The lost books. Volume one, Chosen / [written by Ted Dekker ; adaptation by J.S. Earls and Kevin Kaiser ; edited by Kevin Kaiser and Jocelyn Bailey ; illustrations by Caio Reis].
Record details
- ISBN: 9781595546036
- ISBN: 1595546030
- Physical Description: 1 volume (unpaged) : chiefly color illustrations ; 26 cm
- Publisher: Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 2008.
Content descriptions
General Note: | Title from cover. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Christian life > Comic books, strips, etc. |
Genre: | Fantasy comics. Graphic novels. |
Available copies
- 6 of 6 copies available at Evergreen Indiana.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 6 total copies.
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Covington-Veedersburg PL - Covington | JGN SF DEK (Text) | 32572000414698 | CVBPLC Juvenile Graphic Novels | Available | - |
Kewanna-Union Twp PL - Kewanna | YAG LOS (Text) | 35887000273598 | Young Adult Graphic Novels | Available | - |
Milford PL - Milford | Teen Graphic Dek (Text) | 72433000112257 | Teen Graphic Novels | Available | - |
Noble Co PL - East (Avilla) | DEK (Text) | 38131003352373 | NCPLE-YA Illustrated Novel | Available | - |
Paoli PL - Paoli | Fic (Text) | 79593000002335 | YA Graphic Novels | Available | - |
Waterloo-Grant Twp PL - Waterloo | JGN DEK (Text) | 30090000593207 | Childrens | Available | - |
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Chosen
By Ted Dekker
Thomas Nelson
Copyright © 2008 Thomas Nelson PublishersAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-59554-603-6
Chapter One
ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE.ON A STRANGELY FAMILIAR, YET UTTERLY DIFFERENT WORLD.
A WORLD WHERE - THOUSANDS OF YEARS FROM NOW - OUR OWN HISTORY APPEARS TO BE REPEATING ITSELF.
MAGNIFICENT FORESTS OF MANY COLORS ONCE COVERED THIS WORLD.
ITS PEOPLE LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH ELYON, THEIR LOVING CREATOR.
THEN CAME THE DARKNESS.
TEELEH, THE WICKED ONE, DECEIVED MANKIND, AND THE GREAT FORESTS WERE SOON WITHERING INTO DESERT WASTELANDS.
THE POWERFUL GREEN WATERS, ONCE PRECIOUS TO ELYON, HAVE ALL BUT VANISHED FROM THE EARTH. ONLY SEVEN SMALL LAKES IN SEVEN SMALL FORESTS REMAIN.
EVIL NOW RULES THE WORLD, REVEALING ITSELF IN THE PAINFUL, SCALY DISEASE COVERING THE DESERT-DWELLERS KNOWN AS THE HORDE.
THE FEW FOLLOWERS OF ELYON WHO REMAIN NOW LIVE IN THE FORESTS, BATHING DAILY IN THE HEALING WATERS TO WASH AWAY THE CURSED DISEASE.
FEARING THE GREEN WATERS ABOVE ALL ELSE, THEIR ENEMY - THE HORDE - HAVE SWORN TO WIPE ALL TRACES OF THE FORESTS FROM THE FACE OF THE PLANET.
ONLY THE FOREST GUARD STANDS IN THEIR WAY. BUT THE GUARD IS STARTING TO CRUMBLE.
ENDLESS WAR HAS DEVASTATED THE RANKS OF THE GUARD, FORCING THEIR LEADER - THE LEGENDARY THOMAS HUNTER - TO FIND EVEN YOUNGER RECRUITS.
FROM AMONG THESE ONE THOUSAND NE RECRUITS, ONLY FOUR MAY BECOME LEADERS.
ONLY FOUR SHALL BE -
... CHOSEN
WELCOME YOUNG WARRIORS!
I, THOMAS OF HUNTER, AM SEARCHING FOR FOUR LEADERS WORTHY TO STAND BY MY SIDE. WORTHY TO GUIDE YOUR VERY BRETHREN INTO BATTLE.
