by Chris Wright
"Then these pilgrims must stay a while longer," Mnason says, looking at his friends. "We have a dragon outside the town, called False-Teaching. We've just had news that it caught a pilgrim this evening."
"And you'd like us help rescue the pilgrim and kill the dragon?" Samuel asks. "Let's all go now."
I look at my brothers. Matthew says that he'll help, while Joseph and James look excited. Mercy and Phoebe probably feel as I do, for we all smile vaguely.
"We must wait until the morning when it's light," Greatheart says. "It will be too dangerous to go if we cannot see the way ahead."
Mnason agrees. "I'll arrange for us to have an early breakfast. It's no good trying to fight a dragon on an empty stomach. By the way," he adds, "you might as well know. The dragon has seven heads -- on seven very long necks!"
*
It's the early morning now, and we're standing outside Mnason's inn in the dawn light. Joseph and James are at the front, to hear what Mnason has to say. Mnason tells us that the dragon lives in a large forest close to Vanity Fair.
I'm feeling a little afraid. If the people of Vanity Fair are terrified of the dragon, what can we do?
"There will be no danger if you all keep close to me," Greatheart explains. "The King told me in a dream last night that we have nothing to fear -- as long as we go in his name. He has even provided weapons for us."
"For James as well?" I cry in alarm, as my youngest brother rubs his hands in excitement. "Isn't he too young to fight?"
"The King's swords can be used by everyone," Greatheart says. "Even the youngest pilgrim. You are all to come with us."
*
We're inside the forest now, in a place where a rocky hill rises high above the trees. Suddenly Mnason raises a hand to tell us to stay where we are. Everybody stops talking. I can feel my heart beating faster.
Mnason points to the entrance to a large cave a little way up the hill. "This is the lair of False-Teaching," he whispers.
It's strange, but now I can see the cave I don't feel quite so frightened. We climb silently, higher and higher among the rocks, until we are near the entrance.
We can hear someone shouting for help, and the voice seems to be coming from inside the cave. Without warning, a head on the end of a long neck darts out. Six more heads follow, then the scaly green body of the dragon, so we can see all seven heads and long necks of this terrible creature.
The dragon stands in the mouth of the cave, its heads waving around in rage. It utters seven roars that shake the hillside as it clambers over the large rocks to attack us.
False-Teaching looks so powerful that I know it could kill us all if we weren't armed with the King's weapons. As the fight begins, Greatheart climbs above the cave, unseen by the dragon.
As the beast roars its terrifying roar, Greatheart leaps down onto its back and slashes his sword across one of the long necks. Still joined to its neck, the head rolls past us, dripping blood. We all jump out of the way.
Screaming with pain, the dragon rushes back into the cave. I look down at the head, afraid it will bite us, but it's completely still.
How many heads are left on the dragon? One? Two? Three? Four? More than four?
"There are still six heads left," James whispers, his small sword raised in his hand, ready for another battle if the dragon gets this far.
The next attack comes while Greatheart is climbing down from the rocks. The dragon is expecting Greatheart to be above, and it looks up with all six remaining heads on the end of their long necks.
Greatheart is to one side and slashes off one head, and then another. False-Teaching is wild with a mixture of rage and pain, its long necks waving around.
Mnason hurries forward to kill it, but Matthew and Samuel get there first. The terrible roars suddenly stop as the last head rolls down the hill, and dragon's body collapses in the cave entrance.
Joseph and James are the first to enter the cave, and they come out with the trapped pilgrim. We are glad to see he's unhurt, and take him back to the town to stay with Mnason until he's well again.
When Mnason's friends in Vanity Fair hear about the death of False-Teaching, they tell us they're glad about it, and even the evil prince's citizens can't help thanking us for our bravery. We get to know many people in the town over the next few days, and try to help some who are most in need.
We work together to feed and clothe the poor, and Mercy is especially hard-working. Mnason says she's a fine example of how pilgrims should behave. Phoebe, and Mnason's two daughters Grace and Martha, set us all a good example by showing kindness to everyone, and I keep hearing people speak well of us.
