The Tower

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="7ecfa4f3.gif"> <div> <IMG SRC="7ee70700.gif" border=0 width="112" height="112" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="110" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#9900CC" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id36__king_arthur_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" King Arthur."><U> King Arthur.</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="98"><div> <A HREF="id28_camelot.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CAMELOT"><U>CAMELOT</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="98"><div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DRAGONS"><U>DRAGONS</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="98"><div> <A HREF="id146_knights.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Knights"><U>Knights</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="98"><div> <A HREF="id128_sir_galahad.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sir. Galahad"><U>Sir.Galahad</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7f28a5e0.gif" border=0 width="138" height="94" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="7ebfa4f3.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#99CC00" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cantrell Family Website</B></FONT>     <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CCCC66" FACE="Arial" >|   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cantrell Family Website"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> <IMG SRC="348f4010.gif" border=0 width="500" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Tower</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="7ef03540.gif" border=0 width="259" height="340" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-2037/Silent-Night.mid" autostart="true" loop="true" hidden="true">  </div> <bR> <div> <B>The Tower</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Waves washed over me, rain lashed my face and jagged rocks rose up like claws. After what seemed an eternity, I somehow reached the island and dragged the skiff onto a rocky beach. Black boulders the size of hou ses rose on either side and beyond them loomed the wizard's tower, a fat black pillar that disappeared into the darkness above. No light glimmered within, but cross-shaped loopholes dotted the sides and I glimpsed a battlement at the very top. </div> <bR> <div> Drawing my sword, I followed a winding path to the base of the tower where tall square pillars flanked a narrow door. Atop each pilaster crouched a gruesome stone gargoyle and between them stretched the inscription: </div> <bR> <bR> <div> ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE</div> <div> The portal opened with a loud creak and I saw velvety darkness within. The moment I crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind me and when I turned to grab the handle, I could not find it. My fingers touched only cold brick because the door had vanished. A soft chuckle sounded in the darkness overhead. </div> <bR> <div> "Apollyon!" I shouted. "Show yourself!" </div> <bR> <div> Instantly a demonic face materialized in front of me. Wild white hair swirled like seaweed and the thing screamed so loudly that I thought my eardrums would burst. </div> <bR> <div> I hacked at it, but my blade passed right through. The face laughed, then changed into a huge white tiger that snarled and pounced. I fell backward and dropped my sword, but the tiger never landed. Instead, a dozen ghostly horses thundered through the room. I felt rushing water around my legs and jumped up, but saw nothing. Something touched my face, my back, poked me in the ribs. </div> <bR> <div> "His only power is the power to deceive." </div> <bR> <div> Clapping both hands over my ears, I closed my eyes and tried to ignore every touch, every sound, every strange sensation. A cacophony of voices and terrors-roars and shrieks, rumbles and bells-grew louder and louder until I had to scream to drown them all out. Then suddenly . . . it stopped. </div> <bR> <div> I uncovered my ears and looked around. A rectangle of moonlight stretched across the floor. The door had reappeared and now stood open, offering me a way out. Stumbling to my feet, I walked over and slammed it shut. </div> <bR> <div> "Apollyon!" I shouted. "I come in the name of King Arthur. Set the maid free!" </div> <bR> <div> Mocking laughter rolled like thunder somewhere high above and a torch flared to life on my left. Its flickering light revealed a large round room dominated by a winding stair. Another torch ignited, this one directly over the steps. Then another and another until I saw a spiral stairway that corkscrewed up the entire height of the building. </div> <bR> <div> "Help! Help!" cried a woman's voice. </div> <bR> <div> I picked up my sword and started climbing. When I reached the first landing, a door on my right popped open. I ignored it, but the moment my foot touched the next step, a spitting sound split the air as fiery darts descended toward me. Two of them bounced off my breastplate, one whizzed past my ear. I ducked through the door on my right and slammed it shut. </div> <bR> <div> Inside I found a massive banqueting table that stretched the entire length of the narrow room. Savory meats, warm breads and sugary cakes shimmered in the light of silver candelabra. After traveling three days and eating almost nothing, the sights and smells made me dizzy with hunger. </div> <bR> <div> "Come. Eat," urged the wizard's voice. </div> <bR> <div> I stepped forward and grabbed a turkey leg, then put it down. I dared not trust anything offered by a sorcerer. "Man does not live by bread alone," I shouted. </div> <bR> <div> "Tut, tut, tut," scolded the wizard. "And I slaved all day over a hot stove. Well, if you insist on growing thinner, let me give you a hand." </div> <bR> <div> A jolt shook the room and the ceiling began to descend. I grabbed the door latch and pushed, but it would not budge. I was trapped and would soon be crushed to death! </div> <bR> <div> Looking around for a way out, I saw only the cross-shaped loophole at the far end of the room. Although too narrow to crawl through, it offered one slim possibility. The outside wall was so thick that a V-shaped alcove had been cut into the rock to let archers maneuver from side to side. Running over, I discovered that I might just be able to squeeze