Butterfly's Dream - Overture 3 (fragment)

“I’ve come to this place to make sure you’re taking the proper path,” says in the end the stranger in the dark-orange robe, breaking the silence. “Your journey is going to begin here, right in front of this work of art. Don’t strain yourself too hard to understand everything at once. Understanding will come eventually, gradually, in time.”

“Who are you, really?” I ask, turning my head towards him. I plan to follow up with a few more questions, but the monk is gone. He has simply vanished into the air. Startled by his surprising disappearance, I turn my eyes back to the strangely distorted landscape from the frame in front of me. And, suddenly, I am again the man inside the print, looking at the print. Space is curling around me, wrapping my body like a dark veil. When I turn my head once more towards the hall, I feel I’m both inside and outside the frame. It is a most unusual sensation, and it makes me dizzy.

I think I’m going to faint and prepare to meet the unfriendly, hard marble floor in my fall. Yet, my knees manage somehow to stay steady. Instead, the whole room is dissolving. A few seconds later, I suddenly get comfortable, lying in a bed placed under a domed ceiling. The room is bathed in a pleasant, diffuse blue light.

“Let the story begin!” commands a man’s voice.

I fail to see its owner. The room looks empty.

“Let it begin! Bon voyage, mon ami!” replies an invisible chorus. A flash of light envelops me for a split-second. Then I seem to materialize in a different location.

The bed and the empty room are gone. For a moment, I’m aware of floating inside a giant liquid bubble, but my eyes are immediately closing by themselves with overwhelming strength. Powerless to react in any way, I’m falling into a deep dormant state. Still, I can hear voices speaking loud and clear inside my brain.

Black! I think he is sufficiently relaxed.

Gray! His body and mind are adjusting to the intermediary environment.

Red! Increase gradually the output up to half.

Orange! The readings of his body parameters are normal.

Yellow! Open the gate towards the new environment.

Green! Continue to increase the output all the way to the maximum.

Blue! The gate towards the new environment is active.

Purple! Disconnect the primary environment.

Crimson! Separate him from the intermediary environment.

Violet! Stand by for ignition.

White! Ignition and lift off! He has already crossed to the other side!

Books by Marian C. Ghilea:

BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU

TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB

Image source: Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/pinacoteca-di-brera-3529230/

Butterfly's Dream - Overture 2 (fragment)

My memory still has big gaps. I can’t recall clearly the past few days or, as a matter of fact, anything preceding this moment. I still don’t remember how I’ve got into this room and in front of this print. Perhaps this stranger has come to help me figure out what’s going on.

“You’re right,” says the monk. “Escher has caught brilliantly the fact that the ego is an illusion, that what’s inside our head cannot be fully separated from what’s outside our skin. Not that he was the first to do so. However, he was one of the best artists to show it in an intuitive and easy to understand manner.”

I feel like in a classroom where I’m a student and he is the teacher. As soon as the stranger finishes talking, a revelation begins to germinate at the back of my brain. It looks like the whole scene is happening in a dream, like I have dreamed of it before. The whole situation and the whole dialog seem somewhat rehearsed, artificial, as if we were two mediocre actors playing their roles on an invisible stage. I say:

“My memory is kind of blurred. I can’t remember clearly what’s happened to me recently. I’ve got the impression you aren’t here by chance. Have you come to help me, to guide me somewhere?”

The monk stares straight into my eyes with a serious expression. He nods in silence. Time seems to flow slower now. The air has become somewhat viscous and heavy.

I breathe deeply a few times to calm my mind, then turn my head back towards the artwork. It’s still there, as it was when I stopped in front of it. Yet, something else, hard to define, is different now. I don’t know where my past is rooted, but I’m somehow aware where my future lies. As if everything has suddenly begun to flow in the opposite direction, from the future towards the past. Without being aware of how this information has filled my thoughts, I know there’s a path in front of me, a path onto which I have to step soon. Very soon, probably in less than a minute.

We both continue to look at the print like we’re holding a vigil in front of it. I feel as if Maurits Cornelis Escher himself is standing now behind us, gazing intently at his own creation. However, why am I going through this strange scenario? What are these preparations for? What kind of trip is waiting for me? Or, perhaps, it has already begun?

(to be continued...)

