A small boat comes up to the shore as if waiting for us. A black-cloaked figure steering looks at us.

Cautiously, I approach the thing that I assume is a shade.

"Hello," I say from a safe distance.

There is no response from the stranger.

With a sigh, I come before the thing.

"I heard, you can get me to the land of snakes. Can you?"

For a moment, the shade is mute. But, it responds in a gravelly voice.

"There is a price..."

I nod my head and look at my companion.

Samantha nods her agreement.

"Place your hands upon the gem."

I look to where the shade indicates—a gem of deep purples.

As I look into it, I feel like it's a living being.

My hand hovers over it for a moment before settling down on it.

Immediately, I realized the cost of this transit.

The booze and bed I spent my memories on is like a drop in a pail before this expense.

Is there cause to pay the shade so much?

Michael was the first person I met in the afterlife.

He taught me how to find food. And, then, he left.

I feel compelled to follow him.

Gritting my teeth, I watch as memories from my childhood are sapped away.

And then, the threshold is met. My fee was paid.

I turn to Samantha. "You don't have to..."

Her actions silence me as she steps forward and puts her hand on the gem.

When the fare is paid, we are bid entry to the small vessel.

The shade raises goosebumps on my arms when I come aboard.

The creature carries a long pole to move the boat. But, the peculiar thing is that an ethereal wisp of black smoke reaches out from the depths of its cloak.

Despite its apparent lack of form, the shade expertly navigates the waters of this unknown ocean.

Silence hangs over us as I wonder what makes a shade ferryman capable of letting us cross over flowing water. The question brews in my mind before I ask the question.

The shade doesn't turn to face me. And I assume it will ignore me. But then, the gravelly voice trembles.

"The passage of the dammed is our purpose."

"Dammed?" I wonder out loud.

There is no response.

The amount of time that passes is indeterminable. The passage is like a waking dream.

My mind rouses to wakefulness when I see something other than water and shadow.

Slowly, we meet the land. The shade stands aside to allow us to disembark.

"Thank you," I say.

The shade is silent for a moment before speaking.

"It is good that you came to the land of snakes."

I'm surprised by its words.

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Soundlessly, the shade pushes off and drifts back into the abyss.

Samantha and I are left in a foreign land with little knowledge of what to expect.

The pilgrims said something about a gate. That's where we need to go.

With little else to do, we move into the woodland of the land of snakes.

The bushes rustle as we search for a road or any other sign of civilization.

Our canteens run dry, and I hold some hope for a stream.

It takes some time. But a river runs through the forest.

Samantha looks as relieved as me as we approach the gurgling water.

With reckless abandonment, I reach into the water to taste it.

As I bring the water to my lips, I see a blue serpent come out to rest on a stone.

It watches me as the water falls from my hands.

I don't know how venomous the creature is. And it doesn't seem aggressive.

Still, prudence has me moving downstream.

The snake follows me and stares with unblinking eyes.

Carefully, I take my canteen and set it down in the water.

Faster than I can react, the serpent swims to me and scales my arm.

Panic flutters in my heart as I fear getting bitten.

The panic is replaced by confusion when still wrapped around my arm, the snake brings its face before mine. Its tongue flicking from time to time.

It takes a moment, but I realize that the blue snake isn't going to attack.

"What do you want?" I ask the creature.

It simply wraps around my arm and rests its head on my shoulder, flicking its tongue straight ahead of me.

Perplexed but not belligerent, I shrug off my concern and return to filling my canteen.

Samantha, who had watched the event, looks between the snake and me. She accepts our new party member without complaint.

Having found a river, we travel upstream.

It takes a little while for us to find a village. The rotten buildings that decorate the town belie the life seen in the people.

As newcomers, all eyes from the people living here are on us.

One among their ranks approaches us while the rest return to their business.

"Greetings, challengers."

"Challengers?" I echo in confusion.

The man's eyes find the snake but he raises no question of it.

"Yes," the man says excitedly. "You are here to break through the gate. Are you not?"

How should I answer this question, I wonder. But I settle for nodding my head.

The man smiles genuinely and asks, "Have you been to the temple to receive the boon of the god that resides there?"

I shake my head.

"I'm sorry," I apologize. "But, there are some questions I have to ask."

The man is calm as he says, "Of course, challenger. Please come with me."

We are escorted to a crumbling building. Despite its outward appearance, the home looks normal to my eyes.

"Ah," the man says as he notices my searching gaze. "The favor of the god gifts us with vitality. But, that favor is limited.

"There are other homes like this one. But not many."

I nod my understanding as he bids us to sit on the couch.

My first question speaks to my true purpose.

"Have you seen an elderly man named Michael come through here?"

The man smiles, "We have. He was here shortly before you arrived. He left as quickly as he came."

I take a deep breath. It's like the old man is running from me.

It takes me a moment before I ask, "What's the gate?"

My host's smile falters. "Did you not come to pass the trial?"

I bite my cheek, "Of course. But, I don't know everything. I was hoping for some guidance."

The man's smile returns, "Yes. It is wise to glean what you can to take on the gate."

I wait for him to elaborate.

"The gate is a great portal. Each temple encircling the land of snakes is blessed with a deity. It is only by taking the boon of every god that you will pass the trial."

He scratches his chin, "The man you followed was in too much of a hurry to get the blessing.

"But," he says enthusiastically, "you must come before our god."

I nod my agreement.

"So, all I have to do is reach each temple to get a blessing?"

The man turns serious.

"Challenger, the gate is a trial. Yes, you must find your blessing. But, getting past the Anunaki will take everything you have."

"Anunaki?" I question. I've heard the word before. Some zany shows talk about conspiracies that no one believed.

"Yes," my host says. "Serpentine creature that possesses the glamour. They can appear in any form they choose. And, trusting the people in the later stages of the trial can lead to death."

He looks at me with confident eyes. "Those who take on this challenge rarely pass. Many give up before the true hardships begin. You, though... I have faith that you will transcend."

He looks between Samantha and I, "Now, I believe you are ready to see our god."

There is so much more to ask. But, I'm guided out of the modern home and among derelicts that threaten collapse.

Before my eyes, a wooden structure with vaguely Eastern motifs rises over the landscape.

This building is pristine—a diamond among so much dirt.

As we meet the entrance, our guide comes to a halt.

"You will have to go on your own from here. I wish you good fortune, challengers."

The friendly man leaves us before the cavernous entrance to a god's residence as if having finished his duty.

"You ever met a god?" I ask Samantha.

"No," she answers in a whisper.

My legs feel like lead as I walk into the temple.

The air shifts as we walk into a central circle.

Unknown words echo in my head as I look up.

Small enough that I almost miss it, a bird looks down on us.

It seems unremarkable as far as birds go.

"You carry a stench that cannot be cleansed."

The words ring out loudly from the bird.

"I... I'm sorry," I say uncertainly.

"Not you, challenger. That demon's thrall."

I look at my companion, whose eyes are downcast.

"Will you grant us your blessing?" I ask.

"Hmm," the god hums. "For the challenger, the blessing is gifted."

As soon as it finishes speaking, the bird reveals plumage suitable for a bird of paradise. Its beauty transcends anything I've ever seen before.

A warmth courses through me as the god flies over head.

As if coming off a high, I realize Samantha was left unblessed.

"My companion-" I begin.

"Is not someone who can receive my blessing. Go."

The bird's words leave me crestfallen, and Samantha and I leave the temple.

A night in this unnamed town sees us ready for a long journey.