Devil Sissy: OK, I'm getting near the end now. I have one more chapter after this! Pammon: *sill choking on socks* Devil Sissy: I love being an all powerful entity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The jail was dark and gloomy, and smelled horribly of death and disease. The three men, brave as they were, hardly dared to talk in whispers in the place, and it was dead silent. The sleeping forms of criminals were draped about inside their cells, sometimes two to the same tiny little room. "'dis a dark and dismal place, this jail." Whispered Little John. "And what a lot of prisoners!" added John Sly. "He really was telling the truth about how many he had." "And not a guard in sight." Quoth Will Scarlet. "Quick, let us hurry to the end of this hall. Perhaps we had best have a discussion with the person in the high-security cell, and there is only one. Maybe they can help us with their plan." "I don't know, Will," said Little John. "The air in this place is bad enough for me. I think I'll stay here and watch the hall." "Aye, Little John. Come along then, John Sly." The two men crept to the door of the special cell, held a quick, whispering conference with the man inside, and then let themselves in. Little John sat down on one of the stools meant for the guards, with his back to one of the cages. He would have liked to hum, but the place was so dismal that he dared not. Presently, he heard a rustle. He threw himself to his feet and whirled to face the cell behind him. "Who is it!" he cried. "Just a poor woodsman," answered a croaking voice. "Doomed to lay here and whither away until nothing." Little John could see the curled up, fetal figure leaning against a wall. Just then, Will Scarlet stuck his head out of the cell. "Little John! Stand sentry but stand it quietly! Would you have the whole town of Nottingham woken?" Little John was quickly embarrassed. Will went back inside the cell, and Little John was alone with the wretched woodsman again. The man was looking at Little John hard, and his eyes glittered in the dark. After a moment of studying, the man spoke. "Little John, aye?" he asked quietly. "Be you Little John, right-hand to the notorious outlaw Robin Hood?" Sadly, Little John nodded. "Him and I be one and the same." Said Little John. "But now my dear master hath been hung, and the Sheriff and Sir Lammard of the Mark are to pay dearly for it." "But what do you plan to do?" the poor man's voice sounded anxious. "We plan to release all the prisoners in this jail, and have them chase out both men. And I doubt naught that they will run like they have never run before!" Little John laughed. "Indeed, they will." The woodsman said. He stood up very slowly and painfully, gripping the bars of his cell for support. "I should like to help you and your comrades." "But kind man, surely you cannot hardly walk on your own?" "Little John, I am no older than you." "But surely-Hold, how doest thee know my age?" "I know a lot of things about thee and thy company, Little John. I was a.a good friend of Robert Fitzooth. I know more about him than any other man dost, even thyself. Robin Hood and him were the same, I grant it?" "Indeed they were, but come now. How doest thee know these things?" "By my lady! Robin would not like to know that his right hand was so daft! Hast thee not yet recognized me, Little John?" "I am grieved to say that I have not. Who be you, then?" "Well, no matter, you with find it in time. Now please, unlock this cell and allow me to leave. I did naught but flee from the Sheriff's men that they put me here, so surely I am not destined to stay here?" "Indeed, I think we would do well to release you first. As soon as my comrades return, I will tell them as such." "And here they come, at this moment! Why, I believe it is Will Scarlet and John sly!" The two men returned, and Little John quickly told them of his conversation with the funny woodsman. Will pulled out the key and unlocked the cell. They then proceeded to release all of the people in the cells who had done no real crime. In all, there were fifty three. The woodsman turned out to be much younger than he had appeared in the dark cell and helped out with the plan wherever he could.