Pilgrim's Progress - Special Edition

by Chris Wright

  "His name is Heedless," Greatheart tells us. "He thought he could walk safely without any help from the King. But as he hurried along, his feet became caught in a snare that threw him down. His companion, who was called Take-Heed, couldn't unfasten it, no matter how hard he tried."

  "Did Take-Heed escape?" Mercy asks.

  "He did, but he had to leave his friend in the power of the evil prince."

  I want to move Heedless, but Greatheart assures us many pilgrims have tried before. Heedless wants to stay where he is, and refuses help.

  We reach the end of the valley and Greatheart points to a cave. "A giant lives in there," he says. "His name is Maul. He knows me and he hates me. Whenever I bring pilgrims out of the valley, he tries to stop us. His name means that he hurts people by knocking them about."

  We draw near the cave, and Maul's massive head looks out. Seeing us, he waves a large club and shouts angrily, "How often have you been forbidden to do these things, Greatheart?"

  "To do what things?" Greatheart asks.

  "What things? What things? You know exactly what I mean," Giant Maul roars, "and I'm putting a stop to it." He seizes his great club, and lumbers down the rocky path towards us.

  "Tell me why you're attacking me," Greatheart says quietly.

  "Because you're a kidnapper," the giant shouts.

  "Can you be more precise?" Greatheart calls back.

  "I can tell you exactly what you do," the giant shouts in anger. "You catch men, women and children, and lead them to a strange country far away from my master's kingdom."

  "I am a servant of the King," Greatheart calls. "It is my duty to help people to turn to the King, to take them from the darkness of your master's kingdom into the light. If you want to fight me because I obey the King, I'm ready for you."

  Giant Maul rushes at Greatheart, and strikes him such a terrible blow with his club that Greatheart falls on his knees. I scream in fright, for I think our faithful guide is about to be killed. But Greatheart springs up and rips the giant's arm with his sword.

  The two fight fiercely for what seems like an hour, and the breath comes out of the giant's nostrils like steam from a boiling kettle.

  At last the giant stops fighting, but he still refuses to let us go past. He sits down on a large rock to rest, and Greatheart turns away and calls to the King to give him new strength to win the battle. I'm sorry to say the rest of us do absolutely nothing to help.

  Giant Maul jumps up, looking ready to fight more fiercely than before. "I'm going to kill you, Greatheart," he roars. "Then I'm going to take these pilgrims back to my prince, and get a big reward."

  CHAPTER 66

  Giant Maul

  I know deep down that the King won't leave Greatheart to fight on his own. When the fight begins again, I can see Greatheart's strength and courage increasing every moment, and before long he knocks the giant to the ground.

  Maul cries for pity, and Greatheart allows him to get up. But it's a trick, and as Maul clambers to his feet he strikes at the young soldier with his club. The blow crashes down on Greatheart's head, and if Greatheart's helmet wasn't so strong he'd be dead.

  But I can see that Maul's power is failing, and he can no longer hold his heavy club. As it falls from his hands, Greatheart thrusts his sword through the giant's chest. In a few moments Greatheart stands alone on the pathway, the giant dead at his feet.

  Greatheart raises his sword and cuts off the giant's head with a single blow. We start to cheer, for although the fight was terrifying to see, we know the giant was one of the King's terrible enemies, and it's right for Greatheart to destroy him. Near the giant's cave we find some large stones. The boys roll them down to the pathway and help Greatheart build a pillar. With great excitement they haul the head of the giant onto the top.

  Greatheart writes a notice, and fastens it on a post where it will be easy to read.

  He that did wear this head, was one

  That pilgrims did misuse;

  He stopped their way, he spared none,

  But did them all abuse;

  Until that I, Greatheart, arose,

  The pilgrim's guide to be;

  Until that I did him oppose,

  That was their enemy.

  "Now everyone will know the giant is dead," James says, wiping his hands on the grass. "Wasn't Greatheart brave?"

  He certainly was. I look once more at Giant Maul's head on top of the pillar, and shudder. I try to imagine Matthew and Samuel with swords, fighting giants. Well, if Christian could do it, surely they can. Maybe I could fight a giant -- if I had one of the King's swords.

