Slowly northwards, the party ambled forward.
For two full weeks, the group traveled quietly all the while keeping a slow but steady pace. At night, small fires were lit, and tended often by Chug, to ward off the wild animals. By day, they kept as quite as possible, traveling in single file and staying to the beaten paths, for fear of getting lost. The pine trees grew to well over two hundred feet high in these parts, and the canopies of the tree branches could blot out the sun below them.
The happy and joyous beginnings of the trip with the long summer days, warm nights, songbirds in the air above, and the company in light spirits, had now all disappeared from everyone's recent memories. The winter had: tightened its grip over the land, their supplies were running low, or had been lost, and they were missing their maps, the journal, and their compass. What lay in the path ahead: possibly marauding bears, un-natural beasts, the winter's deathly cold, the Great Ingnok Mountains, Black Jack Tilly, and of course, Growlar the Cave Bear.
"Everyone listen, I know we have to keep moving forward on a northward heading but sometimes it's hard to do, because at times the trees are baring me from seeing the sun overhead, which can make us veer off course at times. From what I can remember from reading Mr. Beamer's maps, we will soon enter the great Boreal Forest, which lays in central Canada. It should take us about a week, or maybe two, to travel through this forest, before we come to the arctic tree line. The area is known as, The Taiga.
From there the trees should start giving way to open barren wastelands, a few glaciers, and then eventually, we will come upon the Ingnok mountain range. For now though, we need to find the largest tree in the area. I must climb to the utmost top limbs to get my bearings," said Louis as he now found a new determination in his heart.
"We have made it this far Louis. And you have been right more times than I can remember, so let's take to heart what you just said, and look for this tree" said Chug as he started to search tree-lined horizon.
"All is not lost. We're still here and relatively well, plus Chug I made a promise to you and you to me in blood that we would come to Charlie's aid, and we're not going to stop now, just because we lost a few supplies and maps."
As Louis said this, he beat his chest vigorously in a sign of manhood, which Molly had never seen before.
Boys will boys she thought again, to her amusement.
Chug, Jupiter with Apollo all found renewed strength with Louis's newfound words of courage and joined in, by letting out a group shout that showed of unity, and devotion to Charlie. Molly just shook her head again in amazement but agreed wholeheartedly that the journey should not be called off just yet.
It was early afternoon now. Louis turned to scan the forest that lay before with Chug, to try to find his grand tree.
Moreover, just like that, there it was.
The largest tree Louis had ever seen before, found far away on a mountainside up from the valley that lay in front of them. Louis turned back towards Molly then said with his brand new spirit, "There it is Molly, that's the one...right...there. Let's head in that direction."
Molly, Chug, Apollo, and Jupiter all nodded in agreement. Off they traveled towards the far side of the enormous valley.
They all started down the road again, with everyone lost in their own thoughts about what had happened over the long road so far, and were deep in thought about what they imagined was in their future. The way would surely be hard and long, but with Louis, again at the head of the group, and with his renewed energy they all felt they could still make it to Santa's Village, before Christmas.
After walking for close to three hours down into the valley, and up the other side they were finally at the base of the great tree.
It was an enormous evergreen conifer pine, standing close to four-hundred and ninety-feet tall, and was about one-hundred and fifty-feet in diameter at the base. It must have been the oldest and tallest living tree in all of Canada.
The pinecones lying on the ground, around the base were as large as pumpkins. The canopy of the branches that spread out above them must have covered over six-hundred-feet across. As the party reached the base of the tree, Louis dismounted Jupiter, helped Molly dismount he then turned to speak to everyone.
"I have to climb to the very top of this tree to find the proper direction for us to travel next, and to see exactly where we are. Please everyone take a well-deserved break, get what rest you can, and I will be back as soon as possible."
No one disagreed with Louis about this suggestion. All were tired, and weary from the long day of travel.
Louis gathered his strength.
