| 1 | sik GAWAID AND The green Knight ES 4S tence!” shouted Sir Gawain one New Year’s Day, banging his goblet on the Round Table. The whole court had gathered in the gieat hall at Camelot and the first course of a huge feast had just been carried in, to the accompaniment ofa trumpet fanfare from the minstrels in the gallery. “Silence for the King!” yelled Gawain again, banging his goblet even harder. The music faded, the babble of voices died down and soon only the crackling of the log fires broke the silence. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,” said Arthur. “Now, before we begin this splendid feast, who's going to tell us a story?” He looked around for a volunteer. It ‘was @ custom at Camelot that on feast days no one could start eating ‘until the king had heard a tale of a brave deed or dangerous quest. “Come on, Knights of the Round...” A loud commotion outside in the courtyard and the clatter of horseshoes on stone cut SEATS ISSR EIS 15K IR him off in mid-sentence. ‘The massive doors of the hall flew open and, with great flourish, in rode an enormous man on an enormous horse. He was far taller than any ordinary man, with huge, hairy hands, large, powerful limbs and piercing red eyes staring out of a terrifyingly fierce face. But the . most extraordinary thing about him, which made everyone gape-in amazement, was that he was bright green all over! Not only were his clothes geen, but his hands were green and his face was green. His long, thick hair and the big, shaggy beard thet spread all over his chest were as green as grass. Even his gigantic horse was green fromi head to hoof. He carried no weapons except a colossal green battleaxe clasped in one hand. The other hand held a big branch of holly high above his head. The Green Knight rode majestically through the stunned «osentence. sors of the and, with nrode an in on an e, ‘ar taller rith huge, sful limbs ing out of ». But the ‘bout him, gape in was bright s clothes green and ong, thick board that it were as s gigantic 1d to hoof. except a lasped in held abig ohishead. ght rode e stunned