19.
VISION
The twins were famished as they ripped off pieces of meat and chewed
every bit that was edible. The Holy One watched with satisfaction as
he joined them. The wild dog lay by the fire quietly chewing on bones.
When they had finished
eating, the man brought forth a water skin made from deer hide. He passed
it to Junnice and sat back and watched. Junnice before taking a drink
herself gave the wild dog a drink. He gulped it down greedily as she
poured the liquid into its mouth. Once the dog was satisfied he lay
back down and slept, helped by the warmth from the small fire. Junnice
then gave the water skin to Bernice who took a drink and then handed
it back to her.
After Junnice had finished
she handed it back to the man. The small water skin was still full.
She marvelled at how the water skin was still full after they had drunk
enough to leave it empty.
"Come, I would like
to show you something," the man began. He stood-up and walked out through
the caverns, and into the daylight. The air was crisp and fresh, unlike
the dank smell that was within the cave. Having followed the man to
a large tree they plopped down beside him at its base. The wild dog
had wandered off having fulfilled its purpose.
Birds and critters filled the forest with their song and sound.
Everywhere living creatures could be heard. A hum of life seemed to
resonate in the very life of the forest, a sound which Junnice had never
heard the like of before.
Bernice, usually the
cautious one, now sat back with ease and enjoyed the scenery and tried
to count all the different types of wild flowers. There were countless
types of wild orchids with their many varieties of hues, shapes and
sizes. Some grew on the forest floor among the various other fauna,
but some also grew up in the trees. These were only noticeable by the
colours and strange cup-shaped flowers. Bernice was amazed that she
had probably never noticed how beautiful the forest appeared, only to
realise she had never been in these parts of the forest before.
Her sister Junnice,
on the other side, was wondering what she was supposed to do. "How long
are we going to sit here?" She questioned herself, growing rather bored
with the lack of action. Ever the adventurous type, she stood and went
for a walk. Her twin, caught up in her own little world, continued with
her game.
Junnice came into a clearing surrounded by trees. The sunlight
travelled through the trees and settled on the ground before her in
shards of gold and straws of copper. Dry leaves and twigs covered the
forest canopy. Grass shoots which had made their way through the pine
needles glowed bright green. She walked over to a colourful toadstool.
"It is poisonous," a quiet voice stated, just as she was about to touch
it.
"If you touch it you will be sick for weeks." The Holy One
appeared beside her.
"But if I were to get
sick from it, you would be able to heal me."
"Don't test your Creator, Junnice," the Holy One replied
with a smile on his radiant face and then taking on a serious demeanour.
"Sometimes things that
appear beautiful can also be dangerous. Such is the way with this fallen
world. It has drifted so far away from its conception. Many times I
have thought of destroying it and beginning anew but my very being won't
allow this to be so. Yet still my Spirit will not always put up with
the rebellious ways of mankind. Oh, how I pity mankind for this state
they have allowed themselves to get into. Drifting away from me. And
now look at them. A race without vice. A populace left to it's own understanding."
"Many times I have wanted
to collect them under my arms as a bird gathers her chicks. But they
would not have it," the Holy One grieved. "But they would not have it.
They continue living without purpose and meaning in their lives. Aimlessly
led astray by the Trickster, wilfully partaking in every evil deed imaginable
under the sun."
Junnice listened quietly,
knowing full well that she was included in that group.
"I am just as guilty," she said under her breathe. "How am I to respond
to such charges? Am I to bare the brunt of its implications all alone?
Am I to continue living my life in a meaningless existence forever torn
from the love of the very one who created me, who knit me together in
my mother's womb?" As she said these words to herself, pictures appeared
in her mind's eye. Static abstract forms which she was able to make
out only because she was able to understand what they meant. She saw
pictures of herself in her mother's womb. A part of her father and her
mother being knitted together to form a minuscule body that would grow-up
one day to be her sister. And next to that form was her own flesh and
blood figure which floated in fluid, which grew noticeable limbs. Fingers
and toes grew within months as the bodies became more defined with age.
And then the birth.
Oh what a exciting birth it was. The tribal elders had gathered outside
their hut to bless the twins arrival. Her father had nearly fainted
when he saw that he had two daughters instead of one. Faria, Junnice's
mother was aglow with excitement and also a little worn-out with having
to deliver two babies. One after the other. On the same day!
