ÿWPCæ ë5ÉÐÎy9Ƕ7øÀ5LY<ƒ÷!ò+!ÌÅ–áuÙÍ1 Ÿ~Ý].ü¥˜‘H/{Uè ŸÿïÊ >d€síšµ>\êpÌ[-¿‹vJ|:¿àOG¹xB ®±0óÙx6ã!5wlH…ñÒF<2? ßtÇY[3ΰD·c irÉñžtèO¾äS·?“u(¨+HÍU4Y#Y`<Ž{§Êã‘ÉÊÖî¨Tž’…%ž¨[=¡­üñj}(ÈÜòæÔ¤/8 ªÕHVž£è-RÑâPßSñ샠`h«\a¹ óNµ<ÿbλ­ÑhŒÍò+ÍÌbò¾þ0ŽæÝX¬ƒƒþ:?O<¬‰¶8›Ý¿+è~(ÿÞ{~'Ïlák (34<³­ð`#-šþŒI¾«GVñËò}åó‰„ZÅ/üüû4< ‡é\ *A¢"ØÐIwàqz)À’Ä AÚu•3Eo_x} ¸ײ8äÞ–ô1耣’ÂvCÍ.ɶ5Ï eôÆÑÛåñyñ>ññ?ñhñ?ñere›,€I€do€not€know.€€¢Tis£€no€adventure€this€I€would€haveÏchosen€had€I€seen€it.€€But€even€in€my€dreams€now€I€be€œñ@ñyñ@ññBññAñgñAññBññCñhñCñere›,€noÏâ âœrunninñDñgñDñ›.Ð d,&. Ðà  àShe€turned€her€face€back€toward€the€cliff€and€looked€again,Ïâ âlet€her€mind€wander€as€she€sought€the€way€up.€€The€dream€out€thereÏon€the€plain€had€a€path,€well„worn€and€clear.€€No€path€here.€€ButÏshe'd€up€and€look€all€the€same.€€Or€perhaps€not€look€but€feel.€€TheÏcliff€was€long,€stretching€a€mile€on€either€side€of€the€fall,€andÏDora€began€by€walking€along€to€the€left,€denting€the€undergrowthÏwith€her€arms€and€trailing€her€hands€through€the€vines.€€Her€bodyÏwould€search€now€and€no€more€pondering.Ìà  àEvery€now€and€then€she€stopped,€sensing€the€faint€line€of€aÏway€upward€but€each€time€it€was€no€more€than€a€crack€in€the€rock.€ÏEnd€of€the€leftward€mile,€she€wandered€back€and€began€again€to€theÏright.€€As€she€walked,€she€could€feel€her€body€grow€more€keen,€aÏhound€of€paths,€and€she€pulled€back€further€from€the€line€of€theÏcliff€as€she€followed€along.€€Now€the€cracks€were€distinct.€€ThoseÏshe€could€tell€and€leave€behind.€€And€here,€what€was€this?€€She€wasÏpulled€in€under€the€curtain€of€vines€just€at€that€place€where€theÏspray€from€the€fall€no€longer€reached.€€She€lowered€herself€slowlyÏdown€onto€her€knees€and€waited€until€her€eyes€grew€used€to€theÏgloom.Ìà  àThe€rocky€face€before€her€laid€itself€back€a€little€at€a€time,Ïa€smooth€surface€that€stepped€itself€up€slowly,€overgrown€andÏtangled€but€clear€to€see.€€Steps,€not€just€a€goat€path€at€all,€butÏsteps€hewn€and€smoothed€by€hands€and€feet.€€Dora€laid€her€face€downÏagainst€the€first€ledge€and€smiled.€€She€backed€out€through€theÏthicket€of€plants€and€twirled€around,€dancing€her€joy€in€theÐ  .À'0 Ðmoonlight.€€Wait€till€¢Sy£€should€see€this.€€So€much€for€her€curl„lipÏdespising€of€paths.€€Dora€took€hold€of€the€vines€and€began€pullingÏthem€away€to€each€side€so€she€could€see€more€clearly.€€And€sheÏwanted€to€make€sure€that€she€wouldn't€lose€the€place€come€morningÏor€think€it€a€dream.Ìà  àShe€draped€the€vines€several€times€around€bushes€to€keep€themÏfast€and€began€then€to€pull€up€some€of€the€plants€on€the€pathÏitself.€€Definite€and€for€sure,€worn€but€well€cut€the€footholdsÏthat€climbed€steadily€before€her.€€She€was€climbing€now€herself,Ïtying€back€the€vines€as€best€she€could€and€clearing€the€steps€asÏshe€went.€€This€was€the€first€time€now€since€she€had€left€her€homeÏhearth€that€she€was€joyful€finding€the€road€forward.€€It€was€hardÏenough€work€but€work€she€knew€well,€slashing€the€way€throughÏthickets€where€old€paths€had€overgrown€or€clearing€stubble€from€theÏfields,€brush€from€old€fields.€€Her€heart€was€light,€and€she€beganÏto€sing.Ìà  àThe€sharp€whistle€behind€her€made€Dora€jump.€€"Well€and€blessÏme,€look€at€this."€€¢Sy£€climbed€up€and€put€her€hand€on€Dora'sÏshoulder.