FROM OVER ONE THOUSAND RECRUITS, ONLY YOUR TWO TEAMS OF TWELVE REMAIN. YOU HAVE FACED A LONG AND TIRING DAY, FULL OF ENDLESS CONTEST ... AND PREVAILED.
BUT ARE YOU TRULY THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST THE FORESTS HAVE TO OFFER? THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PROVE YOUR WORTH.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND!
THE FATE OF EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD IN THIS ARENA LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE FOREST GUARD.
GRAB THE BALL, SILVIE. I'LL TAKE CARE OF BILLOS.
I'M ON IT.
NOW, JACKOV!
OOOOF!
AS SWIFT AS EVER, I SEE.
LONG TIME DARSAL.
NOT LONG ENOUGH!
OR QUICK ENOUGH.
FAST ENOUGH FOR ME.
THE BALL!
QUICK! GRAB IT!
I DON'T EVEN SEE IT!
WHAT DO YOU SAY, JOHNIS? WHO'S THE STRONGEST?
DARSAL.
NOW THERE'S A CHOICE. SHE'D MAKE ANY MAN A FINE WIFE.
THE BALL!
THEY'RE SO BUSY FIGHTING, THEY DON'T EVEN SEE IT.
EVERYONE IN THE STADIUM KNOWS WHERE IT IS, EXCEPT FOR THOSE VIOLENT BRUTES.
SOMEONE SHOULD SAY SOMETHING. LET THEM KNOW WHERE IT IS.
A LITTLE MORE MUSCLE ON THOSE BONES AND YOU COULD MAKE A PLAY FOR HER YET, BOY.
I SUPPOSE. I-
THOUGH SHE DOES SEEM A BIT TAKEN WITH THAT OTHER BOY ...
WHAT AM I THINKING?
... BILLOS, IS IT?
THEY'LL KILL ME!
THE PAST
OOOOOOH ...
OOOOOOH ...
SHE'S DEAD. DEAD BECAUSE OF ME.
IF I WAS BIGGER - STRONGER - LIKE THE OTHERS -
EVERYONE GETS SICK, JOHNIS -
-EVEN SARYNNE DOES.
NO SHE DOESN'T! SARYNNE'S JUST A DOLL, KIELLA!
MOTHER DIDN'T RUN OFF LOOKING FOR A STUPID CACTUS TO HEAL A DOLL! SHE DID IT FOR ME!
I'M THE REASON THE HORDE KILLED HER!!
NOW, FATHER'S GONE OFF AFTER THEM AND THEY PROBABLY -
NOT HARDLY, BOY.
PAPA!
YOU - YOU TOOK THEIR HAIR.
I TOOK MORE THAN THAT.
THE PRESENT
CURSED HORDE BALL.
STOP!
MADE FROM THE HAIR OF THE BEASTS WHO MURDERED MY MOTHER.
CAN'T BEAR TO LOOK AT IT.
BOTH TEAMS ON YOUR FEET!
AREN'T YOU ALL FORGETTING SOMETHING? THE GOAL ISN'T TO BEAT ONE ANOTHER INTO BLOODY PULPS.
IT'S TO GET THE HORDE BALL AND GET IT OVER THE GOAL LINE!
DO YOU THINK IT JUST VANISHED INTO THIS AIR?
NO, SIR, SOMEONE'S HIDING IT ON THE SIDE.
THEN WHY ARE YOU STANDING ON THE FIELD?
I WANT YOU TWO TO FAN OUT AND FIND IT. AND WHEN YOU DO-
-I WANT YOU TO BEAT THE PERSON WHO'S HIDING MY HORDE BALL TO A PULP.
WITH PLEASURE.
AND IF THEY TRY TO SQUIRM OUT OF IT NOW -
-I WILL PERSONALLY BREAK A BONE OR TWO.
