Greatheart nods. "You came through the Wicket Gate then?"
"Indeed, yes," Valiant-for-Truth tells us all. "Truth told me that it would all be for nothing if I did not enter at the Gate."
"Do you remember me?" I ask shyly. I used to be rather in awe of Christian's father, for he always seemed too important to speak to someone like me.
"Why, yes," he says with a friendly wink. "You are Christian's friend, Christiana." He looks at the boys. "And these, I think, must be your four brothers. Well, I have to say how much you've all grown since I last saw you. It gladdens my heart to think that Christian will be greeting you, as well as looking out for me."
Greatheart and Valiant-for-Truth go on talking for some time, and the rest of us listen to Valiant-for-Truth's account of his pilgrimage. "My friends did everything they could to keep me in the City of Destruction," he says. "They told me that being a pilgrim was an idle life, and if I didn't want to be called lazy, I must never become one."
"Lazy?" I say in surprise, butting in. "It's been hard and dangerous work at times."
"But it's been good as well," James says. I wonder if he's only thinking about killing giants, but probably he also remembers the times in the King's houses along the Way.
"When that didn't work," Valiant-for-Truth continues, "my friends tried to frighten me by telling me about the dangers I'd meet if I became a pilgrim. They warned me of fierce giants, lions, Hill Difficulty and Apollyon the Destroyer. They told me I'll have to go over the Enchanted Ground, which is very dangerous."
"We're reaching that place soon," Greatheart says.
Valiant-for-Truth nods, but he doesn't seem worried. "They told me there's a place that's much worse than that," he continues. "They warned me of the Dark River, over which there is no bridge -- and the River is between me and the Celestial City."
"Didn't all these things worry you?" Greatheart asks.
"No, they seemed but as so many nothings to me. I remembered what Truth said, and I knew he couldn't be deceiving me, so I left the city and began my journey. I even learnt a song to sing along the Way:
"Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather.
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent,
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.
"Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound.
His strength the more is;
No lion can him fright,
He'll with a giant fight;
But he will have a right
To be a pilgrim.
"Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit;
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He'll fear not what men say;
He'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim."
It's not long before we all learn the words and join in. I play the viola and Mercy plays the lute as we walk along. It helps pass the time until we come to the Enchanted Ground.
CHAPTER 78
The Enchanted Ground
The Enchanted Ground is a strange place. As we enter it, we feel different. I begin to yawn and Greatheart is quick to notice.
"Be careful, everyone," he calls. "If any of you sit down to rest and fall asleep, you may never wake up again."
This frightens me so much that I feel wide awake -- but only for a minute or two. I'm already starting to feel sleepy again.
Greatheart leads the way, for he's the guide, and Valiant-for-Truth follows at the back as the guard, in case some dragon or giant or thief attacks us from behind. Everyone who has a sword holds it tightly in their hands, for we know this is a dangerous place.
We cheer each other up as well as we can, but a great mist and darkness is now hiding everything from sight. We can't even see each other, and keep calling out to be sure of staying together.
Greatheart and Valiant-For-Truth sound as though they're getting on well enough, but the rest of us are finding it painful. We keep huffing and puffing as we trip over a bush here, and get our shoes stuck in the soft ground there. James shouts that he's lost one of his shoes in the mud, but Matthew manages to get it back for him, even though he has to do it all by touch.
It's a great relief when the mist clears a little, and we see an arbour where we can rest. It's well built and covered with green branches, with seats inside. There's even a bed covered with springy moss..
"Make sure you all keep out of that shelter," Greatheart calls. "This resting place is called the Slothful's Friend, because it's been built by the evil prince to tempt pilgrims to stop, just when they feel they've done enough travelling."
I certainly feel like stopping for a bit, but of course I don't -- not after that warning. It's completely dark as we press on, and Greatheart tells us to wait while he lights a lantern. "I need to be absolutely sure of what lies ahead of us," he says.
Greatheart holds the lamp up to read a map he's taken from his pocket. We all gasp when we see the lamp light up a pit right in the middle of our path.
"The King's enemies have dug this," Greatheart says. "It's full of water and mud. It may be extremely deep. If you sink in, you could be lost for ever."
Carefully, by the flickering light, we make our way around the muddy pit one at a time, trying not to look down into it. Feeble-Mind, Ready-to-Halt, Despondency and Much-Afraid need a lot of encouragement to keep going, but before long we are all safely back on the path.
We come to another arbour, and by Greatheart's light we see two men sleeping in it.
"These pilgrims have grown tired of their journey," Greatheart explains.
"Let's wake them up," Samuel says, and he hurries forward to shake the men by their shoulders.
