I rubbed my eyes with my hands and saw that the sky was bright. I looked around and noticed a small stream a little farther from me. I walked toward it and washed my hands and face. It felt strange that I didn’t feel hungry at all. I drank some of the water.
The tracks of the animals that had come to the tree last night were almost all in the same direction. I wanted to follow their trail, but the hawk let out a cry and flew toward the mountains—exactly in the opposite direction. I had no choice but to follow it!
The farther I walked, the more trees appeared, as if they had no end. Yet, I could now see the mountain more clearly. I could also spot my guide from above the treetops. I thought to myself, "My God, what kind of place is this, where hunger has no meaning and night and day happen at the same moment? My Lord, I have no helper but You!"
Suddenly, the long distance to the mountain shrank to just a few steps, and I found myself near its base. The mountain’s surface was entirely smooth and impossible to climb, like polished granite. I saw the hawk heading toward the left side of the mountain base. When I followed, a steaming pool appeared before me!
Alpha
