Chapter 8 (part 2): And It Goes On
Jack was actually starting to get warm. He noticed that even in this environment he was sweating. Pausing for a moment, he shivered involuntarily in the sudden blast of cold. As long as he was moving he was as good as oblivious to the elements. He looked around him for what felt like the fifty thousandth time to see what he had seen fifty thousand times before. The same black desert, scraggly trees, and dark sky. Nothing changed here. There were no landmarks or differences in the landscape, nothing to tell him where he was supposed to go. He doubted if it was possible to tell whether or not he was going in the right direction, or just going in circles. It was all the same dark foreboding desert in any direction. Nothing seemed to break the endless sands and even the pit had been swallowed up in the dark. I wonder if there's even anything besides me here. Jack thought wearily. Taking a deep breath he started forward again. He was starting to lose faith when he felt someone grab his other hand. There were no words spoken, but he felt pretty sure that the hand belonged to Bobby. Suddenly it was as if he was a part of a completed circuit and energy surged through his tired form. With that energy also came a blessed peace. He quickly realized that they must be praying. There was no other way to describe the complete calm and trust he felt in his heart. It was like a warm blanket had been wrapped around him, comforting him. He knew deep in his heart that he would never be alone and he never had. God had always been there and always would be. He was here now and had been from the beginning. Jack stopped, enjoying this feeling of being whole. His friends were there supporting him, and God was holding him up. He could feel their presence and there was nothing he couldn't do with them there to help him. He needed their help now, more than ever, to get out of this blasted desert.