First Cycle - Spring

by Sarah Kassem

  Viktor nodded, took a deep breath, whispered “Ossu” and entered the square. It was empty and deserted, no one was there. A few yellow and red leaves swept across the open space.

  Cristobal directed him to a bench and sat down. “Now we wait,” he said. Viktor wrung his hands together, wishing he had his asthma inhaler while watching a few leaves dance about the square.

  Eventually, he saw many eagles and hawks hover and other very large birds land in the square and on the backs of the benches to the left of them. The trees around the square came alive and were suddenly covered with large ravens and crows and jackdaws and magpies. He heard several crows and hundreds of roosters as they came and stood in a circle around the rounded square. He saw a lot of yellow and blue small birds, much more than he could ever count, who also settled in the trees. Budgies, suspected Viktor. He had never seen budgies, but he knew of them. The eagles looked aggressively from left to right, the falcons remaining rigidly straight-backed. A huge flock of pigeons came flying in and scattered all over the square till the whole floor was coloured grey. Lots of owls followed, a few sat on the free places in the trees while the others remained in the air. The largest group followed in which there were many small brown birds. Sparrows, suspected Viktor. Viktor had never in his life seen so many birds at once, not even in a zoo. The sky was also filled with fluttering animals and Viktor was amazed to see that there were other hummingbirds, all of which floated on the spot. Cristobal murmured: “Don’t be afraid!”

  Once it seemed all the birds had arrived, a leaden silence fell over the square. The birds on the ground had fallen into formation according to not only size, but also rank and file. In the middle they allowed for a narrow corridor. A large duck came flying in and circled the square chattering loudly. The raptors responded with a shriek. Then the roosters crowed with a collective voice. When they had finished, the blackbirds in the trees followed. After the owls hooted and the pigeons cooed and finally the sparrows and parakeets squawked. The duck flew down and settled at the forefront of the formation, near the narrow corridor. It was quiet again and Viktor saw a little blue bird circle the place before landing on the pavement and then walk down the corridor which led to where Viktor and Cristobal were seated. The birds were all motionless and silent, staring straight ahead.

  “That’s James, a kingfisher. He’s a king,” Cristobal whispered in Viktor’s ear. “Stand up!”

  Viktor stood, Cristobal flew up and landed to stand on the pavement and wait until the kingfisher came to them both.

  “Your Majesty, King James, Advanced Scout Cristobal reporting Viktor Abies as ordered,” Cristobal said quickly and smartly.

  “At ease,” the kingfisher said softly and all the birds relaxed together. Viktor didn’t relax and didn’t know what to do.

  The kingfisher flew up and hovered in front of Viktor to examine his face.

  “Hello Viktor,” the kingfisher said in a deep, sonorous voice.

  “Hello. Good evening,” said Viktor. Adding hurriedly, “Your Majesty.”

  “Did Advanced Scout Cristobal inform you as to the reason you are here?” The kingfisher asked.

  Viktor nodded, though besides meeting the Reptiles Association he had no real idea why he was there.

  Viktor thought the kingfisher was beautiful. His head and back were of a particularly impressive neon-blue and his chest was a deep brown-red. He had an elongated beak, round little button eyes and he fluttered elegantly in the air.

  “The Reptiles Association Against Sola Fida expressed an interest in meeting you three days ago at our conference in Galiläeo. The request was put forth legally, publically and in our presence. As such we could not refuse them their desire. Thus, here we are,” the kingfisher said.

  Viktor nodded.

  “I’m James, son of Joseph, third vice-leader of the community and a member of the Imperial Guard of the League of Birds.”

  Viktor stared at the bird. When he said nothing more, Viktor suspected that it was his turn to speak, so he said: “I am Viktor Abies, son of Helena and Immanuel Abies and I live here.” Then he added: “I’m eight years old and in the third grade.”