Books by Marian C. Ghilea:
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB

Image source: Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-1283009/

Butterfly's Dream - Overture 1 (fragment)

The mild, pleasant rays of the autumnal Sun are sieving in through the circular window buried in the blue-painted ceiling, like drops from a delicate celestial waterfall. They fill the room with a golden, relaxing light. Prints of buildings, landscapes, or portraits, all placed neatly in thin frames, cover the gray-plastered walls everywhere I look. Sounds of steps and conversations in low tones resonate and combine in frequencies that are overlapping around my stiff, standing body. People are coming in or moving out towards the other rooms of the art gallery. An incessant, continuous flow of costumes, dresses, and voices.

Why am I here? What am I doing in this place? Where is this place located, anyway? I feel as if I have been suddenly planted, like a sapling, at the edge of this hall, as if I have just materialized on this spot out of the void.

Seconds later, fuzzy memories come back, slapping my brain with a vigorous gentleness. I remember the announcement about the exhibition. I have read it in a newspaper, the other day. It was about a rare and extensive Escher collection, almost all his masterpieces in one place, open to the public from my city for a full month. And here I am, in front of this lithograph from 1956, named “Print Gallery”.

The flow of people continues unabated left and right, forward and backward. It’s a never-ending swirl of footsteps and voices. Visitors pause for a few moments in front of a framed image, then move, almost in haste, to the next. I keep looking at “Print Gallery”, hypnotized by its unusual composition. My eyes remain glued to the man displayed there. The man is gazing at the works filling a long passageway. Through an insane twist of space, the framed image in front of him expands, enclosing the room, the building, the whole Universe. Unperturbed, he stares at the print of which he has become a part himself. And now I am that man, and I’m looking at the print from the print, and I have become part of this print myself.

“What do you think of this work? It looks intriguing, doesn’t it?” strikes a voice at my right.

Pulled out of my dazzling vision, I turn my head slowly and find standing next to me a slender, middle-aged man of medium height, dressed in a dark-orange robe. His head is neatly shaved, and he’s got a peaceful smile on his face. A Buddhist monk. Well, why wouldn’t a monk be interested in art, too? However, my instinct tells me he isn’t here by chance. His question sounds more than casual, it must have a deeper meaning. So, I do my best to articulate my thoughts as clearly as I can:

“I have to agree, I’m fascinated by it,” I murmur in a low tone. “The image seems to blur the distinction between what’s inside and what’s outside someone’s body.”

His gray eyes look at me intensely, as if they could drill through my skull and read my thoughts. Yet, there is a peace and a friendliness in them that could only come from someone who has reached a high spiritual level. The monk is someone who apparently wants to help me with something. But with what? And why?

(to be continued...)

Books by Marian C. Ghilea:
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB

#novel #scifi #fantasy #fiction #sciencefiction #adventure #romance #exploration #art #indie #writing #prose #literature #timetravel #historical #sciencefiction #imagination #creativity #world #planet #firstcontact

Image: "Print Gallery" by Maurits Cornelis Escher (1958)

Aquatika - beta version - Part 16 - Chapter 2: Lucero

Not long after dinner, I go to the medical section for a checkup. In ten minutes, they conclude that all my vitals are OK, and I don’t need further supervision. My superficial wounds and scratches are quickly examined and treated. Then I drag my feet to the room they have given me for the duration of my staying here and collapse on the bed, exhausted.
The forty-one days in the wilderness took a toll on my body, as expected. I will remain in Lucero until the test ends and perhaps one or two weeks after that. I was kind of surprised to find out I’m the first person to become a master this year. Well, nine more days are left, and there are still eight people competing. Solis and Lila are out there, fighting against the Wilderness, trying to go beyond their own weaknesses. I hope they are doing well. It would be wonderful if we all ended up as masters after this test.
The fatigue hammers me down and out. My brain switches off immediately, and I fall asleep.

