Messenger by Lois Lowry

had been finalized, Matty trudged home beside the blind man. At first they were silent. There was nothing to be said. Their world had changed now.
    After a bit Matty tried to talk, to be cheerful, to make the best of things.
    â€œI suppose he’ll send me out now to all the other villages and communities with the message. I’ll be doing a lot of traveling. I’m glad it isn’t winter yet. It’s hard in snow.”
    â€œHe came in snow,” the blind man said. “He knows what it’s like.”
    Matty wondered for a moment what he was talking about. Who?
Oh yes,
he thought.
The little sled.
    â€œLeader knows better than anyone about things,” Matty remarked. “And he’s still younger than many.”
    â€œHe sees beyond,” Seer said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHe has a special gift. Some people do. Leader sees beyond.”
    Matty was startled. He had noticed the quality of Leader’s pale blue eyes, how they seemed to have a kind of vision most people didn’t have. But he had not heard it described that way before.
    It made him think of what he had only recently come to know about himself.
    â€œSo some people, like Leader, have a special gift?”
    â€œIt’s true,” Seer replied.
    â€œIs it always the same? Is it always—what did you say?—seeing beyond?”
    They were nearing the curve in the path where it branched off and led to their homeplace. Matty watched in awe, as he always did, how the blind man felt the coming curve and knew even in his darkness where to turn.
    â€œNo. It’s different for different people.”
    â€œDo you have it? Is that how you know where to walk?”
    The blind man laughed. “No. I’ve learned that. I’ve been without eyes for many years. At first I stumbled and bumped into things. People had to help me all the time. Of course in the old days in Village, people were quick to help and guide.”
    His voice became bitter. “Who knows what will happen now?”
    They had arrived at the house and could hear Frolic scratching at the door and woofing in excitement at the sound of their approach.
    Matty didn’t want the conversation to end here. He wanted to tell the blind man about himself, about his secret.
    â€œSo you don’t have a special gift, like Leader, but other people do?”
    â€œMy daughter does. She told me of it that night, the night you took me to her.”
    â€œKira? She has a special gift?”
    â€œYes, your old friend Kira. The one who taught you manners.”
    Matty ignored that. “She must be all grown up now. I saw her last time I was there, but it’s been almost two years. But, Seer, what do you mean . . .”
    The blind man stopped unexpectedly on the steps leading to the door.
“Matty!”
he said with sudden urgency.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’ve just realized. The border will be closing in three weeks.”
    â€œYes.”
    Seer sat down on the steps. He put his head in his hands. Sometimes he did that when he was thinking. Matty sat beside him and waited. He could hear Frolic inside, throwing himself against the door in frustration.
    Finally the blind man spoke. “I want you to go to your old village, Matty. Leader will be sending you anyway, with the message.
    â€œHe’ll no doubt send you to several places. But, Matty, I want you to go to your old village first. Leader will understand.”
    â€œBut I don’t.”
    â€œMy daughter. She said some day she would come here to live, when the time was right. You know her, Matty. You know she had things to accomplish there first.”
    â€œYes. And she has, Seer. I could tell when I was last there. Things have changed. People take good care of their children now. And . . .”
    He hesitated, unable to speak for a moment, because the memory of his own abuse had returned. Then he added simply, “Kira made things change. Things are better