  The kingfisher bowed his head then moved on. A little sparrow came flying up to him and chirped some information. The kingfisher said something to the sparrow and the sparrow flew to the duck and said something to her. The duck then flew up and quacked and the remaining birds in the square froze and remained standing frozen, staring blankly ahead. Cristobal flew back to Viktor’s shoulder and whispered excitedly: “They’re coming.”

  Viktor held his breath and craned his neck, but he couldn’t see anything. He thought he would faint, and his stomach felt like a hard lump of stone.

  “They’re here!” whispered Cristobal and Viktor felt his heart thundering in his ears.

  Then he saw them.

  A giant turtle, flanked by a tiny yellow snake and the lizard that had been sitting in Viktor’s shoe, appeared behind the formation and headed down the corridor of birds toward Viktor. It took a while for them to cross the square because the turtle walked very slowly, and the snake slithered along slowly, and finally the lizard too came along slowly, one foot after the other.

  When they finally reached Viktor, they stopped three steps away from him and looked up.

  Cristobal hovered in the air at eye level with the turtle and said quickly to all of the reptiles:

  “Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice Chairman, Mr. CEO: The League of Birds hereby notify the Reptiles Association Against Sola Fide that their stated desired to meet Viktor Abies has thus been fulfilled.”

  The turtle chuckled and looked good-naturedly at Cristobal. “Hi James,” it said to the kingfisher, who was standing stiffly next to the duck with a hostile expression.

  “Oh yes, the League is always so formal and correct,” the turtle said and looked around. “Admirable,” it sighed. Its big, kind eyes wandered around, taking in all the birds. “Everyone so well presented, very impressive.”

  It sighed again. “How unfortunate though. This whole intimidating demeanor was not at all necessary. We only requested an informal, unofficial conversation after all. For example there are three of us, without an escort and thus defenseless and exposed. I would think this would present itself as a vote of confidence. Yet it is still a pity that only the third deputy of the League could make it,” the turtle said with a sideways glance at James. “I would have thought it more pleasing if his honour Matthew could have joined us tonight. At the least Luke. But well, so be it.”

  The turtle looked up at Viktor and smiled.

  “Hello Mr. Abies, I’ve heard so much about you. I think you’ve met my deputy, this is Edison.” The turtle nodded toward the lizard, who bowed his head and said in his languid way: “Good evening, Mr. Abies.”

  “This is my C.E.O, Newton,” said the turtle, pointing to the tiny, yellow snake. The snake beamed up at Viktor with a big smile and said, “Good evening, Mr. Abies.”

  “And I’m Charles. I am a Galapagos turtle and Chairman of the Reptiles Association Against Sola Fide.” He smiled at Viktor who found he couldn’t help it: he found Charles very nice. He reminded him a little of Rocco’s mother with his kindness and shriveled face.

  “Do not be afraid, Mr. Abies. We come with nothing but peaceful intentions and want only to get to know you. You may sit down if you wish,” said the turtle.

  Cristobal whispered “Sit down!” and Viktor sat down on the bench.

  “How old are you, Mr. Abies?” asked the turtle.

  “Eight,” said Viktor.

  “Oh, then you are already big! Are you therefore at school?”

  “Yes. I’m in the third grade.”

  “How wonderful, the third grade! Do you like going to school?”

  Viktor nodded. He was still nervous, but it was proving to be not as terrible as he had imagined.

  “What are your favorite subjects?”

  Viktor thought then said, “Biology and sports.”

 
“That’s wonderful. I’m very pleased. Biology is a wonderful and a very useful subject. Revealing and enlightening. Wouldn’t you agree, Edison?”

  The lizard nodded.

  “What is your favourite sport then Viktor?”

  He thought about it and said, “I like karate and running. And I like football.”

  “Excellent, excellent! Is that not wonderful, Newton?”

  The snake nodded and beamed as if it were the most wonderful thing that he had ever heard in his entire life.

  Viktor smiled back. He found the little yellow snake very pretty. His skin shimmered and sparkled in the light of the street lamps.

  “How are your parents?” asked the turtle.

  Viktor hesitated for a moment and said, “Good.”

  “What do they do?”

