is more than just the trees. Our bodies, our ideas, our relationships... change is the pattern of our lives. Why act like it’s a big deal?" Amir replied, apparently not getting the joke.
With both teens now confident that their rapid aging was part of the old woman’s ongoing series of unwarranted gifts, they continued to advance along the path.
“Do you know what I see when I look at the trees?” asked Eva as they traveled happily toward the base of the great mountains.
“What’s that?” Amir asked.
“Trees,” Eva answered. “When I look at the trees… I see trees.”
“Very funny,” Amir said sarcastically.
“But to me, they are very beautiful trees,” Eva continued. “I guess I just don’t see past their beauty like you do. I notice their many types, sizes, textures, and colors. I’ve even thought about how they compliment the land, as if placed there by a great landscaper.”
It was becoming clear to Amir that, even though he was wise, he could stand to learn a few things from Eva as well.
“I’m inspired by the trees, and the water too, for that matter. I just don’t see life lessons when I look at them like you do.”
Having realized that the peasant girl was much more intelligent than he had originally assumed, Amir responded.
“Well,” he said, “I’m starting to see why we were chosen to find this treasure together.”
Chapter 12
As Amir and Eva traversed the foothills and approached the great mountain, the sun began to set. With nowhere to stop for the evening, they faced another frightening night in the dark, this time much further from home. Having nothing but the scroll to guide them, they pulled it out and surveyed the map. With what was left of the daylight, they tried to pinpoint some trace of nearby civilization. Unfortunately, there was nothing of the sort.
Eva pointed out the three human symbols on the map, and noticed that one was near the base of the mountain. They waited for the old woman to appear and save them once again. Yet as the sun disappeared over the horizon, it seemed they would have no such luck.
Fearing another night in the cold shadowy woods, they hurried on ahead in search of shelter. Worst-case scenario, they would at least make their way closer to the summit; where they were sure to find the treasure. Just the possibility of ruling the world was enough to keep them excited while they walked. They moved onward throughout the night.
With endless energy flowing through their bodies, and a newfound sense of invincibility, Eva and Amir walked as fast as they could. While it presented little challenge, the weight of the wooden chest put a slight strain on their shoulders and hands as they lugged it along.
The darkness was thick in the absence of the moon. Nevertheless, Eva and Amir marched on with determination. Finally, the sun began to rise, and they waited anxiously to see how high they had climbed during the night. To their disappointment however, what they discovered left them both in shock. They could not understand what they saw.
“What’s going on?” Eva turned to her friend and asked. “We walked all night as fast as we could, but it seems we haven’t moved an inch.”
“You’ve got me”, replied Amir, equally confused. “It seems we would have been half way up by now. This place looks just like where we were when the sun set last night.”
In fact, it was.
They checked the path carefully to ensure they had not gone astray. As expected, the weathered stones remained perfectly arranged on the trail beneath their feet. They looked up at the mountain, confused. Nothing about the journey has been normal thus far, thought Amir. Why would it change now?
As Amir continued looking around in disbelief, Eva spotted smoke rising from somewhere up ahead. Excited at the possibility of making social contact, they hurried up the trail. After rounding the final corner, they were struck by the beauty of the architectural masterpiece that appeared before them. Built right into the base of the great mountain, the magnificent stone temple was like nothing they had ever seen.
They approached with caution, eager to learn more.
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