Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:38:58 +0000
From: Jack Smith <js_mas@hotmail.com>
Subject: New Beginnings 11

     WEEK ELEVEN - THE RETURN


     FIRSTDAY


     Whatever it was it was good to see once again our
familiar river, its green flood plains with numberless
lizrabs, the familiar foliage.  Kito lifted his head and
neighed at the sent of water, and I let him go to follow its
scent.  He knew well enough to stay away from the river, and
instead made a brisk trod down the road to where a small
stream dropped down the cliff face to form a pool at the
base.  Do-Si had followed behind, his mount as thirsty as
Kito.  It was early afternoon, but his dark eyes looked at
me questioning the need to go further today.  I nodded my
agreement, and he set to erecting the tent and starting the
fire for a proper meal while I cared for the horses then
sending me to bring back a lizrab for the stew pot.  This
was a task without challenge, but one with which I was
familiar and which gave the sense of the comfort of my
previous life.  Watching the lizrabs I remembered the day
spent with Hi-Tui and Yue-Sin, and the happy ending of the
day's tension.  Now there was no one to throw a stone, and
taking a lizrab was as simple as taking one of the grazers
we had encountered by the stream on the other side of the
mountains.  Still, Do-Si applauded the return of the hunter
bringing home food for his family as if I had undertaken a
valiant task, and I fell in easily with his simple humour.
     Do-Si seemed very happy.  He was naturally a happy
spirit, but now, back in familiar territory, he appeared
very content.  I recalled how he had told of his love for
me, so I guess this, our being alone in the wilderness, was
a continuation of a dream of happiness for him that had
begun on the green grass of the valley of the Hut.  That I
had not given this a thought made me question how much else
had changed within me.  I, who used to be so sensitive to
the feelings of those around me, was now cold and remote
like the lords of fireside stories.  The meal was extremely
good also, aided probably by a large hunger.  Still, the
familiar taste of lizrab, spiced with local herbs of our
home cooking that Do-Si had found growing in the local of
the stream served on a plate of rice satisfied more than
anything I could remember having eaten before.  Feeling
content, safe for the first time in many days, I suggested,
even though I felt an urgency to return like the sensation
of having a lizlion behind my back, that we could stop for a
day or so in the valley of the waterfall, and enjoy the
magic of the pool together.  The gratitude in the eyes of Do-
Si was sufficient to repay the anxiety caused by any lost
time.
     I wondered what we would find when we arrived home.
That I would separate from Do-Si, and possibly never see him
again in any kind of intimate way, was certain.  But how I
would find Father, what news there was of the King and the
outside world.  Thinking of Father my thoughts slipped to
Mother.  A sensation of guilt overwhelmed me at how little
time I had given her in my thoughts.  I would have to make
up for this with time spent with her on arriving home.
Home.  My soft bed shared with Father.  The bath of hot
water.  Clean clothes everyday.  It would be wonderful to
arrive.  That night, snuggled into Do-Si, my lizlion still
rigid inside him, I drifted into a sleep more restful than I
had enjoyed since sharing a tent with Wi-Su in the valley of
the waterfall.