  Viktor didn’t really know what to say and looked anxiously at the reptiles.

  The turtle chuckled. “What are their jobs, Viktor?”

  “My mother sews and my father is... he builds microscopes,” Viktor replied.

  “That’s wonderful, I am pleased. Both are very honorable professions. What do you want to be when you are older, Mr Abies?”

  “A karate teacher,” Viktor replied.

  Charles laughed, Newton and Edison laughed along with him. “That’s a good idea,” Newton said and curled into a spiral. “Physical education is a brilliant thing. The best thing for a boy like you!”

  Charles nodded his large, heavy head. “Yes, that’s right. Health is invaluable. Always make sure you keep healthy, Mr. Abies. That’s very important.”

  Viktor looked from Newton to Charles and back to Newton, and they all nodded.

  “So you are a local here, a native?” asked Charles.

  “Yes,” Viktor replied then he thought about it and added. “My grandpa lives in Salix Alba and my mother lived there as well, then she came here.”

  “Fantastic,” nodded the turtle.

  “How long have you had contact with the League of Birds?” Edison asked.

  The kingfisher flew forward from his perch on the back of the bench and shouted: “I declare the conversation now at an end.”

  “Mr. James, the highest ranks of the Reptiles Association have come all this way this evening to meet with you and get to know Mr. Abies,” Edison replied irritably. “And then you deny us the conversation with him that was promised?”

  “Viktor is our area of responsibility and we decide with whom he can talk and with whom he can not,” James said in an icy tone.

  “Yet the League sends its third deputy as well as almost the entire local army in order to demonstrate not only an insult to us, but also to express what seems to be some kind of a threat. I must say, your aggressiveness and manipulation is a hindrance to cooperation and our peaceful cohabitation. Furthermore, the systematic character assassination that is continuously employed against us is both a farce and an offense, both of which are utterly unacceptable,” Edison said.

  “That’s enough! League: break ranks,” cried James as he flapped his wings furiously.

  “Enough!” Charles announced before the birds had time to react to the order. “Please enough! I ask you, gentlemen, please. Enough.”

  “No! We do not have to put up with your insults,” cried James.

  “We did not want to offend you. If we did in any way then we apologise. Do we not, Edison?” said Charles.

  Edison bowed his head. “I apologize and express that I may have been taken out of context and appeared misleading in what I said.”

  “Either way, this meeting is canceled. We are now leaving,” announced the kingfisher.

  “James,” Charles said soothingly, “let a rift not come between us. The League and ourselves have a long history that goes back very far. We are brothers after all, you are our sister group. The Archaeopteryx...”

  “No,” shouted the kingfisher, and all the birds cried out together, it was such a terrible noise and occurred so suddenly that Viktor put his hands to his ears and ducked his head.

  “No,” James shouted again. “There will be no more talking!”

  “But we all have the same ancestors and that you can not deny, James. We are brothers, we should...”

  “No, we do not have the same ancestors,” roared the kingfisher. “How dare you, how dare you?” James let out a long scream, and the roosters crowed angrily, the birds of prey flew up and circled around the square, the pigeons fluttered excitedly with their wings and the black birds shrieked deafeningly. The owls flew up and readied themselves to pounce on the reptiles.

  “Depart,” shouted the kingfisher. “Retreat!”

  All the birds took off and the sky was a mass of feathers and wings.

  Viktor was consumed with such fear that he dropped to the floor and crawled under the bench.

  “Viktor,” Cristobal shouted at him. “Go! Run home! I’ll come when this is over. Go! Run!”

  Viktor stood up and took one last look at the turtle, the snake and the lizard.

  Then he turned and ran as fast as he could, as fast as was possible.

  Nucellus

  Viktor performed the Sun Salutation then sat down and tried to control his mind, thinking of the five elements as Angh Park had instructed them to do for homework. Viktor said the names of the elements aloud: Mu, Huo, Tu, Jin, Shui.

  Wood, fire, earth, metal, water.

