This set the pattern for several days of traveling, during which they saw only each other. There were no villages and no other huddlers. There were birds and deer and other animals. There were brooks and rocks and trees and they even found a cave one evening.
No villages. No Huddlers.
During this time, they walked and they talked.
In spite of his age and the curve of his back and shoulders, Martin seemed to have no difficulty keeping up with the younger men. Sometimes, while climbing a hill, Martin would huff a bit when he reached the top. Regardless, he neither complained nor grumbled.
Their talk rambled far more than they did. While their walking took them steadily eastward, their talk ran all over the landscape.
A lot of their talk dealt with why’s and how’s. Why did Ham set out? How did he make the water bag? Why did he learn to make fire? How did he expect to find the Lightbringer? Why did Hal join him?
The questions started to repeat, although the answers grew with each exchange.
Ham still didn’t know exactly what had led him to leave the well-known security of his village. He still didn’t know where or how he would find the Lightbringer. He didn’t know exactly why Hal had joined him nor why Martin was sent to them (and he was sure, after several days of conversation, that Martin was sent).
He did know that he would – must – complete his quest to find the Lightbringer.