COME ON NOW. GIVE IT UP AND I MAY GO EASY ON YOUR BEATING.
I - AM GOING - TO DIE.
THINK JOHNIS, THINK, YOUR LIFE MAY VERY WELL DEPEND ON IT.
YOU'RE TRYING MY PATIENCE! GIVE ME THE BALL!
THIS IDIOT MUST HAVE A DEATH WI -
STOP!
YOU STILL HAVEN'T FOUND MY BALL? I COULD PICK ANY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD FROM THIS CROWD AND SHOW THEM TO BE WISER THAN YOU.
THEN DO IT!
YOU WOULD DO WELL TO WATCH YOUR EMOTIONS, JACKOV.
HOWEVER, JUST THIS ONCE, I WILL AGREE TO YOUR INSISTENCE.
YOU THERE, ON THE END, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
J-J- JOHNIS.
WELL JOHNIS, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH YOU ARE OUR NEW PLAYER.
NOW THEN, I DO BELIEVE THIS BOY, WHO WAS EITHER TO COWARDLY TO TRY OUT FOR THE GUARD OR DISMISSED TOO EARLY. COULD RUN CIRCLES AROUND THE LOT OF YOU.
AND NOW I'D LIKE HIM TO JOIN JACKOV ON THE FIELD.
HE MUST GET PAST JACKOV AND, IF HE WANTS TO LIVE, CROSS THE GOAL LINE.
I - AM GOING - TO DIE.
SO EAGER TO GET A WHIPPING?
NO. I'VE COME OUT HERE TO SHOW YOU THAT MIND IS GREATER THAN MUSCLE.
THEN, LET'S DO THIS.
WE WILL, BUT FIRST -
- I HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU. ALL OF YOU.
SNAPT
MY MOTHER PAID FOR THIS HORDE HAIR WITH HER LIFE.
AND NOW -
- IT'S YOURS!
WHA -?
KA-RUNKT
THE HORDE HAIR!
HUFF
HUFF
HUFF
IS THIS HUFF WHAT YOU HAD HUFF IN MIND?
ONE HOUR LATER -
I HAVE SEARCHED FOR YOUR STRONG, YOUNG LEADERS.
AND NOW, AFTER FACING COUNTLESS TRIALS AND FEARSOME COMPETITIONS -
- I HAVE FOUND THEM.
DARSAL OF SOUTHERN FOREST.
BILLOS OF SOUTHERN.
SILVIE OF NORTHERN FOREST.
AND YOUNG JOHNIS OF MIDDLE.
I - I CAN'T.
CAN'T - OR WON'T?
I'M TOO YOUNG, TOO SMALL, TOO -
I WILL DECIDE IF YOU ARE TOO YOUNG - OR TOO SMALL - OR TOO CHEEKY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!
YES, SIR.
NOW THEN, TO RECEIVE YOUR COMMISSION, YOU MUST ARM YOURSELVES AND RIDE DIRECTLY TO IGAL POINT.
ONCE THERE, YOU WILL RETRIEVE A GROUP OF FOUR CATALINA CACTI WE HAVE MARKED, AND RETURN WITH THEM BY NIGHTFALL.
WHAT ABOUT THE HORDE?
I WOULDN'T BE TOO CONCERNED. OUR REPORTS HAVE THEM TO THE EAST. YOU'RE HEADED WEST, YOUNG MAN.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DO RUN INTO A STRAGGLES OR TWO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING ME SOME HAIR FOR A NEW BALL.
RIGHT NOW, I SUGGEST YOU AND YOUR NEW FRIENDS GET YOU BRUISED BODIES TO THE STABLES AND FLY LIKE THE WIND. IT'S A TWO-HOUR RIDE.
SEND THEN OFF, LOVERS OF ELYON! LET THIS ARENA ROAR WITH YOUR APPROVAL AND SUPPORT!
ELYON'S STRENGTH!
