With the decision to try and stay more committed to his path, Nathan had been able to navigate a few other obstacles just by taking a moment to think it through. He had to crawl under a fallen tree that blocked his path. He had to dive into the verity to escape a swarm of angry bees and finally, he had to just wait as a large green and black snake slithered in front of him.
Once the snake had passed, Nathan went on his way down the dusty path and through the shimmering verity. His feet made a shushing sound as he dredged on. The sun warm and bright had dried the path and his clothes and he had to admit that the time alone was peaceful and allowed him to gain perspective on his life. He missed his best friend and wife Kathleen and the sound of his children playing and laughing. Perhaps he had taken them for granted, focusing on his dying wife and his own problems and not being a father but more a referee in their lives.
Then without warning he heard distant yelling and the trampling of hooves. The sound echoed off the forest the surrounded him and made it impossible to determine from which direction it was coming from. Fearing that the beasts from the forest had made a way into the verity field he dove into the golden grain and laid motionless. The deafening sound of hooves or claws or whatever grew louder, the ground shook beneath his still body.
A young boy of maybe only ten or so ran by, “Help” he cried, “Leave me alone.” He cried again, hands flailing in all directions, his filthy blond hair leaving behind him, its own trail of dust and dandruff. Then a cloud of dust roared past him chasing after the boy.
Nathan dared not lift his head up any higher to see until the herd of beasts passed. So when he heard the running slow and the yelling cease, he peaked out above the verity. As the dust settled there, at the edge of the forest were a dozen warriors on white, winged horses.
The horses were cloaked with shining metal armor slats with their wings tucked tightly to their sides. Their saddles were white and velvety, trimmed in a thin bead of gold.
The warriors were all large and covered in shining armor, polished to look like mirrors. They held swords that must have been as long as the warrior himself. The handles of the swords wrapped around the warriors own hand looking more like an extension of the man than an addition.
When the warriors were satisfied that the boy was gone, far into the forest they sheathed their swords and removed their helmets. The warriors were not handsome in the least, they all carried mutilations and scars that left their faces nearly unrecognizable. One of the warriors was missing an ear and another was missing an eye. The others had obvious wounds about their faces and heads, Nathan could only imagine the damage they had sustained on the rest of their bodies.
They placed their helmets on their saddle horns and climbed off of their charges letting them graze in the verity. The warriors walked through the field talking as comrades will. For a few minutes they watched the forest and their horses stretched their wings ate mouthfuls of the verity.
Then one by one the winged horses knelt down to allow their riders to climb back on, then they took two steps and spread their wings lifting them and their rider into the bright blue sky. When the last on had taken flight, the entire squadron, or flock swooped down past Nathan and over the end of the path at the forest, then they were gone.
Nathan waited just a moment before returning to his feet. When he was on the path again the curiosity overwhelmed him and he walked back to the forest and peered in making absolutely sure not to enter of even let a single hair from his head penetrate the shadowy territory of beast and plum little women.
“Hey there mister.” The boy said jumping out of a bush to his left. It startled him so much that he tripped over his own feet and fell backward onto the path.
“Stay back!” Nathan yelled trying desperately to get to his feet.
The boy looked puzzled at him as he stepped out of the forest and onto the path beside him. “What’s got you all tied up mister?” the boy asked, looking him over and walking around him.
“You were in the forest.” Nathan said confused.
“Corse I was, the Seneraph Warriors were trying to kill me.”
“Kill you? Why?” Nathan asked looking the boy over. The young boy looked like a miniature Tarzan. His dirty face and hair, a small piece of cloth, barely able to be called pants and fat green leaves wrapped around his feet for shoes.
The boy’s face became sad and he hung his head. “I was just trying to find some food to eat. One of the Seneraph saw me picking some berries at the edge of the forest and they must have thought I was from the Forest of Bane. Then they chased me all the way back here.”
“That’s horrible.” Nathan said looking around, “Are you still hungry?”
“Starving.”
“Well ok, you come with me and we’ll see if we can find you something to eat.
“I don’t know…” the boy said stepping away slowly and looking suspiciously at him.
“It’s ok.” Nathan assured him, ‘I’ve got a boy at home about your age. I know how much you kids can eat.” He reached out his hand and the boy took it. “I’m Nathan, what’s your name?”
“Amos” the boy said kicking a stone down the path.
