"I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh," the man beamed at her, "but I'm afraid I'm not a mister. My name is just Moses. And while you're here in the Village, I hope you don't mind if we call you Ann."

Ann returned his laugh, comfortable somehow with this seemingly gentle man.

"Oh, I'm sorry… Moses then. And I'd love you to call me Ann."

"Well that's fine. Good. Now I suppose you're looking for Lani?"

"Yes, I am," Ann answered, "can you tell me where I might find her?"

"The last I saw her she was walking up toward the Chapel."

"The Chapel?" Ann echoed.

"Oh, sorry, that's what we call the hillside where we sometimes meditate and have group… gatherings," Moses said with a sly smile. "For us, it's a kind of church, so…"

"I think that's lovely," Ann laughed, "that Chapel! That's wonderful! Could you tell me how to get there? You see, I'm very anxious to see my daughter."

"Well, she's with Bob right now…"

"Oh, is that a friend of hers?" Ann asked hesitantly.

The man looked at her with a strange expression playing about his eyes.

"We're all friends here, Ann. You'll soon find that out."

"Of course, I forgot," she laughed. "After all, isn't that what a commune's for?"

"You're very right, Ann, that is exactly what a commune is for." The same strange smile formed on his lips, making Ann vaguely uneasy somehow, but she quickly dismissed it.

They chatted for a few moments more, and then Ann asked again how she could get to the Chapel. Moses indicated a path rising steeply from the Village, as he had told her the area where they were now standing was called, and said that it came out right above the Chapel. Ann thanked him and turned to make her way across the clearing.

"Oh Ann?" he called after her.

"Yes?" she answered, turning back toward him.

"You're welcome to stay and share our dinner with us."