THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATHBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER THREE(C...

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER THREE(C...: THE ANCIENT PATH By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER THREE (Continued) The dark water was not far below, but Gabe had already not...

THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER THREE

(Continued)

The dark water was not far below, but Gabe had already noticed the telltale ripples and eddies of constantly changing currents. He did not want to fall in, even though he was a strong swimmer.

His foot was hanging over the edge; carefully, he brought it up and crawled upright, gripping the rails.

The rest of his journey across was uneventful. Not far from the river's edge was a busy café, though little more than a truck stop. Gabe headed inside and asked for egg and beans on toast. This was followed by hot tea, thick and strong in a tough looking mug. As he was heading back, a truckie hailed him.

"Hey, young fella - would you like a lift back to Paradise? Guess you are going that way? Not much else around."

Gabe was grateful and chattered to the grizzled-looking truck driver who was pleased to have someone to talk to, and who told him about his wife and kids. He dropped Gabe off not far from Jim's, waved cheerily, honked and was soon gone.

That night as Gabe fell asleep, he wasn't thinking of that day's outing, but rather of how much he had unexpectedly remembered from the stories his grandmother had told him long ago, about God.

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATHBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER THREE...

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATH


By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER THREE
...: THE ANCIENT PATH By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER THREE "What's my crime?!" Gabe asked sharply. "You h...

THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER THREE

"What's my crime?!" Gabe asked sharply.

"You have been talking about... Jesus", said the woman red-faced. "That name causes trouble!" 

Gabriel was just about to laugh, then realised these people were serious.

"Jesus!" he exclaimed, noting how they both winced slightly. "Jesus is or was a great man. I don't know much about Jesus, but you are certainly making me want to find out more!! All I know is Jesus healed people. Jesus loved people." Then he remembered another fact he had heard. "Jesus is Lord."

The councillors - for that is what they were - turned to leave, but not without a final warning not to cause trouble, for this was a peaceful, quiet town. They were obviously very discomforted!

As soon as the door was shut, Gabe heard sniggering from the kitchen. Jim had been listening. "Real busybodies", he mused. "Still, maybe you should go for a trip for a few days?"

The temptation to stay was almost overwhelming, but it would prove nothing and a glance at Jim showed Gabe the older man was a little worried. After all, soon he would move on, but Jim lived here.
Already he felt quite fond of his new friend.

The next day Gabe set off early for the ancient bridge. It was long and narrow and looked well-built.
It had been fenced off, presumably to protect small children from the turgid, roiling waters below.

The young man placed his hand flat on a post and easily vaulted onto the bridge. He began to walk, whistling cheerfully. After a while, he felt hungry and thirsty, so paused, sat on the plank bridge and watched the river. Looking back, he could see he had probably travelled a third of the span between banks.

As he moved to stand up, again he slipped as he had done yesterday. Gabe clutched the bridge rail desperately.

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATHBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER TWO(Con...

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TWO(Con...: THE ANCIENT PATH By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER TWO (Continued) Apparently a couple of people from the local council had bee...

THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TWO

(Continued)

Apparently a couple of people from the local council had been asking a few questions about Gabe and why he was in town.

Jim had given them a little information and, apparently satisfied, they had left.

A day or so later, shopping for some groceries and checking out a local hardware store, Gabe was accosted by a high, cheerful voice.

It was Angel, accompanied by her dad. They exchanged a few pleasantries and were interested to know Gabe had reached the steep summit. Then Angel asked him again about the old story of Jesus and his birth.

The young man told them what he knew, then remembered another story about Jesus healing a child of twelve, a little girl. They were engrossed in the story and he assured them if he remembered any more, he would let them know.

"Jim would probably welcome you", the young man smiled, explaining where he was staying.

A few days later, Gabe was making a stool out of two flat circular pieces of wood, separated by three sturdy birch branches, still with their reddish white bark. He had measured them very carefully and was pleased with his work.

At first he ignored the sound of heavy knocking, then, realizing Jim was not around, he put down his tools and opened the door himself.

Two people stood there, looking officious and miserable.

"Well?" asked Gabe, sizing them up and not liking what he saw.

As far as he could see, they might as well carry a sign saying TROUBLE in capital letters. He felt protective of Jim, his host.

"We hear you have been causing some problems", blustered the man. The woman laid a restraining arm on his, then said coldly: "We think it best if you could leave soon."

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATHBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER TWOF...

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TWO


F...: THE ANCIENT PATH By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER TWO Freefalling was not going to happen, thought Gabe, trying not to panic as ...

THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TWO

Freefalling was not going to happen, thought Gabe, trying not to panic as he threw himself sideways.

It was a rough landing , but apart from scraped skin and some bruising, he was unharmed.

He sat still for a while, shaken, assessing what had just happened. It was not yet late so Gabe decided to press on, crest the top and return to Jim's for the night.

