[mark12_30]

Gamba walked along the shore, towards the hobbrim's caves, and thought ahead to the time when Phura and Azraph would return here, after saying goodbye to him and his four boys. He hated the thought, but he realised as he approached them that he hated the caves more. He slowly approached them, dragging his feet more and more with reluctance. Finally, he stood in front of the opening, and took a deep breath, and plunged in.

It was dark, and he blinked, and called. "Loremaster?"

"He's busy, " Kesha replied.

"Kesha."

"Hi, Gamba." Kesha sounded very sad.

Gamba looked around, shivering. "Do you like these caves?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"All right, then."

Kesha puzzled at him. Gamba dallied until Loremaster returned.

"Dear boy." Loremaster's voice was very quiet, and Gamba looked up at him.

"I came to say goodbye, Loremaster. "

"I shall miss you terribly, " said the old man, softly.

Gamba looked at him. "Do you really think so?" he said with guileless curiosity, and Loremaster had to smile. "Yes, Gamba. Yes, I will."

"You'll have better students now, " Gamba said.

"You'll have a better teacher, " he replied, smiling.

"Nitir?" Gamba's eyebrows went up.

"You're a lucky, lucky boy, " Loremaster nodded. "Yes. I have asked her to be available for you. I believe she will be, " he said, with careful non-commitance.

"Oh, she will. She's invited me to join her and Azra, and be a part of their family, " Gamba asserted, and Loremaster smiled. "Has she now."

"I thought you knew that."

Loremaster nodded, and clapped his shoulder. "It's just very good to hear you say it out loud, yourself. Yes, you are in good hands. I can rest knowing that you will be under her watchful eye."

"I hope she doesn't watch me too hard, " Gamba replied.

Loremaster laughed. "She understands you better than I ever did, I think, " he said. "I don't think you need to fear for your future. I think you will be far happier with her than you were with me."

That suddenly made Gamba very uncomfortable. "Loremaster?" he said, frowning.

"She understands you, " Loremaster repeated, "better than I do."

"No, " Gamba replied, emotionally, and threw his arms around Loremaster. "No, she doesn't."

"Dear boy, " he replied, and held him tightly. "I shall miss you. But I shall not grieve at your departure. The road you take is a good one.
You will do well."

Gamba dashed his tears away, and said, "I wish we didn't all have to separate like this."

"Your forests need you, Gamba. Go, knowing that you will live fully there. That is where you belong." Loremaster kissed his brow, much to Gamba's astonishment, and then briefly placed his hand on his head, and then clapped both of his shoulders. "Don't be afraid, of the separation, or of the future. Abandon yourself to destiny, and go. You will soar."

The song about Bird, Gamba realised. Phura's dream. Soaring? He did love the wind in the trees. He thought about that, and Loremaster saw the thoughtful look on his face, and with one more kiss on his brow, Loremaster turned and softly went out. When Gamba looked up, he was gone.

Kesha stood up from where he'd been waiting in a corner. Gamba sighed. Kesha came to him and Gamba held him.

"Why can Phura and Azraph come with you, and Kali and Daisy and Andril, but I can't?"

Gamba shrugged. "I don't know."

"Well, I wish I could come."

Gamba thought about that for a bit, and slowly smiled. "Why not?"

Kesha looked up at him. "How?"

"There's plenty of places you can hide on board the Lonely Star, " Gamba said thoughtfully.

"Hide?"

"Sure. The hold, the closets... under the beds... "

"Won't Loremaster worry?"

Gamba puzzled about that for a moment, and then said, "Are you sure that you want to do this?"

Kesha nodded.

Gamba got out a pen and ink and vellum, and carefully wrote a note, and then rolled it up.

"Then, right before you swim out to the Lonely Star, and shinny up the anchor chain, and meet me on the stern deck, give this to Coral, and tell her to give it to Loremaster once the ships have all disappeared from sight."

"You're the best, " Kesha said with a grin.

Gamba smiled. That was one goodbye he didn't have to say today, and that was all for the good. Relieved, he said. "When the moon sets, I'll be waiting."

"All right." Kesha's eyes shone, and he hid the note in a safe place til he could give it to Coral.

[ December 22, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]