UNNOTICED AMIDST THE JUBILATION, A LONE FIGURE SLIPS SILENTLY AWAY.
HE CONTINUES ON THROUGH THE EMPTY VILLAGE.
INTO A FOREST FULL OF BITTERSWEET MEMORIES.
PAUSING ONLY FOR THE BRIEFEST OF MOMENTS BEFORE MOVING ONWARD. EVER ONWARD.
TOWARD THE DEPTHS OF THE DESERT.
TOWARD THE HORDE.
ELSEWHERE, HOURS LATER -
ELYON HELP ME.
WHAT WAS I THINKING?
BILLOS, DARSAL, AND SILVIE. THEY'RE THE WARRIORS. THEY DESERVE TO BE HERE.
I DON'T.
I SHOULD TURN BACK.
TURN BACK AND STOP THIS INSANITY.
I'LL ONLY ENDANGER THEIR LIVES WITH MY STUPIDITY.
THEY DON'T NEED ME.
THEY DON'T EVEN NOTICE I'VE STOPPED.
I'M INSIGNIFICANT -
- INVISIBLE.
WHAT THE - ?!
IT - IT CAN'T BE -
EASY, GIRL! EASY!!
SHUT YOUR YAP, SCRAPPER -
- OR EVERY HORDE SCAB WITHIN TEN MILES WILL KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
YOU CAN'T HEAR THAT?
YOU DON'T SEE THAT SHATAIKI BAT UP THERE!
ALL WE CAN SEE OR HEAR IS YOUR FEAR. SO STOP THIS STUPIDITY AND GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF.
THE SHATAIKI ARE ONLY A MYTH. EVIL WEARS THE FACE OF A SCAB, NOT SOME GHOST IN THE SKY.
I REALIZE MY BEING HERE IS A COMPLETE FLUKE, BUT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME!
IF YOU DON'T QUIET DOWN, I'M GOING TO CUT YOUR TONGUE OUT AND SHOVE IT SO FAR DOWN YOUR THROAT YOU WON'T NEED TO EAT FOR A MONTH!
ELYON, HELP US -
THE HORDE!
NOT JUST HORDE. THE RAITHE, HORDE ASSASSINS.
WHAT DO I DO?
THIS IS INSANE!
WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE, UNLESS ...
YAH!
JOHNIS, NO!
C'MON YOU KILLER; TAKE THE BAIT.
YES! THEY'RE FALLING FOR IT!
THAT LEAVES THREE AGAINST TWO.
OF COURSE, THAT ALSO LEAVES TWO AGAINST ONE.
ME!
NOW, DARSAL! LET IT FLY!!
AGAIN, DARSAL!
THIS MONSTER'S MINE.
YAH!
LOOK, OVER THERE!
IT'S JOHNIS!! AND HE'S BROUGHT FRIENDS!
HEAD DOWN JOHNIS!
SO, YOU REALLY ARE A COWARD.
PATHETIC.
NO, LISTEN. IT WAS US FOUR AGAINST THOSE FOUR. I MADE IT YOU THREE AGAINST TWO.
YOU DESERT US AGAIN -
- AND I'LL HELP THE HORDE CHASE YOU DOWN.
B - BUT THEY WERE WAITING FOR US. DOESN'T THAT BOTHER YOU?
THE MIND OF A COWARD ALWAYS SEES THE WORST.
IGNORE HIM, BILLOS. DAYLIGHT IS DYING AWAY AND WE HAVE YET TO REACH -
"-IGAL POINT."
AFTER AN UNEASY, HALF-HOUR TREK TO THE FOREST'S EDGE.
DO YOU SEE ANYTHING?
THERE'S NO CLUMP OF FOUR AS FAR AS I CAN SEE. MAYBE HE MEANT FOUR SEPARATE ONES.
NO, HE SAID A GROUP OF FOUR.
WAIT -
- OVER THERE! I THINK I FOUND THEM!
