Seventh Dimension - The King - Book 2, A Young Adult Fantasy by Lorilyn Roberts Page B

she wore mascara—unheard of in
first century Palestine—unless you were a person of
means.
    I knew nothing
about her mother. Shale reminded me of the girls back home—a
sophisticated worldliness that had its virtues and
flaws.
    “We missed you,
Baruch,” said Scylla. She patted the donkey. “I’m glad you’re home
now.”
    I was surprised
at Scylla’s kindness towards the animal although she had always
made sure the animals had food and the best care—her one redeeming
quality.
    “And what about
the rabbit?” asked Scylla. “Can my servant take the animal back
with Baruch? We have a cave where we keep the animals safe at
night, a stable.”
    Shale hesitated.
    I smiled reassuringly. “I can give him some
vegetables.”
    “It’s a she,” Shale corrected me. “Her name is
Cherios.”
    I squirmed. “Pardon me. Let me take Cherios and
Baruch and give them each some food and water.”
    She relented with my reassurance.
    “How about your bag?”
    “Bag—yes, but I think I’ll hold on to the
knapsack.”
    Shale patted Baruch, the donkey. “See you in a bit,
and you, too, Cherios.” She handed me a blanket. “If you would take
that also.”
    I led the
donkey around to the back, holding the white rabbit underneath my
arm.
    Judd sat on the rocky ledge that led to the cave’s
door. Ambivalence shadowed his face. He eyed Baruch with
familiarity. “So Shale has arrived?”
    I nodded.
“Where do I put this donkey?”
    Without answering my question, Judd’s eyes turned to
the rabbit. “She brought a rabbit?”
    “Yes.”
    “I bet he’d taste good in rabbit soup.”
    I scrawled at him. “Cherios is a pet rabbit, and
it’s a she.”
    Judd looked
indignant. “So what does Shale look like?” He stood and followed
me.
    No sooner was
the cave door cracked than Much-Afraid bolted. She ran around the
yard sniffing the air as if chasing a faint scent. Then she ran
back and pawed at Baruch with unveiled excitement. The dog licked
Baruch’s face and crouched in friendly submission, wagging her
tail. Curtsy sashays and whimpers of joy followed. Was this a dog’s
way of saying, “Welcome home”?
    After a few
minutes, Much-Afraid ran to the back portico and sat, wagging her
tail at the closed door.
    How did she
know we had a guest? I called her but she ignored me. I put out
food—but she didn’t even want that. Shale had won over the heart of
Much-Afraid without even meeting her—or so I thought.
     
     
    *~*~*~*
     
     
    Judd
disappeared just as he was needed—after I realized Much-Afraid
wasn’t going to leave the back portico. Which stall did he prepare
for the donkey? I led the donkey inside the cave, still clutching
the rabbit that was now wiggling to be free.
    I closed the
cave door behind me to make sure she couldn’t escape, but I was
hesitant to put her down until I could find the right container. We
had open wooden crates and water jugs and horse stalls and
pigsties, but nothing seemed appropriate for a small white
rabbit.
    As I sat on the bench holding the animal, the donkey
walked towards the middle of the cave and stood in front of a
stall.
    I opened the gate and Baruch entered. Soon he was
munching on fresh feed. Suddenly the rabbit jumped out of my arms
and buried herself in the donkey’s hay. Baruch leaned over and
sniffed. Cherios hopped on his head, scurried up his neck, and
plopped down on the donkey’s back. The rabbit stared at me
bright-eyed wiggling her nose.
    Who was I to
argue with a donkey and a rabbit? They had already decided where
they wanted to be. I didn’t need Judd to tell me.
    I needed to
check on Nathan. Was he still waiting in his room? Since Brutus had
left unexpectedly, I wasn’t sure if I was to introduce Nathan to
Shale.
    I closed the
cave door and headed back to the house.
    Mari saw me
through the window and smiled.
    When I entered
the house, she greeted me. “She’s a lovely girl, isn’t
she?”
    I nodded.
    She motioned
for me to come closer.
    “You will