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The 13 Clocks by James Thurber
The 13 Clocks by James Thurber
illustrated
bu marc Simont
book?
It isn't
a parable,
a fairy story or a
poem, but
all
rather a mixture of
three.
It is
beautiful
and
it is
comic.
It
is
philosophical and
it
is
cheery.
What we
suppose
we
say
are trying
fumbhngly to
it is
is,
in a
word, that
Thurber.
There
reasons
are
only
few
why
everybody has
this
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http://archive.org/details/13clocks00jame
JAMES THURBER
erne
IB
ClOCkS
BY
ILLUSTRATED
MARK SIMONT
WHOLE OR
IN
ROCKEFELLER CENTER, I23O SIXTH AVENUE NEW YORK 20, N. Y. NINTH PRINTING
INC.
To
who
cast
witch or wizard,
book
is
warmly dedicated.
FOREWORD
Bermuda, where
had gone to
The
shift to this
self-indul-
modern
Man
I
wanders
see
byways
occasionally,
do not
11
hope to preserve
his sanity.
must apologize
to
my publishers and to the talented Marc Simont, who were forced to keep up with the constant
small changes
I
insisted
on making
all
the time,
that
it
was
and that
was
up and down
secret
They had me
there.
want
me
use her
name
(Miss Williams,
who
is
four, insisted
on oleanders
which
barely
who
provided, the
perfect
place to write
able
the
story; Fritzi
Kuegelgen,
who was
by some
transcribe
magic of her
own
to
some
five
to read the to
end
at least a
my
waking me
whole
enterprise
general.
J.T.
West Cornwall
Connecticut
13
(DlCI3lDChS
P-^rd.
NCE
hill,
upon
time, in
gloomy
castle
on
lonely
thir-
where
there
were
Duke, and
Princess Saralmda.
She was
warm
wind
hands
cold. His
were
as
his heart.
He wore
gloves
when
he was asleep,
when
him
made
it
difficult for
to pick
up
pins or coins
wings from
forty-six,
He was
and
wore
a
through
to
you than
He had
lost
one eye
when he was
into nests
and
to maul.
One
mauled him
first.
evil
cackle
planning
new
to perform.
He
the castle.
watch and
the hands of
They had
all
snowy
it
and
after that
castle.
was
five
m the
at
Travelers
castle
the
gloomy
on the lonely
It's
hill
and
It's
say,
"Time
lies
frozen there.
always Then.
never
18
Now."
The
has
cold
Duke was
afraid of
Now,
is
for
Now
dead and
buried.
Now
might bring
a certain
knight of gay
Duke
"The Prince
high to reach,
lift."
afraid of
Now,
but he tampered
see
if
a strange perversity,
who
tools
happened bv tned to
or magic words, or
with
cursing,
the
Duke
his
its
it
with
left it
its
springs
uncoiled
and
sprawlmg,
pendulum
disintegrating.
his
legs
were of
The
right
because,
when
his
tens.
He would
sav to
a suitor,
"What
legs?"
is
the difif
mv
is
and
the
vouth
replied,
"Whv,
one
other," the
the
sword he
him
::
to the geese.
is
The
suitor
was supposed
to sav,
a
\\ hv, one
Manv
20
wrong
difference.
for of-
at his gloves,
Those
who
win
his
only
warm hand
in the castle,
slice
They were
never were,
They came
and
failed
came
again.
And
some,
have
said,
were slam,
for using
names that
start
with X, or dropping
The
castle
m a place where
but only a
a
time
lies
frozen,
became
a little older,
little older.
22
town
that lay
below the
castle.
He
called himself
X and
still
does.
He was,
and
Xmgu,
as
he so rashly called
king,
but he had
grown weary
own
realm,
in a far land
At
Swan,
the
town
below the
where
tellers, tosspots,
on
all
she
is
"If
you can
slay the
she
is
no
hard."
"What
makes
it
even harder
is
her uncle's
tale-teller.
"He
"
will
to
your zatch
nine inches
seven
feet,
tall,
and
hand
is
and
He
breaks
up
24
"
"Our
heart
warm
on
his
in
Duke
with
my
blessing,
lordly Prince of
!
'
rider of the
sun
eighteen stone, but
m the
Then
him down
again.
he paid
"I've
due and
left
the Swan.
mused, staring
neither
Now
let
me
see,
where was
it?"
