Cat Walk Wish (Part 2)

Cat Walk Wish (Part 2) The next day, I went to the old garden again. I sat in the deserted bench where I sat the last time I went there. I felt good and relaxed - especially I was picked by the couch of the college basketball. Minutes later, I heard a voice again. I ignored it. I thought it was normal in the place. Well, last time the same voice was badgering me. It kept calling at me, so I looked to the cat-walk. Upstairs, I found my friend, sitting in his wheelchair. "Hey!" He said. "Congratulations. I'm very proud of you." After he spoke, I went upstairs but not to talk to him. Instead, I just passed over him. I went straightly to my classroom. I waited at him, but he didn't come. Our teacher was in the classroom preparing to discuss our lesson, but still he's no where to be found. Three subjects passed but he's still no where. I felt worried. I left him in the old garden, in the cat-walk. I became exaggerated. I was thinking something bad happened to him. So I decided to go back there, but before I can make it to the exit, I found him approaching. I felt relieved. Then I went back to my table. [Click here to continue.]

Cat Walk Wish

Cat Walk Wish Wishes are created for good things. Wishes are not meant to overcome envy. That's the lesson I learned when I was in high school. A kind of experience that no one would ever forget brought me to that conclusion. ENVY is one of the seven deadly sins. I can say it is the most deadly of all. Comparing is the symptom of envy; and envy itself is the disease. I studied in a private school. It was a good and ideal academy every child would like to be in. Teachers were great. They were patient in dealing with their students, and diligent in feeding the knowledge they would like to share to children. The buildings were also great. The ambiance is very pleasing. The field was full of green grass, and you often see students enjoying companionship and playing games to utilize time. I was always staring this attractive view from the window in the fourth floor of the main building. Well, like other schools in the whole world, folklores and urban legends exist to complete the ingredients of being an unforgettable alma mater. I remember that stairway in the old garden at the back of the main building of my school which we called "cat walk" - that thirty series of steps with an antiquely look at first glance. It was said that whoever climbs up that stairs with eyes closed counting from one to thirty and you got the thirty first-step, your wish will be granted after saying this chant four times: “Cat O Cat. I know you are here. Please grant me the wish I always wanted to get." I didn't actually believe in that lore. Only dumb people would accept it as true. [Click here to continue.]