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE ELSE FOUND 'EM FIRST, SCRAPPER.
GREAT. NOW WHAT?
WE HAVE NO CHOICE. THERE HAVE TO BE MORE, DEEPER IN.
INTO THE CANYONS? IS THAT WISE?
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH SILVIE.
LISTEN, THE LARGE ONE DON'T GROW IN ROCKS!
WE NEED TO GO DEEPER, WHERE WE KNOW THEY ARE, OR WE COULD SPEND HOURS LOOKING FOR NOTHING.
BUT THE HORDE KNOW WE'RE HERE!
FIRST THE ASSASSINS, NOW THESE SMASHED CACTI. I BET THEY'RE WAITING FOR US TO ENTER THE CANYONS.
OR COURSE THE HORDE SMASHED THEN. THEY EAT THE FLESHY INSIDES -
- THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A TRAP.
SEE? WHAT DID I TELL YOU?
NOW, HOW DO WE CARRY THEM OUT?
GOOD QUESTION.
HEY SCRAPPER, THINK YOU CAN HANDLE CUTTING THOSE SAPLINGS DOWN SO WE CAN MAKE A STRETCHER?
SURE.
SURE, SEND THE SCRAPPER OFF BY HIS LONESOME.
WHO CARES HOW DANGEROUS IT IS.
WHO CARES HOW IDIOTIC IT IS.
WHO CARES IF HE DIES OUT HERE JUST LIKE HIS -
- MOTHER.
HORDE!
IF THIS IS SOME SORT OF -
GOTTA DIVIDE 'EM AGAIN.
IT'S THEIR ONLY HOPE.
YAH!
IT WORKED!
GREAT.
ELYON, LOVER OF MY SOUL, PLEASE SAVE THIS ANT FROM THOSE BEASTS.
DEAR ELYON, PLEASE, PLEASE -
- SAVE THIS SCRAPPER!
PSST!
THIS WAY IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!
OKAY.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
RIGHT THIS WAY!
I MUST BE LOSING MY MIND.
WELL, WELL, WELL -
- IT BEGINS, AT LAST.
YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE US. IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN YEARS SINCE ANY HUMAN HAS SEEN A ROUSH.
YOU - YOU CAN SPEAK.
AND SO CAN YOU.
DON'T WORRY, I'D BE STUNNED BY SUCH A DARING RESCUE MYSELF.
I WAS QUITE CLEVER, WASN'T I? PULLING YOU OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE?
GABIL, PLEASE, THERE'S NO NEED TO OVERDO IT.
WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH TIME AS WE'D LIKE.
SO THIS ISN'T A DREAM? I MEAN, YOU'RE REALLY REAL.
YES, YES. THIS IS GABIL AND I AM MICHAL.
YOU, OF COURSE, ARE JOHNIS.
YOU KNOW MY NAME?
WE KNOW A GOOD DEAL MORE THAN THAT.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THE MARK BEHIND YOUR RIGHT EAR?
YES -
"A CHOSEN CHILD, MARKED BY ELYON, WILL PROVE HIS WORTH AND DESTROY THE DARK ONE."
THIS WAS THE SECOND PROPHECY GIVEN TO THOMAS HUNTER.
AND THE TASK GIVEN TO YOU -
- IS TO FIND THE SIX LOST BOOKS OF HISTORY.
THERE MUST BE SOME MISTAKE.
I'M JUST A NEW RECRUIT. I SHOULD ACTUALLY BE HELPING MY FRIENDS RIGHT NOW.
NOW LISTEN, LAD ...
I EXPECT YOU TO ACCEPT YOUR DESTINY.
NOW, THEN. WE CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE BOOKS IS HIDING IN THE WEST.
BUT THERE AREN'T ANY FORESTS WEST OF HERE. WE'LL TURN TO SCABS WITHOUT WATER.
WHY YOU HUMANS FELL FOR THAT BEST, TEELEH, I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND. BUT THIS IS A CHANCE TO RECOVER WHAT YOU LOST.
