Kong wanted to stay the night,

had brought tents and other gear,

to show Maria the nightly sights,

the same sights your father loved so dear…..

This caught her by surprise,

she questionly looked into his eyes,

you met my father here on the mountain,

Kong started to explain……

I met him once up here,

I was very young at the time,

it was my very first climb,

and I came alone with no gear……

I remember our conversation well,

I said very little and his words were few,

but alot of meanings they did tell,

and we both loved the view…..

He said down there our people did fight,

yet upon them God shone his sun,

and at night gave them all the moonlight,

yet they didnt live as one……

Up here we are closer to God,

so we better show godly fear,

come share my tent and gear,

and lets put away the rod……

I was in no postion to argue,

gave me a binoculars and pointed at your homestead,

I said its a beautiful view,

he spoke of a little girl safe in her bed……

We exchanged gifts for life,

I took my greenstone from around my neck,

he gave me his pocket knife,

his name was engraved Laars Deheek…..

That was forty five years ago,

you would have been about five,

this pocket knife you may not know,

but his name you can identify…..

Maria started to laugh and cry,

only a woman can do such a thing,

and only God knows why,

we only marvel at the joy it brings…..

Maria told Kong about the greenstone,

and what her father said before he died,

it was given to him by the mountain,

when he was up there all alone……

He always thought the mountain was old,

but he’s really very young,

and has a heart of gold,

told me I hope you’ll meet him one day,

He left the greenstone with me,

I have kept safe as can be,

it is a treasure beyond compare,

and I know the mountain does care…..

Their arms held each other,

they stood in silence in memory of a time,

of a long ago event,

when a man and boy shared a tent…..

Those were the only words we spoke,

we went our different ways,

I’ve only realised in the last few days,

he was your father that kindly old bloke…………………to be continued………….