A Friend's Hidden Secret

My parents brought me to our province in Mindanao from Luzon when I was still a baby. We lived together with my grandparents. My father went abroad for a job, and didn't come back anymore. Shortly, after my father sent a depressing letter to my mother, she also decided to go abroad for a job. So, I grew up there with no parents but with my grandparents. I have no siblings, I'm their only child. Our house in the province is quite big, but I don't consider us wealthy. We have neighbors, however, unlike in urban cities, there's a wide distance between houses. They were comparable to a traditional Filipino Bahay-kubo (hut) with plants surrounding the house. I had a friend there, and his name is Bryan. I was older than him. His family was a friend of ours since they arrived in our province. His father works in our family as mandayagay (coconut climber). Because they were the nearest neighbor we had, we often play with his sister named Catherine. Even though we have electricity, we don't have PSP, computer, cellphone or any gadgets there. Thus, the only way we can enjoy ourselves is through playing traditional Filipino games, like patintero, luksong-baka and luksong-tinik. I admit that we also play games only for girls, like piko and bahay-bahayan. Aside of it, we can also go to fishponds, rivers, and beaches which are very near to our home. I can say living in the province is much more enjoying than living in urban city. It's seldom to feel bored there. An unexpected death happened to their father. No one knows the reason why. It was a sudden death. He was still strong the day before his death. Some say it was caused by pasma, some say a kind of disease. Years later, my mother decided to bring me to Metro Manila. She wanted me to finish my studies there. Since then, I never visited my province. I have no news about my childhood friends. My uncle went home to our province. When he came back, I asked him what do it look like now. Of course, I didn't forget to ask him about my friends too. As we talked about Bryan and Catherine, I asked him if he knows the reason of their father's death. Well he answered me yes. He told me everything about him, and how did he actually died. It was a silent afternoon in the fishponds. It was almost 6 o'clock pm. There was a family living there. Dado (not his real name) was cuddling his son inside their house to make it sleep. As the child slept, he laid him to the cradle, and went out to cook rice. His wife was out to buy something in the village. Minutes later, the child suddenly cried very loud. He was wondering why, so he left what he was cooking and went inside the house to check what's happening. As he arrived to the baby, he saw a black cat hanging in the cradle. The cat was reaching the child inside it. It looked at him with a blazing red eyes. Afraid of what he saw, he took immediately his bolo to kill the animal. But because the cat was in the cradle, he was afraid that he might strike his child instead. So he used the blunt side of the bolo. Then, he smashed it in its back. The feline rushed out through the window, bleeding. Dado chased the cat to kill it. As he get closer to the animal, he smashed it again, and created another wound on its back. Then, it ran much faster. He decided to let it go, then he heard suddenly the sound, "wak wak wak". Upon hearing it, he thought of an aswang. Hence, he went back faster to his house thinking someone will get his baby. On the next day, Bryan's father died. They were thinking pasma as the cause of his death. The day before he died, he was watching over the coconut flesh he was fuming with fire. There was a pouring rain that time. Combining the heat caused by fuming the coconut and being soaked by rain may cause pasma. When they prepared the body for a wake, upon changing its clothes, they saw two swelling straight wounds at its back. They wondered where did he acquire those injury. Dado heard of the wounds behind him, and told his experience the day before his death about the cat that he struck at the back two times. Of course, people just believed on the story without knowing the reality. If it was true, I can't believe I played with his children.

Babala: May Isa pa Para Sayo (Warning: There's One more for You)

