He continued on his journey. He walked and walked, but soon grew tired. So he lay his head
down to sleep.
A strong wind blew, and the man screwed his eyes shut. He felt like he was being lifted off
from the ground. Not for a second did he open his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, he was inside a golden palace, with huge people. They were
not made of flesh and bone, but of sand. All of them were dressed richly, and they talked to
him saying, “Acknowledge your wrongs and you will be forgiven. But for now, you will be
imprisoned.” They brushed their hands over his face, and the man was surrounded by saxaul
trees, closing him in.
He didn’t grow hungry or thirsty. It seemed that the gods gave him a blessing of being able to
survive without food or water. But he did not repent his wrongs. And he didn’t accept them for the
next 55 years.
Now, the sky had become lighter, and the moon came down. Dawn was coming. Somewhere
in the distance, a joyful whistling was heard. The man wished that he was free, to see life outside
before he died.
Then a hand stuck itself through the branches of the saxauls.
Then another hand stuck itself through.
They pulled the branches apart, and the man saw a face he hadn’t seen for years.
His 6-year old son he had sold long ago.
“Pa!” His son pulled him up and smiled at him. “I’ve come to take you home, Pa!”
“But,” The man’s voice was cracked and hoarse, “You’re dead.”
His son didn’t answer. “Come with me Pa.”
The boy gently pulled his father out of the saxaul trees that kept him imprisoned.
“I’m sorry son,” The man croaked, “I shouldn’t have sold you. Not all things are bought with
money.”
His son grinned, and held his daddy’s hand. “I’m glad you said that Pa,” His son giggled, “I’m
taking you home now.”
The man broke out in a smile and nodded.
The two of them ran, across the sand and sprinted up into the air, their laughs like little silver
bells.
Now, it was the sun that watched as the saxaul trees bent away, revealing a frail man in his
70’s, lifeless and curled tightly into a ball, with a smile on his face for the first time in 55 years.
