Journey to the Grassland and Sea

by Robert Matsunaga

  Maybe she had been protected from all the dangers of the world. Or perhaps not—from the look on her face, the girl was more than aware of everything that was happening in the world around her. She was no ordinary little girl, but rather something or someone quite different. Her eyes showed strength and pierced into their souls as if she were reading their minds.

  At once it became obvious to Tenashar that this little girl might be an Aura-Laei-i. A knowing smile on her face reminded Tenashar of Cadica. Was this Cadica in some other form? If this girl were Cadica in some disguise, then she would have called out his name.

  Tenashar confronted her. “Little girl, who are you, and what are you doing so far from anything and in a forest?”

  She continued to smile and look around for a time before she finally spoke. “What you see is who I am. My home is not far from here. My family tends the forest like farmers, and there are many of my people scattered around here. Those rocks that you climbed? They say those were put there for our protection. We live in the forests and must keep the ocean away.”

  Tenashar had traveled to many strange places and came across many people like Cadica who had phenomenal abilities. There must have been a reason why these people came into his life. Perhaps they were answers to questions that he didn’t know to ask yet. He felt everything was so complicated.

  “At my parents’ home, there is food and more warmth,” the little girl said.

  Siytai got up at once to go with the girl to find shelter.

  But Tenashar raised his hand to stop him. “Do we know who these people are? We have to be cautious concerning where we are going,” he said.

  “I think she is a host, and her people want her to look after us. So why not go with her?” Knode, gathering up his belongings, urged Tenashar to go with the girl.

  Siytai looked at both of them. “Knode, Tenashar is right. We don’t know who these people are. Athtap said nothing of the people living in this forest.”

  “That is true, but does Athtap know everything?” Knode queried.

  “I would put my trust in Tenashar.” Siytai held Knode back in a gentle, brotherly manner that was unusual for him.

  “Perhaps these are the Honazal. This could be one of their settlements.” Knode was more insistent on his opinions.

  “I doubt that. I recall he said the Honazal live farther to the north.” Tenashar was feeling strong doubts about the little girl.

  The girl continued to look at them in her otherworldly way. This made Tenashar frightened and heavyhearted. There was one thing that went through his mind simultaneously. Was the little girl a ghost?

  “This girl is a spirit. I think she’s already dead,” said Tenashar.

  This seemed ridiculous to Knode and Marhidium. They were trained to be skeptical about everything that didn’t seem to obey the laws of reasoning. But Tenashar’s people, the Senetha, believed in spirits and understood many things concerning the human soul after death. So it naturally entered his mind that the little girl may be a spirit that roamed the earth. Tenashar believed that she might have been a victim of that long-ago flood that destroyed the now-ruined village.

  “Little girl, where are your parents?” Tenashar asked. “Won’t you bring them here to greet us?”

  “Stranger, my parents live in a remote part of the forest. So you must come with me instead. Why don’t you come and be my friends so we can play forever? I am just asking all of you to be my friends.”

  They now sensed something was quite wrong.

  “You know what, let’s play a game together. You can bring your parents here, and we will wait.” Tenashar believed that this was the best way to get her to admit if she was a ghost. If she didn’t bring her parents, then she must be a ghost. If they followed her, she may be leading them into a trap where they could fall down a deep hole—for, as a ghost, she might be looking for companionship. Tenashar had heard of this happening before—unsuspecting travelers being led into a forest by a ghost, never to be seen again.

  Oddly, she continued to simply smile and watch them.

  A-amar and Una-sei were paying close attention to what she was saying but continued to stand, motionless. The little girl didn’t go near A-amar and Una-sei. In fact, she kept her distance. They found this unsettling, for she seemed to be scared of A-amar and Una-sei.

  There were two emotions that A-amar and Una-sei created in people—fear and joy. In most adults, they created fear. Then, as they got to know them, the adults developed a sense of joy. She never even took one look at them.

  “Little girl, I think we want to ask you where we are,” Tenashar said. He looked at Knode, who nodded his head in agreement.

  The girl smiled with vacant eyes. She sat down and stared at them.

  They all became uncomfortable with her eyes on them.

  A-amar came up to Tenashar. “I don’t think that she is alive. She is so far away. Just do what should be done. Ignore her and go about our business.”

  Tenashar suggested that they go on with what they had been doing before the little girl appeared. They all agreed to this suggestion.

  Siytai lay down comfortably on some ferns, and Marhidium sat down to rest. Knode tried to sleep again, and Tenashar just lay down and twirled a fern frond in his mouth.

  For a while, the little girl sat and smiled, yet she seemed a little disappointed. Then, before they knew what was happening, the little girl vanished.

  They looked around for her. Una-sei said that she was nowhere.

  “I believe she was a spirit that once lived among these ruins,” Tenashar stated. “She’s not here now. Tomorrow, I think we should be on our way. What do you think, Knode?”

  “I think she’ll turn up again someplace. This is not the end of it,” Knode replied.

  “Let’s have some rest, anyway. Climbing over those rocks has made me tired,” grumbled Siytai.

  “You’re always tired, Siytai.” Marhidium looked at him with a sarcastic smile.

