CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Facing the East
So then the trio turned toward the East seeking but never finding thatall elusive Grail which seemed ever ahead of them. Strange lands theypassed through and it left them with wonderment at the bigness of theworld in which they lived.
For Sir Galahad and for the boy Charles, each day brought the wonderof new things to see. For Walker, the Squire, though he would not makeconfession to his master, there grew the wish to see again thepleasant green of England's shore. None of the wonders of thesestrange lands held allure for him, since they but proved England'sgreater worth.
But when twitted by his master he would make no confession of hishome-sickness.
"Nay master. I am a man and would hold it weak whimsy to let yearningfor my home land encompass me. I go where you will and soon enoughwill I make return to our home shores."
And the Grail, Symbol of Honor, of Faith, of Service and of Piety! Nonearer to the finding did the young knight appear to be. Even so, thezest for it, the need for finding it stayed ever with him.
So he reached Rome and stayed in it for many days. Many strangerswere there from many lands but few who knew of the Holy Grail. Andnone who could tell him where it could be found.
"I would seek, were I you, in the Holy Land," said one pious man.While still another thought so holy a thing would never be permittedto go so far as England and that the knight's search was fruitless.
From Rome Sir Galahad went north to Lombardy in search of news of SirVilard. Long was his search here but not hopeless. Nor need we makerecord of how at last he found that the Gascon was not dead butimprisoned with some of the other knights of that ill fated group. Andwhen ransom was agreed to he returned to Rome and sent a message toSir Launcelot by a friendly English knight to find the Lady Jeanne andhave sent to him the ransom desired.
Months passed. Then came Ambrose and with him the gold for the freedomof his father and his companions. So that they were free. Only thendid Sir Galahad go on.
He reached the Holy Land in company with others, men who came there topay reverence, men who came to repent of many sins, men who everrestless must journey everywhere. And on the way he had gained thefriendship of an old priest whose journey he had made somewhat thelighter by such help as youth may offer old age.
The priest had been greatly interested in the mission of the knight.Many were his questions, of where Sir Galahad had traveled, how far hepurposed to journey in his search.
"My journeys shall not cease, good father, until I have found theGrail. For so have I set my whole life that I may find it. And timecounts not. Though I wish it could be found right soon for then may Iturn my face to England." Since Sir Galahad had spoken of Yosalinde,the priest understood.
"What then, Sir Knight, makes you think you will find the Grail in farlands?" the priest asked.
"It must need be so, since were it nearer home it would have beenfound long since."
To which the priest made no answer.
Days later, when they were gathered about again he told the story ofElam, the son of Anner, who had a great desire to gain wisdom andknowledge.
"So then, young friends, he started out to learn from all the fountsof wisdom. Far he traveled and much he learned."
And then the reverend man gave long account of the places to whichElam had gone and the things he had learned. It was a tale of manyyears and it took time in the telling.
"Then when he had learned much of the wisdom of the then world and hadgained in knowledge, he returned home. And when he was there but a fewdays, lo, he found that yet had his father Anner, greater knowledgethan he and wisdom more profound. And he knew this now, returned homefrom all his sojournings. Nor would he have known this unless he hadtraveled far, for my sons, it was in this way that he gained thevision to see. Of a truth, it was then that he knew that his fatherwas wisest of men and well could he learn from him."
"I have not heard of this man Elam, before," Sir Galahad said. "Yethad he great need to travel, if he gained this vision to see."
"True and well spoken, Sir Knight," replied the priest and watched himkeenly.
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