LeOmi's Solitude

by Curtis, Gene

  Items still on the list were clothing which included school tunics-dress, work and class styles; sandals and boots, two cloaks for summer and winter trimmed in tribe color, a blazon tabard or surcoat embroidered with the tribe colors. Completing the list were a training sword, combat weapon of choice, combat knife for training and a utility tool.

  A saddle was listed as optional.

  For those with enough money to purchase and store their own saddle no doubt.

  Of all these things, the utility tool was the only necessary purchase that she could see. She had her training equipment from Henry, and why should she have to buy clothing, just so she could look like everyone else? It seemed ridiculous and a waste of money.

  The Small Appliance store next to The Quarters might have just the utility tool she needed, anything to keep from going back to Ms. Vanmie’s Shop.

  DAY FOUR

  She had made it through her last night in the gray dorm section. Tonight she would be in the Emerald Tribe dorm section. The choosing was one of the first things this morning.

  After running with Bekka, showering and dressing and a quick stop at The Oasis, LeOmi found a seat in the bleachers–off towards the far side –for the choosing ceremony.

  Twelve horses stood in a semi-circle in the coral at the gate opening. There was another horse off to the side prancing back and forth in the sun light, making tight little circles, impatient for the ceremony to begin.

  Gerod Hudson, the same Magi who had ridden out to meet her and Fireball stood up to begin the ceremony. His long blonde hair and green eyes demanded silence from the crowd.

  He introduced Theresa Shadowitz, the school’s chief elder.

  “Today is Day Four. The Day of Choosing. It is a very important time for each and every one of the students here at Seventh Mountain. You each probably know that horses are excellent judges of character and motives, the underlying reason that a person acts. No one can fool a horse.”

  Mrs. Shadowitz continued by introducing tribe leaders. “I will begin with myself, Theresa Shadowitz, Commander of Jasper Tribe.

  “Mr. AlHufus Diefenderfer, as the Emerald Tribe Commander.

  “Mr. Harmonious Thorpe is the Commander of the Onyx Tribe. Ms. Joramina Vanmie, Commander of Diamond Tribe.

  “Mrs. Julia Diefenbuacher, Commander of Ruby Tribe.”

  As she called out the Commander of the Ruby Tribe, LeOmi saw Slone and his side kicks already sitting amongst the Ruby section.

  “Mr. Barnabus Lawrence, Commander of the Topaz Tribe. Mr. Terrance Burke, Commander of the Turquoise Tribe. Mr. Daniel Williams, Commander of the Sapphire Tribe. Ms. Fiona Maven, Commander of the Amethyst Tribe. Mr. Louis Dervante, Commander of the Jacinth Tribe. Mr. David Giancoli, Commander of the Beryl Tribe and Mr. Quintus McGraw, Commander of Agate Tribe.”

  Each teacher was positioned in the bleachers so that tribe members could take their places behind them after being chosen.

  “Each tribe represents one of twelve motivations, which is how each tribe member thinks about things and therefore how they respond. There is Motivation and Method.

  “Later you will find out what your basic Method is. Method is defined as your way of doing things.

  “Motivation is represented by your primary color. As an example, if the Emerald Tribe horse chooses you, your color is green and your method will be represented by your secondary color. That you will learn later on. Let us proceed.”

  Mrs. Shadowitz motioned for the caller to begin. He called out, “David Adams,” loud and clear.

  “After a horse chooses a tribe for a student, the caller, who in this case is Mr. Quintus McGraw, Commander of Agate Tribe and the Keeper of Artifacts at the Museum…” Mrs. Shadowitz gestured to Mr. McGraw and he bowed his head. His cheeks were red where the rest of his exposed skin was white. He was a tall thin man with thick black hair. He wore black and silver robes of the school staff.

  LeOmi watched as he placed a small stool about two feet away from where the students would stand for their choosing.

  Mrs. Shadowitz continued, “He will wait for the student to stand just inside the gate, and a horse to approach. At this, we will all quietly pause as Mr. McGraw calls out…”

  She paused as a horse gently strolled over to David Adams.

