THE ANCIENT PATH

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER SIX

(Continued)

Angel had stopped crying, worn out. She shivered and wrapped her arms tighter around herself. Then she heard a strange tapping noise. It brought to mind a hideous image - that of the menacing blind man in the first chapters of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. It had terrorised her when she was younger, and the setting now was very similar. She screamed.

"Angel!" yelled a man. It was her dad. The orange light of a torch penetrated the darkness and drew closer, hurrying. "Oh dad!" she cried and clung desperately to him. Finally, he pulled her away a little and she explained to him what had happened.

It transpired that her father had only come this way by chance. Father and daughter stood close in great relief. Angel held Geoff's hand. They were just deciding to head back to Jim's when a greater light shone around them and they heard Gabe. They were both astounded and relieved and then happy.

Geoff had a stick with him in case Gabe had needed help, but he said nothing of that to the younger man. Instead they marvelled at the light that had led Gabe safely back. As they talked, it faded. Angel felt quite bereft. "Was that like baby Jesus' star?" she asked softly.

"It was greater than that", answered Gabe. I believe it was the Light of God.