Story

BABALA (May isa pa, para sayo) May mga bagay sa mundo na hindi mo maipaliwanag kung bakit naganap, kung nagkataon lamang ba o kundi kaya - isa iyong babala. Second year high school ako noon nang maganap ang pangyayaring ito. Isang gabi, tinapos namin ang project sa History. Nagkolekta kami ng mga tradisyonal na mga kasuotan ng bawat bansa sa Timog, Silangan, at Timog-Silangang Asya. Batid ng aking mga magulang na nasa bahay ako ng isa kong kaklase at kaibigan ko rin, kung kaya kalmado sila, at hindi nag-aalala sa akin. Napagpasyahan ko na doon na lamang ako magpalipas ng gabi sa bahay ng kaibigan ko, total inalok din naman nila ako, batid din niya at nina Tito at Tita (mga magulang ng kaibigan ko) na malayo pa ang uuwian ko. Ang iba naming kaklase ay nagsipag-uwian na. Maganda ang bahay nila, ngunit mukha itong luma. Ang ibang bintana, kung iyong pagmamasdan sa labas, gawa sa kapis. Hagdanan ang una mong lalakarin papasok sa loob. Sa pagpasok mo sa loob, mapapansin mong hindi luma ang itsura ng mga kagamitan. Matapos ang aming hapunan, pinapasok na kami sa kwarto ng kaibigan ko para matulog. Ngunit, hindi kami sumunod. Ang kwarto niya'y hindi makaluma ang dating, bagkus mukha pa nga itong moderno na. May mga posters ng anime character sa dingding, may TV at DVD player din siya. Sa bagay, sabi niya, marami na ring nagbago sa bahay nilang iyon. Ang front face lamang ng tahanan nila ang talagang nagsilbing makaluma at nanatiling ganoon magpahanggang ngayon. Mga alas onse ng gabi kami nagpasyang matulog, matapos naming panuorin ang isang movie. "Tara, matulog na tayo." Pagyayaya niya sa akin. "Sige! Parang malalaglag na kasi yung mata ko sa sobrang antok eh." Pagsang-ayon ko. Hindi rin naman kami agad-agad nakatulog. Tulad ng ibang mga kabataan, pag magkasama, naghaharutan muna, hanggang sa nakatulog na kaming dalawa. Tantya ko mga hating gabi na iyon. Dumating ang alas tres ng gabi, nagising ako. Naririnig ko pa ang tunog ng kanilang Grandfather's clock na kumakampana. Mga ilang minuto lang, may narinig akong mga hampas ng paa ng mga kabayo at gulong waring isang kalesa. May narinig akong mga tao na nag-uusap at naghahagikhikan. Nagtataka ako kung bakit sa dis oras ng gabi ay may roong mga taong dumating pa, at bakit nakakalesa pa sila. Dahil sa curiousity ko, tumayo ako ng higaan at binuksan ko ang bintana ng mga isang dipa ng aking kamay (hinlalaki at hinliliit) sa pag-aakalang mga bisita iyon ng mga magulang ng kaibigan ko. Sa pagbukas ko, nakita ko ang isang kalesa at isang kabayo. May isang taong nakaitim na nakatayo sa labas niyon na waring may hinihintay. Nakita ko ang ama ng kaibigan ko na papasok sa loob ng kalesa. Napansin yata ako ng mamang nakaitim, kaya tumingin siya sa akin. Sa pagharap niya, nagulat ako, sabay sabi niyang, "May isa pa, para sayo!". Tumakbo ako patungo sa higaan ng kaibigan ko. Sa takot ko, nagtalukbung ako ng kumot. Kinaumagahan, hindi ko na maalala kung isa lamang iyong panaginip o totoong tumayo ako't nakita ko sila. Hindi ko makalimutan ang mga naganap kagabi. Nanatiling misteryo iyon sa akin. Kung sino ang mga taong iyon at bakit pumasok sa kalesa ang ama ng kaibigan ko. Tatanungin ko sana si Tito kung may pinuntahan ba siya kagabi, ngunit, bukod sa hiya, sumagi sa isipan ko na maaaring hindi totoo ang mga naganap dahil nandito lamang si Tito. Bago ako pinaalis ng bahay, pinakain muna ako ng agahan. Kasabay kong naglakad si Tito patungo sa sakayan. Mayroon kasi siyang trabaho noon. Nagkausap kaming dalawa, nagkukulitan, at nagtatawanan. Makaraan ng ilang minuto, dumating ang isang bus patungo sa Bayan. Bumaba ang kundoktor para manghikayat ng mga pasahero para sumakay. Dahil magkaiba kami ng sasakyan ni Tito, siya ang nauna sa amin. Nagpaalam siya. Napansin ko, parang nakita ko na ang kundoktor kung saan. Inisip ko iyon ng inisip. Noong malapit nang umalis ang bus, mag-isa na lang ako sa waiting shed. Sinabihan ako ng kundoktor, "May isa pa, para sayo!". Sa narinig ko, bigla kong naalala ang nangyari kagabi, at napagtanto ko rin na kamukha ng kundoktor ang nakaitim na lalaking nagyaya rin sa akin kagabi. Kumaway na si Tito, sinyales ng pagpapaalam. Tatawagin ko sana siya para bumaba, ngunit huli na ang lahat. Mga ilang metro pa lang ang layo, biglang sumabog ang bus!

