Birdie dreamed she was in the sea again, swimming through a blue-aqua world. Looking up, she saw footprints on the ceiling of the sea. Many, many footprints, all heading West.
Birdie surfaced, and tail-walking, looked out over the waves. There she saw all the Elves of Middle-Earth walking across the top of the waves and into a sky that blended perfectly with the horizon.
The last to come was Pio, walking side-by-side with Idril and Tuor. "Look, Birdie. I can walk on water, too." she said happily.
"But where are you going?" called Birdie.
"The Straight Road. It's the only way, you know," said Pio, looking straight ahead.
Birdie tried to follow, but a great wave rose up at that moment, and like a giant hand, pushed her, gently, but forcefully, to the bottom.
Birdie woke with a start, and swung her legs off the side of the bed. "No, she wouldn't, not yet!" She got up and stumbled towards the top deck.
|