Savage Games of Lord Zarak Read Free

then slipped it back into the water. “I can’t figure Goél out. Just can’t. We’re doing pretty well by ourselves, aren’t we? I mean, we’ve never failed him so far. Why does he have to send us ‘help’?”
    â€œDon’t try to figure Goél out, Reb,” Wash said. “It’s a waste of time.”
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    When Reb and Wash left camp to go fishing, Josh brought out the swords. It was part of Goél’s training plan that they practice every day with all their weapons, including bows, swords, staves, and even knives. They had been through terrible danger too often for anyone to doubt that they might need them at any time.
    Now as Josh took out the practice swords—blades blunted and with dull edges—he said, “Jake, you need to work on your swordsmanship a little bit.”
    â€œDon’t we all?” Jake muttered. “What I need is an AK47 attack rifle.” He was impatient with primitive weapons and longed for some of the automatic arms that he had seen before Oldworld blew itself up. He picked up a sword and swished it around. “I’ll never be any good with one of these things.”
    Dave wandered up and heard his remark. “Sure you will. You just have to practice, Jake. Come on. Let’s have a go at it.”
    Jake was still grumbling. “Nobody in this bunch has ever beat you, Dave. Practicing with you is like playing a game you never win.”
    â€œWell, you can invent things that I can’t.” Dave grinned at him encouragingly. His swollen lip was now back to normal. He selected a sword, and the two boys approached each other.
    Though all the boys had had quite a bit of practice with blades, Jake was truly bad. On the other hand, Dave was by far the most able swordsman, even as Sarah was by far the best with a bow.
    Roland came strolling up and stood with Josh, watching the practice for a while. “I can only hope we don’t meet anybody that’s got a weapon during this adventure we’re going on,” he said.
    â€œWhy would you say that?” Josh asked him. He knew that some insult was coming.
    â€œBecause unless the rest of you can handle a sword better than those two, we’re a lost cause.”
    Dave stepped back, and his face reddened. “Maybe you’d like to try a bout, Roland.”
    â€œIt wouldn’t be fair, Dave. You’re just not in my class.”
    â€œOh? Well, maybe you’re not as good as you think you are.”
    â€œOh yeah? I’m as good as I think I am.”
    It looked as if Dave was gritting his teeth. Then he reached for a sword and held it out to Roland Winters, hilt first. “Here. Take this, and let’s have a go at it. Let’s see how good you are.”
    Roland shrugged and covered an exaggerated yawn. “Well, all right. I’ll use my left hand. That’ll give you some break.”
    â€œNo. Give it your best shot,” Dave said. “I want to see how great you really are.”
    The two boys lifted their swords. Dave, clearly infuriated by the arrogance of Roland Winters, attacked at once. His sword flashed in the sunlight as he put forth his best effort.
    Sarah and the other Sleepers drifted up to watch.
    Josh saw at once that it was hopeless. Roland lazily parried Dave’s every thrust. From time to time he would change his sword to the other hand, and he seemed to be just as good with his left as with his right.
    â€œWow, he’s amphibious!” Josh breathed.
    â€œYou don’t mean amphibious. You mean ambidextrous,” Jake told him. “He can use either hand equally well.”
    It was obvious that Roland was simply toying with Dave. Finally the stranger parried a blow and in a quick motion brought down his blade on Dave’s sword, near the hilt. It tore the sword from Dave’s hand.
    Instantly the blunted point of Roland’s sword was right over Dave’s heart. “Well,