Having escaped the terror that was Pinky's doll, Godsword masterfully removed himself from the bus, stepping delicately down the aisle, taking care to not touch anyone on the way because, as he was repeatedly taught as a youth, one never knows where strangers have been. And finally, with a mighty effort of will and strength, Godsword took the final step down, and into...Freedom! And his world changed: The clear grey skies; the wondrous asphalt upon which he stood, which stretched for what seemed like miles as far as he could see (of course, Godsword is near-sighted). "What a glorious suburban Mall this is!", thought Godsword aloud to himself, as several people near him sought to move away.

Not a second after Godsword loudly thought that to himself, a small voice behind him said, softly, "This is not a Mall, you ninny."

So...that small voice behind him may be an indication that she's ba-aack? Godsword may want to get back on the next bus.

Godsword, I can't help it, I've got to say something - you crack me up! I was feeling pretty low this morning until I saw what you wrote here and I actually laughed. Thank you.

Now here's one for you ..it is just the "beginning" of a possible novel (fiction, that will sell like crazy - ha!):

"Zeetz can hear the wind GUSTING through the trees which have long since dropped their leaves in obedience to winter's arrival.....she lapses into a daydream. She sees herself step onto the stage as the DRUMs begin to BOUNCE...she clasps the microphone and begins to sing out with reckless abandon to the amped audience. Boo Rah."

In all humility and dripping in vivid imagination,
your friend
zeetz

Let's all start a running novella - how about it? Hijack Godsword's thread and each of us contribute a sentence or two to build a little story where we all are the authors? Godsword, is it ok with you? Might be a lot of fun, and therapeutic if not entertaining? This is the "Just for fun" section, so let's have some and let our creative juices flow...

What do you say?

zeetz

signet reluctantly withdrew from the spotlight, knowing deep within her heart...
that she would, indeed, be back. after throwing up her fear in the bucket by the stairs,
she adored the voice she found inside, fear having finally departed, she was prepared to sing. not in the malls, or to the walls, and forget the stalls, and silly dolls...but that
voice she sang with etched out a calling in the very words she belted out.

NOW IS THE TIME!



ok, i'm playing...very fun! ok? who's next?

Startled, Godsword repeated to himself a line he had learned long ago, from what might have been a movie: "There is no singing in Malls!" Heartened, he turned on his MP3 player, and ignored the voices that sought to overwhelm him.

[By the way, the above post doesn't mean that I don't want others to post their "journeys". It just means I don't want to hear any singing. Carry on.]

oddly, through the soft jazz playing cool stuff on the phones...she could hear the
sound of a "Halleluyah" chorus and looked around to see if someone behind her was
ringing bells, and singing...she pushed that sound out of her mind and thought of
riding horses in the wind...there it went again...that bell, or was it a voice.

what do you want? she asked out loud to the amazement of those walking past her.
she was quite oblivious though to the gawking passersby, and once again she clearly
and emphatically queried, what do you want? answered only in silence she felt that
there must be some meaning to this ringing and singing. what do you want?

"You're standing on my toes!" shouted Godsword as he turned the volume down on his MP3 player, which had accidentally blared out Handel's "Messiah" when he turned it on.

Zeetz, had lapsed into a fantasy world of singing, with her headphones tight around her head. All of a sudden she gasped when she realized she was standing on the toes of a very nice gentleman! He was unfortunate enough to have been in her path as she danced along the crowded Mall sidewalks. "Oh dear, I am so sorry, did I hurt you?" she asked? "No", the kind gentleman said with the hint of pain showing one his face, "but could you please remove yourself from my toes?"

She laughed and jumped back, reached into her shopping bag and pulled out a bag of chocolates. She grabbed his hands and placed the chocolates in them, and said, "they say chocolate takes the pain away, so please, except these and my sincere apology for any harm done to your toes. And if it helps any, my My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

The kind gentleman smiled, knowing she meant no harm, and just needed to take her headphones off for awhile and come back to reality. He looked around and said "I walk a thin line and drag an eraser behind me ... this takes place on the routes located within the boundries of this Mall. No harm done, but try to watch more carefully where you are going, ok?"

Zeetz smiled back and agreed with the wisdom of this man, and his crazy way with words. "Will do 'Mon Frare' (which is French for My Friend)", and she started walking away, tucking his insightful comments neatly into her memory...

