Home
New Zealand
Canada
Wedding
Guestbook
Music
Links
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
New Zealand |
Canada |
Wedding |
Guestbook |
Music |
Links |
|
The
Journey Continues... |
|
|
Home-school Welcome
to Existence Bible
Training Resources
|
7.
CHASING THE DREAM
Cora
ran through the trees, slowly gaining the upper ground. He was chasing
a young fawn. Every now and then the small deer seemed to tire, allowing
Cora to catch up to it, only to once again leap further ahead.
The fawn jumped over a fallen pine tree, its well-developed hind legs carried the animal clandestinely over the rotten log to the flat moist forest canopy on the other side. Following behind, the now toned down flexed up Cora sprinted towards the log. He took a quick glance and decided he was well able to make the leap necessary to cover the distance. The
wolf had travelled a vast distance, tracking down an ancient path that
his kind had followed for centuries. It's glistening head shone in the
morning light. A reverential glow seemed to surround it's white coat
as it travelled down the age-old trail. The trail led through the country
of the Amalkeths down towards the Jera people to the South and the Couth
people to the East and ended at the shores of the Black Mare Coast.
Here other wolves gathered, mated, reared offspring and raised a pack.
Once the offspring had grown up they would themselves leave the pack
and return once again to begin their own family.
Following the trail down through the Nathos Country in the North, the wolf had barely escaped with his life. One of the hunter's having fired their arrows at him had left a deep graze down his left-flank. This unwarranted attack on his person had made the wolf angry. He had continued following the trail with a heated fury only to be distracted by Junnice's singing. Deciding to vent his anger he left the trail to take a closer look at the singer. A lone man-child was an exciting object to play with. They were so weak and helpless. He mauled over how he would fork out his revenge for the hurt he had suffered. His eyes fell to his side, blood caked brown with the heat of the sun and his own body-heat had gathered into a clump below the wound. He pawed his way motionlessly toward the man-child. Catalepsy
struck Cora just as he was about to clear the trunk. His calf muscles
seized and he fell face-first on the moist forest floor. Aggravated
by the outcome Cora pounded at the ground with his thick little fists.
A little while later, having recovered from his tantrum and having dusted himself off, he stomped heavily back towards the stream. Nearing the stream he again caught sight of the fawn lapping up water on the bank of the metre wide stream and gathering back his strength, Cora decided once again to give chase. Junnice
was trembling, having given up hope of survival she dropped to the ground
heavily exasperated with fear. The wolf drew closer regardless of her
helpless state. Only a few meters away now she could smell him despite
her fear.
A metre away. He smelt of blood. The animal suddenly pounced upon her. Junnice let out an ear-tearing scream and fainted. But just before she did she felt the presence of a Being much stronger and larger than the animal stand between her and the wolf. She wasn't sure if it was the sunlight or the sudden appearance of the Being, but there seemed to be a constant glow around the Stranger. The
fawn ran out into the plain where Junnice had been picking flowers only
a few moments before. It skidded to a halt at the smell of fresh blood.
Cora following close behind grasped his hands around its small midriff
and held on tightly. The deer did not resist with a fight, all his strength
having left him at the smell of blood. It remained quiet as Cora tied
it up with his shirt lace around it's four ankles. Leaving the fawn
on its side on the ground Cora stood up and listened to the sounds of
the forest. All was quiet. He glanced around pondering this when all
of a sudden he heard Junnice scream. Locating her whereabouts by the
sound of her scream he sprinted to her side. He stopped short and tried
to take in all at once the distressing sight before him. Junnice screaming,
a wolf torn in half lying on the ground amongst a colourful arrangement
of flowers. Cora turned and vomited and cursed because there was no
food in his stomach only bile, and it hurt to dry-wretch. Junnice having
awakened out of unconsciousness and barely recovered from the shock
of having survived the attack, stumbled to his side, trying to keep
as faraway from the butchered wolf as possible.
8.
