Terrible Beast of Zor (12 page)

I
like this place,” Alex said. “I have never known a place where I could come and feel such peace.”

Lilith leaned back against a huge tree that arched over the river and closed her eyes. It was early afternoon, and the hot sun burned on the land. But it was cool here in the shadow of the tree, and the gurgling of the stream was a pleasant and delightful sound.

“I love it here, too,” she said quietly.

Lilith had never been drawn to anyone as she had been to this tall, auburn-haired youth who had come into her life. In fact, the two had grown very close during the days that he had been at the farm. Now she looked up at him and laughed. “There’s a bug in your hair,” she said. She leaned close and picked the bug out.

“Did you know you have freckles?” he asked, looking at her nose.

“I do know. When I was a little girl, I was ashamed of them. One time I made a flour paste and put it over my face. My father and mother laughed at me. Father said freckles are cute, but I hated them.”

Alex put a finger on the bridge of her nose. “You have a cute nose,” he said. “But, yes, there are a few freckles.” Then he said thoughtfully, “Lilith, these days here at your home have been very good for me.”

“They’ve been good for me too,” she said. “What are you going to do with your life when you leave here, Lex?” she asked suddenly. “You weren’t made to be a
farmhand. You were made for better things. I’ve always known that.”

“I may have been made for better things, but I’ve wasted my life.”

And then Lilith said, as she had once before, “But a person can change.”

He was about to answer, but he had no opportunity. In the distance, a rider was charging down the lane that led to the farmhouse.

“Somebody’s in a hurry,” Alexander said. “Shall we go see who it is?”

Lilith peered at the horseman. “It’s—it’s Alcindor.”

“We’d better go quickly, then.”

They ran across the field and arrived at the house just as Alcindor reached it from the road. His horse was streaked with foam and panting.

Alcindor came down from the horse in one swift movement. “Prince Alexander,” he said, “I have bad news.”

Lilith’s father was at the door, gaping. “P–Prince Alexander?” he stuttered.

Alex glanced at Lilith, who appeared stunned. She could only stare at him. He said quietly, “Yes, Lilith. I am the prince.”

“The true prince?” she whispered.

“The true prince! Of course he’s the true prince!” Alcindor cried. “And there’s no time for idle talk. Everything has gone bad, my Prince.”

“What’s happened, Alcindor?”

“For some time we’ve been hearing that the Zorians have a secret weapon. Now they have launched it at us, and we’ve suffered a terrible defeat. We lost many good men, and we are going to lose more.”

Alcindor gave a brief report of the Zorians’ “weapon”
—a savage beast. He told them how the battle had gone. And then he said glumly, “I fear all is lost, Prince Alexander. The next attack the beast makes, he will break through our lines. Once he is through the pass, our men will flee. They cannot stand against him.”

Everyone’s eyes were on Alex, who stood absolutely still. His life seemed to flash before his eyes. He bitterly regretted the wasted years and wished with all his heart that he had been different. Then he turned to Lilith. “You told me,” he said, “that a person can change.”

“Yes,” she said quietly, still apparently trying to put together in her mind what she had heard of the prince, who lived for nothing but pleasure, and the young man she knew as Lex. “He can.”

Prince Alexander of Madria drew himself up to his full height, and his eyes held those of Alcindor. “We will raise an army from among the people. We will put a mighty host at the pass.”

“They will fear the beast. It is a frightening creature, sire.”

“I will call every man in this kingdom to arms to save our country. Quick, Joss, we must have horses, and then I want to talk to all the men in the village.”

Alcindor seemed shocked. But that was understandable, Alexander thought. Alcindor had seldom seen him do anything but enjoy himself.

Lilith said, “I will go to the village with you.”

In the village, Alexander stood in the center of the marketplace, raised his sword, and shouted, “I am the prince of Madria! Our country is in danger. Who will follow me to fight against this peril that would destroy our homes and our families?”

Alcindor listened to him, astonished. Where had this new quality in the young man come from? It was the quality of leadership, and it made the men of the village pay attention.

He said quietly to Joss and Lilith, “The prince has changed. He never cared anything about the kingdom before. But whatever it is that makes a leader, I see that he has it. His father had it like no one else I ever knew, and now I see that quality in the son.”

