Pebbles in the Air

Will looked expectantly at Gruter as he waited for the old man's response. It seemed he would wait a while as the old man stared off past the wall of the mountain, looking down at the desert below.

After a few minutes, he straightened himself and smiled at Will. "I'm sure that my story isn't as full of wonder as yours, yet here it is. I was born here in Sakha many years ago. Back then, things were not as simple."

Will waited for Gruter to continue, but the man remained impassive as he smiled. Soon, Maya shifted uncomfortably while looking at the exchange. When it was obvious that they would get nothing more from him, Will cleared his throat. "Well, I guess we should get to know each other in time." He smiled as he saw an invisible weight fall from Gruter's shoulders. A stress he would not let show seemed to vanish in an instant.