WHAT JUNNICE SAW
"What do you mean? 'I saw a Holy One'," barked Junnice's father, his haggard appearance made him look older than his thirty-three years, which wasn't helped by the tone of his high-pitched voice. "I don't know Papa. I only saw it for a moment and then I fainted," came a quiet reply. "Did Cora see this holy one?" "No." "Where is Cora now?" "At his home... preparing the deer for lunch," Junnice replied folding her bronzed legs under her thighs on the fur rug on the wooden floor of the hut, which was her bed, Her father paced about musing over the near loss of his daughters life. Suddenly comprehending the impact of what could have happened he fell to his knees before Junnice and enfolded her in his big robust arms. Tears trailed down both their cheeks. Moments passed. "When is Cora supposed to be finished with his training Junnice?" Hadires asked regaining his posture. "Today Papa." "Come, let's go see him." The thirteen year old boy stood outside the slaughterhouse skinning the fawn that hung upside down from a tree with its throat slit, blood gathering in a wooden basin. His hands were busy with separating skin from carcass, fingers digging in deep between flesh and fur. The fawn stood hanging from the branch by a flax-rope tied to its hind legs and front legs waving in the air three inches off the ground. Shank ran about his ankles anxiously barking at the fawn, despite his cheerful clatter, the pup stayed well away from the basin, having been well disciplined. The pup would have his share of the trophy when his master had finished butchering the meat. Completely engulfed in the task at hand Cora received a fright when Junnice strolled up and put her arms around his waist. He nearly tore the carcass off the branch spilling blood all over his legs. Shank barked excitedly at Cora's reaction then quickly shut-up when Cora started cursing. Junnice turned and stomped away, her father, bemused by the whole ordeal roared with laughter. Cora was not amused. "Ju I'm... sorry. You... just gave me a very bad fright," he stammered catching up with her. "Well you don't have to curse." "Well I couldn't think of anything better," came the reply. "Look at what you made me do." Cora peered at his blood splattered legs. "You should get Shank to lick it off," Junnice chuckled, suddenly her hurt forgotten. She started back towards the carcass and her father, who stood examining its slick spotted light-brown fur-skin. Cora wiped the blood off his feet and ran up behind Junnice. "Better yet, why don't you lick it off," he said, wiping his blood stained palms across her clean face, making certain to get her lips. "Yuck!" she sputtered, wiping her face. Her countenance suddenly took on a very different appearance as she started running towards her father. Cora standing a hundred yards away wondering what she was up to, not at all liking the cocky look in her eye's. As he kept watching he suddenly released exactly what was she was up to. Junnice having retrieved the half filled wooden basin sprinted towards him with some of its congealed contents spilling on the ground as she went. Cora, tired from all his hard running after the deer, turned to run. Too late. She outran him. With a loud ear-piercing cry she let loose with the remaining contents of the basin. Her opponent responded with a cry as its contents flew towards him. Cora was coated from head to foot give or take a few spots. Struck with disbelief he was lost for words as he watched the crowd gather around. Wrought with anger and a slight hint of mischief evident in his smile, he stomped toward Junnice, who upon attempting to retreat, tripped over her own moccasins and found herself splayed out on the hard ground. Cora positioned himself on the small of her back with his legs on either side and started wiping his bloodied hands through her long, straight black hair leaving scarlet streaks on her neck. Junnice tried to push him off to no avail. Giving up she just lay there. The crowd soon grew bored with the spectacle and decided to return to whatever they had been doing previously. A few moments later, Hadires walked up and squatted beside the pair who by now were both covered in dust as well as deer blood. He waited quietly until they grew quiet, then he said in his rather husky voice. "You two go and cleanup in the river." Then seeing Cora glance back at the carcass hanging from the tree he added, "Don't worry about that, I will take care of it. You two just go clean - up." Then he stood-up and strode back to the carcass leaving the pair to sort themselves out. 9.