At the same time, she noticed a very pretty woman standing close by, trying to turn down the volume on her MP3, which was blasting out the "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's Messiah...

watching the events unfold from her hidden place behind a lavishly decorated pillar
delineating the food court from the buy court, signet witnessed the toe smashing event.

both startled and amuzed...she held back her chortle until it just busted out of her
lungs in the biggest chortlechortlechortle that ever was chortled, and finished off with
teary hahaha's...and a good nose blow. feeling smuggly satisfied that she had
secretly laughed, she felt uplifted and wanted to sing...and it just bubbled up and out...
I feel pretty, o so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and smarrrrrt. e gad! what was that?

she new that this display of hilarity and joy was just the tip of the iceberg...then from
somewhere outthere...beyond the food court and the clothing, bed and bath and yes,
beyond...she heart that voice, like a bell ringing, singing. o my, what is happening?

in the twinkling of an eye...she was a swooning ballerina swooping along the shops
looking for the source of all this...what? what is happening?

Having painfully recovered from the toe-tapping dancer's display of misplaced toe-tapping (due not the least to the chocolates he had found placed in his hands, which ended up in his stomach), Godsword pondered whether he had ended up at the wrong Mall. Or was it really a Mall, after all? The poignant words from that small voice echoed in his mind, "This is not a Mall, you ninny!" Maybe there was some hidden wisdom in those words, a clue to his real location. Or maybe not.

Zeetz had always thought of herself as a pretty good dancer. Dancing seemed to transform her long gangly limbs from clumsiness into coordination. The only draw back at times was her poor eyesight. She realized after stepping on the toes of the nice gentleman that she needed glasses. Drat. Then, what do you think she saw? Up head in the distance there loomed a sign which read "Free Eye Exam with Glasses Purchase"! "Sounds like destiny", she said under her breath.

She strolled into the store and was immediately greated by a friendly sales rep. "I think I need glasses", Zeetz said,
"but I don't want to look too studious". With that the sales rep, who herself had glasses with lenses the size of coke bottle bottoms, led her to the horned rimmed frames display. Zeetz thought to herself, "Does anyone really hear what I'm
saying?", and promptly scanned the shop for a quick exit...

Meanwhile, the pretty little ballerina (who was completely caught up in the spirit of the season), was gliding effortlessly through Bed, Bath, and Beyond. She had almost reached the "Beyond" area, when out of the corner of her eye she saw the nice gentleman with the flat toes. She suddenly remembered seeing his name tag from before, which said "Godsword" on it. "What is he doing?", she wondered.

Yes, Godsword finally realized he was in a public place. He saw a podium was still set from last night's karaoke contest. "What IS IT with all this singing and dancing?", he thought. He stood surveying the scene before him. People eating lunch with only the echoes of their own voices bouncing off the food court walls. He remembered the voice he heard that said "This is not a Mall, you ninny!" Now he knew what it meant. Yes, it was a Mall, however, it was also MUCH bigger than that; it was a place of opportunity. "That does it!" he shouted. He made his way up to the microphone. "TAP," "TAP," "TAP,"......."Hello, is this thing on?" He looked out into the crowd waiting for a response....

mezmerized by the unfolding drama before her eyes, signet suddenly realized that she, too, needed glasses. she could clearly see the map...but couldn't read the street signs.

you could here a pin drop...well, it was 4 AM in a Mall, somewhere in time, and outside
of this realm...the karaoke had ceased and all of the could be' s, would be's, and wanna
be's had melted away into their track homes and master planned communities to await another day...maybe a day where the grey sky and grey concrete converge once again
at the Mall and the door of opportunity would open long enough to stuff a toe tapper's
shoe in...

is anyone out there?

At 4 AM a stranger was happy to find the malls doors unlocked and briskly walked inside. Outside was a blizzard with the wind blowing and snow falling at a brisk rate of speed. So cold outside and traffic was at a standstill. Wasn't safe for beast or human outside. As the stranger wandered in she looked into faces of other weary travelors who happened to meet by chance. Off in the distance was a stranger singing on the Karaoke, "New York, New York." Al thought, "Outside may be cold but these strangers are sure making the mall a cozy place to be......."

"A cozy place indeed", Adeline thought as she made her way closer to the crowd gathered in front of Godsword. He had them where he wanted them. Their attention riveted on his commanding use of the microphone and his amazing performance of New York, New York ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1j9EAERrhg

He flung the microphone by the cord, whipping it around and around, and drawing it in with a SNAP! Holding it in close to his mouth he sang the next verse, while similtaneously kick, kick, kicking his legs, one side and then the other like a natural born Rockette! The as the horns and strings were building to up to a dynamic cresendo finale...Godsword let them have it:

"These little town blues, are melting away, I'm gonna make a brand new start of it in Old New York.. aaaaaannnnddd, if I can make it there, I'll make it ANYWHERE! It's up to YOU New York, NEEWWW YOOORRRRKKKK!!!"

