Chapter 5

They walked on the path away from their home. Paul knew that the next village was two or three days' journey. He thought its name was Cepha, but the Book had never sent him there.

At first the quest was exciting. Paul saw new scenery with every step. The tang of the dust on his mouth tasted like adventure. Birds sang and flitted through the trees. The sun shone warm, and the breeze blew cool. The only thing that would have made it better would have been Diana's warm hand in his. Paul smiled and let himself remember the kiss. He thought about the feel of her soft body against his.

"Just how far are we supposed to walk?" Daniel came back to where Paul stood daydreaming.

"I don't know," Paul said. "The Page just says to keep walking."

"Helpful," Daniel said. "Try to keep the pace up while you are mooning over Diana, or we'll never get there."

Paul started to get angry, but he saw the grin on Daniel's face. His companion was taking the fact that Paul got the kiss and he didn't with good humour.

"I will try," Paul said and grinned back at Daniel. Daniel slapped him on the shoulder and they started walking again.

"What do you think this is all about?"

"I don't know," Paul said. "I haven't really thought about it."

"God visits you, turns your life upside down, makes sure you get a good kiss goodbye, and you don't think about it?"

"I don't think much at all," Paul said. "Everything is in the Book."

"So you never wonder why?"

"Why what?"

"Why anything?" Daniel started waving the arm that wasn't carrying his bag in the air. "Why do chickens need gravel to eat? Why is Zaccheus so fat? Why are we here?"

"The Book..."

"Not everything is in the Book, Paul."

"God said the same thing," Paul said. "He sounded sad."

"What would make God sad?"

"If we displease him," Paul said. "But we are doing what we are told." He shrugged and switched the bag to the other shoulder. "I don't know, Daniel. I'm sure we'll find out when we need to."

The sun rose higher into the sky and the day got warmer. The breeze faded and died. Flies buzzed around their heads. Sometimes they landed and bit through Paul's shirt. He sweated under his heavy cloak, and the flies stuck to the moisture on his face. The bag that had seemed so light when he was talking with Zaccheus started feeling heavier and heavier. Paul switched it from one shoulder to the other and back. It didn't get any lighter. Paul's mouth tasted like the dust which coated his teeth and made him thirsty. They walked through the day. Sometimes they talked about what they saw, but mostly they just walked.

When the sun went down behind the trees the shade was a relief. Daniel saw a tiny spring beside the path and they drank their fill of water. It was the most delicious water Paul had ever had.

The cool of the shade became the chill of night as they reached a clearing in the woods. Paul heard a stream running close by.

"Let's stop here for the night," Daniel said.

Paul took out the page.

Stop

"OK," he said and let his bag down to the ground. It was Tuesday, so Paul pulled out the lentils and some greens from his garden.

"What are you going to cook them in?" Daniel asked.

"I..." Paul looked at the food in his hand. He supposed they could eat the greens raw, but...

"I'll go get some water," Daniel said hefting a pot. "It's a good thing that we both didn't need to pack a cheese along."

Paul measured the lentils into the pot and they let them sit while they built a fire. Daniel had brought the flint and steel too. Maybe there was an advantage to this thinking thing. It would have been better if the Page had told him to bring the pot and fire starter. Of course, there wouldn't have been room for the cheese, and he wouldn't have had to go see Diana.

Daniel put a bowl of lentils and greens into Paul's hands.

"I'll eat out of the pot," Daniel said. "I only brought one bowl."

"Thanks, Daniel," Paul said. Tuesday wasn't his favourite meal, but this was the best Tuesday he'd ever eaten.

He tried to sleep wrapped up in his cloak. The night was chilly enough that he was happy to have the heavy cloak. He heard Daniel tossing and turning. Daniel's cloak was a lighter woven cloak. Easier in the heat of day, but not as warm at night.

"Daniel," Paul said, "come, put your back against mine and share my cloak."

"Thanks," Daniel said. They lay back to back and soon their combined heat made them comfortable enough to sleep.

The birds woke them in the morning. Daniel got to his feet with a groan. He stretched until Paul heard his joints pop. When Paul tried to stand he understood the groan. His mattress at home wasn't very thick, but it was much softer than the ground.

"I'll get the water," he said to Daniel, "if you get the bread out of my bag." By the time he got back with the water, Daniel was toasting the bread on the fire. He handed the sticks to Paul and dug into his backpack. He pulled out a tiny pot.

"The Book led me to some honey the other day," Daniel said, and Paul's mouth watered. Honey was a rare treat. They spread some on the toast and ate every sweet crumb. Paul licked his fingers and sighed.