came to him. So, in desperation, the boy shot his
father with a hunting rifle. I will release the boy, and bring charges
against the Guardian."
75 Gray Boar saw the look on his son's face, and knew that he wanted
something, but didn't dare ask. "All right," he asked, "what problem do you have today?"
76 "Father," the boy stammered, "there's a girl in school who the other
children tease because she doesn't know her father's name. Her mother
won't tell her because her father did some terrible thing, and now her
mother refuses to even talk to her about her father. I promised her you
would look in The Books of The Damned and tell her who her father was,
and why her mother won't speak of him any more."
77 A look of pain came over Gray Boar's face. "Little Gray Boar!" he
sighed, "You have done a very terrible thing! You have made a promise
in someone else's name and it is a promise that can't be kept. Even if I wanted
to, I could not look in The Books of The Damned for anyone! Not even I
am allowed to see them, except in the company of The Judge of Judges.
78 It takes two keys to open the vault where they are kept. He has one,
and I have one, and even if I could, there are thousands of entries in
those Books each year. I would have to know her father's name and place
of birth to know which book to look in. You must NEVER, EVER make a
promise to anyone, unless you know it can be kept. You will have to
tell this girl that."
79 "I'm sorry, father," the boy sighed, "I didn't mean to do wrong. I
thought you COULD look in The Books of The Damned. I will tell the girl
you cannot, and tell her I'm sorry. I made a promise I couldn't keep.
And I'll do whatever I can to make amends."
80 Gray Boar put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's alright," he
comforted. "You didn't intentionally do wrong. Now, run along, I'm
busy."
81 The boy hurried off, and Gray Boar forgot