He then did the spilts right there in front of anyone, and the crowd went WILD! What a FINISH! WHAT AN ENTERTAINER! They all went wow we wow wow! Adeline could hear two shoppers in front of her exclaim with awe, "America DOES have talent!

Godsword was still taking his bows, while on the outskirts of the crowd signet and Zeetz stood side by side, staring with mouths wide open. In stunned silence they were as if in a trance. The enormity of the moment hit them both. Yes, today a STAR was born. A talent so awesome in scope and power the only thing one could think was, "Will he use his superpowers for Good, or for Evil? Will he wear a cape?"

nudge, nudge...
nudge, nudge...

zeetz, is that you? signet, clutched the grey cotton muffler tighter around her neck. It
was her very favorite because of all the fringes, and it was long enough she could
wrap it around at least twice...her vicks was wearing off as her vision was fading...

nudge, nudge...
nudge, nudge...

zeetz is that you? i miss Godsword...i really do. Godsword, where are you?

"Yes signet, it's me, and Godsword is up there on stage. It's him, the man whose toes I stepped on, and who did not seem to fond of singing, remember?", said Zeetz. She turned to her friend and said in utter sincerity, "I think we have just witnessed something of incredible significance here siggy, a butterfly out of the cacoon...the ramifications of which will be with us a long, long time....I want to get his autograph while he is still fairly unknown...come on, let's find Adeline and go talk to him! By the way, I think I saw Betty here somewhere...have you seen her yet as well?"

Suddenly, there was a roar as of a rushing, mighty wind, and before Godsword knew it, a pretty woman ballerina-ed by him in a swirling display of mufflers, perfume, and shopping bags. "I thought ballerina season was over," Godsword mumbled to himself and the squirrel which gnawed at his damaged leather work-boot. Nevertheless, fortified by the chocolate and the cold, Godsword strode purposefully down the sidewalk, towards the entrance to what he assumed was a Mall, little knowing the dangers that lurked therein.

Upon entering, Godsword was struck by the awful sounds of someone singing, "New York, New York", from a Karaoke stand. It was not the singing that struck Godsword as loathsome, but the song - he reviled all things New York. But, lo!, on the stage was the spitting image of Godsword, spitting, and crooning, "New York, New York", between spits. "Lord, no!", cried Godsword. "I hate crooning!" Then, he noticed the toe-tapping woman gazing, and moving, in the Imposter Godsword's general direction, all while holding a notepad and pen, and intermittently striding upon the feet and toes of unwary patrons. "I wonder if she can see," thought Godsword perceptively to himself.

Zeetz made her way towards who she thought was Godsword, pushing through the crowd. The people were so packed together she got separated from signet, who started crying for help (she is so small she was carried away in the tumult). Zeetz could not push back enough to grab her, so she yelled at the top of her voice " it's ok signet, just go with the flow and I'll find you later - don't fight it!"

Zeetz was pushed right up to the front of the stage where the entertainer was receiving his bravos. As nearsighted as she evidently was, the closer she got the more apparent it became that this man was NOT Godsword! GASP! An imposter? She was furious. The entertainer looked at her and winked his eye. Then he pulled his sweatshirt "hoodie" onto his head.
"OH NO", Zeetz exclaimed, " I've been HOOD-WINKED!!".... Over the noise of the crowd a concerned husband could be heard telling his wife, "DON'T LOOK ETHEL !!!" Zeetz was feeling faint. Her last thought before she collapsed was "I wonder if Godsword's work boots are steel toed?" Everything went dark.

through the foggy bog of stuffy nose, panty hose, remembering stubbed toes,
and snubbed foes...signet significantly realized that it had been a trap.

yes, a trap in rose-woes. not the real, but the surreal, and unreal...like hmmm,
sounds like...motioning with her hands in sign language of a popular game for those
spending time with family on Thanksgiving and other prestigious and sometimes
pompous and otherwise pretensious occassions that never mirror the other days
of the calendar, what eevaar...

signet sighed. the truth was hard to learn but learn she must, and trust she must,
and even when they cust...just a bit at her...she knew that she had met Godsword
and Godsword was with her. she smiled, she drew in the fragrance of The Rose
deeply into her being for Godsword had followed the map exactly...and signet
knew it...

