David and the Phoenix (Full Audiobook) - Chapter 04

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter four of David in the Phoenix. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Recording by Greg Weeks. David in the Phoenix by Edward
ormand Droyd. Chapter four, in which David and the Phoenix

(00:21):
go to visit the Griffins and a great danger is
narrowly averted. A chill raced up and down David's spine
as he got to his feet. Do do you think
a week's practice is enough? Absolutely, my dear fellow, I
am now in the very pink of condition. Not that
I was ever out of condition, mind you, It was
merely that I ah well to be brief, my boy,

(00:44):
I am now ready. Yes, but well you remember the
last time. Yes, look here, If it will make you
feel better, suppose we have a trial flight along the ledge. Well,
all right, David got up as before on the phoenix's back.
The phoenix spread its wings and hopped into the air.
They glided easily down the length of the ledge, clearing

(01:05):
the thicket in the middle by a good two feet.
There you are, my boy, said the bird. Proudly as
they landed at the other end. Let's go, said David,
as bravely as he could. They were in the air
again once more. He felt that rush of wind against
his face and heard the pounding of wings, but this
time there was no giddy downward swoop. He breathed again

(01:26):
and opened his eyes. The world was falling away, and
everything on it was growing smaller by the second. The
valley could be cradled in two hands. The mountains on
either side looked like wrinkles in gray cloth. Now he
could see planes in the distance, and little silver threads
of rivers. As he looked, the whole world began to
revolve slowly. The phoenix was soaring in a wide circle. Well,

(01:50):
my boy, it called over its shoulder. Whom shall we
visit first? It's really up to you, phoenix, David shouted back.
But how about the the Biffins or whiffins or whatever
you call them. You mean the Gryffins, Gryffons and gryffins,
My boy, very well, we shall visit the Gryffins only. However,

(02:10):
it is best to leave the others alone. The phoenix
swung around and began to fly toward the morning sun
with such tremendous speed that David had to crouch down
to avoid being blown off. The wind screamed past his ears,
toward his shirt and hair, and made his eyes brim
over with tears. It was cold, but he was too
excited to care. Below them, plains, rivers, forests, and cities

(02:34):
rushed across the face of the earth. This is wonderful, phoenix,
David shouted. The phoenix's reply was not clear. Normal speed,
air stream, prime, days of my youth were the only
words David caught, but he could tell from the tone
that the phoenix was pleased. The view blow was not
to last long. Within half an hour they had run

(02:57):
into a heavy overcast, and for a long time it
was like flying through very wet, cold cotton. David glanced down,
hoping to see the fog thin out. Suddenly he caught
sight of a black object rocketing up toward them. Before
he could call out a warning, the thing hurtled by
so close that its backwash very nearly knocked him from

(03:18):
the bird's back. The phoenix reduced speed, and the black object,
after banking in a wide curve, came cruising up alongside.
David was amazed to see that. It was a pale
but beautiful lady, dressed all in black, sitting on a broom. Hello, Phoenix,
she cried in a teasing voice. I haven't seen you

(03:39):
in ever so long. Good morning, I am sure, the
phoenix replied, stiffly, Staring straight ahead Phoenix, The lady continued coaxingly,
I'm awfully bored. Won't you race me? Please? Idle hands
find mischief to do, said the phoenix severely. We are
making good use of our time, and I suggest that

(03:59):
you do the same. Don't be so stuffy, phoenix, she pouted,
Come and race with me. I've got a new broom
and I want to see how good it is. Please no,
said the phoenix sharply. Oh all right for you, she said,
tossing her head. You just don't dare, because you know
I'll beat your tail feathers off, and she shot back

(04:19):
into the mist below. Indeed, the phoenix snorted, beat my
tail feathers off. Ha Is she a witch? David asked, yes,
my boy, and a shocking example of the decline of
the younger generation. She will come to no good end,
believe me, tail feathers Indeed, just then they burst out

(04:39):
of the clouds and into the hot sunlight below them.
The land was wild and desolate, a vast rolling plain
covered for the most part with dry, tawny grass. Here
and there were groves of trees drooping beneath the sun.
The phoenix, still snorting indignantly to itself, dropped to within
a hundred feet of the ground. They began to soar

(05:00):
back and forth. Can you see anything, my boy? David
had never seen a gryffin, of course, so he was
not sure what to look for. But he caught sight
of something lying in the shade of a bush and
pointed it out to the phoenix. Ah, quite so, the
phoenix said, doubtfully, it does not look like a but
we can take a closer look. They landed and walked

(05:21):
toward the bush and its shadows sprawled a very untidy animal.
Its tail and hind quarters were exactly like those of
a panther, its chest and fore legs were like a hawk's,
and it had pointed wings. Burrs matted its dusty fur,
Its claws were shabby and split, and numerous black flies
were crawling over its haunches. The bush trembled with its snoring, Bah,

