CHAPTER THIRTEEN
PASSION
Clijsters’ normally pale pleasant face looked stern, and hard. His expression didn’t go well with her, but she did not mind. They were still having a rest. Clijsters was quiet, and stared in a fixed gaze. “I know,” he said, “It’s more difficult for you to accept the mystery side of that penguin.” Chloe grinned, and immediately looked at him. Instead, she said nothing, but she smiled, and turned again. Clijsters was glad to look into her eyes. She drew another deep breath, before she wondered what he was thinking about her.
“People always believe in that penguin because it performs outstanding miracles which attract everyone to follow it.” He said to her, not letting her say a word. “No one is going to blame you in this kingdom.” Chloe seemed like hesitating for a moment, before she decided to answer him, “I had no alternative, because it was the only one at that time.”
“Centuries ago, here in the trolls kingdom, a penguin swore to serve the trolls and that was to be forever. Nobody knows that, except the trolls themselves.”
“Clijsters how do you know all that information?” she asked, standing motionless. “Because I saw it happening.”
Five minutes later, Chloe looked past him, and then saw a silhouette of the penguin standing motionless and it was looking out at them from a foot long hill covered by snow.
“What are you watching?” Clijsters asked. Chloe turned her attention to him. For seconds, Clijsters had not realized what she was looking at. This time he changed his tone. “How can it come about that you look wary after all I have said about the penguin?” he said, in a pleasant tone.
“You can’t say that I look wary because of what you just said. I’m just thinking about it the same way you would do. Like you said, they swore to serve the trolls.”
Her reply didn’t change his attitude, but instead he continued with the story. “All penguins still live with that today,” he said, and Chloe looked at him noddingly. But Chloe was more curious in knowing one thing; how did Clijsters know all these stories dating back centuries? this worried her a lot.
“Before the penguins swore, they said their race would cooperate and join hands with the trolls and that would go on for centuries,” said Clijsters. “The people here in this kingdom are very different from the ones in your world. You will experience so many things happening here that would never happen in your world. I understand, they will be scary for you.”
“I think a lot has already happened, but not more punitive than this isolated cold environment.” Said Chloe,
“Uh, maybe, you’re right!” Clijsters answered, with a disapproving smile and he wanted it to stop at that. Chloe showed no sign of fear. Rather she exhibited a lot of confidence even though the cold of the place consumed all her energy. They walked again to the outskirts of the protruding cliff far ahead of them, until they could not see anything other than the white rocky terrain. “It’s like we’re walking in circles” she claimed. “Not even a fool would do this.” She looked back to make sure Clijsters was still trailing her. Then, he continued lagging a few steps, perhaps thinking it was the best way he could protect her. Yet he continued to walk, unbothered at all, and looking around the vast area until the protruding cliff disappeared.
Clijsters was then walking at the same level with her, apparently silent. Chloe asked him why he was so silent, as she observed him. She didn’t seem surprised by his silence. She could figure out his frustration, considering hers about this place. “We’re on the course to the forbidden gates, and we need to keep ahead of time,” Clijsters said. “I know you’re determined about these conditions.”
