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ąThey€walked€for€a€long€time.€€The€rain€had€lightened,€butĻstill€drizzle€fell,€and€it€was€only€the€steady€walking€that€keptĻthem€warm.€€And€they€walked€without€speaking,€well€into€theĻmorning€and€longer.€€Someone€passed€back€hunks€of€bread€and€driedĻfruit€which€they€ate€without€stopping,€and€the€sun€finally€driedĻthe€last€misty€rain.€€Grown€hot€and€bright,€it€was€shining€inĻtheir€eyes€when€they€came€to€a€stop€at€an€outcrop€of€red€rockĻthat€sent€a€cliff€jutting€up€before€them.€€The€man€Dora€hadĻtalked€to€earlier€called€out€with€the€same€bird€cry€that€Ham€hadĻgiven€when€she'd€first€arrived.€€They€waited€and€still€no€oneĻspoke.€Ģą  ąThe€warm€rock€rose€above€them.€€There€were€swarms€of€hoverĻflies€over€the€face€of€it,€and€plants€with€strange€small€greyishĻleaves€growing€out€of€cracks.€€They€waited.€€A€buzzard€circledĻslowly€on€the€updrafts.€€They€were€so€much€closer€to€theĻmountains€here€that€the€bulk€of€them€was€lost€in€looking€at€theĻfirst€slopes.€€After€they€had€stood€a€good€while€by€that€rock,Ļand€no€one€had€appeared€to€welcome€them,€they€talked€together€inŠ  .Ą'0 Šlow€voices,€and€one€of€the€women,€Susannah,€said€she€would€goĻquietly€and€see€what€was€to€be€seen.€€She€was€a€small,€wiry€womanĻand€had€her€crinkly€grey€hair€tied€fiercely€down€on€her€head€asĻthough€it€might€leap€away€if€not€confined.€€She€disappeared€backĻthe€way€they€had€come€with€as€little€commotion€as€a€stalking€cat.€Ģą  ąDora€decided€to€sit.€€The€warm€sun€was€making€her€veryĻsleepy,€she€already€so€tired€from€the€night€of€waking.€€She€putĻher€back€to€the€rock€and€lowered€herself€carefully€down.€€ButĻthere€in€a€moment€was€that€same€fellow€had€been€so€rude€back€atĻthe€burning.Ģą  ąœ"Don't›€be€œsittinńžńńżńgńżńńžńń’ńššń’ń›€down,"€he€whispered€fiercely€and€leanedĻover€to€pull€her€by€the€arm.Ģą  ą"Take€yere€hands€off€me,"€she€hissed€and€slapped€at€the€handĻon€her€sleeve.€€A€woman€Dora€had€seen€before€came€over€andĻsquatted€down€where€Dora€was.Ģą  ą"Go€'way,€lout€you€be.€€œI'll›€speak€to€the€one."€She€directedĻa€glare€at€the€grumbling€man€and€then€turned€to€Dora.€Ģą  ą"Don'ee€worry€about€him€dearie.€€œHe›€sat€on€a€stick€to€drinkĻvinegar."€€Dora€smiled.€€That€was€more€like€it.€€The€woman€wentĻon,€"But€all€the€same€œwe'll›€have€to€credit€him.€€We€œdon't›€know€atĻall€what€œwe'll›€find€œhere›€or€what€œwe€may›€œfind.›€€If€we€be€notĻawake,€all€may€get€hurt.€€œSomethinńńgńń›€must€have€happened€for€we€getĻno€answer€to€our€call.€€œWe›€can't€rest€yet."€Ģą  ąSo€Dora€raised€herself€up€again€and€leaned€against€the€softĻwarm€rock,€listened€to€the€hum€of€the€flies€there.€€She€almostŠ  .Ą'0 Šdid€fall€asleep€anyway€and€jumped€when€Susannah€appeared€at€theĻopposite€edge€she'd€left€from€and€as€quietly.