.
He has struggled with so many things, for instance, Kevin’s death and then losing the championship game that was so close. He kept going over the last seconds of the game in his head. I heard him talking to himself. “If only I did this . . . if only I did that.” The rest of us felt all the boys played great, but he still goes over everything in his mind.
Laura
April 13th
Dear Laura,
I do not know how to tell you this. Alex is safe.
I sent you a letter a while ago telling you of Chihaysu visiting Earth in a dream. Three days ago, he called four of us together and stated that it was time for us to have a prayer session with the candles.
This meeting, at Michaeling’s home, was not the same as in the past. It was very focused. Marcus, Rachaeling and I joined Chihaysu and Michaeling. We prayed and I know I have never prayed more intensely. We were aware from Chihaysu that Alex was facing a crisis in his life. He would soon be facing the same decisions Chihaysu faced a short time ago. We were to pray for a safe journey through the wormhole for Alex and that he makes a thoughtful and wise decision when he comes to the door with the window. Chihaysu said Alex is being given an opportunity to come to Caperston. When he arrives at the door, he will have to decide whether to open the door. Chihaysu said that, if we pray hard enough that we want him to visit us in Caperston, then he will sense our prayers and possibly open the door. If we are not sincere in our prayers, he will probably turn away.
Michaeling, Rachaeling, Marcus, and I were very quiet as Chihaysu spoke. We sensed the importance of this prayer meeting. As we prayed, we each had a vision of Alex making the turn towards the long tunnel. An instant later he was at the door, peering through the window. He seemed happy. Then, after looking back down the tunnel, he opened the door and, an instant later appeared in the very room in which we were praying. We greeted him enthusiastically and he sat down. He was confused, unsure who we were and where he was.
I instantly recalled that the face I saw in the smoke of Michaeling’s candle at our last prayer meeting was the face of Alex.
We introduced ourselves and he recognized our names. He instantly seemed more relaxed and was smiling.
He told us that a few hours after he last wrote to us, he walked outside in the back of his home. It was a warm, clear night and there was no moon in the sky. The stars were very bright. Suddenly he felt very tired. He sat down on a lawn chair and closed his eyes to rest. The next thing he recalled was being at a fork in the road, choosing the right fork, being escorted down the tunnel by a ray of light and appearing at a door. Upon opening the door, he suddenly found himself in our room.
We told him why we were together and Alex stated that, when he was at the door, even though the sign said, “Warning, unknown land,” Alex said he could hear people calling out, “We will be happy if you visit us.” He said there was no doubt in his mind what he should do. Alex seemed tired and Chihaysu suggested that he stay at his mother’s home to rest. Alex agreed.
One thing that struck us was Alex’s dark skin. It is darker than the skin of anyone in Caperston, even after we are exposed to the sun. Do all people from Earth have dark skin?
Huchfee
April 14th
Thank you Huchfee for writing back and we are glad Alex is safe. We look forward to having him write to us, but he must be wondering what happened. Tell him our pastor visited Alex’s family. Alex’s mother keeps asking how this could happen and is it true?
Is there a way for Alex to return and when?
Please tell Alex that his family misses him tremendously and they hope he is truly safe and happy. When Alex is ready, please have him write to us.
Regarding people with dark skin, yes, many people on Earth have dark skin. Earth is much bigger than Caperston and we have many different groups, which we call races, who look different from each other. In our youth group we have six people with dark skin and eight with lighter skin. Even though we look different we treat each other as equals as we believe we are all equal in God’s sight.
Laura
April 17th
Dear Laura, parents, and friends of Alex,
To begin Alex has stayed with Chihaysu and Chihaysu’s mother for a week. Michaeling and I visited with him two days after he arrived and then Marcus visited. He is still adjusting to our world.
Alex walked to the Caperston market to pick up some food for Chihaysu’s mother yesterday. He noticed right away that we walk everywhere. He talked about something you call cars and then said children and young people on Earth have bicycles. He also noted that our roads are simply wide paths except for the one main street in town.
Five years ago, Pontos ordered that our Main Street be flattened out so that he could ride his mobile into town whenever he visited. It was hard work to flatten it. Water was sprayed on it and a wooden structure was built that could be pulled along the street flattening it. Now, every ten days, workers sprinkle water on the street then take the structure out and drag it down the street twice, once up and once back.
Our food is also different. We eat a lot of vegetables and fish. Alex says he misses a food called a hamburger. He tried to describe it and it sounds delicious, but apparently it comes from an animal Alex calls a “cow,” and there are no such animals living in Caperston. Perhaps a goada, if killed and cooked, would taste like a hamburger but we need our goadas to provide milk, particularly for the little ones.
Chihaysu suggested that Alex visit the Mountain Village. Marcus will come back in a few days to escort Alex to the village. After this visit, Alex can take the much longer walk with Marcus to spend more time on Main Street, which he briefly saw a few days ago while picking up provisions. There Michaeling, Rachaeling and I will meet Marcus and Alex to have a midafternoon lunch and show him the main buildings in town. Perhaps then he will feel comfortable writing to you.
Huchfee
April 21st
Dear Laura and friends of Alex,
You will not believe what is now happening in Caperston. There was a rumor that the Mountain Youth were going to march around Lake Gael and Jonas went to investigate along with myself. There were about thirty of the Mountain Youth—both young men and young women. They were carrying signs asking for justice for Mattpaul and got halfway around the lake when soldiers, sent by Pontos and under the command of our old classmate Zester, met them. The soldiers had long, metal spears and made a line across the road where the youth were walking. There were thirty soldiers, all men and heavily armed. The Mountain Youth had no weapons.
Just as the soldiers stepped forward to confront the Mountain Youth, Alex stepped out of a path from Chihaysu’s mother’s home towards the Mountain Village. Marcus was with him.
Zester stepped forward and told the youth that the “Ruler” was not interested in talking to them and they should return home. He said, “You do not belong in the village of the Valley People and you are not respected enough to gain an audience with Pontos.” The youth shouted back, “We want the Ruler. We want the Ruler.” One of the youth leaders stepped towards Zester, “If we cannot go to his home, tell him to come here. We want to speak to him, not to you.”
Zester was getting angry and replied, “You will talk to me and my message is clear . . . go home, now, where you belong, every one of you.” The Mountain Youth responded, raising their voices, “Pontos, yes; Zester, no; Pontos, yes; Zester, no.”
Now Zester was furious. He pulled out a long sword and stated, “You will leave now or risk the consequences.” The response became louder, “Pontos, yes; Zester, no.”
Suddenly and without warning Zester called out, “Charge,” leading the attack. The Mountain Youth had no weapons and began to run, but the soldiers did not stop. The soldiers caught those who were not fast runners and began spearing them.