The Power Carried In

7) Reunion

Pilar was working hard, the sun was up and it was hot, and even though Jast was light, it was still difficult carrying the extra weight.  Pilar was very thirsty and knew that she had to reach drinkable water soon.

And suddenly, she was looking down on the Wellspring.  She worked her way down the slope and lay Jast next to the water.

"Jast, is the Wellspring water good, can we drink it?'

"No drink, but put my hand into the water," Jast responded in barely a whisper.  Pilar carefully stretched out Jast's arm and set her hand into the pool, then she laid down next to Jast.  As she lay there, wondering about what to do next when she heard her name being called out, but clearly it wasn't Jast who spoke; Pilar abruptly sat up, wondering if her thirst and imagination were allying against her senses.

"Pilar!"

"My God, that is Sep!" she thought.

And then Guisseppe came bounding up, tossing the packs and jumping into his sister's arms.  They clutched each other in a desperate embrace of disbelief and joy. 

Pilar immediately asked Sep for water, and she took a quick drink then using her cupped hand, gave some to Jast.  Then Pilar explained what had occurred since her arrival, and how they were at an impasse in ideas about how to cleanse the elements of this world.  While he was listening, Sep brought out his water bottle and took a drink, and Pilar stopped talking mid-sentence and stared at Sep's water bottle.

"Jast, the grimoire said that the outsider would bring the power needed to cleanse the elements right?  What if I had my own elements... elements not from this world, so they are pure, uncorrupted -  could we use those as a means of cleansing?"

Jast opened her eyes and looked at Pilar, "show me," she replied.

Pilar grabbed her water bottle, her throw-away Bic lighter, and took off one of her mud-caked boots and showed them to Jast.

Then, Jast managed to sit up, and looking at Pilar and Sep she smiled.

***

The cleansed waters of the Wellspring provided not only refreshment but healing, and by evening Jast had regained her strength and her skin and hair showed signs of recovery.  But perhaps most amazing, she somehow appeared younger and even more beautiful.

The following day, the three companions set off for a place Jast called the "Firespring."  They had work to do there.

The question of how Pilar and Sep were to get back home remained unanswered; still, Pilar remained hopeful, after all, they had the book, and she mused that maybe she could just read the words backward?

***