wish to speak with the children, but I am ugly,
and when they saw me they ran away.'
17 'That was a mean thing to do,' sighed the blind man. 'What brings
you here?'
18 'I have come as a messenger from my King,' explained Groam. 'My
people live beneath the hills of your land. We wish to be your friends,
to trade with you. We have things to offer you, you have things to
offer us!'
19 The blind man reached out and touched his face. 'I have heard
legends of your people,' he announced. 'May I feel your hand?'
20 Groam let him take his hand in his. The blind man felt it. 'How
soft!' he continued, 'How smooth! Yes, indeed, you are one of the
people of legend. Come. I will take you to my King. I am one of his
Councilmen. I am sure he will welcome such a good-hearted man on such a
great mission!'
21 So he took Groam to the city, and as he entered, the people fled in
all directions, and fighting people came. 'Put away your weapons,'
ordered the blind man, 'he is a man of peace. He comes as emissary from
his King to seek trade.'
22 'How can anything so ugly, I demanded the leader of the fighting
people, 'be friendly? It may intend to attack our King.'
23 'Nonsense!' insisted the blind man. 'He is a man of peace. Make way!
Make way!'
24 As they made their way through the square, Groam saw a strange
sight....a spear with its head stuck in a block of stone! 'What does
the
inscription say below the spear?' he asked the blind man.
25 '"Behold, The Spear of Nevermore, King of Kings. Whoever shall pull
this Spear from this stone shall be King of Kings, Ruler of All Lands.
For while he holds it, The Truth that is within all