  Mr. McGraw said, “Selah.”

  As he did, Mrs. Shadowitz and the other teachers and counselors bowed her head and paused.

  Mr. McGraw said, “David Adams, Topaz.”

  She then resumed. “We will all remain quite while the information is tallied and the student may take a seat with his or her Tribe.”

  The Topaz now gently nudged David’s arm as if to remind him that it was time to move on.

  David Adams turned and proceeded to the Topaz Section.

  “There are over two hundred students, so this will take a good portion of the morning. Get yourselves comfortable until your name is called. Quintus, carry on.”

  Mr. McGraw called out, “Ricky Barns.”

  Ricky’s beady eyes focused on LeOmi as he walked to the gate. His long and lanky body was obviously anxious about the choice a horse would make. He had been seated in the Ruby section beside a group of students that included Slone Voif, Ralph Lawrence, Keith Richards, Adolph VonBruin and Bruce Spencer, and there were others closely gathered together that she did not recognize.

  Ricky walked into the semi circle and the Ruby Tribe horse came over to him immediately. It did not nudge him. It simply stood in front of him and shook its head up and down.

  Mr. McGraw called out “Selah.” Everyone was silent then the horse turned and went back to its position in the line. Ricky also turned and walked back towards his seat but Mr. Diefenderfer grabbed Ricky’s shoulder as he walked by.

  Mr. McGraw called out, “Ricky Barns. Ruby Tribe.”

  Ricky tried to break free but Mr. Diefenderfer held him and whispered something that only Ricky could hear.

  Then Mr. McGraw called, “Chenoa Day. Then he said Emerald Tribe. Selah.”

  Mr. Diefenderfer held Ricky’s shoulder so that he had to stand still until the next name was called.

  “Cindy Dabney.”

  A girl with long dark hair stood and made her way to the semi circle. She had been sitting beside another girl who looked like her twin. When she stopped both the Onyx horse and the Emerald horse came forward, but the Emerald waited as the Onyx nudged the girl’s hair. At this, Mr. McGraw called out “Selah.”

  After a pause, the horse turned and stood beside the Emerald.

  Mr. McGraw called out, “Cindy Dabney, Onyx Tribe.”

  Cindy turned and proceeded out the gate.

  Mr. McGraw called out, “Dawn Dabney.”

  Dawn passed her sister as the Onyx horse passed the Emerald that was waiting for the other twin.

  The choosing continued.

  Daniel Forsythe, Emerald

  Carol Ford, Agate

  Tab Freeman, Emerald

  John Griffin, Emerald

  Judd Jenkins, Ruby

  Mr. McGraw called out, “LeOmi Jones.”

  She looked entirely out of place with her black tank top black knit pants milky white completion and her hair was a mass of black and white spikes.

  The Emerald horse captain met her before she had even entered the coral gate. He nudged her and she hugged him.

  Mr. McGraw called out, “Selah” and at that time, it seemed like everything stopped. As if the world had indeed quietly paused. There was no sound except from her breathing and the horse’s breathing. LeOmi and the horse stood until Mr. McGraw called out, “LeOmi Jones, Emerald.”

  As soon as she turned and left the semi circle that the horses made in the coral, it seemed as life returned to normal and the universe began to turn again. LeOmi turned and left the ceremony.

  * * *

  At The Quarters, LeOmi ate a dinner of pasta and green peas. There were fresh pears for dessert, sweet and juicy. It was lonely without Bekka.

  After dinner, LeOmi
gathered her trunk and her new purchases together and set them out to be transferred to her new lodgings in Emerald Tribe Dormitory. She went to the place marked on the map, the alcove she had seen Emerald Tribe students entering and exiting. Huge wooden double doors with decorative sashes, lights and lentils marked the entrance to the Emerald Tribe section. The doors had an intricate carved design from the top borders to the bottom borders. The design was of Magi on Emerald Tribe horses. The Emerald Army depicted in the carving, was arrayed in armor and the blazon tabards of Emerald Tribe Magi. The Seventh Mountain was carved in the background of the doors and there were wooden sentries carved into the lights at either side. The forward most Magi and horses were like giants in the huge doors, and then vast number of troops progressively were carved smaller and smaller, fading into the distance. The doors were obviously hundreds of years old and they smelt of linseed oil and cedar.