Warning: (There's one more, for you) There are things in the world which you can't explain why it happened, if it's just a coincidence or ... it could be - a warning. I was second year high school when this event happened. One night, we (with my classmates) finished our project in History. We collected traditional clothings of every country in South, East, and South-East Asia. My parents know I was in the house of my classmate and my friend as well, that's why they were calm, and not worried of me. I decided to spent whole night in my friend's house, well they offered me also. My friend, and Tito and Tita (his parents) knew that my house is far from there. Our other classmates already went home. Their house is beautiful, but it seemed old. Their windows, if you will look from outside, it was made of Kapis. You will first pass to their stairs, before entering the house. When you're inside, you will notice that their things look isn't that old. After dinner, we went to his room to sleep. However, we didn't do that. His room looks modern. He has posters of anime characters in the wall, he has TV and DVD player too. He told me that there house had been changed. Only the front face of the house remained the same till now. It was 11 o'clock at night when we decided to go to sleep after watching one movie. "Let's go to sleep." He told me. "Okay! My eyes seemed about to fall because of drowsiness." I consented. Neither we immediately fell asleep. Like what other kids do, when they were together, they play first, till we finally fell asleep. I think it was midnight. 3 o'clock at night came, I was awaken. I heard the sound of their Grandfather's clock belling. Few minutes later, I heard horses' feet and chariot wheels. I also heard people chattering and laughing. I wondered why there's still visitors in the dead of time, and why are they riding in chariot. Because of my curiosity, I stood up by the bed and I opened the window a fathom of my hand (thumb and small finger) thinking that those people are my friend's parent's visitor. As I opened, I saw a rig and a horse. I saw a man dressed in black outside of it, as if he's waiting for someone. I saw my friend's father came over the rig. I think the man in black noticed me, so he look at me. As he approached, he told me, There's one more, for you.. I ran toward the bed of my friend. I was scared, then I covered myself with the blanket. The next morning, I can't remember if it's just a dream or if I really stand and saw them. But I can't forget what had happened that night. It remained a mystery to me. Whoever those people, and why did my friend's father entered in the chariot. I would like ask Uncle if he went any where last night, but, aside of being ashamed, something came to my mind, that it might be not true, because Uncle was still there. Before they let me go home, they gave me breakfast first. Me and Uncle walked together to the bus stop. Uncle was going to his work. While we're walking, we talked and laughed together. As we arrived, a minutes later, a bus came. The bus-conductor went down to encourage passengers to ride. Since the bus we're waiting is different, Uncle go first to the bus. He said farewell to me. As I noticed the conductor, he seemed familiar to me, as if I saw him somewhere before. When the bus is about to go, I was alone in the waiting shed. The bus-conductor told me, There's one more for you.. As I heard, I suddenly remember what happened last night, the conductor looked like the man in black last night, who similarly told me those words. Uncle waved at me, sign of farewell. I wanted to call him to get off the bus, but it was too late. Just few meters away, the bus suddenly exploded!

20. The Fight At The Ford

Thoroughly surprised, Robin had no choice but to obey.

The portly friar clambered onto Robin’s back and he staggered across the stream. Then as they almost reached the shore, Robin swung his hands up and grabbed the friar by the back of the neck, sending him flying over his head. Before Friar Tuck could pull himself together, Robin said, “Now Jack Priest, the game has turned my way.”

So once again Friar Tuck waded through the water with the outlaw on his back. But the fingers of the hermit were busy unfastening the cord at the neck of his cloak. Suddenly he pulled the string of his brown habit and the cloak together with the outlaw slid off his stout shoulders.

By the time Robin had disentangled himself, the friar had picked up his sword and they were soon testing each others skills.

But suddenly a force of mounted men appeared riding upstream. It was the Sheriff of Nottingham and his men.

“Take him alive!” Called De Lacy brandishing his sword.
“You shall not interfere,” shouted Friar Tuck, “Until I have finished with him!”
“Throw this prating priest in the stream,” said the Sheriff curtly to his forester.
“Come lad,” called the friar to Robin, “Back to back.”

De Lacy waited on his horse for an opening, as the foresters swarmed around Robin and the priest. Then the Sheriff rode in close and with the flat of his sword, struck Friar Tuck to the ground.
Robin quickly felled one opponent but De Lacy managed to knock the outlaws weapon from his hand. Robin dashed to a tree where he came face to face with a forester, sword in hand. He reached up, grabbed an overhanging branch and swung towards the forester and kicked him flat.
The Sheriff pulled his horse around and charged at the outlaw, still hanging from the tree. At the right moment, Robin let himself go and knocked the Sheriff clean off the horse’s back. Robin seized the reins and turned the animal towards the far fork of the river.
“Bring him down!” Shouted the fuming Sheriff.

