The Barren Land
The Shepherd, Book I
A Novel by Jeffrey B. Linn
All Rights Reserved

Chapter III

I awoke and froze, unable to recall when or where I had fallen asleep. A line of pain creased the skin of my back, and against my bare flesh I felt frigid stone. My cloak was torn and pulled to the side. It fluttered in the mountain breeze. In the gloom I was able to make out the outline of the ledge I was lying on. I remembered that mentor and I had made camp on a cliff top. Evidently I had somehow gone over the edge. Presently through the wind came a voice from above.

"Boy?"

"Here! Below! On a cleft!"

"Shepherd! Thank you he is alive!" There was silence for a moment. Then a tree branch was extended over the edge. I grasped hold of it and with our combined strength we were able to haul me to the top. We sprawled on the stone, gasping for breath.

"Are you wounded?" mentor asked, concerned.

"There is a deep scrape down my back. My right hip is throbbing," I said as I re-tied my robe and adjusted my cloak.

"What ever happened? I'll never forgive myself for leaving you."

"I have no idea. I just awoke on the ridge."

"But there must be something, my son . . .Do you recall when I went into the copse after the firewood?"

"Yes . . . that I now recall, but nothing--wait! I went back to our camp. Some time later a woman appeared."

"A woman!"

"Yes. She was dressed in crimson silk, and barefoot. She had the most arresting manner. I did not think to test her as you have taught me to."

"That was no woman," mentor spat angrily. "That was the dragon's emissary!"

"She projected thoughts without words. I was taken up in the novelty of it. She, or should I say "it", implied vulnerability, that she was in need of help. Then she began to make intimations concerning me, she--I don't want to continue. It's too embarrassing!"

"You must, my son! We must examine all of this to see what we're up against." He held me by the shoulders, like a father. "And you must speak out all to be completely free of it."

"She made a . . . connection between my weakness and hers. It happened so fast, but in those few moments she forged a bond between her and I. I was taken in. Fool!"

"Don't be so hard on yourself."

"Her force of deception was so powerful. She conveyed the idea that she alone of all people believed in me, that she would become my sole disciple. She fed this madness until she could have suggested just about anything. And then she made me believe I could . . ."

"Say it!"

"that I could fly! That is how I wound up on the ledge, I suppose. That's all I remember before waking up on the rocks."

We sat in silence. It was impossible not to feel despair enveloping us like a blanket. And then oddly it was as if the sun came out from behind a cloud, though it was nearly night. We were filled with a feeling of well being, even levity, which was totally incongruous with our circumstances. We could not account for it until we became aware of a Man standing on the hillock behind us. The warmth of a forgotten sun radiated from him, though he was dressed in a common coarse robe. A smile crossed his lips.

"I have fixed your fire and roasted your fish. Come. Have dinner!"

The mentor clasped my arm tightly. His eyes were saucers and his tongue would not work. "Boy," he whispered, "it's . . ."

"I know, mentor. How could I not?"

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