-CHAPTER 13-

Together, now a little more relaxed, the three of us continued on the gravel path. The path seemed to carry on forever, devoid of emotion, devoid of charm, uncomfortable to walk on, but we continued.

As we walked through valleys, the rolling hills of greenery egged us on, and gave us the motivation to keep walking.

“Just up here.” I said, “It has to be behind that hill.”

“Forgive me for asking this so late, but where exactly are we going?” Naomi asked.

“A small village. Well, large compared to the settlement back there, but not too big.” I answered.

“What are we coming here for? I thought Crater was just directly east.” Keshet added on.

“Apparently, it would do us some good to meet with a guy named Adir.” I responded.

“And what is he supposed to have?” Keshet asked, yet again.

“I don’t know.” I said, “He didn’t tell me.” I smiled, trying to hide the fact that I just detoured us by half a day to meet up with a man I don’t know, for a purpose I couldn’t dream of. Keshet exhaled deeply.

“Well, it’s not like we knew what we were doing in the first place. I’ll trust you.” My grin changed from a fake one, to a real one.

“Alright, onwards to Plain Point!”

“Yeah!” The 3 of us shouted in unison.

To my right, quiet but audible, I heard a rumbling sound. I looked to my right, and a visibly red Naomi said,

“When we get there, can we get something to eat?”

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As we approached Plain Point, I remembered. Naomi doesn’t have any coverings for her eyes. So, yet again one of us would have to enter the city alone to buy a cloak or covering, while Naomi and the other would stay behind. This time, when it was brought up, Keshet was quick to volunteer for buying the cloak.

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“You have enough money?” I asked.

“Yup, I’m all good. I’ll be back soon, so sit tight, okay?” Keshet ran off, and we watched him disappear over the hill.

After a minute of silence, Naomi asked me,

“What is it that you want so badly? Why come here, and then still yearn for something further away?”

“Freedom. It’s important to me.”

“I’ve heard you say that before, but it’s something more than that. Can’t you just stop here? If your eyes are covered, you have freedom just like the rest of the people here.”

“The people here, this isn’t freedom. The people here are living a lie.”

“A lie?”

“That’s right, a lie. A lie that we, Laosarch, are the enemy of society. Until I can come out tomorrow and say that I’m a Laosarch, to proclaim my love for G-d, then I’m not living in freedom. I’m nothing more than a cog in the system that fuels my own people’s oppression.”

“I see. I can kind of understand how you feel. I get it now, your reason for living.”

“My reason for living? What do you think is it then?”

“Not telling.”

“Oh, come on.”

“I’m not telling!”

“Even just a little hint?”

“Nope, nothing.”

“Then tell me one day. What it is that you truly think of me.” As the words left my mouth, I immediately regretted them. I could feel my face turning red, and I could tell Naomi’s was too. I tried to pull back on what I said. “Well, if you don’t-” Naomi cut me off.

“Deal.” She said, “When we reach freedom together, I’ll tell you exactly what I think about you.”

My response was the only word that came to my head. A short, simple,

“Okay.”

“Hey guys!” Keshet exclaimed, waving from over the hill. “I got the coat!”

I clapped, Naomi joined in.

“Now we can all go into town!” I said, joyfully.

“Yeah!” Keshet and Naomi gleefully cheered.