Pathway chapter 3

I submitted this, and all my indentations for paragraphs were erased! Plus, apostrophes have become question marks. I never had this problem before!

Mount Shalvah glowed majestically in the light of the rising sun, a wondrous sight that could capture even the most inexpressive hearts and leave them contemplating its beauty for minutes on end. Sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight, crystal-clear springs trickled down the mountain, slaking the thirst of over a million inhabitants of the golden city below. Rich vegetation and deciduous forests blanketed the mountain, displaying every vibrant green that was pleasing to the eye. And entwining itself around the pear-shaped mountain, an unbroken set of marble steps led to the summit, forcing a two-day journey on whoever ascended them.
For most, the laborious climb would have been exhausting. But not for Simas, whose strong, athletic lungs had barely been winded by his jog up the winding steps. He???d made it to the top in a record half-a-day, embarking on his leg-pumping ascent near midnight, when an urgent message had reached him from his master, instructing him to come to the top of Mount Shalvah as soon as possible.
It was the first urgent message Simas had received in a while, and he was chagrined at its implications. It meant his days of off duty were coming to a disheartening end, and he would soon be thrown back into the frays of battle.
Nevertheless, he would gladly do anything his master desired of him.
Anything.
Simas finally soared off the steps and touched foot on the summit, onto a cobble-stone walkway surrounded by evenly spaced evergreens. There, in the middle of the walkway, master Yeshmuel stood still as a statue, hands clasped behind his back as his gaze became lost in the orange sunrise. His long, silverish tunic rippled in a light breeze.
When Yeshmuel turned to stare at Simas, Simas???s legs weakened. Yeshmuel???s eyes pierced through the soul, possessing such a mixture of intense authority and unlimited compassion that the two attributes cleaved together to form an expression all of its own. Simas and his people, the Cherubi, considered Yeshmuel to be their king, but Yeshmuel preferred to be called their guide, their helper.
Simas approached slowly, his head bowed respectfully. Yeshmuel closed the remaining distance between them and drew Simas in with a tight embrace. Simas felt humbled, though he knew Yeshmuel greeted everyone in this fashion, from the highest to the lowest. Although, in Yeshmuel???s eyes, neither existed.
Yeshmuel released him and patted him lovingly on the back. My dear Simas, it warms my heart to see you after so many years.
Simas folded his arms and tried to sound unfazed by being in his master???s presence. Still, he couldn???t hide a slight quaver from his voice. ???Um, yes, lord Yeshmuel, it???s an honor to see you again as well. I ascended the mountain at record speed,??? he said with a sense of pride. ???I knew you wanted me to arrive with extreme haste.???
Yeshmuel chuckled, though his mouth never opened. Yes, I???m certain I spotted a cloud of dust following in your wake. I could not have gone faster myself.
Yeshmuel???s voice was not audible, but a soothing whisper. It wasn???t telepathy. Telepathy was one mind communicating to another. His communication was on a heart to heart level ??? his heart speaking to your heart.
They walked on in silence a moment. Then Yeshmuel said, So, tell me, how are your wife and kids doing?
???My wife is doing well. And each day that passes, my daughter is becoming a more graceful dancer, and my son more cunning with the sword.???
I remember the last time I saw Johel was when he was only a small boy. Even then, I knew he???d be an outstanding warrior.
???Which brings me to the question of why I???m here. Is there war afoot????
Yeshmuel stopped and faced him. Yes, war. But not the kind of war you???re thinking of. This is not the kind that can be won with physical weapons.
???I see. As usual, your message is a cryptic one. Please tell me, what has happened????
Yeshmuel sat on the ground, lay against a tree, and folded his hands. Simas did likewise. The more time one spent with Yeshmuel, the more one relaxed in the comfort of his presence. He never held a pompous attitude over anyone, and always displayed an air of informality. Do you remember from long ago, when I spoke of a world far from our own?
???The one that can be reached by way of your Father???s gateway????
Yeshmuel nodded. One and the same. A concerned look was etched on his face. Something was severely wrong. Simas had never seen such a pained expression in master Yeshmuel???s eyes, not for a great many years.
???Lord Yeshmuel, what???s wrong????
I???m afraid, Simas, that one of the enemies own has crossed over to this other world.
Simas nearly bolted upright. ???Crossed over? How can this be possible! The shedim can???t pass through the gateway.???
The enemy has opened his own. And now, he???s abducted some humans from this other land and brought them here.
???Here???? Simas sat up straighter. ???Whatever for????
Yeshmuel rose up and began to stroll down the walkway again. Simas followed suit. They???re being used as bait.
Simas???s blood pressure shot up. Any injustice committed by those fiends was enough to make him cry out in rage. ???Bait? You mean as in bait to draw you into their territory? What foolishness! How could they ever conceive such a stupid notion of you????
