* * *
Rudy dipped his oars into a placid lake. He barely disturbed the still waters with the paddles. In front of him, a blond woman cried softly with her hands on her face. Rudy’s heart broke, and he longed to help her in some way—to quiet her pain and give her some kind of reassurance that everything was going to be all right. He was struck by her sobbing, and as he pulled the oars against the waters, he felt there was only one thing to do—wait and be silent.
He drew in a deep breath and bit his tongue.
She looked up and into his eyes. It was her—the same one from the water and the kiss. Now she was wearing a burple shirt and white wool jacket. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It was just so painful—what that man did to me. It hurt, Rudy. I thought that when he died, it would be better, but I’m still dealing with it. I bet you wished you’d never married me.”
Rudy wanted to say something, but the image floated away, morphing into a green meadow. Rudy walked and took in the sight of the strange black birds flying overhead. There were perhaps half a dozen of them, and they screeched a terrifying call from their white beaks. He felt the tug on his hand directing him to the left, and he followed the sensation gladly. He didn’t always get that feeling, but when he did, he knew what to do. He ran quickly in the direction he’d been pulled.
The birds attacked an animal that had been hiding in the grass. He stopped and was surprised to see three of the birds flapping madly and pecking while they screamed out their discordant signals. The others dove and rose on the poor animal. Blood was in the air, and Rudy crouched in the grass as the bird’s prey was torn apart and mercifully died. The black raptors with emerald crowns dove in rapid succession, then ascended again with shredded fresh carrion in their razor sharp talons. As they managed to get a limb or another chunk of bloody meat from the creature, they ascended from the kill site and flew back toward massive trees hundreds of meters away.
I’LL BE THERE WITH YOU, RUDY. TRUST ME.