Sweeney doesn't know what is going on, but he can at least sense that something more is going on with Shannon, "The old Chief was not doing well when I left him. The mission hospital is a good hospital, but they cannot perform miracles ...they can only pray for one. Old Chief has the island sickness, as some call it. They are not sure what brings it on, but only one in a hundred make it through."

Malu passes the message on.  Many of the islanders had thought they'd witnessed their old Chief die.  But they are happy to hear he hasn't died and that he has a chance to live.  The islanders ask Malu to help them pray for their old Chief.  

   Shannon and the others are very touched by the immediate concern of the islanders. They join hands with the islanders and lead them in their first prayer.   

Later that evening, Shannon inquires more about the island sickness, "Is it contagious?"

     Lorvin is very familiar with the sickness, "Very much so.  The islanders call it, white man's sickness.  The islanders never get it.  But it has wiped out more than a few of our missions.   They used to call it missionary dysentery because of the initial symptoms, but they've found this variation to be tragically different …though many still refer to it as missionary dysentery."  

Shannon had learned from the islanders, how the old Chief had become their leader. Their are those who know bits and pieces about the old Chief ...but, the rest is locked up inside him. The struggle is his, and his only ...well, not really. There is much more to this, and the most unbelievable part was that which Shannon had to convince the others as being true ...and not just delirium, a possible symptom of her catching the sickness herself. Shannon thinks back to that first moment of discovery:

Aleah is the first to take notice of the condition of the man stretched out across the saddle.   She has a couple of the men help lower him gently off the horse and to the ground.  And she confirms that she thinks this man has the same thing as Old Chief ---what they call the serious version of missionary dysentery. 

   Shannon kneels down beside him.  She gasps!  Lowering her head to his chest, she drenches him in her tears.   The 'Man in the mountain', now the 'Man on the beach', is ---but, how can it be?     

   "Oh, thank you, God!"   Her silent prayer continues, "Please let him live!  I don't believe you'd let me find him, except you'd have him live!" 

   Shannon tries to communicate, yet it is difficult through her sobs and tears.   Malu understands hurt and anguish and the private moments of it. He has the islanders give them space. 

   Lorvin, Moriah, Onithe, and Astuti take Shannon to the side to talk to her.   Aleah doesn't leave the man's side ---the nurse in her doesn't allow her departure.  She can hear what Shannon has to share later. 

   Shannon brings an intense amount of emotion to the side conversation. Lorvin suddenly has his own concerns.  He doesn't need a translator, yet he doesn't quite know how to express it.  He is quite certain he heard Shannon correctly ---he just fears what he'd heard.  It possibly means that Shannon is coming down with it too …the delirium very possibly setting in. 

   
    Lorvin agrees this should be dealt with privately.  He returns to Aleah's side, his intense expression now showing his desperation, "I think Shannon might be coming down with it too." 

 Once all secure on board, Lorvin again voices his concern about Shannon to his wife.  Lorvin is concerned that her delirium may be intensifying.   She remains at the mountain man's side, sobbing and babbling, "M-o-m, M-o-m ---I found him!" 

   Tears gather in Lorvin's eyes.  He has been of little comfort to Shannon.  She is coming down with this missionary dysentery.  And she is slipping into delirium, crying out like a child for her 'Mommy'.  

    Then they think perhaps Sweeney has come down with the delirium too ...as he gets into the act: 

  
    Sweeney gets into it, as if he's experiencing it at this precise moment, "You must understand …we are real scared.  At first we don't see Grandpa. He disappears into the smoke and flame.  We are about to go after him ourselves, when we see him emerge out of the smoke, dragging Doyle to safety.  We don't want him to see us, so we motor to the other side of Estie and get ready to speed back before we get caught ---but then we  see these two in the water, about to drown.  So we save them in our boat and take them back to where we're loading the craft …the aircraft."   

                                                                                                                                
    Lorvin spends the next couple hours attempting to calm Shannon down. Spending time with Shannon, he begins to believe that she doesn't have the missionary dysentery ---and it is not delirium, but rather years of grief stored up, only to be released at this moment.  

    Aleah also shakes her head.  It doesn't even look like him.  This is not her brother!  Aleah knows what Lorvin is thinking.  Shannon must be having an emotional breakdown, desperately pretending what she wants to believe ---what she feels will save her sanity. 

   What Shannon had discovered, was that the 'Man in the mountain' was her dad.  She didn't know how it could be ...but it was undeniable true.  The wedding ring with the inscription, the precisely marked birth marks on his arm ...and of course, the photo with him wearing that outlandish shirt she had bought him just before he'd disappeared. 

Shannon takes the zip-lock bag out of her pocket, the one Uata had given her from the box.  She takes out a photograph and shows it to Aleah. It is definitely ---Stephen! 

    Aleah begins to cry profusely.  Shannon not only recognized the photograph to be her Dad ---she remembers that same shirt he'd worn to work on the day he'd disappeared ---the shirt that she had given him which everyone considered so ugly.  And the second she had seen the photograph fall out of the claimed sacred box, she had connected the idea of the 'Man in the mountain'.  That's when she had leaped on Breeze and breezed up the mountain.  