YOU'RE NOT SOME RANDOM SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY! YOU WERE CHOSEN FROM BIRTH, EVEN BEFORE THE GREAT DECEPTION!
YOU'LL FIND WATER.
DO YOU THINK WE'D LET SUCH A CUTE FACE SHRIVEL INTO SCAB FLESH?
OH, AND YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO NEED THE OTHER THREE.
BUT THEY HATE ME! THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO JOIN ME ON THIS INSANE QUEST.
THERE'S ANOTHER THING.
YOU CAN'T BREATHE A WORD OF THIS TO ANYONE ELSE, ONLY THE FOUR OF YOU.
AND JUST HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO ESCAPE THE HORDE, TO GO ON THIS GRAND QUEST?
CAREFUL, YOU MAY NOT WANT YOUR BLOOD TO TOUCH THAT -
SUDDENLY, JOHNIS IS SWEPT AWAY INTO A WORLD OF CHAOS.
WHERE VISIONS OF EVIL WASH OVER HIM.
CONSUMING HIM.
OVERWHELMING HIM, UNTIL -
NNNNNGH -!
DON'T ASK WHAT JUST HAPPENED. IT'S BEYOND ME. BEYOND YOU.
JUST KEEP THE BOOKS FROM BLOOD.
I - IT'S TRUE. ALL OF IT.
YES.
WILL I DIE?
IF YOU DIE, YOU DIE FOR ELYON.
MOST WHO ARE CHOSEN, DO DIE. BUT WHEN THE TIME COMES, YOU WON'T CARE.
JUST TRY TO STAY ALIVE LONG ENOUGH TO FIND AS MANY OF THE BOOKS AS YOU CAN.
I WILL.
GOOD.
THIS CAVE HS THREE OPENINGS. THE ONE YOU ENTERED THROUGH. THE NEXT, WHICH WILL LEAD TO YOUR FRIENDS. AND THE FURTHERST, WHICH YOU SHALL USE TO ESCAPE.
COME ALONG NOW, JOHNIS! WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!
WE ARE INDEED, GABIL.
WE ARE INDEED.
HOURS AWAY, IN MIDDLE FOREST ...
PERHAPS WE SHOULD HAVE SENT SCOUTS TO WATCH OVER THEM AND REPORT BACK.
I HAVE MY REASONS FOR SENDING THEM ALONE, MIKIL.
THEY'RE MEANT TO BE TESTED, NOT PAMPERED.
BUT THOSE FOUR ARE BOUND TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART. OR, AT LEAST, JOHNIS.
I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT JOHNIS.
HE'S THE ONE WHO WILL BRING THE REST TOGETHER ... OR DIE TRYING.
WHAT WORRIES ME MORE IS THE BATTLE WE'LL THROW THEM INTO WHEN THEY RETURN.
NOW, HOW MANY OF THE GUARD ARE PITCHED IN EASTERN FOREST?
ALL TEN THOUSAND, SIR.
GOOD. I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE THE THOUSAND YOUR NEW RECRUITS TO OUR EASTERN FLANK AT FIRST LIGHT.
THEY CAN HELP FINISH THE TRENCHES AND FILL THEM WITH NANKA RESIN.
I DON'T WANT THEM IN BATTLE THIS TIME.
THAT'S - A GOOD IDEA, SIR.
THE NEW RECRUITS ARE TOO YOUNG TO FIGHT.
NO, YOU'RE WRONG.
THEY'RE NOT TOO YOUNG.
I SIMPLY CAN'T BEAR THE THOUGHT OF ANY DYING SO SOON.
I WANT THE ALBINOS' HEADS!
HOW COULD FOUR OF OUR MOST EXPERIENCED ASSASSINS FALL TO MERE CHILDREN?!
TRICKERY MUST HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, SIRE. THEIR BLACK MAGIC IS AT WORK HERE.
