Several days went by that were much the same as the day before. I was stuck with nothing to do but dream—and write. Dream of better times, of being home again—which at times I sorely missed—and at other moments, I felt sorry for myself. I wanted to see Daniel. When would Nathan and my father return, if ever?
“Ruff.”
Much-Afraid was making her daily rounds.
I climbed up to the tiny window and looked out. “Hi, Much-Afraid.”
The dog was several feet below me, ready to play if I could come outside. “How much longer are you going to be stuck in there?”
I sighed. “I guess until my father comes back.” I twisted the ends of my hair, which had become quite long. “How are Lowly and Cherios?”
“They are doing fine. And guess what?”
“What?”
“Judd is feeding us the best oats now.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” That was a dramatic change for the better. I leaned out over the window. “Can you do me a favor?”
Much-Afraid wagged her tail. “What’s that?”
“Do you ever see Worldly Crow around?”
“When he’s here. He travels the countryside a lot.”
“Next time you see him, tell him I want him to do something for me.”
Much-Afraid barked a few times. “Okay.”
“How is Baruch?”
“He’s doing great, except he complains about not having any apples.”
I rubbed my tongue over my teeth. Wished that were my only worry. “Don’t forget to tell Worldly Crow.”
“He was here yesterday. I’ll look for him,” Much-Afraid said.
“What’s Cherios up to?”
Much-Afraid chased her tail for a few seconds before answering. “She tells us many stories about the king and keeps us entertained. The other animals have become quite fond of her.”
“That’s cool. I’m glad she’s been well received.”
Much-Afraid swatted at a fly. “Let me go find Worldly Crow for you.”
“Is Lowly getting fed, too?” I asked.
“He’s getting fed what seems good to him, although I wouldn’t eat it. Pigs aren’t so choosy, though.”
I laughed. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I don’t think you’ll be stuck in there much longer. You’ll figure out a way to escape.”
“I hope.”
Much-Afraid took off towards the front. Pressed up against the wall, I slid down from the window. The warm sunlight filtered in through the window giving me hope that Much-Afraid was right.
A short time later, I received a visitor. Worldly Crow landed on the windowsill, cackling at me impatiently. “Ca-ca.”
He shook his feathers, and dust particles floated in the filtered light. “What did you want to see me for, Shale?”
I was lying on my bed daydreaming and rose when I heard his cackles. “Worldly Crow, thanks for coming. I need to ask you for a favor.”
He cocked his head sideways. “What’s that?”
“I want you to get the key to the door and unlock it for me so I can get out of here.”
Worldly Crow cackled. “You want me to sneak into the house and find the key, and then come back and unlock the door?”
“Worldly Crow, if you can steal a fish from a crowded marketplace, you can steal a key from Mari.”
“When do you want me to do this?”
“Right now. Today.” I slouched back on my bed. “I’m going to go insane if I don’t get out of here.” I shuffled my feet impatiently. “Have you seen the king anywhere?”
“Yes, he has remained close by—in the Decapolis.”
My depressed mood perked up upon hearing this good news. “Please go do it now, quickly.”
“As you wish, but it’s not an easy thing for a crow to sneak into the house undetected. For one thing, I’ve got to get the door open.”
I studied Worldly Crow. “You can do it, I have confidence in you.” I flitted my hand at him. “Go.”
A short time later, wings fluttered outside nearby. I jumped up to the window in time to see the crow strut up to the door. I scrambled over and looked through the peephole. He held the key in his beak and attempted to put it into the keyhole, but it fell out. Worldly Crow mumbled under his breath and picked it up again.
“You can stick it in there. Try again.”
It took two more times, but he unlocked the door.
“You’re brilliant, my friend.”
“It wasn’t so easy as you made it out to be. What are you going to do now?”
“Go tell Baruch, Much-Afraid, Lowly, and Cherios to rendezvous with me at our old hideout. We’re going on a journey.”
“Where?”
“To see the king.”
“Again?”
“When I’m with him, he fills me with hope. I want to see him again. Who knows—maybe I won’t come back here.”
“Things could be worse. You aren’t starving. You have a roof over your head. You have Mari and me and all the other animals.”
“I don’t need a lecture. Go get the animals, and tell them to meet me. Hurry.”
“You’re the most impatient girl I’ve ever met.”
“Go.”
I grabbed the ceramic egg and the two golden rocks and put them in my pocket. I stopped and thought about my diary. I had to leave it. I had no place to put it. When I exited the stairs, I almost fainted. Mari saw me and started to say something, but I covered my mouth with my finger. She stopped, smiled faintly, and waved. I took it to mean, see you soon.
I hurried to our old hideout and waited. It didn’t take long for my animal friends to get wind of our trip, and I greeted them on the dirt road. Much-Afraid trotted up to me, and I squatted down to hug her.
“How did you get out without Judd seeing you?”
“He wasn’t around. He left earlier today to go somewhere,” Baruch said.
“Good.”
Baruch asked. “Where are we headed, Miss Shale?”
“To the Decapolis.”
“That’s where we went before.”
“Worldly Crow said the king is in the same general area.”
“Look for the crowds,” Baruch said.
Cherios hopped from rock to rock, singing praises to the king as if she were in the garden. Lowly and Much-Afraid played dog and pig games.
Soon we were joined by a woman on a donkey with a small child. “Where are you headed?” she asked.
“We’re on our way to the Decapolis to meet the king.”
“So am I,” the woman said. “My baby needs healing.”
I glanced down at the little one she held in her arms. “Let’s travel together.”
She nodded. We rode for a while beside each other. Two more joined us. As we walked, one of the men said, “We heard the king is in the Decapolis. We want to meet him.”
“That’s where we’re going, too.” Our small caravan grew larger as we walked.
Three more joined us, then five, ten, twenty. The road opened wide, and dozens more joined our band. Some came in robes, others in gowns, still others in uniforms and ordinary clothes from every country. Some were rich and some were poor. Some were old and some were young. Some were famous and some not so famous. Some lived at that time and others were yet to be born—all traveling on the same road to meet the king. The sheep, Little, joined us. We were as a flock in search of a shepherd.
Before my eyes, the heavens opened. Thousands of angels walked alongside us. More angels flew overhead, gleaming swords in hand, protecting us from wicked demons in pursuit of wanderers and lost souls who weren’t yet claimed. The angels were stronger.
Warriors shouted prayers and fighters waged a valiant defense against usurpers and underlings and demons and all who sought to kill the king’s possessions. For the first time in my life, I knew I had become part of a great battle. I was not just Shale Snyder. I was a daughter of the king worth fighting for—even unto death.
On all sides, throngs of people watch
ed the great spectacle. I wasn’t walking alone. In fact, I’d never been alone. Even hiding in the closet long ago, I wasn’t alone. Thunderous shouts and clapping hands shook the heavens. The clanging of swords echoed, creating sparks in the sky like firecrackers. Thousands of dark underlings fell from the heavens like battered hail.
We sang as we traveled. “Hineh ma tov 'mana'yim, shevet achim gam yachad. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together.”
It didn’t take long to find the crowd—over four thousand souls gathered before the king.
Chapter 32
UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER