Chapter Twenty-Eight
And so onward they marched, all the next day. Early the
following day the passage began to widen. At first two ox carts
could travel abreast, then three, then four, then they began to
see grass and a few bushes. Then they came to the opening of a
small, narrow valley that stretched off into the distance. Now on
either side of this valley, the mountains were like sheer walls,
and as the people traveled down it they became more nervous. Many
complained someone was watching them.
2 As they marched, one of The old Fox's Elders suddenly cried out
and jumped back.
3 "What is the matter?" asked The Old Fox.
4 "There are six of us," his companion cried, "but
there are seven shadows!"
5 The Old Fox looked to where he pointed. And sure enough, there
was a seventh shadow! It looked like a man's shadow from the head
down to the waist, but at the waist it began to grow narrower and
narrower until it ended in a sharp point. The Old Fox approached
the shadow and it sped away, to appear again some distance ahead
of them.
6 The Old Fox went out ahead of the others and he was soon
surrounded by The Shadows, dancing in and out, spinning around
and around.
7 The Old Fox returned to the others. "Go and tell all the
people what you have seen," he ordered. "This is The
Valley of Shadows, but here we are to fear no evil, for The Lords
are with us. Though these shadows are strange, they are harmless,
and we are to pay them no heed. Tell the people not to be
afraid!"
8 The Elders did as they were told. It was towards dusk when they
were well within the Valley that The Old Fox stopped. Off to
their left was a great stretch of sand, flat and smooth. He
walked to it.
9 Suddenly The Shadows formed a half circle on the sand, their
points going inward. "Yes!" said The Old Fox. "I
understand. Thank you! Bring shovels," he cried,
"baskets....quickly!"
10 The people obyeyed. At the face of the cliff they began to
dig. Soon they had a hole a man and a half deep, and two men
across. "Enough!" ordered The Old Fox, "Come
out!"
11 "But Lord," argued one of the diggers, "the
ground is not even damp."
12 But again The Old Fox commanded "Come out!"
Reluctantly the men obeyed. The Old Fox rose his staff over his
head in both hands, then pointed its narrow end into the hole.
Suddenly, a dark spot appeared at the bottom of the hole. It
quickly spread and covered the entire hole. And then the water
began to rise. Within moments it filled the entire hole! 13
"Look," some cried, "the hole is freshly dug, and
the water rose quickly, yet it is crystal clear!"
14 "Someone put in a bucket," commanded The Old Fox,
"and give me a cup." He was quickly obeyed. He drank
deeply of the water. "It is delicious!" he cried,
"It is like it has honey in it! It is fine! Drink!"
15 The people quickly filled their buckets and skins, and in a
short time were enjoying the fine water.
16 "We must set up troughs," ordered The Old Fox,
"and make bucket lines to water our animals. But do not let
them up to the spring. We do not want the water of this spring
fouled with their droppings, or, water. Put up a fence of poles
and ropes.
17 We will stay a few days and rest. There is grass here for the
animals to eat, and some food that can be gathered. We have yet a
ways to journey, and it will be hard, but we are almost there! We
will raise The Temple, have music and joy. For tomorrow there
shall be a mating."
18 Now, the celebration erupted throughout the camp, for there
were no more popular persons in the whole caravan than Gray Dove
and Thorn Blossom. Barely had Gray Dove reached his tent that
evening than a large group of his friends appeared.
19 "You'll not spend the night here!" they said. They
seized him, and literally carried him to another tent, where a
joyous feast had been prepared. Half the night they feasted,
drank, and danced, and swapped stories of many a merry adventure.
One by one, each finally laid down on his sleeping mat and dozed
off!
20 Gray Dove was awoken in the morning by someone shaking his
shoulder. He opened his eyes to see two masked men standing over
him. They carried large ceremonial clubs. "You will come
with us!" they commanded.
21 Now, Gray Dove's friends, as by tradition, made like they
would rescue him, but the club bearers drove them off. They took
Gray Dove to a tent where there was a leather tub filled with
water. "Give us your clothes," the men ordered,
"and bathe."
22 Gray Dove shut the curtains around the tub and threw out his
clothes. He was glad he had remembered to put on some old
garments the day before, for he knew these clothes were being
burned.
23 As he bathed, he heard someone enter, and he heard Yellow
Blossom's voice outside the curtain. "Your clothes are laid
out, master," she said, "and your tent is prepared. New
cushions and a sleeping mat have ben laid. The tent has been
scrubbed within and without, and the incense of sweetwood has
burned all night."
24 "Thank you," answered Gray Dove. He emerged from the
bath and dressed and began to realize he had had no breakfast.
The guards appeared at the door.
25 "Come," they commanded. They led him to a small tent
and placed before him a meager meal of bread, meat, and water,
which he quickly disposed of.
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