Ģą  ą"They've€been€œhere›€and€they've€gone€on,"€she€whispered.€€SheĻlooked€worried€and€kept€glancing€up€and€around€at€the€slopesĻabove€them.€€"They€left€the€sign.€€œI'd›€say€they€were€seen€andĻknew€it.€€Let€some€of€us€stay€œhere›€for€their€return€and€th'othersĻfollow€to€that€place.€€œWe›€œdon't›€know€what€they'll€do."€Ģą  ąDora€couldn't€imagine€walking€any€more€that€day€so€she€choseĻto€stay€with€the€three€by€the€rock,€even€though€there€might€beĻdangerous€folk€there.€€The€others€set€off€again,€still€carryingĻtheir€picks€and€rakes,€but€crouching€as€they€walked€and€using€anyĻcover€they€could€find€so€as€not€to€be€seen€from€the€hills.€€DoraĻthought€they€did€very€well.€€Still€leaning€into€the€warmth€of€theĻcliff€she€closed€her€eyes€and€cast€about€the€space€around€her.€ĻShe€could€sense€no€sign€of€human€presences€other€than€their€ownĻand€she€said€so.€€She€was€still€surprised€when€they€accepted€herĻword€and€visibly€relaxed.€€It€even€worried€her.€€How€could€theyĻtrust€her€so?€€She€might€be€making€the€whole€thing€up€for€all€sheĻknew.€Ģą  ąBut€trust€her€they€did,€and€the€end€of€it€was€they€decidedĻto€walk€down€into€the€village€itself€for€here€they€had€builtĻtheir€new€place.€€As€they€came€around€the€face€of€the€rock€andĻdown€a€narrow€path€that€wound€about€that€side,€there€was€the€sameĻspiral€form€with€a€great€tree€at€one€end,€a€new€bakery€and€diningĻhall,€and€the€small€neat€houses.€€They€climbed€carefully,€andŠ  .Ą'0 ŠSusannah,€who€had€stayed,€took€and€showed€them€where€theĻfirstcomers€the€night€before€had€left€an€oval€mound€of€ashesĻunder€the€woodpile.€€The€mound€pointed€on€further€into€theĻmountains.€€Dora€knelt€by€it€and€took€some€of€the€powder,€coldĻand€gritty,€into€her€hands.€€She€could€feel€great€trouble€in€it.€ĻBut€still€there€was€nothing€nearby€that€frightened€her,€and€theĻtrouble€was€more€confusion€than€danger.€Ģą  ąShe€had€forgotten€the€three€with€her€until€she€felt€a€handĻon€her€shoulder.€€Susannah€smiled€down,€her€face€a€shining€berryĻof€brown€crinkles,€and€pointed€beyond€to€the€ravines€at€the€headĻof€the€valley.€€Squinching€up€her€eyes€Dora€could€see€the€smallĻfigures€appearing€from€behind€rocks,€stepping€out€of€crevices.€ĻShe€saw€Letty€at€the€same€moment€Susannah€did,€and€as€Dora€stoodĻup€to€wave€Susannah€let€out€a€yell,€pulled€her€fierce€hair€fromĻits€bonds€and€dashed€away.Ģą  ąœ"Oh€that€we€feared€ye€were€lost,"€muttered€Dora€a€littleĻteary›€as€she€stood€there€waiting€for€the€two€of€them€to€come€toĻher.€€Susannah€had€leaped€at€Letty€and€whirled€around€her€like€aĻpuppy.€€Dora€could€hear€her€laughing€and€scolding€and€chattingĻaway€all€at€the€same€time.€Ģą  ąDora€saw€Ham€and€Nan€walking€slowly€down€from€the€red€rockĻside.€€They€touched€the€buildings€softly€as€they€came€to€them.