LeOmi's Solitude

by Curtis, Gene

  “Because you loved the buffalo?”

  He nodded, “Buffalo are so big that when they run, the ground shakes. Buffalo are smart and strong and they can outrun a horse. They are wild and free.”

  “Wild and free?”

  “They used to stand on the top of a hill and kill hundreds at a time, they almost killed them all.”

  He started rubbing chin to collar again, “They would have killed me too if I hadn’t came here.”

  “To The Seventh Mountain?”

  “To The Seventh Mountain Orphanage.” He pointed to the west.

  “There are seven mountains and seven orphanages. More than a million formally trained Magi and more than one hundred million thaumaturgies and apprentices.”

  “So you’re a Magi?”

  “I live with the Magi…I do what I am told. ‘Obey to show your love.’”

  “And you are told by…?”

  He pointed up into the sky.

  “Ahhh.”

  “So you want to be like a buffalo, smart and strong and faster than a horse?”

  “And free. I have lived here for a long time. They let me make my own decisions. They let you make your own decisions. Sometimes the decisions are right and sometimes they are wrong.”

  LeOmi stared back at Albert, not knowing what to say.

  He shrugged and returned his gaze to Adicus, Scout and Jym, “I watch. I do what I am told. I obey to show my love. Also, I look forward, I learn from mistakes, but keep my eyes forward.”

  At that point he seemed to ignore her. They quietly watched the ostriches who had settled down for the night.

  She settled back against the tree and used the time to think. It was almost as serene as being at her bedroom window looking out past the old oak tree.

  “Albert, you mentioned your grandfather, but how long have you been here?”

  Albert was gone. LeOmi shrugged. She then settled back again against the tree.

  Why didn’t my father make it? Why couldn’t he make it? Is he weak? Or is he compassionate? He said he walked a different path, a path of teaching. His flock, they needed him–and I guess he needs them.

  “I couldn’t decide not to be a Magi.” Someone would have to tell me I couldn’t be a Magi, and then, I think that I would try even harder. She rubbed her chin against her shoulder. Would a true Magi lie about the simplest thing, like crying? No!

  “In the dream she said, ‘But there is more…do your best and remember that there is more to being a Magi than physical strength and training.’”

  The next morning, LeOmi was awakened by a nudge from Fireball. The ostriches were still in the same general area that they had been in last night, but Albert was still nowhere to be seen. He had probably taken up his earlier post after he had finished their conversation.

  LeOmi hadn’t meant to sleep out in the woods, on the ground. Students weren’t supposed to be out on the grounds after dark, but Albert said that she could make her own decisions. It was Sunday, no classes, so that wasn’t a problem and she would have the tours of the Rain forest.

  But with Fireball’s nudging came the sound of a rider on a horse.

  “LeOmi Jones, you are to report to the Reports Room, first floor, East Entrance, center ring.”

  Albert came up to the rider. They spoke in whispers as LeOmi gathered her back pack. A person, who LeOmi had never seen before, nodded and spoke gently with Albert. Then he shook his head and said, “You may come if you wish.”

  Then to LeOmi he said, “Now Miss Jones.”

  What was this, the bad cop? He looked like a tall Canadian Mounted Policeman, he sounded like a parole officer.

  Albert looked towards Adicus, Scout and Jym. Then back towards LeOmi.

  “Stay with them as long as you can Albert. Keep them safe.”

  Albert watched as they both rode off towards The Seventh Mountain.

  She hadn’t been on the east side of the mountain before. She could see the Power Plant off on the other side of the wall. She had known it was there but this was her first chance to see it this close, even though they really weren’t close.

  The bad cop Magi escorted her to the easterly entrance, and then watched to make sure that she went in.

  The Reports Room was right were he said it would be. There was no door, just an entry way into an empty room with chairs all along three walls and a window that had the name L. B. Gunnison on a plaque on a shelf to the side of the window.

  As LeOmi began to approach the window, Bekka came in through the doorway.

  “Sorry I am late. It took me a bit to find this place.”

  LeOmi stared at her. “You’ve never been here?”

  “Nope.”

  Bekka turned LeOmi toward the window and gave her a little push. “It is time to take your medicine.”

  There at the window was the bad cop. He handed her a form to fill out, with a pen. It was just general information. Name, date, grade, counselor, and then it asked; Why are you filing a report? It gave three possibilities: Request, Documentation and Offense.

  Then it said, Explain.

  She hated checking the little box beside Offense, and even more so that she had to explain why she had done the offense.

  Bekka didn’t interfere; she sat near LeOmi and watched her describe the events of yesterday’s Flags Match and then the shock of her father being at the match. She didn’t put that she had been angry with Bekka for becoming a friend to her father.

  The part about Albert and the ostriches was brief but to the point, then just falling asleep, because she could make her own decisions not to return to the mountain just so she could go back to the rain forest the next morning.

  She handed it to Gunnison. He looked it over and said, “Better get to work. You will be notified when to return.”

  He reached his hand out the window and took his plaque off the shelf and put it on another shelf on the other side of the wall. Then he took the form that she had filled out and went out a door in the rear of his office.

  “I had better go and talk with him, and you had better get to work. I’ll see you later.”