Elsewhere, Bernice was having her own revelation on her life. Bernice,
being the more rational type of person was finding this whole situation
rather difficult to accept. She had lived her entire young life up to
this point as best as she could. She had never done anyone any great
wrong. She had lived by the rules. Stuck to fulfilling her duties as
she was asked. Never doing anything to cause a conflict. She was the
good daughter after all. Hardly ever did she get in trouble. As she
thought to herself, she was suddenly struck silent by the weight of
her own self-righteousness. Trembling she stood and walked away.
The man followed her
but at a distance and ever-so-quietly. He understood that she needed
to come to terms with herself and her sin of self-righteousness, which,
in the mother tongue of the Amalkeths was interpreted as 'haku paratine.'
'Haku,' meaning: I or mine. And 'paratine' translated as 'am good' or
'better than.'
She wept for a while letting her mind catch-up with her heart
as she came to terms with herself and her state of being, finally realising
how deceitful her heart really was. She had always thought herself to
be better than Junnice, yet she had never known this until it was revealed
to her. But now that it was shown her, she was able to remember the
many times she had acted in ways that had given her an upper-hand by
what she had said or action she had taken. But it wasn't just her sister
that she had treated in such a fashion. She had thought it was just
quick-wit or some special gift, but now knew it to be pride. Bernice
fell to the ground with the weight of her guilt upon her tiny shoulders.
With a twig in hand she started to etch a line on the forest floor.
She gathered her legs under her buttocks, contemplating suicide. "What
a terrible person I have been..." She murmured quietly to herself as
she etched a spiral design on the ground before her knees with a twig.
"Yes you have been a
horrible person and you deserve to die," a voice in her mind replied.
"And I deserve to die...
I am useless. I have caused so much pain and hurt to so many people."
"You deserve to die,"
the voice once again responded.
"Yes," Bernice stated,
"I deserve to die."
"Why do you deserve
to die?"
Startled, Bernice looked
around for the voice, turning her head first one way than the other.
"You haven't answered
my question, Child," the Holy One quietly stated, sadness appearing
in his eye's.
20. A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
The Chief's hut was filled with the tribe's elders and dignitaries.
They had gathered at the request of the chief, to hear what Ana, the
daughter of Ku'i's brother had to say. Mats were laid with food and
drink. Fresh fruits were placed in wooden bowls. Everyone was seated
around the flax mats laid with food. The Chief sat on his elevated seat
at the head of the flax matted table with Ana seated next to him. All
the other dignitaries sat in placings worthy of their level of importance.
After a hearty meal
Ana was asked to repeat her tale. She continued until she came to the
part where the chief earlier in the day had asked her to stop, and now
she told the part of the story that she had not told before.
"The rebels took charge with an iron fist. The people were like
clay in their hands. Those who did not go along with their plans were
forced to perform crude and ghastly deed's until their spirit broke.
These later became slaves to the tribal leaders and were banished to
the dry North - as you already might know- when their uprising was quashed
by the rebels. They are the Majuuns who live in the North Lands," she
stopped to take a drink from a small wooden bowl filled with berry juice.
"As you may well know these people have forever been at war with us."
"The chosen leader of the rebels had the Majuuns build a
statue of himself. This was, of course before the Majuuns were banished.
And made all Amalkeths bow and worship it. Those who refused were slaughtered.
These were those who had kept following the Great Spirit. Young and
old, child and adult, man and women were slaughtered as a sacrifice
to the Statue of Manathah - the rebel leader."
"As
I looked around the room, tear-filled eyes stared back at me in wonder
and sadness," Mother Ana said.
Junnice, who herself
had tears in her eyes looked at the old women as eyes saddened by anguish
and bitterness kept her own tears from flowing freely. "I wonder what
it was like in that hut as Mother Ana had spoke to the leaders of our
people those many years back?" She thought to herself.
"Mother Ana?" She asked. "What was it like in that hut when you
spoke to them that day?"
"Well my child, as I
have mentioned before, most of the women present were quiet saddened
by what I had said and the men were quiet uncomfortable in their seats.
It seemed that the Great Spirit was at work as I spoke and he was touching
the many hearts present in that room. I didn't really know what was
happening. After-all, who can read the mind of the Great Spirit. We
are such futile beings to think we can comprehend the ways of God."
"Then what did you do?"
"I continued with the
message I was given. I told them that..."
"...The
time has come for us to give-up our futile worship of idols and begin
anew to follow the Great Spirit, who has given us everything we need
in this life. It is he who provided this land for our ancestors and
it is he who longs for us to turn back again to him..." As Ana spoke
some women screamed.
"...He wants to take
us back..."
Another scream erupted.
"...He does not want
to harm us..."
A great wailing broke
out among the gathered.
