he was now in the middle of the crowd that spread outward from him in every direction , people of every size and age and race and attireinfants cradled in their mothers arms , their fathers alongside , their brothers , sisters , old men helped along by young arms , by teens , by children each side , young adults , middle-aged , older , school children , adolescents , black-skinned , olive-skinned , honey-colored , weather-beaten , pale : all moving in one direction across the dry and barren land , the haze of dust raised by those who passed before settling over the crowd , clogging the eyes , ears , noses , mouths of those passing now , exhaled back to the sky , descending on those following , all moving , moving , moving one direction : forward .