A Whisper of Wings (50 page)

Tingtraka never heard the rest; Kïtashii plunged herself clean into an enormous wave. The breaker exploded into foam, tossing its victim high onto the beach. Totoru led the pilgrims in a gleeful hoot of laughter.

Shadarii moved off down the beach, the wind ruffling through her naked fur. Her eyes were held spellbound by the sea. Lady Starshine leapt and wheeled in the ïsha all around her, drinking in the dancer’s sweet delight.

*Little sister, did I lie? Is this not a wonder?*

~It’s beautiful! I thank you, Lady Starshine. This is a gift indeed!~

Shadarii stopped beside Kïtashii and dried her dripping fur. Hand in hand they wandered down the shore while pilgrims plunged into the waves. The men played a boisterous game of catch with Mrrimïmei’s clothes. Tingtraka contented herself with walking naked along the beach, turning over pieces of cuttlebone and wondering what they were.

Shadarii felt a delicious wave of peace. Her children were laughing and content, and weeks of empty wandering were quite suddenly forgotten. Shadarii smiled her gentle smile and slitted up her eyes.

Kïtashii industriously scratched her skinny ribs while staring out across the far horizon.

“I wonder if it rains here? What would it sound like, do you think? All that water hissing down across the waves.”

Tingtraka bent and retrieved a tiny seashell from the sand. Smooth and beautiful, the cowrie shell gleamed with swirling depths of colour.

“Look at these! How beautiful! Like little beads.” She placed it against her breast and gave a smile. “There’s more! We could make a necklace.”

Shadarii squeezed Tingtraka’s hand, and the huntress looked calmly out across the ocean.

“Where do we go now, Revered One? Left or right? Or will you take us onward out across the water?”

She was serious; Tingtraka would fly out into all that emptiness if Shadarii only asked. Shadarii gave the girl a loving smile and pointed westwards down the shore.

Far, far off in the distance, a tiny plume of smoke rose in the sky. Shadarii had found a village.

The little teacher wandered off to gather sticks of driftwood from the sand. Kïtashii watched her go, her bright eyes full of love.

“She told me. Shadarii-Zha always knows. It will be born at midnight tonight. Mrrimïmei will have a difficult time in labour. Shadarii-Zha wants her to have a roof above her head.”

Tingtraka looked over at the other pilgrims cavorting in the surf, then sighed and began to search for shells.

“Come along. There’s no hurry. Rain knows, we all need a little rest.” The tall huntress flipped over a piece of wood and blinked as she found a tiny purple crab. “Yes, a nice day in the water will do us all a world of good!

“You know, I really think that life is looking better all the time!”

***

“Zareemah-Kha. We must take the boy now. He cannot die inside the house. His spirit would be trapped by these cold, hard walls.”

“Come, my lady. We must take him to the ocean. Let his soul fly into the arms of Father Wind.”

The noblewoman only cried all the harder as she clutched her little son against her breast. The boy hung still and limp inside her arms; the fever had almost done its work, and his soul had nearly fled.

Three “dream walkers” stood respectfully by the bedside, each dressed in their ritual masks. Brother Fish, Brother Gull and Sister Mouse. Each one had entered into the dreaming. Each one had touched the heart of a primal spirit guide. They were the holy ones of the Heshtanii, the Peoples of the Sea.

Sister Mouse wept as though her heart would break. Little Zareemii-Chi had been her student; almost her own child. Eight years old was too young to die. He had hardly even begun to live.

The mask hid her tears from the world. Brother fish turned towards her and then faced the weeping mother.

“Zareemah-Kha? My lady, there is nothing we can do now for his body. Please let us tend his soul. Sister Mouse will be Zareemii’s spirit guide.”

Time grew short, and they must do their duty to the child. Brother Fish sighed and signed for his companions, and somehow they broke the mother’s frantic grasp. Gull and Fish lifted up the little bed, carefully cradling Zareemii in his blankets. Sister Mouse trembled as she took Zareemah by the arm. She tried to be controlled; she really tried! But it was Zareemii - her own little Zareemii…

“It-it will be alright. He-He can’t feel the pain anymore, Zareemah. Just remember that. No more pain…”

Sister Mouse broke. She couldn’t bare it! The girl sobbed against Zareemah, and other villagers hesitantly came to help them walk. Fishermen looked up from their nets and lines, then slowly turned away as the death-procession moved towards the endless sound of waves.

The sun trailed gentle fingers across the far horizon. Tiny purple crabs were digging tunnels in the sand as the Dream Walkers settled Zareemii’s bed beside the shore.

It could not last much longer. Brother Gull croaked in warning as he felt the boy’s life fade. Brother Fish felt for Zareemii’s pulse and heaved a sigh.

Sister Mouse laid herself back into Brother Fish’s arms. To lead Zareemii’s Ka she was going to have to die. The other priests must pump her heart and breathe air into her lungs. The girl gave a hideous jerk and then toppled back onto the ground.

