Into his mind popped the memory of retiring early the day before—and the nightmare of crossing through Dark Forest the next morning, haunted by the fear of being stuck in the forest overnight. He shivered. Who knew what horrible places they might pass through tomorrow, the way this trip had gone thus far. Better to face them in daylight than the darkness of night, that was for sure. He gulped and brushed aside any more thoughts of the future.
"Are you going to retire now?" Bobtart Towne said, bushy brow knit. "I mean, it’s still daylight."
"We must," Orlon quickly said, as astonished at himself as was Tarl who darted a wide eyed look his way. "We—we’ve," he went on, "traveled a long distance, had some harrowing experiences along the way and are weary."
The big man pondered this, eyes to the heavens, then nodded noncommittally.
"The One shall rest on the sofa," Sharna announced, "and I, his protector, will stay with him."
Ty the Parson spun on her, casting a concerned eye upon her.
"Fear not," she assured him. "I am in control of myself."
Ty the Parson studied her a moment, then nodded.
Orlon looked from her to him and back again, wondering what that was all about.
But his wondering was interrupted when Shing suddenly rose and stepped away, and Sharna slid all the way across the sofa. He blinked.
"Stretch out and lay your head in my lap," she said, smiling.
He hesitated, remembering well his unease the night before when he had lain beside her. He had never been that close to a woman, much less laid by a woman before. Now she wanted him to pillow his head in her lap! A trembling hand ran through his hair and he swallowed and a likewise trembling smile creased his face…. What broke his hesitation was a startlingly wide-mouthed yawn. There was no denying he was simple too tired to worry himself about it.
After a subdued second yawn, he stretched out on the sofa, his head coming to rest on her quite comfortable lap. She placed a hand on his shoulder, which gave him a safe feeling, and he settled down to sleep, letting his eyes watch the others settle down for the mid afternoon and night. This basically consisted of each lying were he sat, but for Ty the Parson who sat cross-legged, hands flat on the floor at his sides, staff across his knees.
His interest was drawn to a brief conversation between his best friend and Mishto Sharpaine, both out of his line of sight.
"You can lay your head in my lap, Tarl," she offered sweetly.
"No!" Tarl said, then more nicely: "No, thank you."
Mishto walked forlornly into Orlon’s line of sight, and he followed her to the fireplace, where she laid down, resting her head on her arms. The sad, rejected expression on her face put a pang in his heart—and a bad taste for his best friend in his mouth.
A mumbled conversation drew his attention to Bobtart Towne and Bretta. They stood at the door. While the big man’s face was genial, his wife’s eyes, set in the hard expression of her face, and hand gestures told the Midget she was confused and unhappy about something. By her pointing at the door, through which came dim mid afternoon sunlight, and her eyes scanning the room, he presumed she was asking her husband what they were up to. When she apparently understood, she did not look happy…
He fell asleep.
Ty the Parson’s eye popped open, swept over those of the Party sleeping before him. It stopped on Orlon and Sharna. He lay on the sofa with his head in her lap, her hand on his shoulder, sleeping peacefully. She sat with her head tipped back, mouth agape, sleeping. The eye darted to the door through which seeped early morning sunlight. Its partner eye popped open, and he rose to his feet. He weaved his way through the slumberers and slipped through the door.
Down the short hall he went and out the back door, which stood open. Standing just without was Bobtart Towne, a smile on his face and a tray of biscuits in his hand. The smile on his face faltered and the joyful morning greeting died in his throat when he realized the Parson was alone. Ty the Parson eyed the tray of biscuits questioningly.
"While you slept Bretta fixed a little something for you to snack on, on your way," he said, smile broadening. "I was given the honor of passing them out this morning."
Ty the Parson nodded, whirled around and marched back into the house. "Sun rays focused through the magnifying lens! Ants move rapidly over a carcass! The sun rises quickly, burning away precious time. Arise, arise all. We must begin our journey, eat away the distances ahead of us before any more time escapes us," he said, coming to a limb flailing halt in the doorway to the room where the Party slumbered.
The outburst sent a jolt through the sleepers, and all but one lifted their heads, rubbing an eye, and looked at Ty the Parson, standing in the door, framed in early morning sunlight. Some mumbled, some grumbled, but they began to arise and prepare themselves for the journey ahead.
As for the one, Orlon was startled by Ty the Parson’s outburst, but did not lift his head or open an eye. Instead, he nestled down into his "pillow" and sighed. He was simply too comfortable to want to get up right now. After such an eventful yesterday that proved more tiring than he thought and finding a nice, warm indoor locale for the night, he desired to continue sleeping for just a little while longer.
Sharna looked at him, sympathizing with his apparent wish to resist awakening yet knowing he—they could not afford to delay restarting their quest a moment longer.
"Time to get up, Orlon," she shook his shoulder.
"Come on, buddy," Tarl said, wiggling his best friend’s foot. "Remember, you’re the one…oh, excuse me, the—" he fingered quotation marks in the air "—One this whole trip is about."
Realizing he had no choice but to wake up put a frown on his face. Yet he acquiesced to his protector’s and best friend’s request. He opened his eyes to see the Party up and ready to go, and all eyes were upon him. A nervous smile played at the corners of his mouth, and he sat up, involuntarily emitted a wide-mouthed yawn. When he opened his eyes again he found all eyes were still upon him. He blushed.
"The slowpoke runner wins no trophy! The doctor arrives late to an emergency call! Make haste, oh, Orlon, the Pure, that I, Ty, the Parson, and the Party may escort you on the double-fold quest, first to obtain the Holy Pike, and second that you might use it upon Tibtarnitallimardarian to save the world from his evil clutches. Make haste, oh, Orlon, the Pure, purest of the pure, before it is too late," Ty the Parson said in a dance of limbs, whirled and hurried back through the door.
"We will await you outside," Shing said. "Do not dally too long."
"I—I won’t" Orlon said.
With a nod, he turned and went through the door, followed by the Party.
Last through the door, following a dejected Mishto Sharpaine, Tarl stabbed a finger at him and said, "Get a move on, man." He blurted a laugh before slipping through the door.
What followed startled Orlon. As the Party exited the house they were greeted with a booming, "Good morning!" Then came a sorrowful, "Only one per customer." There was no question that the speaker was Bobtart Towne. But what he meant by his last statement baffled the Midget. His desire to learn the answer to that was given pause by a subdued yawn that racked his body.
"Let’s go," Sharna said, standing.
"You go ahead," Orlon yawned. "I’ll be along in a minute."
She hesitated.
"Don’t worry," he said and assured her, "There’s no danger to me here. Go on, go on."
Reluctantly she did—and was greeted boomingly without and received the warning, "Only one per customer."
Orlon stood and stretched, and shook away his sleepiness. He looked around the room with its relicts and blanket covered wall that left him with a mystery he knew he would never solve… He shrugged it off and turned his mind to a mystery he would learn the answer to.