The crowd was forcefully moving Godsword in a direction in which he did not want to go when Godsword saw his dear friend Zeetz crumbled to the ground. He also noticed that blood was flowing from her nose and then he saw the imposter and Great pretender bend towards Zeetz, "Oh No, I can't let him get my friend Zeetz," so pushing against the crowd with all his might but to no avail. Godsword turned to God and began to pray with all his might, "Lord, use me to bring some sort of peace and resolution. But first, my friend zeetz is hurting and this great pretender is bending over her and I really don't know what his intentions are...good or evil? Please Lord help me be free of the crowd." All at once the lights in the mall went out, complete darkness. The crowd became frantic but they soon calmed down. Suddenly the crowd became silent and still. Godsword who just entered the mall a few moments before still had his nightvison, and he could see Zeetz. Godsword made his way toward the stage and he came across Signet. "Oh, I am so glad to see you," exclaimed Signet. And Godsword replied, "Lets go get Zeetz out of harms way, I got the map. This map can either lead us to a great opportunity or a great loss. Are we going to remain risk takers for the Lord?" Signet replied, "You bet."

As they boldly walked closer to the stage, Zeetz was regaining conscious but her eyes were not adjusting very well to the darkness and she felt this wetness running down from her nose and thought, "Just great! What a horrible time for a nose bleed." Zeetz saw the real Godsword in the distance accompanied by Signet. The imposter Godsword was still bending over her so Zeetz quietly opened up her purse and took out some lysol and sprayed him in the eyes asking our Lord to forgive her for this action. The great pretender immediately began to yell and scream and rub his eyes. "I'll get you all if it is the last thing I do."

Godsword and Signet reached Zeetz and Godsword said, "Lets go. I don't think we want to be around when this guy is feeling better." All of them hurried out of harms way when Godsword said," I got the map and there is much work to do." "But what about Al?" they both inquired." Godsword replied, "Time is running out, so every second is of so much importance. What we are about to do we need to do quickly. God is in control over this situation and he will be watching over Al. It's out of our hands and into His."

Now girls here is the map..."Oh no." said Godsword. "What is it?" asked Zeetz and Signet. With hurried speech Godsword exclaimed, "I just had the map, I can't find it." "I CAN'T FIND THE MAP.....

"Is it a faded yellowish color?", asked signet. "Yes, it is", replied Godsword. "Does it have pretty little dots and squares of different colors on it?", asked zeetz as she held her nose to keep it from bleeding. "Yes, it does...how did you know?", asked Godsword. "It's taped to your forehead," replied signet and zeetz simultaneously.

"Ha! So it is!", laughed Godsword. He reached up and pulled the Map off his forehead and the 3 of them gathered round to look at it more closely. As they studied the dots and squares on the map they realized it had place marks noted. The dots and squares seemed to be pointing the way from where they were to a famous Highway which lead to one GIGANTIC square. Signet looked up at Godsword and remarked, "now this is interesting, because the Journey is leading via a main thoroughfare, the King's Highway, which I have heard leads to a magnificent city of light. A city of peace and holiness. A city with living waters flowing out of it. The Land of the Living .... TEMPLE HILL ."

They all stood in thoughtful silence, contemplating their next move. There were obviously many other stops along the way. They somehow knew that their assignment, which they all had accepted, would be to make their way to that city, and invite as many people as would hear them to come along. They knew it would not be easy. The obstacles were out there, and many were those who wanted to thwart their progress. Yes, they were like Pilgrims, and always making Progress.

They knew there would be many distractions and confrontations along the way. Even seemingly innocent and small entities were laying in wait to try and derail them from their goal. It was risky, but they were risk takers. They decided to focus and continue to follow the map. "Let's pray before we set out", signet suggested.

All of a sudden, one such entity reared it's ugly little head again. The very squirrel who attacked Godsword's work boot came running up to them and stopped. "What a brazen little creature you are", said Zeetz ..."What do you want now?"

The sinister squirrel looked up at them with fiery eyes and said, "I iz a NINJA! FEAR my Squirrelly WRATH! FEAR IT"

signet peered at the map one last time before they embarked. the holy highway was
coming into her mind and spirit...and a longing dripped from her teary eyes, splotting
on the already weather yellow faded map, similar to the rose that Al was wearing when
last seen. remember that, signet said out loud. what, signet? her companions asked.
oh, the faded yellow rose...or was it a patch, something. we'll meet her again.
God be with her and all those gathering...hmmm.

she noticed the ninja squirrel, lurking, and pulled her menorah out of her bag, raising
it up above her head... with that motion ninjasquirrellurkinglittleliar and puff bucket vanished!

somewhere from behind her, signet heard a voice. she pretended to talk into her
cell phone and said, where are you and what do you want? the Big Voice said, GO.

signet looked at zeetz and they both looked at Godsword. his eyes were big as
saucers with wonder and he even wondered outloud, is this the Mall? well, what about
the map? as they were puzzling over the puzzle of yellow faded map and crumpled tissues, dabbing at the traces of chocolate that spotted the map, the Big Voice spoke,
connect the dots...they all heard the message. they were deeply puzzled.

they tore up the map and each kept a piece...

