Crossing the River

Fred knelt down and tried to move the stone nearest to him. It came out easily enough. He noticed that each side of the stone had a different symbol on it. One such symbol caught his attention - what looked like three wavy lines. He got up and showed it to Astra who had walked over.

"Look at this," he said. "Do you think this could indicate water?"

"It could," Astra agreed. "Why don't you place in back in the bank with the symbol showing to see if anything happens?"

Fred did as Astra suggested. The stone started glowing which made him step back in alarm. A movement on the other bank alerted him to the stone he had put back's opposite number swivelling around until it showed the same symbol. A yellow beam of light suddenly shot out of one and connected with the other.

"Seems rather an elaborate means for crossing a river," Astra remarked. "Will the other symbols be as simple?"

Fred, careful not to touch the yellow beam of light, pulled out the next stone. Nothing stood out for either of them, until Astra noted a symbol that looked like an arc connected on either end by a rectangle shape with one of the longer sides missing. "Bridge, perhaps?" was all she said.

Fred simply shrugged and went and placed the stone in position with the chosen side showing. A glow indicated they had made the right choice. Fred then went and pulled out the third stone.

This time after some deliberation, they chose a symbol that to them resembled a crude wagon - what would be properly called a isosceles trapezoid with the longest side missing - with a small circle representing a wheel.

For the fourth and final stone they chose a side which had a stylised human being - commonly known as a 'stick figure' - etched on it.

Once this last stone had been placed correctly, the four beams of yellow light appeared to solidify into something they could cross. When they tentatively tested it, it did appear to be solid, so they both got back on the horse and managed to cross the river safely.

1. Their journey continues.

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