“You go home. I’ll look alittle longer.”
“We’re a long way from home.You won’t be able find your way.”
“Asta must be somewhere.”Tears began rolling down Toemeka’s cheeks. She quickly turned awayso her brother wouldn’t see them and scanned the rugged terrain forthe cherished doll. Her shoulders shook as sorrow filled her.
“Don’t cry. We’ll find hertomorrow.”
“I’m not crying.” Toemekawiped the tears away and glanced at her skinned palms and knees.They’d finally stopped oozing blood.
Baymond turned her so she wasfacing him. “Asta will be okay. She’s a brave girl. She’llprobably find some berries to eat. She’ll have a grand adventure.”
“Do you think so?”
“Sure. Come on we’ve got totry and beat the sun. Let’s see if we can get home before he hideshis face. Mother will have food waiting for us.” He took her handand they started off.
Walking beside her brother,Toemeka watched the setting sun, aware for the first time how hungry,tired and cold she was. She knew her father would already be lookingfor them. She quickened her pace, thinking of his warm arms.
Areas of the mountain already layin evening shadows. Climbing the rocky slope was even moretreacherous in the dark. Toemeka squeezed her brother’s hand, gladhe hadn’t left her.
Toemeka woke with a start.“Erling!”
“I’m right here, Toe. What isit?” He parted the thick foliage so she could see him.
“I was back in my childhoodwith Baymond.”
“You dreamed about him?”
“It didn’t seem like a dream.It felt real. I could feel the pain in my skinned knees and my headfelt stuffy from crying. A few weeks ago, I also dreamed of that day.I wonder why I dreamt of it twice.”
“Better than your reoccurringnightmare of when Baymond was killed. Perhaps you’re healing fromthe trauma.”
“I am healing, but there’smore to it. I’ll have to contemplate on its meaning. PerhapsBaymond is trying to reach me. When we were children, we had a stronginner connection. We could inwardly contact each other, even at adistance. When I was re-born into this life I was happy to have abrother with whom I’d shared many lifetimes.”
Erling covered a yawn. “Sorry,I’m tired.” The bruises on his face looked worse than they hadthe day before and one eye was still sealed shut.
“I’m feeling better now. I’llkeep guard so you can sleep.”
“I appreciate it. I can barelykeep my eyes open.” Erling lay down and soon his breathing was deepand regular.
Toemeka watched a small orangelizard jump from branch to branch in a nearby tree, then turned herattention to the birds that added flashes of bright color to thedense foliage. She braided her long hair into a single plait, tryingto ignore her hunger pains as the fruit had only awakened herappetite. Her hunger pangs grew worse and she wondered if her babyneeded nourishment. She decided to hunt for more food. She took thecommunicator from Erling and pushed her way through the tall growth,intending to stay close by.
With the communicator she scannednumerous plants until she finally found one that Bea said had edibleberries. She went from bush to bush eating the small orange berriesmoving further and further away from Erling. She filled her pocketswith berries from the last bush she found, then looked around andrealized she didn’t know the way back to Erling. In every directionwas thick vegetation and overhead the enormous trees reached into theclouds. She pushed the locator symbol, but realized she’d forgottento put in the coordinates of where Erling was sleeping.
Howcould I be so stupid?she thought. I’msupposed to be guarding Erling.Itwill be my fault if he’s captured.She tried to stay calm. If she continued walking she might wander incircles for hours or head out in the wrong direction. If she calledfor Erling, a soldier might hear. At last she decided it was the bestto stay put and let him find her; he was trained to track people.
She sat on a log, wondering howlong Erling would sleep. The sun was lower in the sky and it was darkand gloomy at the bottom of the ancient trees. Sweat rolled down herback from the sweltering heat and insects swarmed around her now thatshe wasn’t moving.
Toemeka closed her eyes to blockout all physical sensations and focused her attention on Erling. Shevisualized him lying in the thick foliage right where she left him.Erling,wake up. Come find me!A bird burst into song right near her and she lost the image she wascreating. She opened her eyes and spotted an aqua blue bird hoppingon the branches. It had long tail feathers that spread out like a fanbehind him.
“You know I won’t harm you,don’t you?” Toemeka whispered. The bird hopped down to a lowerbranch and cocked its head to the side watching her. “Have you cometo tell me everything is going to be all right?” She continuedwatching the bird. “I wish Michio could see you. He wouldappreciate your splendid plumage. He loves all life.” A wave ofloneliness for Michio swelled inside her. How long would it be beforeshe saw him again? Heavyhearted, she realized he was probably upsetwith her for going off on a mission with Erling. He’d beenprotective of her ever since he found out she was carrying theirchild and had been reluctant to go to the monastery.
He’d be a good father: patient,gentle and understanding as her father was. She wondered if the babywould look like Michio. Maybe the baby would have his green eyes andtall build.
The bird flew away and shesearched the branches to see if something frightened it. Her throatconstricted when she spotted an enormous snake curled around a brancha few feet away. It was as wide as the branch was thick and looked tobe about twelve feet long.
Frozen in fear, Toemeka watchedit drop from the tree. The front half of its long body rose four feetinto the air.
Suddenly it struck at somethingin the bushes. Moments later it slithered back out of the bushes witha fuzzy creature in its mouth and swallowed it whole.
The snake disappeared into theundergrowth. She clutched her knees to her chest, wondering whatother dangerous creatures were in the jungle. What was she doing hereanyway?
She should be safely at thepalace. But no, she had to go on a
