Page 100 of Long Live the King

I said, “No. Don’t come.”

I took a couple of steps then she took a step. I turned and told her again. “No, don’t follow me. No.”

I started to walk and looked back, she remained there, shading her eyes with her hand, watching me go. I walked down the wide path, surrounded on both sides by tall grass, it was warmer on my face than it had been last night, but still cool. I was grateful for the wrap. I looked back over my shoulder. She was still there.

I came to the fork in the road and tried to decide. By the shadows I was facing south.East or West, Ash? You gotta decide.

East toward the morning sun.

I set off down the road, glancing back once to see the woman still standing there.

I walked and walked, until I came to the edge of a forest and heard water moving nearby. A river, I could follow it to the next town. I entered the woods, it grew dark and trees crowded the path. What the hell was I doing walking aimlessly into the woods? I checked behind me, I could see my path, I wouldn’t getlost. If I had to go back, I could. But I wouldn’t, I was free. I was escaping.

I walked a bit longer until I emerged from the woods. Ahead of me a wide rocky bank and a gurgling river.

I looked up and down in both directions. Nothing. Damn it.

Would the water be safe to drink? Probably not. But I was very thirsty. Very very thirsty. I had to drink. The water was fast, it was coming from the direction of a snow capped mountain. It would be fine — probably. And besides, I didn’t see any industry.

I went to the edge, and touched the water, it was cold, brisk, I scooped up some and drank.Oh man, it was delicious.I drank and drank more. And then sat on a boulder with the sun on my face and thought about what I would do next.

I was free.

I could follow this river, to the left or right, up or down. But the banks were rocky, there was forest beyond.

And no signs of civilized life. I let the sun shine on my face and took a deep breath. Why didn’t I see any industry? Nothing, no wires, no roads — how common was this?

I opened my eyes and stared at the sky, blue with puffs of white. Not a stripe to be seen. I stood and gazed around. I heard no jet engines. I saw no planes.

That was weird, but was it? I felt like it was.

But was it?

Where the hell was I?

I needed to go up to get a view.

I followed the river as it bent north and then left the banks of the river seeing there was a slope up the side of a mountain. It was an easy dirt path, every now and then I would look back over my shoulder to look, seeing the compound that I had left, but nothing else.I need to get a better view.After an hour ofwalking I came to a boulder outcropping and climbed onto it in a blustering wind and took in the wide panorama of the valley.

The river wound through the valley, there was the compound. Near it was a church. A few small houses, a tiny farm. No roads. No cars. No towns that I could see in any other direction.

My eyes swept the landscape, huddling against the wind, trying to determine where to go.

Finally, I decided to pray. I didn’t pray often anymore, not in years, but if ever there were a time to ask for help it would be now. I got down on my knees and clasped my hands and began to pray. I asked for guidance. I begged for help. I prayed for a long time, until my knees ached, until I couldn’t bear it.

Please help me find a way out of here.

Or if I couldn’t find a way out, for someone to rescue me, or if not that, to finally wake up from this nightmare.Please.

Then a low voice filled my mind, like an exhale —Where?

I don’t know. I don’t recognize anything.

CHAPTER 41 - LOCHINVAR

THE CHAPEL - RIAGHALBANE

At the doors of the church, I was irritated, “Why did ye call me in here? I hae things I must be doin’.”

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