Under the Stars Read Online Free Page B

mean?”
    “Well, not just that. We’ll be around people, so socializing and gossiping are a given. Then there’s the prospect of men for you, Andy, and women, eventually, for Mattie.”
    Mattie scrunches his face like he smells something foul. I don’t blame him. He’s too young to think about girls.
    “How about friends, Mattie? Little boys that you can play ball with. How does that sound?” I ask.
    The corner of his mouth moves slightly, but not a full grin. I know that excites him more. Perhaps he’ll open up if there are other kids his age.  
    Once the tent is up, we slide in for an afternoon nap. The shade from the tent provides enough cover that it’s tolerable. Mama and Mattie quickly fall asleep, and I’m left keeping watch. I miss the wagon. And Malik.
    8.
    When night shrouds the daylight, my eyelids become heavy. I struggle to hold them open. My mind says stay alert, just in case. But my body fights against me. Winning.
    9.
    Something with a slimy yet rough exterior wakes me up by crawling into my ear. I immediately move my hands to keep this creature out. I don’t want my brains eaten or anything.
    Then I see what it is.
    A tongue. A camel’s tongue.
    Its head is sticking through the tent opening. Some men outside laugh. I shoo it and crawl outside. I’m stopped cold in my tracks when I see caravans upon caravans of weary travelers headed in the same direction.
    “What’s this?” I ask to no one in particular.
    “They’re all heading to Legora,” the camel’s owner states.
    We can travel with them. Safety in numbers—that’s what Mama always said. I go back inside the tent to wake Mama and Mattie.
    “Look! Come look!” I shout.
    Mama’s the first to wake. “What is it, Andy?”
    “A sea of travelers headed to Legora.” I point outside. Mama ducks her head so she can see out of the tent’s opening. Her eyes grow large, and she reaches over to shake Mattie.
    “Today’s the day, Mattie. We’re going to make it,” she says, rousing him from a deep slumber. “Look.” She pulls a flap of the tent back.
    Breath catches in his throat. His eyes lust after the wandering soldiers like they’re forgotten pieces of a treasure.
    “C’mon,” I say, pulling Mattie up. We watch the crowd parade through the sands, leaving only their footprints behind. These people are in a hurry to get to Legora, and we need to be with them.
    After Mama and Mattie step out of the tent, I hurriedly take it apart. They roll the sleeping bag, hooking it to the backpack Mattie’s been carrying.
    “Oh, it’s finally happening,” Mama says, unable to contain her excitement.  
    We fall in formation with the other travelers to start the beginning of our new life. We’re so close, yet so far. Legora is finally within our grasp.  
 
 
 
     
    Tonight, everyone camps together. There are at least one hundred people, all with their personal belongings—animals, clothing, painted flagons. I even see one woman toting an ornamented jewelry box; it’s covered in red velvet, and the edges are lined in gold twine and jewels.
    The people are more than welcoming. Children play tag through the maze of wagons and carts. Some of the men have gathered around a campfire and drink to the exhilarating occasion. Women begin to dance around another fire like the gypsies.
    And then I think of Malik, wondering where he’s at this very moment, wondering if I’ll ever see him again. I don’t know if he ever got over killing that man, or the devastating loss of his people. I’ve tried to block that memory from my mind. One day my conscience will get the best of me, but for now, I have to stay tough for Mama and Mattie. Just until we get to Legora.
    “I wonder how long it’ll be before the cold reaches us tonight,” Mama says.
    I shake my head. “I don’t know. Some nights, I wish it wouldn’t come at all.”
    She softly pats my arm.
    “At least we only have until tomorrow,” I say. “Everything in the past two weeks has