The Journey Starts Over

Flowers.

Thad smelled flowers.

He opened his eyes and felt nearly blinded by the light. Once he got used to the light he discovered that room he was in was actually rather dimly lit. Feeling weak and wasted away he slowly pulled himself out of bed and dressed himself in some over-sized clothes that had been left for him. He walked to the door, opened it and stepped out of the room.

There was a small party going on and he heard Beth call out his name.
He nodded to her and walked past to a man set apart.

"What's happening to me?" Thad asked the mysterious man.
"You tell me. Let's walk." said the man.

Thad walked in the moon light with the strange man.
Suddenly the man spoke up "You need to figure out what you want."

Thad was silent but looked at the moon.
Luna whispered to him "Listen to him, he gives bold counsel."

"What is your name?" Thad asked the man.
"Conrad, but that is not important right now."
Thad proceeded to tell Conrad about his journey.
"Anne left me for dead, but I still have visions that she may want to go west with me after all." confessed Thad.
"As I said before, what do you want? You mortgaged your life to go west with Anne. DO you really want to try that again?"

Thad again was silent. Still he continued to walk with Conrad. Conrad was able to help Thad see things in a more impartial way than either Anne or Beth ever had.
Feeling somewhat better about himself, Thad went back to his room to think about what Conrad had said and plan the resumption of his travel west.

He walked to the window and called to Luna.
"Oh great Luna, most beautiful light in the heavens, queen of the starry sky. What should I do next?"
"The path to Canterbury is too difficult for you right now. You should move to the orchard. There you will find a grove where three others live. Dwell in that grove for a while and see what roads open up before you."
"Thank you great Luna." said Thad as he shut the window and turned to face the room.
"The orchard." Thad sighed, "That sounds nice."

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© 2003 - Jonathan Gardner