Paths to destiny.

Chapter 4. Yes and no.

Mueller took note of the sudden tension which Gabriel had while the girl walked close to the spot where they were.

"Good morning," the girl greeted.

"How are you doing today, Abby?"

"Fine pa. I see you have a visitor, maybe I should give you some privacy."

"O! This is Gabriel, he was just passing by. Gabriel meet my granddaughter, Abby."

"Nice to meet you, Abby. Anyway, I was already on my way so there's nothing to worry about." Gabriel continued to the exit and left the house.

As he left the house, his spirit caused him not to go far from the house so he just hung around the premises. This was because his spirit had identified and accepted her to be of great help in his quest, and for the first time, the last words of his dying father were not heard in his head so he believed that Abby was the one who could help with information.

Even though his spirit had aligned with her, he was having this doubt that she would not have the answers he needed because she was young and probably would not know much. But since he felt that everyone in Tadeas knew his father, then she would also know one or two things that could help.

After an hour of waiting at a corner for Abby to come out of the house, she finally came out heading for the main street.

"Excuse me miss…." He called running after her.

Turning around to see Gabriel, "It's you again? Gabriel right?"

"Yes it is. Permit me to borrow some of your time?"

"That won't be a problem at all. My grandfather had already told me that you would need some help in finding your way around here. He says you are new to the Mayca and Tadeas at large. So it's my pleasure to help you out."

After she finished, Gabriel was short of words. He did not know where and how to begin in asking her about his father. So he just stood silent staring at her as he thought of the best way to ask his question.

"I'm sure you're confused as to why we chose to help. It's really something strange but you can take your time. Whereas, you are welcomed in the house."

Now Gabriel could not turn down the offer again. He did not know when he concurred. "Sure, I actually do not even know where I'm headed."

*****

The sun was now setting. Gabriel was sitting with Mueller and Abby inside the house. They have all been silent gazing at each other for over thirty minutes with no one wanting to break the silence.

Finally, Mueller had to call off the silence, "So tell me child, what exactly brought you to Tadeas?"

"Just wanted to see the world outside my town."

Mueller knew he was lying but decided to pretend and play along. "So how long have you been on the journey of yours to see the world?"

"A couple of weeks."

"Then tell us, how is the world out there? Tell us of your experience in the countries you visited before coming to ours?"

"If you ask me, I'll say it's not that bad. It is just as peaceful as the country of Tadeas."

The word 'peaceful' caught him, Tadeas was for sure not peaceful at all. "Would mind telling us more. Maybe we would love to move to one of the countries you've visited in the past few days of your journey."

At this point, Gabriel was getting sick of his lies. He did not know how to continue with them nor did he know how to make amends. He had no other experience than that which he had in his supposed hometown, Gytle.

"I'm sorry sir. Can we start all over?"

"Interesting…" Mueller changed his sitting posture as he knew where Gabriel was driving. He was an old man with so much experience. So none of Gabriel's actions were new to him.

Abby, sitting by his left, was lost as to why Gabriel said they should start all over. She was young, about seventeen years of age. And there was no way she would understand all their terms.

"Okay, let's start with you telling us where you are from."

"I'm from Gytle."

"Gytle?!" Abby exclaimed in shock.

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Gabriel sure was confused. This was the second time someone was shocked after hearing that he came from Gytle. He looked at Mueller and he too was amazed. And the eyes of Gabriel told Mueller that he needed answers.

"How many have told that you were from Gytle?"

"Only a woman in Ceevah," Gabriel said simply. "Is there any problem with where I'm from?"

"Yes and no."

"Can you please explain what you mean?"

"People from Gytle are known for one thing, they are not travelers and they had everything they needed in their small town. So I bet there must be something of high importance that has caused you to leave Gytle. And of all time now."

Gabriel was getting more interested, he knew for sure that he was getting close to finding his answers. "What is wrong with the time I chose?"

"I can only continue after you have told me the reason for your journey."

"Well, there is no special reason as to why I left Gytle."

Then Mueller fixed a strange gaze into Gabriel's eyes. From those looks, Gabriel knew for sure that Mueller could tell when he was lying.

"I came to Tadeas to learn about someone?"

"Who?!"

"Ronald Rodgers."

Then Abby was about to spill some words out when Mueller turned to her, "Ah ah ah..." and then to Gabriel. "Son, are you sure you know what you are saying?"

"Yes sir. I want to know about him."

"Why do you want to know this man?"

"Uhh…."

"If you tell any lie, then we're done." Mueller warned because he knew what Gabriel was about saying.

"A lot of soldiers from Tadeas came to Gytle recently and they were all asking after him. So I decided to find out why."

"I am sure there is more."

"None other than we were close to each other." Then the eyes of both Mueller and Abby met as she said. "Pa, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I guess I am." Mueller turns again to Gabriel who was now confused due to their strange action. "Since you say you were close to Ronald, can you tell us the name you knew him as before the arrival of the soldiers? That way you'll prove your claim."

"I knew him as Newton."

Then Mueller was convinced that Gabriel knew exactly who he was talking about. "In that case, you also know his son?"

"Yes, he was my friend."

"Are you saying he is dead?"

Gabriel nodded with seriousness that Mueller could not tell that it was a lie.

Mueller's mood instantly changed. He felt pity for the lost and the room was quiet as Gabriel also pretended to be affected. He had worn a sorrowful face just as Mueller and Abby did. The quietness lasted for a while, and it was making Gabriel run out of patients.

The mournful look on their faces, especially Mueller's mood told Gabriel that Ronald was of high value to them. But he still did not know how. His eagerness to know about his father grew more and more. But he was stock, he had to allow them to mourn for as long as they wanted. So far that at the end of the mourning, he would get the answers he sought for.