She felt a darkness that seemed filled with light - an emptiness that flowed with laughter. Bright black eyes smiled as the Mouse Spirit swept her up with joy, and the Priest-girl gave a shriek of glee. Tricks to play and things to find! They would laugh and dance and play through all eternity. Mother Mouse drew her over to Zareemii and wrapped them in her love.

The Priest knew she was in danger, but she no longer cared. Life was pain and struggle. Why go back? Why send Zareemii on a journey when there were so many games to play. Mother Mouse led them onwards in a dizzy dance of joy.

Something bright and shining filled the world with light. It hung softer than a whisper and more lovely than a flower. So beautiful, so powerful! The dancing spirits stopped and stared at it in awe.

The presence stroked at Sister Mouse with gentle hands of love.

~This is wrong, little Priest. You must go back. It is not yet your time to die.~

“No! No please, I like it here! I don’t want to go back!”

~This place will always be waiting for you. But now, you must go back. There is work to do.~

“Oh please! Please, don’t make me go!”

~Your friends are waiting for you. Think of all the grief you’ll cause. Do you see? See them crying all around your lifeless body?~

Oh Sweet Rain! The voice was right! The Priestess saw her friends. Brother Fish tore off his mask and wept, then thrust Brother Gull aside and crammed his lips down on her mouth. She felt air rush in to fill her lungs, and her heart began to beat. The world of spirits faded as life rushed back to fill her mind. The girl hungrily twined her tongue up in a kiss, and Brother Fish sobbed as he was drawn into her softness. He loved her; why had she never seen it before…

In the kingdom of the Ka, the light reached out to take Zareemii by the hand.

~Come Zareemii, it’s time to go back home now. Your mother is crying for you.~

Mother! The little boy gave a wail of anguish. He allowed the shining presence to take him back towards the land of life.

Something leapt and begged about them, weeping in hurt and loss. The Mouse spirit skittered through the ïsha sea in panic.

*Don’t go! Stay with me! Be lonely never more. Please-please-please-please-please! Be fun, be happy! Many runnings, many matings. Tricks to play and secrets to be dug!*

The glowing presence touched Mouse with regret.

~Oh Mouse, they must go back. Don’t be sad. I shall teach them how to speak with you. You will never lose them. But it is wrong for them to stay here with you now. I must bring them back to life.~

The Mouse spirit sighed and saw the sense in it. She reluctantly let them go, and the creature of light dipped and swirled in gratitude.

~Thank you for looking after them, my Sister. May your life be ever bright with fun and laughter!~

Zareemii suddenly felt air rushing through his lungs. ïsha power poured through him like a river; it soothed him, healed him, and filled him with its energy. He opened up his eyes and gazed into a smiling face. A face whose eyes shone greener than the eternal sea.

“The boy! The boy’s alive!”

A ring of villagers stared at the naked stranger. A sense of unearthly peace and beauty swirled about her. She drew a long slow breath and raised her face towards the sun, while in her arms Zareemii stirred and rubbed his eyes. Zareemah-Kha gave a cry and flung herself upon her child.

There were other strangers standing on the beach - lean Kashra with the girl’s light shining in their eyes. Zareemah-Kha looked up from her reborn child. She called out to the naked stranger, her voice broken with her tears.

<>

She turned to leave once more. Sister Mouse lunged forward in alarm.

“Revered one, please! Stay with us. Teach us.” She faltered as the strange green eyes once more touched her with their love. “I want… I-I need…

“- Please. Stay with us. Let us return kindness for your gift of life.”

Grass seemed to grow inside the stranger’s footsteps. She gazed into the Priestess’ eyes and looked into her heart.

<>

The villagers stumbled in Shadarii’s wake, watching in amazement as flowers blossomed in her footprints. Fishermen fell down onto their knees as the procession passed; women knelt and hid their eyes behind their awe-struck wings.

Suddenly a little girl ran by; a skinny little creature bearing a great string bag of toasted crabs. The Silent Lady threw back her head and smiled as Kïtashii tossed a steaming crab towards a villager. They danced along the rooftops and swirled before a delighted crowd.

Someone gave a laugh. People caught Shadarii’s hands and let the dancing take them. All tears were forgotten, all sorrows left aside. Villagers and priests, fishermen and pilgrims, the reborn and the laughing mother; one by one they gathered in Shadarii’s light. They danced inside her rainbow and filled up the world with joy.

***

Zhukora sat quietly in her house and made a meal of simple hunter’s fare. The night lay hushed and quiet, still glowing with the energy Zhukora had unleashed. Young men whooped overhead as they practiced fighting skills; men and women avidly debated politics while dredging streams for food. Zhukora smiled and listened to their energy and trust.

She listened, and she was content.

Revolution had spread to the other tribes - from the depest valleys to the tallest mountain peaks. Throughout the villages, peace and order reigned. All Kashra were equal. All now had a common goal. The self-hate had finally been purged, burned out of their heart in a single night of fires. For the first time in living history, the alpine peoples were united by a single will; a single blazing love.