From now on: we trust nobody, not even Scottie. He said he’d get an old school friend of his to complete the research Patrick did for us. Let’s not put too much hope into him. We thought Horace was a good person until we moved in with him and he showed his true colors. It’s obvious; we are bad judges of character.
The police took Prince. That makes our chance to keep them off our scent very small. On the way to the hut, I ran long stretches in riverbeds. We’ll see if that helped disguise where we went. From now on we have to be very careful and alert.
Luke
Lilly: 3 December 2015, Early Evening, Byron’s Hut
“What shall we do?” I’m waiting for Sky to respond or do something. She is staring out of the small window, watching the path leading up to the hut. I doubt she sees the beauty of the tussocks swaying in the breeze on this bald mountaintop. Our journey led us through emerald green rainforests, still damp from the ever-present rain, and along turquoise blue braided riverbeds. We even came past a cascading waterfall, but the stunning landscape and the breathtaking soundtrack of birdsong was no match for our anxious desire to find a safe hiding place.
“We can’t stay here on top of the mountain, waiting like sitting ducks for the hunters to pick us off. If it were up to me, I would make sure we get an early start tomorrow and keep running higher up into the Alps. There are huts that are even harder to reach than this one. Only fit and experienced trampers could get to them. Ideal hiding places for us.”
Sky turns around at my words. She doesn’t look surprised but shakes her head ever so slightly.
“I’d rather hear from Luke what he thinks. Running for the sake of running is not wise. How will we be able to clear our name?”
“I’m afraid.” Choking with fear, that’s all I’m able to push through my lips.
“We are all on tenterhooks. I hope we are safe for now and have time to put together all the information we have.” Sky picks up the black notebook and leafs through the pages. “We should write everything we know down in this book. But before we do that, we have to take care of two things. We have to take care of the Beth-situation and we have to bring Elizabeth into our midst.”
I’m not sure I heard right. “What’s the Beth-situation and what do you mean by bringing in Elizabeth? I thought she was dead.”
“Elizabeth? No, she is barely alive but alive she is.” Sky speaks as if she doesn’t want anyone to hear her and I strain to understand her.
“Where is she? Where was she all this time?”
Sky holds up her hand indicating for me to wait. For a moment she disappears from my sight and then she stands next to me carrying a small, off-white, woolen felt cocoon in her arms. The outside is embroidered with tiny blue forget-me-nots and colorful butterflies.
“She’s always been with me.” Sky folds open the cocoon. “Come, have a look. Careful.”
She didn’t have to warn me. A small child is lying in the cocoon. It’s hard to tell if she’s even breathing. Her lovely, tiny face is waxen and pale, almost see-through as if she would dissolve any moment into an unworldly mist.
“That’s Elizabeth?” I reach out to touch her.
“Don’t touch her. She can’t tolerate even the softest human touch. Her body is too broken.” She holds the bundle in her arm, handling it with such tenderness; it drives tears into my eyes. I’m not the only one standing beside her in awe. By now the whole Tribe is standing around Sky and staring at the child in her arms.
“I thought she was dead,” Amadeus whispers as if he’s afraid to wake her up. I don’t remember a time I’ve witnessed the Tribe standing in such silent reverence. There are threads that have no name, and feelings that defy any verbal labeling. Still, they exist. I know that because my heart is hurting as it expands and pushes against the boundaries of my chest to connect with Elizabeth. I’m numb and excited at the same time and catch my breath as my heart vibrates as if someone plays a chord on its strings. She can feel me, I’m sure, and she responds in the only way she can for now, by connecting the threads.
My gaze wanders around the Tribe, touching each with a smile filled with love. At that moment I know they feel the same connection and love I feel. It dawns on me what Sky is doing. By showing us Elizabeth, she energizes our fighting spirit, our commitment and our will to live. I know it’s true because the Tribe will now go through hell and back to make sure this little girl survives. Not only that. We will do everything for her to thrive.
“For now, we can’t touch her other than with our minds. We can love her and give her a place in our hearts. That’s all she needs at the moment.” I’ve never heard Sky speak with so much compassion. Maybe I imagine it, but there is a warm glow of love in this deserted hut way up the mountain in the foothills of the Southern Alps.
“I had to take her away and look after her. Otherwise, she would have died from her injuries and none of us would exist.” Sky didn’t have to explain. We all know how hard life has been. Not everyone can remember everything, but we all live with the consequences. Sometimes I think letting us die would have been the humane thing.
Sky must have read my mind because she smiled
