There Comes A Prophet Page 9

  "We must learn," she said, "to never think that way again."

  He stopped and faced her. "Why won't you let me enjoy our good fortune?"

  "And what good fortune would that be?"

  "We've challenged the vicars and returned unharmed."

  He resumed walking with a hint of a swagger, but Orah cut him off.

  "Unharmed, but not unburdened."

  He sighed, heaving his shoulders up and down more dramatically than necessary.

  "I know. But can't I have a few days to enjoy my homecoming before taking off to light knows where?"

  "No, you can't. You promised the vicars you'd return in a week. The farther you get in that time, the better, because once they discover you've misled them, they'll come looking. And if they find you, you'll pray all you get is a teaching."

  She was right; he knew she was right, but he tried to cling to the good feeling.

  "But a few days won't-"

  "Generations of keepers have died to preserve the secret. And you'd sleep late for a few days?"

  "What would you have me do?"

  "Leave tomorrow at first light."

  First light tomorrow. The thought devastated him.

  "But I can't be ready by then."

  She smiled at him. "While you've been daydreaming, I've been planning."

  Nathaniel stayed quiet. When Orah was planning, there was no interrupting.

  "We'll need provisions. Adamsville is just the first stop. We have no idea how far the next town is or how many towns there'll be thereafter. We'll need water skins for dry stretches, food for at least ten days. I have some coins, gifts from my grandfather. And warm clothing, a sharp knife, a hatchet. We can start as soon as we're home. Thomas will help. We'll gather supplies in small bunches, then store them in the Not Tree."

  He considered it. Though it pained him to leave so soon, it was possible. Then another problem occurred to him.

  "What about my father?"

  "I've thought of that too. We'll make up a story."

  "You mean lie?"

  "A necessary story. No one in Little Pond has ever done what you did, go to the vicars and volunteer for a teaching. We'll tell everyone you so impressed the clerics that they decided to send you on a mission. But you don't know how long you'll be gone and were forbidden to say more."

  "And they'll believe this?"

  "We've been to Temple City, but neither of us has been taught. The time's been too short and we don't have the look of a teaching. They'll believe us or else how did we come to be back in Little Pond?"

  Nathaniel nodded. He'd never lied to his father, but it would work. His father would let him go on a mission for the light and not worry-at least for the first week. As he stood there open-mouthed, Orah spun around and resumed her march.

  "Come along," she called back. "We can make Little Pond by noon if we hurry."

  ***

  Nathaniel was halfway down the path, when his father rushed out to embrace him. After they separated, his father held him at arm's length and looked deeply into his eyes.

  "It's you, Nathaniel, my son and unchanged."

  "There've been no teachings, not for myself and not for Orah."

  Astonishment spread across his father's face.

  "But how is this possible? When I got your note, I was sure all was lost, that the Temple would consume the both of you."

  Nathaniel swallowed hard and chose his words carefully.

  "When I arrived in Temple City, I realized I had no plan. It's the biggest place I'd ever seen. The people were all afraid, and there were deacons everywhere."

  "It was a reckless thing to do. I'd have stopped you, if I could."

  "That's why I didn't give you the chance."

  "But how did you free Orah?"

  "I went to the vicars and offered myself in her place. Well, they'd never seen such a thing. They were so impressed they thought I might serve the Temple in better ways than being taught. So they decided to send me on a mission for the light."

  His father's eyes narrowed. He was a loyal child of light but did not trust the vicars. Nathaniel pressed on.

  "I'm to go far away, seeking something of enormous significance to the Temple." That part at least was true. "I'll be gone for a long time, but don't know how long. I can't say more than that. We were forbidden to reveal details."

  The light drained from his father's eyes. "Then I'm to lose you again. And maybe forever."

  Nathaniel never considered the possibility. In seeking the keep, he'd thought only of the adventure and not the risk. For his father's sake, he stifled the thought.

