Showdown with the Shepherd

TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC.

Contents

Prologue...............................11 The Workshop.........................42 The Bear.............................113 The Shepherd.........................224 The Brothers.........................305 The Giant............................406 The King.............................477 The Trick............................588 The Enemy............................629 The Song.............................7010 The Rescue..........................7511 The Knots...........................8812 The Battle..........................9313 The Fire............................10114 The Escape..........................109Secret Word Puzzle.....................116

Chapter One

"Hi, Mr. Whittaker," Patrick and Beth said at the same time. It was Friday after school. The cousins had come to Whit's End to visit their friend.

Mr. Whittaker shut a panel on the side of the Imagination Station.

He looked up at them and smiled.

"Good afternoon," Mr. Whittaker said.

Beth thought he looked tired. Did he work all night and day? she wondered.

"Is the machine fixed yet?" Patrick asked.

"Almost," Mr. Whittaker said.

"Have you found Hugh?" asked Beth.

"I've programmed the Imagination Station. It will now find the ring Hugh took," he said. "I'd like to send you after it. That is, if you're willing to go."

"We sure are!" said Patrick.

"Where are we going?" Beth asked.

"To the Holy Land when the kings of Israel ruled," Mr. Whittaker said. "I've put your costumes in the changing rooms."

The cousins changed clothes in separate rooms.

Beth came out first. She wore a plain wool tunic. It had a tan vest and belt. Patrick's tunic was like Beth's. But his didn't have a vest. Instead a tan sash wrapped around into a belt.

Mr. Whittaker then gave Beth a silver harmonica. He handed Patrick a rope woven with snake knots.

"Why does she get something fun?" Patrick asked. "All I got was this bracelet."

"You'll unravel that mystery when the time comes," Mr. Whittaker said. He gave Patrick a wink.

"Why do I have a harmonica?" Beth asked. "I know how to play a couple of songs."

"Which songs?" Mr. Whittaker asked.

"'The Alphabet Song' and 'Jesus Loves Me,'" Beth said.

"Those will do," Mr. Whittaker said. "Now go ahead and climb into the Imagination Station."

Patrick slipped the bracelet on his wrist. Beth tucked the harmonica inside a pocket. Then she and Patrick stepped into the machine.

"Remember," Mr. Whittaker said, "you need to find Hugh. Then get the ring from him. Once you put on the ring, the Imagination Station will appear. I programmed it to send you back to Hugh's time in England."

Patrick looked at Beth. He swallowed a lump in his throat. Hugh wasn't very nice.

"How will we get the ring from Hugh?" Patrick asked. "He's a lot bigger than we are."

"Let me tell you something," Mr. Whittaker said. "You two are small. But you're a lot smarter than Hugh. Just use your common sense. God will help you."

Beth smiled.

"Are you both ready?" Mr. Whittaker asked.

The cousins nodded. Patrick and Beth leaned back in their seats. The inside of the Imagination Station reminded Patrick of a helicopter cockpit.

Mr. Whittaker tapped the dashboard next to the red button. "The machine is programmed," he said. "Press the button when you're ready."

Mr. Whittaker stepped back. He walked over to a desk where a computer sat.

Beth pushed the red button.

The Imagination Station started to shake.

Beth knew what was about to happen. She waited for the rumbling. Patrick imagined a helicopter taking off. He pushed his body into the seat and waited.

The machine jerked forward. The rumble grew louder.

The machine whirled.

Suddenly, everything went black.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Showdown with the Shepherdby MARIANNE HERING BROCK EASTMAN Copyright © 2011 by Focus on the Family. Excerpted by permission of TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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