آخرین ماجراجویی

CHAPTER 16 - The Last Adventure

After his visit to Sherwood Forest, King Richard went back to London.

Robin and his men left the forest. Will Scarlet went to London with the king, but Little John stayed with Robin and Marian at Locksley House.

♦

One day, two years later, Robin visited his old friend, Friar Tuck. They talked for a long time about their adventures.

‘I eat too well now, Robin,’ said the friar. ‘I am too fat and I cannot fight. People say that King Richard is ill. I hope that he will live for a long time. I hope that John will never be king. I wouldn’t like to sleep on a hard bed in the forest again!’

On the way home, Robin walked slowly and thought about Friar Tuck’s words. Then he heard the noise of horses’ feet on the road, and looked up. It was the sheriff and his men.

‘Robin Fitzooth,’ called the sheriff, ‘I have here a letter from the king. It says that you will come with me!’

‘From King Richard?’ asked Robin. ‘Why does the king send you?

He knows that we are not friends!’

The sheriff came nearer, but not too near. He was very afraid of Robin.

‘Not King Richard,’ he answered. ‘Richard is dead! I am talking about King John. Take him, men!’

Robin pulled out his sword and began to fight. At the same time he moved slowly away from the road to the forest. There were too many men - he couldn’t win. He had cuts on his right arm, and the arm hurt very badly.

When he got to the forest, he ran. He could find his way through forest very well, and the sheriff’s men lost him.

Robin went through the forest to St Mary’s Abbey. In front of the abbey, he fell to the ground. There, the abbot’s men found him.

‘It is Robin Hood!’ said the abbot. ‘I would like to kill him, but this is a church. Take him to one of the bedrooms. You, man, go to the sheriff. Tell him that Robin Hood is at the abbey.’ ♦

Robin woke up. There was nobody in the room. He was very weak and couldn’t move from the bed. Then he heard a friend. ‘I am coming, Robin!’ called Little John. ‘Where are you ?’

‘Here! I am here!’ said Robin weakly.

Little John broke open the door.

Robin spoke very slowly.

‘Little John, help me one last time. Carry me to the window. Good.

Now give me your bow.’

Little John helped Robin to put an arrow in the bow. They pulled. The arrow flew a long way, into the forest.

‘Take me to that place and put me in the ground there,’ said Robin.

There is a place in the forest near the abbey. There you can find these words:

Under this stone is Robin Hood. Remember Robin and his men — No braver man will come again.