'The time has come,' said Grandfather. 'Look at him. He hasn't spoken a word all day.'
     'I reckon you're right,' sighed old Jacob. 'Remember how excited he used to get on the last day of harvest? Always keeping on about the food and pestering me to decorate the barn.' They shook their heads sadly.
     'He hasn't even rolled out the barrel of cider this year, 'said Grandfather.
     'D'you remember the first time you let him have a drop of cider and he fell asleep in the wheelbarrow?' laughed Coker from the cart.
     'Aye, and what about the year he set up a great feast in the field,' said Jacob. 'And got me doing that old country dance.'
     'And what a proper fool you looked,' grinned Brendan. 'We were laughing so much that Coker fell in a ditch and nobody noticed.'
They smiled and nodded, all remembering.
Brendan chewed thoughtfully on an ear of corn.
     'He doesn't threaten to put a sack over my head any more, when I start singing, he said.
     'Perhaps he's planning something now,' suggested Coker, hopefully.
     'No,' said Grandfather. 'He's been like this all year.'
     'He forgot my birthday,' whispered Young Annek.
     'Yes, the time has come. I'll talk to him this evening' promised Grandfather. 'Let's get back to work.'
They turned to look at the still figure who sat on a fallen tree trunk, staring into space. He seemed to be miles away.
Grandfather walked over and gently shook the young man's shoulder.
     'Jed, wake up. There's work to be done.'
Jed looked up as if he'd never seen his grandfather before.
     'Come on. Time to start work again.'
Jed stood up slowly, and without a word picked up his pitchfork to begin throwing sheaves onto the cart.
All afternoon they worked in silence. At last only one sheaf was left. As owner of the farm it was Grandfather's right to lift it up. They raised a ragged cheer, and Jacob picked a handful of poppies to decorate it.
     'Up you get, Sammy,' ordered Coker, and the terrier jumped, with a little help, into the cart.
Jacob and Brendan heaved themselves up, to sit with legs dangling over the side, and Young Annek climbed to the top. Coker went to the horse's head and began to lead the way to the barn.
     'Wait, Jed,' said Grandfather as the young man moved to follow. 'Let them go ahead. I want to show you something.'
He led the way out of the cornfield and up a long meadow until they reached the hedge marking the boundary of the farm. The old man stopped to get his breath.
Down below, the cart was disappearing into the barn and Sammy was scattering the hens. A pair of white doves settled on the thatched roof of the small farmhouse.
     'Do you remember when you were a small boy, and I said you could play anywhere on the farm, but you must never go beyond this hedge?'
Jed looked down at Grandfather, who was still panting from the climb.
     'Yes, I remember, but why do you ask?'
     'Did you ever go beyond the hedge, into the wood?' questioned Grandfather.
     'Well... yes. I did. You can push through the hedge quite easily. I thought it must be interesting, as I wasn't allowed to go there, but it's just an ordinary wood.'
Grandfather walked on a short way. He seemed to be looking for something. Suddenly he stopped.
     'What is so special about this patch?'
Jed stared at the hedge, then turned to Grandfather. He was puzzled, but he thought hard.
     'It's where the first primroses grow isn't it?' he asked.
     'Yes it is, but you didn't even point them out this year. It was the first spring we didn't have primroses in a jar on the table. You didn't even notice the spring, did you? At one time, you'd whistle and sing, and run the dog off his feet.'
     'Oh, Grandfather,' Jed groaned.
     'Did you know, you forgot Young Annek's birthday?'
Jed put his face in his hands.
     'Oh no, did I? I'm sorry Grandfather. I don't know what's wrong with me. I have this strange feeling. I want something but I don't know what it is.'
     'Don't worry. I understand. I think everyone must feel like that at times. That's why I've brought you here.'
Grandfather began to prod the hedge with his pitchfork, and beat down the nettles and cow parsley.
     'Look! Just there.'
Jed peered into the gap.
     'But it's just an old iron post!'
     'No, it's more than that. Look again.'
Jed could tell that Grandfather was trying to show him something important, so he knelt on the bank and reached in the hedge for the post.
     'Wait a minute,' he cried. 'There's something else! It's a fence, I think.'
Jed began to clear away the undergrowth.