II
Si
^^^
^^
I
UTSIDE
was
m
I
lighted
by
rocking yel-
low moon
that held a
white
^^W^
^^^
gloomy
a
castle
on the
hill
^^^^^
stalked from
the gaunt
Duke
and
room
Duke with
and
thing
where,
m
I
it
it
is
cannot think."
He wondered
fall
if
the
Duke
would
or
order
him
to cause a
of purple snow,
slit
make
a table
him
26
"There he
strel. I'll
lies,
your
latest fool, a
have
my
varlets feed
him
The
minstrel shuddered
the moonlight,
won-
He
wondered
invade the
how
and
why
castle.
him
to do, or let
him meet
a princess. "I'll
late,
and
revelers
began to
reel
and none
third of
One
The
m tags, and some m velvet gowns. the dogs m town began to bark.
27
improvised a song.
He had thought
of something.
But
gowns,
tale-teller, tottering
home
to bed, laughed at
the song,
to gather
"The Duke
fond of
velvet
gowns,
all to tea.
But
Ym
\n rags, and
Tm
in tags,
the min-
Rags
strutfurrow
strel
who
went on
singing.
The Duke
is
fond of
kittens.
He
And
The crowd
in
for
28
the townspeople
knew
the
eleven
men
hands that
were gloved
with rubies
in the
doomed and
strel,
desperate
company of
the
mad minto
tell
homes
their wives.
Only
the traveler,
who
thought he
warn him of
lists,"
you
shining in the
he
said, "or
toppling knights
like crackers.
in battle, or breaking
men
29
two
You must
you Tyne
"A wandering
"a thing of shreds
and zatches." He
slip
it
tongue
m consternation at the
"Even
if
made.
He touched
the
stomach and
his throat.
sighed.
hood and
man named
The
minstrel
sins,
die."
name your
He
wed
and
sorry."
traveler
a frog,
The
vanished,
like
fly
the
mouth of
left
alone
Somewhere
a clock
dropped
strel
soft finger
touched
his shoulder
a little
man
smiling
the moonlight.
He wore an
indescribas
time,
and he had
"you
are
somewhat
less
little
more
than anything."
31
"I
manage
m my
and he strummed
his lute
and sang.
The
Some
But Whisper
The
old
man
"Who
"I
are
am
Golux
in the
mere
"You resemble
say
don't,"
the
Golux
said.
"The other
He
on hand when
people are
m peril."
is
"My
peril
my own,"
"Half of
"I hadn't
it is
Sarahnda 's."
said.
I
"I place
my
follow."
32
"Not so
I
fast,"
the
Golux
said.
I
have been
to,
I
never were.
make things
When
I
was young
the woods.
dug myself."
"But why?"
"I
thought the
said
I
tale
"You
"I
I
you made
up."
I
know
didn't
know
felt
I
had.
The
minstrel
vague
the
uncertainty. "I
side of
make
mistakes, but
said,
am on
happenchance.
when
m my
youth
came upon
I
a firefly
a spider's
web.
saved the
victim's life."
"The
"The
the
firefly's?" said
the minstrel.
spider's.
fire."
The
The
web on
sounded
away,
deep
many
lights ap-
34
peared,
down
the
darkness.
Golux
the jig
said.
is
m
is
the
fire,
the die
is
cast,
is
"My
said.
They
if a
as
"The Duke
the
prepares to feed
you
to his geese,"
a tale to stay
Golux
said.
"We
must invent
his hand."
"What manner of tale?" the minstrel asked. "A tale," the Golux said, "to make the Duke
believe that slaying
you would
light a light
someone
hearts.
else's heart.
He
hates a light
people's
a certain prince
and
prin-
cess can't
wed
second
day
after the
Duke
has fed
you
to his geese."
that,"
"I
wish
that
"The
tale
said,
"and
very
The Duke
has
awe
of
witches'
I
think."
feet
The
Duke
their lanterns
"Halt!" There
was
a clang
and clanking.
youth implored.
"Do
The
not arrest
my
friend," the
"What
36
and
said,
"Maybe
isn't
Golux."
"There
any Golux.
said.
The
minstrel's un-
line."
it
They marched
dungeon
in the castle.
slowly up the
hill.
37
Ill
T
if
WAS
gazed out
window
of the
castle, as
bloom
his
or flymg birds.
varlets feeding
He was watching
Whisper
to the geese.
