The sun was starting to set over the green mountains. It was time to bring the sheep into the fold. Joshua raised his hands to his mouth, making a cone. He called out to his sheep. As his voice echoed off the surrounding hills, his sheep’s head quickly rose from eating and looked in his direction. Then, slowly, one by one, they began following Joshua; some walked, and some ran to him.
As Joshua walked towards the pen, he would stop and look back to ensure his sheep followed him. A few feet from the gate to the pen, Joshua looked back and saw one of his sheep’s wandering towards a ravine. Joshua signed, “Oh, Samantha, not again.” Samantha was prone to wander. She seemed to like the edges of the pasture. This wasn’t the first time Samantha had wandered off following a different path. Joshua called to her, “Samantha!” The sheep turned her head towards the shepherd’s direction, paused, then started scampering towards the shepherd. Joshua watched to be sure she was with the flock before turning around and walking towards the pen.
Once Joshua arrived at the sheep gate, he opened it and let the sheep into the pen. As the sheep walked past him, he counted. His count wasn’t by numbers, but it by their names. “Sandy, Jim, Esau, Samuel,” he said with a smile as they entered the pen. “There you are, Samantha , welcome back,” Joshua said with a small as he gave her a nudge with his foot. After the last sheep was in the pen, Joshua froze. He looked over his flock and quickly counted…97…98…99. He was missing one…Henry.
Joshua looked over the pasture to the edges of the field. His eyes strained to look up on the hillside, but he saw no sheep. Joshua looked along the tree line for any sign of Henry, the little sheep. He looked back over the 99, then looked back at the pasture.
Joshua locked the gate and gathered his water bottle, staff, bread, a knife, and other needed supplies. He put them into his sack, swung it over his shoulder, and started walking east, away from the Son. First, he walked the pasture’s perimeter, looking for any hoof prints that might give him a clue as to where his sheep may have wandered. As he slowly looked at the ground, he spotted a set of hooves leading east, away from home.
The sun was now starting to set as dusk began to make seeing more of a challenge. He knew he didn’t have much time as many predators would be out looking for their dinner.
His pace quickened as he followed the trail of hooves into the wilderness. Joshua had never lost a sheep before and wouldn’t lose one now. Now and then, Joshua would call out, “Henry!” After an hour of walking, the full moon was bright in the dark sky, providing a little light to be able to see at least a little distance in front of him.
Joshua sat down on a rock. He was tired from a long day but unwilling to give up his search. He sat still and closed his eyes to listen for any noise that might give him a clue about where Henry might be. Then, breaking the silence, he called out again, “Henry!”
“Baaahhh,” came a response.
Joshua’s heart began to beat faster. He listened intently to discern the direction of the bleating of his little lamb.
“Henry!” Joshua called out again.
“Baaaahhhh.” Came the response again. The sheep responded as though he knew the voice of his shepherd.
This time, Joshua knew where the noise was coming from. But as he stood to walk in that direction, he noticed two eyes to his left glowing in the dark. Joshua froze and slowly reached into his sack for the knife.
“Baaaahhhhh,” Henry called out again.
Joshua turned to hear the noise again, but when he turned back to see where the eyes were, they were gone. Joshua turned towards where he heard the noise and began walking as quickly as possible. It felt as though it was a race between life and death. Could he beat the Wolf to the lamb?
“Henry!” Joshua called again. This time, there was no response.
“Henry!” Joshua called out again, but this time even louder.
“Baaaaahhhh,” Henry called. Joshua was very close. He paused to listen again. Trying to calm his heart, he took a deep breath. Then he heard rustling in the bushes just to his left about 20 feet. But he could not tell if it was Henry or the Wolf. Joshua, holding tightly to his knife, began to walk forward.
“Baaaaahhhh,” Joshua knew he was walking straight at Henry, but he still could hear something in the bushes to his left. Joshua turned to face the direction of the noise in the bush as he walked sideways towards Henry.
“Henry, I’m here. You will be ok.” Joshua said to try to let his sheep know he was close.
Joshua turned to look to see if he could see Henry. He could see his white wool reflecting off the light of the moon. But he was in a ravine, stuck. As Joshua turned to face the bushes, the Wolf jumped and attacked Joshua.
The Wolf knocked Joshua to the ground, landing on top of him. The Wolf lurched at his neck as Joshua raised his forearm into the Wolf’s mouth. Joshua yelled in pain as the Wolf’s teeth pierced his skin, and blood started dripping almost instantly. Joshua threw the Wolf off of him.
He slowly got to his feet, putting himself between Henry and the Wolf. Determined not to let The Wolf get to his sheep. The Wolf only comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Joshua had killed many wolves in the past that were trying to take his sheep, and he had the scars to show it.
This wolf was bigger than any he had fought before. The Wolf snarled, showing his teeth as he slowly crept toward Joshua. Joshua raised his staff in one hand and a knife in one hand, ready to defend Henry. The Wolf charged Joshua. Joshua swung his staff, hitting the Wolf in the head and knocking it to the ground; Joshua took his heel and stomped on the Wolf’s head, holding it to the ground as he stabbed the Wolf in the neck. The Wolf lay on the ground motionless.
He looked down at his forearm, still bleeding, but realizing he could tend to it later, ran to Henry. Seeing that his precious sheep was stuck in a ditch, he reached down and slowly pulled him out. Once free, Henry bleated some more and then hesitantly and slowly came to Joshua as if saying he was sorry.
Joshua stooped down, gently petting Henry, checking him for any wounds or bruises. Henry was full of spurs, stickers, and other things stuck to his wool, but he was fine. Joshua picked Henry up, threw him over his shoulder, picked up his staff, and started walking to a safe place.
After a few minutes, they neared a quiet pasture next to a stream. It was a place Joshua knew well and felt safe for them to stay the night. Joshua started a fire to keep them warm for the night. Henry settled down next to Joshua and the fire, feeling safe and warm, not taking his eyes off his Shepherd.
Joshua slowly removed his tunic, which was stained with blood and dirt. Henry noticed his shepherd’s back was full of scars that looked like someone had whipped him. “Ah, yeah, you see these scars?” Joshua said, looking at Henry. “These are from when I fought off a lion trying to get into the sheep pen. These scars,” Joshua continued, pointing at the scars on his arms “ are from a pack of wolves that tried to steal one of your siblings. Oh, and these..” Joshua turned to face Henry, pointing at his wrists and chest, “These scars, were from some poachers who tried to lead you all into a trap. When they realized you weren’t listening, they climbed over the wall to take you. I was outnumbered, but I fought for all of you. I almost didn’t make it, but there is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you all safe. I haven’t lost one of you yet.”
Henry stood up and walked closer to his Shepherd, looking down at his forearm, which was now dried with blood. Joshua looked at Henry, “I would even leave the 99 and come looking for you.” Henry laid down beside Joshua, nestled his head on Joshua’s lap, and fell asleep.
Phil Steiner 