Chapter Three
They continued to climb.
Adam kept his eyes firmly focused on the trail. The climb was still challenging—his muscles still ached terribly—but Fontus had been right about remaining focused on the path. He forced himself to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. When he felt the desire to shift his gaze to the sheer drop, he suppressed it and locked his attention down at the path.
Finally, he heard Fontus’s voice. ‘There. That wasn’t so bad. Was it?’
Adam looked up in surprise. They were indeed near the top of the mountain. The path had opened onto a snow-covered plateau. A light wind swept across it as Fontus wrapped a shawl around his shoulders.
Blinking, Adam stared out at the view. It was spectacular. Now he could see distant valleys winding their way back and receding all the way to the horizon. His father had always said the world was endless. A man could travel forever.
Low cloud hugged the peaks overhead.
‘Do you feel able to continue?’ Fontus asked.
‘Is it downhill from here?’
‘It is.’
‘Then I’m ready.’
The snow-covered plain was tough going but they finally reached a sheer rock face.
‘What do we do now?’ Adam asked. ‘There’s nowhere to go.’
‘My boy,’ Fontus said, with a half-smile, ‘there is always somewhere to go.’
Turning left, they followed the foot of the rock face for several hundred feet to a point at which it intersected with another wall. But just before they reached it, Adam saw a thin cleft appear. The crack was wide enough for them to pass through one at a time.
Fontus went first, with Matilda trailing behind. Adam paused. He could still turn around and return to the valley and what remained of his home.
Or I can go forward, he thought.
Sighing, he followed Fontus and Matilda into the crack. Minutes later they emerged onto a wider track that angled downwards. The view on this side was equally spectacular, except now Adam could see a mighty city below. It surrounded a circular harbour. Into the harbour ran a river that snaked its way northwards through outlying farmlands.
Adam could make out trading vessels moored at docks lining the harbour. Other ships were either coming or going. Even from a distance, the city and its harbour seemed a hive of activity and commerce.
‘Is that Prosperity?’ Adam asked.
‘It is.’
‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
‘It is the capital of Askar. River boats transport people and goods up and down the Danasee River. Ships from other lands deliver spices, foodstuffs and other supplies to Prosperity.’
‘I had no idea the world was so large.’
‘There are many more lands beyond the horizon. What you see below,’ Fontus said, gesturing towards the city, ‘is merely a speck of what lies beyond.’
They travelled for another few hours before the sun sank too low in the sky for them to continue. Good time and distance had been made now that their journey was downwards, and they were half way down the mountain. It was still cold, but at least the wind had subsided. Adam built a fire while Fontus cut some dried meat for their evening meal.
‘How long will it take for us to reach Prosperity?’ Adam asked.
‘We will be there by tomorrow night.’
‘That soon?’
‘Going down the mountain is faster than going up.’
Adam nodded, thinking. ‘What will I do once we reach the city?’ he asked.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean...I need to find a way to live. Get a job.’
‘Is that what your parents had planned for you? That you would work for someone else?’
‘What else can I do?’
‘Your future is not yet written,’ Fontus said, smiling. ‘But now it is late and you are tired. We will talk further of such things when we reach the city.’
Adam covered himself with his blanket. It was cold on the mountain, but the fire helped keep him warm. His thoughts turned to his parents again…and he wept.
Will this pain ever end?
After an unsettled sleep, Adam awoke to see that Fontus was already cooking breakfast. Pushing aside his blanket, he moved over to the old man and helped. Within an hour they had eaten, secured their supplies to Matilda and were continuing back down the mountain.
Soon the rocky path gave way to grass and pine trees. It grew warmer and it wasn’t long before they had reached the base of the mountain.
I’m glad to leave that behind, Adam thought. But—what now?
The path met a road and within minutes they came across a man riding a horse. He gave Fontus a nod in greeting.
‘What are you selling now?’ the man asked, smiling as he nodded towards Adam. ‘Tadpoles?’
Fontus laughed. ‘Tadpoles aren’t worth much,’ he replied. ‘But tadpoles turn into frogs.’
‘Typical Fontus,’ the man said, laughing as he trotted away. ‘Always thinking ahead.’
As they moved onwards towards Prosperity, Adam and Fontus began to encounter more people. Some had carts drawn by oxen. Others were on horseback or travelled on foot. Without exception, all of them greeted Fontus by name.
‘Everyone knows you,’ Adam said.
‘Not everyone,’ Fontus said with a slight shrug of his shoulders. ‘But many people do. When you have reached my age you get to know many people.’
It was not long before they arrived at the base of a mighty stone wall that surrounded the city. It was an impressive sight. More than twenty feet high, it had battlements along the top. Guards armed with swords, wearing moss green tunics and thick leather vests, stood on both sides of an open gate. They greeted each person as they passed. Next to them was their commander—a giant of a man with a big black beard.
‘That’s Timian,’ Fontus said. ‘He’s in charge of the city watchmen.’
