Read Online Red by Ted Dekker - Free Book Online Page A

retrieve an ample supply and have it here by midnight. Sulfur is the sixteenth most common element occurring in the Earth’s crust. And I do believe this is the same Earth’s crust. Never mind that; just know that sulfur is found in caves with pyrite. Never mind that as well. The caves at the north end of the Gap. We’ll need to break off the cones, heat them in a large fire, and pray that sulfur flows from the pores. Much like the metal ore.”
    An excitement was starting to show in Mikil’s eyes, but William was frowning. “Even with the reinforcements we’re badly outnumbered.”
    â€œWhat about the salt?” Mikil asked.
    Thomas ignored William. “Saltpeter.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s a white, translucent mineral composed of potassium nitrate.”
    They looked at each other.
    â€œYou see?” William asked. “He wants to make our fighters look for postass . . . a name he can hardly say, and in the dark? Because he dreamed—”
    â€œSilence!” Thomas’s voice rang over the sounds of battle. “If I fail this time, William, I will give you command of the Guard!”
    â€œWhere do we find this saltpeter?” Mikil pushed.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œThen . . . what do you mean, you don’t know?”
    â€œWe’re looking for a translucent, milky rock that’s salty.”
    William crossed his arms in disapproval.
    â€œAnd if we do find these ingredients, what then?” Mikil asked.
    â€œThen we have to grind them, mix them, compress the powder, and hope they ignite with enough force to do some damage.”
    Three sets of eyes locked on his. In the end they would agree because they all knew they had no viable alternative. But never had the stakes been so high.
    â€œYou do realize that if we must hold them off while we try this trick of yours, we lose the opportunity to evacuate the forest,” William said. “If we leave now, we will have a half day start on the Horde because they won’t march during the night. We could gather up the village and head north as planned.”
    â€œI realize that. But to what end? The Horde is overtaking the Southern Forest as we speak. Jamous is retreating. The Horde—”
    â€œThe Southern Forest?” William said. He hadn’t heard.
    â€œYes. The Horde will take this forest and then move to the next.”
    Mikil looked to the west where the sounds of battle continued. “Maybe it would be wiser to retreat now, make this black powder of yours, and then, when we know it works, we blast the Horde to hell.”
    â€œIf they take the Middle Forest—” He stopped. They all knew the loss of this forest was unacceptable. “When will we ever have them in a canyon like this? If this works, we could take out a third of their army in one blow. We can still order the evacuation, even if we aren’t there to help.” He followed Mikil’s gaze westward. His men were dying and he was toying with wild dreams. “What if this is what the prophecy spoke of?”
    â€œâ€˜In one incredible blow you will defeat the heart of evil,’” Suzan said, quoting from the boy’s promise. “Qurong is leading this army while Martyn is attacking Jamous.” A glimmer of eagerness lit her eye. “You think it will work?”
    â€œWe will know soon enough.”

    THE MOON shone high in the desert sky, surrounded by a million stars. Thomas sat on his stallion and studied the canyon floor. The Horde had settled in for the night, thousands upon thousands of Scab warriors, half sleeping in their cloaks, half milling in small groups. No fires. They’d won the battle and they’d celebrated their victory with a cry that had roared through the canyon like a mighty torrent.
    Thomas had ordered his army back in a show of retreat. They’d hauled their catapults from the cliff and shown every sign of