(05:47):
we are wasting our time here, my boy, this is
a gryffin, a discussing brute, isn't it, And the phoenix
sniffed disapprovingly. Maybe if we wake it up, David suggested,
it could tell us where the other ones live. Next
to impossible. For one thing, a cannon could not awaken
the beast. For another thing, it would not, even if awake,

(06:08):
be able to tell us anything. You simply cannot imagine
the stupidity of these brutes. Well, let's try it and away,
David said, very well, my boy, but it will be
a complete waste of time. The phoenix shrugged its shoulders,
stepped up to the griffin and kicked it violently. Phoenix,
David cried in alarm. Don't hurt it, no fear, said

(06:31):
the phoenix, delivering another lusty kick. One simply cannot damage
a sleeping gryffin. Give me a hand, my boy. David
took hold of the griffin's wing and the phoenix seized
its tail. For the next ten minutes, they kicked and
pulled and pounded, shouting hay and wake up at the
top of their lungs. It was hot work, and David

(06:52):
finally admitted to himself that the phoenix had been right,
But before he could say so, the phoenix completely lost
its temper and savagely bit the gryffin's tail. That did it.
The griffin opened one eye half way and said, unumph,
get up. The phoenix bellowed. The gryffin struggled into a

(07:12):
sitting position and yawned a tremendous and noisy yawn. Then
it squinted blurrily at David and murmured, what day is it? Wednesday?
David said, could you please tell us? Oh? Wednesday, said
the griffin. It thought about this for a while, mumbling
Wednesday Wednesday to itself. It lifted one leg as if

(07:35):
to scratch the fly bites, changed its mind in mid gesture,
and dropped the leg again. Oh Wednesday, it said, at last,
So it isn't Saturday, No, said David. What we want
to know is not Saturday, said the gryffin, sinking down
to the ground with a huge sigh of relief. Ah,
come back on Saturday, Saturday afternoon. I generally get up

(07:58):
on Saturday in the afternoon. The words faded into a snore.
There you are, my dear fellow, said the phoenix, just
as I said, oh, f bore a very annoying animal,
said David angrily. I agree, my boy, but the gryffins
are different, I assure you. Now let me see where
should we look? There they come, David cried. Suddenly, look,

(08:20):
and indeed a number of winged creatures were loping down
a hillside toward them. Good heavens, the phoenix shouted, those
are the ones we do not want to meet. On
my back, quick, what are they? David gasped as he
threw himself on the bird's back. Gryffins. The phoenix rushed
along the ground a few feet and sprang into the air,

(08:42):
but it was too late. The foremost gryffins, with powerful
strokes of their wings, shot up to meet them. The
phoenix swerved sharply. They missed the snapping beak of the
first gryffin by half an inch and dodged the second,
only to smash into the third. David was stunned by
the blow and the fall. When he regained consciousness, he

(09:03):
found himself in the tight grip of two gryffins. The
phoenix was struggling feebly with another, and still more were
crowding around them, screaming like hawks. They looked like the
sleeping gryffin, but were as large as ponies. Their eyes
were yellow and unblinking, and their tails twitched like an
angry cat's. Their smell, like the lion house in the zoo,

(09:24):
made David feel faint. Well, Phoenix, said the largest gryffin coldly.
You know the rule, I believe. The phoenix smiled weakly
and cleared its throats. Ah there, Gryffin, it said, unsteadily.
Fancy meeting you here? Ah? Ah rule? What rule? Rule?
Twenty six, said the griffin. No human beings shall be
allowed to enter the Oh that rule, said the phoenix,

(09:47):
with a careless laugh. I thought everyone knew that the
Council of nineteen thirty five had changed it. Can it
be that you have not yet heard that? Won't do? Phoenix?
You have also heard of horse, of the penalty for
breaking the rule, which you must suffer along with this
human boy. Now one moment, my dear Gryffin, I ah death.

(10:09):
The phoenix quailed, and David's legs went limp under him,
But they had no chance to plead with the gryffins.
Their captors formed two lines, one on each side of them.
And at a scream of command from the leader, all
began to march. The gryffin that had been holding the
phoenix winked horribly at David and made a throat cutting
gesture with its wing. Courage My boy, the phoenix whispered,

(10:32):
it is always darkest before dawn. Presently they reached a hillside.
David and the phoenix were marched up to a cave
and thrown in. Two of the gryffins sat down at
the entrance to guard them, while the others went off
to consider the best method of carrying out the penalty.
David was terribly frightened now, but he did not want
to let the phoenix know it. In a voice which

(10:53):
trembled a little, he asked, what are we going to do?
The phoenix frowned. Do not be downcast, my boy, My
brain is equal to any occasion. I shall think silence please,
And the phoenix, covering its eyes with one wing, thought
to keep himself occupied. David explored the cave, but there

(11:13):
was nothing to see. The cave was small and bare.
He tested the walls thoroughly to see if there were
any places where they might dig their way out. There
were none. His feet raised a cloud of fine dust,
which got into his eyes and nose and made him sneeze.
Violently discouraged, he went back to the phoenix and sat down.
There was a long silence. Gradually an idea came to David.