in. </div> <bR> <div> The ceiling grazed the top of my head as I stepped up into the narrow space. I did not quite fit because of my breastplate. Fingers trembling, I pulled it off and tried again. The ceiling was already descending past my face, but by exhaling and pressing my arms into the horizontal grooves, I managed to fit. </div> <bR> <div> The ceiling slab was as thick as two hand breadths, but once it passed my waist I could breathe again. I heard the crackle of wood as the table splintered, the crunch of china and glass. Then with a sort of groan and a shiver, everything stopped. </div> <bR> <div> The ceiling now lay at my feet and I saw only darkness in front of me. Stepping onto the slab, I bumped into a length of heavy cord. There were ropes everywhere, thick and long and as tight as harp strings. As I groped my way forward, the ceiling beneath me shuddered and began to rise. It was moving back into place, but I saw a crack of light high above-another door-and stumbled over to the inside wall. Cords, coils and gears squealed all around me as they pulled the heavy weight higher and higher. </div> <bR> <div> When the ascent stopped, I was able to open the door and crawl out onto the stairwell. A torch flickering right above me dashed any hope of taking the wizard by surprise. </div> <bR> <div> "Still alive?" gasped Apollyon. "You must have as many lives as a cat. Then I shall have to kill you nine times." </div> <bR> <div> A javelin slammed into the wall just inches from my chest and I nearly fell down the stairs. </div> <bR> <div> The wizard laughed. </div> <bR> <div> "Help! Help!" cried the maid. </div> <bR> <div> Bolting up the steps two at a time, I hacked my way through spider webs as thick as curtains. More doors opened on my right. Ropes lying on the steps came alive and coiled themselves around my ankles like snakes, but I easily cut my way free. Ghostly apparitions rushed past like leaves blown before a wind. When boiling oil poured out of a hole overhead, I jumped aside just in time. </div> <bR> <div> As I passed yet another door, a small bat flew into my face. I knocked it away, but two more arrived, then more until half a dozen of the dreadful creatures flapped and chittered on every side. Unable to fight them off, I ducked through the door on my right and slammed it shut before they could follow me in. </div> <bR> <div> I seemed to have entered a lady's boudoir. There were overstuffed cushions, glistening mirrors and a huge canopied bed. The reflection staring back at me from one of the mirrors turned my stomach. My hair resembled wet fur, sweat and blood streaked my face. I had grown thin and old. Turning away in disgust, I saw the same image in another looking glass. Then another. No matter where I turned, I could not escape myself. </div> <bR> <div> "Like what you see?" needled the wizard's voice. "I can give you everything you ever wanted. Worship me and I will turn you into the man you only dream of being." </div> <bR> <div> As he spoke, my reflection changed. I became stronger, taller, more comely. My tunic grew into flowing robes. I saw glittering jewels, even a crown atop my head. I was tempted, but . . . .</div> <bR> <div> "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve," I shouted. Picking up a perfume bottle, I threw it at one of the mirrors and the image shattered. </div> <bR> <div> "You are brave," laughed the wizard, "but you are a fool." </div> <bR> <div> I ran to the door, pulled it open and ducked. The bats flew in, I hopped out then closed the door quickly enough to trap them inside. "Help! Help!" cried the maid. Continuing up the steps, I soon reached a place where no torches burned along the wall. I should have slowed down because of the darkness, but continued rushing until my right foot landed on nothing but air. The stairs had come to an end and I pitched forward. </div> <bR> <div> I would surely have plunged to my death if my left hand had not caught hold of the bannister. My body twisted around and I somehow managed to catch the final post with my other hand. I heard my sword clatter to the tile floor far below. Now I dangled seven stories above the ground. </div> <bR> <div> "Looks like you've done it this time," taunted Apollyon, "but a cat always lands on his feet." </div> <bR> <div> The post made a creaking noise and started to break loose. I pulled with all the strength I could muster and managed to grab the next post. Then I wiggled and squirmed until my torso rested on the top step. </div> <bR> <div> While I gasped for air, a panel opened in the ceiling directly above me. "Help! Help!" cried the woman's voice. Exhausted but determined, I staggered to my feet, grabbed the sides of the trap door and pulled myself up. What I found there so startled me that I nearly fell back down the hole. Instead of a flat, empty rooftop, I saw trees and shrubbery, flowers and fountains. </div> <bR> <div> "Help! Help!" cried the maid. </div> <bR> <div> She stood beside a sundial, her long white gown billowing in the breeze like angel's wings. But when I drew near, I noticed a hand clasped across her mouth. Another arm encircled her waist and the folds of a black robe flapped behind her. </div> <bR> <div> Halting, I commanded, "Release the maid." </div> <bR> <div> A face appeared over her left shoulder. A cruel face. Long and gaunt with sickly white skin. The wizard looked more like a corpse than a living being. He had close-cropped hair and a tiny black beard that covered just his upper lip and chin. </div> <bR> <div> "Help! Help!" he shouted, sounding just like the damsel. My mouth dropped open and he laughed. "Surprised, Sir Knight? The wench was too stubborn to sing for her supper. She's been nothing but trouble since I brought her here. But she has served her purpose. I hoped to lure one of Arthur's best and you have not disappointed me. Who is it that dares to confront Apollyon?" </div> <bR> <div> "Galahad," I answered. </div> <bR> <div> "Well, Sir Galahad, you are a worthy opponent. I shall enjoy watching you die." </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="7c718190.gif" border=0 width="280" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5e2c8e10.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>  <script language=JavaScript>  </script>  </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sir. Galahad"><U><IMG SRC="7e45c410.gif" border=0 width="92" height="65" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>