€€"You€are€one€right€enough.€€Me€snoring€away€down€thereÏand€you€are€the€leading€lady."€€Ìà  àWhat€was€she€on€about€now?€€Sometimes€the€way€¢Sy£€talked,€DoraÏcouldn't€understand€a€word.€€"Come€on€œñEñ¢ñEñdarlinñEñ£ñEññEñgñEñ›€dear€and€lend€a€handÏœñFñyñFññGñhñGñere›.€€I€know€œñHñeñHññIñyñIñe›€¢bain't£€farm€handy€¢oermuch£€but€I'll€œlñJñeñJñarn›€œñKñeñKññMññLñuñLññMññNñyñNñe›."Ìà  àTogether€they€bent€to€the€work,€ducking€under€the€vines€andÏpushing€them€up€and€out€of€the€way,€twisting€them€about€the€manyÐ  .À'0 Ðbushes.€€A€weaving.€€And€the€plants€that€they€pulled€up€fromÏbetween€the€stones€they€pushed€in€among€the€twisted€vines€to€makeÏa€firmer€hold.Ìà  àThey€worked€and€didn't€think€to€look€back€for€a€good€time.€ÏWhen€Dora€did€turn€to€rest€she€sat€down€quite€suddenly€and€pulledÏ¢Sy£'s€skirt€to€make€her€look.€€They€were€a€good€eighty€feet€up€theÏcliff,€too€far€for€Dora's€stomach.€€Their€little€camp€looked€to€herÏlike€a€mouse's€nest€in€the€moonlight,€and€she€felt€the€urge€to€leanÏforward€slowly€¢slowly£€and€fall€from€this€perch€where€no€humanÏshould€be.€€¢Sy£'s€hand€grabbed€her€shoulder€and€shook€it.€€Ìà  à"Lean€back€here€and€don't€go€doing€bird€dances€on€me.€€This€isÏnot€even€the€beginning.€€You'd€best€get€used€to€it."€€She€spokeÏsharply€but€stroked€Dora's€hair€which€was€trembling€along€with€DoraÏunder€it.Ìà  àThey€sat€there€a€goodly€time,€bathing€in€the€silver€light,Ïgazing€out€over€that€huge€plain,€shadow€and€shining€back€to€theÏgully€Dora€had€labored€up€in€a€time€that€seemed€so€long€ago.€€DoraÏhad€never€asked€¢Sy£€how€she€had€come€to€be€at€this€place,€what€waysÏshe€had€found€pathless€up€the€same€mountainside€to€find€Dora€hereÏas€though€she€knew.€€Some€time€she€would€get€to€know.€€Ìà  à"It'€be€best,€sleep€aside,€to€start€¢climbin£€now,€œdon'ñOñt€ñOññPñeñPññQñyñQñe›Ïthink?€€No€more€œñRñ¢ñRñmarchinñRñ£ñRññRñgñRñ›€by€day€in€these€parts€for€I.€€Do€we€goÏdown€and€pack€up."€€¢Sy£€nodded.ÌÌà  à.à ` à.à ¸ à.Ð  .À'0 Їà  àThe€climbing€was€harder€of€course€with€their€packs,€but€notÏimpossible.€€More€annoying€than€arduous,€the€vines€would€wrapÏthemselves€like€fingers€around€anything€that€stuck€out.€€They€hadÏto€set€themselves€down€several€times€and€rearrange.€€They€wrappedÏscarves€around€their€hair€for€the€same€reason,€Dora€muttering€andÏcursing€at€every€¢viney£€grasp.€€At€least€so€far€there€was€nothingÏthorny€or€stinging€to€make€them€jump€and€dance.€€¢Sy£€began€singingÏin€a€high€bird€voice,€and€she€seemed€to€have€a€way€of€plaiting€backÏthe€plants€like€hair,€layer€upon€layer€behind€her.Ìà  àDora€tried€not€to€look€back,€but€every€now€and€then€had€toÏturn€to€see€how€far€they€had€come.€€It€frightened€her€at€first€toÏbe€clinging€like€a€beetle,€nothing€seeming€between€her€and€sky.€ÏBut€as€she€climbed€and€looked,€climbed€and€looked,€the€view€fromÏabove€took€her€over€as€strongly€as€the€view€from€below€had€when€sheÏfirst€saw€those€peaks€at€the€meeting€with€Ham.€€Then€the€sweet€andÏheavy,€pungent€smells€of€the€plants€she€was€pulling€up€and€pushingÏto€the€sides€filled€her€body€and€lightened€her€foot.€€And€she€sangÏtoo,€a€different€song€but€one€that€curtseyed€in€and€out€of€¢Sy£'sÏlike€the€low€hum€of€bees€behind€a€mistle€thrush.