Savage Games of Lord Zarak Read Free Page B

hush puppies are better than the fish!”
    â€œWhy do they call them hush puppies, Reb?” Abbey asked curiously.
    â€œBack home, we always had a bunch of dogs crowding around when we were trying to eat. My pap would toss one of these to them when they got too pesky and say, ‘Hush, puppy!’”
    â€œThat sounds like just another one of your tall tales, Reb.” Josh laughed at him. He liked Reb Jackson very much. “Tell us another one of your hunting lies.”
    But Reb was out of the mood. He had eaten enough for two boys his size, but still there was a frown on his face. Finally he said, “I wish that Roland Winters would get lost in the woods and never come back!”
    â€œThat would be a sad thing, Reb.”
    Everyone jumped to his feet, for there in the open door stood Goél!
    Goél entered with a slight smile on his face. He was wearing the same light gray robe that he always wore. The hood that sometimes shaded his face was pushed back. His hair was light brown and had a slight curl to it, and his features were tanned. Sometimes his eyes seemed gray, and at other times there was a blue tinge to them. And just now his eyes seemed happy. “I’m glad to see you all. Sit down, and I’ll join you.”
    â€œHave some of this fish—and some of Reb’s hush puppies.”
    â€œI believe I will, Sarah.” Goél began to eat hungrily, and he listened as each one spoke.
    When all had finished eating, Reb glanced around and said quietly, “Got something to talk to you about, sire.”
    â€œAnd what is that, my son?”
    â€œIt’s about this guy Roland Winters. He’s impossible. Where’d you dredge him up?”
    â€œThat’s a strange expression—‘dredge him up.’ As a matter of fact, Reb, his father is one of my best servants.”
    â€œWell, his son didn’t get any of that,” Jake said sourly. “If I ever went on a two-week canoe trip with him, I think one of us would shoot the other.”
    Goél looked at Jake but said nothing.
    Jake’s face turned red, and he muttered, “Well, it was just a thought.”
    â€œSo you’re all agreed that Roland is ‘impossible’?”
    â€œHe’s very difficult, sire,” Josh said. “No doubt about it. But I’m sure you knew that when you sent him to us.”
    â€œI did indeed.” Goél leaned forward and put his hands together. He had strong hands, although the fingers were slender. He did not speak for a time but kept looking thoughtfully around the circle. “I understand your problem. He is a difficult young man. But as I indicated, his father is one of the best men that I’ve ever known. He asked me as a very special favor to see if I could do something to help his son.”
    â€œWell, he’s a bully and a bragger,” Reb complained. “I hope you’re not intending to send him with us, Goél. Because I flat out won’t go. Not with him. ”
    Shocked silence fell over the table. None of the Seven Sleepers had ever downright refused to obey a command of Goél. But Reb’s lips tightened, and he sat up straighter. He could be stubborn, Josh knew. For a time Reb’s eyes met those of Goél, but then he could not hold Goél’s steady gaze, and he bowed his head.
    â€œI will never force anyone to serve me, Reb,” Goél said quietly. “If you cannot serve me out of love, it is best that you go and find someone else to serve.”
    Reb looked up. The words seemed to startle him. And perhaps he saw something in Goél’s face that hurthim, for he stammered, “Well . . . well, I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t do it. I meant that . . . that I don’t want to do it.”
    â€œAll of us have to do things we don’t want to do, Reb.”
    â€œEven you, Goél?”
    â€œYes. Even me, Reb. But I ask this of you as a favor, and it will not