Seventh Dimension - The Door, Book 1, A Young Adult Fantasy

As we headed back to my father’s villa in Galilee, I didn’t want to talk about what happened. Although Daniel left me alone to sort it out and his presence walking beside me was reassuring, I couldn’t share with him my innermost struggle. Why did I have this feeling that something evil wanted me?

  Upon returning, we stopped beside the road a couple of hundred furlongs from my father’s estate. Here we got into a heated discussion about how to get Nathan out of the house that night.

  “I think you should have Worldly Crow create a distraction with Mari, and you put the potion in her wine,” Daniel insisted. “After all, he’s good at causing diversions.”

  “Mari promised me she would do anything to help me, and I don’t trust Worldly Crow. I don’t trust any crow.”

  We were at an impasse. To get this far and disagree on such an important detail upset me.

  Daniel inspected the potion in the flask and gently shook it. “You get one chance to get this right. Scylla would be furious if she knew you were doing this.”

  “I know. Mari cares about Nathan. Knowing we’re taking him to be healed will motivate her to go along with us.”

  Daniel listened but appeared unconvinced.

  “It’s better that Mari help us rather than try to sneak Nathan out—as long as we’re back by the time Scylla wakes up. Did you find out where the king is?”

  “Me?” Daniel asked.

  “Yes.”

  “The fisherman, you mean?” Daniel set the flask down and leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows as he admired the field. The sun had dipped behind the trees on the horizon. “I refuse to call him a king.”

  The way Daniel said it, he was adamant.

  “Fine—the healer,” I said reluctantly.

  Daniel rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

  The reddish glow on Daniel’s tan face and brown hair made him appear even more handsome than usual.

  “You better go and tell her,” Daniel said. “I’m anxious to get started. May God grant us success.”

  I stood and brushed the dirt from my dress. “Wish me luck.”

  Daniel handed me the potion. “No, not luck. I’ll be praying.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled and headed up the road towards my father’s house. The evening sun had sunk below the green fields and dusty road. The air was heavy with humidity. Some doves cooed from the trees, and a flock of sheep grazed on the hill.

  Did Daniel ever say if he knew where the king was? I should have asked when we were in town, but the cobra encounter befuddled my thinking.

  I listened from the corner of the house for Mari—rattling of dishes, shaking out the rugs, even her voice. Not hearing anything, I stole around to the other side. She was lugging water from the well. That was my chore, but since I wasn’t here, she had to do my job, too. She was too visible for me to run and greet. Scylla or Judd might see me. I’d wait until she was closer.

  A few minutes later, I whispered to her. Mari stopped abruptly and looked around.

  “Mari, it’s Shale, over here.”

  She grinned. “Shale, you’re back.”

  “Come here and act normal. You never saw me, okay?”

  “Okay.” Mari looked perplexed but glad to see me.

  “Set the water down, and I’ll explain.”

  “Sure.”

  I told Mari the details of our plan. “Put this medicine in Scylla’s wine tonight. It will make her very sleepy. Daniel and I want to take Nathan to be healed by the king—the teacher who is performing miracles, but Scylla wouldn’t let us if she knew. We’ll get Nathan as soon as she’s asleep and leave. We should be back before she wakes up. Can you help us?”

  Mari nodded. “I’ll do it for Nathan.”

  “Awesome.” I reached over and gave her hug. “Here, take this.”

  Mari examined the flask and smelled the mixture. “What is it?”

  “It’s a sedative—will make her fall asleep.”

  “Okay. I’ll give it to her.”

  “Good. Now, I need a sign to know that you’ve put the medicine in Scylla’s drink, and she has drunk it. What can we use?”

  “I could sing a song.”

  “Yes, that’s it. Sing that song you sang to me when I was sick with fever. Then Daniel and I will know she’s asleep, and it’s safe to sneak inside.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Mari tucked the sleep medicine inside the top of her dress. “You might want to get him right away.”

  I nodded. “I’ll be close by,” I assured her. “The sooner, the better. Thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome.” Mari walked back to pick up the bucket, and I waved to her as she threw me a kiss.

  I hurried back down the street to let Daniel know everything was set.

  “Where are we going?” he asked.

  “I thought you found out where to go.”

  “No. I had to get the medicine from Doctor Luke, the potion.”

  I bit my lip. I was always great with ideas but not so much with the details. “How do we know where to go if we don’t know where the king is?”

  Daniel ignored my king reference. “That’s for you to figure out. This is your adventure, Shale.”

  “But you’re a guy. It seems more natural for you to ask the men than for me.” I went and sat on a log by Baruch, crossing my arms and fretting. Men could be so stubborn.

  A sweet sound interrupted my complaining spirit. I glanced up and saw Much-Afraid sprinting across the pasture. She greeted me with cheerful yips.

  “How did you get here?”

  “I dug a hole underneath the fence. Hadn’t seen you all day.”

  I scratched her behind the ear as she wiggled.

  Daniel asked again, “What do you want to do? I thought you knew where he was. Why didn’t you ask me earlier?”

  “I did.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  A couple of minutes passed as we stared at each other. It was too late to go anywhere, and there wasn’t a soul nearby who would know anything about an itinerant preacher or healer.

  Soon a sheep approached us from the flock in the nearby field. Sheep never traveled alone because they need a shepherd to guide them. Daniel eyed the sheep curiously.

  When the sheep got close enough, he spoke. “Shale, I’m Little.”

  “Little?”

  “You know me.”

  “Yes, that’s right. You took Baruch to meet the king.”

  The sheep nodded. “Anyone who cries out, I will answer him. Someday people will see the king’s spirit in extraordinary people like Martin Luther, David Livingstone, Corrie Ten Boom, and Hudson Taylor. Today I humbly do the king’s bidding for you. I’m a sheep, like so many others, listening and obeying the great shepherd’s voice.”

  I glanced behind the sheep and saw the dozens of sheep on the hill. Why was this sheep called out from all the others?

  The sheep answered me without asking. “I was chosen to bring you this message.”

  Daniel asked, “Shale, who are you talking to?”

  I held up my hand for him to be quiet.

  The sheep continued. “Go to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis in the morning, and he’ll be there to receive you. Peace is with you, my child.” The sheep turned back in the direction from which he came.

  Daniel watched the sheep disappear before saying anything. “Don’t tell me you were talking to that sheep.”

  “I was.”

  He rolled his eyes. “How do you do that? I didn’t hear anything.”

  “Like you can talk to Nathan and I can’t.”

  Daniel stared silently at me for a long time before speaking. “So what did the sheep tell you? Or do I even need to ask?”

  “You know.”

  “Yes,” Daniel said. “We’re leaving for the Decapolis with Nathan.”

  “Let’s not wait until the morning.” I stood. “I’m going back to the house to listen for Mari’s singing.”

  Daniel nodded. “I’ll stay here with Baruch.”


  “Come,” I said to Much-Afraid. “You can keep me company while I wait.”

  Chapter 28

  THE HEALING