They rode from village to village, stopping only briefly at each one. But in every place men listened to the prince, then joined him, some armed with bows, some with swords, some with pitchforks. The small volunteer army gathered strength as it headed toward the palace.

“I must go to my father,” Prince Alexander told Alcindor. “Whatever happens with the beast, I must make my peace with my parents.”

“I think that is well, and your father’s heart will be gladdened,” Alcindor said.

The volunteers moved along with the prince in the forefront, and at one point he looked back and saw Lilith. She now wore a sword at her side! Alexander went to her at once. “Lilith,” he said, “this is not for you. Go home. Be safe.”

She turned her green eyes upon him. “I will go with you, Prince Alexander.”

Alex reached out his hand, and she took it. “Very well. So it shall be.”

As soon as Sarah received the word from Alcindor, she gathered the other Sleepers. They caught up with the prince’s army, if it could be called that, as it approached the palace.

“What’s going on?” Josh cried, riding up to Alcindor.

“The prince has had a change of heart. This is the army he has raised.”

“I know,” Josh said with wonder. “But will it be enough?”

“I do not think so,” Alcindor said quietly. “But we shall see.”

The army that arrived at the palace would be called the Army of Peasants in future histories. Some would call it the Army of Prince Alexander. But in any case, when they neared the palace, Count Ferrod met them.

Ferrod stood before the gate, saying, “Who
is
this mob? Begone! You have no business at the palace!”

Then Prince Alexander stepped out of his saddle, wearing his peasant’s clothing.

At first, Count Ferrod appeared shocked. But when he saw it was indeed the prince, he attempted to smile, saying, “Well, well, we have been searching everywhere for you.”

“I’m sure you have, Count Ferrod,” Alex said in an icy tone. “And I well know what you would have done with me had your men found me alone.”

Ferrod tried to speak. After that, he swallowed hard, and then he fell to his knees. “Pardon, Prince Alex. I was misled …”

“I will deal with you later, but now I must go to my father.”

Alex started again toward the palace, then suddenly paused and turned back. Quickly he lifted Lilith off her horse. “Come with me. You must meet my parents.” He took her by the hand.

Lilith gave him a frightened look, but his hand held
hers tightly, and he pulled her along. When they came to the double doors, Alex glared at both guards. “Stand aside! I am the prince of Madria!”

Quickly the two exchanged glances and stepped aside.

As Alex and Lilith entered the throne room, his mother uttered a glad cry and threw herself into Alex’s arms. She clung to him fiercely.

Then the prince went to the frail man who sat beside the window. His father looked ill, but there was a glad light in his eyes as Alex knelt beside him.

“Forgive me, my father, for I have been remiss. I have led the wrong life and not followed your example.”

“My son!” King Alquin put his hands on the prince’s hair. “You’ve come back to us.”

Alex and his father stood to their feet, and the two embraced. Then the prince said, “I have indeed come back, and I am going to fight against Zor and their beast. I do not know whether we shall win or not, but we shall give our lives if need be to save our country.”

Then he saw the queen’s eyes go to Lilith.

Alex went at once to Lilith’s side. “I want you to meet one who has helped me find myself. Lilith, my father and my mother—King Alquin and Queen Lenore.”

Lilith would never have had lessons in court etiquette, but somehow she knew instinctively what to do. She curtsied with a graceful motion to the floor and bowed her head. “I am honored, Your Majesties,” she murmured.

Queen Lenore went to her at once and raised her up. “How beautiful you are, child!” she whispered. “And you have been a help to our son?”

“Yes, she has,” the prince said. “And I hope you will get to know one another better.”

“I am sure we will,” King Alquin said, coming himself to greet Lilith and take her hand.

At that moment Dethenor burst into the throne room, and behind him was Alcindor.

“My prince,” Dethenor said, “you have returned!”

“Yes. I am come back. Now, what is to be done about the terrible beast of Zor?”

Dethenor looked at Alcindor, who said, “Unless it can be killed, we are lost.”