  “Mu, Huo, Tu, Jin, Shui,” he whispered several times.

  During their warm-up run, after Angh Park had lectured them on the five elements, the karate instructor had made the boys loudly sing out the words while running 20 rounds, doing so to ensure that each memorized all five.

  Angh Park had said that a true sensei, a real sempai, a real master of karate, must not only know how to fight, but must also know all the rules of Dō. Though he then took time to explain those rules, Viktor found he did not understand anything. The only thing he knew was that it is important to not only run and perform karate moves, but also to dominate Dō and therefore to control the mind. Anything additional to that he didn’t really grasp. Thankfully, judging by their confused expressions, neither did the others in the class. Especially when Angh Park began to talk about Eastern philosophy, Yin and Yang, I Ching, Tao Te Ching and other exotic stuff that made no sense.

  Finally, Angh Park had talked about the five elements, and this had been something that Viktor had understood. Everything in the world is made of the five elements, every person and every tree and every house. As such karate too is made of the five elements and each movement has a different element.

  Earth-movements are stable, firm and strong. Your stance is that of a rock and the enemy cannot move you. Water movements are fluid, they glide and confuse the enemy and allow you time to look at everything and think and observe. At the same time you are everywhere and nowhere and strong and uncontrollable like a wave. Fire movements are dynamic, active and determined, and, when performed correctly, offer the opponent no chance. Angh Park told them all to think about the Five Elements when they were at home and to ensure that they understood and learnt each by heart. Once this was achieved then they should perform a movement for each element, making sure as they did so that they thought about the meaning of that element and how it affected the movement.

  Viktor therefore sat on his carpet, closed his eyes, and tried to control his mind by thinking about water, metal, wood, fire and earth. He hadn’t really understood wood and metal, so instead he concentrated on water, fire and earth in order to determine which element was best.

  There was a knock at his window. Viktor sat in motionless silence, hoping that Cristobal might not notice he was there. He hadn’t seen the hummingbird since the night with the reptiles and the truth was he didn’t really want to see him either. He was scared and didn’t want to know any more about reptiles or birds. In fact he wanted to have nothing to do with any of them anymore. Instead he wanted to control his spirit, to think about the elements and then later perform a few Sun Salutations before goi
ng to sleep. Nothing more.

  There was another knock and Viktor thought about the water element and tried to imagine a wave and how he himself was a wave. He had read in his children’s encyclopedia about giant waves that were called tsunamis. These waves were as large as multi-storey houses and they could swallow an entire city and all the cars and people and trees. Viktor was creeped out by that. But at the same time he secretly thought it was also very, very cool. Still, even with that in mind he was glad that Hedera Helix was not by the sea.

  He heard another knock, this one louder than the last.

  Viktor sighed, stood up and walked to the window. He pulled the curtain aside carefully and saw Cristobal hovering in the midst of a group of magpies.

  “Viktor! Open the window! What’s going on?” Cristobal shouted through the window pane.

  Reluctantly Viktor opened the window a crack and let Cristobal fly into the room.

  “Why didn’t you answer me?” panted Cristobal as he lay down on the bed.

  “I’m sorry. I was in the living room, I didn’t hear you,” Viktor said.

  “I saw your shadow through the curtains. You were sitting on the floor,” Cristobal said reproachfully with a frown.

  Viktor shrugged his shoulders sheepishly.

  “Don’t you want to be my friend anymore?” Cristobal asked tearfully.

  “No, it’s just…,” Viktor said.

  “Then why didn’t you want to see me?”

  Viktor stared at a piece of lint on the carpet and moved it back and forth with his big toe.

  “If you want, I’ll go and never come back,” Cristobal said.

  “No,” Viktor said.

  “If I go,” Cristobal continued, “then I’ll take the magpies and all the other birds with me and there’ll be no one left to look after you when the reptiles come. The crocodiles and alligators and cobras and pythons and...”

  “I don’t want you to go,” Viktor said, annoyed.

  Cristobal flew up and hugged Viktor with his little wings.