You think going to the humans??? aid is stupid?
???They???re just as vile as the shedim. Why would we want to rescue them????
Because in humans, there is always a chance of redemption. Not so with shedim.
???Surely you don???t plan on falling into their trap?!??? He skipped up to Yeshmuel???s side. ???We could never afford to lose you.???
I am compelled to help them.
???But humans are not like us,??? he argued further. ???They???re selfish, conceited, and obstinate. Beings full of animosity.???
I can make them as we are. It is the only way they can pass through my Father???s gateway.
They???re lost and afraid, Simas. Unknowing of the purposes the enemy has for them.
Simas shook his head. ???Still, I don???t trust them.???
Nevertheless, one thing you must trust is my power to help them. Love and compassion will always prevail. And we are people of love and compassion.
These beings from far away, they are not totally without the ability to love and make sacrifices. But their spirits are in a constant battle with what they were meant to be and what they???ve chosen to be.
???Lord Yeshmuel, please, forgive my lack of understanding. I didn???t mean to come off as challenging. I just have so many questions.???
Don???t ever feel guilty for seeking answers. I know your heart means no disrespect.
The two of them came to the end of the walkway, where they overlooked a glistening lake stretching for miles behind the mountain. Simas was no stranger to the importance of mercy, but he was first and foremost a fighter. He loved and served his master by dispelling evil. He could no more show empathy to a wicked being than he could shove a blade through Yeshmuel???s heart. ???I just don???t understand how we could sympathize with humans, who have so much evil residing in them.???
You must learn to hate the evil in humans; yet love the humans themselves.
???So what does my involvement entail? I will do whatever you ask of me. I will even love and protect them whole heartily if you ask me to.???
Yeshmuel gave a satisfied smile, having at last quelled Simas???s dogmatic pleas. I know where the humans are located. I???m sending you to get them so that you may bring them to me.
???Understood. How many of these humans will I be looking for????
To my knowledge, Ichabad has brought only seven.
???Ichabad! I should have known that that atrocious, flesh eating termite ??? ???
Simas, do pay attention.
Simas cleared his throat. ???Yes, forgive me.???
There will be a family of five. Also another man and woman. Guard them well. And be watchful, the shedim will most likely be tracking you.
???I expected as much.???
They turned and headed back up the walkway. A gentle breeze sighed through the trees, enwrapping them in its magical aura of fresh mountain air. But Simas was unable to absorb himself in the mountain???s serenity as he usually did. All his senses were now focused on the mission at hand.
???Master, let me be the one to lead the humans,??? Simas beseeched. ???I fear too much for your safety. The way to the gateway is wrought with unspeakable dangers. Everything in the shedim???s territory is alive with their evil!???
Yeshmuel paused and turned to Simas. Simas, there is something I must now tell you. Something I have kept hidden for a very long time.
To say that Simas was intrigued was an understatement. Simas eagerly waited for Yeshmuel to continue.
I have always known this day would come, said Yeshmuel. And though I have never fully understood my Father???s intentions for creating the gateway, I have always known that to any strangers who would stumble into our land, it would be a doorway of salvation.
???The secret,??? Simas urged, ???what is it, then????
There is a hidden path that I have cleared through the shedim???s forest, one that will offer sanctuary to those who are travelling to the gateway. The enemy has known of it from the beginning, but since my power encircles the path, the shedim cannot destroy it. My power, Simas, will shield whoever enters the path from the shedim???s evil. It is imperative that we get the humans to this path, for there will be no other way for them.
???So your Father built a gateway, and you, his son, have made a pathway that leads to the gateway. Marvelous. Perhaps your Father, in his wisdom, had opened the gateway for this very day, this very hour.???
I agree. Which is why we must move quickly, before all is lost.
???I will be leaving today, then????
You will leave at once. Don???t even endeavor to say goodbye to your family.
???Then let me ask you an important question, one that has been on my mind since you first spoke of this matter. And that is, how will I communicate with these foreigners? I know nothing of their language.???
Yeshmuel smiled and delicately removed a leather-bound book from under his tunic. Read this on the way. It will teach you their language and contains all the syntactic information you need.
Simas reverently accepted the book. ???I will have it learned before I reach them. Which, hopefully, will be before our sun does away with them.???
They have only a few days. A week at best. They should be alive by the time you find them. They are not far.
Yeshmuel then gave Simas their location.
???Then I will be going,??? Simas bowed a bow of farewell. ???May your wisdom and strength go with me.???
Yeshmuel held up his hand to get Simas???s attention. Heed my voice well, Simas. At whatever cost, you must prevent the shedim from reclaiming the humans.
Simas hesitated. ???The shedim do not have them yet????
No, not yet. They have been set free for a time, that the shedim may build their trap around them. But once the shedim think the humans have fulfilled their purpose, far worse than physical death will befall them.