Magic Words

The three knights at once leveled their lances and spoke to their horses. They came thundering across the plain.

“Come on, Reb, let's get out of here!” wish shouted.

Reb had little time to think, but the words of Mogen came back to him, and with a swift gesture he pulled the medallion film beneath his shirt and held it high. He shouted the words that Mogen had given him, then stared amazed.

The knights tumbled out of their saddles as if they had been struck with a club. They hit the ground with a crashing, clanging noise, rolled over and over, and lay still. The dust rose from the ground. Their horses bolted, uttering frightened, neighing sounds.

Wash, who had already half turned his horse, said, “What in the world—”

Fear came upon Reb then, and he galloped forward, thinking that the three might be dead. But he discovered that they were still breathing, and he sighed in relief. At the same time, a fierce pride touched him, pride such as he had never known before. Holding the medallion high, he cried out the strange phrase again.

The three knights climbed to their feet and backed away with terror in their eyes. Then they whirled and ran, crying for mercy.