At last the time comes for us to continue our journey. Mnason says Grace and Martha entered the Wicket Gate some time ago, and have been waiting for a guide to help them on the rest of their way to the Celestial City. He asks Greatheart if he will allow them to travel with us.
Greatheart says he'll be pleased to help, which is good news for me -- because now the boys will no longer outnumber the girls.
Many of the King's servants come to the gates of Vanity Fair to bid us farewell, and give us gifts for our journey. The King has been so good in letting me meet people who are so kind to us.
"I was afraid they'd shut us in their cage," I say to Mercy as we leave.
"So was I," she says. "But we made new friends there, and the King kept us safe."
Greatheart is telling us about a place which is only a day's journey from Vanity Fair. He says we'll be able to spend tonight in its quiet meadows, and that sounds good.
The place is called:
We are glad to rest by the River of the Water of Life, but Greatheart warns us that we must not stay there more than a day, or it will be hard to get going again. We bathe in its water, and all of us set off early the next morning.
In the middle of the day we reach a stile leading to a place called By-Path Meadow. We tell Greatheart our feet are hurting, for the road has been rough with sharp stones, and ask if we can walk on the smooth path just the other side of the hedge.
"We can get through the hedge later," I say. "I'm sure it will be easy to get back onto this path."
Greatheart shows us a stone with some words cut into the smooth surface:
Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair. He hates the King of the Celestial Country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims. The Key of Promise opens all the giant's locks.
Greatheart explains why Christian and his friend Hopeful put the stone here by the side of the road. He tells us how Christian and Hopeful went to sleep in By-Path Meadow in a storm, and were caught the next morning by Giant Despair. He tells us about Despair's wife, Diffidence, and how she wanted Christian and Hopeful killed. I feel so ashamed that I wanted to take everyone on the wrong path.
"Why doesn't someone kill the giants?" Samuel asks, and I agree it sounds an excellent idea. I'm getting quite used to seeing giants and other monsters having their heads cut off, even if there is a lot of blood and noise.
"We're not strong enough, are we?" James says, looking at Greatheart. "But you could kill the biggest giant."
Greatheart smiles. "Only with the help of the King," he says. "And the King will help you if you trust in him."
"So we could kill Giant Despair -- and his wife?" James asks in a hushed voice.
"Yes."
"Come on, let's try!" Joseph shouts eagerly. "Those giants have killed lots of pilgrims."
Matthew's eyes look surprisingly bright. "Perhaps there are some pilgrims shut up in the castle," he says. "If there are, we can rescue them."
Matthew seems to have gained a lot of courage lately. Perhaps we've all got bolder. "But isn't it wrong to leave the Way of the King?" I ask.
Giant Despair caught Christian and Hopeful in By-Path Meadow, and locked them in Doubting Castle. Will it be any safer for the pilgrims to cross the stile now?
"If the boys really wish to fight with Giant Despair and his wife, the King w
on't be displeased," Greatheart tells me. "Christian and Hopeful went over the stile because, like you, Christiana, they thought the way would be easier. That's why they fell into trouble."
The boys shout that they'll follow Greatheart to Doubting Castle, and Mr. Honest says he must certainly go with them. Greatheart gives me and Mercy a sword each, and tells us to stay back with the Phoebe, Grace and Martha, to protect them if the enemy comes.
I hold my sword tightly, happy to be given this important job. I hope I won't let anyone down. Mercy smiles at me, holding her sword in the air. Well, we can certainly try our best -- and of course call to the King for help.
Greatheart and his group go out of sight. It's quite late in the day when they return, dragging the heads of two giants along the path. They also have two pilgrims walking with them. One is a man with a sad and weary face, and the other a young woman. Samuel explains they've been lying in the dark dungeon for six days. The man looks pale and faint, and lies on the grass while Phoebe helps me rub his cold hands. While we're doing this, Grace and Martha make sure he eats some food.