It seemed a good idea not to camp out. Just below the summit was a dip in the hills where a beautiful small lake nestled.

Gabe recalled the name of the clear reflecting pool. It was an old Norse word 'tarn' meaning 'tear'. Crags, grey and rugged, soared around the tarn.

In a further hour, the young man had rested a while on the summit, placing a small rock on the cairn or group of marker stones, as was the custom in these parts. He liked the idea of crags having tears.

On his return journey, he passed Geoff and Angel's house windows lit against the gathering gloom. Gabe smiled as he travelled past, and was back at Jim's before full dark.

"Hi son", greeted the old man, cheerfully enough. "Some folks asking about you."

Gabe was puzzled.

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATHBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER ONE(C...

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey



CHAPTER ONE(C...: THE ANCIENT PATH By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER ONE (Continued) Occasionally, Gabe paused for a breather and to look arou...

THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER ONE

(Continued)

Occasionally, Gabe paused for a breather and to look around. Soon he was sufficiently high to see the town of Paradise spread out below. He thought he could make out Jim Nesbitt's house, set a little back from the town, but maybe not.

He saw a broad river flowing darkly far below. A narrow bridge spanned the water. It looked interesting, but no-one appeared to be using it. Further away a wide motorway took many cars to the opposite side of the shore and back.

Obviously, this was the main way into and out of Paradise. He had walked in from a different direction.

Unexpectedly, he heard a child singing and curious, climbed higher.

Rounding a twist in the path, he saw a young girl looking after a few goats.

"You sound lovely", remarked Gabe. "Are your parents here?"

A man came out of a rough dwelling. It was sturdily built, set close back to the hillside, with a beautiful view over the countryside.

"Your daughter's singing was good", Gabe said by way of introduction. The man looked as sturdy as his home, introducing himself as Geoff, his daughter as Angel.

Gabe smiled. "I'm an angel, too!" Was named for the archangel Gabriel according to my grandma. Told me about a young girl called Mary.

The angel told her she would have a baby called Jesus. Don't know any more."

"My wife called her Angel, and then died a few days later", Geoff commented. "Anyway, do you need a hot drink before you go any further?"

After the drink, Geoff offered to take him further up the trail as the path was not very clear.
A while later, he pointed to a divide in the rocks. "That's your route. I'll get back to my daughter."

Part of the way seemed very steep, but as it was so dry and clear, Gabe pressed on, careful where he put his feet.

A few small rocks skittered down, then a lark soared, singing high in the blue sky and suddenly almost inexplicably , Gabe slipped and fell, slithering down the rocky escarpment.

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATHBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER ONE...

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey


CHAPTER ONE


...: THE ANCIENT PATH By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER ONE Jim Nesbitt was the old man's name and he leaned on a cane as he watched Gab...

THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey


CHAPTER ONE

Jim Nesbitt was the old man's name and he leaned on a cane as he watched Gabe planing a little off the main door, the shavings glistening dull gold in the late afternoon sunlight. Then Gabe sanded the wood and asked what paint the man had. "We could git some right now", Jim responded. "Come to the hardware, then we will bag some groceries. Sure hope you eat well, young un!" Gabe grinned. He did.

Later they sat, drinking coffee in the darkening twilight outside on the verandah. That too was rickety. They both agreed that Gabe would work a few days then go exploring for a while, returning now and then to sleep and to stock up on provisions.

"You ever thought of crossing the mountains?" queried Jim. "They say there is an ancient route through there, not much used now. Was a book, a sort of map once, but no-one knows where it went."

He paused, lighting a pipe that glowed redly in the darkness, shooting out a few tiny sparks that soared and fell. Gabe listened, tired.

"Sure, why not!" was the answer. "Still only summer's end."

A few days later he set off with thick boots, a full backpack and some rolled bedding - and food! Soon he was climbing, alone.

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THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATHBy Tessa HarveyPROLOGUEGabrie...

THE ANCIENT PATH: THE ANCIENT PATH
By Tessa Harvey

PROLOGUE

Gabrie...: THE ANCIENT PATH By Tessa Harvey PROLOGUE Gabriel had a year before college so had decided to do what many students did - t...

THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

PROLOGUE

Gabriel had a year before college so had decided to do what many students did - to have a gap year. He went to the little town, Paradise, in the North Valley district.

From there he wanted to explore and climb the local hills.

He had been told of an old man who exchanged food and lodging for manual work.

It wasn't too difficult to find the place. Obviously not many came this way by the signs of neglect and decay he could see.  He knocked and the door soon opened slowly and creakily.

"What do you want?", growled a quavering voice.

"Great welcome", thought Gabe. Aloud he said: "Food and lodging for some yard work. I want to explore the area and I don't mind hard work.

The old man eyed him, astutely. "You ain't got much baggage!"

"Nope!" was the answer. "Travel light."

"Come on in then." Gabe stepped over the rickety threshold and the world from that date changed forever for him.

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