A dream awakened me. I had dreamt it before, but this time it seemed more real. Much-Afraid stood waiting for me for a very important event. She was washed, combed, and groomed to perfection. How long had it been since I held her in my arms? Were we to attend an important event together in the future?
I had been preoccupied with meeting my father. I knew Daniel was taking good care of the animals, but I had to see Cherios right away. Impatience has its virtues.
I snuck out and shivered in the cool morning air, When I opened the cave door, Cherios, Much-Afraid, and Lowly greeted me with hugs and kisses.
“It’s good to see you.” I wrapped my arms around Much-Afraid and plucked Cherios off the floor, setting her in my lap. I smiled at Lowly. I still didn’t want to hug a pig. Then I noticed Baruch wasn’t in his stall.
I glanced at the three of them. “Where is my favorite donkey?” Was Baruch outside getting some fresh air or taking a walk in the field?
“Oh, he left while the moon was still shining,” Lowly said.
“What did you say?” A red panic button started blinking. Where would Baruch have gone so early in the morning?
Much-Afraid spoke up. “I can tell you what happened. I was suspicious. Maybe it’s nothing.”
I stood and set Cherios on the floor. “What are you talking about?”
“No, I’ll tell,” Cherios said. “He told me more than ya’ll. He tells me everything.”
“Could one of you tell me where Baruch is?”
Some of the other animals stirred as our voices alarmed them. Assassin was in the pen in the back. Did he have something to do with this?
Cherios wiggled her nose and looked brightly into my eyes. “Why are you so upset? He went to get some apples.”
“Get some apples? There aren’t any apples around here.”
“No?”
“Start from the beginning and tell me.”
Cherios took a deep breath. “Assassin told Baruch there were apples in the valley, but you had to pick them early or scavengers would get the best ones. He tiptoed out the wooden gate before anyone except me awoke. Even before ole Worldly Crow was up and before the rooster cock-a-doodle-doo’d.”
“Keep going.” I wished Cherios could talk faster.
“I-I knew later,” Lowly said. “I just wasn’t awake y-yet.”
“Keep going,” I pleaded.
“Assassin found an old crinkled map of the famous Apple Orchard in the valley between the Temptation Mountains near the Wilderness Pass. He promised Baruch even though it was a long journey, it would be worth it when he tasted the red apples. As Baruch left, Assassin assured him he would tell the others he was bringing them a surprise.”
I glanced back at Assassin. He was asleep or pretended to be asleep—probably to avoid my probing questions.
Cherios continued. “Assassin said he would get Judd to bring in some fresh oats, and Baruch could have the big stall with the best view, although he already was in that stall. I don’t know why Baruch even listened to him.”
I rolled my eyes. Donkeys weren’t the brightest creatures in the world, and Baruch was far too trusting to be good at even being dumb.
Cherios hopped around in a circle wringing her paws. “Baruch said he misjudged Assassin. Assassin wanted to be his friend. He promised to bring some of the apples back to Assassin—those he didn’t eat.”
“Did Baruch say how far it was?”
“About a half day over and a half day back.” Cherios twitched her nose. “You know how much Baruch loves apples. Since he’s missing the king’s garden so much, he said he would do anything to eat one.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Not good. Where did he say he was going?
“The valley beyond the Wilderness Pass of the Temptation Mountains.”
I leaned on the gate, staring at the empty stall beside my three faithful friends. I glanced at Assassin. He had put Baruch up to this hoax, the jealous, conniving donkey that he was.
“But even worse than that,” added Lowly, “he dropped the map on the way out the door. I saw it fall out of his knapsack.” Lowly held the scrunched-up map in his mouth.
“Here, let me see that.” I took it out of Lowly’s mouth and studied the crumpled page as I walked over to Assassin’s stall.
The red donkey smiled, displaying his white pearly teeth, as if to intimidate me.
“Why is your name Assassin?”
His nostrils flared crookedly as he swished his tail. “I’m a wild jack ass, and all the jennies belong to me. There’s no room for another jack ass in my territory. I will assassinate him.”
Could I find Baruch in the wilderness before it was too late?
Chapter Seventeen
WILDERNESS JOURNEY