At last the man sits up and thanks us. He says his name is Despondency, and he was travelling to the Celestial City with his young daughter Much-Afraid. His daughter was doing her best to help him, but they quickly lost all hope of being rescued from Doubting Castle.
I notice Matthew's sword still has blood on the end. Maybe he's left it on there so I can see it. "You did well to kill the giants," I say to him. "I'm proud of you." This evening Matthew looks older and stronger than ever. Come to that, we're all a lot older than when we first set out.
Matthew's eyes sparkle. "When we got to the castle we knocked as loudly we could. Giant Despair comes to the door, and he has his wife Diffidence with him." He glances at the two heads on the ground. "That's her," he says, pointing. "The one with the long hair."
"I guessed," I say.
"Well," Matthew continues, "Giant Despair demands to know who we are. So Greatheart shouts, 'It is I, Greatheart, one of the King's guides for pilgrims. I have come to cut off your heads and destroy Doubting Castle.'"
"That's exactly what he said," James says, jumping up and down. "But Giant Despair didn't seem worried. He said no one could kill him."
"He was wearing amour," Samuel explains. "He had a steel helmet and breastplate."
"And metal shoes on his feet," Joseph says.
"And a huge great club," James adds. "His wife Diffidence joined in the fight, but one of us killed her with one great poke from his sword!"
"Mr. Honest did it," James says. "He's the bravest man I've ever seen -- apart from Greatheart, of course."
I look at the old man, who just shrugs and smiles modestly.
"That wasn't the end of it, though," James says, waving his small sword. "We couldn't kill Giant Despair. I stuck my sword into his leg, but he didn't seem to notice." And he thrust it forward fiercely, just in case none of us understood.
"I slashed his arms and he started pouring blood, but it was Greatheart who finished him off," Matthew says, managing to get a word in at last. "We thought Giant Despair had as many lives as a cat, but we knew he was dead when Greatheart cut his head off."
I nod. "That does tend to show a giant is dead," I say dryly. "Anyway, it's all over now." And I can't say I'm sorry to have missed the fight.
Mercy stands close to Matthew and smiles at him. "You must have been fearless," she says. "I'm glad we didn't fall into the giant's hands." She turns to the two pilgrims who have just been rescued. Her face grows serious. "Much-Afraid looks as if she might die even now," she whispers.
I remember the pills Dr. Skill gave me, and Much-Afraid swallows them with difficulty. Soon she smiles and gets to her feet.
"You will quickly grow stronger if we take care of you," Greatheart tells her confidently.
"Did you destroy the castle?" I ask.
James is nearly bursting with excitement. "We busted down all the gates and doors. You should have seen us."
Matthew's eyes shine as he puts his sword back into its sheath. "That was a good fight," he says, "but Greatheart says there will be more battles on the path ahead."
Greatheart is putting the giants' heads on two wooden posts. James asks him why he's doing it.
"To warn other pilgrims not to go near Doubting Castle," he explains.
"But the giants are dead and their doors and gates are smashed down," James says, with a puzzled frown. "So surely the danger has gone."
Greatheart says it will be dangerous here again, because:
Oth erg ian tsw ill soo nre bui ldt hem
(Hint on the next page.)
Hint: You read from left to right, but the spaces are not in the right places.
"True." Greatheart pushes Despair's head down firmly onto the post. "But you can be sure that other giants will soon rebuild them, and cause just as much trouble as these two."
We are going on again, with Greatheart leading the way. He suddenly signals for us to stop. A man is standing with his sword in his hand, his face covered in blood.
Greatheart asks him what happened. The man is tall and strong, and I feel sure I've seen him before.
"My name is Valiant-for-Truth," the man says. "Three men came attacked me, because I'm a pilgrim like yourselves. They drew their swords, and I drew mine, and we've been fighting for nearly three hours. I suppose they must have heard you coming, for they suddenly turned and ran away."
"That was a hard battle, three men to one," Greatheart tells him.
"Hard, yes," Valiant-for-Truth says, "but I knew I was fighting against my King's enemies, and that gave me courage."