Ìà  àWhen€morning€came€they€were€still€toiling€up.€€The€foot€of€theÏcliff€had€disappeared€as€they€curved€inward€on€the€climb.€€EarlyÏswallows€darted€around€their€heads€as€the€sun€came€up€red€and€flatÏbehind€them,€and€while€it€was€still€cool,€they€burrowed€under€theÏnext€tier€of€vines€and€bushes€to€make€themselves€a€camp€for€theÏheat€of€the€day.€€The€roar€of€the€waterfall€was€always€beside€them,Ð  .À'0 Ðand€every€now€and€then€as€they€worked€their€way€upward€a€waft€ofÏcold,€soft€spray€had€blown€over€them,€dripping€down€their€facesÏtogether€with€the€sweat€of€the€climb.Ìà  àThe€steps€were€broad€enough€just€here€to€make€a€comfortableÏstopping€place.€€There€had€been€some„„mere€holes€dug€in€the€rockyÏface„„that€would€have€been€too€precarious€even€for€¢Sy£€to€perch€onÏfor€the€day.€€They€sat€and€spread€out€food.€€On€the€step€below€themÏclear€of€the€greenery,€Dora€laid€out€a€small€fire,€just€big€enoughÏto€boil€a€pan€of€water€and€light€her€pipe€by.€€They€ate€and€smoked,Ïdrank€tea€and€talked.€€¢Sy£€told€Dora€how€she€had€crept€back€into€theÏgrove€while€Dora€slept€and€given€her€protection€on€her€path.€€DoraÏlooked€at€the€bottom€of€her€pipe€and€there€still,€faint€but€clear,Ïwas€the€bird€¢Sy£€had€carved€into€it.€€The€same€bird,€Dora€was€sureÏnow,€that€had€led€her€here€and€was€always€her€eye€toward€theÏmountain.Ìà  à"Well,€and€how€¢be'd£€œñSñeñSññTñyñTñe›€œñUñyñUññVñhñVñere›€so€timely€woman€dear?€€Did€œñWñeñWññXñyñXñe›€knowÏmy€path€and€I€all€œñYñ¢ñYñunknowinñYñ£ñYññYñgñYñ?›€€Twas€a€dark€way€for€me€sure€œñZñeñZñnough›.€ÏHardly€a€step€I€œñ[ñ¢ñ[ñdidnñ[ñ£ñ[ñ'ñ[ñtñ[ñ›€œñ\ñhñ\ñave›€to€trick€myself€into."€€Dora€made€œñ]ñaÏñ]ñface,›€both€rueful€and€sad,€the€deep€sadness€as€she€remembered€theÏold€man€and€her€children€she'd€never€see€again.Ìà  àBut€¢Sy£€didn't€answer€for€a€long€time.€€She€was€bent€over€herÏpack,€reordering€it€and€muttering€to€herself,€picking€over€this€andÏthat€in€her€bird€way.€€Dora€thought€she€wasn't€going€to€answer€atÏall€and€was€getting€ready€to€ask€again€when€¢Sy£€held€up€a€finger,Ïslender€as€a€girl's€and€not€¢workworn£€like€Dora's€old€stubs.Ð  .À'0 Ðà  à¢Sy£€kept€her€face€turned€away€and€lifted€up€the€other€hand.€ÏHer€fingers€began€to€dance,€strange€and€fantastic€movements,€backÏand€forth,€weaving€and€bending,€sometimes€slowly€and€sometimes€inÏa€frenzy,€clawlike€in€the€air.€€¢Sy£'s€head€and€body€moved€not€atÏall.€€She€stayed€bent€over,€her€face€down€to€the€side,€her€armsÏraised€and€fingers€dipping€and€flashing€with€life€of€their€own.€€ItÏwas€a€story.€€Dora€could€see€that.€€But€what€it€told€was€nothingÏclear€to€her.€€The€journey€perhaps.€€Was€¢Sy£€trying€to€answer€herÏquestion€with€this€cavort€of€fingers?Ìà  àAs€the€dancing€went€on,€Dora€stopped€thinking€and€stilled.€ÏHer€body€followed€the€movement€as€her€mind€could€not.€€Her€bodyÏdrank€and€understood.€€¢Sy£'s€hands€fluttered€down€in€a€series€ofÏfalling€waves€and€landed€like€leaves€by€her€sides.€€The€silence€wasÏlong€then,€stretched€into€the€afternoon,€lengthened€into€the€sleepÏand€dreams€of€the€two€women€as€they€slumped€and€stirred€and€layÏfinally€on€the€wide€steps€under€the€tangle€of€vines€and€bushes€byÏthe€waterfall.Ìñ1ñÔ#†XXX XY±(#Ôñ1ñ