< previous page page_312 next page >

Page 312
Perhaps you could return to your Mike then, but such a long time. . . . Poor Abby!"
"To try again, I need to go back to the mountains." Abby's voice sounded despairing, even to her. She lifted her chin and continued, "And for that I need Hunwet."
"What about Arlen?" Lucy offered. "He could"
"He is just beginning to put your new lives here together. I will not make him disrupt that for the two weeks it would take to see me there, then return. No, it must be Hunwet." Or, Abby thought, she would go herself. But she dared not tell Lucy that.
"We'll ask Arlen to help you find Hunwet, then," Lucy said, her voice ringing with determination.

The next day Abby accompanied Arlen to town. They rode on horseback along a dirt path. Abby's full skirt was draped about so as not to expose her legs.
"Lucy told me you want to find Hunwet," he said, "and why." There was a skeptical catch to his voice. Abby could not blame him. Her story was not easily believable, even though he seemed to have accepted her visions after Lucy told him of them.
He urged their mounts to a slightly faster clip, and a warm, dry breeze blew against Abby's face. There had been rain the night before, and there seemed no threat of more.

 
< previous page page_312 next page >