[To return to previous chapters, click on Story in the righthand column].

Friar Tuck's 'Duet'

19. The Hermit of Alford Abbey

Friar Tuck was the hermit of Alford Abbey, a plump faced cleric with a tonsured head burnt dark by the sun. He was dressed in a stained brown habit with the tattered cowl thrown back. Round his neck was a rosary and round his waist was a good broadsword. Contented in the warm sunshine, he was seated with his back against a giant oak singing a duet, with himself: first in a high shrill voice, then a deep bass.

“There was a lover and his lass,
Sat ‘neath a spreading oak,
And lest his heart should break apart,
The doting lover spoke:
‘Come sing low, come sing high;
Come change thy name to mine,
And you shall eat my capon pie,
And drink my Malmsey wine.’”

Robin had managed to come upon the fat friar unnoticed and hidden behind the tree he observed the friar’s merry game.
“We have meat and drink enough,” said Friar Tuck, (to himself) "but what is meat and drink without a merry song?”
So pleased with the first two verses, the friar cleared his throat and commanded, “now together!” And in a bass voice took up the next two lines:

“The maiden turned her head away
And answered ill at ease:”

The bass shot up alarmingly into falsetto:

“ ‘Is it in sport you pay me court
With such low words as these?’”

Robin had joined in with the second verse. As the notes died away the startled friar grabbed the wine bottle and spun around the tree.
“Spy on me, will you, you meddling prying snoopy-nose!” He roared.
“Nay,” said Robin making a gesture of peace. “We should not quarrel, who have sung together so sweetly.”

“What seek you here?” The friar asked.
“Would you lend me the breadth of your back to carry me over the stream?” Asked Robin pressing his sword into Friar Tuck’s fat stomach.
“Since you press me with such arguments,” he replied philosophically and walked down to the edge of water.

Robin Hood sheathed his sword and climbed onto the stout friar’s back.
As soon as they reached the farther bank, Friar Tuck sprung his surprise and pulled out his own broadsword and pushed its point into Robin’s chest.
“How now!” Said the rosy cheeked friar. “I carried you over. You carry me back!”

18. John Little Changes His Name

John Little stuck out his huge hand.
“I am your man,” he said.
“What say you lads,” winked Will Scarlet, “shall we christen our infant?”
After a short struggle, Robin’s men over powered the huge man and they carried him, kicking and struggling to the edge of the stream and threw him in. As he scrambled out Will Scarlet tapped him gently on the shoulder.
“John Little, I dub thee Little John.”
Will Scarlet,” said Robin, “you Christen like a true son of the Church.” His face then clouded over. “Would we had some man in holy orders to care for our souls and tend our wounds.”
“I know one,” said Little John grinning.
“He is a holy hermit who lives near Alford Abbey. But he’d sooner break heads than mend them, his name is Friar Tuck.”

17: The Fight On The Bridge

The fight was fast and furious, they struck and parried, then Robin got the first scoring blow catching the stranger in the ribs.
“Well done lad,” he said, “I’ll pay you back if I can.”
He attacked with a flurry of blows, but then the giant slowed down as if beginning to tire. Robin’s eyes gleamed and he moved in closer. But he had been tricked and like lightning the strangers staff caught Robin across his head and he toppled over backwards into the stream.
Robin bobbled up quickly to the surface, shaking off the water. The big stranger held out his staff and pulled Robin to the bank.

“Beat me with bowstrings,” spluttered Robin, If I ever dispute any bridges with you. You’ve cracked my head, soaked my hide and drowned my hunting horn.”
Pretending to blow it clear, he put the horn to his lips and managed to blow three loud blasts.