‘Watchmen?’
‘Men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the city and its people.’
Timian strolled over and planted a friendly hand on Fontus’s shoulder. ‘You’re still as small as ever,’ he said.
‘And you, Timian, are still as huge. I assume you are still living with your mother?’
‘Why would I leave?’ Timian asked, laughing. He nodded to Adam. ‘And who do you have here?’
Fontus introduced Adam. ‘He will be staying with me until he finds his feet,’ he said.
Timian gave Adam a slap on his back. ‘Welcome to Prosperity,’ he said. ‘Your future lies ahead.’
Adam nodded and, with Fontus and Matilda, passed through the gates and entered the city. His eyes opened in amazement. People were everywhere: men, women and children of all different shapes and sizes. Also crowding the streets were horses, donkeys and bullocks. There was barely room to move. It was like nothing he could ever have imagined.
People sold food from windows that were adorned with brightly coloured awnings intended to attract the attention of passers by. Others sold and traded goods from tables on the sidewalk and makeshift tents. The buildings were either whitewashed or made of grey stone.
‘Is this a market?’ Adam asked, a note of awe in his voice.
Fontus laughed. ‘No,’ he said. ‘The market is on the other side of the city, but everyone works to make a living.’
‘Even you?’
‘I could sit at home all day and stare at the walls should I so desire, but I enjoy working.’
‘Really?’
‘I relish challenge. I love buying something cheaply and selling it for more. It’s in my blood.’
Continuing through the city, many more people greeted Fontus. The last mile seemed to take forever, because everyone seemed to want to hear accounts of his recent travels.
Finally, they turned a corner that led them onto a street lined by whitewashed two-storey homes. Each had six square windows with tiny awnings fronting the cobbled street. Going to the
nearest one, Fontus rapped at the door. After barely a few seconds it was opened by a pretty girl with black hair and blue eyes.
‘Father!’ she cried, throwing her arms around him.
Adam felt uncomfortable while the two hugged. Then the girl, who appeared to be of a similar age to Adam, drew back and nodded at him.
Just as Timian had asked at the gate, the girl asked her father, ‘And who do you have here?’
‘A young man in need of a new start in life,’ Fontus said, introducing Adam. ‘And this is Kara, my daughter.’
The girl led them inside. Adam’s mouth fell open as he gazed at the interior. It was furnished with lush carpets and brightly coloured curtains at the windows. The chairs were covered in plush fabric. Rugs and paintings hung on the walls. Everywhere Adam looked he saw beautiful things—the trappings of success.
‘This is amazing,’ he breathed. ‘It’s like being in a palace.’
‘Palaces are much grander than this,’ Fontus said. ‘But every person’s home is their palace.’ He turned to Kara. ‘Would you make us some tea, please?’
‘Yes, of course. We also have some freshly baked bread.’
‘Then we will have that too.’
Fontus led Adam to a dining area that overlooked a small courtyard. Palms and ferns surrounded a pond.
Kara brought the food, served it and disappeared. Adam realised he was famished. He began eating like he had not eaten all week, but then he stopped himself.
‘I need to thank you,’ Adam said. ‘I would be dead if not for you.’
‘We all have difficult times,’ Fontus said. ‘Have you thought about the future? What you will now do?’
Ideas had been playing in the back of Adam’s mind. ‘In a city such as this,’ he said, ‘I imagine there are many businesses.’
‘There are.’
‘And there are many workers. My father sometimes spoke about me one day leaving the farm to work in the city.’
Fontus nodded. ‘Your father wanted security for you,’ he said. ‘I imagine he found it hard working the land.’
‘The winters were hard and sometimes we were very hungry. He would speak of me finding employment with someone else.’
‘You can work for someone else if you wish,’ Fontus said, nodding, ‘but there is another possibility. You could have your own business.’
The idea excited Adam. Whenever his father had mentioned him moving away and working for someone, Adam had always felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He felt the same sensation now.
‘But I don’t know anything about business,’ Adam said. ‘And I have no money to start one. And my experience—’
Fontus raised a hand. ‘You are raising obstacles,’ he said. ‘It is important to recognise obstacles because the best way to overcome an obstacle is to avoid it.’ The old man leant forward. ‘But consider this: there are always obstacles in achieving any goal. Many people let the obstacles stand in their way. All too easily they become paralysed by fear, unable to move forward.’
‘So what do I need to do?’
‘You would like to have your own business?’
Slowly, Adam nodded. ‘I can’t imagine working for someone else,’ he said. ‘Working for myself would make me my own boss.’
‘Then the first step is to recognise that you are not the first person to start from nothing,’ Fontus said. ‘Ask yourself this question: has anyone else ever achieved this goal?’
Adam laughed. ‘I’m sure many people have,’ he said.
‘Then if they can start from nothing and build a business,’ Fontus said, ‘so too can you. Success begins with a state of mind.’
Lesson 3: Success begins with a state of mind.