As the day wore on, they entered a wood, clouds partially obscured the sun, and the way became rockier. It seemed almost like evening, things were so dark and indistinct. After stumbling several times, Seth stopped and sat down by the path.
"I still feel marvelous, and I'm certainly enjoying our travels together. But I'm beginning to have a little trouble moving forward. I'm getting tired, and I'm having trouble seeing my way. Shouldn't we stop, or get a light, or something?"
"No, you have all you need."
Seth looked up at Maturity questioningly, to discover that another man had joined them. He, not Maturity, was the one who had spoken.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said, you have all you need."
Seth observed that the speaker was a man about Maturity's age, height, and weight. He was dressed neatly but rather severely in a formal business suit that seemed somewhat out of place on the path in the woods. The stranger continued.
"You see, when the bridge over the chasm was just being completed, and before the paths were laid out, there was a need for more light. And it took longer to get through the country, so there was a need for refreshment stands where one could pause and build one's strength. But that was years ago, and the course is now set. All you have to do is keep moving. You may make some wrong turns, but you'll eventually make it all right, without extra light or refreshment."
It appeared he was going to say more, but Seth interrupted. "I see what you're saying, and I have no doubt I'll reach my destination, now that I'm across the chasm. But wouldn't it be better if I was equipped to move along in good time and without wasted energy, needless detours, stumbling, and backtracking?"
The stranger started to respond, but another person appeared on the path at that moment. "No!" he interrupted, sharply. "Don't tell him that he has all he needs. That is sheer nonsense! Everybody knows that you can't possibly get along without special road helps."
Seth started to ask about road helps, but he didn't need to, because the new arrival kept right on talking. "You need lights. You need maps. You need weather reports and road reports. You need lots of nourishing food, and you even need language lessons so you can talk to the natives. Nobody should be without these things. Anyone who sets out without the right equipment is just plain stupid!"
He looked meaningfully at the first stranger, and Seth had an instant to look at the newcomer. Again, he was about Maturity's age but, whereas the first arrival was dressed conservatively, this man had on very casual attire - flashy, is the word that came to Seth's mind - and his attitude, like his speech, was flamboyant and brash.
"I repeat, none of that is necessary," said the first stranger.
"I repeat, it is necessary, you dummy!" rejoined the second.
"It is not."
"Is too, idiot."
They seemed to forget all about Seth as they bickered back and forth, and they wandered down the path and out of sight. The sound of their arguing could be heard ahead in the forest. Seth turned to Maturity, who had been standing quietly nearby during the exchange.
"Who were they?"
"The first is called Postapostle, and the second is Charismatic. I suspect we shall see more of them before long."
"They're an odd pair! I dare say, I agree with the man with the travel kit more than I do the other, but I certainly don't like his language or his attitude. They seem very much out of place this side of the chasm."
"You've seen well, on both counts," responded Maturity. "To stumble when you could have light, to be weak and hungry when food is provided, is sheer folly. As for the attitudes, we have a saying this side of the chasm: even if we are right in principle, we are wrong if our words and deeds are not well-meaning, charitable, and constructive." He said that with great stilted dignity, as if he were repeating a venerated old proverb with tongue in cheek. He was, but only because it gave a good effect and emphasized the words. "Better for a neighbor to stumble along in darkness than for you to provide a light, then purposely trip him."
Seth laughed. "I see what you mean. We have to do things for the right reasons, or else we're just wasting our time."
"Not only wasting time, but possibly causing real injury. There is tremendous power for good or ill in what we say and do."
* * * *
Seth and his friend had not gone more than another quarter-mile when they came to a branching of their path. One way went to the left, and appeared to end abruptly at the edge of a very deep canyon. A second path, leading to the right, seemed to get lost immediately in a dense tangle of thorn bushes and brambles. A third, going straight on, was narrow but could be seen for many miles. Far ahead, there was a faint twinkling of light that showed up even though it was daylight. Much to Seth's surprise, but apparently not to Maturity's, there at the crossroads were Charismatic and Postapostle.