For some reason, everyone looked at the prince. It was still a new thing to him, this somehow expecting him to assume the mantle of authority. He stood tall and strong with his clear eyes fastened on them and said, “Then the beast must be killed!”

A
long with Dethenor and Alcindor, the prince was meeting with the Council to decide on what steps to take. At the same time, the Sleepers had drawn themselves apart into a room alone.

Jake said, “What I wouldn’t give to have one Sherman tank here. That would take care of that beast!”

“Why don’t you wish for an atom bomb?” Dave groaned. “We don’t have either one, and we won’t have.”

Many plans of action had been brought up and then cast aside as useless. Josh thought everyone looked discouraged.

Wash had been sitting quietly, just listening to the talk. He said, “We can’t give up. Goél’s never failed us. He’s always shown us what to do. Always. And not too late, either.”

“You’re right, of course. He has,” Josh said, thankful for Wash’s cheerful spirit. Wash was always one of the most optimistic of the Sleepers. “What we need Goél to show us right now is some plan to get rid of the beast. And we won’t have any hand grenades or bombs to do it with.”

The conversation went on for some time, but nothing came of it. Everyone was sure that on the next day there would be some sort of attack by the Zorian beast, but so far there seemed to be nothing they could do about it.

The Sleepers were all exhausted after their long ride. Finally, everybody just went to bed.

* * *

Reb lay awake on his blanket for a long time. His mind ranged from one possible solution to another, but none of them seemed to be worth considering. Finally he drifted off to sleep. For a while he even dreamed—about alligators. It was a vivid dream, too. He could see and hear and smell the things that took place.

Then Reb woke up with a start and was amazed to find an idea in his mind. He let out his shrill Rebel yell, jumped up, and did a little dance.

Josh came to his feet, staring around wildly. Then he saw Reb. “What’s wrong with you, Reb? Have you lost your mind?”

“Lost my mind! No, I haven’t lost my mind!” He pounded Josh on the chest, so hard that Josh stepped back. Then he continued his little dance.

The others came rushing from their various sleeping places.

Sarah grabbed his arms. “Reb, you’re acting like a maniac. What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing’s wrong with me. Now I know how to kill that old beast.”

“What are you talking about?” Jake sounded cross at getting waked up.

Reb finally calmed somewhat, though he was still so excited he could hardly stand still. “I said I know how to kill the Zorians’ beast,” he repeated.

“How?” Josh asked. “Tell us if you think you know something.”

“I got the idea from a dream.”

“He had a dream,” Dave groaned. “That’s all we need, a dreamer.”

But Josh said, “Wait. What’s your idea, Reb?”

“Well, I dreamed about the time I was hunting alligators down in Louisiana with my Cousin Boudreaux. He was a Cajun, and I’ll tell you what—he really knew something about alligators.”

“Alligators! What’s alligators got to do with the Zorians’ beast?” Jake grumbled.

“Let him tell it,” Wash broke in. “What about alligators?”

“Well, my cousin hunted them with spears. They had such a tough hide on the back that we couldn’t pierce them on top. What he would do is he would roll them over and stab ’em on the underside. Same way with armadillos back in Texas,” he said. “They’re tough on the top, but underneath they’re soft. Same way maybe with the Zorians’ beast.”

“You could be right,” Josh said, rubbing his chin. “But there’s one problem with it.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, as far as we know, this critter runs on four legs, and it’s got big legs and claws. How would we ever get to his underside?”

“That’s where the beauty of my idea comes in.” Reb grinned.

“The beauty of it?” Abbey said. “What’s beautiful about a beast?”

“It’ll be beautiful to get him. What I figure is,” Reb said, “if we can get him to rear up, we can nail him with spears on that soft underbelly.”

“But how are we going to get him to rear up?”

Reb looked at Wash, who had asked the question. “I’ll tell you how. What we’ll do is this: I’ll drop a noose over his head and pull him up, and while I’m holding him up, you guys rush in and spear him.”

Everyone groaned, and Josh shook his head in
despair. “Reb, didn’t you listen to what Alcindor said? This is a
monstrous
thing! Nobody’s going to drop a rope around its neck and pull it up. In the first place, it’d break the rope. In the second place, nobody’s strong enough.”