“I salute the light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells.” –Crazy Horse Oglala Lakota Sioux
Nathan turned away from the quiet cove not refusing to look back but unable to. His focus was on the rustling leaves that seemed to speak to him informing him that as much as he wanted to he could not linger there in that sanctuary comforted in the arms of his mother. That event like all memories had passed. He stepped up into the clearing where Whitney waited for him. As he approached his cousin, he became aware of the formulation of the other spirits appearing as if they were a field of wildflowers rising to the sun after the morning dew lifted.
Whitney was surrounded by a gathering of women whose appearances Nathan vaguely recognized from photographs in albums that he had looked through on visits to his grandmother’s house. Their faces were peaceful, loving, and ageless. They formed a circle surrounding Whitney until they enveloped her.
The gathering of men opened up as if greeting Nathan like the cove that he and Mana had spotted emerging through the fog earlier that day. Was it that same day? The beach that he sprang to leaping from the canoe where the golden alewives began their trek up the mountain seemed to Nathan like such a long time ago, yet the sun had not set and Nathan had not slept.
He hesitated momentarily until he recognized in the center of the men the familiar face of his Grandpy and the likeness of another man standing next to him. Nathan smiled at his Grandpy who appeared younger and stronger than Nathan had remembered him in the months before he entered the hospital where the color was drained from his face. His grandpy’s eyes had become pallid with illness as if life had poured from them. Nathan recalled his last visit where his grandpy laid in his hospital bed. The thin white blanket encased him making him appear small and fragile as if he were enclosed in a cocoon. Grandpy now smiled at Nathan, his expression lifted the boy’s spirit assuring Nathan that his grandfather no longer suffered.
Nathan turned his attention to the figure standing next to Grandpy. Although he had never met him Nathan recognized the unmistakable image of his father’s father, his Grandpa George.
Nathan had questioned his father once about why he couldn’t have a different middle name. George seemed old and unappealing like an unwanted sweater his grandmother had knitted for him. Nathan understood as he saw the unrestrained man’s smile lifting his ruddy cheeks, his gleaming narrowed eyes greeting him as if Nathan was looking at an aged vision of himself in the mirror. The name, it seemed to Nathan, now fit perfectly. Nathan walked towards the men as they uniformly enclosed him in a similar circle that had surrounded Whitney. Nathan scanned the faces of the men that encircled him. Familiar characteristics appeared to him although he was unable to focus on any one individual. His eyes surveyed the circle until he completed the circle returning his gaze back to his Grandpa George who was now lost in the crowd of men. The pursuing threat that Nathan had felt since the children’s ordeal had begun was absent. He felt sheltered. He felt significant encompassed in this circle of spirits. “What have you learned?” a voice inquired among the crowd of men. Nathan understood the question, but he delayed a reply. He thought about his pursuit of Kyle who was stolen away in the darkness, about his conflict to follow Whitney or Kyle when they were separated again. He thought about meeting Mana and the journey they had taken to arrive in the midst of these spirits. Nathan sighed deeply, he looked about him unable to determine the individual who raised the question, “I know how to build a raft,” was all he could offer.
He heard a response, another voice, among the circle, “Knowledge leads to doors to unknown rooms as courage opens those doors.”
Nathan, of course, did not comprehend the meaning of this observation, but another voice responded, “Childhood begins a pursuit and as you age you learn. If your eyes are keen that pursuit is often no different than watching your dog chase her tail around and around in a circle,” there was a generous and polite chorus of laughter among the men.
Nathan seemed to understand the direction offered to him, “I’m learning, I’m learning,” he hesitated and thought. He looked to the surrounding trees where the rustling leaves continued to speak to him. He returned his gaze to the encircled patriarchs, “I’m learning that there is a lot that I don’t know.”
“Yes, yes indeed,” the chorus of voices responded.
As the circle of women enclosed around Whitney she instantly became aware of a melody, a song that began quietly and rose in volume until she understood the comforting amplifying nature of the tune. The song was unfamiliar to her, but it was beautiful as music so often is. The song made her feel as if she were being greeted by the unrestrained joy of friendship.
“Your journey is not nearing an end,” Whitney heard the voice above the melody of the song.
“How can I,” she considered her thought, “How can we find Kyle?”
“That’s a good place to start,” was the reply. The chorus of the song rose and sweetly played in Whitney’s ears.
“How do I get off from this island?” Nathan asked. “There is no way we can attempt to make another raft with that sea monster roaming the lake.” He did not receive a response to his question. He thought about how he had learned to communicate to Mana. “I have to come up with a solution. Don’t I?”
“And if you don’t?” a voice questioned. Nathan thought.
“What have you learned?” came the familiar response.
The song guided Whitney’s thoughts. She surveyed the faceless council of women. “Will we find Kyle?”
“There is a more important question that you must pursue,” the response rose just beyond the chorus of singers.
