Free Black by Ted Dekker Page B

cross the river as a matter of precaution. Very wise, if you ask me.” The Roush paused and looked about. “That is the heart of it. There are a thousand other details, but hopefully they will return to you in short order.”
    â€œExcept for the Great Romance,” Gabil said. “And Rachelle.”
    â€œExcept for the Great Romance, which I will let Gabil tell you about, since he’s so eager.”
    Gabil didn’t miss a beat. “She’s chosen you, Thomas! Rachelle has. It is her choice and now it’s yours. You will pursue her and woo her and win her as only you can.” He grinned delightedly.
    Tom waited for Gabil to continue. The creature just kept grinning.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Tom said. “I don’t see the significance. I don’t even know her.”
    â€œEven more delicious! It’s a wonderful twist! The point is, you don’t bear the mark on your forehead, so you are eligible for any woman. You will fall madly in love and be united!”
    â€œThis is crazy! I hardly know who I am—romance is the farthest thing from my mind. For all I know, I’m in love with another woman in my own village.”
    â€œNo, that wouldn’t be the case. You would bear another mark.”
    Surely they didn’t expect him to pursue this woman out of obligation. “I still have to choose her, right? But I can’t .Not in this condition. I don’t even know if I’ll like her.”
    The two Roush stared, stupefied.
    â€œI’m afraid you don’t understand,” Michal said. “It’s not a matter of liking. Of course you’ll like her. It is your choice, otherwise it wouldn’t be choosing. But—and you must trust me on this—your kind abound in love. He made you that way. Like himself. You would love any woman who chooses you. And any woman you choose would choose you. It’s the way it is.”
    â€œWhat if I don’t feel that way?”
    â€œShe’s perfect!” Gabil said. “They all are. You will feel that way, Thomas. You will!”
    â€œWe’re from different villages. She would just go away with me?”
    Michal raised his eyebrow. “Minor details. I can see this memory loss could be a problem. Now we really should be leaving. It will be slow on foot, and we have quite a road before us.” He turned to his friend. “Gabil, you may fly, and I will stay with Thomas Hunter.”
    â€œWe must go,” Gabil said. He unfurled his wings and leaped into the air. Tom watched in amazement as the white furry’s body lifted gracefully from the earth. A puff of air from the Roush’s thin wings lifted the hair from his forehead.
    Tom stared at the magnificent forest and hesitated. Michal looked back at him patiently from the tree line. “Shall we go?” He turned back to the forest. Tom took a deep breath and stepped after the Roush without a word.

    They proceeded through the colored forest for ten minutes in silence. The sum of it was that he lived here, somewhere, perhaps far
away, but in this wonderful, surreal place. Surely when he saw his friends, his village, his . . . whatever else was his, his memory would be sparked.
    â€œHow long will it take to return me to my people?” Tom asked.
    â€œThese are all your people. What village you live in isn’t terribly significant.”
    â€œOkay, but how long before I find my own family?”
    â€œDepends,” Michal said. “News is a bit slow and the distances are great. It could take a few days. Maybe even a week.”
    â€œA week! What will I do?”
    The Roush pulled up and stopped. “What will you do? Are your ears not working as well? You’ve been chosen!” He shook his head and continued. “Dear, dear. I can see this memory loss is quite impossible. Let me give you some advice, Thomas Hunter. Until your memory returns, follow the others. This confusion of yours is