  A little distance from the cave we reach a small hill. Greatheart tells us it's time to take a rest, and see what lies ahead. As we sit comfortably on the grass, I turn to Greatheart. "Were you frightened when the giant hit you with his club?" I ask.

  Greatheart smiles. "At times, but I knew the King would help me, because I was only doing my duty. The King's Son was once wounded, but he conquered in the end, and he won't let his servants be defeated if we're faithful to him."

  I can see some huge bruises on Greatheart's arms. I ask him if he's badly hurt.

  "Not badly," he says. "My armour is so good that I only have a few cuts and bruises, and they'll soon heal. And any that don't heal will remind me that I received them fighting for the King."

  It is now late in the evening, and although it's summer, the light is already beginning to fade. From the hill we see an old man sitting on the ground under an oak tree. He's holding a staff in his hand, but his eyes are closed and he seems to be asleep.

  "He might be a pilgrim," Matthew says as we get close. "He's certainly dressed like one."

  "Yes," Greatheart tells him, "I recognise this man, and we mustn't leave him here."

  He touches the old man's shoulder to wake him up, and he springs up trembling. Perhaps he thinks the enemy is trying to capture him.

  "What's the matter?" the old man cries in fright. "Who are you, and what is your business here?"

  CHAPTER 67

  Mr Honest

  Greatheart says he's sorry he startled the man. "You needn't be afraid of us," he tells him. "We're all friends."

  But the old pilgrim isn't satisfied. He looks anxiously at Greatheart and then at Matthew, and asks again who we are.

  Greatheart stands back a little to give the old man room to move. "My name is Greatheart, and I'm taking these pilgrims to the Celestial City."

  The man smiles. "I thought you were robbers," he says, laughing, "but I can see now that you're the King's servants."

  "What would you have done if we had been robbers?" I ask, for the elderly pilgrim doesn't look fit enough to defend himself.

  "I know I'm only a feeble old man," he says, "but I would have called to the King, and then I would have fought. Yes, I would have fought as long as I had any breath, and I don't think anyone would have overcome me."

  "You speak like a good pilgrim," Greatheart tells him. "Will you tell us your name?"

  The old man shakes his head. "Never mind my name. I'm only a poor fellow. I used to live in a place called Stupidity, a few miles from the City of Destruction."

  Greatheart looks at the old man. "I am always surprised when I hear of any pilgrim coming from your town, for it's even worse than City of Destruction," he says. Suddenly he smiles and goes forward and seizes the man by the hand. "I think I know you. Are you Mr Honesty?"

  "Not quite," the man says. "My name is Mr Honest, but it's only by the help of the King that I can be true to it. How do you know anything about me?"

  Greatheart smiles. "I have heard the King's Son speaking well of you," he says.

  The old pilgrim's face flushes all over with pleasure, for it's obvious that he loves the King's Son with his whole heart.

  Mr Honest is friendly, and he has a kind, good-natured face. It's nearly dark now, and Greatheart is talking to Mr Honest about his pilgrimage, and we're all listening. Greatheart asks Mr Honest if he remembers one of his
old friends named Fearing.

  "Yes, indeed," Mr Honest says. "I've often thought about him. We used to live near each other. He was a pilgrim too. Has Fearing reached the Celestial City safely?"

  "My Master sent me with him," Greatheart explains. "He was one of the most troublesome pilgrims I ever met in all my days. He was always afraid. Although he loved the King, he thought he would be turned away from the Gates of the Celestial City when he got there. He fancied he was too weak and poor for the King to notice him. He told me he had stayed for nearly a month by the edge of the Slough of Despond, because he felt sure he would sink in if he tried to get across. Many people offered to help him over, but although he watched them cross safely, he wouldn't try for himself."

  "But he must have crossed in the end," Mercy says, "or you wouldn't have been able to help him."

  "Oh yes, after a long time," Greatheart agrees. "One bright morning he took courage, and when he reached the firm ground beyond the Slough he could scarcely believe the danger was really past. Then at the Wicket Gate he behaved in the same way. He didn't think he would be allowed through, so he wouldn't knock, he was so chicken-hearted. Other pilgrims came to the Wicket Gate, and Goodwill let them in, but Fearing drew back so that Goodwill never saw him. At last he crept up to the Wicket Gate and gave one timid knock. Goodwill came at once and let Fearing in, but he was afraid to show his face because he said he wasn't good enough."