Godsword, feeling pensive, said, "Look, gals: I've been riding around all day. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I have to go to the bathroom. This work-suit is very constricting. I'll be right back. In the meantime, keep an eye on your portions of the map, and watch out for suspicious-looking squirrels." And striding confidently away, Godsword headed for the men's room.

As Researcher would say.. "rut roh"!

hee hee ha ha ha ha....giggle

gaining her composure and trying to laugh up her sleeve, while waiting for Godsword's
change of attire (signifiying a change in direction)noting the squirrel brigade standing
guard at the Cinabun Bar, signet put her head down in ther arms, and swiftly fell off
the Cinabun Bar stool...

sprawl out, she looked up and the biggest of the little squirrel brigade made several
advances towards her...actually he advanced towards her in several steps, yes, that
is it. and she closed her eyes hoping that HIA would jump up and hia them into the
next kingdom...

All anyone heard signet say as she fell from her stool at the Cinabuns was "INCOMING!!!"
Feeling refreshed from his 4 hour shower / bathroom hiatus, and looking daper in his polyester jumpsuit, Godsword pulled his walky-talky out of his pocket..."Ballerina DOWN, I repeat, Ballerina is DOWN...send backup".

It was obvious to Zeetz that this meant WAR. Back up was on the way (if in fact the batteries were still good in Godsword's walky-talky), and they had to hold off the squirrels until help arrived.

These were no ordinary squirrels. The scum of the earth they were. They looked like the stand-ins for the cast of
"Kill Bill" .... Studying the enemy quickly for weakness, Zeetz noticed they were all specialty squirrels. "Dear Lord, protect signet!!!" she prayed....

There was Ninja #5 (Not to be confused with Mambo #5):



Abdul Hammoud:



Swinger:



BarFly:



DeathRay



Porky:



And the obvious brains of the insidious little band, DAISY MAE:


And OH YES, behind them all, in the shadows, there was BONO!!!!




NO! THIS BONO!! ----->>>

Affronted by the terror that was Bono #2, Godsword fled the building.

Godsword - DON'T LEAVE !!! COME BACK!!! Think about SIGNET!

I'm DYIN' OVER HEREEEEE !!!

Zeetz sobbed, "Oh dear, oh dear!!"

The squirrels were getting restless, and started to close in...

NOW WHAT ??????

hearing a not so distant voice, sounding like Zeetz, signet thought as she regained
consciousness, and with no time to process what was happening she came up from
the cold floor and did he very best ever ballerina leap and tottered out the theater
on her toes...not easy, but she was ever so quick to follow the lead of Godsword
and get out of that...what was this anyway, a Mall?

Godsword had never revealed the exact location that we all had met in...accept
signet remember something about...this isn't a Mall, you ninny! she may have been
reading Godsword's thoughts or rummaging through his thread, but she was pretty
certain they were lost.

Zeets, put on your glasses and run. there's Al, grab her hand...forget the sale,
and HIA is looking at camouflage at the Army Navy...pull her back pack and lets
get this little pack out of here, signet hollared, in an ever so nice hollar so as not
to seem to pushy or panicky. someone grab the Cinabuns...

Godsword, waaaaait for uuuus...

Godsword kept on running...faster...faster...faster...not stopping for a breath. All at once Godsword turned around and yelled; "Hold on girls. We need some help to fight this unholy herd of evil germs. Going for help, be right back!" Barfly was the only squirrel who was not a threat to the group of individuals who were trying to travel to the holy city and have an appointment...a divine appointment. Barfly kept on going from one beer can to the next and taking such large sips, and soon very soon Barfly would pass out from the drink. But the other squirrels were a threat to the traveling group and they had a blood thirsty look in their eyes. Death Ray had his eyes centered on Signet and was fastly approaching her with a evil shimmer in his eyes but Porky quietly advised..."Not yet...soon." Daisey Mae said, "Wait until the boss gives us permission to drop these folks like flies." Here Am I said without showing any fear, "Greater is the God in us than the slippery little germ you serve." Bono waving a gun around shouted, "The first one that moves gets to become stew for my pet squirrels." Bono barked orders at his unholy herd of demons and shouted, "Find the map. We got to stop them." The squirrels began to look, slither, and smell around." Signet whispered "We will get out of this. Just believe." Zeetz whispered, "Finally my nose stopped bleeding. Oh where is Godsword." Al smelled and touched the rose as a reminder that Godsword was coming back. Finally from off in the distance Godsword appeared with Zorro. Zorro fighter of evil:





Zorro asked Bono, "What seems to be the problem here?" Bono yelled, "Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Get out of here." Zorro turned to Godsword and quietly said, "Find your people and get out." Death Ray exclaimed, "We can't just let them leave." With a low and threatening growl deep within Zorro's throat he exclaimed, "I am on the side of fairness and goodness. If you want a fight than so be it....make my day." Bono and his unholy herd of squirrels knew that they were beaten at the moment but there would come a time when they would strike again.

