“It sounds silly in my own mind,” Levi said with an embarrassed grin. “I’ll spare you the details and just tell you that I’m going.”

“Levi, we’re all friends here,” Brian urged. “I want to understand your reasoning.”

“Yeah,” Rusty said. “I may not agree, but I’d like to know where you’re coming from on this.”

Levi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if swallowing his pride. “I’m an old man,” he said in a tired and defeated voice. “All my life I’ve been pursuing goals I couldn’t accomplish. Putting demands on myself I couldn’t meet. I’ve always had an affinity for the impossible.” Levi’s eyes were distant and misty as he continued. “It may sound strange, but all my life I’ve felt there was a higher purpose for me…that at some point in my life an opportunity would come to conquer the impossible.” Levi heaved a huge sigh. “I don’t care how it sounds. It’s not something I can explain. It is something I just know. This is my impossible moment. I can’t turn away from this. Live or die, I just can’t turn away from it.”

“Don’t take this wrong, Levi,” Rusty said quietly. “But you accuse me of being dramatic?”

Levi nodded his head, knowing there was no logical response.

“I won’t deny a strong desire to go myself,” Brian said slowly. “Let’s be honest. We could live for a million years and never have another opportunity to be a part of something so large. It’s an intoxicating prospect.”

Suddenly John stood and approached the ring of light being emitted by the last glowing embers of the fire. “I know I said I wouldn’t interrupt your decision, but I think it has already been made.” He regarded Levi with a smile of understanding. “Back in Nam, we referred to the feeling you’re having as destiny.”

“Destiny?” Rusty said in disbelief. “Sounds more like…”

“…Destiny!” John interrupted. He gave the younger man a hard stare. Rusty went silent. “It sometimes happens only once in a lifetime. For others, it’s a repeating cycle that haunts you. But destiny is real. Destiny is when you find yourself in a situation so unbelievable and so dramatic that all logic goes out the window. The only thing you can count on is your gut instinct to mark the course.”

“My gut tells me that this is insane,” Rusty said cautiously.

John turned and regarded him with a sympathetic smile. “Then perhaps your destiny is to remain a coward all your life.” He turned and walked back towards his bedroll and then stopped and turned to face them again. “Brian and Levi, we leave at first light. Try to get some sleep. Rusty, in the morning, I’ll give you enough supplies to get back to the ranch. Give your horse free rein and he’ll take you straight there.”

With that, John disappeared into the dark. The decision had been made.