We did not wish to speak. For we needed
no words to remember that which has happened to us.
It was on our second day in the forest that
we heard steps behind us. We hid in the bushes,
and we waited. The steps came closer.
And then we saw the fold of a white tunic
among the trees, and a gleam of gold.
We leapt forward, we ran to them, and
we stood looking upon the Golden One.
They saw us, and their hands closed into
fists, and the fists pulled their arms down,
as if they wished their arms to hold them,
while their body swayed. And they could
not speak.
We dared not come too close to them.
We asked, and our voice trembled:
"How did you come to be here, Golden One?"
But they whispered only:
"We have found you. . . ."
"How did you come to be in the forest?"
we asked.
They raised their head, and there was a
great pride in their voice; they answered:
"We have followed you."
Then we could not speak, and they said:
"We heard that you had gone to the
Uncharted Forest, for the whole City is
speaking of it.
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