Godsword began to wave his arms and yelling, "Come on." Zeetz, Signet, Adeline, Here I am, ran to meet him...but low and behold who do they find sitting in a corner admiring a doll? Pinky. So Al and Here I am grabbed pinky's arms and they all exited the mall as a team...a team with a purpose...a team that was willing to take risks for their Lord. They were not only a team but also a family.

With shakles raised Zoro and 5 companions escorted the family team out of town and on a beaten path to the Holy City. At the edge of town Zorro says, "Me and the boys will keep watch over you. But be careful. Just remember that God is stronger than any evil of this day..."

All at once they were all alone with a choice that must be made. Should they take the path that was well worn or the path traveled lest. The lest traveled path may be the more dangerous path but....................?

"Did I just say, 'Hold on girls'?", Godsword thought to himself as he panted for breath, while uncharacteristically admiring a pantsuit on sale in a store window.

Zeetz, Signet, Adeline, Here I am, Godsword, and now Pinky were standing at the crossroads. Godsword had to be pulled away from the pants suit display (but that was nothing new!)... HIA said "Well Al, you're right. We have to keep going, and the least traveled path looks like the way. "How do you know this is the least traveled path since it looks very similar to the other road?", Zeetz asked.
HIA replied "Because it shows very little evidence of any traffic". "It seems to be narrower...but if we all walk single file..." They all agreed.

Just then a scruffy little dog ran up to greet them. "Hi! My name is Loyal" he said, "can I join you?" "Sure!" they all said in unison, "you are most welcome to come along!"

Pinky was clutching her doll, and Godsword was eyeing it with suspicion. She remarked " Godsword, thank you for asking Zorro to help us! It's so good to know we are being protected on our way!"

Bolstered with gratitude that they had all been delivered out of a very dire situation, the ragged little band set off on the path, in single file, with Godsword in the lead. He was teaching the girls to believe and remember what he said no matter how contrary it appeared to their reasoning. He got help, and brought it back. There was more to this man than met the eye.

Off they went wondering what they would find along the road... Signet clutched her bag feeling for the menorah. "Wheww, good! It's still there." Then she asked " Should we sing a song as we go"? Godsword's face contorted in pain, and simply said "No."

Not learning their lesson quite fully yet, the girls began to sing a song!"



They were well on their way, and had finished their song, and everyone was commenting on the beautiful day. The sounds of click, click, tap, tap of the soles of their shoes on the brick pavement. Up ahead on the side of the road, there was a man sitting on the ground leaning up against a tree. As they got closer they noticed he seemed to look a bit familiar.

"Hello, do you need any help?", asked Godsword. The man looked up and they all gasped, because he looked just like Bono! "Why did you gasp when you looked at me just now?" He asked. Zeetz replied, "Well, I am sorry, but you look just like Bono, and the Bono we met back at the Mall was very scary and tried to hurt us!" The man put his head in his hands and sighed, "Yes, I know. You see, I am the REAL Bono. There is an imposter going around that dresses up crazy, and uses my name. I am constantly being mistaken for him, and he is causing me all sorts of problems. " Godsword could relate, and told him, "Yes, I had the same thing happen to me! There was someone who impersonated me back at the Mall too, and he made it look like I was singing New York, New York, which I hate with a passion. I'm glad we left the Mall...nothing was as it seemed. I believe you Bono, and we promise we won't judge you by this. If you need some friends, HERE WE ARE!"

With that the little dog "Loyal" perked up and went to Bono and licked his face. Bono Laughed, and smiled a big smile. "Thank you friends! You know my real name is Paul, so if you want to, please call me Paul."

Zeetz said "Ok Paul! Nice to meet you! We are traveling to a great city in the Land of the Living...would you like to join us?"
Bono got up, and with what seemed to be a tiny tear forming in his eye, smiled even bigger. "Yes, I would love to go with you! I've heard of that city, and I have always wanted to see it."

HIA gave out a big "Hooray!" and said, "Then it's settled! My how our group is getting bigger every day!"