He looked up and down the great tree for a moment to get a feel of its girth, and estimate the magnitude of his climb. He placed one foot on a gigantic root, reached as high as he could. He grabbed a large knot in the bark in front of him, then another step, then another. It was the beginning of a very long and arduous climb up the face of the gargantuan tree. From branch to branch, and from limb to limb, Louis ambled slowly upwards. Nesting birds took to flight from the thick branches as Louis slowly passed by. Higher and higher, he climbed, until he finally disappeared out of sight of the others on the ground, and the sounds of his wrestlings, in the great tree faded from their hearing.
As Louis climbed upward, the weary party gently fell back to the earth, finding comfort in a large pile of pine needles found on the ground; taking a well-needed late afternoon nap.
It took Louis the better part of an hour to get to the upper treetops. At the very top of the tree, he found a large branch that had grown to a perfect right angle. Louis found a comfortable place to rest. Louis reclined backwards onto the great branch, he then turned to look out upon at what he had longed to see from the start of his long climb. What he saw from the height of its tallest branches was the far away Great Northwest Territory, and the dense Boreal forest of northern Canada, in its full and glorious grandeur.
It was the oldest, most stunning, and picturesque forest found on earth.
In front of Louis great pines stretched out across the horizon for what seemed like a hundred miles. There were huge birch trees, and conifers well over three hundred feet tall. Louis turned to look to the southwest, where he could see the great floral fields with the colors so bright, and true, that Louis almost cried while beholding their beauty. To the far south, he saw the Great Lake that they had just crossed over, shimmering in a beauteous deep blue color that rivaled the color of blue in the sky above him.
He saw wild patches of orange mosses on the tree sides of the forests around him, and colorful, green lichen and heath. To the far north, Louis could see the frozen arctic tundra, with great herds of caribou walking in herds of well over ten thousand strong. Above that and farther north, he could see great frozen glaciers that were held steadfast in time and space. Finally, beyond that he saw the great Ingnok mountain range, and the southern Nanaluk icy passage.
While sitting on the top branches of the great tree, Louis had a moment of crystal clarity, and deep thought, as he gazed upon the curvature of the earth, which fell away from him in perfect symmetry.
Above him, he could see the sparkling clear blue northern skies, and dazzling cloud formations. They seemed to harbor questions that no one could, ever answer. The sky above and the earth below engulfed little Louis, assaulting all of his senses, like nothing he had ever felt before. The wonder of nature swallowed up Louis, taking him by the heart, and by the hand for a moment. With Louis being ever so, ready and well deserving, (in his soul and mind) he took it all in, to relish for the rest of his life.
It was all so overwhelming, and spiritual that Louis just sat back. He relaxed for a few moments on the tree branch, to experience a moment in his life that was meant for him only to enjoy. The enlightening, and enlivening view that afternoon high up in those branches was something that would, never diminish, or fade, from his memory.
The constant daydreaming that had consumed Louis as a younger boy now gave way to realty. Daydreaming was less and less needed in Louis's life, because Louis was now living all the things that he had frequently dreamed about, or read about before, up in his bedroom so many nights as a younger boy. Traveling throughout the great open wilds, sailing on a great ship on the open waters of the Great Lake, and going on this great journey, Louis once could have only imagined those things happening to him. Louis was experiencing what most young boys never get to, and Louis knew it.
Louis drew in a long and deep breath of cold Canadian air then rested for a few more moments. He closed his eyes, and as he did this, the love of his best friend Charlie now reappeared in his mind's-eye. The vision of Charlie laying in his hay bed, and growing weaker by the day now captivated Louis's thoughts once again. Louis took a moment to reflect on, and reaffirm, his love for his best friend Charlie.
This love was: the love one feels in his heart for a caring mother, a devoted farther, a true best friend, or a beloved family pet, and this love could only be felt by those who had true kindness, and selflessness their heart. Louis above all else had these coveted and good qualities.
Again, Louis thought to himself.
Charlie I'm coming, just hold on for a few more weeks. I now know for sure the way to the true North Pole, and I will be there as soon as I can. Please be, strong Charlie just be strong.
Louis quickly made a mental picture of what lay ahead, then as surefooted as he went up the great tree was as surefooted as he descended downward, never wavering from his task.
After a long and arduous decent down, the great tree, upon reaching the bottom, and the safety of the ground, Louis collapsed from exhaustion, falling into Molly's open waiting arms. Molly held Louis against her chest and within her arms, comforting Louis as only Molly could do.
