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Authors: Michael J. Bowler
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though he wasn’t quite sure why.
Arthur frowned in annoyance and confusion at Lance’s petulant attitude.
“Thy first lessons as future knights of the Round Table shalt be in the use of chivalrous language. And in the elimination of ignorance.” He glared slightly at Lance, who looked quickly away. “Britain be the sire of America, Lance. Merlin called me the once and future king because I had been destined to return when Britain didst need me most. Tell me now, young Lance, what could be a greater need than the salvation of Britain’s best and most promising child?”
Lance looked up at the man, and their eyes met, but he had no answer, and the other boys remained silent. Arthur slipped Excalibur easily into its sheath and announced to the boys at large, “Come, lads, it doth be time for food.”
As the boys cheered, Arthur glanced at Lance once again, but the boy refused to meet his gaze. What had just happened , he wondered?
O VERthe ensuing days and nights, these initial recruits fanned out to their various neighborhoods to seek new candidates for Arthur’s crusade. Runaways and homeless youth were targeted first, for obvious reasons—they had nothing else. But since most of the initial fifty boys had homes of their own, they sought out friends within their schools or communities, whether or not those friends were poor or rich. They pitched Arthur’s plan, and many of these others felt eager to join up. Why not? It sounded like fun. And maybe, finally, the kids in this city would get the last word.
Some stayed the night within Arthur’s underground lair, whilst others preferred to visit only for meetings and weapons instruction. There were girls as well, though not as many as there were boys. Even the runaway girls, however, felt uncomfortable sleeping within the storm drains amongst numerous unfamiliar boys. Yet they’d show up each day for training, often surprising Arthur with their energy and vigorous attention to detail.
Lance instructed them in proper bow and arrow technique, as Arthur had instructed him: how to almost instantly whip an arrow from a quiver, fit it to the bow, and fire with strength and accuracy. He had become an expert marksman in just a few weeks, which pleased Arthur immensely. He observed a number of the girls obviously flirting with Lance during their training sessions, but the boy purposely pretended not to notice.
Such forwardness on the part of young ladies, as well as their willingness to fight, made him realize anew just how much times had changed since his day and age. Still, he looked on with a combination of hope and sadness as the ranks of his knightly “army” began to swell. So many disenfranchised youth, he’d noted as each day more and more appeared. How didst such a once great country come to such a shameful place?
On one evening, Arthur and Llamrei set back out into the Hollywood area, sadly, a mecca for lost and abandoned kids. He had a small entourage following him, to fan out and bring in strays they found loitering on the streets. Lance, for once, did not accompany them. Little Chris had taken ill and would have no one but Lance care for him.
Arthur assured his First Knight that the boys he was taking could handle themselves, but Lance had looked deeply troubled when Arthur rode off without him. Preoccupied with the growing number of children he’d begun to acquire, Arthur failed to notice Lance’s uncertain state of mind.
As the group casually moved along the side streets, mostly to keep Arthur and Llamrei out of sight, they rounded a corner, and Santa Monica Boulevard came into view ahead. It was late on a weeknight, and there was less traffic than usual. Arthur surveyed the boulevard before approaching. There were boys standing singly or in pairs, usually beside light posts or on corners, particularly in the vicinity of liquor stores. The situation struck Arthur as most peculiar. What would youngsters be doing so late at night in such an
Arthur frowned in annoyance and confusion at Lance’s petulant attitude.
“Thy first lessons as future knights of the Round Table shalt be in the use of chivalrous language. And in the elimination of ignorance.” He glared slightly at Lance, who looked quickly away. “Britain be the sire of America, Lance. Merlin called me the once and future king because I had been destined to return when Britain didst need me most. Tell me now, young Lance, what could be a greater need than the salvation of Britain’s best and most promising child?”
Lance looked up at the man, and their eyes met, but he had no answer, and the other boys remained silent. Arthur slipped Excalibur easily into its sheath and announced to the boys at large, “Come, lads, it doth be time for food.”
As the boys cheered, Arthur glanced at Lance once again, but the boy refused to meet his gaze. What had just happened , he wondered?
O VERthe ensuing days and nights, these initial recruits fanned out to their various neighborhoods to seek new candidates for Arthur’s crusade. Runaways and homeless youth were targeted first, for obvious reasons—they had nothing else. But since most of the initial fifty boys had homes of their own, they sought out friends within their schools or communities, whether or not those friends were poor or rich. They pitched Arthur’s plan, and many of these others felt eager to join up. Why not? It sounded like fun. And maybe, finally, the kids in this city would get the last word.
Some stayed the night within Arthur’s underground lair, whilst others preferred to visit only for meetings and weapons instruction. There were girls as well, though not as many as there were boys. Even the runaway girls, however, felt uncomfortable sleeping within the storm drains amongst numerous unfamiliar boys. Yet they’d show up each day for training, often surprising Arthur with their energy and vigorous attention to detail.
Lance instructed them in proper bow and arrow technique, as Arthur had instructed him: how to almost instantly whip an arrow from a quiver, fit it to the bow, and fire with strength and accuracy. He had become an expert marksman in just a few weeks, which pleased Arthur immensely. He observed a number of the girls obviously flirting with Lance during their training sessions, but the boy purposely pretended not to notice.
Such forwardness on the part of young ladies, as well as their willingness to fight, made him realize anew just how much times had changed since his day and age. Still, he looked on with a combination of hope and sadness as the ranks of his knightly “army” began to swell. So many disenfranchised youth, he’d noted as each day more and more appeared. How didst such a once great country come to such a shameful place?
On one evening, Arthur and Llamrei set back out into the Hollywood area, sadly, a mecca for lost and abandoned kids. He had a small entourage following him, to fan out and bring in strays they found loitering on the streets. Lance, for once, did not accompany them. Little Chris had taken ill and would have no one but Lance care for him.
Arthur assured his First Knight that the boys he was taking could handle themselves, but Lance had looked deeply troubled when Arthur rode off without him. Preoccupied with the growing number of children he’d begun to acquire, Arthur failed to notice Lance’s uncertain state of mind.
As the group casually moved along the side streets, mostly to keep Arthur and Llamrei out of sight, they rounded a corner, and Santa Monica Boulevard came into view ahead. It was late on a weeknight, and there was less traffic than usual. Arthur surveyed the boulevard before approaching. There were boys standing singly or in pairs, usually beside light posts or on corners, particularly in the vicinity of liquor stores. The situation struck Arthur as most peculiar. What would youngsters be doing so late at night in such an
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