Read Online Astrid Lindgren, illustrated by Ilon Wikland, translated from the Swedish by Jill Morgan by Astrid Lindgren - Free Book Online Page B

probably true, that Sir Kato’s spies were everywhere. The entire Dead Forest was certainly full of them. And when we heard them far away among the trees, we stood so still, Pompoo and I, and hardly dared to breathe.
    We walked and walked.

    â€œThe night is certainly long here in the Dead Forest,” said Pompoo. “But the way to the Swordsmith’s cave will certainly take even longer.”
    â€œPompoo, do you believe we’ll find him . . .” I began. But then I fell silent. I couldn’t say a word more, because toward us, from between the trees, came a line of black spies. They came straight toward us, and I knew it was the end. Pompoo saw them too, and he squeezed my hand so hard. They hadn’t seen us yet, but soon they would be upon us, and that would be the end. I would never get to fight Sir Kato. And tomorrow night Eno would hear two new birds wailing as they flew over the lake.

    Closer and closer came the spies, and we stood there and waited and they still hadn’t found us. But then something strange happened. An old black tree trunk right next to us opened up, and I saw that it was hollow. Before I knew how it happened, we crept inside the hollow trunk, Pompoo and I, and sat there trembling like two baby birds hunted by the hawk. Now the spies were close to us and we heard what they said.
    â€œI heard someone talking in the Dead Forest,” said one of them. “Who is speaking in the Dead Forest?”
    â€œThe enemy is among us,” said another. “It must be the enemy that speaks in the Dead Forest.”
    â€œIf the enemy is in the Dead Forest, we’ll find him soon,” said another. “Search! Search everywhere!”
    We heard them searching and looking among the trees. We heard their furtive steps outside, and we crouched there, feeling so small and scared.
    They looked and looked, but they didn’t find us. Their voices sounded farther and farther away. At last it was silent. The hollow tree had saved us.
    Why had the tree saved us? I didn’t understand it. Was it because the entire Dead Forest hated Sir Kato and would gladly help the one who had come to fight him? Maybe this dead tree had once been a healthy young tree covered with small green leaves that rustled as the wind swept through its branches. Sir Kato’s evilness must have made them wither and die. I don’t think a tree can ever forgive someone who has killed its small green leaves. That’s probably why this tree wanted to help the one who had come to fight Sir Kato.
    â€œThank you, kind tree,” I said, as we crept out of the hollow trunk.
    But the tree stood silent and dead and didn’t answer.
    We walked and walked through the Dead Forest.
    â€œDawn is here,” said Pompoo, “and we haven’t found the Swordsmith’s cave.”
    Yes, night was over. But the dawn wasn’t light and bright as it was at home. The dawn here was an ugly gray which was almost like the night. I remembered the sunrise at home on Greenfields Island when we rode on Miramis and the grass was wet with dew, so that every little blade glittered. I walked and thought of Miramis and almost forgot where I was. So I wasn’t at all surprised or frightened when I heard the sound of approaching hooves. “Here comes Miramis,” I thought. But Pompoo grabbed my arm and whispered, “Listen! The spies are riding through the Dead Forest.”
    Then I knew the end had come. No one could save us now. Soon we would see the black spies coming from between the trees, and they would see us . They would come riding like the wind, and just bend down and seize us and throw us up on their horses and sweep on to Sir Kato’s castle. I would never get to fight him. And tomorrow night Eno would hear two new birds wailing as they flew over the lake.
    This was the end. I knew it. Closer and closer came the hoofbeats. But then something strange happened. A hole in the