“I’m not sure of the question,” she pleaded. Confused she blurted, “Is he okay?”
The constant melody of the chorus was the only response. Whitney suddenly felt helpless as children do when they are confused. Her frustration seemed to overcome the peace that she had discovered on the island, but the song subdued her anxiety. The music rose above her as if the trees were the instruments. In that moment of clarity she smiled understanding the question. She grew bold realizing the answer, “Of course we’ll search for him and we will find him!” The voices were silent now as the song filled the air seemingly encompassing the entire island
“I can’t do this alone,” Nathan declared. Instead of the expected response he heard a distant song barely audible. The music brought him understanding. “I won’t do this alone. Whitney and I will find him together.” The spirits of both groups joined to form one circle as Nathan became aware of the song that Whitney had heard. They stood in the center of the spirits. Both children regarded the other assured of their shared commitment.
“We will find you Kyle,” they said in unison to the melody of the song.
For the first time the words of the chorus were understood by the children. They were moved by the effulgence of harmony, radiance, and purpose. The simple yet glorious chorus, “You are never alone,” lifted the children’s spirits before they gradually disappeared into the surrounding shadows like the smoke of an extinguished candle engulfed by darkness.
“I’m really scared Nathan.”
“I’m scared too Whitney.”
“But I’m not as scared having you with me.”
“Me too,” Nathan responded.
“We’ve had help too,” Whitney declared.
“Yes. Yes, we have had lots of help,” Nathan paused, “Only, how do we get off this island?”
“That’s the question I wished they answered,” Whitney expressed.
“Me too.” Nathan walked beyond her to the cove where his raft laid demolished. The rudder was resting on the grass where he dropped it. “Even if we rebuild that thing, I don’t think we have much chance of returning over there,” he motioned to the distant stretch of beach that he had come from, hoping to spot Mana waiting for him to return.
“Why? Is there something in the water?”
He looked at Whitney, “Oh yea, but you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. He shook his head, “No Siree. How did you get here anyway?”
Whitney’s eyes grew large as she repeated Nathan’s response, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“So, how are we going to get off from this island and then find Kyle?” Nathan asked hoping that Whitney had a plan.
She stared at him and shook her head, an admittance of futility. At that moment Whitney recognized a familiar sound. She looked at Nathan, “I think we’ve found our way off from this island,”
She motioned to the sky high above, “Kukula, Kukula,” the birds’ distant cries rained upon the children as the Kukulas circled the island. Two birds broke from the flock. They rapidly descended.
Whitney looked at Nathan, “They’re nervous of this island Nathan. Be careful and do exactly what I do,” she looked at Nathan whose disbelief was conveyed in his expression, “I know, just make sure you hold on tight!” The first Kukula landed solidly on the ground, the same bird that had carried Whitney to the island. She climbed atop the bird who once again flattened his wings so that she could mount it. The other Kukula landed nearby. Nathan hesitated as the bird spread its wings low to the ground. Uneasily he followed Whitney’s lead. In his haste his foot landed on one of the bones of the bird’s wing. The KuKula’s eyes rolled back in its head as it let out a loud squawk. It swung its head around and ushered Nathan onto its back with a forceful movement of its wing. Before the boy knew what to do the bird ascended to the air carrying Nathan clutching to its back. “I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to step on you,” Nathan exclaimed placing his head next to the Kukula’s thick strong neck. He held on for his life as the birds climbed higher and higher. It was some time before he dared look for Whitney. He moved his head close to the bird tentatively switching the direction of his vision. Whitney’s Kukula was a short distance ahead of him. She caught Nathan’s expression, “I know, it’s like the scariest ride at the fair,” she yelled.
The Kukula that Nathan rode upon felt his pounding heart. The bird seemed to adjust his muscles to provide Nathan with a more secure hold on the bird. Still some time past before Nathan relaxed enough to respond to Whitney, “You’re right Whitney,” he yelled a belated response, “I never would have believed you.”
Excitement perhaps is defined when spectacle gains a slight advantage over apprehension. The children were teetering on either side of that boundary from one moment to the next during their early flight. They had to contend with the Kukulas’ mighty flaps as well as the changing wind currents that navigated the birds. They were not unlike novice jockeys riding barebacked atop magnificent thoroughbreds. The children accepted that their fate was entirely up to the Kukulas’ control. As their flight continued the birds sensed the children’s acceptance. The children, of course, did not know where their flight was taking them. They peered over the Kukulas’ wings. The land beneath them was a blur as the birds flew among the clouds. Occasionally the children could see that the birds followed a course over the open sea. The other Kukulas in the flock maintained their proximity to the birds that carried the children although they flew some distant above them. Whitney recalled that this flight was longer than her first adventure on the great bird. The Kukulas were certainly much higher. At one point she looked above her at the sun and she thought about the story of Icarus that was read to her during a library visit, “Oh my,” she uttered.