He
and stared
turned
the
three limps
at
minstrel, standing
m
this
the
hands bound
is
behind him.
speak
of,
"What manner
word
that
of prince
you
love, to use a
dropped
on
velvet.
"A
38
said.
"When
they are
wed
a million
people will
be glad."
his
sword out of
his
sword-
it.
He limped
his
across
and faced
and touched
"We
I
shall
do not
like
your
tricks
and
guile.
think
if I
there
is
no prince or maiden
I
am neither
to do."
He
amusmg
"But
you
am
said,
"and
only princes
may
The
we'll
cold
Duke kept on
grinning.
"Why,
"The
then
make
prince
He
two
varlets
appeared without
his
word
"Take him to
The
varlets
were taking
trie
great hall
cess
when down
Saralmda floated
The Duke's
eye gleamed
like crystal.
The
minstrel gazed
tall,
with
dark
hair,
to tell
her
rose, or her
brow from
the
white
moved
across the
room
like
wind
air,
violets,
and
undreamed
she were a
which
to
warm his
hands.
The
minstrel
saw
the blood
come warmly
play
game," he told
on
velvet.
said.
"I
40
The
hand
but
it
was
slashed
away by
the swift
now," he
through
said.
He
his
said again,
and
When
dungeon
spider,
swinging on
a strand
of web,
bats
forth.
The zickermg of
minstrel took a
was echoed by
the walls.
The
"Take
care," the
Golux
"you're on
my foot."
"Why
the
are
you here?"
I
Duke
The
minstrel thought of
swimming
lakes too
wide
to
made of bone.
"How
"I
Golux
said.
"My
mother
was
her way.
it
When
fish, all
strel's
turned
into
to clay;
rivals
The mina
heart
was
insecure.
"My
father
was
wiz-
"who
upon
himself,
when he was
Something
have hold
of has no head."
The
minstrel shuddered.
to tell me."
"The
task,"
he
said.
"You came
"I did?
Oh,
yes.
My
power
bad
for
monks and
and worse
Duke
that
you
sand jewels."
"And then?"
"And then
sand jewels."
he'll
thou-
"But
am
"You're Zorn
met.
It
had
it
from
a traveler
came
him
as
father's
with
44
"My
"and
it
father lives
m
me
would
take
always takes
my
father three
and
thirty
and
be
is
always
set,
and
might
at sea
when mine
"Time
live
expires."
Golux
said.
is
for dragonflies
and
angels.
The former
long."
too
little
and the
latter live
too
said,
"The
and simple."
said,
"There
are
"within
gems here
in this castle.
that
you
strel
are
are a min-
without
penny
The
Duke
has
46
spies,"
he
said,
am."
said,
The Golux
"but
may be wrong," he
it."
we
must
and
try
The
you
could be surer."
"I
wish
I
could," the
Golux
said.
"My mother
I
was born,
m my time.
cannot save
them
all."
ple, if there
by, scuttled
days, or forty-two, to
thousand
47
jewels," said
Zorn of Zorna.
"Why
should he
give
me
ninety 'nine?"
I
"The way
figure
it,"
the
Golux
The
lasts,
gloating.
He
loves to gloat,
you know."
The
Prince sat
down
beside a toad.
"My father
given them
may have
away."
"I
he
said, "or
thought of
that," the
Golux
said.
"But
have
They found
slept until the
town
hour.
rattled,
Golux
said.
"Be
careful
The
"When
see
49
felt a
thing very
like a cat,
and
a head,
but he could
The
now
and
the dungeon
with lantern
"The Duke commands your presence," growled a guard. "What was that?"
know
Duke
Prince.
"The Duke
is
A
a
his teeth
began to
chatter.
"The Todal
makes
a
looks like
like
blob of glup," he
said. "It
sound
rabbits screaming,
and smells of
old,
unopened
in
rooms.
It's
Duke
to
fail
some
50
you
a task that
you can
"And
if
he
sets
me
one, and
succeed?" the
Prince inquired.
talk too
much.
Come
on.
The Duke
is
waiting."
51
IV
HE DUKE
a black
sat at
one end of
oak table
the black
on
shields
and
lances.
The
when
moved
his hands.
at
He
monocle
sneered,
"So you
would hunt
He
went
out.
"Saralmda
November
November
into June.
A cow can
And
travel thrice
"
have another
last night,
thought
it
up myself
while
a
was
killing mice.
