title: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Penguin Classics)
author:  Mark Twain 
description: &quot;Twain is the funniest literary American writer. . . . [I]t must have been a great pleasure to be him.&quot;<br>--George Saunders
zlib_text: _**“Eternity Road” by Jack McDevitt**_
  
  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  
  The part of me that writes has always included a second person. Thanks,
  Maureen.
  
  I'd also like to extend my appreciation to Ralph Vicinanza, and to Caitlin
  Blasdell, and John Silbersack at Harperprism. To Dolores Dwyer for editorial
  assistance. To Charles Sheffield for his comments on the manuscript. And to
  Elizabeth Moon, who knows horses, and who would have been a valuable addition
  to the second expedition.
  
  I asked him how far we were _from_ Hartford. He said he had never heard of the
  place.
  
  —Mark Twain, _A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court_ **PROLOGUE**
  
   ****
  
  _They came during the October of the World,_
  
  _Riding the twilight. To ensure that men would not forget._
  
  _—The_ Travels of Abraham Polk
  
  __
  
  _The boy was waiting in the garden when Silas got home. "He's back,"_ he
  whispered, and held out an envelope.
  
  The boy was one of two who had been employed to take care of Karik's villa
  during his absence. Silas was su