  LeOmi went to work, making it just in time.

  After work, Gunnison was there to escort her to the Council of Elders, and the room that she had been to in her dream on her birthday, and then after she had been pre-chosen by Fireball, the dark arena with a beam of light in the center with twelve Elders high above.

  Bekka was waiting for her and they went in together.

  Mrs. Shadowitz’s voice echoed throughout the chamber. “This is not the convincing that the Council needs, Miss Jones. You should be doing everything better than everyone else. As you know, there is more to being a Magi than physical strength and training.”

  LeOmi stood waiting for the Council to speak their piece; they weren’t going to kick her out of the Magi school just because she stayed out on the grounds at night.

  LeOmi heard shuffling of papers.

  “By your own admission, anger makes you lose sight of your true purpose. Trained Magi blend mind, body and spirit to help people and to fight as secret warriors—whenever needed.”

  “Bekka, what have you to say on this distressing matter?”

  Bekka shuffled a little, looked at LeOmi in apologetic type glance. “I tried to get LeOmi to come with her father and myself, to get a pizza, but she wouldn’t join us. She was crying, hurt and angry. She went into the wooded area. But she works there in the Rain forest, so I didn’t think that she would not return at dark. I knew she was upset, but I didn’t think she would ignore the rules.”

  Bekka stepped forward and pleaded with the Council, “You all know how I feel about LeOmi, you know that I have confidence that she can complete Magi school and become a true and dedicated Magi, but she has to have time to learn, to know how to…”

  “Bekka,” Mrs. Shadowitz began, “We also have a letter from Albert explaining why he feels that LeOmi should not be severely punished for her disregard of school rules. Rules, may I
add that are geared to protect all students and inhabitants of The Seventh Mountain and Magi City for that matter.”

  Mrs. Shadowitz sorted through some more papers,

  “Have you ever heard of the Fog of War, Miss Jones?”

  LeOmi didn’t volunteer any information.

  Mrs. Shadowitz said, “That is when you fire on whoever is in your way—friend or foe. When people aren’t where they are supposed to be or if it is for the greater good. Do you understand?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “The grounds can be a very dangerous place. There are all types of enemies that you don’t even know about yet, and a first year student wouldn’t have a chance all alone. Mind the rules and you will keep yourself safe and those who try to protect you.”

  LeOmi nodded.

  “You have those who speak up for you but there are also those who think that you shouldn’t even be here. Your grades are exceptional and you have done very well in the extracurricular studies, now if you could just get that temper of yours under control.”

  LeOmi lowered her head and waited to be dismissed.

  Mrs. Shadowitz said, “Now, will someone please tell me the whole story on these ostriches.”

  LeOmi felt an elbow from Bekka, and she said, “I found some ostrich eggs. I took them and they hatched. I couldn’t take proper care of them so I took them back where I found them.”

  Mrs. Shadowitz looked at LeOmi expecting more than the brief outline about the ostriches. LeOmi shrugged. Mrs. Shadowitz turned to Bekka.

  Bekka took out her note book and gave the specifics about the ostriches, their mother, the dorm room trunk, mother ostrich’s encounter with LeOmi and Albert.

  “I see. Well, we will see what can be done about that situation. I am sure that Albert has everything under control.”

  “As for you LeOmi; remember, do your best and follow the rules. School grounds, at night, are off limits to all students that have not yet developed Rooack Mareh or are not accompanied by an instructor or school staff. You will be notified in a few days if there are any repercussions from your adventure last night. You may be excused.”

  They stepped outside of the Council Chambers and LeOmi’s father was there, standing off to the side.

  “What happened? A man called Gunnison came and asked me to come with him. That was all he said.”

  “Everything will be just fine. LeOmi didn’t come back to the mountain last night, but she was well looked after by Albert.”

  “Albert?”

  “Albert is in charge of all the wild animals here, lions, tigers, bears…Don’t worry. Didn’t you ever meet him?”

  “No. How did he look after her?”

  “Albert is able to understand what animals want and need and therefore he was able to keep her safe.”

  “So, you’re okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, she is okay physically, but she has received another notation on her record, and we have yet to see what will happen because of it.”

  “But I just stayed outside all night. I didn’t do anything bad.”

  “Yes, you did. You made a conscious decision to disobey the rules.”

  LeOmi looked at Bekka with anger in her eyes.

  “You don’t take criticism well either.”

  “What?”

  “Look at the way you treated your father and me yesterday, because we were happy for you that you did well at the flags match.”

  “It wasn’t you, it was me.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t understand why he,” she pointed to her father, “didn’t make it.”

  “Why I am not a Magi?”

  LeOmi nodded, the tears were welling up in her eyes.

  He grabbed her to hug her, but she pulled away. His hands dropped and he pleaded his case. “I wanted to be a Magi, but I couldn’t do even the most common things for Magi. Spirit Sight, Dream Casting and Healing Powers were completely out of the question. So there came a day when they called me to the Council of Elders, that very room that you just came out of. I worked in Magi City until I paid back what I owed for my partial year. I never told you any of this because I was told that there was a problem with your registration and…I thought that there would be a better time.”