I'll
The
dering minstrel,
he
said,
"a thing of
a cauldron.
to.
"A wan-
sounded
are
"For you
softly.
"Your
with
to
father's casks
coffers shine
you could
sail
Zorna and
"It
return."
always takes
my
father three
and
thirty
The Duke
know,
grinned. "That
is
what
wanted
to
my
"Then you
would have me
"That would be
fair,"
how
"I
do you know
have
a
that
am Zorn?"
plained,
your quarters
the
here,
with
certain signs-
and
are.
seals
and signatures,
re-
vealing
who you
Go
He
it
pointed
at a flight
of iron
"You'll find
is
in a
a star
turning
black.
Don
it
and
return.
I'll
The Duke
and the
and
sat
down
again,
Prince started
the
up
the iron
stairs,
wondering where
said,
"You
me
How
"Ill think of a
"Go
on."
his
sword, so that
The Duke
sat staring at a
a velvet
Listen."
He
"Listen
is
invisible," the
Duke
explained.
are here
I
They
give.
55
them
all
When
you
must
be
striking five."
"The
thirteen clocks?"
"The
clocks here
the Duke,
the
two
clocks
on the
five.
clocks
is
more,
no jewels
that could
my
and
these."
He
up and they
sparkled.
"A
"I
thought you'd
seal his
Prince's sword.
"And
if I
gloved hand
at
the iron
there. "I
upon
her.
When
is
she
is
m my
presence,
all
this: 'I
wish him
well/
You
like it?"
"A clever spell," said Hark. "An awful spell," the voice
of Listen said.
a silent
language
<|
*>
with
Duke
stairs.
cried,
"Go!" and
"And
if I fail?"
asked Zorn.
his
sword from
his
swordslit
you
said Zorn.
The Duke
smiled.
of
of
it,"
he
said.
"The other
half
is
worse.
It's
made
dozen
like
lip. It feels as if it
it
at least a
days, but
moves about
monkeys and
his
back.
"The Todal
can't
be
killed," the
Duke
said,
softly.
Hark.
Prince.
laughed.
"Time
is
Duke reminded
him.
A wide
fall-
"One
last
said the
Duke.
cannot
"I
would not
Golux
overfar.
He
tell
can't.
is."
He seldom
The
and
at a
the room.
The
laughter of the
down
window and
picked
61
^^^W^^ f
jjj
|||
HE PRINCE
short
way from
he
his
felt a
the castle
when
touch
gentle finger
is
ft
elbow. "It
the
^^^
^^^J^^
the world."
in
The
Prince
was
m no
mood
was suddenly
are not so
wise
he
said.
The Golux
as
I
is
not so wise
he thinks
think he
I
is,"
he
said. "I
was
there.
know
the terms.
flies
an angel or a dragonfly."
said
sur-
"I
am
Listen," the
I
Golux
said, "or at
any
rate,
he thinks
you cannot
I
see.
The Duke
than he
is
is
am
old,
and
am
shorter
sur-
cold, but
I
prise that
am
wiser than he
wise."
The
Prince's courage
63
you
he
are the
said.
"Who thought
not so a
moment
since,
knows
said
Golux
thousand gems," he
"You
said that
"What
"You
plans?" the
Golux
asked.
The Golux
hands. "There
was
more than
come
and
to think of
the
Duke
were
hail,"
said,
"and
we
no
"There
is
hail," said
Zorn.
said, "for
The Golux
that."
sighed.
"So much," he
64
"
'The
done."
"I can
task
is
do
be done,"
the
Golux
said. "I
I
cannot see
is
and see
a thing
is
cannot
find.
The
eyes.
first
I
time,
the second
a spot before
my
can feel a
I
thing
feel.
cannot
is
The
your
heart.
'nothing.'
helpless
and
I'll
help you.
said
have just
this
remembered what
isle,
There
is
woman on
gift
and
For
she
gifted
of
all.
when
The
is
too re-
markable to be," he
"I don't see
"Even the
his pearls
The
oyster
is
woman
is
woman."
felt
his guggle.
"Where
asked.
does
The
stream,
man
groaned.
hut so high or
deep I
can't see
He
stood up.
"We
us
It's
less, to
go and come.
way,
or
it's
that
way. Make up
my mmd."
a
"How
rose," the
can
I?"
