Chapter 22 - The Giver

Of course, during the escape, long journey, he got to meet many new things that Jonas has never experienced before. For example, a bird. Gabe cried out “plane” but it was a bird. In addition, rain is also one of them which Jonas have never had before. At this time, he didn’t have any time to appreciate rain since rain made Jonas and Gabe’s journey more severe. Meanwhile, Jonas wondered whether he made a right choice or wrong one, even though he really wanted to escape from the life of Sameness and predictability and this shows how tough this explore for Elsewhere is to this young boy.

Reading Jonas’s great explore for Elsewhere, I was wondering whether I have experienced that kind of trip before or not. In this reality world, that kind of tough trip can be a backpacking at least. Well… no. never. Even in my young ages, I’ve never tried. We can’t compare Jonas’s journey to a trip like a backpacking since Jonas is doing it at the risk of his life but still I just can imagine that it would be much more agonizing than a backpacking. Even though I have just one chapter remained, I hope Jonas’s travel would end up with happiness.

But now there were new fears; the unfamiliar landscape held hidden, unknown perils.
peril noun [ˈperəl]
[uncountable] serious danger
The country's economy is now in grave peril.

The constant ache of his swollen ankle was eased when he soaked it occasionally in the cold water that rushed through roadside gullies.
gully noun (also gulley) [ˈɡʌli]
a small, narrow channel, usually formed by a stream or by rain
The bodies of the three climbers were located at the bottom of a steep gully

Soon there were many birds along the way, soaring overhead, calling.
soar verb [sɔːr]
to fly very high in the air or remain high in the air
an eagle soaring high above the cliffs

He slowed the bike again and again to look with wonder at wildflowers, to enjoy the throaty warble of a new bird nearby, or merely to watch the way wind shifted the leaves in the trees.
warble verb [ˈwɔːrbl]
to sing, especially in a high voice that is not very steady
He warbled his way through the song.

he had never felt such simple moments of exquisite happiness.
exquisite adjective [ɪkˈskwɪzɪt]
extremely beautiful or carefully made / strongly felt
Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite. / exquisite pain (pleasure)

The most relentless of his new fears was that they would starve.
relentless adjective [rɪˈlentləs]
not stopping or getting less strong
her relentless pursuit of perfection

They finished the meager store of potatoes and carrots
meager [mí:ɡər]
small in quantity and poor in quality
a meagre diet of bread and water
She supplements her meagre income by cleaning at night.

Finally, in desperation, he fashioned a makeshift net, looping the strands of Gabriel's blanket around a curved stick.
makeshift adjective [ˈmeɪkʃɪft]
used temporarily for a particular purpose because the real thing is not available
The hall had been turned into a makeshift hospital.

He tried to use the flagging power of his memory to recreate meals, and managed brief, tantalizing fragments:
tantalize verb [ˈtæntəlaɪz]
to make a person or an animal want something that they cannot have or do
A tantalising aroma of roast beef fills the air.
Don't tantalize me. Just come out with it.

and lush fruits picked and eaten, sun-warmed and dripping, from trees.
lush [lʌʃ]
covered in healthy grass and plants.
the lush green meadows bordering the river

But when the memory glimpses subsided, he was left with the gnawing, painful emptiness.
gnawing adjective [ˈnɔːɪŋ]
making you feel worried over a period of time
gnawing doubts

Once he had yearned for choice.
yearn [j3:rn]
to want something very much, especially when it is very difficult to get
She yearned to escape from her office job.