"What must we do?" The
chief stood and cried out in desperation. He made quite a sight adorned
in his chiefly garments with its precious metals and stones. The sceptre
thrown to the floor as he fell to his knees as the fear of the Great
Spirit fell upon them all. Others followed suit and fell on their faces,
before the Great Spirit. They flayed themselves out with their hands
outstretched before them. Women and men.
"We must Jam'u. We must be sorry for our actions, and words and turn
to the Great Spirit for forgiveness," I replied, awe-struck with the
sudden outbreak of emotion. I began to ask the Great Spirit to forgive
my people - and myself- for our sins, our wrong-doing's as I heard their
cries for undeserved mercy to flow from his throne.
Those gathered, lamented
of their independent and rebellious ways, pleading for mercy as tears
of remorse and gratitude flowed freely among both the men and women.
The Great Spirit swooped over them like a bird of prey. Many,
overwhelmed with gratitude began to laugh and dance with joy as they
felt their burden of sin and guilt lifted. They laughed with a laugh
that was unending and danced with a dance that they had never danced
before as the rhythm of a new song beat in their souls.
Other's speaking of the event later had said that they had actually
seen the Great Spirit in the form of a man walk amongst those gathered
and touched their foreheads. As each one was touched he or she either
began to dance, laugh, cry or shout aloud with gladness.
Junnice
had grown rather animated with the firsthand account of an event she
had never heard about, which had taken place amongst her people. "What
happened when the rest of the tribe heard about what was taking place?
Hadn't they become aware with all the laughing, crying and dancing and
not to mention the shouting?" She asked pushing a braid away from her
eyes. Mother Ana sensing the excitement in her young guest smiled and
continued.
"I stood there caught-up
in the whole event not having the slightest idea how to deal with the
situation at hand. I began to ask the Great Spirit for wisdom. But as
I watched with my minds eye I could perceive that the Great Spirit had
control and that until he told me how or what I was going to do I would
not say a word or lift a finger.
21.
SLAVE AND MASTER
"What am I doing?" Cora asked himself. He had doubts as to what extent
this one action would pertain. His whole life flashed past him in a
single vision. The sight, unimpressive. A darkness hung over the vision
like a heavy rain cloud.
Junnice appeared in
this vision from out of nowhere, interrupting the darkness. A light
shone out of her, forcing the darkness aside. Cora stood still watching,
being caught up in the vision. The sight before unfolded as he continued
to watch.
In the vision Junnice stood next to a man who himself seemed to
be the light from which she drew her own light which in turn seemed
so radiant that it seemed to cloud his perception. The man beckoned
Cora to him. Cora stood motionless.
Junnice began to move
towards him and away from the man just slightly. As she edged towards
Cora her eyes pleaded for him to come to her. He stood motionless yet
somewhere within himself he struggled. He fought the urge to run to
her and wrap her up in his arms, to place his lips upon hers in mutual
love and affection. But still he stood motionless.
The urgency in Junnice
grew more prevalent as the next scene began to unfold. Another sight
appeared within this vision. To the left of the visual picture appeared
the Beast with riches at his feet. The glow of the gems and precious
stones sent a sensation through Cora that seemed to dim the rest of
the vision.
The Bear had felt a
greater power invade the atmosphere just when he thought the boy was
within his grasp. He could feel the presence of someone stronger. "Not
now!" It cursed. "The boy must make-up his own mind. He is mine. And
I will have him." Throwing back his gaunt fur covered mane in a fit
of anger, he let out a silent roar within himself knowing that victory
was so near yet could be lost just within minutes if he did not act
quickly. He pounded the ground. Dirt and wild grass with its sharp leaves
flew into the air. Sharp clawed paws ripped up the terse ground.
All of a sudden he stood still, closed his black eyes and moved
his lips in a silent motion. He seemed threatened by this untimely intrusion.
The stillness sent a shiver down Cora's spine.
"Choose man-child quickly," the Bear muttered. And as the word's ran
through Cora's head, the vision of the man and Junnice disappeared.
And as they slowly faded away from the scene Cora got a glimpse of what
or who the Great Bear really was, but by that time it was too late for
Cora's heart was hardened for he had already chosen in his heart to
follow the Bear. But there in that small still moment he had seen the
real spirit behind the mask of the Great Bear. It was not a deity at
all but a fallen spirit. Cora saw it's handsomeness, blackened by it's
darkened state and realised that that would also be his fate one day.
He had seen the true nature of the beast. The handsome face twisted
by years of hatred and bitterness. A flawless beauty marred by deceit
and deception. Cora had also realised in that moment he had also been
transformed. He was no longer the Cora he knew but something had entered
him in that moment and had darkened his soul. He felt it's presence
inside himself as it crept into his heart and made it's home there.