  There was a common room just inside the doors and signs on easels that pointed to the boys’ dorm and the girls’ dorm. There were about fifty students sitting on sofas and at tables. Standing in groups and talking. Everyone seemed happy and friendly. As LeOmi came in she ducked her head and made her way down the hall that pointed towards the girls’ dorm. Some girls greeted her with hello as she entered the hall and she nodded in lieu of speaking.

  It seemed like it was about a half a mile down the corridor before she came to the very end and found her name. It was a single person room, reminiscent of her room at Grand-Mère’s house in New Orleans. Her trunk was already tucked into a corner and her night stand had an olive sprig with a little note that said, “Welcome to your new home.”

  DAY FIVE

  Day five was for socializing. Students wore their tribe colors.

  The schedule was geared to help the tribe students get to know one another. Morning activities included one on one games in the common room, then lunch at the tribe tables in The Oasis and then more tribe time in the common rooms until dinner and the Assembly that began at five p.m. sharp.

  Unwilling to spend the entire day in the dorm room, LeOmi awoke at her usual time and joined Bekka at the Olive Tree. They both had their favorite positions under the tree and they each respected the others quiet meditation time.

  The stretching and warm-up time had become their signal to resume conversation.

  “Have you made all your purchases yet?”

  LeOmi shook her head.

  “You haven’t been back to Ms. Vanmie?”

  They gave each other their own expected look.

  Shaking her head, Bekka continued, “Well, there are other places to purchase the things you need, it is just that Ms. Vanmie may save you some of the expense. She does that for all the students. Evaluate what you can do and what you have, and then she builds from that.”

  “I thought I would try the little shop near The Quarters.”

  “It is your decision but…Ms. Vanmie will be in her store most of the day today, until it is time for the Assembly.”

  Even though Bekka firmly suggested that LeOmi return to the dorms, LeOmi did not return to the Emerald Tribe Dormitory after their run. Spending time in the full dormitory did not appeal to LeOmi at all.

  She thought that she could spend the entire time in her room with her head in a book, to shut out the world, but instead, when their run was over, LeOmi explored the first level of the school.

  She had already seen numerous shops and eateries, but she was curious what was beyond the gym and jogging track.

  She had her map so she started at the gym and went past the football fields. There was also a footbridge that crossed over Canoe Creek, a waterway that wound through a lot of the activities area which included five swimming pools of assorted sizes and all sorts of sports arenas including soccer, volleyball, baseball, basketball, la cross, archery, golf, bowling and skating.

  There was even a small park section within the mountain. It had different sections that required different types of environments that were housed in bubble type domes. Each dome enclosed different habitats such as butterfly collections, small rain forests and bee hives with clover patches. Some of the gardens were for studies of heritage variety crops where other sections were rows of grapes and corn as a sort of communal garden. It was wonderful just to wander and smell the fresh plants.

  After the Activities Area, LeOmi wandered towards where the barracks were on the second level. LeOmi had seen some of the artwork for the student’s gallery as she had come and gone from the gray dormitory, the gray being all the way on the other side of the mountain, but now she had time to peruse the halls that were decorated as an art gallery. She took her time and soon there were groups of other students that were doing the same thing.

  By the time she made her way around the art gallery, the halls were getting full of students who were emerging from the dormitories and preparing to attend the Assembly. LeOmi had just enough time to grab a shower and get a bite to eat.

  The Oasis was by no means full. There were two hundred and eighty-eight new students registered, all were wearing their school tribe tunic sets except one. No one said anything about it though. Even Slone and his posse were donned in their Ruby uniforms; all huddled together as if there was a game plan.

  LeOmi sat to the rear of the gathered Emerald’s at the colored tables, away from everyone.

