"The Wizard" by Karen L. Crumley

I was just a young girl, when I first saw him. It only took a minute for me to realize exactly who and what he was. His long, gray beard hung to his knees. But his blue eyes were even more youthful than mine. He carried himself with a certain quiet charm. And, I knew that I could pose him with any question, and the wisdom of the ages would spill fourth past his lips.

He started to whisper...something. Maybe, some old tune from long ago. He was hunting for something...in the brush, in the forest. "Where did I put ye'?" he murmured.

I, sitting under a large elm tree, eyed him curiously. The man, shrouded in a robe of indigo, pretended that he didn't see me there. Pretended that he didn't have an audience. "Where did I set you, my friend."

I sat quiet for a moment. If he needed any help, I'd gladly give it...If I only knew what he was looking for.

He walked a little further on. And, something about this old man intrigued me. What was he looking for? And, why? How did he loose it?

He walked over the hillside, just a bit. a few feet further, though, and he'd have been out of my view entirely. I jumped to my feet, and dusted off my skirt. I ran a hand through my red hair, freeing it of the leaves from the tree that had fallen there.

I proceeded down the hillside, though I kept my distance. I didn't want the old man to think I was stalking him. Though, I now realize one such as he could never be frightened by a young peasant girl like me...

I suddenly lost my footing, and slid further downhill. My eyes then turned to the rocky hillside, minding where I put my feet. However, the soft leather soles of my slippers provided no traction, and I slipped again. I fell, tumbling down hill. Landing on the soft, green grass of a meadow.

A deer, startled by my presence, ran off in the opposite direction.

But as I raised my eyes again, looking about. The wizard had disappeared.

My heart raced, my face felt warm and flushed. I mannaged, somehow, to get to my feet.

"Where had he gone?" I asked myself. "And, why...why am I so compelled to follow him, to find him?" I knew not why...what was it about him that intrigued me so. Perhaps I saught his knowledge, and wisdom...? Perhaps I felt that he held the keys of destiny, and the answers about what the future holds for me? I had scanned the entire area, with my eyes. The man was no where to be found...

I started down the path that I believed he'd taken. It ran Northeast through the forest, and eventually ended at a pond under the willows. A lovely spot. A very quiet spot.... I kept on the path, through the dense part of the forest, as the crows cawed, and eyed me curiously. Almost a warning for me to keep away. But, I had to press on... I wanted to see him. I was compelled to catch up to him. THough I knew not, for the life of me, why I was so determined.

Once I arrived at the pond, I could not find him. I looked everywhere, Walked the entire circumference of the little pond, calling "Where did you go? You couldn't have gone far, could you? Where did you go?" I could not find any trace of the bearded, old man with those sparkling blue eyes.

But, as I listened to the wind blow, I heard his voice tickle my ear. "Now, where did I set you last, my friend? Where might you be?"

I stood up, and followed the sound of the voice. "where did you go? Who are you calling? Who are you looking for?"

I followed the voice to the other side of the pond. It sounded as if it was coming from behind the trees there. But, as I peeked around the trunk of a tree, all I saw was a dark grey cat, who peered at me with yellow eyes... and then took off into the forest. "Where are you?" I called again, now even more determined to find the man. The meow of a cat was all I heard...

"Where...?" I said, as My voice trembled. I was now on a mission. As the sun set, over the treetops, I was now bound and determined to find the old wizard. I could not help myself. It was becoming an obsession. "Where are you, old man. And what is it that you're searching for?"

Perhaps he's found it. and was headed home. Wherever home was. But, I just had to find out. I just had to know. "Where are you, Great Wizard?"

By all practical means, I should turn and head for home. But, I just couldn't bring myself to...until I'd satisfied my nagging curiousity, my need to find the old wizard.

Stepping closer to the pond, I sat on a rock below the willows. The sun had nearly set. All that remained of it was an orange hue, showing between the branchess of trees. Little spotlights on the dragonflies that seemed to perform a ballet for my benefit. The wind was still. The Opalescent moon became quite visible over the treetops. Only the sounds of the forest remained. I stared down, into the ripples of the pond, where I could have sworn I heard water sprites giggling at me, at my foolishness. My foolishness at following a wizard through a forest, at dusk... My innocent infatuation with someone as mystical as they are. However, I knew better. I realized that it was only crickets and locusts chirping thier nighttime tune.

"AAAh, there you are my sweet." I heard his voice say, "There you are." I glanced to the west side of the pond, to see him standing there. Those eyes, shining as he stared at the object he held in his hand. A crystal ball. "There you are."

Looking over at me, he smiled. I smiled back, waving at him.

He'd finally found it...
And, I had found him.