Charismatic was seated on the ground with the contents of a brown envelope strewed out before him. There were papers and maps, a flashlight, and various other objects not readily identifiable to Seth. Postapostle was walking from path to path, looking puzzled and impatient.
"I see we meet again," said Seth. "Do you know the way?"
"No!" they both replied, emphatically and in unison.
"Well, it seems obvious enough," ventured Seth. "The left path seems to end at that cliff, and the right seems to enter that bramble patch. The middle road seems to go straight ahead for many miles."
Postapostle snorted, uncharitably. "Well, not everything is as it seems."
Maturity spoke up for the first time. "Very true, Postapostle, everything is not always as it seems. But the way is obvious if you have directions to the right path. Right, Charismatic?"
Charismatic looked up and started to smile, then ducked his head sheepishly. "Well, yes, I have a lot of things here - much more than he does..." He looked at Postapostle.
"Then, why are you sitting here?" asked Seth.
Charismatic glanced down again. "Well, to tell the truth, if the directions are in here I haven't found them yet. I mean... well, there are several things here that I haven't figured out yet."
"Well, I know the way," interrupted Maturity, "And we should be on it." He produced a brown envelope from his jacket pocket.
"A travel kit!" exclaimed Seth. "I didn't know you had one."
"It isn't something to take special pride in." Maturity glanced meaningfully at Charismatic, who ducked his head once again. "They are free, and everyone can have one. In fact, everyone should have one." He glanced at Postapostle this time, who turned away. "I take it you haven't received yours yet, Seth."
"No, I haven't. I didn't even know there was a travel kit until we met these two."
"Don't you recall a small house - a visitors' station - just where you crossed the chasm? They hand the kits out there, and give instructions regarding their use."
"I'm afraid I got a little involved there at first," replied Seth. "I was so excited, and then I met Settled... "
"Oh, yes: Settled. She does have her confusion value! Well, no matter; the King knows that some will miss out at the start, so he has a number of places where you can get a kit. Right over there, for one."
He pointed off to the edge of the path, and for the first time Seth noticed a small stand, on which was printed "Take One". There were a number of brown envelopes in a container on the stand. Seth did take one, and walked back to where Maturity had opened his kit and had taken out a large map.
"Now," began Maturity, "If you look at your map - look, read the legend and see what the symbols mean - you will see that what appears to be the right road really is. That light far in the distance is here on the map." He pointed. "That's the King's City, where we are eventually headed."
Postapostle had been peering over their shoulders, and he now interrupted. "Wait a minute, how can you be sure that is an authentic map? I understand that there are a lot of tricksters around, passing out bogus ones. You'd be in a real fix if you got one of those. Consequently, I didn't take any!"
"True," replied Maturity, "There are false and misleading ones, but really bad fakes won't be found very far from the chasm. Anyway, this one and the one Seth just acquired are definitely authentic. You can tell with the Discernoscope."
He had taken an instrument somewhat like a magnifying glass out of his travel kit, and was holding it over the lower left corner of his map. "See, this is the King's official seal. Nothing but the King's own property can carry that."
He showed Postapostle the seal on Seth's map, but Postapostle turned his back and walked a few feet away.
"That's all very well and good, but you need one of those - those glasses, to see it."
"True, but every travel kit has one."
"Yes," said Seth, who had been checking his own travel kit. "Here's mine."
Postapostle did not turn around or respond, and Charismatic kept his head bent and his eyes averted. There was silence for some time.
"Well," said Maturity, at last, "We must be on our way. The afternoon is well along. Will you come with us?"
"I believe I'll try these other roads for a little ways, first," responded Postapostle, without turning around.
"I'll look at my travel kit a little more," said Charismatic.
"Well, you'd both better hurry. There is an excellent lodging place just ahead, but dinner is served promptly at dusk, and then the doors are shut until morning."
Seth and Maturity walked on.
***
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