The Traveler

Walking under an overcast sky, the clouds break apart to where he is able to judge that the sun is close to saying goodnight to this part of the world. Left to having only a few hours before nightfall, if it was just him, no big deal but since this is not the case, he stops in giving a look to the woods across the road. Thick enough to where one could end up getting lost, thinks the forest will do nicely in hiding his band of misfits that has him instinctively reaching for the bladder strap that brings forth the face of rooster girl.

Different from most in that one eye is vibrant green while the other, icy blue, he thinks there is a good chance word of such an oddity got around that gives reason for the child being in such a predicament. Attached to this is either the kid’s parents are no longer alive, or that the kid was taken from grieving arms in a lopsided trade that began with, “Hand the child over or else everyone, starting with you, will die.” So true in Sister’s case, and looking like the same for Rooster girl, out from an inner pocket comes a flask of water.

Letting the first sip carve a path along his parched throat, halfway to having another, the sky erupts with scattering birds that tells of someone approaching. Far from liking the idea of meeting new friends, after capping the flask and once put away, he quickly makes his way over to a small grove of scrub trees nestled off the road. Tucked low and keeping quiet while peering through the afforded gap, seconds pass before the scene opens up with a scraggily old man holding tight to the reins attached to an ox close to its end of days. Thinking driver and ox inseparable, what follows is the rearview showing the cargo hauled being an overweight man relaxing on a pile of blankets as if taking a cab uptown.

Guessing that the end of the trail is when cargo reaches the mansion, his mind mulls over the idea that this guy might have something to do with the two dead guys. Imagining the lazy man’s surprise when he finds that his contacts lie dead and not that faraway is the busted cage, he is pretty sure s**t is going to break loose that brings on a sense of urgency that has him figuring out the fastest route while he waits patiently before making his move.

Time of the essence, and little to spare, the child replies, “Red told me you would come back.”

Slipping the bladder strap over his shoulder, looks away before his eyes fall on the kid. “We need to leave. Call your pet.”

“Bad men?”

“Yes. Can we go now?”

“Okay. Red…”

Bird cupped between bent arms, her off colored eyes has him looking away in hoisting the child and pet upon his hip.