"You have
Golux
"Hold
it
your hand."
it
The
in his
hand, and
"It's this
had pointed
you the
tale
Golux.
66
the
woods one
Gwain
trap.
I
of
Yarrow
for
with
his foot
caught
wolf
"Weep
am
ludicrous
this trap.
ertia.
my
foot caught
I
m
my
am no
longer
ert, for
have
lost
By
twiddling
my
fingers or clapping
my
"I
knew the
when
and
his wife,
their feet
were caught
in
even
when
they
aren't.
my
foot," the
it is
King
numb, and
someone
else's foot,
not mine."
The maidit
it
down. And
for
When
m
it
warm and
winter
hearts
and
left
with
pearls
and
pearls,
and
rivers
68
chewed
opals.
its
Every peaand
cock had
nine diamonds in
gizzard,
thirty-
The
price of stones
rose, the
price of
gems declined,
until,
by making Hagga
fined. In the end,
were melted,
make some
sense,
alas,
and
weep no more
at
any
by
dragons
her
cold.,
and broken
hearts,
and
child-
ren
lost,
or night, in
warm
or winter weather.
She grew
and
to be sixteen,
forty-eight,
thirty-four,
now
she waits, at
eighty-eight, for
said, "that this
me and
is
Golux
true.
know."
The young
you
do. If
for
know
she
why should
weep
is
and
she
is
think
her.
rose,
tangled in brambles
by now,
and
Thorns began to
and thunder
and
rose
all
paths vanished.
it
The
and held
his hand.
to
70
He found a narrow
met
tattered.
tales to
my
m
I
April.
June.
even
told her
how
is
lost
my
youngest niece."
said,
"This
sadder."
sad," the
Golux
"and getting
"The way
getting longer.
is
man
said,
"and
uphill
all
the way,
and even
need
it."
farther.
wish you
He
disappeared
light
it
brambles.
The only
ning, and
when
flashed they
it
They saw
and
Jack-oMent approaching,
my
tales to
72
and drowned
in fountains.
told
woods and
lost
on
wept
"The way
is
dark,
and getting
I
The hut
There
is
wish you
luck.
is
He
vanished
the briars.
the thorns
grew
thick and
lily
pads.
From
flies,
and
knee-deep
a sleepy stream,
:,.::
.:v--:^v,v:.:-:
::.:-
'
:--:K'.o.
-.
A
light
hill.
its
"If she
dead, there
may be
strangers there,"
the
Golux
said.
"How many
Prince demanded.
"If
hours do
we
we
weep withm
make
it."
the hour,"
the
Golux
"I
hope that
she's alive
Golux
sighed.
in
my
stomach.
You
weary."
car-
VI
hill,
and fresh
plowed the
fields.
peasant
There
a
was
little
smell,
the
Golux thought,
like
Forever
faint
the
less
air,
something
and
fragrance of a flower.
"There's no light
said,
her
"and
it
is
dark and
"There's no smoke
Prince,
"and
it is
The Golux
worries
"What
there
me
the most
that spider's
web
on
76
The young
zatch.
Prince
felt a
hollow feeling
his
"Knock on her
it
door," the
Golux
said, his
voice so high
quavered.
He
Hagga was
there.
She came
to the door
and
stared at them, a
woman
and
The
old
her age
by
fifty years, as
men
often do.
"Weep
Golux
cried,
wed
his Princess."
I
have no
ships
tears," said
Hagga. "Once
wept
or
when
tangerines
were
I
m their eye.
were dry
of stone.
as deserts
"I
have turned
thousand persons
m," she
said.
gemless from
my
door.
Come
"I
weep no
more."
a table
and
and
like a chest,
The Golux
smiled and then looked sad, and said, "I have tales
to
make
tales to
I
bring a tear
tales
have
that
would
Todal
make the
78
At
weep no more
when
J"
une.
"You have
Golux,
tales
irritably.
He
sat
on the
floor
and
children choked
tears," said
by
rings.
"I
have no
Hagga.
He
m the
forum, and
the toads
weep no
"and
listen!
The
Prin-
wed
this
youth
until the
day he
table."
lays
a certain
"I
I
would weep
able."
for Saralmda,"
Hagga
sighed, "if
were
The
He
seized
it
open.
the darkest
were
at least
ten
demanded. Diamonds
flared
They looked
laughter,"
at
Hagga
woke up
bed.