€ĻWhen€Letty€and€Susannah€reached€her,€the€three€of€them€sat€downĻā āby€the€wood€pile,€and€Letty€told€the€story.Š d,&. Šą  ąWhen€they€had€arrived€it€had€been€still€dark€and€hours€to€goĻā ābefore€morning,€but€none€of€the€ones€who€had€come€before,€the€illĻand€the€very€old,€were€sleeping.€€Instead€they€were€all€sittingĻbefore€the€fire€in€the€dining€hall,€obviously€anxious€andĻwhispering€among€themselves€about€the€possibility€they€would€beĻdiscovered€even€here.€Ģą  ąThose€who€had€spent€their€time€scouting€their€children'sĻvillage€and€watching€every€day€tried€to€reassure€them.€€But€inĻtheir€helplessness,€the€old€and€lame,€fear€overcame€the€rationalĻwords.€€In€the€end,€raining€as€it€was€and€tired€as€they€all€were,ĻNan€decided€they€should€go€out€again€to€a€cave€they€had€found€upĻamong€the€ravines€and€overhangs€toward€the€mountains€further€yetĻand€spend€the€night€there.€€Amidst€a€good€deal€of€grumbling€fromĻsome€and€a€lightening€of€spirit€for€others,€they€picked€up€theirĻpacks€and€made€their€way,€very€slowly€indeed€since€some€of€theĻoldest€had€to€be€carried,€up€to€the€great€cavern.€€And€they€hadĻfinally€slept€the€night€away€in€the€dry€dust€of€the€floor€there,Ļout€of€the€rain€at€least€even€if€they€were€not€home.€Ģą  ąIn€the€morning,€they€had€made€breakfast€there€from€theĻrations€they€had€carried,€eaten€it€in€that€quiet€place€ofĻdustmote€sunbeams€and€finally€made€their€slow€way€back.€€TheĻoldest€and€the€ill€had€lost€their€fears€with€the€light€of€day€andĻthe€company€of€their€friends.€Ģą  ąLetty€stopped€speaking,€and€they€looked€up€at€these€peopleĻcoming€into€the€new€village€they€had€made.€€They€watched€as€theŠ  .Ą'0 Šlast€went€or€were€brought€to€their€houses€and€began€œbeing›€atĻhome.€€Letty€grabbed€Dora's€hands€and€said,Ģą  ą"Come€and€see€the€things€we€have€for€œyou,"›€pulling€andĻpushing€at€Dora€until€they€were€both€standing.€€Susannah€followedĻas€Letty€hauled€Dora€away€to€the€bakery€to€stop€dramatically€at€aĻneat€bundle€stored€by€the€side€of€the€new€ovens.€€She€knelt€downĻand€lifted€the€pack€out,€turned€and€laid€it€at€Dora's€feet,€herĻhead€bowed€and€touching€the€earth€floor,€one€eye€sly€and€glancingĻup€for€the€reaction,€just€like€a€jackdaw€thought€Dora.€€DoraĻgiggled.€€What€else€could€she€do?€€A€few€minutes€past€she'd€beenĻafraid€this€woman€might€be€lost€and€now€here€she€was€playingĻmadcap€games€on€the€floor.€Ģą  ąDora€snatched€up€the€bundle€and€flounced€away.€€What€aĻdelight€to€be€sure.€€The€clean€smell€of€the€blankets,€the€softĻweave€of€them.€€Where€had€they€got€these€colors?€€She€put€theĻpack€down€lovingly€on€the€broad€table€in€the€middle€of€the€room,Ļthe€table€that€was€not€yet€ingrained€with€flour,€and€stoodĻawhile,€arms€akimbo,€smiling€back€at€Letty€and€Susannah,€beforeĻshe€turned€to€open€the€knot.