Adao's Dance: a search for meaning and peace by Russ Masterson

Adao's Dance: a search for meaning and peace by Russ Masterson

Author:Russ Masterson [Russ Masterson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2015-11-12T18:35:04+00:00


16

Upon returning to Joshua’s I rambled to Jadon everything I remembered of what the grand leader said at dinner.

“You would love him, Jadon. He was eloquent and intelligent, a sea of wisdom, but not lofty. Focused and motivated. Electrifying, really. I wish you could’ve been there and met him,” I said. “I think you would love him.”

“Adao, you have food on your cheek. I hope you weren’t crude in front of them,” he said.

I wiped my cheek with my hand and Jadon continued, “As I’ve said before, this journey is yours. The dream was yours, not mine. I can’t change that. We know that. The glory, and the burden, always goes to the one carrying the totem. You know this—everyone knows this. I will train with you, but otherwise I will be quiet while we are here.”

“But you will have summitted also. You will be famous as well,” I said.

“I will be known by some, and that is fine, but it isn’t my dream. I’m still waiting on my dream, so I’m happy to help. Perhaps the helping is more my dream,” Jadon said. “I have watched you carry the totem, and I don’t wish for it to burden my back. Besides, walking behind you is nothing people will celebrate. I will be in the shadow, and that is fine.”

Joshua woke us early the next morning. It was snowing mightily, and there was no sunlight dancing outside my window.

“It is time for morning reflection,” Joshua said. “We gather in the snowfield on the opposite side of the village. We need to leave to get there on time. Punctuality is highly valued here.”

We dressed in wool pants, coats, and hats, and walked by the light of a lantern through the mounding snow. People streamed out of their homes and onto the streets and paths, a growing flock wandering into the snowfield. They did not look as joyous as they had the afternoon we arrived. Their faces were long and their eyes weary. When they realized I looked their way they opened their eyes wider and smiled, saying, “What a splendid morning for reflection.”

In the distance people gathered in a massive circle cleared in the center of the snowfield.

“Your name?” a short staunch man with a list asked me at the entrance of the circle. He was strong but stood with shrugged shoulders.

“My name is Adao. I’m not from here,” I said, noticing a line forming, bunching up behind me.

“He’s with me,” Joshua said as he walked through, Jadon and I following behind him. The staunch man began to speak but looked up and saw Joshua and turned his attention to the next person in line.

“What is the man with the list doing?” I asked Joshua.

“His list dictates where people can reflect, how close they can get to the center table, where the grand leader and the elders sit.”

“And this has to do with Evidences?”

“Yes, everything has to do with Evidences.”

Jadon was looking around, along the ground, up toward the cliffs, and back to the town.



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