Her transporter responded triumphantly, “Kukula, Kukula,” the flock echoed its communication. Whitney was overcome by the spectacle. Here were creatures whose freedom defined their existence. How could you not admire such majesty?
The flock’s behavior suddenly changed as the children observed a shadow pass above them as if a cloud was blocking the sun. The shadow was too rapidly passing however for a cloud. Nathan was the first to look at the cause of the vanishing sunlight. The ascending Kukulas began squawking warning the two birds that Whitney and Nathan rode upon. Two enormous raptors appeared high above them circling like scavenger birds who have spotted a kill. These enormous birds were ancient Haast’s Eagles who once roamed supremely over the open sky. Their strength and speed allowed them to hunt prey as big as deer. The Kukulas that carried the children descended rapidly as the rest of the flock rose to confront the raptors. One of the raptors dropped dramatically to attack the Kukulas. Two of the flock hit the descending raptor in a violent impact. The feathers of one Kukula exploded as if a cherry colored down pillow had been torn opened. The raptor held one of the Kukulas in its grasp as it ripped at the injured bird’s breast. The companion Kukula dug its talons into the neck of the assailant driving its beak into and through the membraned wings of the raptor. The battling winged creatures spectacularly tumbled towards the ground until they were absorbed by the forming canopy of trees of the changing landscape. Several large leaves that were detached from the trees momentarily floated in the open sky before they too vanished into the canopy.
The lone remaining raptor was too strong and fast for the Kukulas to battle. It soared ahead of them quickly closing the distance between it and the birds that carried the children. The Kukulas carrying Whitney and Nathan made a desperate descent beneath an opening in the trees in order to take flight beneath the foliage of leaves. The crazed raptor followed. The ensuing chase was nothing short of amazing. Two crimson streaks raced among the trees nearly crashing into one branch after another with the children desperately clutching to them. The children clung low to the backs of the great birds too terrified to observe the furor. The birds’ ability to accelerate through the trees without the children toppling off from them was impressive and equally noble if the Kukulas were capable of such reasoning. Their maneuvering was no less as dramatic as a high-speed chase seen between automobiles in the busy streets of a city.
The careful nature of the Kukulas proved costly as the much larger raptor narrowed the distance between it and the children. The crazed raptor was determined to sacrifice its own well-being in order to destroy the Kukulas and their passengers. The powerful raptor snapped and splintered branches in its reckless pursuit of the birds. As the Kukulas raced by the remaining trees into a clearing a rain of projectiles was thrust from the branches of the trees directed at the pursuing winged-raptor. Some of the heavy pointed Cycas cones found their mark causing the raptor to be distracted from its pursuit. It only took that moment of distraction given the rapid speed of the raptor. The attacking creature crashed into the trunk of a large Cycas tree. As Whitney alone peered back she saw a troop of ancient looking proconsuls excitedly leaping from one branch to the next celebrating their intervention in the melee from the sky. Aware that the threat was over the Kukulas soared higher in the sky where they were joined by the remaining flock. Nathan looked to Whitney unaware of the event that altered their fate. Her expression was that of a child who had ridden a terrifying roller coaster with her eyes wide open while her companion rode with his eyes shut. How could she convey what he had missed? The children’s hold on the great birds could not have been firmer while their racing heartbeats confirmed gratitude to the Kukulas who safeguarded them.
The dramatic change in landscape escaped the children’s attention given the urgency of the assault by the raptors. Their flight had taken them inland bordering the vanishing green forest. Ahead of them they observed a dark ominous mountain range. Great vertical mountains rose like enormous dark steeples as far as the eye could see. The Kukulas began circling an area of land just short of the mountain range in an obscure valley. As they circled the valley Nathan spotted the glowing river of lava defining the landscape as it flowed between two peaks of the Black Mountains. The remaining flock of Kukulas descended in a methodical circular pattern until they landed in an open field in the valley. One of the birds who flew to intercept the raptors had injured one of its legs. It landed balancing itself on its sturdy leg. The children regarded the painful injury and looked at each other acknowledging the sacrifice of the Kukulas. Nathan immediately dismounted his majestic bird while Whitney lingered maintaining her hold. She swung off from the bird and embraced its thick elongated burgundy neck. “Thank you,” she whispered to the bird. He rose his head even higher before taking flight. He filled the valley with the familiar, “Kukula, kukula,” as he joined his flock and disappeared.
The children watched as the birds gradually vanished in the spacious sky. The silence between them conveyed their regard for the birds. Nathan was reminded of the red balloon he released when his Grandpy passed. He watched it rise higher and higher, directed by the wind until it was a tiny dot in the sky and then it finally disappeared. Whitney and Nathan turned and looked at each other. Whitney spoke, “Well, now what are we going to do?” Before Nathan could respond he saw two figures emerge from behind a wall of rock partially blocked by one of the remaining trees. He looked back at Whitney before he ran towards the figures, “Mana!” he yelled.