***

Anh dropped me in front of my home around eight-thirty. I was the last one to get off the car, as I lived a bit closer to Akonit than Lila and Solis.
“I’ll see you this evening,” the supreme master said. A few seconds later, he was already out of my sight.
I half-opened the door and squeezed inside the house, trying to make as little noise as possible. Alas, as soon as I stepped in, I almost bumped into my mother. She was supposed to be at work, but perhaps she had taken a day off, still trying to find out what had happened to me.
“I’m home,” I murmured in a feeble voice.
“Where have you been?” my mother asked in a stern tone.
I had no more energy to talk, no strength to explain what had happened. So I took the letter from Anh from my pocket and gave it to her.
“What is this?” she demanded, her eyebrows descending in a frown.
“Please read it,” I pleaded. “It explains everything.”
My mother opened the envelope and pulled out a thin sheet of paper. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the Aquatika seal at the bottom.
“Go and change your clothes, then come to the living room,” she said, sighing lightly.
Five minutes later, we were both seated on the couch, looking at each other in silence. A few tears trickled down my mother’s cheeks. My mother wiped her eyes with the back of her right hand and soon regained her composed expression.
“I suppose what master Anh suggests is the best course of action. In the meantime, I have called the police and told them all three of you are back home safe and sound. Perhaps the parents of your friends have done that, too. The police have stopped the search for you as missing persons. I will immediately call your father at work and ask him to come home at noon. Your sister will receive the news when she gets back from school.”
The hours flowed slowly. Then I finally saw from the front window my father getting off the bus. As soon as he stepped inside the house, he hugged me, then picked up the letter from Anh and read it carefully. My younger sister arrived about thirty minutes later. She also read the letter and began crying as soon as she finished it.
There were good things and bad things about my new situation. The best thing was that I was that they offered me an opportunity few teenagers ever got: to become an Aquatika master. However, the opportunity did not guarantee my success. I might fail again and again, and, in the end, I would have had to embrace a different career.
Perhaps I could be an engineer, like my father. Or a teacher, like my mother. Or I might even join the army. I realized I was already in high school, and yet I had never thought about what I wanted to do for a living.
Unlike me, Silvana, my younger sister, was ambitious and knew what she wanted. She had already set up her mind to become an airship pilot. Her grades were excellent, and she was working hard to achieve her goal.
As for me, I was a slacker and a procrastinator. This didn’t mean my grades were poor, but I was not exactly a top student in my class. Instead of spending the evenings studying hard, as Silvana did, I preferred to go swimming or read novels. I guess these habits were going to change for me, too, from now on.
“Well,” my father said. “This is a good opportunity for you to achieve something great in life. What pains us is just the fact that you have to leave on such short notice. On the other hand, it’s not like you can’t call us or write letters from Diana. And it’s not like we can’t visit you there. Sure, Sirenia is not exactly next-door, but we can save enough money to see you once a year.”
“Really?” Silvana asked, her face brightening. “Then I suppose we’ll manage somehow.”
We spent the afternoon together, making plans, thinking about how our lives were going to be years and years in the future after I’ve got my master badge. However, we all knew these were only dreams. Of course, I expected Anh to take special care of my training, given the circumstances.
Nevertheless, less than one percent of those admitted into the full Aquatika program managed to graduate as masters. About one in ten became instructors and stayed at this level for the rest of their lives, in most cases teaching the basics to the new generations of students. Those who failed to become instructors in five years were sent home. Which category was I going to be? And what about Solis and Lila? We were going to find out in a few years.
Perhaps Anh would send us back home in five years, as failed students. And maybe things would be quiet here by then.
At sunset, the phone rang, as expected. My father picked it up and only said:
“Yes. We’ll be ready in a minute.”
I gave a warm hug to my parents and sister. Then I left the house carrying my suitcase. The car was already waiting in front of the gate, with Anh behind the wheel. Lila and Solis were sitting on the backbench.

Books by Marian C. Ghilea:
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB

Image source: Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/car-1492333/

Aquatika - beta version - Part 15 - Chapter 2: Lucero

Once inside the Aquatika building, a hot bath tube is waiting for me, then comes a shave, a clean uniform, and a nutritious dinner. I’ve only been twice here before, accompanying Anh in some of his teaching trips. I sparred with many students from the city, winning most fights and losing a few. The change from my life in the Wilderness is so brisk that everything feels like a dream. Or perhaps like an abrupt waking from a deep slumber. The colors look more vivid. The sounds ring louder. Everything around me tends to send my senses into overdrive. The reception desk hall is full of people who came to witness my arrival, but they keep some distance, giving me enough space to breathe freely and feel comfortable.
A doctor shows up and gives me a quick check on the spot. The wounds I’ve got in the first half of the test have mostly healed. The newer light cuts and bruises don’t seem to need immediate attention. The doctor decides I’m in a reasonably good shape given the circumstances but tells me to come to the medical wing after dinner, for a more detailed checkup.
“How are Lila and Solis doing?” I ask Anh. “They didn’t come to see me tonight.”
“They’re still in the Wilderness. However, we lost contact with them eight days ago. Lila was ahead of you, but a bit more to the east. We expected to see her emerge from the mountains the day before yesterday. However, she didn’t show up. The surveillance team can’t find her anywhere.”
Anh is worried, but he tries to hide it. His suppressed emotions expand and pour into me, stirring my heart beats with cold fear.
“Perhaps I should go with one of the rescue teams,” I say.
“You need to rest. Even if they allowed it, you’d only be a burden in your current state. Don’t waste time with useless thoughts. Go, take a bath, put on the new uniform, and join me for dinner in forty-five minutes.”
Anh is right. I should rest. The masters will do everything in their power to ensure the casualties on the test are as low as possible. And so, I drag myself to the baths. Before I leave, Anh adds:
“You know, Kolin, you are the first one to pass the test this year.”
***
Forty minutes later, clean, freshly shaved, wearing new clothes and new shoes, I come to the cafeteria. I’m glad the press isn’t allowed in here. I can spend a quiet evening and rest until tomorrow when I’ll have to let myself interviewed whether I like it or not.
The cafeteria is a large hall with a ceiling painted in the color of the serene sky. It has a row of tall windows on the back wall, flanked by red velvet curtains. Paintings and bass reliefs depicting fighting scenes cover the side walls. They make the place look almost like an art gallery. Dozens of chairs and black oval tables, neatly aligned, fill most of the space.  Several loudspeakers mounted on the ceiling broadcast famous pieces of classical music in the background. The room is about three-quarters full with students, instructors, and masters, all having dinner.
When I step in, I hear my name said out loud on the speakers:
“Let’s give a warm welcome to Kolin Inigo, the newest Aquatika master!”
Everybody stands up and executes three powerful claps in unison. The message is short, but the impression it leaves is tremendous. Their appreciation and respect for my achievement move me to tears. I stop, bow briefly, then proceed towards the counter to get my meal. The line is short and advances quickly. One minute later, with six plates full of delicious food are squeezed on my tray, I’m moving towards the tables. I still haven’t spotted Anh, so my eyes are combing the hall, looking for his presence.
