Light streamed into the far end of the cave, and Hugh opened his eyes wide, as if to take in more light, as though he could be welcoming it home to his sparkling eyes. Then he looked at Aspir.

The cave-boy was kneeling, with his head covered by his hands. "I can't go there, to that land of too-many torches." In this kneeling position, he looked as though he was praying to the cave. "Let me stay here, where my eyes are at home."

Tuza said, "The sunlight is too bright for him." He moved to stand directly in the clear light. "Later Aspir will want to leave this world, and then he will see the full daylight."

Hugh smiled at the boy in the shadow, and felt understanding for his cavern brother. Then he turned to the old man, and said, "Tuza, show me the way up the mountain."

The old man replied. "You know the way."

"But how," asked Hugh, "can I know the blue star, beyond the peak?"

Tuza laughed. "Your dreams are already there. Follow their course and then leave even them behind."

With a smile, Tuza added, "Hugh, I see in your eyes the blue star's reflection, even now." Then Tuza walked back toward Aspir, toward the cave's heart.

Tuza lifted Aspir into his arms and vanished into shadows, saying, "Hugh, sing your name to the mountain peak, and let its echo guide you. You will touch that highest star."

Hugh ran from the cave, upward on slopes, upward across stones -- seeing the blue star in the sky above earth. And he saw it even when he looked away, as though he had eyes inside which would never look away from that light.

Time disappeared. Now he stood on the peak, and strange winds swirled about him -- winds that made him hear, and made him feel what he heard: "Huuuuu."

The voice came from inside of his own breath, from the sky's star, and from a single cloud in the blue sky.

The cloud sailed toward the boy. No, it was no cloud. It was a swan.

Hansa, flying spirit, soared on wings that had grown to huge size, as though they would be able to carry the whole world in flight. Hansa flew to the boy -- and, as he flew slowly past, Hugh put his arms around the bird's neck.

They rose quickly into the air. Hugh gazed downward one last time, and he saw a shadow in the shape of his body, still on the peak, fading among other shadows.

The boy held weightless to the neck, and he looked up at all light. The wings stirred a word, "Huuuuu," from the air, and it filled Hugh's ears with all beautiful songs.

Home was in the dream he carried, untouched, to the song of the blue-lit star.