The Great Bear/Fallen
Spirit turned on his haunches and disappeared in an undramatic fashion,
leaving Cora standing wondering what he had done. The evil spirit within
him battled with his spirit trying to gain control over his mind. Cora
lost.
22. THE CLIFF
Bernice stood motionless for a moment scrutinising the Being before
her. She wondered if she should answer the question he had asked.
"Why do you deserve
to die?" He had asked.
"As if he did not know,"
she thought. "How could he be so unfeeling?" She stood and began to
walk away from him, wondering if he would follow her. Fairly soon her
quick anguished steps led her through the trees and out to a cliff's
edge. The cliff overlooked a river which flowed from the Southern Lands.
It was situated amongst a covering of vines and shrubbery. Bernice tiptoed
slowly to the edge of the cliff cautiously venturing a look every now
and then behind her, to make sure she had not been followed. It had
taken her a quiet while to get to this cliff's edge. Somehow she had
known how to get here, although never in her young life had she ever
been this far south from her tribal land's. All her senses were alert
to any and every sound. It had been heightened by the new found resolution
in her mind.
With her sandalled toes
overhanging the cliff she took a look to see how high the cliff was.
She supposed it to be at least a hundred metres or more. The river below
flowed downstream carrying with it fresh water from the mountain ranges
to other areas of the land. Sunlight glimmered on the surface giving
the tranquil resource the appearance of precious stones and gems, which
of cause it was. The river was one of only a handful which delivered
precious life replenishing water to the four tribes on the Four Winds.
"It is beautiful isn't
it?" Said the Holy One, with a quietness that was almost a whisper.
"Yes."
"Just like all the precious
thing's I have created. Each one designed specifically to fulfil a purpose."
"Why are you telling
me all this?" asked Bernice still admiring the glistening scenery below.
"Bernice, you are precious
to me. And you deserve to know how much I love you," came the reply.
23.
CORA AND JUNNICE
"Junnice!"
"Cora! What are you
doing here?"
"Looking for you. My
Guide told me I would find you here." Cora said, approaching her.
"How long have you been
here?"
"Not long. You?"
"Cora, there is something
different about you."
"What's different about
me? I am still the same."
"No. You look... strange."
"And how do I look strange?"
Cora asked with a slight hint of suspicion.
"Maybe it's nothing.
But there is something definitely odd about you," replied Junnice, then
changed the subject. "Anyway I am happy to see you again." Junnice wrapped
her arms around Cora and gave him a rough hug, glad to see him. He returned
her affection by grabbing both sides of her face with his hands and
kissing her lips.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Junnice cried, pushing him away.
"What?" He replied,
a bit taken aback with her gesture. "You will be mine soon anyway. And
what does it matter if I have you now?"
"It is not right. It
is also against our law. If father was to find out, he would kill you."
"Well I am willing to
take the risk." Retorted Cora angrily, making a grab for her. Junnice
quickly flinched away.
"Well I will not allow
you to take me like that," she vented, outraged that he would do such
a thing as take her sexually before they were wed. "What is wrong with
you?'
"There is nothing wrong
with me." He walked up closer towards her as she backed away.
"Well you have changed.
What has happened to you?" "Nothing has happened to me," Cora replied
losing his temper. "Stop asking so many questions." He pushed her back
aggressively causing her to stumble and nearly lose her step.
"This isn't funny."
"It's not meant to be."
"Why are you behaving this way, Cora?"
"Because... I love you," Cora interjected mildly. Softly
caressing her flushed cheek with his right hand. "This isn't love, Cora,"
Junnice replied, letting him continue as she thought about how to get
away from him. He could easily outrun her and he was also much stronger.
"Oh what has happened to the young boy I loved so much? What has made
him change?" She asked herself.
"Then what is it?" Barked
Cora. "Why don't you play along Darling. After all we will be married
soon."
"I don't think I would
want you to be my husband anymore." Cora lunged at her and pushed her
into a rotten tree trunk twice her height. The decaying trunk shook
at the impact as Junnice let out a cry.
"You don't. Well, I
will just have to take what would have been mine," he said menacingly
as he grabbed her deerskin blouse and began to undo the thin lace which
held the top together.
"Cora... don't," Junnice
whimpered. She was usually the stronger of the two in character and
demeanour, but this sudden change in Cora had set her off balance. He
no longer was the shy or meek boy she had known. This boy standing before
her now seemed to be the exact opposite of the person she had known
as long as she could remember. Then she saw a glimpse of the power hungry,
ruthless look in his eyes and she feared for her life. She nearly screamed
out loud at the sight she saw. A fear gripped her that almost caused
her to fall to her knees, except for the Voice.
