Chapter 6, Detour Through the Desert Summary

A few days after Much-Afraid's confrontation with Pride, she and her companions come upon a great desert. Sorrow and Suffering motion to her that she is to follow them down into the desert, but Much-Afraid is horrified. The desert appears to be in the exact opposite direction of the High Places, and this seems to be a direct contradiction of the Shepherd's promise to her. She calls for the Shepherd and he is immediately at her side. Much-Afraid asks him why he is not following through on his promise to take her to the High Places and he gently tells her that although this detour may seem purposeless, there are many things she must learn in this place. The Shepherd asks Much-Afraid if she loves him enough to trust that he has her best interests...