BLACK MAGIC?
YOU ARE AS SUPERSTITIOUS AS THEY ARE.
EITHER WAY, WE MUST STOP THEM FROM REACHING THOMAS. I HAVE TO ASSUME THEY UNCOVERED OUR PLANS.
I WILL DISPATCH ANOTHER FIVE HUNDRED WARRIORS.
I THOUGHT YOU WISHED TO CAPTURE THE MARKED ONE SO HE COULD LEAD US TO THE MISSING BOOKS.
I WANT THE BOY BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPERSITIONS, NOT MINE.
THOMAS HUNTER BELIEVES THE BOY WILL SAVE THEM. KILLING HIM WILL ABSOLUTELY CRUSH THOMAS.
THEN ... YOU DON'T BELIEVE HAVING THE SEVEN LOST BOOKS OF HISTORY WOULD GIVE US AN ADVANTAGE?
DID I SAY THAT?
SHOW ME TEELEH, AND I WILL GIVE HIM MY SOUL AND FIND THE REST OF THE BOOKS.
BUT FOR NOW, WE FIGHT WITH FLESH AND BLOOD.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN -
- YOU ALREADY HAVE GIVEN HIM YOUR SOUL.
SHHH -
WE HAVE COMPANY.
UGNH!
WHAT THE - ?
SCRAPPER?!
SOON, AFTER SOME CONVINCING.
HOW'D YOU FIND THIS PLACE?
DOES IT MATTER? WE'RE SAFE.
IF A RAW, LITTLE RUNT LIKE YOU FOUND IT -
- I'M SURE SEASONED SCAB WARRIORS WILL.
THIS IS PROBABLY A TRAP.
WELL, IT'S BETTER THAN BEING TRAPPED BEHIND THAT BOULDER.
AT LEAST WE CAN KILL 'EM ONE-BY-ONE IF THEY TRY TO SQUEEZE IN HERE.
BUT BILLOS IS RIGHT. HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY KNOW THE HORDE WON'T FIND THIS HOLE IF YOU DID?
I DIDN'T FIND IT. A ROUSH NAMED GABIL LED ME TO IT.
JOHNIS TELLS THEM THE WHOLE STORY. OR, AT LEAST, MOST OF IT.
HE SKIPS THE PART ABOUT THE BOOK'S REACTION TO BLOOD -
- AND ABOUT HIM BEING CHOSEN FROM BIRTH. EVEN HE FOUND THAT PART HARD TO SWALLOW.
YOU'RE TELLING US A FUZZY WHITE BAT TOLD YOU WE'RE SUPPODED TO GO ON A QUEST LOOKING FOR A BUNCH OF BOOKS?
YES.
BUT NOT JUST ANY BOOKS -
OH, NO, OF COURSE NOT.
- THE SEVEN LOST BOOKS OF HISTORY. LIKE THIS ONE -
I-I THINK THIS IS REAL.
PLEASE, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF HIS STUPID POETRY BOOKS. OPEN IT.
NO, DON'T! IT'S TOO POWERFUL! THEY WARNED ME NOT TO OPEN IT.
THEY ALSO SAID IF I COULDN'T GET YOU TO JOIN ME, SOMETHING TERRIBLE WOULD HAPPEN.
A TERRIBLE THING HAPPENED THREE HOURS AGO -
- WHEN YOU JOINED THE FOREST GUARD.
THE HORDE IS GATHERING IN THE EAST AND WE HAVE TO WARN THOMAS. ABANDONING THE GUARD NOW WOULD BE TREASONOUS!
HE'S RIGHT, JOHNIS.
ARE YOU REALLY READY TO HEAD INTO THE DESERT, WITHOUT WATER, BECAUSE TWO WHITE FUZZY BATS TOLD YOU TO?
THERE ARE NO WHITE FUZZY BATS!
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Chosen by Ted Dekker Copyright © 2008 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Excerpted by permission.
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