Luke packed up his stuff real fast and reached the place where he had asked all to assemble at 9 a.m. Since it was only 8 a.m. he sat on the grass and started to think.
The present camping site was approximately 1219 meters i.e., 4000 ft. above sea level. Neither did they wanted to remain at the camp nor move into the guesthouse for the rest of the trip or till they were rescued by the search party. They did not want to return the way they had come. Hence, they needed to proceed to the village, and then walk the different path to the place the bus was parked where you all got off.
Luke had taken the opinion of the students as well as that of Zia. He knew that he had to take everyone back safely. It was his responsibility. Though he was not the leader of the campers, by virtue of the incident, he had become a de facto leader.
His intention was to ensure a smooth trip. He had not anticipated such a mishap. Luckily, there was no damage.
Zia had opined that if they went by a different route and it took about the same time to reach the school, there would not be any problem. She had the responsibility of the children. She had to ensure that she took them back to City B and handed them over to their parents without any mishaps.
She had asked him if he knew of any shortest routes and whether he had trekked in this area and he had brought all the maps from his tent to show all.
Anyway, all had got up early, got ready early and they had even finished their breakfast early. Now everyone was dismantling their tents, packing their stuff and the utensils, etc, thereafter they would assemble here at 9 a.m. He had deliberately asked Sherpa to keep the ropes handy as these would be needed when they descended from the cliffside, not vertically but walking alongside it following a lesser know trek.
There was a path next to the cliff, hidden by some rocks which went around in a circle and would take them to the village in 3 hours time. The trekking would be downhill. He knew this route and had used it a number of times. Though it was dangerous there was no chance of bears or any other dangerous animals crossing their path on this route.
Luke had asked Zia to spare a few minutes after she finished packing as he wanted to discuss something important with her. He had called her Zia and she had addressed him as Luke telling him that she would be here shortly. He was glad that they had made some progress and were not addressing each other as Luke Sir and Zia ma'am.
It was already 8.30 a.m., Zia had not come, and he was thinking she will come with the students.
At the camp everyone was busy. First, they packed their backpacks and moved these out of the tents. Since all had watched and helped Luke pitch tents, it was not difficult for them to dismantle the 6 tents with 12 pair of hands. The 7 th tent belonging to Luke but it had been dismantled very quickly.
Zia realized that the students needed to be supervised with the utensils etc so she asked Sherpa to keep an eye on them and that they all be ready to move by 9 a.m. sharp. He should bring everyone over to where Luke was. She was going there to discuss something with Luke.
Sherpa kept a straight face, though he was very happy that these two were about to become friends at least.
Luke was just thinking that she would come with the students when he saw Zia came towards him with her backpack and things wrapped up, properly taped and tied.
As Luke was getting up from the grass, she gestured to him to remain seated. She then took off her backpack and placed it nearby along with the utensils. Then she sat down opposite him.
"You wanted to discuss something important with me, Luke?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
Luke looked at her and thought what a pretty picture she made dressed in jeans, a top, and a jacket. Her feet covered in sneakers. Her hair tied in a ponytail like a young girl. She could easily pass for a college student as she did not look her age or that she had a Doctorate in Botany. The sun rising from between the mountain gave her head a golden aura. She must be about 5'7" in height he thought but she seemed quite short as his height was 5' 11".
Luke was so zapped that he forgot to answer her.
Zia knew he was looking at her but he seemed to be physically present but mentally absent.
"Hey, get up, are you daydreaming Luke?" she asked and clicked her fingers in front of him but there was no response. Then she clapped her hands in front of him which made him finally came out of his trance-like state.
"Sorry Zia, I was thinking deeply," he replied looking sheepish.
Hmmm, you were physically present but mentally absent. I had to click my fingers and even clap my hands," she responded. "If you had not woken up, I would have used the utensils to make a noise."
"I have seen this physically present and mentally absent syndrome in class a lot, but this is the first time I have seen a professor doing so," she said with a smile.
"What did you want to discuss with me?"
"There was something on my mind but I can't remember. When I remember then I will tell you. But we need to know something about each other as well as the students."
"I can tell you about Sherpa and myself. I would like some information about the students." Luke added.
How could Luke tell her that he wanted to get to know her, talk to her, and get to know her likes and dislikes? He could not ask her if she had a boyfriend or was going steady. He also wanted to know whether her parents were looking for a match for her through various matrimonial sites.
Sherpa would laugh at him and tease him if he found out. Unknown to him, Sherpa knew he had called Zia to talk to her and he also knew that this guy would behave in this manner and would clamp up.
It was 9 a.m. and the rest of the students came over with their backpacks and the utensils tied up. Sherpa was leading them and he had all the tent bags as well as his backpack plus a few other things.
Zia…"Here come all the 10 students and Sherpa. Why don't we all introduce ourselves indicating our family members and what we all want to do in the future?"
"But I suggest we do this introduction exercise at our next place of rest. We need to leave here. I feel uncomfortable." She added.
Luke knew what she meant. She was sensitive to energies.
Luke.."We will leave but we will need to cross this shallow stream. Everyone remove your shoes and socks then roll up the legs of the jeans you all are wearing. After crossing the stream you can dry your feet roll down the legs of the jeans and put on your socks and shoes."
Soon all had removed their socks and shoes and crossed the shallow but wide stream with the shoes hanging around their neck tied with the shoe strings. The socks were placed in each pair of shoes.
After crossing the stream they all dried their feet and then put on their socks and shoes.
Luke asked all present, "Can anyone tell me why we crossed the stream after taking off our socks and shoes?"
I know why. It was to stop our socks and shoes from getting wet." Zen replied with a grin.
"Zen, your answer is correct in a way but it is not the answer I wanted. I know you know the answer but you deliberately replied with the obvious answer."
"Anyone else," asked Luke.
"Can I answer if none of the students answer?" Zia asked.
"I think it is to avoid the bears getting our scent, if they come back they will stop at the stream. The scent of our feet will be lost," added Zoya.
Luke... "Good girl."
Luke informed all that there is a route from that side too but they would be taking the route from this side of the stream just to be safe from the bears.
"Now everyone in a single file, tie the ropes around your midriff. Sherpa will guide you."
"I will lead, followed by the 5 girls and then Zia after that will follow the 5 boys and then last will be Sherpa," Luke instructed all.
"Are there any questions? Please ask now, move slowly. We have a lot of time to reach the bottom of the cliff via a meandering route." Luke added.
"All ready? Let's go."