"You're wasting your time," Greatheart tells him. "These two men have been sleeping here ever since I first passed this way."
Samuel shakes them hard, and one of the men mutters in his sleep, "I will fight so long as I can hold my sword in my hand."
Joseph and James laugh when they hear this, but I tell them it's not funny. I ask Greatheart what it all means.
"It won't matter what we do," Greatheart explains. "We can shake them, shout at them and even hit them, and they'll always say something like that. They're probably dreaming they're still on their journey. I don't know if they will ever wake again, but their plight must be a warning to other pilgrims."
It's certainly a warning to me, and I want to keep going as fast as we can. Suddenly Greatheart's lantern flickers out, leaving us in complete darkness. I begin to panic, and can hear Joseph and James crying. Greatheart calls to the King and strikes his light again. The lantern now burns brightly. A wind gets up and drives the last patches of mist away.
"Keep close," Greatheart warns. "We're not out of the Enchanted Ground yet."
I think I can hear someone talking, but the sound is too far in front to be sure. We come at last to a man on his knees, with his hands and eyes raised, talking solemnly to the King. He doesn't seem to know we're here, so we stand silently until he's finished.
He jumps up, and without looking round begins to hurry along the path in the direction of the Celestial City. Greatheart calls out, but the man only runs faster.
"I know you," Mr Honest calls. "Your name is Mr Stand-Fast. We used to live near each other. You're a good pilgrim."
Stand-Fast seems to recognise Mr Honest's voice, and he turns and waits for us.
"Why were you running on like that?" Mr Honest asks, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I have just met an evil witch," Stand-Fast says. "At first I thought she was a friend. She kept smiling at me, and showed me a purse full of money."
"I've heard of her," Mr Honest says. "You are right, she is indeed a witch. She is the one who has causes pilgrims so much troub
le on the Enchanted Ground. She represents everything in the world that causes us to forget about the King and his Son -- riches, power, self-pleasing. These things are like a bubble that looks wonderful, but within an instant it becomes nothing. People often worship her and all she has to offer."
"I suspected as much," Stand-Fast says. "I called out to the King for help, and you came along at exactly the right moment. I shudder to think what would have happened if I'd listened to her. I was finding the Enchanted Ground so difficult that I almost believed she was offering something easier and better than the Way of the King."
Mr Honest nods. "You did well not to listen, or you would have been in great danger. Remember the old saying:
"Some, though they shun the frying pan,
Do leap into the fire!"
CHAPTER 79
Beulah
We're in the Land of Beulah now. The sun is shining, and Greatheart tells us it shines all day, but it never burns. I'm feeling tired after our journey, so I decide to lie down and rest in a house we've been given on the edge of an orchard.
Almost as soon as I get to sleep, the sound of bells on the other side of a wide river wakes me up. People are blowing trumpets, but I don't feel like complaining, for the music is so lovely.
I go to the window and see three angels walking along the road with a group of pilgrims. As they pass us, from the open window I can hear the angels saying words of comfort to the pilgrims who look so weary.
My ears are now filled with such beautiful sounds that I know I've never felt so at peace before. I can almost imagine I'm in the Celestial City, even though it's on the other side of what people are calling the Dark River.
I go out into the orchard, and some children run up to me with bunches of flowers. They have enough for Mercy, and yet more for Phoebe, Grace and Martha. My four brothers are sitting together, talking under an apple tree -- and I doubt if they want flowers.
I think perhaps Matthew will make a good teacher, as he's become so wise and sensible lately. He smiles when I go across and tell him this.
"I'd like to be a teacher, if the King chooses the work for me," he says.
I tell Samuel he'll make a good soldier like Greatheart.
"To guide the pilgrims?" he asks. "Yes," he says thoughtfully, "that would be the best work of all. But I can never be as good at it as Greatheart."
I laugh. "Do you think Greatheart was always good at being a soldier? He must have been trained, or he wouldn't know so much about the King and his ways. You're brave and careful. You'll make a good guide and soldier."
Joseph and James tell me they've done enough travelling for now, but I can see the journey has done them good. I wonder what the King has in mind for them.
Mercy joins us. "We were so few when we started," she says as she sits down on the grass. "Now look how many of us there are here in Beulah. Some young and some old, some weak and some strong, and yet the King has cared for us all."
I see Matthew looking at her with a smile on his face, and I remember the words of Gaius. Yes, maybe they will marry one day, and serve the King together.
CHAPTER 80
The Message
It is now many years later. Matthew has indeed married my best friend Mercy, and together they are teaching young pilgrims, along with three children of their own. More of a surprise was the marriage of Samuel to Grace, the daughter of Mnason. They have a baby boy. Joseph is engaged to Grace's sister Martha. Phoebe, the daughter of Gaius, always seems to be with James. Meeting young Phoebe at the inn of Gaius seems like a distant memory now.