  “Hey! What do you mean by that? Aren’t you exhausted from climbing those rocks? If you’re normal, you should be as tired as I am. So don’t say anything,” said Siytai.

  “I know what’s going on in your mind. It’s not what I said that’s bothering you; it’s the little girl. She scared you. She’s not here anymore—she’s vanished. I know you. I’ve worked with you. There is fear deep in you. I know; don’t pretend. I feel the same way,” said Marhidium.

  “All right, I’m scared. Just stop it already,” replied Siytai.

  “We are all uncomfortable. Siytai is right to feel this way,” said Tenashar.

  A-amar and Una-sei remained on guard. They were ready in case the girl returned.

  Knode looked at Tenashar. “What if we find that this girl is not some spirit, but only flesh and blood like we are? If she returns, we could find out by touching her.”

  “What if she doesn’t want us to get near her and is playing a game? Trying to scare us on purpose?” replied Marhidium.

  “I don’t think she is playing with us,” Tenashar said after some consideration. “There is something she wants from us. I sense this. She is not here now, but once she was real. How do I know this? I don’t know. I can’t prove anything.”

  Marhidium was about to say something, but Tenashar interrupted her. “I know what you are going to say. You’re trying to say I am too serious.”

  “Yes, you are too serious, Tenashar,” she responded. “Since I met you, I can’t recall one time that you said anything funny. But,” she held up a hand to prevent an interruption, “I remember who you are, and I wouldn’t have you any other way. Your responsibility is great.

  You have hinted at some of the trials you have passed through, and I wish to hear more, but not now. One day, we will sit down and speak to each other.”

  Tenashar felt honored by Marhidium words. “Once we get to Sahaynaivium, I’ll tell you every story I have.”

  “Hey, Tenashar, what about me?” Siytai chimed in. “Am I not also a person w
ho likes to hear stories?”

  “You are all welcome to hear the stories,” replied Tenashar, half-amused by the other boy’s vehemence. Siytai thanked Tenashar with the first laugh he had heard from him.

  The little girl reappeared. Siytai was startled, as he suddenly spotted the girl—now sitting on a high wall. She had the same dead expression.

  Everyone stood up to look at her.

  Tenashar called out to her. “What are you doing there? What do you call yourself?”

  She just sat there for some time before speaking. “I’m the little girl. Nothing more. Why do you ask?”

  Frustration and sickness began to grow in Tenashar’s heart. Her sunny personality was strange and disconcerting when combined with her vacant gaze. Finally, he called out. “Come down here, little girl, and let me touch you—or else leave us alone.”

  A-amar stood by Tenashar and let out a huge roar that shook the whole forest. “That roar should make her people come here to find out what is happening,” said A-amar with pride.

  The girl remained unmoved.

  And no one came.

  They waited, and the little girl just sat on the wall.

  “Well, we should know by now that she is a ghost, someone who died in the past,” said Tenashar. “She must have lived here when these ruins were a prosperous village by the sea. I feel sorry for her. Maybe she is alone, with no one to keep her company.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Siytai was afraid, but not enough to make him unable to act. “Let’s get out of here and continue on our journey. We should go to a part of this forest where there are no ruins—or ghosts.”

  Knode looked at Tenashar. “He’s right. We should move on. We are wasting time on this little girl.”

  Tenashar shook his head. “Even if I am annoyed with her, I feel there is something she can show us.”

  “Tenashar, that is too noble, and it’s wrong,” Knode insisted.

  “Do you have a better idea? Tell me.” Tenashar was burning with anger. “Tell us what you plan to do. I doubt that you have a plan!”

  “Nothing is solved by raising your voices. Let us just follow her and see if she truly does have parents or a village. If danger comes our way, we have A-amar and Una-sei to protect us. There must be a way to their village without going through those rocks again,” replied Marhidium.

  A-amar stepped in. “Marhidium is right. We should follow the little girl. Let her show us what she needs us to see.”

  Tenashar, Knode, and Siytai all nodded.

  Tenashar called to the little girl, “Take us to your parents. We are ready to go.”

  He expected her to answer. But she didn’t say anything. She just jumped down from the wall. She then came and grabbed onto Tenashar’s hand. She held it firmly and signaled for the others to follow.

  Everyone took up their belongings and followed her deeper into the forest. As they traveled, the ruins gradually faded away. The ferns became dense, and the trees grew closer together. The girl continued to walk. But there was no sign of any habitation.

  Then she abruptly stopped. Pointing to a piece of ground, she said, “My parents are there.”

  There was no dwelling or anything, just two mounds hidden among the tall ferns.

  Tenashar felt a jolt as he realized that he had forgotten he was holding her hand. Her hand was warm, which must mean that the little girl was very much alive. But then he realized that he only thought that he felt her hand. He looked down to see that it was only air and a transparent hand.

  “Once we lived in a good village. Then the rains and waves came and washed everything away. Some lived, but many died. My parents are here. I am over there,” said the little girl as she pointed to a smaller mound.

  Siytai looked around the area and found several other mounds.

  “I think we should head back to the ruins. There’s nothing for us—” Tenashar was cut off by a noise.

