er Let the rain ... Rain every where We talked....... we walked Old London streets Narrow and crowed off The beat In my heart he'll remain Memories of Golden Rain A smile, a glimpse a Wink or two A Kiss so o knew wwwwwww But it still rains all around Every time ... I think Of Old London town Let the rain... Rain everywhere Rain everywhere Rain everywhere..... where I feel much better now; oh, so much better. I like to sing and hum when I am not feeling well. But I was already hurt. Here he comes. He's tying his horse to the wooden fence, I see him. These two trees, Gog and Magog are fenced in. But I like Magog more, it is bigger, wider. Just like them, big and wide. He should like this spirit tree. He is now climbing the fence, he jumped to the ground, he landed like a horse when he stomps and I could feel his weight shake my space. It was like he was crushing my bones again. "Ok, girlie, we will do it again,"? he sees my shadow. "Here you are girlie I knew it was you, so skinny but you'll do."? "Here is some wine sir; I bought it just for you. Please drink it, I have had some already because I know you are so big, and I will need it to withstand you strength."? He grinned from ear to ear when he heard that, and drank the wine as if it was water. The bottle was big, and I only put a little of the sleeping potion in it. I did not want him to use it all up; I need some for number three. After drinking of the bottle he started to take off his cloths. "How about you, girlie,"? he said, meaning he wanted me to take off my dress so he could watch me I think. "Yaw, the damn dress takes it OFFFFFFF!"? "Yes, yes, I am, please be patient."? I had on the dress he ripped yesterday. I put the other one on the other side of the fence in my cart, where I tied the horse up. I didn't want that one to get ripped. I took off my dress slowly, for I knew his weakness now; I let it slide over my shoulders lightly, he was watching every move of mine. "Hurry up will you, you... damsel,"? he said with impatience. "Sir, I am here because I want to be, please forgive me but I have to go to the bathroom, now."? I noticed his sword was not on him, he left it tied to his horse. "Damn! Ok, ok, go and do your thing, but hurry back, I do not like to be kept waiting, I don't have...have all night."? I went to where I tied my horse up, and I jumped over the fence. I put on my other dress, my pretty new dress I bought with the young knight's money, his silver that shined when I rubbed it against my dress,--there was a pretty glow to it. I now walked over to the fence to see how he was doing. He was waiting there naked as a bird. I had put the cage of the wolf next to the fence, and when I opened it, the wolf had to go underneath the fence of where I had dug a hole for him to enter, thus allowing him to be in the fenced area. When I let him out of the cage, at the same time I pulled the rope around his mouth off, and took the cage and put it back on the car, and quickly filled in the hole with more dirt so he couldn't come back out, although I'm sure he could either jump the fence or dig his way under it; but he was terribly hungry, and his dinner was waiting. And he now was madder than a hornet, and happy for being freed by me. I had not fed him since I bought him. I just jumped on the cart, holding the reins tight so the horse would not get spooked. And I could see by the light of the moon the wolf smelling the wine and the flesh and sweat of the huge one. He was creeping up to him like a spider. "Hay girlie where are you; is that you."? Was the voice of the huge one? The wolf must have heard that, and the spirits of the trees much have triggered his temper even more, for the wolf jumped in the air [I can see him flying] I could see him by way of the moon-light, it lit his body as he jumped and as he landed, he was on top of the huge one cornering him, and pinning him against the tree. I thought of the shivering stare he must have made at the huge one when he jumped on him, looking him straight in the eyes, for he mesmerized me with fear a few times when I looked back at him on the cart. And this knight was totally unprepared for the spectacle before him. My eyes were transfixed by the sight, making me feel how the victim must feel; isolated from his friends, the village. He remained virtually, unprotected. For the beast this was a prime hunting edge, large as the beast was himself. Apart from my personal satisfaction, for the moment, my fear of these knights faded somewhat; the threat was going. With this in mind, I knew I could go forward in my plan. These were men but not of honor. If so, they would not be in this situation. I was using their kind of tact on them; surprise, isolation, a quick plan, checking to see if I had the edge, finding a vulnerable spot, and attacking. Is that not warfare. You do not attack an army that is twice your size unless you have no choice. And these three men thought they could attack without consequence, and attacking someone who was helpless, but they forgot one thing, my grandpa told me about war, he said, "You do not leave anyone behind you after the battle; you kill the enemy, the soldiers, so they can not come back and kill you."? And I have not forgotten that. They did. They did not see me as an opposing threat, enemy, only an enjoyment a quick conquest. But they are not thinking like that now. The young man with his head cut off did not think of the battles he would go fight tomorrow; or the women he would rape. He was thinking he was dying, it was the end of it all for him, everything. Oh, I forget for a moment, the huge one I hear him.... He is screaming and screaming. Crying, running to get his sword I think, but he couldn't make it over the fence fast enough. The fence was about forty-feet from the tree; about 5 feet high. Now all I hear whimpers and his exhaustion. Now I hear no more. He must be dead, I hear the wolf chewing, the cracking of a bone. I knew the wolf had some powerful jaws, but his teeth, bit he broke a tooth. I road my horse and cart around to the other side where his horse was, the wolf was eating him up like a dog chewing on a rabbit. He was lying by the fence, hissing, eyes seemed to be looking at me, a tear was coming from him. "Sir, I am sorry, but I can not wipe your tear [he blinked his eyes], for you see the wolf would eat me, like he is you [his mouth opened as if to say something, as if he was begging me to stop him from eating him alive]."? He couldn't talk or make anymore sounds the wolf had chewed his nose and throat off, and open. I thought people died easy, but it's not true. Sometimes they die slow. The wolf looked at me then went and started eating again, paying me little attention; I think he was making sure his meal was secure. I tied his horse to my cart quickly, without getting of the cart, and found seven-pieces of silver tied to the saddle of the horse, as if he wanted to make sure no one could see it, yet it was close enough for him to grab. I now had 9 pieces of silver again. I went down to my grandpa's house, and told him I was given another horse by a huge soldier, like the young man gave me, and that it was his friend; for the same reason. I told grandpa, there were three soldiers from war visiting, or riding through, and they were staying at the Inn down the street. And I had met all three. They were very kind. Grandpa tucked me in bed, gave me a kiss, and told me happy birthday. |