“I like a lad who can take his ducking,” said the giant.
“How are you known?” Asked Robin.
“I’m known as John Little,” replied the stranger, “I seek a proscribed and banished man called Robin Hood.”
“To what end?” Asked Robin suspiciously.
“To join him,” was the answer, “and I care not who knows it.”
“He’s not far off.” Answered Robin, wringing the water out of his clothes. Suddenly a band of men in Lincoln Green came over the hill. John Little gripped his quarter-staff tightly.

“How now, good Master Robin?” Asked Will Scarlet.
“Be you Robin Hood?” He asked in amazement.
“I be,” Robin replied.
“Would you be of a mind to join us?” Asked Will Scarlet, “you will eat fresh meat everyday, sleep soft and have money in your poke.”

16: The Giant Stranger

Robin went bounding off down the other side of the bamk and vanished through the trees. At the foot of the hill there ran a broad stream and on the other side appeared the reason for the signal arrow. A very tall, broad man with a quarter-staff was about to step onto a tiny footbridge.

Robin stalked him cautiously, then stepped forward.

“Stand aside fellow!” Called out Robin, “let the better man pass.”
“Then you stand aside!” Growled the stranger.
“Were you as tall as your pride Goliath,” said Robin, “this would bring you down.”
In a flash Robin fitted an arrow to his bow.
“An arrow against a staff is not a man’s game,” remarked the giant.
Robin lowered his bow. “My faith, no man put the coward’s name on me. Will you wait while I cut a cudgel?”
“Aye!” He chuckled as Robin lopped off a sapling of Ash with his sword.
“Come on little David,” said the stranger.
“You know how that bout ended,” said Robin as he raised his staff.

Robin Sets Out To Find The Stranger

15. Another Signal Arrow

Early next morning Robin emerged from the cave in which he slept to see Scathelok with a bandage across his face, bathing poor Will Stutely’s tortured back with rock salt.

“This will hurt,” he said, “but it will heal.”
Robin looked with admiration and began his morning wash under the waterfall.

Suddenly a signal arrow came screaming out of the sky. Robin picked up the arrow, glanced at it then handed it to Will Scarlet.
“Red and white,” he said.
“What does that mean?” Stutely asked.
“Maybe friend, maybe foe!” Scarlet replied, “we’ll go with you Robin.”

“Nay cousin Will,” he replied, tapping the horn in his belt, “If I have need of you I’ll call.”

Robin went bounding off down the other side of the bamk and vanished through the trees.

Robin Hood's Camp

The Outlaws in Nottingham Square

15. Scathelok And Stutely Are Set Free

As the townspeople roared their approval, Robin cut down Will Stutely with his knife.
Drawing his sword, the Sheriff rushed towards the outlaw leader, but Will Scarlet, carrying a forester’s quarter staff, sent the Sheriff’s sword spinning out of his hand.
The square was now filling with acrid smoke and undercover of all this, some of Robin’s men released the unconscious Scathelok.
From the steps of his house, the Sheriff watched the outlaws riding away and called angrily for his foresters. But the townspeople now began to show their contempt, by pelting him with vegetables from the various stalls.
“Drive the cattle out of the square!” He commanded. His foresters moved forward and attempted to force the angry townsfolk back. But the arrival of a grim faced Prince John dispersed the crowd almost immediately.
“Where is the force of a hundred new foresters you’ve been boasting about?” The Prince asked the stunned Sheriff.
“Throughout the countryside,” he replied, “gathering the tax money it takes to maintain them.”
“Meanwhile,” the Prince raged, “a handful of outlaws dare to enter Nottingham in broad daylight, mock our justice and shames us before the townsmen!”
The Sheriff paused for a moment, “my lord, I have been guilty of holding this Robin Hood too lightly. On the morrow, I myself will lead a full force against him. Before I return, I will rid Sherwood Forest of the outlaw and every last one of his band.”

14. The Rescue

The townspeople had gathered outside the Sheriff’s house to watch the fate of poor Scathelok and Will Stutely, the poacher. Scathelok had been clapped in the stocks, but Stutely lay sewn up in the skin of the deer that he had dared to slay.