A MEAL SHARED
"Papa said you have to come and get the deer meat. He said he has finished butchering it," Junnice said approaching Cora's hut Cora stood just within the door drying his hair. Even ten yards away he could smell the sweet fragrance of jojoba through her hair. He followed Junnice back to her father's hut. Washed and wearing clean hide trousers and shirts, no one would have thought that only half an hour earlier they were both covered head to toe in dirt and grime. "Come in," Hadires uttered motioning Cora - who had been standing outside the hut for a full minute - to enter. Hadires sat cross-legged on an animal skin mat on the wooden floor. Before him in a large wooden basin was the butchered remains of the young deer all ready for cooking and roasting over an open fire. Junnice's father motioned Cora to sit opposite him and when he had positioned himself on the mat provided, Hadires pushed forth the basin to him. Cora thanked him and as a courtesy asked Junnice to bring him a bowl. Placing a flank and forequarter in the bowl he asked Junnice asked Junnice to prepare the meat as he would be eating with them at noon. Looking across he asked Hadires if this was all right with him and if he had his permission. Hadires nodded his approval and motioned his daughter to go get her sister to help with the preparation's. "So, you had quiet an exciting morning sister?" Bernice remarked stoking the fire below the forequarter suspended above its hot ember, while her twin boiled root vegetables beside her. She had been musing over the events of the morning. "Did you end up bringing the flowers for the offering?" Junnice turned upon her, her eyes wild with rage. "Why should I offer flowers to a 'god' who did not even come to my help...?" Junnice shouted. "Keep your voice down. You don't want the whole tribe to hear." "I don't care," she bit back. "I am sick of sacrificing to a piece of wood who can't even hear or speak, who we constantly live in fear of because of what the elders teach us. I will no longer serve or live in fear of the Great Bear or sacrifice to him." "Junnice have you thought about the fact that it could have been the Great Bear who sent the holy one?" Bernice asked quietly. "Bernice, the wolf is a brother to the Great Bear and if the Bear had sent him it would have been to help and not attack him," came the quick retort. "So how do you know the wolf wasn't trying to protect you from this holy one?" "Because, oh wizened sister the wolf was after me and not the holy one! And legend has it that the holy ones are messengers from the Great Spirit. Haven't you learnt anything from the elders apart from learning how to become a good wife?" "Ju... you say hurtful things," replied her twin, tears appearing in her big bright eyes which had the appearance of a slow stream of water flowing over dried maple leaves. "What is happening with you Ju?" she asked. "You've always been headstrong but I have never seen you like this. Look, you are just upset because of what happened this morning," Bernice said quietly. "Of course I'm upset. I feel betrayed by someone or something I put my trust in." "What do you mean?" "I'm not quite sure right now, but I somehow feel empty and what I believed in hasn't filled that space." "What are you talking about Junnice?" Bernice asked. "I don't know," came the reply. "You
girls have done me proud," exclaimed Hadires proudly as his young daughters
removed the wooden bowls, which had been used to eat their meals on.
"That was a good meal," said Cora, patting his solid abdomen to add further weight to his statement. He passed the wash bowl to clean hands over to Junnice and Bernice's mother Faria. "So Cora, have you given thought to the date of the marriage?" Faria asked receiving the bowl and cloth. She laughed at the perplexed appearance of Cora's face. "You don't have to look so worried dear. I only wondered, so that Junnice' s father and I could begin preparing for the day." "Well, I hadn't given much thought to it. I have been busying myself with preparation for the journey." Cora responded quietly musing over what to say next. "How is that going?" Hadires broke in, changing the subject. "Well sir, it's been hard work, but I am ready for it..."
10. MOTHER ANA
"Where
are we going?" Bernice asked, as Junnice led her through the frequently
travelled path that lay in the densely covered area of the forest, five
miles from their own tribe lands to the East. Three days had passed
since Cora had set out on his journey. The hot sun barely made it through
the tall trees which seemed to want to touch the sky. Though the day
was quite warm down here on the forest floor, the climate made a sudden
drastic change and the twins shook with the chill. Bernice did not like
it one bit and her voice reflected her feeling's strongly.