I
fourteen days
until
my
had laughed
wept
at a
something
m my
sleep."
The Golux
grabbed
them back,"
"For
you must
has been a
I
took the
it."
Even
as
sound
like sighing.
up
at
them and
cried.
of
at in
your
ago."
said.
said, "I
The Golux
and thought
he
said,
it
"As
remember and
recall,"
last forever.
Such
was the
What was
from Yarrow?"
"Hunting," Hagga
said.
"Wolves,
as
recall it."
82
"
"I
am
man
of logic,
m
to
my
way.
What
of
Why
a
tears
a fortnight after?"
"There was
who
the
good King
I
said,
'I
will
the gift
beyond
all
may
you
pleasure.'
"If there's
is
one thing
in
amendments."
The Golux
of agate. "I
said, "or is."
laugh
at
The Golux
will think of
84
were.
I'll
who was
terribly hobhlc,
cobble
And
From
But
Hagga laughed
stones trickled
until she
down
85
Golux
wailed.
He
tried again:
He
was ply,
so
gew
That
his
And
he ate only
pop
Hagga laughed
trickled
until she
brilliants
floor.
down her
"Now
she's
The young
"The
thinks
Duke
they're
It
made by
fish."
grew darker
the
scarcely see.
The
starlight
still
They stood
there,
The Golux
rhyme
The
And
Hagga
86
No
a tale. It
It
crawling of a
snail.
down
The
on the
floor, until
the hut
was ankle-deep
diamonds and
a
rubies.
m
I
wish
that she
had
said."
warm
summer."
"Farewell," the
Golux
said,
upon the
floor
and
lit
the
Golux
are left us
now?"
the
young
to
odd," the
Golux muttered
This
is
my
stomach ever
left
lied."
"How many
implored.
hours are
us
now?"
the Prince
Hagga
sat
upon the
on laughing.
Golux
said, "that
all
we
have
only forty
left,
but
it is
downhill
the way.
and
m the
dark.
said,
this
and
way
was.
"What
88
a sorry breath.
"That's an-
and
larger
than
up.
"A
it"
89
VII
N THE
torches
walls,
black oak
flared
and
fire
on the
and their
and the
glittered.
shields.
The Duke's
gloves
"How
gnarled.
"The moon
is
down,"
slew time
this castle
many
cold and
snowy
year ago."
Hark
stared at
to be
Someone
the
windows
open."
sat
"Bah!"
The Duke
down
at the far
end of
90
up
again,
"It
saw
it
with
my
eye."
side the
An
owl flew
me
He
"How
91
"I
off
and on/'
said Hark,
"and
left."
it!"
the cold
Duke
way."
He came
so close to Hark
"Where were
they
steps. "I
met
said.
hill.
their
way
to Hagga's
Do you remember
of her?"
"Hagga has
no
tears.
up
m my
tower."
"I liked
said the
Duke.
"No
in
my
camellias."
He began
to limp again
is
and
"Where
Listen?" he
demanded.
92
Golux
do not
I
trust him,"
"I like
spy that
can
see.
Let
me
have
men about me
up the
He shouted
"Listen!"
"You always
are."
tell
me what
always am!"
at
He
took
his
sword out
miss
and slashed
Whisper."
nothing and
at silence. "I
93
"You
fed
him
"They
seemed to
like
him."
that?"
like?"
"Silence!
What was
it
"What
lmda
did
sound
up
the
stairs, like
Sara-
and
at
felt
nothing.
"What
does he
feel like?
Have you
him?"
"He
can't
on
his
head
felt
the
it."
hired
him
as a
know
on
it
came slow-
bouncing
down
a
winked and
priests.
twinkled, like
"What insolence is this?" the Duke demanded. "What is that thing?" "A ball," said Hark. "I know that!" screamed the Duke. "But why?
What
does
its
95
"It looks to
like a ball
the
Golux and
apoplec-
"He
what
is
is
"What
noth-
down
"What
"I don't
is
that?" the
Duke
it is,"
asked, palely.
said Hark, "but
it's
know what
throw them up
I'll
for grabs
betwixt the
lock
them
m the dungeon
At
the mention
a head!"
The
its
97
them
all!"
he
said.
this cross-eyed
clown!
You
hear me?"
rites
and
rituals,
on mountains."
