It's mid afternoon when Jack reaches Paro. He is cold and hungry, and very, very tired. He ties the horse in a secluded spot just outside the settlement, and tries to gather some grass for it. Then he sets off to find Jim.
He wanders round the area for several hours without seeing anyone familiar and tries several times to locate the house Jim described, without success. He sees no one he knows, and in spite of his best efforts, founders and flounders with each attempt to talk with anyone. Now he wishes he had studied the Dzongkha language.
He's getting weak. He must eat.
But again, he has nothing to trade.
Well Jim. I know I said I wouldn't do this, but I cannot help it. If this is stealing, I must steal. Forgive me, Lord.
If I get caught I will be punished, but most likely I can eat a bit before they catch me. And that seems fair. Anyway, if I do this right, I may get enough to eat without getting caught.
With that Jack brings all his faculties to bear on the challenge before him. With the inventiveness of a practiced thief he works his way from shop to shop, handling and inspecting the merchandise, breaking little pieces off of loaves and cheeses and tsampa, flipping smaller fruit into his sleeves and pockets, and moving along, always moving along, to avoid attracting attention.
Here and there between shops he steps into an alleyway, and pops a tidbit in his mouth, but slowly he builds up his cache. He starts to feel a bit better.
Well, Jim. I made fun of you about the taking of an orange. What a ridiculous fuss, I thought, about an orange. And now I don't dare steal anything that big. How things change. An orange seemed so small before, and now it is so big!
Eating as he goes, Jack makes his way back to where he left the horse. The poor thing is hungry now. Jack moves it to where there is more grass. It's getting dark quickly, as it does in mountain
country.
Another night in the open. Jack gathers leaves and moss, and covers himself as best he can.
In the morning he is stiff and cold, but he slept better than the night before. He leads the horse to water, and ties it in a new spot.
He is getting dirty. His hair and his clothes are starting to show neglect. He tries to wash, and runs his fingers through his hair repeatedly, trying to get it to behave. Something has to be done; this cannot go on!
Carefully he reviews the events of the last few days. He just has to find Jim. It is his only hope.
