She had bent down to tighten her sandals when a color too brilliant for the land caught her eye. She turned to look and saw a bit of deep blue tangled in the thorny branches of a low-lying bramble. She scrambled over and grasped the bit of color between her fingertips. To her amazement, it was a small swatch of woven fabric. From a tunic, perhaps, or a blanket. Colored a bright indigo blue.

A dark cloud settled along Anna’s face. She had never seen any of the Sisters wearing such a color. Nor did she know how they would produce the dye necessary to stain wool that particular hue.

She glanced into the sky.

Perhaps a bird had carried the bit of fabric? Or it had ridden on the storm?

Perhaps the wolf had dropped it from an earlier conquest?

Refusing to believe that anyone could approach the area unseen, and not wanting to arouse needless panic among the Sisters, she decided not to mention the strange swatch of fabric—unless it became absolutely necessary.

CHAPTER 16

Somewhere in The Narrows outside ancient Palestine—25 A.D.

Ruth found Mother Susana in her chamber refilling a lamp with oil.

“Mother?” Ruth asked.

Susana directed a narrow stream of golden liquid into the lamp’s mouth. Without lifting her eyes she said, “Ask your question.”

Ruth took a deep breath. “As you know, it has been many years since Anna’s arrival. In that time, she has proven her loyalty and purposefulness. In caring for her sheep, she has provided us with a generous supply of milk, cheese, and high-quality wool, which we have spun into numerous blankets and tunics. Never once has she attempted to leave, nor has she mistreated a Sister in any way. She has shown extraordinary patience by continuing to live apart from us without any understanding of our purpose, or the reasons for her being here. She has even agreed to assist Sister Joan with her duties. And, of course, you know of her exemplary rescue of Tabitha and the sheep …”

Saying this, Ruth fell silent. She did not wish to overstep her bounds.

Mother Susana remained focused on the oil and nodded into the silence. “Go on,” she said.

Encouraged, Ruth continued. “In her time here, Anna has clearly absorbed much wisdom and equanimity, yet, as Shereen and I have observed, she lacks the spiritual foundation necessary for strong self-knowledge and growth. We do believe, however, that her internal confusion would be diminished, and her self-knowledge strengthened, if she were granted more exposure to the philosophy and practices of The Way. Up until this point, she has been absorbing the knowledge by living among us, but her learning has not been at all guided.”

“I see,” Susana said, interrupting. “But was it not a question you came to ask?”