  "I know how he felt," Mercy says, blushing. "I was like Fearing when I entered the Way of the King."

  "I think many people approach the Wicket Gate with doubts," Mr Honest tells us. "But what happened to Fearing?"

  CHAPTER 68

  Fearing

  Greatheart tells us that Goodwill wrote a letter for Fearing to take to Interpreter, asking him to send a guide to go with poor Fearing all the way to the Celestial City. But Fearing spent several days and nights in the cold outside Interpreter's gates before anyone knew he was there. Then one morning Greatheart happened to see him from one of the windows, and went down to speak to him. Fearing was weak for want of food, but he brought out Goodwill's letter, and after a little trouble Greatheart persuaded him to enter the house.

  "And did you stay with Fearing all the way after that?" Mr Honest asks.

  Greatheart nods. "All the way. Fearing was pleased when we came to the Cross, and stayed there a long time lost in thought. Whatever he was thinking, it seemed to cheer him up. He didn't mind Hill Difficulty, or the lions each side of the path. He wasn't afraid of such things. He was only afraid the King would think he wasn't fit to be a pilgrim."

  "Did Fearing stay at the House Beautiful?" I ask. I have many happy memories of that place.

  "Fearing loved it there," Greatheart says. "He was too shy to have much to do with the four sisters, or with their other guests, but he liked to sit in the corner and listen to them talking. We stayed a long time in the pleasant valley below the house, for my Master told me not to hurry him. He seemed to love the sweet-scented lilies and other flowers so much that he couldn't bear to leave the place."

  Mr Honest looks pleased to hear that. "But how did he get on when you reached the Dark Valley?" he asks.

  "I was afraid it would be terrible for him," Greatheart says. "And indeed it was, but the King didn't allow him to be troubled in the way many pilgrims are. I never saw the valley so light or so quiet at any other time. In Vanity Fair he was angry at the wickedness he saw around him, but he was braver there than anywhere, and was ready to fight the enemies of the King at every turn. However, we passed through the town without being hurt, and after travelling slowly for some time we came to the Dark River in the Land of Beulah."

  "Fearing must have been happy when he saw the Gates of the Celestial City," Mr Honest says.

  Greatheart shakes his head. "Not at first. He wandered along the river bank, looking across at the bright walls, and saying that he was sure the King would never receive him. He kept saying he'd be lost in the deep water. But when the message came for him to go across, I went down to watch. The water was so low that he went over easily. Then the angels met him on the other side, and I saw him no more."

  Mr Honest is glad to hear of his old friend's pilgrimage, and to know he reached the Celestial City safely.

  I say, "I thought I was the only person who's afraid that perhaps the King won't receive them. I feel afraid so often."

  "So do I," Mercy whispers.

  "And I do," Matthew admits. "And then I think maybe the King will be angry with me for even thinking it."

  "No," Greatheart assures us, "he won't be displeased. I think all good pilgrims feel anxious sometimes."

  Mr Honest turns and looks at each one of us. "If anyone imagines they're good enough to be admitted to the Celestial City, it shows they aren't the King's true servants," he says in a gentle voice. "No pilgrim can reach the Celestial City by trying to be good enough. The King will only let us in because of his Son. I once travelled with a pilgrim whose name was Self-Will. He never troubled himself at all about King. He thought he only needed to do his best to follow the path until he came to the City, and he would surely be received there. But he was wrong."

  While Mr Honest is talking, a man passes by and says to Greatheart, "You must be careful, there's a gang of trouble makers out tonight."

  Greatheart thanks the man for the warning, and asks Matthew to help keep watch as we go along. Matthew seems to have grown up so much since we started, and he's much taller than me now. But we meet no one, and I wonder if the gang have heard that Greatheart is coming and are hiding away in fright. Or maybe they're off somewhere else causing trouble.

  CHAPTER 69

  Gaius

  My two youngest brothers are complaining that they're feeling tired after their long day, and I have to admit I'm exhausted. The sun has already set, and I keep thinking of the two giants Greatheart has killed -- Giant Grim and Giant Maul. We've had enough excitement for one day, and it's time to find somewhere to sleep for the night -- preferably indoors. I ask Greatheart if he knows of a place where we can rest in safety.