Shannon wants to convince herself that being here for Dad will make a difference, yet she remembers how she had failed to connect with him in the past. What hope would she have of doing it now?

   At this moment ---discouragement, doubt, and deception join forces to attempt to defeat and destroy her. But Shannon know her Lord, and Savior ...and she knows her prayers will be heard.  She just hopes Dad can somehow sense her sincerity ...and her love. 

Shannon had a more recent conversation with one of the ladies at the missionary hospital:

Shannon looks into Maggie's eyes, "When do they begin the medication?"

   Maggie encloses her hands around Shannon's, "Hopefully, tomorrow. We don't have it here. We had to send for it as soon as we heard you were coming. We expect the plane may be arriving back tomorrow." 

   Shannon can't imagine the struggle that is ahead, "Has anyone survived as a result of this new medication?" 

   Maggie wishes she can give Shannon more hope, but she must be honest, "No, we've only tried it with one other person."                                                    

   Shannon doesn't wait to ask, "So, what happened?"   

   Maggie doesn't mean to dishearten her, "We don't know yet. That other person is the old Chief. Early yesterday morning we gave him the medication. We had to move him to another building because his screams were so intense, he was scaring the other patients. But sadly, we have to take these desperate measures. It is believed that our only chance is with the hope that these violent seizures that the medication causes, will force him out of the comatose condition." 

Shannon has to ask, "Aren't any of the rest of you afraid you are going to get it? Isn't it highly contagious?"

Maggie smiles, "We just recently received a vaccination for it. You'll be getting your dose within the hour."  

  

So this is why Shannon has this particular interest. Of course, she cares about the old Chief, and has prayed for him. But also, she knows that whatever the old Chief is presently going through, her dad will also be going through. She wants to be somewhat prepared ...and so she wants to check in on the old Chief, but first she has to call back to the States ...to Michigan, to help prepare Mom for what is going on:

"I'm doing fine, Mom.  How about you?  You sound tired ...must be all that celebrating.  By the way, happy birthday, Mom!"     
                    

Shannon smiles as she listens to Mom's response over the phone, "Well, technically speaking, it is my birthday.  But it's only a couple hours past midnight here.  But don't worry about that.  It's always so good to hear from you.  I know you must be caught up in everything ---it's a wonder you remembered my birthday.  But you are always sweet that  way.  I miss you so much, Shannon." 

   Maggie listens as Shannon replies, "I'm so sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to wake you.  I never could get those time zones straight." 

   Mom laughs, "Don't apologize.  I know you don't get much occasion to call.  And you know I'm worried sick about you all the time.  The best thing you could have done for me was to call.  You don't know how good it is to hear from you.  It always seems like forever to me, but I know you don't get a chance very often."

   Shannon is eager to move on with the conversation, "Mom, I have to tell you …I've had the most fantastic adventure here.  God works wonderful miracles in the mission field ---way beyond our imaginations." 

   Shannon can't see her Mom smile.  Everyone back home was aware of Rebekkah's surprise shipment. Mom imagines part of the reason Shannon hadn't called sooner was that she had received her surprise Arabian horse and she had probably ridden it every day from dawn until dusk, thinking of nothing else.  But Shannon is so sweet.  She had remembered her Mom's birthday.  "Yes, way beyond our imaginations.  I imagine you'll be coming home soon. You will be back in time for your sister's wedding, won't you?" 

   Shannon is preparing to spring her surprise, "I planned on leaving for home last week, but something came up and I've been rather busy ...but I'm doing my best.  I hope you don't mind me bringing someone home with me." 

   Mom laughs again, "Oh, silly me ...for a second there, you had me.   But you're talking about the horse, aren't you?"                                                          

   Shannon draws out the suspense, "No ---that was a wonderful surprise, but this is an even bigger surprise." 

   Mom teases, "So, you met someone?  The wedding bells will still be ringing in my ears from Leah's marriage …and then you?"   

   Shannon knows she will win this game of teasing, "No, it's not my marriage I'm referring to …it's yours." 

   Cindy laughs, "That doesn't sound like you, Sweetie.  I know Fernye has a knack for matchmaking, but don't tell me you are into it too."   

   There is a long pause.  Shannon is beginning to get caught up in her tears again.  And Cindy is just caught in quiet reflection.  She knows Shannon is just kidding, but she doesn't understand the sudden silence.   

   Cindy asks, "Are you still there?"                                                                     

   Kidding aside, Shannon fights back her tears.  "Yes, Mom, I'm still here."                                                                                                                                  

   It is so awkward and difficult to gauge emotions over the phone, but Cindy tries, "Is it Leah's wedding that you're referring to?  Are you worried that I'm going to try to take over her wedding …and not give her any breathing space?   Is that why you said my wedding …because you know how I get?   Well, I don't blame you …I do sort of get carried away.   I get all excited and want to do this and that …but you know how it is with me.   You know that when you say my wedding …you aren't talking about my  wedding.  You know I will never remarry.  But I can still get excited about one of my children getting married." 

   Shannon fights back the tears, "I didn't say your wedding, I said your marriage.  You've made it clear to all of your children that you would never remarry.  And that fact has made this occasion most beautiful."                                   

   Shannon draws a deep breath," Mom, I don't know how to tell you this, but ……"