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.