The Path to the Sun

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

They passed through a valley of tamaracks and over a thick carpet of soft, yellow needles. With every silent footstep, the threat of the Javinians seemed to fade.

The terrain dipped abruptly where a mountain stream spread into a marsh. Flocks of white geese and long-legged cranes roosted in the shallows. The far side turned to shrub-choked swamp.

Jandon came along side Kiran. “I could use a swim.”

Kiran shrugged. “We haven’t seen any sign of Javinians. Perhaps Deke was right.”

A pair of cranes circled for a landing, their throaty rattle-call piercing the air.

“They don’t seem worried,” Jandon said. He dropped his pack, tossed off his boots, and ran down the bank and plunged in.Hundreds of geese simultaneously took flight, lifting off in an explosion of wings whooshing through the air.

Awe-struck by the magnitude of sound, Kiran marveled as the whirring tempest transformed into a melodious hum, a song of songs, rising ever skyward as geese separated into trails of white specks against the dark blue sky.

“Anyone with ears knows we’re here now,” Roh said. “We need to keep moving.”

Kail slumped over onto her side. “I can't go on like this. We’ve been running all night and day.”

Kiran hated to admit it, but he agreed with her. His back ached and his feet were blistered. He took off his boots and let his aching feet soak in the water.

“The Great Father awaits,” said Deke. “As long as we have daylight, we travel.”

“Fine. But which way? We need a plan,” said Roh.

Deke looked Roh up and down. “There is no need for you to worry. The Great Father will guide us.”

“And how will He do that?”

Deke flashed a smile. “I will know. Just follow me.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“My father told me that I was to watch for the signs, that they would be clear.”

Did he mention the scroll? Kiran wondered.

“Your father?” Roh said. He stared at Deke, his face like stone.

Deke stared right back. “We are pilgrims of the Great Father. We go where passion takes us.”

Roh turned to Kiran. “So, we need a plan.”

“That is our plan,” Deke hissed through clenched teeth.

Deke and Roh glared at each other. Kiran looked at Roh, then back to Deke, wondering what was going on between them. He glanced at his pack. The scroll was in there. All the Elders must have known what wisdom it held, including Deke’s father. Watch for signs. Was that all it said?

Deke sat down to put his boots back on. He squinted into the sun and gestured toward the brush. “We’ll head that way.”

“Into the swamp?” Kiran said. “We’ll get lost in there.”

Roh mumbled to Kiran, “We’re already lost.”

Kiran stifled a grin. “If we follow the creek upstream, we can fill our waterskins and find a narrow spot to cross.”

“No. We are to go this way. I’m sure of it. We will travel until nightfall and rest wherever we find ourselves.”

Kail shook her head. “But it’s the full moon.”