They all shook hands and started off again, with "Paul" telling them all stories about his trips to Africa to help the poor and sick. And he told other stories about fame that made them laugh! He even sang a few tunes. He was a very GOOD singer! Even Godsword thought so!

pull out your map pieces, signet blurted out...

tear them up so everyone here has a piece of the map, memorize your portion and
tomorrow we will exchange our portion for another until we have each part memorized
then if we become separated...we will always remember the way, the truth and the life.

Signet then decided to make a point of using correct punctuation, but she kept a comma
on that thought,

Godsword, after careful and deep thought, said to Bono, "Dude, you've got a good voice, but your glasses look like something from The X-Men."

after careful consideration, signet knew that punctuation was not really important, but
only helped convey thoughts and information. she pondered the X men glasses idea
and realized it was coded information for the...yes, X files.

signet immediately turned to chapter 51 and waited...did Godsword know something?

well, yes, of course, he knew something but was he holding back a secret?

"I hope no one realizes I'm not wearing any aftershave," Godsword thought out loud, unfortunately in the hearing of signet.

it hit her between the eyes...or maybe between the ears, or was it on the nose?

she heard something, like after shave something...yes, she did hear that. what no aftershave? she thought.

aftershave? does Godsword shave? what an absolute revelation, she marveled.

she giggled with delight...

Zeetz laughed as they walked along, listening to the various conversations of the others. They each were holding their own piece of the map...connecting the dots in their minds. It was getting close to sunset, and they needed to find shelter for the evening. "Dear Lord", Zeetz prayed silently, " Please guide us to a safe haven for the night".

A bend in the road was up ahead. As they rounded it, off to the right there appeared a log cabin through the dewy haze of evening. "Is that a mirage or am I seeing a cabin?" said Al. "It sure looks like a cabin to me", Pinky chimed...
"Lets go see". They all made their way up to the cabin door. It appeared as if no one was home, and as Godsword knocked on the front door it eased open.

Inside the lanterns were shining, a warn fire was burning, and the table was set for dinner. They all were delighted to see a note taped to the captain's chair at the head of the dining table...

It read, " Hello! By now you have come in for the night and are reading this. I was told to make this place ready for you to spend the night by my Master who owns the surrounding lands as far as you can see in any direction here. He bids you welcome, and asks you please accept His hospitality and make yourselves at home. I won't be back until after you leave, but all you need is here. There is food in the oven, and many beds and sleeping bags in the family room. Also, there are 2 full bathrooms", (Godsword really perked up upon reading THAT!). ... Fresh clothes and blankets are already laid out for you". The note ended with the word "Rest."

HIA smiled and said, "Well isn't that nice! What a wonderful miracle!" They all agreed, and went about settling in for the night. It was still along way before they reached the City. After dinner they all gathered around the fire to study and comment on their pieces of the maps, and reflect on all they had been through up to that point...

After dinner, when they were all getting drowsy, Paul asked "Does anyone have a good story to share before we turn in?"

"No", said Godsword, concisely and truthfully.

"Ohhh, so is that the end?" Signet thought. Then she piped up with a very clarion voice,
like a bell, yes, like a bell, and said, "All is yes, and amen, brother".

Signet then sought out a cosy corner near the fireplace, pulled the sleeping bag
to her chosen spot and prepared to climb in ... hoping for an inspirational dream, or just some good zzzz's, when...

...when Adeline began to say what an exciting and eventful adventure all of us traveled today. One thing that has struck me is that no matter what happened today we all contributed our time and talents in order to help one another out of some sticky situations. Paul you asked if any of us had a story to share? Well, I would like to share a poem I learned as a little girl, taught me a valuable lesson back then:

"Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood--
Or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.

The next one looked cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.

The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood
A Chance to spite the white.

And the last man of his forlorn group
Did nought except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave
Was how he played the game,

Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands,
Was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from cold without--
They died from cold within."
James Patrick Kinney

Adeline finished reading this profound poem when Zeetz exclaimed, "Yes, I know what you mean. Remember when I was passed out on the stage with a bloody nose?" Signet spoke up, "Remember how all of you folks helped me when I was being threatened by Death Ray. Godsword spoke up and exclaimed, "Yes all you guys helped me over the hump when you thought I was the imposter singing (gag, cough, puke) New York, New York." Paul spoke up and with excitement said, "Yes we all have tales on how we benefited one another, but we are all bone tired. We should all try to get some shut eye because tomorrow we need to continue our journey to the Holy City. We also need to really try to decode and understand the map. Pinky spoke up and said I really think Here I Am could really help us in the decoding of that map. As Pinky spoke of Here I am, the group looked for her and found that she was sound asleep and looked so cozy.

Good nights were exchanged and all fell into a fitful sleep but one lone ranger...seems that this person saw something in the dark wilderness that needed to be watched.............