“Well, Amos, It’s nice to meet you. This path gets pretty lonely and it’ll be good to have someone to talk to.”
They spent the time talking about the forest and fishing but Amos was most intrigued when Nathan began talking about his children and all the fun they had over the years. Nathan spoke of camping trips and birthday parties and playing tag in the yard.
They had covered about a mile or so when they came upon a large stone wall, it had no door or gate or any way through it that Nathan could see. It stretched from forest to forest and stood twenty or so feet tall. From where he was standing, he could see no possible way over, under or around without going into the forest.
Amos tugged on his hand, “Let’s just go around it.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said rubbing his chin. Nathan had too many close calls in the forest and wasn’t too keen on testing his luck again.
“Oh come on, don’t be scared.” The persistent boy pleaded.
“Let me think for a minute.”
“Look, the end of the wall is right there.” Amos coaxed, pointing toward the forest. “We can’t dig under it.” He joked.
“Maybe there’s a loose stone we can pull out and climb through.” Nathan said trying to figure this new riddle out. Nuncio did say that there was always a way to get past any hurdle as long as they stayed on the path. He began to walk up to the wall.
“Stop!” Amos called.
“I just want a closer look.”
“No!” he cried. “I’m going around it.”
“Wait, just give me a minute.” The closer he walked to the wall, the more Amos tried to stop him.
Finally as he approached the wall and tried to push on some of the stones, Amos yelled at him, “You stupid old man. Just take the easy way around and you’ll be on the other side.”
The insult caught Nathan off guard and he turned. But half way to facing Amos he stopped. There in front of him was a stone stair case made of protruding stones that was impossible to see facing the wall but was evident when looking along the wall.
In his excitement he exclaimed, “I found it, look here.” He looked at Amos whose expression was less than impressed. He didn’t see how the boy was not excited, then he realized the hard fact. “Wait, you knew this was here. Didn’t you?”
“You just had to find a way. It would have been faster and easier to just go around.”
“Maybe. But I’m not going in the forest and you shouldn’t either. Those beasts will tear you apart.” He said it before realizing what he just said. The boy had been hiding in the forest earlier and there wasn’t a beast anywhere around him.
Amos walked to the forest and sat down on a felled tree. He began to remove the worn leaves from his feet and replaced them with fres
h ones.
“Are you kidding me?” Nathan exclaimed. “You can walk in the field of verity as long as you are still walking on the leaves from the forest?”
“You’re a pretty quick one aren’t you.”
Nathan started to climb the stone steps of the wall taking care to step cautiously make sure he had a good grip as he climbed the small protruding stone footsteps. When he reached the top he looked down. “Who’s the fool now boy?”
Amos just sat there watching as he topped the wall. He didn’t go around the wall but just stayed there fixing the new leaves on his feet. Nathan stood on the wall feeling like he was doing injustice to the young boy but he also knew he had to keep going.
He turned and faced the sinking sun once more and began his decent of the wall. But then he paused, way off in the distance, over a few hills and past a few valleys he saw for just a moment, what looked like a castle. He looked down to see where his foot was stepping and then at the horizon again, but it was gone. He searched the distance not sure if he had really seen anything at all.
“What did you see?” Nuncio asked.
Nathan almost fell off the iron grey stones, at the abrupt voice. Arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance, there was nothing to grab onto but suddenly he felt his coat tighten around his shoulders as Nuncio pulled him back. When he turned, he saw Nuncio taking a seat on the stone wall without expression. He brushed the dust and few pebbles from a flat and warn piece of the wall and sat. His pale legs and earth covered feet hanging over the side like two pendulums ticking away the end of time.
“You have got to make a better entrance than just showing up like that. You scared me half to death.”
“Only half?” Nuncio questioned in a dismayed tone. “I’ll work on that.”
Nathan felt the insincerity in his response.
“What was that?”
“What was what?” Nuncio asked, inspecting the smooth texture of the stone beside him.
Nathan pointed into the distance, “Out there. I saw something, a castle maybe.”
“Are you sure you saw it?” Nuncio questioned like a disbelieving teacher hearing about the dog that ate the homework.
“I SAW IT!” Nathan exclaimed. “It was right there, over that hill.” His voice quieted a bit. “But now it’s gone.”
“What did it look like?”
“It looked like a castle or a church. It looked like it was made of crystal or glass or diamonds.”