€€The€cloth€fell€away€and€there€wereĻnew€clothes,€woollen,€felt,€and€cotton,€very€simple,€very€soft,Ļthe€same€village€clothes€she'd€always€worn.€€And€the€colors€wereĻthe€same€earth€browns€and€greys,€but€here€and€there€hidden€amongĻthe€threads€were€small€patterns€in€wild€reds,€blues,€and€greensĻā āthat€wouldn't€be€seen€unless€you€knew€to€look.€€€Š d,&. Šą  ąThere€was€a€black€shawl,€thick€and€heavy,€embroidered€withĻā āfine€wool€in€designs€she€hadn't€seen€before.€€And€among€theĻclothes€were€a€shiny€new€pot€for€boiling€water,€a€pouch€withĻflint€and€steel,€a€flask,€and€several€bags€containing€tea,Ļtobacco,€salt,€and€herbs€medicinal€and€otherwise.€€Dora€touchedĻeverything€in€turn€soft€and€lovingly.€€She€hadn't€expectedĻanything€more€than€throwaways.€€Slowly€folding€the€corners€of€theĻblankets€back€together,€her€face€down,€savoring€the€moment.€€WhatĻfriends€these.€€More€than€any€at€home,€however€long€she'd€knownĻthem.€€How€loved€she€felt€here.€€She€could€take€it€with€her,€thisĻlove,€to€keep€her€as€warm€as€any€of€the€blankets€would.€Ģą  ąLetty€and€Susannah€were€sitting€by€the€ovens€just€looking,Ļnot€wanting€anything,€comfortable€and€at€home.€€Dora€had€anotherĻpang€about€leaving.€€Curse€my€crazy€heart,€œtaking›€me€out€on€wildĻpaths€on€my€own€away€from€the€warmth€of€œbaking›€ovens,€theĻfriendship.€€Will€I€never€be€easy€with€what€I€be?€€œHere›€I'd€beĻloved,€warm,€independent,€honored,€and€miserable.€€I€have€to€goĻand€that's€that.€€And€who€knows€what€I€be€œgoing›€on€into?€€CouldĻbe€most€terrible,€death,€disaster,€cold,€hunger,€loneliness.€€ButĻgo€I€will.€€There€be€no€helping€it.€Ģą  ąShe€said€none€of€this€aloud,€gazing€at€the€other€two€womenĻfrom€under€her€eyebrows,€still€stroking€the€soft€blanket€she€hadĻfolded.€€She€would€leave€sure€enough,€but€not€yet,€surely€notĻā āyet.€€She€didn't€even€know€this€new€place,€had€hardly€metŠ d,&. ŠSusannah,€wanted€to€use€her€lovely€new€things€in€comfort€for€aĻwhile.€€Well,€so€she€would€too.€€Another€week€wouldn't€hurt€any.€€œĢā āą  ąHer›€thoughts€were€broken€by€Letty's€laugh.€€"What€are€œye›Ļœthinkinńńgńń›,€woman€dear?€€œYe›€look€like€a€thunder€cloud.€€Are€theĻthings€so€bad€then?"€€Dora€shook€her€head€and€walked€over€toĻthem,€leaned€her€arm€on€Letty's€shoulder€where€she€was€sittingĻthere.Ģą  ą"The€things€are€so,€good€friend€of€mine,€that€they€make€meĻfeel€like€staying€and€staying€on,€and€yet€I€know€I€can't€do€it.€ĻI'd€so€dearly€love€to€be€œhere›€with€œye›€all€for€all€my€life.€€And€IĻknow€I€must€go.€€No€buts€and€ifs.€€It's€onward€for€œme.›€€And€itĻmakes€me€sad."€Ģą  ąLetty€nodded.€€"œI›€can€see€œye›€clear.€€¢Tis£€not€a€staying€womanϜ›œye›€be.€€And€we'd€have€a€most€miserable€old€un€on€our€hands€if€weĻmade€œ›œye.›€€But€œ›œye›€know€where€we€be.