Read Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest for Free Online Page A

broke out in laughter. The Gelfling boys didn’t understand, so they made a point to laugh the loudest. Kiff had a quiet respect for the Woodland Gelfling who served at the Castle of the Crystal, but they were the exception. He saw all other Woodland Gelfling as cowardly braggarts, and he often made his feelings on the subject known.
    Radix smiled at Kiff with excessive courtesy. “As I said, I am Radix, a proud Gelfling of the Woodland clan, and I come here today to speak for the salvation of Gelfling as a species.”
    Kiff snickered and smirked at the other warriors. They winked back at him. Their strong arms were crossed.
    â€œI speak not only for the salvation of the Gelfling, but about the fate of Podlings, of the Landstriders, maybe even the fate of all of Thra,” said Radix. “As you all know, several Podlings and Gelfling have disappeared over the past few weeks with no explanation. We Gelfling have all lost our way of life, and we live in dread. Mothers, you no longer let your children play in the fields. Fathers, you hurry back to your homes before the third sun sets, and you won’t return to your labor before the first sun rises. The legend of the Hunter is spoken in whispers across all of Thra. Delegations have searched for Aughra with no success. Appeals have been made to the Skeksis with empty replies. Our queen has even considered seeking the assistance of the Mystics.”
    Kiff was very tempted to interrupt the stranger, but he strained to preserve his manners.
    â€œToday I tell you that I know why your children cannot play in the fields, why you cannot labor between the third sun’s setting and the first sun’s rising. None of us is safe, and we are not safe because of the Skeksis. They have done this to us. They
are
doing this to us.”
    This earnest declaration terrified the crowd. As fear often does in groups, it manifested itself as fury. The community howled at the stranger:
    â€œWho are you?”
    â€œHow should you know?”
    â€œYou can’t sell that nonsense to Spriton Gelfling! Take a dip in the swamp and see if you can hoodwink some Drenchen Gelfling!”
    â€œYou Woodland Gelfling can live your lives in fear! Anyone who starts trouble in our village might as well have spit in the face of Arax himself!”
    Kairn could feel his father’s conflicting emotions. This was treason, but Radix had a sincerity that could not be dismissed. He might have been misinformed; he might have lost his mind; he might even have enjoyed one too many of the tall flowers that Podlings eat after the harvest; but Kiff had to admit that Radix believed everything he said. Kiff raised his sword, which was far larger than any other Gelfling in the village could have wielded, and quickly hushed the crowd.
    â€œTwo weeks ago,” Radix said, “Rian, a Woodland Gelfling and a guard at the Castle of the Crystal for more than ten trines, returned to Ashton. Normally an unmovable warrior of the highest dignity, he was not himself.”
    Kiff scoffed audibly. Through the dreamfast, Kairn could hear his father’s thoughts: Kiff respected Rian well enough, but hearing him praised so highly, Kiff could think only of how he had upbraided Rian on so many chilly late-night shifts for sneaking off to the pantry when he was supposed to be patrolling the castle’s walls.
    â€œRian’s face was scratched with briars,” Radix said. “He had shed his armor in his frantic rush. His shoes were torn, and his eyes were wild. He flew into the home of our matriarch, Elmi, who immediately called together the village’s eldest and wisest Gelfling.”
    â€œWisest Woodland Gelfling? You mean all the ones who can write their names?” an anonymous Gelfling joked. Many laughed, but Soven’s glare quickly shamed them into silence.
    Radix continued, “The next day, the village gathered to hear Rian speak. I will spare you the horror of his entire