Page 16 of Hidden Ascent

“Yes, you do, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t very much interested in being involved in this and your safety. After all, He got you out of that ambush alive, right?”

“Yeah, one person. I’m the only one left. And the only reason I’m still here is because the men who were firing on us thought they’d shot me too. That’s why I got out.”

“If you don’t want to pray, that’s fine. But I’m going to. You need to rest anyway.”

Isla settled onto the couch after Peter left the room.

God, if you had anything to do with saving my life, then I’m grateful, and I guess it goes to show that my work here isn’t finished. But don’t worry about Peter and his prayers. I’ll figure this out.

But if you could look after Jemi. She’s a very good woman, and she’s helped a lot of people. If you can…I don’t know…I never know what to ask. Just help her get better.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but her mind wouldn’t yield. Maybe she could find an herbal tea to quiet the ramblings in her head.

Moving slowly, she took several minutes to rise off the couch and then shuffle into the kitchen, where she found Peter putting on his jacket.

“You going somewhere?”

“Out. Why are you up?”

“I need a cup of tea.”

“Go back and lie down. I’ll make you one before I go.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve been praying. I think I have my answer.”

“It’s been, like, ten minutes. What answer can you get in ten minutes?”

“It’s been closer to fifteen. But that’s beside the point. It takes as long as it takes. But I think I know someone who can help.”

“In the middle of the night? Who?”

“I’ll tell you when I get back.”

“Why can’t you tell me now?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Tell me, or I won’t be here when you get back.”

Peter sighed. “I can’t tell you because I don’t know. Not yet. I prayed about it and felt that I should go visit the shore.”

“Am I hearing you right? Or is this a hallucination brought on by my concussion?”

“You’re not hallucinating.”

“Okay, then perhapsyouare. You haven’t hit your head recently? Or maybe it’s the stress from Jemi’s sickness?”

“My mind is perfectly sound.”

“But you sound crazy.”

“I know. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“Let me get this straight. You asked God for help, and he told you to go to the ocean?”

“That’s about it.”

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