€€We'll€most€likely€not€moveĻagain.€€And€we'll€keep€our€own€not-so-sharpened€ears€open€for€œ›œye.›€ĻLet€no€trouble€come€to€œ›œye›€dear€Dora.€€The€things€are€a€gift€forϜgoinńńgńń›,€not€for€œńń¢ńństayinńń£ńńńńgńń.›€€Our€love€with€them."€Ģą  ąDora€was€happy€and€sad,€happy€and€sad,€the€two€passing€likeĻthe€moods€that€flew€over€¢Sy£'s€face.€€She€drew€up€a€stool€and€satĻthere€with€them,€none€speaking,€musing,€the€three€of€them€in€theĻwarmth€for€a€long€time.€ĢĢ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€.€€€€.€€€€.€ĢŠ  .Ą'0 Šą  ąDora€had€a€new€house.€€It€was€almost€the€same€as€the€oldĻone,€even€being€in€the€same€place€in€the€spiral.€€The€pitcher€wasĻset€opposite€the€door,€the€spider€in€the€roof€beams.€€She€had€putĻher€blankets€on€the€bed€and€her€new€pot€on€the€table.€€She'dĻblackened€the€pot€on€the€fire€by€now€and€had€added€with€Letty'sĻblessing€a€tin€mug€from€the€store€in€the€dining€hall.€€The€daysĻsince€they'd€all€arrived€had€been€the€sort€that€say€goodbye€toĻwinter,€rain€and€hot€sun€pouring€down€together.€€She'd€worked€inĻthe€fields€with€a€great€sweaty€crew,€breaking€sod€and€throwingĻout€stones.€€Worked€in€the€kitchen€gardens€clearing€the€winterĻ¢deadgrass£€and€putting€out€seedlings.€Ģą  ąShe€was€lying€here€now€after€a€day€of€solid€work€and€just€asĻsolid€a€meal.€€They€had€bathed€in€the€great€tub€of€hot€water,Ļsome€of€them€laughing€and€splashing€about,€where€they€got€theĻenergy€she€couldn't€imagine.€€Others€just€rested€and€stared€atĻthe€ceiling€drifting€with€the€steam.€€She'd€been€among€theĻlatter.€€And€here€she€was€set€to€sleep,€her€last€night€amongĻthese€folk,€no€more€dilly€dallying€about,€no€more€excuses.€€TheĻdays€were€warm€enough,€she€felt€strong€and€rested,€and€she'd€beenĻgiven€mounds€of€supplies,€much€of€it€dried€for€light€carrying.€ĻThey'd€made€her€a€thistledown€bedroll€such€as€the€old€ones€usedĻon€journeys,€light€as€a€feather€and€soft€for€the€old€bones.€€TwasĻa€luxury€she'd€not€known€even€in€her€own€home.€€Tomorrow€she'dĻā āleave.€Š d,&. Šą  ąMother€spider,€bless€the€journey.€€I€be€set€to€go.€€A€whileĻā ānow€I've€looked€œtońń'ńńńńwńńard›€the€mountains,€œreadying,›€œlearning›€to€giveĻup€the€œńń¢ńńolńń£ńńńńńńgńńńńńńdńń›€dreams€and€the€œolń ńdń ń›€ways.€€I've€been€a€lowland€creatureĻand€still€be,€œń ń¢ń ńlearninń ń£ń ńń ńgń ń›€to€be€a€¢quickfooted£€in€the€mountains.€€AndĻthe€œń ń¢ń ńlearninń ń£ń ńń ńgń ń›€will€go€on.€€I've€looked€from€œń ńyń ńń ńhń ńere›€and€that€be€oneĻthing.€€I've€seen€in€my€dream.€€And€that€be€one€thing.€€To€beĻthere€is€yet€not€within€me.€Ģ€€€€€There€be€fear.€€There€be€œupliftinńńgńń›.€€There€be€my€bed€on€theĻrocks,€and€I've€no€œńń¢ńńlikinńń£ńńńńgńń›€for€that.€€Will€I€eat,€drink,€be€warm?€ĻWhat€beasts€be€there?€€¢Tis£€like€faring€into€one€of€those€storiesĻfrom€my€tiddler€days.