24. MOTHER ANA THE PREACHER
"He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls
as they lie in bed. He whispers in their ear and terrifies them with
his warning," I said as my voice beat a crescendo upon the eardrums
of those gathered to hear me, the strange Child-Prophet. "Listen carefully
to the thunder of the Great One's voice as it rolls from his mouth.
My heart pounds within me, as I think of this. His voice like thunder
rolls across the heavens, and his lightning flashes out in every direction.
Then comes the roaring of the thunder, the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain the thunder when he speaks. The Creator's voice
is glorious in the thunder. We cannot comprehend the greatness of his
power. And yet we dare to worship such things which he has created for
his own great pleasure," she took another deep breath. Her little eye's
brightening as wisdom and understanding dawned upon me. "I lifted my
right hand and pointed outside through the open door of the hut, all
eye's followed, where the early morning sun was shining down brightly
upon the villager's who were crowded outside to hear me speak. The sun
glistened down upon the thatched roofs of the wooden huts."
"The heavens tell of the glory of the Great Spirit," I continued.
"The skies display his marvellous craftsmanship. Day after day they
continue to speak and night after night they make him known. They speak
without a sound or a word, their voice is not heard. Yet their message
has gone out to the whole world." I stopped to take a drink from the
bowl which a servant of the Chief was holding. The servant was a slave
caught in battle many years ago during a war with the northern tribes.
She had been given personally to me by the Chief to help me in whatever
I deemed necessary. At first I found this rather awkward, but I must
say it only took a few hours to get used to it.
"The sun lives in the
heavens where the Great Spirit placed it. It bursts forth like a radiant
bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a brave hunter ready
to catch his game. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows
its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from it's heat. And so
it is with our Creator, the Great Spirit."
"Those who had come
to see me had been welcomed with open arms by the chief, in whose hut
I stayed at during those early day's of the moving of the Great Spirit.
The chief personally invited me to stay with him and teach him more
about what the Great Spirit wanted from the Amalkeths. I was well looked
after by the Chiefs three wives and their family. It was a very exciting
time for me and them. Every evening the tribe would gather outside the
hut and listen intently to what I had to say. It was quiet overwhelming
as all the elders and dignitaries sat together amongst the rest of the
people and did not care about the differences of their various social
standings."
"What do you think brought
about this change, Mother?" Junnice asked.
"My Dear, you must be hungry," said her elderly host, looking
quiet worried. To which Junnice responded.
"I am starving."
"Well why don't you
bring in some wood from outside in the little shed beside the back window
and I'll start looking for something for us to eat," Mother Ana replied,
pleased with the response. Standing up she moved over to a corner of
the hut which served as an indoor kitchen. She began to look through
various containers for ingredients to cook a hearty meal for she had
decided to spoil her guest with what she had in her cupboards.
Junnice was outside
cradling the kindling and branches for the open-fire oven when Bernice
walked up to her.
"Papa wants to know
if his other princess will be joining him for dinner," Bernice delivered
the message with humour, emphasising every word.
"Please tell his Royal
Highness, that his Princess says, 'no' she will not be joining him for
dinner. And also please let him know that it is of utmost importance
that he not worry or fret," replied Junnice, mimicking her twins tone.
"One day you will be
a Chieftainness and I bet you'll speak just like that," laughed Bernice.
"Well sister, you too
can be a Chieftainness. We will just have to switch places."
"That would be fun.
I would finally get to order you around and also be with Cora."
"That's naughty, Bear,"
scolded Junnice. The annoyed look on her face made visible by the orange
glare of the setting sun gave her appearance a fiery look.
Bernice winced at the
mention of her nickname, but would not be outdone. "But it would be
fun," she stated with mirth.
"Go home Bernice," Junnice
replied crossly, her earlier playfulness having left her voice.
"Do you want me to come
get you later?" Her twin asked over her shoulder as she turned on her
haunches to leave.
"If you want. It doesn't
seem like it might get too dark for me to walk back home alone, but
it would be nice if you came to get me."
"Okay, bye." Junnice
looked on until Bernice went out of range. "That girl. If she wasn't
my sister I would probably end-up pulling all her hair out..."
"Are you okay?" Mother
Ana asked, having come out to check what was keeping Junnice occupied.
"Oh, I am fine. My sister
just came to ask me if I was coming home for dinner."
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