     'How strange. It's not a fence. It's a lovely old gate, completely overgrown. I've never seen such a fine gate.'
Grandfather was smiling proudly.

     'I came into the farm through that gate, and now you will leave through it.'
     'Leave the farm Grandfather?' said Jed, surprised.
     'Yes, my boy. I think the time has come.'
     'You mean, I can go out and seek my fortune?'
Grandfather laughed.
     'I'm sorry to say there aren't many fortunes to be found these days, or dragons to fight, or princesses to rescue. But it's time you went out into the world to see what you can find. You never know.'
     'But how would you manage without me? How could I possibly go? It's no good,' said Jed, kicking at a tuft of grass to hide his disappointment.
     'Look, Jed. I want you to be happy. The harvest is over. Young Annek get's stronger and more sensible every day. So don't worry about us. What do you say?'
Jed looked down at the small farm that had been his home since childhood, and at the grandfather who had looked after him all that time. He tried the latch on the overgrown gate. It still worked. He turned to Grandfather, smiling.
     'I'd like to go. For a while.'
     'Good,' nodded Grandfather. 'In that case, I have something for you in the barn.'
Suddenly Jed was full of energy and began to run across the field. He turned in his tracks t watch Grandfather slowly plodding after him.
     'It's alright,' shouted Grandfather. 'You go ahead. In the barn and up the ladder, there's a chest in the corner, under some sacks. Pull it out into the light.'
When Grandfather reached the barn, Jed was already kneeling by the chest. There was a look of disappointment on his face. As the old man wheezed his way up the ladder, Jed frowned.
     'You've shown me this before.'
     'I tried to show you. Don't you remember? You were always pestering me to know what was in the chest, but I'd hardly lifted the lid and what happened? You heard Sammy bark, looked out of the window, saw Brendan with his fishing rod and the next moment you had swung yourself out, and you were racing after them.'
The old man took a key from round his neck and unlocked the chest. Jed lifted the lid, and looked inside. On the top lay a piece of sacking, which he pulled aside. Underneath were the brown tunics and smocks that had held no interest to him as a child.
     'I told you,' sighed Jed. 'It's only old clothes.'
     'Underneath!' pointed Grandfather.
Jed tossed aside the pile of drab clothing and gasped with astonishment. Lying on a bed of bright red velvet was a glowing golden breastplate.
     'It's beautiful!' cried Jed.
He pulled out the red material, fold after fold, and holding it up, found it was a long flowing cloak. Excitedly, he put it over his shoulders, and spun round so it flew out in brilliant red curves.
Carefully he lifted up the breastplate and held it against himself.
     'It's going to fit!' he said, and Grandfather nodded happily.
Next there were a pair of chain mail trousers, and a handsome blue tunic with slashed sleeves. Jed could hardly believe his eyes.
     'They were my father's weren't they?' he said.
Grandfather shook his head.
     'No, not your father's.'
Jed stared thoughtfully at the bent, white haired old man. He noticed the bright, amused eyes.
     'Were they yours, Grandfather?'
The old man smiled proudly.
     'Yes, mine. Go on, look at everything else.'
Jed knelt by the chest and gently lifted out a golden helmet.
     'But I don't understand. These belong to a knight, not a farmer. Did you really wear them?'
     'Oh, many years ago, I did. I've been keeping them for you.'
Then Grandfather showed Jed the saddlecloths and the decorated reins. At the bottom was a golden banner.
     'Reach up and feel along the beam and you'll find the lance to go with it,' said Grandfather. 'I'll show you how to fix on the standard.'
Jed kept shaking his head, as if he couldn't believe what was happening.
It's all wonderful. If only I had a horse, I'd be the perfect knight. I'd ride through that gate so proudly.'
     'And so you shall. You can take Pawnee.'
     'But she's only a farm horse, and she's so old,' moaned Jed.
Pawnee, in the stable below, neighed and tossed her head as if she had understood. The twisted, golden horn growing from the middle of her forehead gleamed as she raised her head into a shaft of sunlight.
     'Jed! Surely you know that she is no ordinary farm horse,' said Grandfather, as he climbed down to stroke Pawnee's nose and pat her neck. 'Well old girl, are you ready for an adventure?'
Pawnee nodded, and stamped her hooves.