"Go
stairs.
on," the
Duke
said, softly,
looking
up
the
"You must
to
let
them have
their time
and turn
make
"The
Duke.
ing.
were murdered,"
myself one
said the
snowy mornstains,
You
brown
where
my
sleeve."
He
"What
else?" as
he asked.
as
I,"
"You know
well
said Hark.
"The
"And
if
he does?"
the
"He wins
"Who
loses
Saralmda loses
mean
the
98
less
in a shrine.
Her
feet
appear to
me
as doves.
Her
fingers
"This
of one's
scarcely the
niece."
own
"She's not
my
niece!
Duke.
from the
bear on
my
bit me."
"The
Duke.
"Who
"My
ship
island in a storm.
star.
No
lights
were
the castle."
then?" asked
breast.
knew
I
had
m my
castle.
99
mean
till
she
is
twenty-one.
The
day she
day is tomorrow."
your kingdom."
his
upper
teeth.
witch
who
upon me."
its
"What were
"I cannot
wed
day
her
is
one,
and
that
tomorrow."
"You
"I
safe
is
from me.
done
that."
"I hate
it,"
done
that, too."
He
sat
down
at the
"one always
of
by means
which the
right
hand
spite of
How
did
"Like
this.
stroyed, only
by
a prince
whose name
is
begins
with
and
doesn't.'
There
no prince whose
X and doesn't."
off
mask slipped
and he put
it
back
Duke saw
laughter
"is
Zorn of
posed
as a minstrel.
is
wasn't. This
the prince
with
X and doesn't."
to shake.
"No-
body ever
himself.
tells
me
anything," he whispered to
Another
ball
came bouncing
down
floor.
the
stairs, a
The
cold
im-
Duke watched
pudence
is
it
roll across
the
"What
this?"
he
cried.
102
stairs
and
listened,
and
said,
"There's someone
up
there."
"The children
sound
I
"and the
feet."
my sword
for play-
The Duke
started
up
the
"The guards
are
"You wanted
it
that
way. There
a clock.
at
You and
two
Duke
are guard-
He
pointed
it
the
clocks
on the
"You wanted
that
way."
repeated,
and
They trooped
into the
stairs,
room
his
like engines.
the
drawn sword
"Follow me!" he
slay the
cried.
"Another game's
Prince,
afoot!
Golux and
the
He
led the
way. The
stairs
like engines.
Hark
and chewed
black oak
again,
and followed.
silent for a space
The
room was
of
a secret
ma
wall.
The Golux
The
"How without my
me burn
a
let
"You
lighted
up your window
like a star,
and
we could see
"Our time
is
Golux
said.
marked
They heard
"He
faces thirteen
men," she
cried,
"and that
is
hard."
"We
"and that
Golux
said,
"How
wailed.
can
start
104
"Your hand
the
is
is
cold,"
Golux
said.
"Touch
hand."
Nothing happened.
"We
Golux
She
"I
"Use magic!"
The
happened. "Use
Guard pounding
close.
"Now
can
let
me
see," the
Golux
start
said. "If
you can
logic, as
far
know and
this
Now that far. Closer! Now a little farthink you have ther back. A little farther. There
away.
!
it!
Do
not move!"
rigid
a tick
106
The
like
room
to
room,
wind
spread
its
was
Now!"
cried Saralmda.
opened
morning
windows, and
Duke moaned,
yet
its
I
sound of
time.
And
slew
it,
and wiped
my
beard."
He thought
that
own
left
knee
he thought
was
the Golux.
cried.
"Come
out,
"Stand forward,
They heard
men
to one!"
was
as the strength
An
unknown
ago,
it."
him
else
a year
somewhere on an
No
one
can do
109
"
"The unknown
of Zorna."
"Ill slay
"was Zorn
rose
"I
and echoed
down
stairs.
Zorn of Zorna!"
Hark began
chew
again.
"No
mortal
]f
man
said,
"and even
he could,
maiden's
love,
something
else: a
clockwork
and
and
knows
the southward
"You
sicken
me with your
chocolate chatter,"
is
"Your tongue
made of candy.
If there
were
light, I'd
show you on my
gloomy
sleeves
the old
brown
I
stains of seconds,
and
died.
slew time
these
and
said Hark.
"You
I
are the
most
always meant to
you
that.
said
it
Duke. "Where
stairs.
are
we?"
the secret
his
sword gripped
secret
knob.
