Lyle writes:
The implications of what the future holds for me is becoming more real as I reflect upon what I have witnessed since leaving our people behind.
As we reached the desert floor and split up to take our own unique paths, the heavens split open too. And looking back to whence we came I saw our people streaming skyward to the Glorious One.
And with clarity the widow and her son among them.
Our immediate household is all in the field today. Lyle, the widow and her son, and myself. Grazie when she learned of our return, joined us. She became very concerned when we explained the recent developments. She wants to know if anything can be done for those like herself still in the west end. Lyle asked her for the particulars.
We all clammed up, as at that moment the two east enders bearing the mark arrived at our camp. They offered their services as mediators. Lyle told them that it would never work out, as Moglen, claiming control of the whole city, needn’t bargain with anyone.
They left, and we talked long into the night.
What to do next indeed.
Our roles have undergone another reversal today. This time the widow and her son are taking the lead. They have been given a home, and Lyle and I are assigned to live with them.
What it all means, we do not know, but we are looking for answers.
Lyle and I have been given permission to circulate freely within the city. A privilege that we will make good use of.
Already we have heard many strange rumors. Some disquieting. I shall endeavor to ascertain the truth in each situation. I sense that many things need to be resolved before I pass on to the desert beyond.
Yes, someday soon we will leave this all behind.
We are here for now.
Some people who were behind us left. None from in front.
The whole situation bothers Lyle. He says that nothing is like it should be.
The widow and her son settled in to rest. From what I’ve learned, when her husband was alive, they took care of Lyle at a needy period in his life. It explains my companion’s actions of late.
Come morning the line grew again as people returned to take their places. What they had to say was not encouraging. Many have been out all week and have yet to be called up to the gate.
The morning went swiftly, but the afternoon dragged on.
I have the feeling that we will be spending the night again.
Passing by the last villages on the way to the city, Lyle didn’t bother to look.
I did. Unexpectedly people filled their tiny streets. I wondered why they were not in the city, but then I remembered the widow’s rejection.
Lyle kept the mother and her son close by. At some distance from the city gate, we flowed into a pen with waiting people. The son explained that only one can go forward to speak for his group. They hope that Lyle can persuade the gatekeepers of the metropolis to accept us.
We found an end to the line that wound through the pen, and joined it.
We had only advanced halfway when the gate closed.
We dared not leave.
We covered three villages today. The last one proved me wrong. Though I will say for my part that I was the first to locate two inhabitants there. Outside the town I had a vision of a woman and a boy. And so it proved to be the widow and her son, the very ones for whom Lyle has been searching.
Lyle was overjoyed to find them at last. And they were overwhelmed and relieved to be found by him. However they had some important news. They tell us that we’re too late. That they had given up waiting for Lyle, and headed into the city. Their request for asylum had been denied without an explanation.
We’ll go down tomorrow.
Both Lyle and I are feeling the pull. We need to get to that distant city and beyond. It is my belief that the fifteen remaining villages scattered between here and that city are empty.
Lyle won’t give up his intent to visit each of them, whether they are inhabited or not. He dares not miss a chance of catching up to the widow and her son.
Wouldn’t the fact that I am so much more senior to my young friend entitle my opinion to have a little more weight in our deliberations? I think so, but Lyle does not.
Perhaps the only way to prove myself right is to go along and check each in its turn.
Let’s see.
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