THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART FORTY SIX )

Nathen and Ben went to see Martha first, Martha was
all packed up and ready to go. She turned to Brad,
"right me son, I want's all this stuff in the Wagon
with me, tell Missy I'll have Daisy, Teela and Alfie in the Wagon with me too."

"Okay Mam!" said Brad.

"Hello there Nathen me boy, you already for the off
then?" enquired Martha.

"Yes we're ready, Ben's coming with me." said Nathen.

"I thought as much, that lad's become quite attached to you. So which way you be heading?"

"We have to go South, that's where I left my folks, I'm the only one in our family, that has
travelled this far North. So which way will you be
heading Martha?"

"Ah! well...we be heading North, digging for crystals."

"But isn't that dangerous, so near to the end of
Summer? I hear the Winters are really bad up in the
North," enquired Nathen.

"Oh we won't get that far North by Winter, we just
need to move far enough away from danger, then we
be making camp again. Don't forget we be travellers, we're used to bad Winters," said Martha.

At that moment Missy came in, "Mam you got any of
those rice cakes? it's just the children are hungry
and I ain't got no food left."

"Now let me see," said Martha, "yes I have some, I
was about to keep them for the journey, but I suppose if me Grandchildren is that hungry, they
can have them."

"Oh thanks Mam. By the way everyone is almost ready." Missy looked at Nathen and Ben, then enquired, "you both off now then?"

"Yes I suppose we are," said Nathen.

"Come on," said Martha, "come and say your goodbyes
to the others."

As they walked out, everyone stood around chatting.
Clearing her throat, Martha shouted, "can I have
your attention please! As you probably have all
heard by now, we have bad blood coming, so we be
heading North. Now then, young Ben here...has decided that he don't want our company any more!"

Ben looked at Martha, "no! it's not that," he said
looking worried.

Martha started to laugh. "He! he! you young sensitive boy, I was only kidding. Ben has decided,
he wants a bit of adventure, with our new found
friend Nathen, so I think we should wish them well
and see them on their way, before we leaves."

Everybody agreed and said their goodbyes.

Martha climbed up on the Wagon. "Now you two, take
care of yourselves! I've a funny feeling this isn't
the last we will see of you."

"We will," said Nathen. The two of them watched
until the last Wagon was gone.

"Do you think we will ever see them again?" asked
Ben.

"Who knows!" replied Nathen.

To be continued ........