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.