Page 24

Bed Of Leaves
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Chapter 3 - Page 24 - Africa Bound

   Suddenly he found himself on the opposite side of the blueness, looking at a small image of himself. The image was viewing two angels in the sky as they descended toward him. The angels carried something between them, each holding one end of the object. As the angels got closer to the image of himself, Jim could see they were carrying a small bed-nothing more than matted leaves laid across two poles. Laying on the bed of leaves was a young black girl. Her knees hung over the edge of the bed of leaves. When the angels reached the image of him, they laid the bed holding the young black girl at the feet of his image.

   Jim knew there was something special about this girl. Her body was almost lifeless. As the image of himself looked at her, Jim could see that she was in a state of poor health. She lay on her right side, too weak to rise. Her arms and legs were thin and appeared twisted. Her bones were covered with loose, discolored skin. Scabbed-over sores were evident above her right eyebrow and under the left side of her lower lip. The young girl’s hair was thin and matted. Her stomach was swollen from hunger.

   Jim saw the image of himself looking at her face. Her sunken eyes opened and a tear ran down the side of her face onto the mat. His dream image dropped to his knees and covered his face with his hands. Tears ran through his fingers. Tears also ran down the sleeping Jim’s cheeks, dripping onto his shoulder, as he watched the dream image of himself crying.

   The two angels ascended back to heaven. As Jim looked on, the image of himself gently slipped his hand under the young black girl’s head, then bent to kiss her on the forehead. A sick feeling came over Jim as he watched his

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