Rose-Red Morning

On the last morning, Polly watched the sun climb over the canyon. Slowly its light slid down the great temple, and the rose-red stone began to glow like fire.

High on top of the temple stands a giant stone jar. People once believed a treasure was hidden inside it. But Polly knew the truth. The treasure is the stone itself.

The little pink rosefinch came back and sang from a carved column. Polly touched the warm rose-red wall one last time with her wing.

Then she flew up, out of the canyon, high over the desert. Below her, the crack became a thin dark line again. A twenty minute walk. Seven wonderful days. Polly carried the colour of the rose-red stone with her, all the way home.