Gool
Page 17
Dwellers guided them eastwards through the forests. The people with no name kept them safe in the jungle. When Xantee asked about Lo they retreated. She stopped using his name and asked about the human boy with the shattered leg. The people said they had no knowledge of him.
Tealeaf and Karl met them at the Inland Sea. They were full of praise and bursting with talk of Hari and Pearl and Tilly and the village. Tealeaf took Sal under her care but could not penetrate her trance or make her speak.
They sailed home. Hari and Pearl and the twins were waiting on the beach. Tilly was there. Xantee felt something like happiness at last. There was embracing, and talk, and rejoicing late into the night, and food and drink, and village folk coming until midnight to welcome the travellers and praise them – and yes, Xantee was happy. Her father was recovered. There was a white scar round his neck and his steps were slower and his hair had turned grey, and there was a quietness in his mind, a place of sorrow for his father. Pearl was blooming, she was beautiful, but the same sorrow lived in her. They had lost their son.
Xantee thought of all she had done – she and Duro. She tried not to be too pleased with herself, but could not stop it – she was pleased, she overflowed with amazement now and then. But two things always halted her: Lo gone. And her love for Duro, which on the journey home had seemed to fade away, then grow and fade again, and never settle. The pain it caused him had been her pain too.
So it went on. The summer went on. The farm and village flourished. Hari grew stronger, Pearl sang and played her flute, and Tealeaf came and went like a protective spirit. But Sal stayed silent; and Xantee and Duro could be no more than friends.
Then, one sunny morning, a boy walked out of the forest and through the village, a boy with a limp. His hair was shaggy, he wore no clothes, he carried nothing. There was a smile on his lips.
‘Lo?’ said the villagers.
He made no answer but walked to the farm.
Pearl saw him from the porch. Her cry brought Xantee running from the gardens at the back.
Lo, she cried.
Pearl ran down the steps and caught the boy in her arms. Xantee hugged him, tears running down her cheeks. Hari came and took his son in his arms. The boy hugged them back, but it was as if he had learned how to do it. He stood away.
Lo, they said.
He smiled. I have no name.
But you’ve come back. You’ve come home to stay with us? Pearl cried.
My home is the jungle, the boy said. I’ve come because of your sorrow. I’ve come because you mustn’t be unhappy.
Hari was the first to understand.
You live with the people? he said.
Yes, said the boy.
And you’re one of them?
I’m one of them.
No, Pearl cried.
Yes, he said.
Are you happy with them? Xantee said.
I’m happy with them.
And you’re going back?
The boy nodded. He stepped further away, as though to let them see it was true – he was happy and would go back. Pearl ran at him with her arms out. He stopped her by raising his hand – but touched her palm with his for a moment. Then he smiled again.
I’ll take her with me. The one who is broken in half.
He found Sal standing at the edge of the sea. Xantee did not hear what he said – perhaps it was nothing. He put out his hand. Sal raised her eyes and looked at him. She took her scarred hand out of her armpit, studied it a moment, laid it on her cheek as though to cool it, then quietly placed it in his.
They walked up past the farmhouse and through the fields and into the forest, not looking back.
Oh, Pearl wept. Hari held her in his arms.
After that Xantee found she could love Duro. Their wedding was held in the farmhouse. In the morning they chose a boat from the shore and sailed away on their nuptial voyage.
The seasons went on. There were children. There was much happiness.
No new gool has found its way into their world.
Table of Contents
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
CONTENTS
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN