"And now, it is time that I must go".

The Wizard began folding up his stage, packing up the puppets in a trunk.  An enormous wave of fear and sadness washed over me and fell out of my mouth in a panicked voice.

"Where are you going?  Why must you go?  What am I to do now?"

"I have only one thing left to show you.  Walk with me".

We walked for a short time until we reached a place where the brick road that we had traveled for so long suddenly ended.

"This is where your new journey begins", he said.

"How may I journey?", I asked.  "There is no road."

"You must now build a new road.  You have your companions with you now to assist you.  You are not alone on this journey, and when you have all built the road together you will find the place you are meant to be."

"And you will go where?"

"I will be where I am always, in the background, in the shadows, behind the curtain.  You will not see me, but I will have my voice to speak."

"Why must I always be sent on journeys?  They are all safe here, why can they not all stay here?"

"That will not do", was the only reply he made. We walked in silence back to the caravan, but my mind was busy formulating objections and arguments.  I had not wanted to come here, but now I felt I did not want to leave.  

"We will not know which way to go", I said.  "Why do you not come with us?"

"I cannot make this journey for you, it is one you must complete on your own.  You will find what you need in your companions, and soon you will forget about me.  I am only a catalyst, the materials you need to build your road are in your possession now."

He had closed up the stage and placed it on the caravan.  I saw that he intended to go and nothing I said was persuading him otherwise.  

"But where will I be when I reach the end?  Tell me what awaits me so that I may travel in hope."

"Hope is what you will build with, and what you find at the end I cannot say.  These are your dreams that will lead you onward, not mine."

"And will I not see you again?", I asked.  

"I have journeys of my own to make, who knows where they will lead?"  His face was as unreadable as always.

I had a foolish idea to call my companions to help me persuade him and ran to call them to come.  I was no more than a few steps when I realized it was too late.  In an instant, he had gone.  

We camped that night in the spot where the caravan had been, a fire burning in place of the stage.  We set off the next morning, each of us forever changed.  I worked in earnest now, building my road of hope.  The object of that hope remained elusive and unseen.