CHAPTER SIX HUNDRED AND SEVEN – OUT TO THE NEXT PLACE

All too soon, it was time to leave. The entire village turned out to see them off, lining the snowy street as Jasmine and Sergei were helped into the back of Yuri's truck. The vehicle was indeed old, its once-bright paint faded and chipped, but the engine roared to life with reassuring strength. As they pulled away, Jasmine found herself waving until the village disappeared from view, a lump forming in her throat. These people, strangers just a day ago, had shown them such kindness. She silently vowed to return one day, to properly thank them and to share their stories as promised. The journey was slow going. The truck lurched and bounced over the uneven terrain, each jolt sending a spike of pain through Sergei's injured leg. Jasmine did her best to cushion him with the blankets and furs they had been given, but there was only so much she could do. Yuri proved to be a man of few words, responding to Jasmine's attempts at conversation with grunts or monosyllabic answers. Eventually,