(11:36):
It started as a small faint thought at the back
of his mind. Wavered began to grow and expand and
fill out, became bigger and clearer and better. And Phoenix
cried David, jumping to his feet. My boy, my very
dear boy, said the phoenix, its voice breaking with emotion.
I have thought, I have pondered, I have well to

(11:59):
be brief. It is no use stiff upper lip, my boy.
We are doomed, Phoenix. I let this be a lesson
to you, my boy, even though it be your last one.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Ah who
could have said in the golden days of my youth
that I should come to such an end, Oh miserable bird,
oh unhappy boy Phoenix. But we can show them how

(12:23):
to die, my boy, we still have that the last
magnificent gesture. Let those who have lived wisely and well
show that they can die in the same way. I
hope I am to go first, so that you may
have an example to follow. Phoenix, My boy, listen, please,
and David whispered in the phoenix's ear. The plan had

(12:45):
seemed like a good one while it was still in
his mind, but put into words that sounded a little
too simple. As he whispered, David began to feel more
and more foolish, so that finally he stopped altogether. I
I guess it's really kind of silly, he stammered. But
the phoenix was looking at him with hope and admiration
in its eyes. My very dear chap, it said solemnly,

(13:07):
I salute you. I humbly await your signal. Do you
really think it will work? My boy? It must it
can it shall proceed poor as the plan now seemed
to David, he prepared to carry it out. Holding his
breath so as not to sneeze again, he scooped up
as much dust as he could hold in two hands.

(13:28):
Then he took his position on one side of the cave,
nodded the phoenix toward the other, and glanced out to
see if the Guardian Gryffins were looking. They were not.
Now he whispered the cave rocked with their uproar. David
screamed at the top of his voice and kicked the walls.
The phoenix let out a series of ear splitting whistles

(13:48):
and squawks and beat its wings frantically. Echoes bounced from
wall to wall. The two Griffins came rushing into the cave,
adding to the racket with her shrieking. Now, David shouted
and he slung the double handful of dust into the
gryffin's faces. Instantly they were all choking and sneezing in
the thick cloud. He plunged between the legs of the
two gryffins, who, in the confusion, began to bite and

(14:11):
tear savagely at each other. David and the phoenix burst
out of the cave together. The other Gryffins, aroused by
the noise, were bounding toward them. David flung himself on
the phoenix's back and shouted, fly and sneezed. From somewhere
behind him, a set of talons snatched out and ripped
through the back of his shirt. He kicked blindly and

(14:33):
felt his foot crunch into something, which shrieked fly Phoenix.
He sobbed the phoenix was already in the air and
needed no encouragement. They heard raucous cries and the thunder
of wings behind them. David looked back over his shoulder.
The Gryffins were rising from the ground in pursuit, their
legs drawn up under them and their wings beating faster.

(14:55):
He screamed, you have seen nothing in the way of
flying until now, my boy. The phoenix shouted back. Watched this.
Its wings were two blurs, slicing through the air and
roaring like kettledrums, though ground below streamed backwards. David looked
back again. The Griffins were falling into the distance. Their
cries were getting fainter. Now they looked like a flock

(15:18):
of starlings, now like a cluster of flies, now like gnats.
And then they had faded out of sight, and David
and the phoenix were streaking over the grassland alone. Ten
minutes later they reached ashore and landed. They flopped on
the sand, panting, and David, suddenly feeling very faint, closed
his eyes and put his head between his knees. After

(15:41):
they had got their breath, the phoenix padded David on
the shoulder and said huskily. I congratulate you, my boy.
Your plan was magnificent, precisely what I should have done
had I thought of at first. Needless to say, we
shall not go on looking for the Gryffins. But now
you know exactly what they are like, midway in size
between the Griffins and the Griffins, and reddish in color,

(16:05):
most amiable souls, willing to do anything for any one.
It is hard to believe that they are all related.
But enough, my boy, let us go home. As soon
as they reached the ledge, the phoenix put David down
and prepared to take off again. Where are you going, phoenix?
David asked some business to attend to my boy, muttering
under its breast something that sounded like tail feathers. Indeed,

(16:28):
the phoenix soared off, and David, stiff and sore and
thoroughly tired, started down the mountain side for home. End
of chapter four