€€Giants,€dragons,€¢faery£€creatures,€goblins,Ļflying€horses,€speaking€plants.€€Maybe€it'll€all€be€a€greatϜńń¢ńńnothinńń£ńńńńgńń›€after€all.€€I'll€turn€about€and€come€back€œńńyńńńńhńńere›€forϜńń¢ńńnothinńń£ńńńńgńń›€to€see.€€She€wishes,€œńńso€ńńshe›€do.€Ģą  ąWell,€half€wishes.€€The€comfy€part€and€the€mad€goat€œńń¢ńńleapinńń£ńńńńgńń.›€ĻNan€œdon'ńńtńń›€laugh€no€more€œanyńń'ńńńńhńńow›.€€And€no€more€do€any€other.€€I€beĻnot€œńń¢ńńlaughinńń£ńńńńgńń›€over€much€myself.€€Strange€that.€€Part€of€me€do€notĻbelieve€what€she€sees€and€will€rather€not€see€more€thank€œye.›€€¢Tis£Ļtoo€much€and€too€soon.€€Another€part€be€œńń¢ńńpullinńń£ńńńńgńń›€me,€already€onĻthe€first€peaks€and€œńń¢ńńyellinńń£ńńńńgńń.›€€And€then€another,€œcounselling,›Ļœthinking›€it€through€and€through,€œlistening›,€œplanning›€the€timeĻright.€€And€I€be€œwatching›€all€three€between€œweeping›€and€laughter.€Ģą  ąLetty€do€say€she'll€come€part€way€with€me,€Suzanne€too.€ĻDear€hearts.€€They€gentle€me€like€a€brood€mare€and€coddle€me€likeĻan€infant.€€I've€never€been€treated€so€since€I€were€a€littler.€€IŠ  .Ą'0 Šknow€they€do€worry.€€But€they€trust€me€too,€even€if€I€do€neverĻsee€em€more.€€Spider€weaver€I€am€blessed.€€¢Tis£€the€stony€road.€ĻBut€the€jewels€among€the€stones!€€I€could€live€off€the€sight€oĻthey.€€There€in€my€heart€now€the€hawk€lifts€me€up€with€sight€andĻthe€wings€fold€down€over€the€œńń¢ńńnestlinńń£ńńńńgńń›€brood.€Ģą  ąDora€closed€her€eyes,€still€seeing€the€shuddering€flameĻleaping€from€the€fire€against€her€eyelids,€and€she€hunched€overĻonto€her€side.€€The€blankets€were€warm€and€soft€under€her€chin,Ļshe€wore€the€flannel€nightgown€Letty€had€sewn€for€her.€€What€moreĻcould€she€want?€€Much€more,€curses€be.€€Well,€the€morning€wouldĻtell.€€Now€sleep.€€Have€to€sleep.€€Slowly€the€dark€overcame€herĻas€she€huddled€round€her€warm€center,€and€dreams€of€to€come€andĻwhat€were€passed€through€her€like€water.€€A€screech€owl€rightĻoutside€the€window€drew€no€more€than€a€sigh.€ĢĢ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€.€€€€.€€€€.€ĢĢą  ąBreakfast€was€a€farewell,€and€they€all€knew€it€might€beĻforever.€€The€food€was€a€feast,€Letty's€best,€the€hot€bread,Ļsweet€butter,€fruit,€mint€tea,€eggs,€porridge.€€Dora€stuffedĻherself,€regardless€of€the€climbing€she'd€be€doing€later.€€WhoĻknew€when€she'd€see€such€food€again?€€There€was€singing€and€theĻtelling€of€stories€to€do€with€travel€and€adventures,€none€ofĻā āthem,€strangely€enough,€about€these€particular€mountains.€€€Š d,&. Šą  ąAfter€they€had€eaten€and€sung€for€a€good€part€of€theĻā āmorning,€people€she€knew€and€some€she€didn't€began€to€bring€herĻsmall€presents€to€take€with€her,€useful€things€that€a€travellingĻwoman€might€need€like€the€section€of€bamboo€with€a€thimble€for€aĻtop€that€Ham€had€made€and€filled€with€needles,€thread€and€a€tinyĻblade.