Translation:The High Mountains/78

The time to go back has come.

Some round clouds hung above the mountains. A scent of autumn came up from the ground. In a short while the rains will come.

Since yesterday they have been getting ready. They made packets, they sewed with a curved needle some big bags to put their things in, they got organised. The mule-drivers with their mules came last night and are waiting.

This morning the children loaded everything. When they saw the empty cabins, they felt a sort of sadness. They went up to the door, looked and said to themselves that they had lived quite a while in there.

The hour has come to leave their humble abodes. You would have said that these looked at them also as if they were people.

Now there they are with their sticks, their water flasks, their backpacks, as when they had come.

—Ready, children? Said Mr Stephan.

—We're ready!

—And again, take care of yourself, Uncle Athanase!

Old Athanase raised his hand, make three big signs of the cross and said:

—Take good care, go in the peace of God and the holy Apostles. Then he leaned over towards Lambros:

—My Lambros, you have my blessing and listen to what I'm going to say to you: You must become a good man. Be courageous and honour your word.

Lambros kissed his Grandpa's hand and started out with the other children, impatient not to lose any time. His Grandpa turned around and looked elsewhere. At this moment we don't know if his eyes were dry.

center|450px|thumb|You must become a good man.

The young travellers who came down from the Green Wood are not the same as those who had gone up there a month and a half ago.

These have a good colour in their faces and are much stronger than those.

They have seen the whole of Nature, they didn't know, and had lived all alone day and night there.

They have seen the mountain, they have been soaked in the murmuring rivers, they have walked on the haunted rocks and they have learnt to take risks one for the other.

The Phanis who had come was sad and lacking determination. The Phanis who returns now has a solid mind and is fearless.

Andreas was a child in school. In the mountains he overcame difficulties and led the others.