I finally see him at a table near a window. I know less than a quarter of the people here, for I had been living and training in Diana all these years. Anh is having dinner with a group of local students I haven’t seen before and with Sabienne, a beautiful red-haired master who has passed the test two years ago. The last time when I saw her was last year when Anh came here to teach for a week and took me, Lila, and Solis with him. I did a few sparring rounds with Sabienne and lost badly every single one of them. She is one year younger than me. However, unlike in my case, she began treading the path of Aquatika at an early age. Her head start made Sabienne one of the youngest masters in our organization.
Anh and Sabienne see me coming and wave a friendly salute.  A seat next to Sabienne is free, and I take it.
“Welcome, master Kolin,” Anh says. “Welcome, my son!”
Sabienne and the three students clap again their hands three times. However, now they do it lightly and without standing up.
Still embarrassed by so much attention, I take my seat without saying anything. The six bowls of food on my tray look so enticing that I could gobble all of them down in less than a minute. And then, obviously, I’d get sick. I certainly need to restrain my impulses for both my health and the sake of good manners.
Sabienne must know what’s going through my mind. She gives me an intent look, then she says:
“Congratulations, Kolin! I’m happy you’ve made it this time!”
“I was so close to failing this morning… If that dry log didn’t happen to be around, I would have failed miserably. Only luck saved me.”
“What makes you think it was luck?” Anh retorts. “Let’s say there was no log there. What would you have done?”
“I would have run a little longer. Then I would have jumped in the water, trying to reach the other bank. However, I think the patrol would have caught me without any problem. In my state of fatigue, I was no match for them.”
“How many masters could graduate each year if the patrols guarded with utmost care the whole Wilderness?” Sabienne asks.
Taken by surprise, I look at her, then at Anh. Why have I never thought about it?
“Probably one at most. None in some years. Perhaps one every two-three years or so,” Anh responds. “You see, the patrol’s job is to make the test difficult enough, but not to make it impossible. When they set up traps, they also offer ways out of them. The only real issues are the wild beasts, the terrain, and the weather. Those cannot be controlled. Our standards are high, but we don’t want them to be impossible to achieve. If we did, there would be too few masters of Aquatika in the world, and the art would wither and die within a few generations. ”
So, it seems the log had been set there by the patrol, to give me a chance in case I saw it in time… Anh is right. If the patrol masters had really tried their best, I would have failed. I, and everybody else taking this test.
“You’re right,” I say after a few long moments. “The standards have to be high, but not impossible to achieve.”
“You’re right,” I say after a few long moments. “The standards have to be high, but not impossible to achieve.”
“Your journey is just beginning,” Anh continues. “You’ve got the basics well and can teach them to anyone, but still have to learn the more advanced techniques. In a week or so, I will begin teaching you the higher levels of Aquatika.”
“It’s going to be way more interesting,” Sabienne confirms. “And much tougher,” she adds after a short pause, with a wink.
I was so focused on the conversation that I forgot about the food. The sudden loud grumbling of my stomach reminds me of it. I pick up the chopsticks from the tray and plunge them into the delicious stew of quinoa and fish from the first bowl. I chew slowly, giving myself time to savor the contents. It will take a few days until I get used again to eating normally. And some weeks until I regain the lost weight. Once in a while, I feel the need to glance at the left side of my chest. No, it's not a dream. The badge is still there, warming my heart.

