Page 2 of The Shadow Path
“So once we answer that question” —Carys looked out over the small lecture hall— “we are forced to ask ourselves another one. What do these stories, these intensely human stories that are often violent, often grim, but can also be redemptive, mean to us as modern humans?”
She faced a mosaic of faces when she looked at her students. Many were watching her, others were typing furiously on their laptops, far too many were looking at their phones, and at least two sophomore boys were slumped over with their eyes closed.
“When we examine mythological archetypes from around the world like…” She waited for hands.
A freshman girl in the front row raised hers, and Carys nodded.
“Catastrophic floods?”
“Yes. Another one.” She pointed to a boy in the back who had his hand up.
“Trickster gods,” he said.
“Excellent.” She was relieved that even though the semester was wrapping up and they were taking their final the following morning, her students were still engaged. “Another one?”
“Uh, reaper myths?”
Carys pointed at the student. “Psychopomps and afterlife guides. Great one.”
A boy in the front row cleared his throat. “Is this stuff gonna be on the final?”
Carys nodded. “If we’re talking about it today, it’s a good guess that you’re going to see it tomorrow.”
One of the sleeping sophomores roused himself and rubbed his eyes. “Uh, twins. Divine twins. Feral twins.”
Carys forced a smile to her face. “Can’t forget that one.” She glanced at the clock and heard the side door to the hall creak open. The next crop of students was probably arriving for their nine-thirty classes. “Okay, so that’s the question we’re asking, right? What do these stories that cross cultures and time mean to us today in the modern world? Why bother studying any of this stuff?”
“Because it fulfills an English requirement?”
Carys smiled as scattered laughter ran across the room. “Thank you for the most obvious answer, Paul. Any other reason?”
A familiar voice with a deep Scottish brogue spoke from the side of the room. “Because in learning what our ancestors believed, we might learn more about who we are and who we want to be.”
Carys turned and met Duncan Murray’s brilliant green eyes. He was leaning against the wall of her classroom, clad in worn jeans, a green-and-blue-plaid flannel, and a dark green Barbour jacket.
Her heart leaped in her chest. “Great answer.” She forced herself to turn back to her students. “Don’t forget you can use your printed-out notes on the final, so make sure you bring them to the testing center tomorrow.”
As soon as she started to wrap up, all her students started packing their books.
“Also, you were a delight and I want to thank you for braving the eight a.m. time slot.” Carys rushed through her closing remarks. “Good luck on your finals, rest up, eat something green for all the gods’ and goddesses’ sakes” —more laughter as all of them started heading out of the hall— “and have a great summer! English majors, I hope I see you again in the fall.”
“Thanks, Professor Morgan!”
“Have a great summer too.”
A soft-spoken girl passed by the lectern. “I’m going to try to register for your Classical Mythology in World Literature class in the fall. Does it fill up fast?”
Carys started getting her own notes together to clear out for Dr. Ramirez, who was probably already in the building. “It rarely fills up because it’s a three-hundred-level class.” Her eyes kept darting to Duncan, whom more than one student was eyeing with interest as they passed. “So I doubt you’ll have an issue, but if you do, just email me, okay?”
“Awesome.” Her smile was relieved. “Thanks.”
“Good luck on the final.” Carys had little doubt the girl would ace it. She was one of her top students.
“I heard this was your first class back after your sabbatical,” the girl said. “I just wanted to say it was one of my favorites.”
Carys’s heart nearly burst. “Thank you. That means a lot. I can’t lie—I was nervous coming back.” She saw Duncan walking over from the corner of her eye. “But I had a great time with you guys. You made this class really fun.”
“Thanks.” The girl’s cheeks were a little red when she looked at Duncan; then she nodded at Carys one more time before she headed toward the door.