"Quiet, you'll soon find out," came the hushed response. After spending the past couple of days asking around about the Holy Ones, she had found out from an elder that there was a cave in this part of a jungle where she would be able to find out more. Remembering back to yesterday, seated upon the mat in the old widow's hut, she had found herself mesmerised, taking in every word that flowed out of the cracked lips of the old woman. "I don't usually have people visiting me, young lady. And your visit is appreciated," the old woman announced, showing Junnice the mat. "What is the reason for your visit?" she continued rushing through the formalities. "Before I begin, please tell me your name?" Junnice asked politely placing her rump on the painted floor mat. "You may call me Mother Ana if you would like." "How old are you?" "Young lady, that is none of your business!" Mother Ana scolded, peering at the young girl sitting across from her. "Please," she pleaded, wanting to know exactly how old this silver maned woman was, whom she had seen only a couple times in her life, for Mother Ana was somewhat of a recluse and was shunned by the rest of the tribe. "One hundred and twelve, Little One," Mother Ana replied uneasily. Greatly shocking her young guest. "Really?" Junnice exclaimed in disbelief starring at the form seated before her. The old woman looked no older than fifty though her silver glistening hair did make her appear older. Though amazed, Junnice decided to take her at her word. There was no reason why she shouldn't. Mother Ana sat quietly, waiting patiently for her to gather her thoughts. After some time, Junnice spoke. "How did you come to live all alone?" she asked. "It's quiet a long story my dear. Do you have the time?" Came the humble reply. Junnice had all the time in the world. This was her one day off all week. She nodded a 'yes' brushing her long black fringe away from her eyes. Her perky little nose made an appearance along with a dotted left temple. A trail of black spots the size of her little finger nail symbolised that she was betrothed to be married. Mother Ana herself wore familiar tattoos, but hers were harder to interpret. One side of her light brown skinned face carried an assortment of fine lines, circles the same size as Junnice's but with pinpoint size dots in the middle of them. There were six altogether and these covered her face from forehead to jaw. Junnice had never seen any tattoo design similar to Mother Ana's before. Her right side was flawless except for a deep scar which ran across her face from her upper lips to her ear. Her young companion asked her about it and the tattoos. "The scar was received when I was young, a couple years younger than you. I got it for disobeying the priest who was in charge of the Great Bear's temple..." "Was there a temple before?" Her guest interrupted, excited at the prospect of there once being a temple in the village. "Yes," Mother Ana stated. "I was asked to bring water to the temple to wash the statue, before I carry on I should let you know that the temple was just a hut filled with offerings and the statue itself. The hut is now where the elders hold council," she uttered the latter with disgust. "Back then there used to be a set of rules as to how one behaved towards the priest. One of them was that one should greet him before entering the temple. Being young and naive I decided for the first-time in that year to discard this rule. "So I went in just as before and began washing the statue starting with the head. To do this I had to place a stool before the form. I had been drying the shoulder's when the priest entered the hut. I turned and glanced at him and carried on with my chore. The next moment I heard a swish sound as his spear - which all men carried back then flew past me and struck the hardwood of the statue leaving behind it's trail, a deep gash across my cheek and blood pouring down my face." Junnice could tell by the look on Mother Ana's face that this subject was something she still found distressing to talk about. She listened intently as the old woman strained to hold back the tears of a memory which of a past era had caused her so much pain. She waited silently while she regained her composure and proceeded. "I screamed, jumped off the stool and ran as fast as I could, fifty yards to my fathers house and collapsed