(no subject)

[lastgunslinger]

"Christmas is over," says Roland, startling Ted. Ted thought that Roland was asleep -- the gunslinger has been sleeping less, the last day or so, and Ted feels that this is a good sign.

"Yes," says Ted, closing the volume of Eliot that Jake gave him. "It was a few days ago. You're not calling it the fair-day of the Man Jesus any more?"

"Too much to say," says Roland, waving his right hand. His left is still too weak for such movements; Jake's sword has cut deep. "We never finished sai Murray's book."

"Would you like to?" Ted's hand reaches out towards the small pile of books on the end table beside him.

Roland considers. "I would read it for myself, I think."

There's a pause that isn't quite uncomfortable. Ted finally says, "Would you like to work on your reading while you're recovering?"

"Yar," says Roland. "That would do me fine."

"Tomorrow, then," says Ted. "When you can sit up for thirty minutes at a stretch."

Roland doesn't put up a fight, for which Ted is grateful -- the gunslinger has been good about not overtaxing himself. "The end seems predictable -- sai Scrooge will change his miser's ways, and the Cratchit family will get what they need; is this not so?"

"It is."

"Sai Murray told me that this story would explain to me why Christmas is important. That is a lesson that one can learn at any time of year."

Ted runs a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. "That's only one view of Christmas, Roland. The holiday itself is much older than that. It used to be a pagan holiday, and the pope -- the dinh of the tet of the followers of the Man Jesus -- declared that Christmas should be celebrated at the same time, in an attempt to convert more of the pagans."

Roland says, "What was the original fair-day for?"

"The solstice," says Ted. "To celebrate the days beginning to lengthen again."

The gunslinger nods. "Yar. Yar. And so this pope simply commanded that the followers of the Man Jesus celebrate his birthday at the same time?"

"Yes. And if you think about it symbolically, it amounts to the same thing -- light returning to the world. Though I wouldn't say that to any staunch Christians you might find."

Roland has a small smile. "The fair-day celebrates the Coming of the White. Is this not so?"

Ted stares at Roland. He has to clear his throat before he can say, "That's it."

"I like this fair-day," says Roland thoughtfully. "Though I could do without the giving of gifts."

Ted suddenly has one of his winkles. "Where did Jake get that sword?"

Roland gives him a keen look. "You know, Ted, or you would not have asked."

"You gave it to him, yes. But where did you get it?"

Roland watches him for a moment. Ted stares back. Finally, the gunslinger says, "Joe gave it to me, to give to Jake."

There's silence again for a moment, and then Ted says softly, "Roland -- are you all right with what happened?"

"With Jake, you mean?" The gunslinger's cool eyes don't leave his face.

Ted nods.

"It is not precisely how things were done in Gilead -- but it will do." Roland's eyes shift from Ted to the wall. "It was a long time coming. It needed to happen." His eyes flick back to Ted. "You are not all right, I wot."

"No. I'm not." Ted shifts in his chair, searching for the best way to say what he thinks. "You know I'm frightened of you."

A nod from the prostrate gunslinger.

"Jake -- he reminds me of a boy I knew, a few months ago. A very lonely boy. Jake's a lot like him, except -- he's hard. He's seen more in the time he's been with you than Bobby, God willing, will ever see in his life."

"There will be water if God wills it," the gunslinger murmurs.

Ted lets out a short, sharp, humorless bark of a laugh. "You say true, gunslinger. Roland. And now Jake is even more of what you are." He rubs at his eyes. "I don't like that. He should get to be a boy."

"He should," Roland agrees. "But he passed his trial. He is a gunslinger now, and if he was ever really anything different -- I doubt that very much, Ted."

"And I suppose you're going to tell me that it all comes back to ka?"

Roland looks at Ted.

Ted sighs.

Roland says, "When do I get to walk again?"

Brisk, Ted says, "Not until I get back to the Calla and find you a walking stick. You're not putting your full weight on that leg for a week or so yet."

"When will you go?"

"Later today, I imagine. After dinner." Rosalita will be very interested to hear of the gunslinger's progress, Ted knows, and he doesn't want to go back through the trap door while they're holding school.

"And we'll read?"

Ted nods. "We'll read." He reaches for the volume of Eliot. "Want me to read some now?"

"Yar."

Ted opens to the page where he's been spending the most time lately and begins. "April is the cruellest month..."