There was a murmur from the crowd when the Sheriff appeared, gazing down with satisfaction as the foresters moved about, busily preparing the torture.

“Hoist him up!” He ordered.

The foresters heaved on a rope that hauled up Will Stutely until he was swaying to and fro. There was a growl of disgust from the crowd which was quickly stifled. Two foresters then carried a burning brazier and set it below poor Will Stutely’s head. The Sheriff then watched with a evil smile as the stinging smoke irritated the poachers eyes and throat.

“Let this be a warning to evildoers that would flaunt our Midland laws! Begin!”

People began to scatter wildly as five horseman began to ride around the square, each striking in turn the hanging Stutely with their quarterstaffs.

“Shame!” Cried Scathelok desperately trying to see from the stocks, what was going on. But he was struck across the face by a forester and slumped down unconscious. This brought howls of protest from the local people.

But help was at hand. At the rear of the crowd a group of beggars and a palmer crouched down behind the deserted booths and waited for the horseman.

With Will Scarlet, Hawke, Cobly and Alfred, Robin rushed into the path of an encircling horseman and heaved him out of the saddle. Moments later the outlaw had rode into the square, whilst two more horseman were being unsaddled.

13. The Whistling Arrow

As soon as the Sheriff and his foresters had gone, the Palmer stepped grim faced out of the shadows. The Palmer was Robin Hood. He reached inside a hollow tree and took out a longbow and a quiver filled with arrows. The arrows were bright red and curiously made. Below the steel tip, the round head of the arrow was pierced with holes. Robin fitted one of these specially made arrows to his bow and fired it into the air. As the arrow gathered speed, the air rushing through the holes made an eerie shrill.

Deeper in the forest one of Robin’s men gazed up attentively as the red arrow screamed swiftly downwards. He quickly pulled it out of the ground and placing it on his bow, fired it towards the outlaws camp.

The arrows arrival sent the outlaws running from every corner of the camp. Will Scarlet pulled it out and turned to the band of men and said, “off with your kirtles and on with your rags, there’s a need for beggar men in Nottingham Square.”

The Whistling Arrow Arrives

12. Caught Red Handed

But further down the forest road another group of foresters were dragging and beating a captive towards the Sheriff.

“Another poacher?” He asked.

“Caught red handed, sire, shooting the king’s fallow deer.” The head forester boasted.

“I had no other meat,” Will Stutely said simply. “To pay the tax to graze my swine, I sold my calf. For the tax to build a sheepfold I sacrificed my pigs. And when you foresters ate me out of house and home, while taxing me for gathering hazel nuts, I fared into the forest and killed a deer…..”

The head forester pulled out a knife, “shall I give him his ears to eat?”

“Nay,” said the Sheriff, “use your knife on the deer. Bring me the hide to Nottingham and this carrion with it.”

11. Scathelok Is Arrested

Every day for the following weeks and months, the Sheriff’s men were kept busy collecting the new crippling taxes. These were dreadful times as Prince John tried to invent more ingenious ways of raising money.

William Scathelok was a poor farmer who had already paid one levy, when the Sheriff and his men were demanding more.

“I cannot pay the tax sir!” He cried falling to his knees. “I paid my Lord’s levy and if you take my cattle…….”

The Sheriff interrupted him coldly, “would you keep your cattle and go free of the tax?”

“Show me how, sire,” said Scathelok eagerly.

“Report has it,” said the Sheriff, “that you gave aid to the outlaw and know of his whereabouts.”

There was silence. Defiantly Scathelok rose to his feet and folded his arms, then he took two paces back. In a rage the Sheriff wheeled his horse around.

“Bring him along!” He commanded to his men.

As the Sheriff angrily put his spurs into his horse and galloped off he did not notice a Palmer (a pilgrim from the Holy Land) watching him from the shadows of the trees.