Journey (Part 5)

I woke with a start. My hand was numb from the cold mountain stream. By the suns position, I had been sleeping for a few hours. The Ranger was nowhere in sight. Did he continue on without me? I stood up, brushing the low branches of the willow I was under with my hand. I scanned the banks of the stream, and the surrounding area..... no one. I heard something crashing through the forest. It was not the Ranger because he moves quietly through the woods. I glanced around, the climbed into the nearby oak trees branches. The height of the tree lent me a good view of the surrounding terrain. I saw the eight men who helped slay Ezra crashing through the woods towards where I was sleeping a minute ago. I tried to stay as still as possible so they would not notice me.
They stopped where I had slept, and examined the ground. "she was here. We are catching up." Came the guttural grunt from one of the men. They seemed to pick up a trail,and went crashing off again into the woods. I was able to finally take a deep breath. But I froze because a sharp blade was pressed up to my back.

Journey (Part 4)

Red, yellow, orange, blue, white. The many colors and shades of fire. I sat staring into our campfire. Sparks erupted, flying away as Ezra tossed a log into the fire. "That should do fine." His deep tenor voice stated. I looked looked up at him through my veil of raven-wing black hair, and smiled. "Thank you, a fire warms both my skin and my soul." I said. Ezra looked quizzical, "What do you mean Esther? How can a fire warm your soul?"

"Ah dear brother, now that is an interesting question....It gives an assurance of safety to those who aren't safe." I glanced quickly around making sure no one was approaching our camp. "Ezra, are you sure we're safe? They might be looking for us."

"Not yet. We only left yesterday." The sudden appearance of eight hefty men strengthened my fear. "EZRA!" I shrieked. He looked up, saw the men, grabbed his sword, and yelled, "Run Esther! Don't look back!" He ran towards the men with his drawn sword. I hesitated, then ran like a frightened deer. I glanced back, and what I saw froze my heart. Two of the hefty men were holding Ezra by his arms. He was sagged, blood running down from his forehead. More men were in the clearing. One, their leader maybe, was talking to my brother. Suddenly the man unsheathed his sword and stabbed Ezra, his blade going all the way through my poor brothers body. I fell to my knees "EZRA!" I tried to scream, but it came out as a breath. "Find the girl!" I heard the leaders deep voice bellow. I got to my feet and stumbled onward quietly sobbing.

Journey (Part 3)

Sweat was running down my body in rivulets. I took gasping breaths. How long until we rest? Is that the sound of running water? Yes it is! A cold clear mountain stream. I can see it ahead! I collapsed on the bank of the stream. I took off the bandage, the dried blood tearing from my hand. My hand then started bleeding again. I stuck my right hand into the water and sighed with relief as the cool water massaged my aching hand.

"We rest for five minutes." came my guides rough voice from inside his hood. Who is this mysterious man? I wondered for the hundredth time. I brushed my sweaty hair back from my forehead with my uninjured hand.

"No less than ten minutes. Fine?"

"Fine." He snapped. I sighed, keeping my hand in the cold mountain stream as i reclined on on the mossy bank. I slowly fell into a deep sleep. Into a dream from the past.

The Journey (Part 2)

Twenty minutes late. I thought, looking at the position of the moon. I was skittish, so I climbed a tree to keep look out for the strange man. I have taken to calling him The Ranger because he looks like one. A cold north wind penetrated my cloak. Am I crazy? I thought for the hundredth time as I tried to stay warm. The noise of a stick breaking brought me abruptly out of my thoughts. The Ranger stood below my tree looking up at me and holding the stick he had broken. "Be more alert." His deep voice abruptly stated as he walked to the north. He stopped, his back to me and said, "Well, are you coming?" Then he continued walking. I sighed as i slid down the tree. I hissed with pain as a knot of the bark tore the skin off the palm of my right hand. As I followed The Ranger, I tore a strip of cloth from the hem of my tunic to bandage my hand. I hoped we would cross a stream so I could soak my hand.

The Journey (sorry best title i could come up with...)

I quizzically studied the man across the table from me. There wasn't much to see. He had a hood on that wrapped around his head. The only feature I could make out was his nose. The hood hooked down from the top, wrapped around the side, and basically did all it could to conceal his facial features.

His offer had made me start with surprise. A guide across the mountains? And only 20 francs? Who could pass this up? Plus i needed to get out now, so I agreed. I pushed 10 francs across the table to the man. "Where are the other 10?" His deep, gruff voice demanded. "Ten now, and ten when we get there." I insisted. He grunted his consent, grabbed the money, and left. Now to just survive until tonight...

I hurried out of the dark taverna. I looked to make sure I wasn't being watched, then melted back into the shadows.

I can never think of titles...

I leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure?" My eyes were following the beautiful white Arabian and her handlers. Mare leaned over and whispered back, "Yeah, I think I could tame her in a couple weeks." I had some trouble hearing her, because of the shrill squeals of the horse. Also the music coming over the loudspeaker combined with the voice of the auctioneer did not help at all. The auctioneer was saying, "Will anyone buy this...um..fine mare? she is...um...even tempered and well worth buying!" I wondered if we were looking at the same horse. This was a terrified horse dragging along her handlers. She also looked partially wild. I could see potential in the horse. I looked at Mare again, "Are you sure?" She hesitated, then nodded. I stood up, waved our number and shouted "$200!" Everybody turned to see who was crazy enough to buy the horse. "Sold!" came the voice of the happy auctioneer. I sat down. The  man sitting next to me  said, "You know eight people have tried to tame that horse?" "What happened to them?" I asked. "Two were killed, two were bitten, two had bones broken, and two just gave up." I smiled and said, "Perfect, I love a good challenge!"

Intro to my Research Paper on the Boxer Rebellion

As Father and I went to the cloth merchant’s house to sell our goods, I looked around the city. Much had changed since the foreigners had come to my homeland. More of our people were wearing the western style of clothing. Our cloth was not selling well when we went to the market. We were losing business now that the western clothes were selling cheaper. Many of the trades were passed down from father to son, just like my father did for me, these trades were becoming extinct. The westerners machine made cloth and pottery, just to name two, were selling a lot cheaper than our hand made products were. We pulled in front of Li Wu, the cloth merchant’s, house. I watched as Father and Li Wu talked. I could not hear what was said, but Father did not look happy as he climbed into the cart. “What is wrong Father?” I asked, “Why did you not sell our cloth to the honorable Li Wu?” Father replied, a tinge of annoyance creeping into his voice, “Because son, the westerner’s cloth is cheaper for the merchants like the honorable Li Wu to buy and sell. No one will buy our cloth.” We went to other merchants, but like Li Wu, they told us that the Westerner cloth was easier to buy. In the lean years to come, I learned to hate the foreigners for what they had done to my family. Our family and others of the trade were put into poverty from the Westerners machine made products. As my hatred grew, I heard about the cult called the Fists of Harmonious Righteousness or the Boxers. I joined the cult to extract my revenge for what these foreigners had done to my family.