Ill
VIII
^^^^^E^^
HE BLACK
f
m
^^^
The
cold eye of
the
^^^^^
with chiming
as the clocks
began to
strike.
"One!"
said Hark.
"Two!"
cried
Zorn of Zorna.
at the
"The
task
The Duke's
moved around
the
112
room.
"Where
is
are
my
where
"I lured
them
in.
"and
is
locked them
The one
that's tied
knots
Krang."
The Duke
"They're
pebbles!"
real,
false!"
he
said.
He
was
and put
task
down
again.
"The
met."
is
"Not
until
wed
the Prin-
the
room were
their breathing.
"What
the
gruesome
way
Golux
cried.
"She's not
stole her
my niece/'
a king."
the lame
man
his
sneered. "I
teeth.
from
He showed
said,
lower
is
"We
all
have flaws," he
"and mine
being
wicked."
He
sat
down
at
"Who
The
the
is
my
spy's black
eyebrows
rose. "I
thought
Golux
114
"Especially," the
kings."
Golux
said,
"the names of
"Your
good King
Gwam
"I
of Yarrow."
that once," the
knew
it."
Golux
said,
"but
forgot
gift
He
the end to
"The
much
my
taste,"
he snarled. "I
hate
it."
He went on
counting.
115
Hark, "and, to my
his
taste, refresh-
ing."
He removed
I
and
jolly. "If
may
am
a servant of the
Gwam
of Yarrow."
"That," the
Golux
know. You
many
years ago."
sad,
I
The
servant of the
I
King looked
tell,
and
said,
"This part
always hate to
but
was under
a witch's spell."
"I
said,
"with
The Duke's
smile
showed
I
his
upper
teeth. "I
see,"
he muttered.
His eye
moved
glassily
Golux
said,
"you gleam-
He had
a sack.
counted
all
on the
table.
He gave them
"The
deathly silence
little
filled
the room.
The Golux
to shake.
turned a
pale
and
his
hand began
He remembered something
down
from Hagga's
hill,
ankle, a sapphire or a
from the
the sack.
"One
diamond had
fallen
from
saw it
are
fall.
you waiting
you
be gone forever,
you
He
"What
kind of knots?" he
117
young Prince
said. "I
learned
them from
my
sister."
"My jewels,"
he
never
tittered, tittered.
The
left
the cold
Duke
stand-
up
halfway on our
They stood
He
held
lies
the rems of
two white
It sails
horses.
"Your ship
m the
harbor.
withm
the hour."
"I can't
"My
father's clocks
also
lacked the
power of
She
"A
fair
wind
stands
a last
"Keep warm," he
said.
118
Remember
blessed
isles
laughter. You'll
need
it
even
the
of Ever After."
"Whence came
"The Golux
when
he needs them.
He makes
"I
things up,
you know."
know
"You
sail for
"I
must stay
Hark
replied.
"So runs
my witch's
will give
me
time to
Krang
as well."
but he
no
longer.
"Where
Saralmda.
"Oh,"
said Hark,
"he knows
said,
a lot of places."
this."
rose.
horses snorted
mist
down
to the harbor.
far to
fair
wind stood
for
as
on
clear
and windless
Your guess
lot
is
quite as
that
good
as
mine (there
I
are a
of things
shine)
I
but
have always
121
EPILOGUE
FORTNIGHT
Duke was
jewels
later,
the
with
a little
sound
like sigh-
sa
ing.
The
fringes of his
glow-
He
drew
his
sword, and
122
and
this?"
looked up
at the
oak room.
"What
table.
slish
is
His monocle
and he slashed
his
sword
at silence
and
at
nothing. Something
moved
monkeys and
walls
like
went
out, the
colder.
two
room grew
There was
un-
rabbits screaming.
"Come
roared.
on,
you blob of
Duke
you
"You may
Duke
of Coffin Castle!"
He
sneered.
"Now
that
my
not
my
fondest wish!
On guard,
was
you musty
sofa!"
The Todal
silence.
gleeped. There
a stifled shriek
and
When
there.
Hark came
was no one
on the
floor,
lay gleaming
123
after.
wall.
He
picked
it
stamped with
scarlet owls.
The
spy of the
Duke
somewhere
124
m*
[continued
from front
/lap]
to
to
Duke
to he -punished.
to
Too
thing
little
of this kind of
is
going
on
all
in
the
it is
of
r^m: