So are you ready? Are you sure? Got your marshmallows? Maybe also a teddy bear? Ok here goes, and remember this is not my story, this is George Macdonald's story, and we still need him even if he is a little otherworldly, so here we go...
John is getting ready to read his story. It is Monday night and the little group is settled comfortably around the fireplace. John notices that Percy has fixed a jealous stare upon Adela. John thinks Percy could probably fall in love with Adela if she would give him any encouragement, but she does not pay much attention to Percy. She is eagerly waiting to hear the story that John is about to begin.
The story begins in a shadowy bedroom. There is a man laying sick in bed. His name is Ralph Rinkelman, and he is an author. In the general words of George Macdonald, 'he had made his living writing comic sketches, and lost it writing tragic ballads'. By the fire is his faithful wife. On the walls are a great many shadows, waiting for her to leave the room. Don't worry though, they are not bad shadows, and mean no harm to Ralph Rinkelman, or to you.
When Mrs. Rinkelman leaves the room, the shadows approach Ralph and begin to bow to him, addressing him as their king. This surprises Ralph, and he asks them, 'who are you?' 'We are the Shadows' is their solemn answer. 'We must go now,' say the Shadows, 'the moon is rising and it is time for us to go to church, then we must be about our work.'
'What? Shadows have church? And go to work?' asks Ralph Rinkelman in consternation. 'Would his majesty like to see our church?' ask the Shadows. 'Yes, I would,' he admits. The Shadows confer together in a dark mass, and several are sent out to fetch furs to keep the king warm, and a crown for his head, since he is going out. They lift him onto a contraption for carrying him, and march with him right out the bedroom window.
Ralph huddles down in the furs and the Shadows speed with him over fields of snow, through dark forests, and over mountains. The air is cold but the ruby colored stones in Ralph's crown glow like all the Christmas fires in the world, keeping him warm. The Shadows bear him north, and fly with him over water so deep that it has not frozen. The moon and stars come out over their heads, and reflect in water below, so that Ralph feels as though he is surrounded by endless room.
When the Shadows come to land once more, they bring him to a quiet, frozen lake. This is their church. But it is time to take the king home. They will come back for him tomorrow, and return with him here for the great once a year gathering of all the Shadows. (to be continued)
