Gray Boar's in Eastern.
16 "I have something here," announced the telegram, "that belongs to
you. He's alive and well, except for being hungry, and wants to know if
he can have another fun ride with the nice people."
17 That evening the village literally danced for joy, and a few days
later as the tug chugged up to the dock, towing its barges, the Captain
came ashore carrying a sleepy little boy in his arms.
18 "I was told to deliver this," he cried, "though I kind of hate to. We haven't had such a pleasant journey in years!
He's a very good child. But please- from now on, keep him off the
barges!"
19 When the boy saw his mother he became instantly awake, throwing out
his arms and crying ''Hug! Hug!" His mother took him, and joyously
hugged him. "Oh, my little darling!" she wept. "How terrified you must
have been on that awful barge, rocking back and forth with nobody to
talk to!"
20 "But I talked to nice people," the boy insisted. "while we ride
water. Told me stories. I had good time! And they moved big stick, make
boat go 'whoosh, whoosh!'"
21 "But there was no one on the boat," insisted his mother, "but you."
22 The boy shook his head. "Many people come and go, tell me about
doggie that fall down, about man with sword that burns. I have good
time!"
23 "I never told him those stories!" remarked his mother. Everyone in
the crowd fell silent. For they knew if anyone had been with the child,
it was not living men, it had to have been The Lords!
24 An old Speaker came up, made The Sign of The Lords and touched the
child's head with it. "And it was written," he said, "by The Old Fox,
that 'There shall come one after me who, when he is but a babe, shall
ride the raging water with no man's hand upon the tiller but The Lords,
and out of his loins shall come one