The Retirement

“You all learned those lessons and proved yourselves well against a cunning and formidable enemy. Now you need to learn how the Great Spirit and the Spirit of the Wolf protect all of you. For each of you it will be different, but each must move to the next level. You must learn to trust, to believe, and to allow something greater into your life and everything you do.”

“Wow,” said Kay, “it’s like listening to my mother about Japanese culture.”

“Then she’s a very smart and wise woman,” said Maggie with a smile.

Fred looked at Stephen. “It’s like knowing when a shadow passes over the moon that everything is going to be all right. Everyone would be safe.”

Stephen smiled back at the old man. “Like a man in a parachute silhouetted by the light of the moon?”

Fred nodded, eyes twinkling. “The Spirit of the Wolf passing across the moon. When they asked me to negotiate, I warned them on the island not to anger the spirits. They didn’t believe me. The Spirit of the Wolf protected you, my granddaughter. The Spirit rained death down on them. You returned to us safe.”

Abby looked as if she were about to say something but decided not to. The old man continued, “They angered the spirit of my old friend, your grandfather, and look at what happened—he returned and brought fear and intimidation to your enemies, crippling their leadership. In that process, he helped to right a wrong done to your family with the killing of your uncle Hector. My old friend lives on and continues to fight the good fight.”

A strange look crossed Justin’s face. Then he smiled. “Thank you, Yoda.”