Chapter 3

Tell him

"Uh, Daniel," Paul said. Daniel turned and looked at him. How was Paul supposed to tell him that he was supposed to be Paul's companion on the quest? What if he didn't believe him? He peeked at The Page.

Tell him

"I'm going on a quest." Paul said.

"What's a quest?" Daniel asked.

"It is a special journey that God is sending me on."

"I've never heard of a quest in the Book before."

"It isn't in the Book," Paul said. "God came for breakfast and told me to go."

"Of course he did," Daniel said and rolled his eyes, "and he ate oatmeal with you."

"He doesn't like oatmeal."

"Who does?" Daniel said.

That was strange, Paul thought, because it was true. Not many people liked oatmeal. Yet everybody ate oatmeal on Tuesday.

TELL HIM

Oops, he was getting The Page angry.

"You're supposed to come."

"For breakfast?" Daniel frowned, "I don't want to eat oatmeal twice."

"No," Paul said. He took a deep breath. He wondered if God had felt frustrated like this. "You are supposed to be my companion on my quest."

"Really?"

"Really," Paul said. "Come and see."

Daniel walked over to the big book and flipped it open. His eyes widened when he saw that it was blank.

"What happened to your Book?"

"God gave me this for the quest," Paul said and showed him the page.

Daniel, you will go with Paul.

"I guess that's it," Daniel said. "But what am I supposed to do to get ready?"

Pack one bag. Put one set of extra clothes in. Pack food for a week. Wear your cloak.

"I'm off to pack," Daniel said. He waved the vegetables at Paul. "These good?"

"Sure," Paul said. He didn't watch Daniel leave. He pulled out a few bags.

Take the strongest. Leave space for some cheese.

Paul decided the strongest was the next to biggest bag. He looked at the page, but it hadn't changed. Rolling up his spare clothes as tight as he could get them, he stuffed them in the bag. Then carefully measured out the food for the week, and packed it too. His sheepskin cloak was heavy, but it was a familiar weight on his shoulders. There was space for cheese.

"What's going to happen to my home and my garden and my sheep?" Paul asked as he hefted the bag.

Go get your cheese. Give everything but your bag to the first person you meet.

Paul shrugged. If the Page said so. He was going to miss his things though. He put the bag over his shoulder and headed off toward Diana's. In his free hand, he carried the vegetables and eggs that he hadn't packed.

It was odd how the familiar path suddenly became charged with meaning. He noted each landmark, each stone or root. He wouldn't be passing this way again, or at least not soon. Yet even as he nodded at each turn in the path, his heart was pounding with excitement. God had come to him!

He rounded the last bend before Diana's father's house and almost bumped into Zaccheus. He wondered why the richest man in town needed his home and sheep, but that's what the Page said.

"Zaccheus," Paul said, and the fat man turned to look at him. Paul had never had much reason to talk to Zaccheus before. He wondered how the man could get fat on oatmeal on Tuesdays. "Zaccheus, I am going on a quest. the Book told me to give everything I own to you."

Zaccheus smiled. "I will look after it well," he said. "You must be truly blessed to be sent on a quest."

"My ewe gets checked for injury or disease every Tuesday," Paul said, "and the garden needs weeding every morning."

"I will ensure that all is done."

"You must care for my things yourself," Paul said. "I am giving them to you, not to your servants."

"Do you not trust the Book?" Zaccheus frowned at Paul.

"Yes, of course." Paul thought of his Book, sitting blank in his kitchen.

"Then trust me to follow my Book to care for your property. God would not give it to someone who would not do the right things."

"Yes, of course," Paul said, "but..." The page in his hand rustled and he looked at it.

Go get cheese.

"What is that?" Zaccheus pointed at the Page.

"It is what God gave to me to guide me on my quest."

"God gave it to you?" Zaccheus reached for the page. Paul reluctantly let him take it. The Books were the final arbiters of any conflict. This wasn't really a conflict, and it wasn't quite a Book any more, but it was the way things were. Zaccheus looked at the page and went pale. He pushed it back into Paul's hands and went up the path almost at a run.

Paul looked at the page and wondered what it had said to upset Zaccheus so much. What he read was

Cheese.