tales, and a fine musician!"
30 Gray Dove and his companions retrieved their weapons and Gray Boar led them to the ox carts.
31 "Dreaming Fox!" he cried, "Look! I bring you one of your uncle's people, Gray Dove, a fighting man. He will take you to your uncle."
32 "Praise be to The Lords!" the little man cried, jumping down from the cart. Gray Dove had never met anyone in The Family Fox so short! He was two hands smaller than himself. But the man beamed joyfully, and his character obviously made up for his short stature.
33 "I thought we would never catch you!" laughed Dreaming Fox. "What a joy to see such a good friend of my uncle! I have heard much good things of Gray Dove."
34 "And I have heard many good things about Dreaming Fox," answered Gray Dove. Both men seized each-other's shoulders. "Our Beloved Teacher will be most pleased to see you!" Gray Dove acknowledged. "He has often spoken of your family. Come! Let me bring you to him!
35 "One moment," interrupted Dreaming Fox. He motioned to a woman on the cart, and she handed him down a package and coin bag. Dreaming Fox turned to Gray Boar.
36 "A gift for your excellent leader," he explained, handing him the package. "And, something for you and your men. A silver, for you, and two coppers for each of them."
37 Gray Boar took the package but refused the coin bag. "We only did our duty," he explained. "We were coming this way, anyway. Your people journeying through this area will give us some fine hunting."
38 Dreaming Fox looked kind of mischievous. "Now, you won't take away a little man's joy, will you? You and your fine fellows worked very hard to get me here. This is not a payment, only a gift from friend to friend. I will sorrow greatly if you do not take it."
39 Gray Boar smiled. "To cause you sorrow," he said, "we would not. On behalf of my men and I, our sincere thanks!"
40 By now the men who had been in front of the carts had moved to the sides, and were wishing those there good-bye. "Follow along the trail," instructed Gray Dove to Dreaming Fox, "I will join you in a few moments."
41 Dreaming Fox nodded to the man leading the oxen, and they started off. Gray Dove turned to Gray Boar. "Do you have enough water and provisions?" he asked.
42 "Ample," Gray Boar assured him. "We have full field rations for two weeks, and we are experts on living off the land. We can stay out for months if we want to. Good journey to you, sir! May you find that place you are looking for! Though, how, in this wilderness, I do not know!"
43 "The Old Fox will show us the way,"Gray Dove assured him. "Perhaps someday you will follow after. But for now, sir, good hunting."
44 Gray Dove hurried off to join the others as the soldiers of The King went about their business. He caught up with Dreaming Fox and left his carts at the end of the column., escorting the man to where The Old Fox waited, wondering what held the column, knowing only that there was some problem in the rear.
45 When Gray Dove came near, he called out, "Teacher! Look who is with me...your nephew, Dreaming Fox!"
46 The Old Fox handed his staff to an Elder and rushed to meet them. Seizing his nephew by the shoulders there was obviously joy in his eyes. "Dreaming Fox!" he cried, "It is like a miracle. How is it you are here? Tell me of my brother and your brother, all your family...how do they fare?"
47 "My Beloved Uncle," Dreaming Fox said, "I bring saddening news. Your brother and my father has joined The Lords. A few days before the news reached us that your people were leaving, he took a fever. One night of it wsa all his weakened body could bear. You know how he has been since the death of my mother, my sisters, and my brother. The sickness took so many of our kin. His last words, though, were of you, that though he still disagrees with your philosophies, he holds no ill will against you. Whatever path you choose is the one you must follow. And he bade you good speed!"
48 The Old Fox covered his face with his hands, the sign of mourning and sorrow.
49 "The rest of the family is well," continued Dreaming Fox, "and as for my story, after we had laid our father to rest, your people had already left our city.
50 But I went to my brother, saying, 'I know you do not share The Old Fox's views, but I do, and I wish to take up my family and follow after him. Now, our father has split the family's wealth between us. Give me half the value of my share in gold, goats, and sheep, and the ox carts I need, that I may follow The Children of The Lords.'
51 Now, my brother rose, and seized my shoulders. 'Blood of my father,' he wept, 'long have I known this was in your heart, but I have hoped you would change your mind. But if it is your desire, I will not hinder you, nor will I cheat you. Full value will I give you for that which is yours, and the tents that my father used for journeying that are still in the barn are still in good condition. These, you may have. Also, and whatever carts you need, and, our best oxen. Remember me also, to our good uncle, and bid him good journey on my behalf.'
52 So it was I made haste and journeyed after you, but always I was a few days behind. Now, I would have overtaken you in Ti, but as we crossed a bridge, it collapsed, throwing my ox cart, goods, and several servants into the water.
53 We would have been in a sorry state, had not a patrol of The King's soldiers happened on us. With their help we rescued our people and most of our goods. But the oxen and cart were gone. They helped us reach Ti, and the
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