The Alabaster Roses by Phk Schoeffner

Author:Phk Schoeffner [Schoeffner, PHK]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781456797430
Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
Published: 2011-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The Palace Rousalles

The next day, after saying goodbye to the superstitious librarian, Jochen and Natalie began their journey to the tree at the crossroads. They had already drawn water from the magic fountain of the square and had sufficiently rested. They walked down a road that was parallel to the river. Occasionally, they saw some silver fish jumping from the water. The landscape around them was a thick forest of trees, tall and green, whose branches were filled with squirrels, birds, and other animals. Jochen thought he saw an owl or something very similar, but Natalie did not see anything. The road was very quiet and peaceful. The temperature was like that of spring, and the road was almost flat, with very few ups and downs.

Shortly after they started, they reached the tree Ludwig had indicated. It was a big tree, but it was dead. Its longest branch pointed to a small wooden bridge, which led to a narrow path that got lost in the mountains.

— Is it here?—asked Natalie.

— That seems to be so—, Jochen said, scratching his head.—And that should be the path that leads into the gorge.—

— It scares me to enter such a narrow place—, Natalie said, feeling a chill.

— There is another larger pathway there—, Jochen observed, pointing to a path that began a little farther away—, but there is no branch that points there.—

— Then we should follow the direction indicated by the branch, and that’s that—, decided Natalie.

— Off we go!—her brother replied.

— First, we should test the bridge—, Natalie said, observing the lamentable state of the bridge.—It does not seem very solid.—

They trod carefully over the first boards. A frog looked at them with curiosity from a nearby stone.

— You can go without fear—, she said.—It’s a solid bridge.—

Both siblings turned to the frog.

— You weren’t enchanted and turned into a frog were you?—Natalie asked, a bit sarcastically.

The frog’s eyes open wide.—No, I’m just a frog. I’ve always been a frog, and I’m proud to be a frog. Now, cross the bridge once and for all! People have done it for centuries. Furthermore, very recently it has been repaired.—

— It’s just that it’s so small…—, Natalie began.

— Don’t trust appearances! It is small but solid.—

Thus, relying on the word of the frog, brother and sister crossed the bridge.

— So, was it solid or not?—the frog snapped hollowly.

— Yes, you were right—, the siblings acknowledged.

— Why don’t people believe me?—The frog sighed.

— You know, if someone trusts too much…—, Natalie began.

— Yes, I know the rest; if someone trust too much he or she ends up in the hole, but there are no holes—, protested the frog.—And don’t forget the water.—

And then the frog jumped in the river and disappeared.

As the frog had suggested, the next thing the children did was drink water, and then they followed the road, entering the narrow pass. As soon as they entered it, the branch that had pointed the way snapped and fell to the ground. Then the rest of the tree fell, turning to dust that the wind spread across the valley.

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