That caught Nuncio’s attention. “Diamonds you say?”
“Ya, it looked like the light passed right through it.” Nathan knelt beside Nuncio, “What was it?”
He dusted off his hands and folded them across his lap as he stared out at the setting sun. “That is the Father’s house; it is a place to find answers.”
“Is that my destination?”
“It could be, but more than that it is a resting place for those seeking more. And I dare say my friend you will be seeking more.”
“More than answers?”
“Yes, just because you have the answers doesn’t mean you can understand them. More than that, you need peace. A peace that surpasses all understanding. And there is only one place to find that kind of peace.”
“Where’s that?”
“You will know it, when you reach it.”
Nathan looked again at where he saw the castle, “how much longer will I need to travel?”
There was no response, so he turned back and Nuncio was gone. He just shook his head and descended off the wall, taking each step in turn so as not to fall. When he reached the ground he couldn’t help but appreciate his cleverness and how easily he conquered the wall. He considered his accomplishment and just how substantial it was.
As he spun around to continue on his way, he was nearly knocked backward when he walked right into Nuncio, who was standing firm; arms folded across this chest with a disapproving glint in his eye and a frown on his face.
“What?” Nathan asked in a snappy tone.
“So you think it was your cleverness that has brought you this far?” Nuncio asked leaning forward as if asking a child.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nathan replied taking a step around him.
Nuncio stepped to the side blocking Nathan’s advancement. “You aren’t clever and you didn’t conquer anything yet. The father has made a way through everything you would encounter. All you had to do was find it and take it. Don’t mistake gratitude with pride. So far you haven’t taken the time to thank the father for any of the success you have seen.”
“Why should I thank him for anything? I climbed the wall, I got past the fallen tree and I made it through the river. I did it.”
“You also were fooled by the forest goers more than once. Staying on the path isn’t easy but it is simple. If you think you can navigate this alone then the father will let you.”
“Fine!” Nathan yelled. “I made it this far on my own, I’ll make it the rest of the way.” Nathan said and he shooed Nuncio away like a bothersome fly and continued on the path.
Nathan walked for a while and as the sun, once again began to lean further ahead of him; he noticed a sharp pain in his side. He grabbed at it but it didn’t help. He also realized just how hungry he was after days of not eating. Then his feet began to ache and he found that he needed to sit and rest more often than before.
He thought about his wife and how she must have suffered through the cancer and the chemo and never once complained. He got up determined to push on, each step stabbing his ribs and burning his feet. He tried to ignore the hunger and how dry his throat and mouth were. This once pleasant journey had become a torturous task that he doubted would ever end.
Just when he thought he had worn his mind and body as thin as it could be, he came upon a huge rose bush. The flowers were at least a foot across and the bush filled his view from left to right and it towered over him by fifty feet. He walked along it to the forest on the right and then back to the left.
He walked up to it looking for a secret passage or set of steps but he found nothing. Stubborn in his determination he was sure he would find a way through or over this obstacle. He wasn’t going to be beaten by a rose bush.
He gently began to move the branches, careful not to get scratched by the enormous thorns. He inched his way into the dense bush and a thorn caught his sleeve but when he tried to free it another thorn pricked his ear then his pant leg was snagged and then his arm. The more he struggled, the more entangled he became.
His stomach and feet cramped and his flesh bled but he refused to quit. He pushed on and as his skin and clothing ripped, he yelled and cursed the father. His anger saturated his whole being and he tried to take a step further but the vines and branches had his leg trapped. It felt like the bush had come alive and was trying to kill him.
He looked back to see how far he had pushed through and was crushed when he saw that he had only gone one or two steps in and still couldn’t see the other side. His drive was sucked out of him as if someone had dropped his main sail and dumped all the wind from it.
When he stopped moving he heard a whooshing and cracking sound. He didn’t look to see what it was, he just hoped that whatever it was, it would end his torture and take his life from him. The bush shook and vines began to fall away. Then a wrenching feeling drew him out of the bush and he fell on the ground. As he opened his eyes he saw one of the warriors standing over him, his face disfigured and scarred.
Nathan didn’t move but instead spoke in a dry wispy voice, “Just kill me.” His eyes scanned the magnificent giant anticipating the fall of his deadly sword.
“Kill you?” The warrior laughed a bellowing laugh. “I’m not here to kill you; you were doing that well enough all by yourself.”
