Stone of Tears

“Richard! Help me! You said you would love me always! Please, Richard! Don’t leave me to this! Help me!”

His own voice came in a shaky whisper. “sister Verna, what do you see?”

“Jedidiah,” she answered quietly. There are snakes all over him. He wants my help. May the Creator have mercy on us.”

“Why should he start now?”

“Do not speak blasphemy.”

He forced himself to turn from the vision. Gripping the Sister’s arm, he led her away. They sidestepped as they watched the forms drifting around them. They avoided the snakes, but it was impossible not to step on the huge bugs.

He knew that moving anywhere without knowing where to go could be more dangerous than standing still, now that the magic had found them. Even so, he couldn’t make his feet stop. Finally they reached ground that was clear of snakes and bugs, for the moment.

“We’re running out of time. Do you feel anything yet? Do you feel the way yet?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry, Richard. I have failed in my duty, failed the Creator. I’ve killed us both.”

“Not yet.”

Richard whistled for the horses. They came at a trot, ignored by the dark forms. Bonnie nuzzled her head against him, forcing him back a step. Sister Verna took up the lead line and started leading Jessup away.

“No!” Richard leapt up onto Bonnie. He swatted two clicking bugs from his pant leg. “Mount up. Hurry.”

Sister Verna stared at him. “Richard, we can’t ride the horses. I told you that. They are just dumb animals. They will be spooked and take us into a storm of spells. We can’t control them without bits!”

“Sister, you told me you read The Adventures of Bonnie Day. Do you remember when the three heroes were taking the injured people to safety, and they came to the poison river that couldn’t be crossed? What did they say? They said that the people just had to have faith that it could be done. Bonnie, Geraldine, and Jessup led them across the river. Have faith, Sister. Mount up. Hurry.”

“You want me to do something I know will get us killed because of some fool thing you read in a book! We must walk!”

Bonnie tossed her head and danced about. Richard took up the slack in the reins to keep her in place. “You don’t know the way. I don’t know the way. If we stay we die.”

Then what good is riding going to do!” She had to give a sharp tug to keep Jessup still. He was roused by Bonnie’s excitement.

“Sister, what have the horses been doing all day, whenever we let them?”

“Browsing on grass that isn’t there. They’re having visions!”

“Are they? Do you know that? What if what we’re seeing is the illusion? Maybe they see what’s really here. Now let’s go!”

The dark forms were closer, their eyes glowing a brighter red. Sister Verna glanced at them, and then pulled herself up onto the saddle. “But—”

“Have a little faith, Sister.” Bonnie pranced sideways, eager to be off. “I promised you I would save you, and I intend to. I’ll lead. Don’t hold back.”

Richard gave his horse a sharp kick in the ribs with his heels while shouting the command. She leapt out into a dead run. The other two horses sprang to follow. He leaned forward over Bonnie’s withers as she stretched into the gallop. He let her have free rein, without giving her any hint of direction. He focused on her ears, instead of what lay ahead, not wanting to influence her.

“Richard!” Sister Verna screamed from behind. “In the name of the Creator, watch where you’re going! Don’t you see what you’re leading that horse into!”

“I’m not leading her,” he called out over the sound of thundering hooves. “she is picking her own course.”

The Sister galloped up beside him, her eyebrows knit together in fury. “Are you insane? Look at where you’re headed!”

Richard snatched a glance. They were rushing headlong for the edge of a cliff.

“Close your eyes, Sister.”

“Have you lost your…”

“Close your eyes! It’s a vision. A vision of a fear we all have in common—falling. Just like we both saw snakes.”

“The snakes were real! If you’re wrong we will be killed!”

“Close your eyes. If it’s really there, the horses won’t run over the edge of a cliff.” He hoped he was right about that.

“Unless it’s really there, and the magic shows them a vision of flat ground so as to kill us!”

“If we stay, we die! We have no choice!”

He heard a growled curse from her as she hauled in on her left rein, trying to turn her horse, but Jessup stayed with Bonnie. Bonnie was leading; Jessup and Geraldine wouldn’t leave her.

“I told you destroying those bits was foolish! We can’t control them! They’re running away with us!”

“I told you I would save you. Destroying those bits is what will save you. My eyes are closed. If you want to live, close yours!”

Sister Verna was silent as the three horses thundered on. Richard’s eyes were squeezed shut. When he judged they should be at the brink, he held his breath. He prayed that the good spirits would be with him this time.