Pinky, while holding her doll, quietly crept towards Here I Am, like a kitten creeping towards something moving, shiney or dangley. Pinky gets down low incase she is seen, wriggles her bottom and goes for the "kill" and pounces on Here I Am to wake her up. Here I Am wakes up startled with Pinky laughing her head off and is quickly gone chasing something else. After a while, Pinky hadnt shown up anywhere and everyone was starting to get worried that Pinky might have gotten herself lost, or worse. While Al and all the others were searching for the lost Pinky, Al came across something shiney and saw something pink attached to it. Out of curiosity, Al went towards thing weird shiney thing....and sure enough, found Pinky, curled up asleep with a weird shiney contraption that she had never seen before.

Paul picked up the shiney object that had fallen out of Pinky's hands and began to examine the key. Paul exlaimed, "I'll be darned, this looks like a key they use in Africa. These keys were popular in the early 1900's. I thought in America they were obsolete." Godsworth asked, " What does this key unlock?" They all thought for a moment and Signet said, "One more mystery to unravel." Now Zeetz and HAI were in the corner speaking with one another and when they realized that the room was in total silence Zeetz exclaimed, "Another piece of the puzzle is almost solved." "Yes," said HAI, "This key unlocks a door somewhere and this key may help us in our map reading skills." Now Adeline totally needed her rest and asked, "Comm'on folks. It's only 4:00 AM can we get a little more sleep before we begin solving another mystery?" But Paul looking out the window said, "Don't think we have much time left. We've got company...................."

They all went to the window and with it being 4am, it was still dark out... but as eyes began to adjust to the dark, they started to see the glimmer of little lights, yes TORCHES! Whoever and whatever was coming was obviously trying to sneak up on the cabin, and they were not very tall! The thought crossed their minds that the Evil Squirrel Gang (a glorified Rat Pack) was at it again. They were still a ways off across a large field, so Godsword judged they maybe had a half hour to get it together and leave. Luckily the intruders were coming up from behind, so the little band of pilgrims could leave from the front of the cabin out to the main road undercover....

Pinky seemed a little afraid, so signet wrapped her shawl around her and told her not to worry, and began a prayer for protection and escape...they all bowed their heads and prayed together. "Lord, please send us help and directions to escape the approaching enemy..."

Immediately a beautiful and brilliant light shown in the room! A voice spoke gently and yet with authority, "Hello little pilgrims!" They looked in the direction of the voice, and lo and behold! There was ZORRO, the noble fox! "I told you I would not leave you alone! And here I am! HIA said, "Hey, that's my name! " They all laughed!

ZORRO continued, "The Master has heard your prayers. I am assigned to help you through your journey, so the enemies approach is no surprise to me. Did you wonder why you were led here to rest ? The Master knew you were coming and even though you could not see me, I, and others who belong to Him guided you here. You also may not have noticed, but there is a garage attached to this cabin, and in it you will find a Range Rover to take you out of here quickly. The door is over there, and the keys are in the vehicle. When you leave the driveway, take a right onto the main road, and floor it."

They all looked towards the door to the garage that ZORRO pointed to, and when they looked back - HE WAS GONE!!!

"WOW!" they all said in unison.....Then Paul snapped them out of it, "OK everyone, good thing we are traveling light", Paul said, 'Let's get our rears in gear! Get dressed, grab your stuff, take some food and water in a box, and let's get to the vehicle."

They were a sharp bunch. They were ready to leave and inside the Range Rover in 10 minutes flat! They hit the automatic garage door button...it raised quickly, and with Godsword at the wheel, they shot out of there like a bullet in a gun!

They turned right onto the main road as Zorro instructed, and Godsword really liked the way the vehicle handled! "Awwww, smell that rich Corinthian leather!" he mused. Zeetz then said, "Corinthian leather? That reminds me of a scripture I love! "

II Corinthians 5:16 - 21

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

"AMEN and AMEN they all shouted!!! Land of the Living, here we come!!!"

Adeline was eyeing Godsword's driving with great interest. She saw a note taped to the dash..."What's this?", she wondered. She read the note out loud: "The red button on the dash will bring up a pre-programmed GPS unit to help guide you way. This GPS stands for God's Plan of Salvation ...ENJOY!"

Godsword reached out to press the button....

"Can you imagine", said Signet, "how this is coming together?"

She threw her tassled shawl over the ones that she loved so dearly, her travel mates,
her companions, and she asked The Holy One, Keeper of the Gates, and King of the Universe, to allow them to make it to their homeward bound passage.

The King of the Universe, once sought, blessed the promise of His Son upon the little
company and sent the light of stars and guidance of heaven to help them along the
treacherous passage through the valley...