The path of fear...

Life is a dream, a grand illusion –so had I heard, but I still had to believe. Thus, I woke up to a lingering wave of oppressing heat, deep discomfort following me to the surface, clinging to the skin, drowning my every pore in suffocating humidity. Anxiety and sweat sat, like a paradox, on the back of my neck, fear and confusion hovered in the recesses of my mind, slowly gnawing at my defenses. No answers for what tomorrow might bring. No answers to where I was heading. I felt lost, cornered by my choices. I had pushed away every one that might have offered a hand, and now I was left alone with no one to rely on. We are One –so had I read, but I still had to trust… and I still had to believe.

Aslam had repeatedly led us to water. I could see that he definitely had abilities that were beyond anything I was capable of comprehending. When I told him this, he laughed and assured me there was nothing special about him, that whatever abilities he had, I too had, adding “You just have to trust.”

Our walks which were long, always started under the stars, and ended by a water source, before the sun would reach its zenith. This had occurred a dozen of times, yet each journey was very different from all those that had preceded it. One might think the desert a dull and uneventful place, but, in any case, this desert was everything but dull and uneventful. It was teaming with life, full of unexpected experiences.

On our third day, we reached our first group of people. A long walking procession that was snaking its way towards us, stretched so far I could not make out the features of those who were trailing at the very end. Excited to meet other travelers, I began hastening my pace. But, Aslam reached for my shoulder, causing me to stop at once. Somehow, and to my dismay, my guide had other plans.

“Why are you standing there?” I urged, “Let’s go talk to them.”

Aslam lowered his eyes, “It would be very unwise.”

Noticing how his voice had become laden with sadness, unable to understand, I asked, “Why? What’s wrong?”
“They would not receive you kindly.” They live in fear, and fear causes them to be threatened by anything new.”

“Surely, they know you. You could introduce me.”

He shook his head, “I am not welcome amongst them.”

“Why?”

“Many come here. But not all come for the same reasons.”

I looked at them again. It was a slow moving procession, made out of the most unkempt, bedraggled group of individuals I had ever laid eyes on. They were advancing, looking our way. None of them was smiling. A long bearded man at the front began shouting words in a language I had never heard before. The shouting spread, growing louder and louder. Suddenly, rocks of all sizes were thrown our way. I stepped back, startled, frightened. Aslam remained still. The rocks were all falling a few feet in front of him. There were tears in his eyes.

To be continued...