Chapter 24
" Behind him, across vast distances of space and time from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps it was only an echo." (Lowry, 179). As Jonas and Gabriel struggled with the cold rough winter snow they still held on to their hope of reaching the "Elsewhere." " Hold on Gabriel" Jonas repeated. As both of them struggled walking endless miles into the cold, harsh shallow snow the "Elsewhere" didn't seem to exist. "We're almost there Gabriel," Jonas whispered.
Jonas could hear the screaming of young toddlers. Did he reach his destination? Was he near the "Elsewhere?" Gabriel shivered in cold. Jonas knew in the back of his mind that sooner or later he or Gabriel would die. Would his journey come to an end? He no longer had the courage to continue his fearful voyage. He no longer had the strength to face nature's wraith.
Jonas could no longer move his arms and legs. Jonas's fingertips were turning blue. Jonas was experiencing something the Giver had not transmitted to him. He was experiencing frostbite. Jonas felt that the "Elsewhere" was so close but he had not the strength to continue the walk. Jonas was feebler then Gabriel was. He asked himself if this was the end?
Jonas remembered what the Giver had told him. The Giver had explained to him that his journey would be a difficult one and that there was no way that he could give up or even die. The Giver had once told him that Gabriel was chosen to be the next Receiver and that he was different from all the other Receivers. Jonas could not understand what the Giver meant by this but it didn't really cross his mind. The Giver told him briefly that Gabriel was born with memories of hope and that he could transmit them to a previous Receiver or Receiver in office. He said that the community was planning to release Gabriel because he had the power to unleash memories to the community without receiving any. Jonas could not understand how Gabriel could possess memories without receiving them. Jonas didn't really play close attention to what the Giver said because he was too busy daydreaming about Fiona.
Jonas collapsed to the ground still grasping Gabriel tightly. " Gabe I'm sorry but this is the end" Jonas whispered in a raspy voice. Jonas no longer had the strength to climb the next hill. He knew that from there he had reached the "Elsewhere," he could feel it in his bones. Jonas heard the screaming of children for an instant and said, " I'm sorry Gabe" with his last breath. Jonas lay restlessly in the snow without any hope, strength or memories.
Gabriel feeling Jonas's pain transmitted most of his memories of warmth, strength, hope and determination. Jonas raged in memories but as he filled with all these helpful and happy memories he found the strength to get up and keep on walking. He no longer felt the hunger, cold, weak, and sluggish. Jonas now knew what the Giver meant by Gabriel being different. I finally understood why Gabriel was different. Gabriel wasn't from our community he was from the "Elsewhere."
I remembered that one day that the Giver explained to me that a young woman dropped off a baby in our community. She simply left it there to be taken care of. She then simply disappeared into thin air. The Elders didn't want the community to find out about this tragedy so they made it seem as if Gabriel was one of ours. So then they could come up with an excuse to release him but the time didn't come because I took Gabe with me. Lights shined in my eyes, Gabriel chuckled. I saw big tall structures, and big poles that shined out light, and people riding bicycles.