in his arms. My father was chief for the third time that year and upon seeing the spear wound handed me to my mother. Grabbing a lit torch on his way out he ran to the temple and upon arriving set fire to it." Mother Ana went quiet as tears started cascading down her cheeks. The pain of the memory was illuminated by the sunlight creeping in through the narrow gap between the door and the roof of the hut, a little space left on purpose to allow air in on hot night. Junnice rose and went to Mother Ana and sat down beside her and wrapped her arms around her gaunt little form to comfort this aged woman who still after so many years felt the pain of the memory. Junnice, through her own tears shared Mother Ana's hurt. "The men of the tribe dragged my father away. The priest had my father tied to a post and had him whipped many times with a leather whip embedded with bones and sharp stones. We were made to watch," Mother Ana's face grew tight as she continued with her story. Junnice thought that she might breakdown again. She asked if her elder was all right. The response was acceptable and allowed her to continue. "My father never gave them the pleasure of hearing him cry out at the stroke of each lash but kept his lips tightly closed, while our own mouths let out screams for the gods to hear. He was tied to the wooden pole like a butchered side of deer. We cut my father loose and took him back to our hut to nurse him. My father died two days later. My father's brother Ku'i took my mother as his wife as is our custom. He cared after mother and I well, but my mother resented me for an action which resulted in the loss of my father. He had died, because he loved me. I was his only child. My mother had also loved him very much and this sudden horrible loss left her bitter and angry towards me." 11. PAIN "Junnice, I'm cold" Bernice stated, her arms tightly wrapped around her, reminding herself to keep the chill from cutting into her thin hide shirt, as she followed behind her sister. She shook violently as the cold wind cut through her thin hide shirt. Goose bumps covered both arms below the elbow where the summer shirt's sleeves came to an end. "I found it!" Her twin called back over her shoulders coming to a stop before a canopy of wild lush vines strewn across the entrance of a cave. "I was made to leave my tribe later that year due solely to the malice expressed by my mother who despite her love for me while my father was alive had grown bitter towards me to the point of outright hatred towards me. Not a day went by without her impressing upon me the fact of how little she loved me" Mother Ana continued, in spite of the hurt expressed on her worn and haggard face as she forced back tears. Junnice had been told by her parents or by her elders that no matter what hurt one suffered, 'time would heal.' Now she wondered if that was true, faced with the dilemma before her. Mother Ana was over a hundred years old but still she suffered from a hurt which was deeply rooted in the past. And she seemed to carry this bitter mess towards her mother more than she did towards her tribesmen for the death of her father. Junnice thought that this was because the pain was caused by one who was very close to her and the feeling of betrayal had dug its hook in deep, and despite the years it still held a strong hold on her life. "Anyway I am rambling and I wonder if you would like to hear the story of an old woman. I must bore you child," Mother Ana looked wearied. She had not told anyone what was inside her heart for so long and it felt good discussing it even if it had been with a child, though she realised that it did not matter who it was as long as they really were listening. "I don't mind Mother." "You are such a good child, Junnice, for allowing an old woman to share her heart... Well tell me, why did you really come to see me?" "Well a few days ago I was helped by a Holy One and I wanted to know what or why this Holy One came to my rescue. I came to visit you because some of the elders mentioned that you might know something about them. They also said that it was a waste of time. They said I would be better off learning about the Great Bear. But my curiosity got the better of me. So here I am". "Tell me child what happened?" The old woman asked, her eyes suddenly becoming more animated as she listened to Junnice. 12.