  "Of course not. It may take time, but I'll come back. And when I do, I'll be changed but only in ways that will make you proud."

  His father watched him, digesting the words. Finally, his expression softened.

  "I'm already proud of you Nathaniel, and that will never change."

  ***

  Nathaniel arrived with a satchel of supplies-food, two water skins and a hatchet, enough to fill a third of a pack. He was eager to start the journey, but the talk with his father weighed on him. What if he was right? What if this was their last time together? Now he waited for Orah to ease his concern.

  She arrived in a whirlwind, bearing a bag as big as his but fuller.

  "I've brought most of what we need. I found Thomas and he agreed to fetch some twine, a pocketknife and two blankets. A bit more food and we'll be done."

  Nathaniel sized up the bag on the ground next to his.

  "I'm strong, but this might be too much for one person to carry."

  Orah flashed a smile. "But not for two."

  It took him a second to appreciate the implication.

  "Orah of Little Pond!" He never addressed her that way, and it grabbed her attention. "There's no way you're coming with me, not a chance. I forbid it."

  "Since when are we in the habit of forbidding each other?"

  "You forbade me to become a vicar."

  "That was different. You were about to make an awful choice to protect me."

  "And I'm trying to protect you now."

  "But I can't let you go without helping. I'm in your debt for rescuing me."

  Nathaniel looked away, embarrassed. But he recalled his father's concern and was unwilling to place her at such risk.

  "It's too dangerous. What do you suppose will happen if they catch us?"

  "And if I stay, what do you suppose will happen when they find you've run off? They'll come back and have me for a teaching or worse. I've had a taste of their darkness and don't long for more. Besides, you can't get there without me."

  "Why not?"

  "Because only I know how to find the next keeper. I've figured out the way to Adamsville and know what the symbol means. I can get us there and you cannot. So it's settled."

  Then to show her strength, she hoisted the satchels, one in each hand, and tossed them into the shelter.

  ***

  Scarcely first light the next morning. Nathaniel watched Orah organizing her pack, noting how rapidly the puffs of white emerged from her lips. Why had she insisted on coming? Why had she abandoned her orderly world? To search for the elusive keep? Or to be with him? For years, she'd listened to his dreams, never believing they'd come to pass. And now they were about to leave Little Pond, maybe forever.

  He was glad she'd come.

  She'd exchanged her black skirt for pants tucked into lambskin boots. Both wore the woolen jackets common to the Ponds, which they'd need till midmorning for warmth. Soon lighter clothing would suffice, but they had to be prepared for the worst. How long would they be gone? If they needed these jackets when winter returned, they'd be gone a long time indeed.

  They divided the load between them. The heaviest items, the hatchet, water skins and dried meat went into Nathaniel's pack. He was stronger after all and for once had won the debate.

  At last they were set to go, with nothing left but to wait for Thomas, who'd insisted on seeing them off. The tw
o lingered, taking turns touching the Not Tree, realizing they were about to do more than leave Little Pond. They were about to leave their youth.

  There was a crashing in the woods. Thomas stumbled into the clearing, grinning foolishly and breathing out steam. He lugged a pack as big as theirs, but since he was the smallest, it appeared larger. He apologized between breaths.

  "Sorry. Haven't got used to this thing. It caught on a branch."

  Orah and Nathaniel spoke as one. "What are you doing, Thomas?"

  He forced a look of surprise. "You didn't think I'd let you go without me."

  Orah collected herself first. "You have no idea what this is about."

  "I know you're going on a trip. I know you're bringing lots of supplies. And I know it's something the vicars won't like. It's perfect."

  "This isn't a game, Thomas. It's too risky. You can't come."

  "I won't let you abandon me. I'll follow and you can't stop me."

  "For the last time," she said. "Go home."

  Orah turned to Nathaniel for support, but he could only think how desolate Thomas had been at festival, and how the spirit had returned to him now.

  Orah read his thoughts. "Don't you dare, Nathaniel."

