Children of the Source Read Free

stayed with me by mutual agreement.   We could arbitrate any trouble.  But he had another motive.  The next day dawned to scattered clouds and after the chill wore off, it rose into the upper forties.  The sun shown bright and the sky the incredible blue that only a seven thousand foot altitude can give.  The Peaks lay coated with confectionery white.  We fed everyone again, which wasn’t much.  Joint hunting parties brought in four elk and made everyone breathe easier.
        Bareton’s meeting with his captains broke up.   I saw him talking with a young woman I’d never seen before.  He saw me and they walked over.  “Jamie, my daughter, Judith. Judith, Jamie.”  Each of us later said we heard the introduction as though in a dream.  Time ceased for us.  We saw Charles study us and nod with satisfaction.  He left.  We began to talk.  It must have been about noon when someone brought us plates of food.
        The next two days we spent making up provisions for the convict army.   They rested up for the next leg of their journey.  They were headed for the Chiricahua Mountains to get lost.  To make a life for themselves away from the prying eyes of the Federal government.  Judith and I hardly noticed the passing of time, but others watched us with amused curiosity.
        On the evening of the second day everyone gathered at a great meeting.   There had been no violence, only sharing and understanding.  Gifts were given and provisions checked with a few short speeches of hope and thank you.  Then there grew a hush over the crowd as Charles Bareton rose to speak.  His face, carved with a certain haunting, could smile and his eyes sing with life, and tonight he was smiling.
        “This night before we leave, two of our company will be staying with you,” he said.   I was mystified until Judith’s hand slid into mine.  The second person I didn’t know.
        “Your leader, Jamie, and my daughter have decided to stay together.”
       There was scattered laughter and cheers.  “I don’t know about legal marrying, but if two people were meant to be together, I’d say they are.”  He dropped silent for a moment. 
        “Laith.”   As he said the name a strange silence settled over the people.  It was unreal.  A young boy walked forward out of the crowd.  There was something about him, a certain peace, completeness.  He must have been about five.  The people held him in reverence.  I’d heard of people being healed by him and other strange things which I discounted.
        “Judith.   Jamie.  Would you come here, please?”   We walked over and the boy gave us an engaging grin.
        Bareton took our hands and joined them together, the three of us. “I would say you’re family.”     
        After the meeting, I took Bareton aside and we walked.   “Bareton, I understand about Judith, but what about Laith?  I admit there’s something about him.  Don’t know if I’m ready for instant family yet.  What do you know about him?”
        Moonlight played on the creases of his face as he smiled. “You’ve seen Laith.   That’s no immature self-concerned little kid.  What was your dream two nights ago?  Tell me the rest of it.”
        “About a great teacher.   Never saw his face.  But he sure turned the world around.”
        “You saw the birthmark on his body,” Bareton said.   I started.  “Look at Laith. You dreamed accurate.  This is he.  It was explained to me.  Nothing supernatural about it.” 
        The dream.   The birthmark.  They were real.  “Why me and Judith?”
        “You’re suited for it,” He said briefly. “No hocus pocus of science or religion.   You’re both open and stable people.  And you two are free of the tragedy and comedy of roles.  Simply put, you both have a great deal to offer.”
        “Laith.   Where did he come from?  What do you know of him?”
        “I found him in a