Zeer climbed the hill easily without the usual traps and ambushes. He found the Pra-Namu’s cave and bent to enter in. She was waiting for him in her chair as before. He waited for her to finish her meditation.
She awoke slowly. She clacked her beak a few times and yawned. “Ah, Zeer-Namu, you have arrived.”
“Yes, Mother.” They touched pointer fingers together in the Askirabim handshake. He sat on the chair in front of hers, “Why am I here?”
The Son of the Most High wishes a word with you. This is the only way he can speak to you and leave you alive.”
“That’s pretty scary!”
“Be not afraid, my son. No harm will come to you. Go through that doorway past that curtain.”
Zeer followed her pointed finger. He looked back to see that she had drawn her wings over her head to hide her eyes. He pushed aside the curtain and stepped through a blazing white portal. He found himself on a narrow rock trail that wound gently up another mountainside. He climbed for what seemed like an hour or so, then the trail flattened onto a mountain glade. He passed through a small copse of trees and came to a field of grass and flowers.
Trails came into this field from many sides. People were coming up all of the trails. Some moved quickly. Some moved slowly. All of the trails met near a gate. A line of people were greeting a young man with brown hair sitting on a bench by the gate. Some shook his hand. Others knelt before him, and he touched their heads. As the gate keeper greeted them, they went past him to enter into a narrow stone gate.
When it was Zeer’s turn, the man smiled, “Zeer MacTarn, come Brother, sit a while.” Zeer was puzzled.
The man noticed his expression and spoke, “The Master is my father. Just as He is the father of all who choose to follow His path.” As asked, Zeer sat by the man while he met more of the pilgrims.
A large gold framed mirror sat on a stand by the narrow gate. Every now and then, one of the pilgrims would jump into the mirror and disappear. The gate keeper would laugh and turn to the next person in the line.
For a time, there was a pause in the line. Zeer pointed at the mirror and asked, “What are they doing?”
“Oh, they are the re-incarnators.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Thery choose to go through the cycle of life again. I don’t care. They’ll be back.”
After a time, there was no one left in the line. He turned to Zeer, “Brother, come and walk with me.”
Taking Zeer’s sleeve, one step away, the fields and flowers and gate disappeared. All that was visible to Zeer was clouds. “Brother Zeer, I need your help.”
“Yes, Master, I will do anything for Thee.”