Attack of the Amazons Read Free Page B

that Dark Lord, he’s a bad cat!”
    â€œYes, he is evil, but with servants like you, Wash, I do not fear for the House of Goél.” He smiled as pleasure spread over the small boy’s face, then Goél grew serious. “Now I have an assignment for you. It will be difficult, but I know that you will do your best—”
    Jake suddenly piped up. “Why don’t you just use your power and smash that old Dark Lord?” he demanded. “You could do it. Just step on him like a cockroach!”
    Goél held the small boy by the power of his look and said softly, “But if I did that, it would mean that you and the others in this world would have no freedom. You are free to choose—that is the glory of what you are. What would it be like if you had no choices to make?”
    Dave straightened up. “Why, we’d be a race of robots.”
    â€œExactly, David, and robots can give no pleasure to me. It is when you are free to choose for me or against me—and you choose me against all odds—that is what pleases me.”
    Abbey and the other Sleepers listened, soaking up his words as he spoke of love. He seemed to be asking them for more than their service. It was strange that a being like Goél would beg for love, but that was what he appeared to be doing.
    â€œMy servants in this world must survive by one thing—their love for me. Nothing else means more than your love for me and for one another. Love is the most powerful force in this universe.”
    Then Goél said, “Now it is time for your assignment.” He pulled a small parchment out of his cloak.“Here is a map. Guard it well. Memorize it, so that if it gets lost you can have it in your minds, each of you.”
    â€œWhere are we going, Goél?”
    â€œThis may seem to you a minor mission, but I want you to go to a small nation—a tribe—far away. The tribe is called the Tribe of Fedor.”
    â€œDo they know about you, Goél, or are they under the power of the Dark Lord?”
    â€œThe Dark Lord is reaching out in their direction. He has no stronghold there yet, but he will if the people there do not learn how dangerous he is.” His face grew stern, and his eyes seemed to flash with anger. “You must meet the enemy there on his own ground.”
    â€œWill there be real fightin’?” Reb asked with some excitement. He was a combative young man and very good with any kind of weapon.
    â€œThere will be physical battle, but, my son, you must remember that the greatest weapon is not a sword or a lance but love.”
    Reb looked chagrined and seemed to draw his head back into his shoulders. “I reckon so,” he muttered, but he appeared to be unconvinced.
    â€œTo fight is your nature, my son, and I need strong arms such as yours—but love is more powerful than anything else. You must win the minds and the hearts of these people. They are deceived about many things. Be patient. You
can
win them, but they are in darkness and are blind and need the light.”
    For some time Goél spoke about their mission, but he gave no specific instructions. “Simply tell them that Goél brings joy and peace to men, while the Dark Lord brings misery and slavery.”
    Goél stood then and went to each one of them, clasping their hands, and Abbey thought his smile seemed to pour strength into them.
    â€œI will come to you when you need me, as always,” he said. “But sometimes in the darkness and difficulties you will face, you will not see me. That is when you must simply believe that Goél loves you and will not ever leave you.”
    He turned and walked away quickly, headed purposefully toward another group.
    Josh said slowly, “Well, nothing much has changed. It’s another hard assignment.” But then, looking around at the solemn faces, he said, “Let’s get ourselves geared up. We’ve got a job to