ASGARD TO THE RESCUE
By Speaker Gerald A. Polley

THE WORLD WAS IN TURMOIL as The Ancient One took wing. He was hunting. In a far-away land a man of evil lay dying, and The Ancient One sought that evil thing that guided him, that promoted his evil, drove him to dwell in his madness, that fed on the misery he caused. Finding the dying man's resting place, he began to search the area. The scent of the thing led him to it, and as he approached, it made no attempt to flee, but simply awaited The Ancient One's coming. As The Ancient One stood before it, its twisted face smiled, and its words came out in wheezing hisses.
"We have been waiting for you, Lord Of Light!" it said. "It was very rude of you to take so long in coming! It is a pity you think so little of us, for this time it is WE who shall drive YOU away!" As it spoke, hundreds like it; twisted, ugly forms, emerged from The Darkness. "You have stretched yourself too thin, Lord Of Light!" The Demon laughed. "You stand alone against The Darkness, and alone you cannot stand. this time WE will be victorious. WE will drive you into the night as you have so many times driven us into The Darkness."
The Demons grew closer, many snarling and barring their fangs at The Lord Of Light, who was their bitter enemy. But suddenly, there was a great whizzing sound! Something flew by The Ancient One and struck the advancing Demon, picking it up off its feet and driving it back into several of the companions. Lightning bolts crackled among them as the Great Hammer flew back to the large red-bearded man who had hurled it.
"What makes you think," cried a great voice, "that The Lord Of Light stands alone? As long as Asgard shines, no Bearer Of The Light stands alone against evil! Come, if you will, things of Darkness, and stand if you dare, against Odin and his kinsmen!"
The Demons gave a murmur of bewilderment and fell back as the grey-bearded man in armor came to The Ancient One's side, and many others formed ranks behind him. The Hammer Thrower came to the Ancient One's other side and spun his Great Weapon menacingly, obviously eager to hurl it again!
"Do not waste words, Odin, my Father!" the burly man spat. "Let us have at them! My Hammer cries for battle at my kinsman's side." The stunned Demon regained his feet. "You have no right here, Lord Of Asgard!" it roared.
"This is not your place. You have no business in this quarrel." "I, too, am a Lord Of Light," Odin answered, "and wherever Darkness threatenes to devour The Light, that is my place. You forget, thing of the Darkness, when YOUR energy is low, you can only flee into The Darkness. But when a Lord Of Light is weary he can call on other Bearers Of The Light to come to his aid. He never stands alone!
Now, flee or fight. It is your choice. But these people have a right to sanity, to peace without your kind trying to drive them into The Darkness, to make them like yourselves. You are nothing, embers that are burning out in the Darkness, where we are the fire itself that makes the wind to carry you away."
The Demon roared and charged forward, and the battle was on....if it could be called a battle! For in a short time the bashed and battered Demons fled into the Darkness to lick their wounds, the Norse God Of Thunder chasing the slower ones and helping them along with the toe of his boot. After a time he returned to The Ancient One and grabbed him up in a great hug.
"Good fight, kinsman!" he cried. "Good fight! Don't be so long needing help next time. Don't hoard all the fun to yourself!"
The Ancient One shook his head. "Thor, will you ever take the battle of Light And Darkness seriously?" The great Lord Of Thunder backed off. "Kinsman," he said, "of course I take the Battle seriously. Why do you think I have taken flesh like you? But is there any harm in having some fun in the Battle? You are too serious, kinsman. You worry too much. You cannot enjoy a good frolic, or, a good bash!"
The Ancient One laughed, and put his hand on the Aesir's shoulder and they both laughed heartily. "I should be angry with you, G________. Here you steal two of my sons and my daughter, and take them off into your battle. If I am not careful, you will empty Asgard!" "Never will I do that, Great Odin!" cried The Ancient One. "Your Realm will always be filled with Those who love honor and justice. I could never empty that wonderous Realm, but for the loan of Your Wonderous Children in our Battle against The Darkness we are forever grateful. But be assured, no matter how many lifetimes They take on flesh They will never foreget The Heritage Of Asgard, as I never forget The Heritage of That World from which I came."
"And a great Heritage it is!" cried Odin. "But now, kinsman, we must return to Asgard. Next time, do not wait for my daughter to call upon me to assist you. But when you are in need call upon me yourself. There is never a need for you to stand alone."
"It is not for me," said The Ancient One, "to call upon another house, but when their aid is given it is gratefully received."
"Then at least come and visit!" cried Odin, "And bring your lady, and my follower. Asgard grows dull without your visits."
"I will find time," The Ancient One promised, "I will find time."
As The Aesir departed, The Ancient One swept the area. Yes, the people here would have a chance now, thanks to the Aesir's help they would be free of the demon's influence, and have a chance to regain their senses.
The Ancient One flew home, with far more energy than he had had in many days. But along the way he stopped at a house where a young girl of very dark skin lay sleeping. For just a moment he looked at her and then sped away. That problem would soon present itself soon enough. there was no need of his hurrying it....no need at all!

THE END???

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