  It was a huge crash of what seemed be a large wall of water!

  In the distance, near the ruins where they had stopped to rest, the waves from the shore had crushed trees and walls together and receded with everything, dragging it out to sea. They all looked at one another. It became obvious that the little girl had saved their lives.

  “If we hadn’t followed her, we would have been swept out to sea and drowned.” Marhidium’s eyes were wide.

  The girl nodded her head solemnly.

  “Why did you save us?” asked Marhidium.

  The little girl stared up into the woman’s eyes. “My family and I and everyone were caught when the waves crashed into the land and our village. Most of the people died, but the survivors went away to other villages. I could not let anyone else die.” She fell silent.

  “We thank you for saving our lives,” Tenashar said. “Once we get back to the forest again, we will make sure people know who once lived here—and they will honor your people.”

  “Stay here. You’ll be safe,” the little girl said. “The waters come without warning onto the land. It’s very difficult to read the ocean here. Over there is a path that is easily found which will take you through the forest and lead you to the Honazal fishing village.” She spoke warmly, even as she began to fade away, finally disappearing from view.

  Tears ran down Marhidium’s face. Knode bit his lip. Siytai hid his feelings, but his eyes betrayed his sadness. Tenashar just bowed his head and said that he would miss her.

  That night, they slept in the warmth and seclusion of the trees. They didn’t feel uneasy with the peaceful grave-mounds around them. Instead, they felt rather safe. They also felt that if anything was about to happen, the little girl would appear and warn them.

  A-amar and Una-sei still stood their guard that night, and it passed peacefully. Only a few high winds swept the tops of the trees. Nothing else came to harm them or bother their dreams.

  Soon they were on their way. They took a parting look at the mounds, especially the small mound of the little girl who saved their lives.

  Tenashar particularly wanted to keep this memory. Whatever came into their lives later, that little girl had a special place in their hearts for eternity.

  chapter 12

  The Path to Honazal

  The mounds had been left far behind. Once they found the right path, they started to see rocks that outlined the dirt road leading to the Honazal village.

  “I wonder what these Honazal people look like.” Siytai laughed. “Maybe they have tall shaped heads, bulging eyes, and very long noses.”

  “Siytai, stop that!” Marhidium scolded. “They look no different from the Veazith. You shouldn’t make fun of people who can help us get home. I think the little girl wouldn’t appreciate it either, so stop.”

  “I was just joking. I have nothing against them,” replied Siytai in a light tone of voice. He nudged Marhidium with his elbow in a friendly gesture.

  She shook her head and then smiled to acknowledge that she knew it was a joke. “I know you didn’t mean anything.”

  For a long time, they walked along on level ground. Abruptly, it fell into a steep decline, forcing them to run down at a hurried pace. When the ground leveled off again, they slowed. The path markers started to change into brightly colored cylinders. The road was smooth, and it became easy to walk on without stumbling on rocks or tree roots. They knew that the Honazal village wasn’t far.

  The Honazal were known everywhere for their fondness for bright colors and objects that shine in the sun. Gradually the path became paved, but it was not plain stones—it was decorated with bright designs that dazzled their eyes. The paved road was well tended to such a point that Tenashar expected to see a Honazalian traveling along it. But there was no one to be seen on the road at this time of day.

  The designs continued to capture their eyes.

  Knode discussed what the symbols meant. Tenashar was also interested in the symbols. Siytai and Marhidium didn’t care about the symbols. They just dismissed it as Knode’s intellectual curiosity—somet
hing they didn’t share.

  One of the symbols looked like a pink oval-shaped sun with two eyes. The sun symbol was decorated with yellow patterns that resembled blocky waves or half-spirals. Around the edges of each were green rays extending outward. Beneath the sun were spiral patterns on both sides that were golden yellow. In the middle, there was a cross-like design within a circle. On the top of the sun image were golden yellow curls that resembled tree branches on both the left and right side of the image.

  Tenashar and Knode sensed that it was an important symbol of the Honazal. But they were mystified as to why these people would put an important symbol on a road to be trodden upon. The sun symbol wasn’t the only decoration, but with its central placement and frequent repetition, it seemed the most important. The other designs were of less interest.

  Always expecting to finally see the village over the next rise, they became disappointed over and over again. But they walked on, certain that the Honazal village was near.

  After getting through some foliage that obstructed parts of the path, they came across curious upside-down pyramids that were clearly top heavy, yet they didn’t fall over, flanking the road. This amazed Tenashar.

  They soon came upon another strange thing—a series of half spheres embedded in the ground along the path, with cubes sitting at an angle stacked on top. When Tenashar looked at the cubes, he was gripped with tension, because they looked as if they were ready to fall off. These path markers were also brightly colored.

  Soon they came to a big rounded arch with no door to bar entry. They half-expected something to stop them from passing through, but nothing impeded their movement. They just walked on and went up a hill that was green with moss on both sides of the path, like a beautiful carpet. Once they got to the top, they finally saw the Honazal village.

  Everyone stood wide-eyed. “This is amazing. A-amar, Una-sei, do you see it, the size of this village? I had expected it to be small and to look similar to the Veazith village,” said Tenashar.