Lauren--Part Thirty-Eight

Splog # 131

Thirty-Eight

   So Lauren sat there on King's back, trying to build up the courage and determination she required to continue her journey alone. She rubbed her hands back and forth on his neck, building for herself a reservoir of the comforting feeling of companionship, of connection with another living creature. She still wanted to cry a little but, having already cried once and remembering her parents' advice that there was nothing wrong with crying if you were sad or afraid but at some point it was time to stop crying and do something about whatever had brought on the tears, she restrained herself and put her arms around King's neck and gave him a fierce tight hug preparatory to sliding down and heading into the unknown. In the midst of her embrace, which she was finding difficult to break away from, the sound of bells once again reached her ears. She lifted her head and listened. Where previously she had heard first the deep tone and then a higher one; both from solitary bells, now the sound riding on the air was that of many bells, with a myriad of tones. It seemed to be coming from a distance, not one level up but two or maybe even three. The bells sounded their melody for a short time and then ceased. The echoes carried the vibrations along for some moments longer and to their accompaniment Lauren lowered herself from King's neck and onto the flat stone at the end of the path, which the camel had knelt beside for her convenience. She stood there, not wanting to say goodbye and knowing that she must but reluctant to part from the camel, when on the heel of the echo of the bells she very distinctly hear a voice call, "Lauren." The voice was so clear that she was sure she was hearing her mother calling her to come home for supper. She felt compelled to look around and see where her mother was calling from, but she didn't move. Her mother wasn't here. She glanced toward the stairway and then to King. He was standing now. He must have risen while she was transfixed by that unexpected voice. She immediately forgot it as she looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry you can't come, King, but maybe I can see you when I come back and I'll try to be more careful and not do any more things like I did to the grass. It was nice of you to come with me and..." She ran out of words and put a hand up to caress his face. The camel lowered his head  to accept her caress and then gave her a push towards the stairs on which he wouldn't be able to accompany her. Lauren obediently mounted a couple of them before turning back to give him a wave. The camel opened its mouth in one of its wide yawns but instead of the ooaahh sound she was accustomed to, an unfamiliar noice emerged, a cross between the whinny of a horse and the bellow of an elephant. King repeated this greeting twice and then delivered a snort by way of punctuation. His farewell address complete, King turned himself around and began his return trek, though to where Lauren had no idea. It felt a little lonely watching him go, but she was touched by his farewell as he had never responded much to her on their travels. And when, before he had gone far, he turned for a moment and glanced back at her, she smiled and waved extravagantly, calling "Bye, King! Bye, King! I'll see you on my way back! Bye!" As he turned back away from her, Lauren heaved a large sigh and made ready to climb. She felt a little better. She felt brave to be going on alone. She almost felt like a  grown-up. Besides, she might encounter someone else who would provide good company. She thought of everyone she'd met already. Splog and Mason and Austin and King and Bart and Jane and Captain...whatever his name was. Who'd have thought she'd meet a snake that would help her? She wondered for a moment where Austin had gotten to. And then she heard her name called again. But this time it was her father rather than her mother. Was there someone up on the level above who was waiting for her? Not her father or mother but someone who was calling her and, because she was upset about being left alone, her imagination was hearing her name in voices she recognized? She looked down at the steps in order to guide her feet safely and saw that they had a design on them. A design that she found familiar. She dug in her pocket and pulled out the coin that she had found under the bush. The design on the step was the same, only larger. Octagonal, bright flame-colored background, and a green C in the middle.