  LeOmi didn’t say anything, she didn’t even look at her father; she just backed against the wall and folded her arms in front of her.

  “I know that all of this is a lot to take in, but I think that it is time that you knew.”

  Bekka gave her arm a quick squeeze as Mrs. Shadowitz came out into the outer chamber.

  “Oh good, you’re still here. The Council has decided that you need something to occupy all of your extra time.”

  LeOmi’s dad said, “Like she has any.”

  “Ah hummm. Jacob Jones, you can still be disciplined here, if you give me a reason.”

  “Sorry ma’am, but it is a little frustrating. I know how busy her brother and sister are, and she is trying so hard…”

  “Ah hummmm. As I was saying, something to occupy your time. This is Kayleen.”

  Kayleen had entered the outer Council Chamber just behind Mrs. Shadowitz. She offered a vigorous handshake to LeOmi and then her father.

  “Kayleen works in the same general area as Albert.”

  “Oh, with the animals?”

  “Yes.”

  “We have a pair of orphans who recently came into the animal Game Preserve. Would you be willing to take care of them, -within the proper guidelines?”

  “Guidelines?”

  “Yes, these animals are coneys. Their pack was destroyed in a flood. These two are all that remain and they are too young to take care of themselves. There would be conditions as to where you could take them, and if they become unruly, then you would be responsible for their actions.”

  “How long would my daughter have to take care of them?”

  “Well, she doesn’t have to take care of them at all. We just thought that she would want to.”

  “Would I have to pay for their food, or could I get food from you to feed them?”

  “Well, I should think a little of both. But the main thing is that you will need to be a good family to them. They have lost not only their home but everyone close to them. If you just give them back after a while, then they will suffer. This breed becomes very close to its pack.”

  “Can I meet them first?”

  LeOmi’s dad spoke up, “Can we both meet them first?”

  “Yes, Mr. Jones, we definitely encourage that you meet them as well.”

  * * *

  The coneys were wonderful little creatures, a peculiar type of rabbit. LeOmi cuddled them close and they snuggled up to her, one under each ear. Then they climbed right into her book bag and went to sleep…after sharing three apples and each nursing on a bottle of warmed milk.

  Kayleen showed her all the different food they could eat, which was just about any natural vegetable and some fruits. She then suggested a cage style that they could stay in at night and when she had activities that required her full attention.

  “But now is a critical time for their growth and the milk is necessary many times during the day—and night. They will slowly not need the milk any longer, but until then it is a condition...or a rule. Do you understand? This can be life and death to them. I have to have your promise before they go away in your book bag.”

  She and her dad smiled in agreement. “Yes.”

  “This is a wonderful thing,” said Mrs. Shadowitz.

  Kayleen said, “I am sad to see them go, but I know they will be just fine with you…now, remember, coneys are always hungry, tired or needing to ah…discharge their waste. Coneys are also very wise creatures and a lot can be learned from them.”

  The coneys made themselves right at home in her book bag and in the same disinfected trunk that she had used for the ostrich chicks. It was refashioned with additional fencing, a heating lamp and rocks placed in a cave type structure.

  LeOmi nam
ed their little trunk condominium Nightingale Floors, because like the specially built Japanese Palace hallways, the coneys would chirp or squeak a warning of an intruder. When they were in the trunk, one of them always acted as a sentry or look-out. At the slightest squeak, both coneys would prepare for possible danger, but unlike the Japanese warriors, the coneys just hid in the rocks until they felt it was safe to come out again.

  * * *

  Gunnison stepped into The Quarters and walked over to LeOmi and Bekka. He was surprised to see the two heads pop out of the back pack.

  “I heard that you have accepted two little ones to take care of.”

  Did he smile? That was the first time she had seen that, and it was a little unnerving. The coneys ducked back into the bag.

  “Maybe animal communication is your field.”

  LeOmi smiled and nodded. She and Bekka were having salads with extra carrots for lunch.

  “I just came by to check on you and see if the animal orphan idea was a good one.”

  LeOmi seemed shocked. “Oh you mean that was your idea?”

  “Well, yeah. It seems to be keeping you busy and out of trouble.”

  LeOmi gave him a smirk that she saved just for the right kind of person.

  “Why is that so hard to believe? Music notes put together form a tune and chemists first made ice cream in a lab. There are always routes to take to get to your destination. Even if you don’t quite know what your destination is.” He stood with his arms akimbo, assessing LeOmi.

  “Well?”

  He pulled out two envelopes: one for LeOmi Jones and the other for Rebekka McGraw. He handed them to Bekka and then Gunnison turned to leave; the coneys peeked over the edge of the book bag and watched him.

  LeOmi handed each of them another carrot chuck. They all chewed noisily as they watched him go.

  Bekka handed one of the envelopes to LeOmi.

  They looked at each other and tore open the envelopes, each revealing a single card.

  Reports Room

  Five p.m.

  Chapter 12

  There are Some Roads to Follow and Some Roads Not to Follow

  As Bekka and LeOmi walked into the usually empty office, Mrs. Shadowitz was pouring a cup of hot tea and she offered them some by raising the cup and directing them to help themselves at the small table of fixings.