(to be continued...)

Books by Marian C. Ghilea:
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB

Image source: Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/scotland-1893644/

Aquatika - beta version - Part 14 - Chapter 1: The Wilderness

I’m standing on top of the final ridge. From the rocky peak, I can glimpse the dark blue of the Sudia Ocean. Towards the east, perhaps no more than fifteen kilometers away, the slender, white towers of Lucero are reflecting the Sun. Even though it’s still possible to encounter a patrol, I’ve never heard of anyone getting caught so close to the destination.
For about fifteen minutes, I rode the log along the river, then stirred it towards the other bank. The patrol was left behind, unable to catch up with me. Once I’d stepped onto the other bank, I squeezed as much water as I could from my garments, then I walked briskly to keep my body warm until they would dry on my body.  Soon, I found a pass going east. One hour later, I was climbing the final ridge. And here I am, in the late afternoon, with Lucero in my sight. There is a narrow path leading into the valley, all the way to an asphalt road that follows the Sirenian southern coast to the edge of the Wilderness.
“Venko!” I shout, raising my right fist towards the sky in the traditional salute of victory. The echo repeats my word several times, approving it with enthusiasm. Then I begin my descent along the rocky trail.

***

The sun has set. I’m already walking along the streets of Lucero, surrounded by tall buildings and bright lights. My coarse attire and the wrapped-up sword tied on my back are silent witnesses of my success. The people who see me know it. They can easily recognize someone who has just passed the test. I suppose my unshaven beard and wild hair add to the picturesque of my unusual appearance. All the successful candidates look more or less like this when they arrive in the city. I don’t care anymore. I only need to walk a kilometer or so until I reach the local headquarters of Aquatika. What follows after that, the ceremony, the dinner, and the rest, all are going to be pleasant experiences.
Men and women look at me with respect, some even smile and bow in my direction when I pass in front of them. I smile back and nod curtly. Becoming a master is an important milestone, but it's only a stage in the never-ending journey towards enlightenment taken by all the Aquatika practitioners. New obstacles will soon stand in my way. When this happens, I'll do my best to keep going, as I've always done. However, for the next few days, I just want to relax and enjoy being an Aquatika master.
Icarus is just rising into the night sky when I glimpse the Aquatika headquarters ahead. It is an imposing castle, surrounded by a deep moat and placed in the middle of a circular park full of blue pines. Its outer wall is made of granite and shaped like the base of a large pyramid with each side about one hundred meters long. Four imposing towers mark the corners of the defense perimeter. Above, a smaller, white pyramid with dozens of triangular windows shines against the dark sky. The streets are full of people in this area, and I know they have come to see me, to see the end of my test. Aquatika students and instructors keep open a narrow path, so I can walk unimpeded to the finish line.
My tired body has found new energy. My joints and muscles still feel the pain of the long journey, but it doesn’t matter anymore. The ordeal is going to be over soon. All around me, the crowd is cheering loudly. Purified by the faint starlight from above, I keep going until I’m finally in front of the Aquatika building.
Before I have the chance to step onto the bridge leading towards the castle, the front gate opens, and twenty masters come to meet me. Solemn trumpet music can be heard from the speakers mounted on the walls, augmenting the solemnity of my arrival. The cheers and claps fade down. The crowd is almost silent now. Thousands of eyes are gazing at me intently, full of admiration and respect. The ceremony of investing a new Aquatika master takes place only a few times a year. It’s always an important event, broadcast on radio and television in Lucero and all Sirenia.
Of course, they knew I was coming to Lucero. Their cameras must have seen me since I was descending the mountain slope. It’s good the intercepting patrols play by the same rules as us, without the help of modern technology. Otherwise, nobody would ever pass this test. The whole survival adventure is a big hit on television, not only in Sirenia, but also across the Blue Federation. Even many people abroad follow it.
The twenty masters, dressed in the traditional blue uniforms, make a straight line in front of the castle. Then they bow slowly in front of me, accepting me as one of them. I do the same, presenting my respect for their past achievements. A few moments later, a familiar figure emerges from behind the gate, also wearing an Aquatika uniform. His badge is visible on the left side of his chest: the badge of a supreme master.  The man passes the row of masters, stops in front of me, and says:
“Congratulations, Kolin! In the name of Aquatika, I am honored to offer you the title of Master!”
I reply:
“Thank you, Supreme Master Anh! I am deeply humbled by this achievement. I will continue to work hard to maintain and improve our long tradition!”
Anh comes closer. His hand sticks a circular badge to the left side of my chest. The image of a black bird with yellow eyes and a yellow beak shines on it. We bow to each other; then we bow to the group of twenty masters. The crowd’s cheer is filling the night again. I can see several television cameras focusing on me from the sidewalk. Dozens of reporters describe the live event a little farther. The ceremony is over.
I step towards Anh and give him a long hug. I stay close to him for a few long seconds. I stay close to the man I’ve got to see after all these years as my second father. In the loud cheers and applause of the crowd, I finally let him go. Together, we step onto the alley that leads to the castle. The masters follow us a few steps behind. As soon as we are all behind the fence, the gates close.
I whisper close to Anh’s ear:
“I was so close to failing…”
“I know, he says. But you’ve found a way out. That’s why you are now a master.”

(to be continued...)

Books by Marian C. Ghilea:
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB 