“Then what are you doing here?” Nathan asked exhaustedly.
“I heard you yelling and thought you were in trouble.”
“I am,” he replied slowly setting up and examining the cuts and scratches that were left by the merciless bush blocking his progress. “I can’t get past this.” He said pointing at the rose bush.
I’d say so.” The warrior said laughing again. “Not like that you won’t.”
“So how?”
“It’s different for everyone, but I don’t have answers, I have a sword.” He replied putting the huge sword back in its sheath.
“You can ask the father, you know?”
“Ya, I know, but I thought I could do this on my own.” Nathan said dusting himself off and standing up.
“Maybe you can do it alone…but why would you want to. The father wants you to ask. He wants to help. But listen, it’s not always easy for warriors like us to ask for help,” he said placing his metal clad hand on Nathan's aching shoulder, “But it is simple.”
Nathan looked up at the warrior and the warrior turned him to face his adversary. “You can try again and maybe you’ll succeed and maybe you’ll fail. But remember this, my friend… All things are possible with the father.”
The warrior walked to his horse and the horse bent his strong, oak like leg and kneeled down. He climbed on the animal’s back and it rose up again and shook it’s satin white mane. The sight of the warrior on his battle ready brute was unbelievable. “Stay the course and you’ll find what you desire young warrior.” He said as he lunged forward and took to the sky.
The warrior on the back of his winged companion moved as graceful as the oceans ebb and flow on white sand beaches. It was perplexing to imagine what type of a monster could leave battle scars on a giant gladiator such as this who’s size and presence were the essence of legends. And who’s friendly demeanor seemed like it could be disarming to the most hateful and a comforter to the scared. He was no less than a champion among the wanting, a true symmetry of gentleness and might.
Never before had he seen such a horrifying sight and felt so humble about himself. His heart began to soften and his anger melted. It was if the impenetrable outer shell of himself was breaking apart and falling to the ground, as brittle as dried leaves.
He knew now that he would have never had the strength or integrity to endure the pain and anguish that his wife had, and it was only now that he realized that she, on her own, didn’t either. He loved his precious Kathleen with his whole heart, but it was who she was… on the inside that he cherished and respected.
Nathan loved her because of what was in her, and she was only able to love him because of the love that was in her; a love not of this world, a love without boundaries or condition. He spent ten years married to this wonderful woman and never completely knew her. There was more to this woman than he was willing to accept. He wasn’t the man she deserved of the father that their children needed. He had failed her… and his children.
Nathan felt his deficiency of truth and knowledge beginning to weigh down on his shoulders. It crushed him beneath its unrelenting pressure. The fact that he let his wife and kids navigate their own lives without assistance or leadership, ate through him the way that a brush fire eats through a dry landscape.
Nathan spread his arms and called out, “Father, I need your help. I can’t do this without you. I thought I could but now I see that I am beaten without you. I need you to show me what to do. Save me from my misery and save me from myself.” In his exhaustion he collapsed on the ground and fell asleep. A warm breeze dusted over the verity and Nathan as he lay sleeping on the hard ground.
When the sun began to rise above the forest behind him, Nathan opened his drowsy eyes to find a young deer walking along the front of the thorny bush. It looked around briefly and then carefully entered into the thorns and vines.
Nathan got to his feet staying in a crouching position and quietly followed, he watched intently where the deer walked and followed his every move. Each time the deer stopped, Nathan would slowly catch up being cautious not to startle the timid creature. The dense vines and branches loomed ominously over the pathway as he made his way through.
Within just a few minutes they were through the rose bush and in the field of verity again. The deer heard him sigh and took off running, bouncing through the air as if it were made of springs, across the field and out of sight.
He had left his old self behind, on the other side of the thorny row along with his torn and tattered wears and wounded flesh. When he emerged from the bush he saw that his injuries were no more and his clothes were as if it had never happened.
It seemed so ironic that a lovely rose bush, with such sweet smelling blooms could cause such pain and torment. “How often it is that we find ourselves underestimating something based on its appearance?” He thought to himself.
Nathan took a moment to gather his thoughts and allow his clouded mind to clear. He replayed the events of the past few days in his mind. He wondered if the father had sent the deer or if the creature was simply on its daily routine. Either way he was now able to continue and that was all that mattered.
Chapter 5
A Glimpse Of Tomorrow Page 5