     'I suppose she'll have to do, agreed Jed, as he gathered together all his new treasures. He clambered down the ladder, waking up the ginger cat, which yawned and stretched before settling back down to sleep.
     'Well, I am ready for an adventure, right now,' he said, a little too eagerly.
     'Not so fast,' smiled Grandfather. 'No-one should go on a long journey without food inside them. Besides, you are still hot and dusty from the cornfields.'
Jed dashed out of the barn, scattering hens and bringing Sammy barking from some secret hiding place.
Across the yard he ran, to the river behind the farmhouse. He laid out his new finery in a row on the bank, and pulled off his work stained clothes, leaving them in a heap. Then he plunged into the river. With a yelp of delight, Sammy leaped in after him.
Grandfather picked up his dirty clothes, and hurried into the farmhouse to find clean blue trousers, a fresh white shirt and Jed's best polished boots. He set out a loaf of crusty bread, a big wedge of cheese, a red apple and a jug of milk.
When Jed climbed out of the river, Grandfather wrapped him in a big, white drying cloth.
     'Now sit down,' ordered the old man. 'Eat and drink while you dry off. Coker and Young Annek are getting Pawnee ready. The others are opening up the gateway.'
Jed sat down at Grandfather's side. Sammy, seeing the game was over, climbed out of the river and shook himself wildly over the pair of them.
Jed laughed and threw him a crust. Grandfather smiled to himself. It was good to hear that laugh again.
They sat in silence, each wrapped in his own thoughts. Then Jed turned to the old man.
     'Tell me about your adventures. I'd like to know.'
Grandfather shook his head.
     'One day we'll sit together again, and talk. Then we'll both have stories to tell. Jed, you must understand this won't be easy for you. Bad things can happen, as well as good. That is how it goes. The Silver Fox, for instance. I saw that on a day when nothing had gone right.'
     'The Silver Fox?' asked Jed eagerly. Did you capture it?'
     'In a way I did. I've never forgotten it. All those years ago, and I can still see it clearly in my mind. It was such a wonderful thing.'
     'I'd like to hear about it,' pleaded Jed.
     'I was lost and lonely that day,' remembered Grandfather. 'I was so tired and hungry, I could hardly walk. And when I tripped and fell head over heels down a rocky slope, I just felt like giving up. I was too miserable, even to cry.'
     'What happened?' asked Jed.
     'Nothing. Nobody came along to rescue me. In the end I gathered together what strength I had, and climbed back up feeling very sorry for myself. Then at the top I turned round, and there was The Silver Fox, right there in front of me. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It seemed to be a sign, and it gave me courage to go on.'
     'I'd like to see one. Where was it?' wondered Jed. 'Where did you see it?'
     'I can't remember, exactly,' said Grandfather. 'Through the wood and follow the path. That's all I can say. But it was a very long way.'
Jed stood up.
     'I'm ready to go now.'
Grandfather helped him into his armour. Everything fitted perfectly. Jed looked at his reflection in the water. He ran his hands through his black curls. He had seen how handsome he was, so Grandfather did not need to tell him.
     'Take care, my boy. We'll miss you.'
Jed squeezed Grandfather's arm, and they nodded at each other.
At the top of the field, by the open gate, stood Coker holding Pawnee. Her white coat and black mane were groomed to perfection. Her hooves shone, and the golden horn gleamed on her forehead. She scraped the ground, as if eager to be off, in spite of having worked in the cornfield all day. She tossed her head, and the red harness fluttered brightly in the fading rays of low sunshine.
Jed put his foot in the stirrup, and leaped into the saddle. Proudly, Young Annek handed up the golden banner, which flowed snakelike from the polished lance.
Jed nodded his thanks.
The undergrowth had been cut back, to reveal a way through the wood.
No one moved, or spoke to say goodbye or good luck. The hopes and wishes and farewells were all in silence.
Pawnee moved through the gateway as Jed pulled on the reins. He did not turn to smile or wave, but just before the trees and bushes hid him from veiw, he raised the lance in a silent salute, and held it high.
They stood and gazed into the wood, long after Jed had disappeared. Then Grandfather moved and broke the spell. He shook each one by the hand, all of them smiling broadly.
Suddenly Young Annek leaped high, punching the air with his fist and with a great whoop of delight raced down the field.

To be continued...