Aquatika - beta version - Part 13 - Chapter 1: The Wilderness

My body aches from the extended effort. I’m hungry and thirsty, but my fighting spirit is still there. It pushes me to keep going. Keep going! Keep going!
I reach a brook and stop by its stream to quench my thirst. Soon, I will reach the valley below, and then I’ll start to climb what I hope to be the final ridge. I can’t pinpoint my coordinates with high accuracy, but I have memorized the part of Wilderness stretching between Diana and Lucero. So far I was correct in estimating my location, and this has helped me advance faster through the difficult terrain.
I’m walking cautiously, ready to fight or flee if something attacks me unexpectedly. The Sun is already up. Most of the snow has melted. The sky has cleared up, displaying a deep, enchanting, blue color. The temperature is rising, becoming almost pleasant to bear for my battered skin. Suddenly, I see a pale shadow stirring in a thick pine ahead, on a high branch above the path I’m following. It might be a furry snake. And not a small one. I turn right and go around it, at a distance of more than twenty meters. That is a snake, all right. I see it clearly now. I could have turned into an easy meal for it, had I walked underneath that pine.
The ground is not so much covered by boulders and stones in this area. Walking is almost comfortable now, a blessing for my battered feet. About five minutes later, I reach the valley. A foamy river flows along it, crossing my path. This must be Tano. It’s wider than I thought. Wading to the other side through the cold stream is going to be dangerous. The water flows fast; the rocks underneath look slippery. I’m walking along its bank, against its stream, moving east, until I reach a point where the valley is becoming even narrower. Perhaps I’ll be able to find soon a spot where I could traverse to the other side.
About one kilometer later, I glimpse a tall spruce tree fallen across it. The thick trunk reaches all the way to the other bank. Its branches won’t make for an easy crossing, but it can be used as a bridge. I’ll be able to keep going. Then I stop. I feel a cold shiver climbing along my spine. All this looks a bit too o convenient, pretty much like a perfect trap set by an intercepting patrol. I sense danger. Better go in the opposite direction and try a different path to get across the stream.
A few moments after I begin walking the other way, I glimpse three black uniforms appearing from behind a bush near the fallen tree. I was right. It was a trap. They saw me and plan to cut off my hopes of becoming a master this year. Speed and endurance are now the only qualities that can save my skin. And my dream. I’m so close to succeeding, yet everything could be ruined in just a few minutes.
I start running west along the bank, moving now in the same direction with the river flow. The patrol officers have seen my intention and are rushing in my footsteps. I’m forbidden to raise my sword against a patrol, and they will never use weapons against me. Ultimately, they’re Aquatika masters. They are my kin and my friends. However, they would not hesitate during the test to overpower and immobilize me. Then they would deliver me back, as a failed candidate, to the closest local headquarters. They could also shoot me with tranquilizing darts if I refused to surrender peacefully.
Damn it! Well, I can damn all I want, this won’t change the mess surrounding me. Better focus on what to do next. I’m scared I’m going to fail, and the fear prevents me from thinking clearly. Let’s try a different approach. For a moment, consider you’ve already failed. Relax. It’s over, yet it’s not the end of the world. I’ve failed, but I’d like to play this game a bit longer and won’t end it without putting up a good fight. Next year, I’ll become a master. Next year.  But next year sounds so far away…
I keep running on the uneven ground. My pursuers are now perhaps one hundred meters behind. One option is to wade the watercourse. It is probably about waist deep. I’m likely to slip and fall, and then I’d be dragged by the ice-cold current, with my leather garments drenched and heavy, unable to quickly get out of the stream and at immediate risk of hypothermia.
Would they follow me? I bet they would. They are rested and well-fed. Perhaps even a bit bored by the long wait and happy for the opportunity of some action. They can swim faster, better, and longer than me. Should I try to climb back the mountain and eventually scale a rock until I’m out of their reach on a platform where I could use the advantage of height to defend against them? They’d surround it and call for reinforcements. After a standoff of a few hours, I’d have to surrender.
My pursuers are getting closer. Now, they’re only about fifty or sixty meters behind. Tired and hungry, I’m no match for them in empty-hand combat. Nevertheless, I’ll keep running until I either collapse from exhaustion or they catch me. And then I see something ahead. It’s a big piece of wood, right next to the bank. An idea is blooming inside my brain. I only need to avoid getting caught for these thirty meters: the distance that separates me from the log…
I’m beyond pain, panting and ready to collapse when I reach it. The wood is partly rotten on one side, but the log should still be able to float. With my last drops of energy, I push the tree trunk into the fast current, then jump on top of it. The freezing water surrounds my thighs and waist immediately. My blood vessels shrink abruptly. Thousands of painful needles pierce my muscles. I feel paralyzed, barely able to maintain my balance on top of the improvised raft. However, my speed is reasonably high, and I’m moving away from the bank. At least I can stay relatively dry from the waist up.
My pursuers arrive at the spot where the log stood only seconds earlier, panting and with sweat running on their faces, but they can’t reach me. I’m carried by the stream, moving away with a speed of about ten kilometers per hour. The watercourse here is relatively free of boulders, and they don’t have another log or a boat to stay close. I’m stirring the improvised craft with my hands and legs towards the other bank, only ten meters away. When I reach the middle, my speed increases to perhaps twelve kilometers per hour. On this uneven ground, the patrol can’t outrun me on the shore. They can’t even keep up with me. I turn towards my pursuers, smiling, and wave them a friendly goodbye. Then I shout:
“Thank you for coming by! I’ll see you later in Lucero, as a fellow master!”
Their disappointed looks say everything. They were so close to catching me, yet, they failed.

(to be continued...)

Books by Marian C. Ghilea:
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB

Image source: Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/creek-593146/