Alan Garner Classic Collection

Books by Alan Garner (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

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CONTENTS

Cover (#ud261b241-8a10-570d-8dd4-3f630f360315)

Title Page (#ued1310b7-00fb-5006-af66-c652a4edfb09)

Map (#ulink_43ceb673-79b0-5735-9ced-cc2a2351e236)

Epigraph (#ub9cb57bb-1907-56eb-a22c-6c840f7cb7d1)

The Legend of Alderley (#uf28bb917-de21-5f9b-bc94-73098e96351d)

PART ONE (#u70de9fc7-8906-5909-ad0a-8e90ea6d3192)

1. Highmost Redmanhey (#uc6e7a9f4-28dd-55b6-98d9-29dd80133967)

2. The Edge (#u63259cbe-bd14-5a80-8073-5442b7c54223)

3. Maggot-breed of Ymir (#u4c7f98a4-c61e-5eb3-88a7-1913d8066f25)

4. The Fundindelve (#uf11bacdb-d98e-5a3f-b39c-3d2452586966)

5. Miching Mallecho (#ud1f6e116-6b3f-5eed-b17c-59e56f0e54a2)

6. A Ring of Stones (#uc9b85727-1a35-585f-bb4e-e01f994134a1)

7. Fenodyree (#u7bd8aeb4-692d-5375-8aa5-d0d8e20ecaa9)

PART TWO (#u870c2ac4-4f7a-5b56-91d6-ce57ab6b75d8)

8. Mist over Llyn-dhu (#u8ab903ce-49ba-5dd8-862d-0b4e47b7176a)

9. St Mary’s Clyffe (#u30bb1e11-490b-5534-aeac-71c170433c99)

10. Plankshaft (#ufaf7034f-4e9f-5b9d-ba21-067f6284ab22)

11. Prince of the Huldrafolk (#u1e34d7f3-8736-5313-b64e-5845e1d1d687)

12. In the Cave of the Svartmoot (#uafea44c1-c968-551a-83d6-437103371c70)

13. “Where No Svart Will Ever Tread” (#u60b44ebd-13dc-544d-b914-e6145e9ad0a1)

14. The Earldelving (#ubf4de24d-4777-5892-95ca-f117d2a13a2c)

15. A Stromkarl Sings (#ubce1a615-5e32-5b92-b6bc-b2cab7e8765b)

16. The Wood of Radnor (#u3a375514-ce37-57a9-bc7b-54d750e49314)

17. Mara (#u485215dd-b099-50ef-9811-57b2b02aac67)

18. Angharad Goldenhand (#u6c7034d7-e168-5410-99f8-6b8fb55c56c8)

19. Gaberlunzie (#ubdf8d3c3-8b35-5dcb-b68c-53bc5c2d1347)

20. Shuttlingslow (#u1d74b042-69e6-574a-bc4b-8b804184c918)

21. The Headless Cross (#u6795f870-db09-5e4a-80b6-bc54e586ddb8)

MAP (#ulink_96323c9f-3036-5412-8afe-73ae679daa19)

In every prayer I offer up, Alderley, and all belonging to it, will be ever a living thought in my heart.

REV. EDWARD STANLEY: 1837

THE LEGEND OF ALDERLEY (#ulink_61c2a85c-24ea-5241-abfa-f5292389096d)

At dawn one still October day in the long ago of the world, across the hill of Alderley, a farmer from Mobberley was riding to Macclesfield fair.

The morning was dull, but mild; light mists bedimmed his way; the woods were hushed; the day promised fine. The farmer was in good spirits, and he let his horse, a milk-white mare, set her own pace, for he wanted her to arrive fresh for the market. A rich man would walk back to Mobberley that night.

So, his mind in the town while he was yet on the hill, the farmer drew near to the place known as Thieves’ Hole. And there the horse stood still and would answer to neither spur nor rein. The spur and rein she understood, and her master’s stern command, but the eyes that held her were stronger than all of these.

In the middle of the path, where surely there had been no one, was an old man, tall, with long hair and beard. “You go to sell this mare,” he said. “I come here to buy. What is your price?”

But the farmer wished to sell only at the market, where he would have a choice of many offers, so he rudely bade the stranger quit the path and let him through, for if he stayed longer he would be late to the fair.

“Then go your way,” said the old man. “None will buy. And I shall await you here at sunset.”

The next moment he was gone, and the farmer could not tell how or where.

The day was warm, and the tavern cool, and all who saw the mare agreed that she was a splendid animal, the pride of Cheshire, a queen among horses; and everyone said that there was no finer beast in the town. But no one offered to buy. A sour-eyed farmer rode out of Macclesfield at the end of the day.

At Thieves’ Hole the mare stopped: the stranger was there.

Thinking any price was now better than none, the farmer agreed to sell. “How much will you give?” he said.

“Enough. Now come with me.”

By Seven Firs and Goldenstone they went, to Stormy Point and Saddlebole. And they halted before a great rock embedded in the hillside. The old man lifted his staff and lightly touched the rock, and it split with the noise of thunder.

At this, the farmer toppled from his plunging horse and, on his knees, begged the other to have mercy on him and let him go his way unharmed. The horse should stay; he did not want her. Only spare his life, that was enough.

The wizard, for such he was, commanded the farmer to rise. “I promise you safe conduct,” he said. “Do not be afraid; for living wonders you shall see here.”