CHAPTER 9. HORACE
Morning ushered in a delightful aroma of coffee and baked bread. Toby snuggled deeper into the homemade quilt, covered to his ears. His protesting stomach soon convinced him to rise. He stood up and stretched, and with sleepy steps followed his nose to the stove.
Valerie sliced a crusty loaf and placed it on a plate. She slathered on butter and handed it to him.
“Hello, Toby.” A quiet voice came from the corner.
A bit of sparkle had danced back into Mia’s eyes and her cheeks were pink again. Pillows made a squishy throne around her.
Toby rushed to the bedside. “Are you better, dear Mia?”
“Miss Valerie gave me a medicine. The pain is not so bad.”
“Yes, our patient will recover nicely.” Valerie bustled over and felt Mia’s forehead. “She will be up and baking bread with me in a day or two.”
Mia pointed to the few remaining crumbs on a plate in her lap. “I’ve never tasted bread before. The swamp people only ate raw or boiled foods. Valerie will teach me how to bake bread for us in our little house!” Her eyes narrowed. “Will we have an oven, Toby?”
“Yes.” Toby bit into the crisp outer crust of the bread and chewed into the soft center. The loaf was even better than Gramble Shana’s. “I’m pretty sure we have hundreds of ovens in storage, if we can find the service elevator to transport one to the top.”
“I dreamt of our house, Toby,” Mia pushed her plate aside and leaned her head on his arm. “It will be painted blue, with a little fence outside to keep rabbits away from our garden.”
Toby could see the house as well, nestled like an egg under the biggest tree by the cavern’s entrance. “It will be wonderful,” he said, then was silent.
“You have to go away and finish your quest first, don’t you, Toby?”
Valerie gathered dishes and tidied the room. “Don’t you children worry. Toby can finish exploring for a few days while you,” she pointed to Mia, “can rest. By the time he comes back, you will be ready to travel.”
“You won’t need me here?” Toby asked.
“Me? I’ll be all right,” Mia said. “Finish your quest! Then you can come back with bundles of stories all wrapped up to tell.” She sank into her pillow. “Be careful, dear little brother!”
Toby turned back. They had shared their birth dates on the journey over. “I’m older than you by a month!” he snapped, then saw a smile play around Mia’s mouth.
“Acted out like true siblings.” Valerie handed Toby a packet. “Bread and a few other things for your journey.”
When Toby placed the food in his pack, his hand brushed against the stuffed toy picked up from the cavern’s entrance. He pulled it out. The bear had journeyed well, its furry ears still flopped just right and the plastic eyes shone in a friendly way. He placed it in Mia’s arms. “Company. Until I get back.”
Mia hugged it close. “Thank you, Toby.”
“I’ll return as soon as possible, I promise,” said Toby.
Valerie smiled. “Some families are forged in blood, some in love,” she said. “You and I are blessed by the latter, Toby.”
Toby nodded and shouldered his pack. “I seek the soul-giver. I’m certain it won’t be long before I find Him.”
Valerie pressed her hand to his heart. “Surely as this beats, your soul exists. I have never met a child so pure and true.”
“Thank you,” said Toby “But I must ask the One who creates souls.”
“When you return, share your discoveries with us.”
“I will.”
Valerie followed him through the door and to the garden gate. She pulled him around to face her.
“I didn’t want to worry your friend,” she said in a low voice. “Mind yourself out there, Kitty Boy. People are mostly evil and will steal whatever you have, or else they’re desperate to protect their own possessions. It’s best to avoid settlements and groups. Do not let your curiosity lead you into danger.”
“Thank you for everything.” Toby hugged the old woman
Follow Japeth out.” Valerie pointed to a distant figure working in a garden. “He’ll show you the best road.”