€€There€were€a€few€purely€decorative€and€thus€also€usefulĻthings,€the€necklace€of€shell€beads€that€a€stranger€woman€cameĻand€laid€on€her€knees€almost€at€the€end.€€Dora€looked€up€startledĻbecause€of€the€beauty€of€them.€€They€shimmered€all€colors€andĻwere€warm€in€her€hand,€reminded€her€of€¢Sy£'s€magic€shawl.€€TheĻwoman€who€had€given€them€was€already€turned€and€leaving,€a€largeĻboned€strong€woman.€€Dora€recognized€her€as€the€silent€one€whoĻhad€been€sitting€so€close€to€her€fellow€that€strange€night€DoraĻfound€the€hawk€feather.€€She€almost€called€the€woman€back,€forĻthe€beads€were€glimmering€at€her€like€water,€and€she€wanted€toĻask€if€the€other€had€seen€the€old€biddy€in€the€corner€who'd€upĻand€vanished€like€smoke.€€But€the€words€would€not€be€spoken,€andĻno€harm€done.€Ģą  ąLetty€was€looking€puzzled€when€Dora€turned€to€catch€her€eyeĻwondering€if€she'd€seen.Ģą  ąLetty€shrugged,€"She€be€a€strange€one€that,€¢Arvid£€by€name.€ĻœI›€never€have€heard€her€speak,€nor€her€nor€her€mate.€€They€be€asĻclose€as€¢sowbugs£€to€each€other€and€will€not€share€their€closenessĻwith€a€soul€else.€€œI›€think€the€beads€were€her€mother's.€€¢Tis£€aĻstrangeness€beyond€me€that€she's€given€them€or€¢anythin£€else€to€œye›Š  .Ą'0 Šat€all.€€There€must€be€good€reason€¢for't£."€€Dora€could€feel€theĻbeads,€and€there€was€no€badness€in€them,€only€a€pulsing€warmthĻthat€made€them€a€great€comfort€to€hold.€€She€was€glad€and€honoredĻto€have€them.€Ģą  ąThe€crowd€was€beginning€to€scatter€away,€off€to€work€some,Ļoff€to€sleep€others€who€had€eaten€too€much,€and€others€gatheringĻin€small€groups€to€talk€about€this€and€that.€€It€was€so€in€theĻmiddle€of€their€lives€that€Dora€left,€and€that€was€right.€€AĻcontinuation€it€was€from€breakfast€to€whatever€lay€next.€€TheĻpack€was€ready€and€only€needed€a€small€adjustment€to€take€in€theĻgifts€that€she€hid€here€and€there€in€its€folds.€€She€hefted€itĻup,€lighter€than€the€old€one,€and€more€in€it€too.€€Letty€andĻ¢Suzannah£€carried€smaller€versions€since€they€were€only€coming€aĻshort€way€with€her,€no€more€than€a€day's€journey€anyway.€Ģą  ąThey€put€their€arms€around€each€other€and€looked€back€downĻthe€valley€at€the€bakery€where€the€fires€were€smoking.€€TheyĻlooked€at€Dora's€house,€the€door€ajar€as€though€she€might€be€inĻthere.€€Several€people€waved,€Nan€among€them,€and€the€three€wavedĻback.€€So€they€turned€to€go,€up€into€the€ravines€that€headedĻsteeply€toward€the€bulk€towering€beyond.€€Clouds€hid€the€topsĻwhen€they€tried€to€see,€and€it€was€colder€in€the€shadows€cast€byĻthe€rocky€walls.€ńń€œńńDora›€was€scared.€€Should€she€not€be?€€But€thereĻwere€the€backs€of€her€two€friends€clambering€up€before€her.€ĻShe'd€not€be€afraid.€ĢŌ#†XXXX-#Ō