  "You're coming. How's that different?"

  She straightened and lifted her chin. "I was with you in Temple City."

  "He's been there too and suffered more than either of us."

  "There's no way I'll agree to this. If you follow, Thomas, I'll make your life miserable."

  Thomas smiled. "I've been made miserable by the vicars. You can't hold a candle to them."

  She snorted, then hoisted her pack and signaled Nathaniel to do the same. As she turned to go, Thomas blocked her way. The grin was gone.

  "You can't deny me."

  "Why not?" she howled.

  Thomas's lip began to tremble. "I thought I'd never see you again. I knew you wouldn't give in as I did. You'd never tell. But I gave them both your names. I'm ashamed, and helping you is the only way I can make up for it. Besides, when the two of you go missing, they'll come take me for the second teaching. I won't be left behind."

  Nathaniel gave Orah time, knowing her, knowing how she'd decide. At last her arms went limp, and she nodded.

  Nathaniel slapped Thomas on the back and sealed the agreement.

  "Pact of the Ponds."

  Orah opened her mouth, but before she could speak, he reminded her of the rule.

  "No debate after the pact's been declared."

  Thomas squeezed between them to form a circle, covered his heart with his right hand and thrust his left into the center. Nathaniel did the same, gripping Thomas's wrist and then waiting for Orah.

  She gave in, sealing the pact, but insisted on the last word.

  "So be it, against my judgment. We're now three seekers. And may the light protect us."

  Part Two

  The Seekers

  "The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth."

  Pierre Abelard

  Chapter Fourteen

  Flight

  Orah maintained a furious pace, leaving Thomas lagging behind. She kept to trails they'd explored as children, winding paths most adults had forgotten. When she finally stopped, Thomas took a full minute to catch up. He staggered forward and collapsed on a log, apologizing between breaths.

  "I'll do better, Orah, I promise. How much farther do we have to go?"

  Why did he have to come?

  She had no choice but to help Nathaniel. How could she leave him to bear the risk alone? But now she had to watch out for Thomas as well.

  "We let you join us," she said. "Isn't that enough?"

  Nathaniel set down his pack between them. "It's a reasonable question, Orah. Time to tell where we're going."

  She heaved a sigh. They'd always expected her to have answers. They believed she was the leader. But it was only an act, perfected when they were little. And now she'd been drawn into this reckless venture, so counter to her nature. She was a weaver, and weavers took no risks. The flax never failed, and the people always needed cloth. Nathaniel was the brave one, charging into Temple City. On her own, she'd never take such a chance.

  With the sole of her boot, she brushed away leaves and smoothed the dirt into a circle, then found a stick to draw with. Her friends huddled behind.

  "Here's Little Pond." She made a mark on the ground. "Three days east is what we've been calling Temple City, the place so recently host to us all. From what the old prisoner told Nathaniel, the Temple has set up a grid, north to south and east to west, with other Temple Cities each responsible for everyone within a three days' walk. From that we can conclude they're located, here, here and here."

  She scratched in the letters "TC" to the east, north and south of the first Temple City, and paused to be sure they were following.

  "The shopkeeper in Great Pond told me his wife travels to Adamsville twice a year to visit family. He said it's a five-day walk as the crow flies but takes six because you have to loop around to the south of the Ponds. We know there are five ponds following a crescent to the southeast."

  She sketched in the ponds, starting at Little Pond and continuing southeastward.

  "I asked if Adamsville was so far from Temple City they never see a vicar. He said no, they see a vicar more frequently, because he comes from a different place just a day away. So Adamsville must be to the southeast and about a day northwest of the lower Temple City. That places it here."

  She carved an 'x' and checked to see if they were impressed. They were.

  "One last thing. The main roads follow the grid." She drew connecting lines between the Temple Cities. "I think it's best we avoid them."

  Thomas contemplated his tired feet and wiggled his toes. "Are you sure we have to? It'll make the trip harder."

