BooksBarbecue
Back The Long Sunset
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Prologue
  5. 1.
  6. 2.
  7. 3.
  8. 4.
  9. 5.
  10. 6.
  11. 7.
  12. 8.
  13. 9.
  14. 10.
  15. 11.
  16. 12.
  17. 13.
  18. 14.
  19. 15.
  20. 16.
  21. 17.
  22. 18.
  23. 19.
  24. 20.
  25. 21.
  26. 22.
  27. 23.
  28. 24.
  29. 25.
  30. 26.
  31. 27.
  32. 28.
  33. 29.
  34. 30.
  35. 31.
  36. 32.
  37. 33.
  38. 34.
  39. 35.
  40. 36.
  41. 37.
  42. 38.
  43. 39.
  44. 40.
  45. 41.
  46. 42.
  47. 43.
  48. 44.
  49. Epilogue
  50. About the Author
  51. Copyright

They all greeted him. And Ken asked if they’d gotten in the way of a service.

“Oh no. Have you eaten yet?”

“We just woke up.” He’d obviously been working on his English. “I’ll see you in a little while.” He turned them over to Kwylla and went through the side door into the temple.

•  •  •

“I wonder,” said Hutch, as Kwylla brought out fruits and vegetables from the kitchen, “if maybe it would be okay to go inside the temple.”

“I still don’t think that would be very smart,” said Derek. “We don’t know what the rules are.”

“I can’t see why there’d be a problem. We’ve spent a lot of time here and they seem to accept us. I’d be interested in learning about Arin’s faith.”

“I don’t think we should do anything like that,” said Wally.

Hutch didn’t buy it. “If we were going to offend him, we’d be more likely to do it by staying away.” She got up. “I’ll be back after the service.”

She expected Derek to direct her not to go, but he remained quiet as she looked at Kwylla. “Ken, ask her if it would be okay for me to attend.”

•  •  •

They were singing and dancing and playing their assortment of musical instruments when she entered, followed by Derek. Everybody seemed to be having a good time. They sat down in the rear, where they were virtually alone. Arin was up front, bouncing around with a string instrument.

A sphere was mounted behind the table, or altar, reminding her of the symbolic message, We’re all in it together.

She tried to make out some of the lyrics but could manage only one line: “Show us the way.” Eventually, the music stopped, and Arin took charge of the ceremony. He stood and spoke to his audience, but it didn’t sound like an oration. In fact, there was occasional laughter. Hands went up, and they asked questions. Or made comments. Then he led them in prayer.

She would have liked to be able to understand what they were saying, but what she felt was a coming together. And she could not get out of her mind what was going to happen when the ceremony ended. When they sat down with Arin to give him the worst possible news.

Lord, she thought, I don’t know whether you’re there. I cannot see a loving Creator as the functioning force behind this universe. But that may simply be a result of my stupidity. If we never needed you before, we do now. If you’re annoyed with me, please don’t let these people pay the price.

•  •  •