Part I of One Step

One foot in front another down the dusty road he trekked. Not know where he was going but always aware of where he was now. Just as the pebbles below his feet turned over and the dust trailed behind him the past also came up. Today seem hotter that the last few days or maybe it was just the air was still, not one leaf on the many trees overhanging the dirt road moved. The scattered clouds high above the hills in the distance moved slowly from north to south.
Travelling North was not an option at least not until the river narrow or slowed. Sure, he had briefly considered building a raft but having never learned to swim and his fear of water had quickly limited him to keep moving in another direction. South would be an option for a while but than the trees would give way to grass. In a few short days the grass would be come miles of dry unforgiving sand. Stop moving or West was the only option. To stop would be like giving up and would not put any distance between him and all that he had left behind 10 days ago. So West to the hills and mountains not yet seen one step after another it was.