  Sure? She wasn't sure of anything. Since the day the grand vicar had called her name, her life had spun out of control. And now she was racing through the woods toward light knows where. They'd always expected her to have answers, but never before had the answers mattered so much.

  "I'm not sure of anything, Thomas. I only said I thought it was for the best."

  She glanced from one to the other. Now that they were away from Little Pond, she was beginning to realize how rash this undertaking might be. There'd be a number of decisions to make on this journey with no clear answers. She had only the slightest hint of the power of the Temple. Next to it, they might turn out to be fools instead of seekers.

  Please think kindly of me, Nathaniel, and on this journey, forgive me the mistakes I'll surely make.

  "Orah's right," Nathaniel said, as if he'd read her mind. "We'll avoid the main roads. We can follow a route to the southeast, using the sun for direction and cut through the woods when necessary."

  Orah nodded in gratitude, then erased the drawing with her boot, making certain to leave no trace.

  ***

  For the first couple of days, Orah found well-marked trails, but by the start of the third day, they were forced into the woods. She tried following gullies formed by rainfall, but they often led her astray and she had to double back. Afraid of wandering too far off course, she had them scrambling over downed trees and through thick brush. By nightfall, they'd spent much of the day travelling in the wrong direction.

  They camped at the closest thing they could find to a clearing. When she awoke the next morning, she was stiff from the uneven ground and sore with scratches from the prior day's trek. Moreover, when she shared her ailments, she discovered the others had slept fitfully as well. The gravity of their undertaking was sinking in, and an overcast sky offered no consolation.

  If only they could keep a straight line, they'd eventually emerge from the woods. Sure enough, after a few more hours of thick brush, the vegetation thinned and she saw a break in the trees. It had to be a road.

  But as they came within view, she heard voices-the gruff sound of
men cursing and laughing. She signaled for them to drop to the ground and peered through the underbrush.

  Deacons.

  She stayed low, clawing dried leaves as she grasped for the soil beneath. With her head down, the smell of decay filled her nostrils. She hugged the earth until the clamor passed. Even when Nathaniel encouraged her-certain the deacons had gone-she remained frozen in place, trying to convince her heart to beat normally again.

  Her first mistake-underestimating the Temple of Light.

  "They're looking for us."

  "But it's too soon," Nathaniel said. "We couldn't possibly be expected back yet."

  "We were fools, Nathaniel. They never trusted us. They sent people to watch Little Pond. Had we lingered a day longer, we'd have been caught in flight."

  Thomas sat on the ground, clutching his legs and rocking back and forth. Nathaniel rose to one knee and surveyed the road, then turned to Orah.

  "You were right to keep us off the main roads. From now on, we avoid all roads in daylight. From now on we think about everything differently."

  Orah stood and brushed herself off. "There may be others. We need to keep moving. Once we're three days from the near Temple City, I think we'll be safe. The next city won't know about us yet. Even the vicars can't send word that far, that fast."

  Thomas released his knees as if trying to let the blood flow back into his arms. "Are you sure this time, Orah?"

  "No, Thomas. I said I think we'll be safe." She looked at him with resignation. "We've left 'sure' behind."

  ***

  They arrived in Adamsville on the seventh day, covered with the dust of the road. As they passed through the outskirts, Orah felt more vagabond than seeker, with everyone she passed staring at her. But once the clay road turned to the gravel of the merchant district, everything changed. People seemed more accustomed to strangers and scurried about, lost in their own affairs.

  While not as grand as Temple City, the town was several times the size of Great Pond. Where Great Pond had one road with a few stores and an inn, Adamsville was crisscrossed with streets teeming with commerce. Most of the buildings were two stories high - unheard of in the Ponds - with a storefront below and a residence above. And there was one other difference. All buildings in the Ponds were made of wood. Those of Adamsville were constructed of brick. To Orah, everything seemed tall and exceedingly solid.