  Slone made eye contact and motioned for her to join them, but he knew she was Emerald. She shook her head no and faced towards the stage, essentially turning him off.

  Mrs. Shadowitz began the Assembly at five p.m. sharp.

  “I see that each tribe has separated by tribe tables. Good, no need for that announcement.”

  Introductions to the Council of Elders and to tribe commanders had begun before LeOmi noticed the hooded Bekka on stage. Bekka immediately gave her a little wink.

  Mrs. Shadowitz briefly spoke of tuition payment and then she said, “The tribe with the highest point standings will have their tuition waived for that year.”

  This was wonderful news. Why hadn’t her father mentioned this? Although it wasn’t a sure thing it was definitely something to strive for.

  “As an added bonus, the students of the winning tribe will have the option to not take final exams or let their points stand.”

  Mrs. Shadowitz continued, “The labyrinth, though generally inaccessible, is strictly off limits to all.”

  Labyrinth, that’s not on the map.

  “School grounds at night are off-limits unless accompanied by a teacher or school staff or those accomplished in Rooack Mareh.

  “No feeding the leviathans.”

  Leviathans?

  “And practical jokes are encouraged, but not allowed on teachers.

  “Also, in the practical joke area, one worthy of note is, Mark Young and Nikola Poparov have been awarded ten points each. They were able to convince Ralph Lawrence, Ricky Barnes and Keith Richards that if they could touch Ms. Vanmie, when she tested their reflexive defense, that she would give them a sword.”

  A roar of laughter came from everyone of the students except Slone’s group who looked over at the Emerald table at Mark Young and Nikola Poparov.

  If looks could kill, the daggers would be flying.

  Mrs. Shadowitz also announced that Mark Young, Chenoa Day, Jamal Terfa and Nikola Poparov were also pre-chosen by equestrians with Mark Young being pre-chosen by The General, the lead horse of the entire Seventh Mountain horse community.

  “Only three others throughout recorded history of the Magi had ever been pre-chosen, and never by an equestrian.” The boy with the staff had really caused a commotion, and a pre-chosen Emerald Tribe member.

  Pre-chosen? Horses chose the four of them too?

  No wonder Bekka had made it clear that this year was not the norm.

  Mrs. Shadowitz dismissed the group by saying, “Next Assembly the first Saturday of October at five p.m.”

  Bekka had made her way down from the stage, visiting several other tables and handing out schedules to
some other students. Bekka finally reached the far end of the Emerald Tribe table and handed LeOmi her class schedule.

  “Who are all those people sitting in the booths?”

  “The additional personnel, Alumni and those working off their tuition.”

  “Who is that guy?” LeOmi pointed with her eyes to a boy who sat alone in a booth.

  “Albert?”

  LeOmi shrugged. He was cleaned-up with his hair combed and he was wearing clean clothes and shoes.

  “I saw him when Fireball took me to the stables.”

  “You went to the stables? No doubt, by now you know that you are not to go behind the wall unless you have permission or you are accompanied by a counselor or teacher?”

  “Albert, told me.”

  “You probably noticed that Albert is a little slow in some things, but he is quite gifted in other areas. He is in charge of all the wild animals here: lions, tigers, bears…

  “All?”

  “Yes, all. Most of the animals at The Seventh Mountain are rescues from fires and floods. Some are from hunting accidents and some are recovering from just plain meanness of people in general.

  “It is Albert that takes care of these injured animals, and he nurses them back to health.”

  LeOmi nodded acceptance.

  “Any more questions?”

  “Does he speak to the animals, like the Balaam’s Tongue?”

  “No. There are only a few in recorded history that can do that. Albert has a kind-of sixth sense. He tries to look at things on the animals’ level. Does that make sense?”

  LeOmi half nodded, half shrugged.

  “Okay. Classes begin on Monday. Before you know it the school will really be bustling.”

  “Really?” There were people everywhere. Some were just mulling around and some had come in for dinner.

  “I saw that you showed some interest in the tribe points, as in the winning tribe’s tuition is waived for the year.”

  “Yes.” LeOmi said as she nodded.