She softly spoke.
"Louis I am so glad that you have come down safely and that you are again back with us. I was so worried about you up there. Rest all you like, and catch your breath. You are back among your friends."
Louis closed his eyes. He slept in Molly's arms for the better part of two hours. When he finally awoke, he sat up and slowly wiped the weariness out of his eyes. As Louis regained his senses, Molly bent over and whispered quietly into Louis's ear.
"Did you see it Louis? Did you see the North Pole, and Santa's Village?" Could you see any reindeer, or elves, or workingmen just like Mr. Beamer told us? Did you see them Louis, did you?
"I saw the North Pole Molly...it...was...superb..."
Louis turned away from Molly to look over at Chug, just as he was about to speak again, he slowly closed his eyes, he fell back asleep in her arms. He dropped back into a wonderful, dream-state, and restful sleep, with thoughts of reindeer, elves and of Charlie pulling his old ice wagon with all the town's children at his feet, dancing down the street. All rested with Louis for another hour or so at the base of the great tree.
A cold arctic wind began to blow down from the north, which carried on, to chill the hearts of all present. Chug, lit another fire then dug deep into his saddlebags to find a few more supplies. He found some dried salmon cakes to snack on, while he heated up some dried beef ribs that Ms. Telly Bell had given him earlier.
Apollo and Jupiter went off to a nearby field to kick through the light snow on the ground to find some wild grasses and berries to eat, and to drink some water from a nearby shallow, slow running stream.
As Louis slept, Chug took over the decision making for the group. He decided that all should sleep under the Great Pine Tree for the night, and that everyone was too weary to travel onward, into the quickly descending daylight. A small campsite was made around the fireside, and warm beds made of pine needles, were prepared for Molly and Louis by Chug.
As darkness engulfed the camp, Chug, Louis and Molly crawled into their warm beds for the evening, falling quickly asleep.
That night Apollo and Jupiter took turns standing watch over the campsite, for wild beast, are known to wonder these strange lands. Unexplained happenings were also known to have taken place in this forest many years ago. There were stories of a great Indian Chief whose ghost inhabited these forests, and nearby mountain sides but he was known only to appear, every few years under the light of a mystical blue moon.
As darkness engulfed the surrounding forest wolves could be heard talking wolf-speak to each other throughout the forest. Night birds and owls conversed freely in the tree branches, above where the party slept. Chug sat up a few times in the heart of the night to look about the campsite to make sure all was well. He got the least sleep of anyone other than Jupiter and Apollo, who dutifully stood as sentinels, throughout the night.
When Chug awoke in the morning, he again, and again, told Molly and Louis that the trees were speaking to each other, and that he felt there was a strange other worldly presence around them. No one paid much attention to him because Chug was known to have just as wild of an imagination as Louis had.
All felt better and more invigorated in the morning after a good night's sleep. No wild creatures had ventured into camp during the night, and all felt that a clear, safe path lay ahead for the next few days.
As Louis woke, he drank a few cups of hot coffee, which made him feel considerable better. Molly just had to find out what Louis had seen from the top of the great pine tree.
"Louis again, did you see the North Pole?"
Louis took Molly by the hand.
"Did you see any elves, Santa's Village, or any reindeer?"
"Molly what I saw from the top of that tree was simply fantastical. The slope of the earth, as it fell away from me I could see: the colors of the natural world in all her brilliance, the color of the deep blue skies, and the delightful greens of the forest below. I saw colorful orange mosses, the stunning beauty of fields of wild flowers, and the white snows on the distant mountaintops. Molly it is something that you will have to see at sometime in your natural life. I promise you, that you will see these things if we ever pass this way again. I will climb up that tree with you, and I will make sure you are with me to share the experience. And as for the North Pole, yes I saw it, also I saw the true pathway north that we need to take."
"Well I want to climb that tree as well after hearing that story, and I think I want Tessie to go with me," said Chug.
"Well we will all have to climb that tree together," said Molly.
"Next time..."
"Yeah next time" said everyone together with a smile on his or her faces.
Charlie the Great White Horse and the Journey to the North Pole Page 14