Tuesaday Excerpt, "Quest"

“And you are avoiding my question!” stormed Linvin, who jumped from his chair and leaned over his uncle.  “Answer me!  Answer me!  Is this what my father wanted?”

Anvar recalled the promise he made to Jelena.  He rocked slowly while biting the end if his pipe.  Linvin sat down in the chair next to him and placed his head in his hands.

The rhythmic sound of Anvar’s rocking came to an abrupt halt.  Anvar stroked his nephew’s hair and whispered a word in his ear, “No.”

Linvin’s head popped up and stared at his uncle.  “Then what is this all about?”

Anvar returned to his rocking and puffing.  After a few moments he formulated his words and spoke, “Your mother was absolutely set against your leaving.  What you have been experiencing tonight is the life your mother has envisioned for you since you were born.”

“And my father’s plan?”

“I can only hope his plan died with him.  It was reckless and dangerous.  With any luck at all, it would never bear fruit.”

“Tell me, Anvar, what was his plan?”

“It is not for me to say,” Anvar answered slowly.  “It was not my plan.”

“So what am I supposed to do?” Linvin demanded.

Anvar looked up at the sky.  Only a few clouds obscured the view.  At that moment, one of the clouds had hidden the moon from sight.  “Look at the sky, Linvin.  Tell me, is the moon out tonight?”

Linvin leaned back and took in the sky.  “Yes,” he answered simply.

“How do you know?” asked Anvar.  “I do not see the moon anywhere.”

“It is right there,” pointed Linvin.  “There are just some clouds blocking it from view.”

“But are you sure it is there?” asked Anvar.  “Prove it to me.  How can you prove that the moon is there?”

“Well,” Linvin said, rubbing his chin, “We can just wait here until it comes out from behind that cloud.  Then you will see it.”

“So even though the answer may be there all along, I will not be able to see it until the time is right?” Anvar asked.

“Well, of course,” Linvin stated.  “Unless you believe it is there all the time, then your only choice is to wait for it to reveal itself.”

“So you are telling me that I must just believe the moon is there until it appears and proves it?  You seem quite confident in the outcome.  How do you know that the moon will appear again?”

“I do not know,” said Linvin.  “I guess it just always comes out sooner or later.”

Anvar smiled and remarked, “And so will the answer to your question, my boy.  The answer is out there.  What you must do is wait for it to present itself, just like your moon.  Until then, you must believe the answer will appear.”