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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