  "A friend of mine keeps an inn near here," Mr Honest says. "His name is Gaius. We'll soon see his place, and I'm sure he'll let us stay the night."

  The inn is only a short distance away, and Gaius makes us comfortable. He tells us he always welcomes pilgrims to his inn, and his servants are pleased to have the opportunity to shelter us. While the cook is preparing supper, Gaius invites us to sit down and rest. He has much to say to Greatheart and his old friend Mr Honest, and we listen quietly and feel at ease.

  Presently a servant comes in, spreads a cloth on the table, and lays out plates and bread. The cook sends up the supper, and we're really thankful to see the good food placed before us -- meat and potatoes, milk, butter and honey, and a dish of large red apples and other fruit.

  When Matthew sees the fruit, I think he remembers the poison berries that made him so ill when we were at the House Beautiful.

  "Is it all right to eat it?" he asks, looking embarrassed.

  "Oh, yes," Gaius tells him, "this is wholesome fruit."

  Matthew explains why he is afraid.

  "But those were poisoned berries growing in the garden of the evil prince," Gaius says. "This fruit is from the King's orchards, and will hurt no one."

  After supper, Gaius gives my brothers some nuts to crack, and while they eat them he goes on talking to Greatheart.

  Samuel picks up one of the nuts and laughs. "I think we've been given these to teach us a lesson," he says.

  I look at him in astonishment. "What lesson?" I ask, loudly enough to catch the attention of Gaius.

  Samuel cracks the shell and eats the nut. "These nuts are like some of the readings in the King's Book," he says. "The outside is hard to crack, but if we try hard enough we can get to the good food inside."

  He sits back looking more than a little pleased with himself, and Gaius claps his hands. "Well said, Samuel," he calls. "That is indeed a good lesson to go to be
d with. And speaking of bed ..." He turns to Joseph and James, "I think this would be a good time for you boys to go up for the night."

  Old Mr Honest raises a hand. "Just a moment," he says. "The boys have cracked some nuts, but let me see if they can crack this riddle:

  "A man there was

  Though some did count him mad,

  The more he cast away,

  The more he had."

  We all think hard what the man could have thrown away, and in the end we have to give up. Mr Honest laughs and says:

  "He that bestows his goods

  Upon the poor,

  Shall have as much again,

  And ten times more."

  "That's good," Joseph says. "I don't we'd ever have got it."

  Gaius shows us the rooms that are ready for us: one for Mercy and me, and one for the boys. I look at Mercy and we agree it's time for all of us to retire for the night. Mr Honest says he's so pleased to see his friend Gaius again that he'll sit by the fire -- and probably talk until the sun rises in the morning. But they invite me down to talk for a few minutes while the others are getting ready for bed.

  I wonder what they're going to tell me, and I feel a little anxious that one of us may have done something wrong and caused offence.

  "Matthew is a fine lad," Gaius says. "I think he and Mercy are already good friends."

  I'm not sure what he means. I know Matthew has grown up a lot since we started out, but surely ...

  "One day," Gaius continues, "I believe they will make a fine married couple."

  I put my hand to my mouth and gasp. "I've never even thought of anything like that," I say.

  Gaius shakes his head and laughs gently. "I am thinking some years into the future, Christiana. However, I'm surprised you never noticed how close they are. Sometimes we don't see the obvious with our own family. But this is not the time for you to say anything to them."

  It certainly isn't. I try to imagine Matthew's reaction. He would be so self-conscious that he'd probably never speak to Mercy again. And Mercy would probably be equally embarrassed, and never talk to me again. But I'm starting to see what Gaius means. They both love the King, and are becoming stronger pilgrims by the day.

  I decide to slip from the room before getting more deeply involved, and politely say goodnight, and promise not to say anything -- a promise I can easily keep! Before long I'm in bed, listening to Mercy breathing slowly in her sleep. I thank the King for bringing us here safely, and close my eyes in my comfortable bed. But I can't get to sleep. I keep thinking about Matthew and Mercy being married, wondering if it will ever be.