THE CAVE
Inside the cave, rotten leaves and decaying carcasses shared the floor around Junnice's feet. She looked both left and right before cautiously venturing further into the enclosure. Her twin stood quietly by the cave entrance watching as the distance between her sister and herself grew further apart. She was caught in her thoughts about whether or not to follow Junnice down the corridor - to who knew where and to what end. Bernice was of the quiet nature, very opposite in temperament to that of her sister Junnice.' "Bernice!" Startled by her twin's voice bursting into her trail of thought Bernice jumped a foot off the dirt floor and barely missed having her head slamming into the cave entrance. "What?" She screamed at Junnice, more out of fright than anger. Junnice stood five metres away, her left hand holding the lit torch, her right on her thin waist glaring back at her sister. Growing slightly impatient, Junnice strode back to Bernice and taking her right arm roughly she led Bernice back down the way she had come. It also had the appearance of being really cold from the outside even though a warmth permeated from within it's enclosure. Junnice took the torch which Bernice had been carrying and sparked a stone. The flammable gum used as fuel set the charcoal covered torch alight. Junnice lifted up the torch, clasped in her left hand and continued walking. The cave was only four feet high for the first few metres and the pair had to bend down slightly as they made their way down the cavern. Having walked to a dead-end in the cave, they turned a sharp corner on their left and happened upon a full grown deer carcass. All that remained of the animal was dry pale bones and decaying rotted remains of skin and hair. "I wonder how it came to be in here?" Junnice muttered. "I suppose by looking at the markings on the ground, I'd say it was dragged within by something or someone larger and stronger," Bernice remarked. She was more inclined towards thinking something through, being more intellectually minded than her twin. Junnice leaned more towards the other side of the leaf. She was more inclined to attempt things before thinking the process through. In this they were more likely to complement each other's shortcomings and weaknesses where the other was lacking. They both saw this as an advantage, where so many saw it as a hindrance. The difference of these individual aspects in their lives was by now a gift that they both had come to terms with. Junnice looked at the ground around her feet, taking note of the markings, accepted her sister's supposition and continued walking. Bernice fell in behind. Growing slightly impatient, Junnice went back to Bernice, taking her right arm roughly she led Bernice back down the way she had come. "It
was by accident that I first happened upon the cave. I could no longer
handle the situation with my mother and decided that the best thing
for me to do was to runaway from the troubles I was facing at home,
even though to where, I did not know, but I knew that it would be best
if I was away for a little while. I thought that maybe she would miss
not having me around for a while and treat me better when I came back,"
Mother Ana spoke in a voice that had become sweet with age and every
little word she said made Junnice's ears tingle as she listened.
"I had been wandering around for maybe a day, before I happened to come across the cave entrance. I was rather tired and decided to enter the cave to get away from the cold. So, a little weary and cold I mustered up enough courage to go within. It's very dark inside dear, remember if you are going, to take a torch. I didn't. I wandered and stumbled around a bit before my eye's adjusted to the darkness. Despairing and alone I just flopped on the ground and started crying, Feeling pity for myself and resolved to let the tears carry my pain away. "I don't remember when I fell asleep, but sometime later I found myself being shaken awake by something or someone. Even though the shaking wasn't really rough I was very frightened. I did not know whether it was a wild animal or some monster that the old people would tell us stories about. My eye's were tightly shut. I feared that I would die. "Don't be afraid." A soft quiet voice spoke. The voice was that of a man and I did not trust it one bit, but there was something about it that was kind and reassuring. I needed to be convinced, so I just kept my eyes shut. "Don't be afraid". It said, trying to reassure me that he intended no harm. I opened my left eye a little and peeked. Quickly I closed it. Afraid. There before me stood a Being who appeared to be a man, but there was something very pleasant and beautiful in the way he looked at me when I had caught a quick glimpse of him in the first instance. He stood at nine feet tall and was very big. There was a light permeating out of him. Somehow the man seemed to be glowing. The cave seemed to light-up with the light that seemed to proceed from his being. The man was so beautiful, I felt such a peace in my heart even though I felt I was going to burst because my heart was beating so fast. "Don't be afraid Ana, I don't mean to harm you," the man said the third time. When he mentioned my name, I opened my eyes and saw just how beautiful he really was. His head was covered in beautiful, radiant pale, ember locks that enhanced his staunch face in a rather handsome manner. The Being was as dark as me in skin colour. "How... how do you know who I am," I stammered out. My mouth felt like it was filled with little pebbles you find in the river. "I knew you before you were born," he said quietly. |
|
|
|