I'm pleased to know that my brothers are with true followers of the King.
Mr Honest, and many of the other pilgrims we journeyed with, have already crossed the Dark River, and are now at peace in the Celestial City. Before leaving us, Stand-Fast said, "I am going to see that Head that was crowned with thorns." We all knew he was referring to the King's Son, for it is a story we love to tell each other.
Christian's father, Valiant-for-Truth, crossed over a few months ago. He said he was proud to have received so many cuts and injuries for the King. He gave his sword to Samuel who is training to be one of the King's soldiers and guides, just like Greatheart. So finally Valiant-for-Truth is with his wife and with his son Christian.
I know I'll be there myself soon, but I'm not sad or anxious. Sometimes the water is high and rough, but I know the King's Son will be on the other side to welcome me.
An angel came yesterday with a message for Ready-to-Halt. He crossed the Dark River last night, and I can picture him now, healed and running and dancing for joy in the Celestial City. When he came to the edge of the Dark River, he said, "Now I shall have no more need of these crutches, because on the other side are chariots and horses for me to ride on!"
Before going, he asked for his crutches to be given to another pilgrim in need of support, "With a hundred warm wishes that he may travel better than I have done."
I keep thinking back to the time when I sat on the hill above the City of Destruction. How different life was for me then. I knew nothing of the love of the King and his Son, and I knew nothing of the joy that is waiting for me now in the Celestial City. I hear a knock at the door. I open it and an angel is there with a message from the King.
"Greetings, Christiana," the angel says. "I bring you news that the King is calling you, and wants you to stand in his presence, in clothes of everlasting life."
"I'm coming, Lord," I say, "to be with you and bless you for ever."
THE END
More Christian books from White Tree Publishing are on the next pages, some of which are available as both eBooks and paperbacks. More Christian books than those shown here are available in non-fiction and fiction, for adults and younger readers. The full list of published and forthcoming books is on our website www.whitetreepublishing.com. Please visit there regularly for updates.
White Tree Publishing publishes mainstream evangelical Christian literature in paperback and eBook formats, for people of all ages. We aim to make our eBooks available free for all eBook devices, but some distributors will only list our books free at their discretion, and may make a small charge for some titles -- but they are still great value!
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Chris Wright has three grownup children, and lives in the West Country of England where he is a home group leader with his local church. More books by Chris Wright for young readers are on the next pages. His personal website is www.rocky-island.com
Books for Younger Readers
(and older readers too!)
The Merlin Adventure
Chris Wright
The day Daniel Talbot brought home a stuffed duck in a glass case, everyone thought he'd gone out of his mind. Even he had his doubts at times. "Fancy spending your money on that," his mother scolded him. "You needn't think it's coming into this house, because it isn't!"
When Daniel, Emma, Charlie and Julia, the Four Merlins, set out to sail their model paddle steamer on the old canal, strange and dangerous things start to happen. Then Daniel and Julia make a discovery they want to share with the others.
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9954549-2-7
Paperback ISBN: 9785-203447-7-5
5x8 inches 182 pages
Available from major internet stores
The Hijack Adventure
Chris Wright
Anna's mother has opened a transport café, but why do the truck drivers avoid stopping there? An accident in the road outside brings Anna a new friend, Matthew. When they get trapped in a broken down truck with Matthew's dog, Chip, their adventure begins.
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9954549-6-5
Available now in paperback
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-5203448-0-5
5x8 inches 140 pages
Available from major internet stores
eBook coming soon
paperback available now
The Seventeen Steps Adventure
Chris Wright
When Ryan's American cousin, Natalie, comes to stay with him in England, a film from their Gran's old camera holds some surprise photographs, and they discover there's more to photography than taking selfies! But where are the Seventeen Steps, and has a robbery been planned to take place there?
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9954549-7-2
Available now in paperback
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-5203448-6-7
5x8 inches 132 pages
Available from major internet stores
eBook coming June 2017
paperback available now
The Two Jays Adventure
Chris Wright
James and Jessica, the Two Jays, are on holiday in the West Country in England where they set out to make some exciting discoveries. Have they found the true site of an ancient holy well? Is the water in it dangerous? Why does an angry man with a bicycle tell them to keep away from the deserted stone quarry?
A serious accident on the hillside has unexpected consequences, and an old Latin document may contain a secret that's connected to the two strange stone heads in the village church -- if James and Jessica can solve the puzzle. An adventure awaits!
eBook ISBN: eBook ISBN: 978-0-9954549-8-9