Greatheart looks surprised. "Why didn't you cry for help? Some of the King's servants might have been near enough to hear you."
"I cried to the King himself," Valiant-for-Truth says, "and I'm sure he answered me by sending you."
This is Valiant-for-Truth. There are three changes in the second picture. Can you spot them?
The tip of Valiant-for-Truth's sword is missing, the sword on ground has moved, and the end of the cloak by Valiant-for-Truth's knees has gone.
Greatheart looks at Valiant-for-Truth in surprise. "You fought for three hours? Weren't you ready to drop with exhaustion?"
"As I fought, my sword seemed to become part of my arm."
"You've been courageous," Greatheart says. "You must finish your journey with us. We'll all be glad of your company."
We make the soldier welcome. I wash his wounds, and Mercy and Phoebe help me bind them up. Grace and Martha get the boys to help them prepare some food, and we tell Valiant-for-Truth he must rest, for he's been in a bad fight.
*
It's the evening now, and we've to start once more on our journey.
I make sure I'm walking just behind Greatheart and Valiant-for-Truth, so I can hear everything the soldier says in answer to Greatheart's questions. He's telling Greatheart he once lived in the City of Destruction, and I keep wondering where I've seen him before.
"What made you become a pilgrim?" Greatheart asks.
"I have a son," Valiant-for-Truth says. "When his mother, my wife, went to live with the King, he kept talking about the Celestial City. One morning he started on a journey to find the King, and I was too busy to stop him and bring him back."
"What is your son's name?" Greatheart asks.
I listen for the answer, for now I feel sure I know who this soldier is.
Who is Valiant-for-Truth?
"My son's name is Christian," the soldier says. "Someone called Truth told me how Christian fought with giants. Truth also said Christian was made welcome at all the King's lodgings, and when he came to the Gates of the Celestial City he was received with the sound of trumpets and a company of angels. As Truth told the story, my heart told me to go after my son, for my work could not delay me any longer from finding the King. So here I am, on my way." He pauses and smiles, in spite of the cuts on his arms and face from the fight.
Greatheart nods. "Y
ou came through the Wicket Gate then?"
"Indeed, yes," Valiant-for-Truth tells us all. "Truth told me that it would all be for nothing if I did not enter at the Gate."
"Do you remember me?" I ask shyly. I used to be rather afraid of Christian's father, for he always seemed too important to speak to someone like me.
"Why, yes," he says with a friendly wink. "You are Christian's friend, Christiana." He looks at the four boys. "And these, I think, must be your brothers. Well, I have to say how much you've all grown since I last saw you. It gladdens my heart to think that Christian will be greeting you, as well as me."
"And you've not been sorry you started out?" I ask.
Valiant-for-Truth smiles at me. "No, indeed not, Christiana."
Greatheart claps his hands. "Come on, everybody, and pay attention. We are now getting near the Enchanted Ground. We all have to keep each other awake."
The Enchanted Ground is a strange place. As we enter it, we feel different. I begin to yawn and Greatheart is quick to notice.
"Be careful, Christiana," he calls. "If you sit down to rest and fall asleep, you may never wake up again."
This frightens me so much that I feel wide awake -- but only for a minute or two. I'm already starting to feel sleepy again.
Imagine you're in charge of the pilgrims.
Who would you put at the
and who would you ask to go at the
as you all cross the Enchanted Ground?
Greatheart goes to the front, for he's the guide. Valiant-for-Truth follows at the back as the guard, in case some dragon or giant or thief attacks us from behind. Everyone who has a sword holds it in their hands, for we know this is a dangerous place.
We cheer each other up as well as we can, but a great mist and darkness is now hiding everything from sight. We can't even see each other, and keep calling out to be sure of staying together.
Greatheart and Valiant-For-Truth sound as though they're getting on well enough, but the rest of us are finding it painful. We keep huffing and puffing as we trip over a bush here, and get our shoes stuck in the soft ground there. James shouts that he's lost one of his shoes in the mud, but Matthew manages to get it back for him, even though he has to do it all by touch.
