Spirit Tree of the Red Rocks: Future

by Clay, Verna

  Dr. Morningstar, however, had upset his orderly routine. She made him want things he knew he could never have. And now she was proclaiming unconditional love for him! It was more than he could take.

  He stomped forward until he stood in front of her, stopping her progress. He shouted, "I don't want you to ever talk to me like that again! You are grateful to me! You feel indebted to me! But you do not love me!"

  Her beautiful eyes transformed into blue flames when she responded, "If it makes you feel better, keep telling yourself that, but I spoke the truth. I. Love. You. Unconditionally."

  God help him, he wanted to jerk her into his arms and kiss her with a passion he had never felt. Instead, he turned away from her and continued following what remained of the fractured highway.

  Trailing behind Bren, Violet's gaze lovingly caressed him. If there was one thing she knew for certain, it was that she would never give up trying to break through the shell around his heart. She'd seen the flicker in his eyes when she'd spoken so passionately to him, and knowing the horrors he had endured made her all the more determined.

  Suddenly he stopped and she shifted her gaze beyond him. They had been walking gradually upward and now they were at the crest of a rise.

  She saw what he did and ran alongside him. In the distance was a red monolith rising like a beacon for them to follow. "We've reached the red rocks!" she exclaimed. Turning excitedly to Bren she said, "Frannie showed us the way!"

  Bren's previous ire seemed forgotten when he removed his sunglasses for a better look and replied, "Yes, she did. And you listened."

  29: Twinkle of Stars

  It took several hours to reach the monolith and as they came closer, other red giants came into view. The scene was astounding. Mother Nature had carved the most magnificent shapes into stone and Violet imagined animal forms and human faces, and when the light shifted the shapes morphed into other figures. In her imagination the rocks lived and breathed and called to her, just as they had when she had lived Frannie's life.

  Also, the closer they came, the more she recognized the general topography. Certain landmarks had eroded and were difficult to distinguish, but there were enough remaining so that she knew where she was in relation to the valley.

  She pointed and said, "See that rock shaped somewhat like a bell."

  "Yes."

  "We should start walking that direction."

  Bren also pointed. "And see that line of shrubs that are greener than the others, there may be water there."

  Violet shielded her eyes and exclaimed, "It could be the creek that leads to the valley and the Spirit Tree."

  "There's only one way to find out. Let's go."

  Violet followed Bren until they indeed reached a creek. Bren said, "I've got to test the water for safety." He slipped off his backpack, unzipped a pocket to remove a small pouch, and then pulled a thin strip of paper out of it. He dipped the paper in the water. It turned green. Inhaling, he said, "We're good. The water is safe."

  Violet squealed, dropped her backpack, removed her sunglasses, and freed her head and face from its wrap. Although shallow and red with mud, the water felt wonderful when she knelt and splashed her face. Soon, she had stripped down to her tunic to bathe her arms. Bren had moved some distance from her and was bare-chested. She kept glancing in his direction noting the many scars crisscrossing his powerful body. Her previous joy turned to sorrow in seeing how much he had suffered. She sat at the edge of the water, lifted her knees to her chest, and laid her head on them. She heard Bren walk toward her but kept her face averted and her eyes closed. She heard him kneel in front of her.

  "Look at me, Violet," he commanded.

  Slowly she lifted her head and stared into his pale eyes.

  He said, "Most of my body parts are not original to my conception." He pointed to a scar encircling his shoulder. "This arm belonged to a clone." He pointed to his elbow on the opposite arm. "This elbow is mechanical, as are most of my joints."

  She touched the scar on his cheek and he almost smiled. He said, "That's the only scar of my own making. I got it while cage fighting." He paused and then said something that made her gasp. "My heart is also mechanical."

  She couldn't remove her eyes from his. The sadness and torment she saw was more than she could bear and she squeezed her eyes shut.

  He misunderstood her reaction because he said, "I'm glad you finally understand that I'm a monster—a creation of evil men. It would have been better if they'd let me die like the others."

  Violet jerked her eyes open and slowly reached toward the scar over his heart. Placing her hand on top of it, she said, "No. You misunderstood me. If anything, my respect, and yes, my love, only deepens. You are not a monster. You are a man. And perhaps someday you will believe me and accept the love I freely give you."

  Bren exhaled sharply, made an unintelligible sound, and stalked away. He put his shirt back on and said harshly, "Get dressed, Violet. It's time to go."

  They followed the river for maybe a half mile before it disappeared beneath an outcropping of rocks. Saddened that the water was now flowing underground, Violet said, "Maybe it will reappear the closer we come to the valley where Frannie lived."

  By nightfall they were surrounded by red cliffs and Violet felt a surge of hope. While Bren set about making camp, she turned in a circle and said with excitement, "Although everything has changed, this feels right. I know we're almost there!"

  Bren pulled their water containers and food sticks from their packs and said, "You've had a long day. Drink some water and eat."

  Absentmindedly, Violet accepted his offering and continued studying the rocks, shrubs, and weeds.

  Glancing at Bren she was surprised to see one of his rare smiles. He motioned toward her sleeping bag. "Please sit down and rest. In fact, you can describe what the land once looked like while you eat."

  "You sound like you're a believer in dreams, Bren."

  He shrugged. "Sit down, Violet, before I personally assist you down."

  Violet had an inclination to tease him by refusing, but the genuine concern in his eyes made her heart race and she didn't want to mar the moment. She sat, sipped her water, and ate her tasteless food bar. Pushing strands of hair out of her face, she lifted her eyes to the darkening night and the twinkling stars making their appearance. "In my dreams the vegetation was lush with pine, oak, cottonwood, and cypress trees. Wildflowers covered the valley in the spring. Varieties of shrubs dotted the landscape and clumps of different grasses grew not only in meadows, but out of cracks in the rocks. Eagles, ravens, sparrows, woodpeckers, and such a variety of birds one could not count them, happily soared above the cliffs or in the valley. Wolves, chipmunks, squirrels, even bears roamed freely. The valley was an Eden." She glanced at Bren to see his reaction. He seemed mesmerized by her account.

  Not wanting him to return to his dour mood she quickly continued, "And even though nature was beautiful in all her magnificence, there was something even grander."

  Sitting cross-legged in front of her, Bren leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees, resting his chin in his hands.

  Violet smiled sweetly. "Greater than everything was the love abiding in the valley—Frannie's love for her family, their love for her, the Indians' love for Frannie and her family, their love for the Indians—and nothing could destroy that love; not even death." She glanced back at the stars. "When I look at the heavens I see Frannie's love returned endlessly in the sparkle of the stars." She returned her gaze to Bren and spoke honestly. "When I was brought out of cryogenics and saw what had happened to civilization, I became very depressed. I didn't want to live in a world that had become desensitized to love. I wanted to return to cryogenics with the hope of once again living in this valley in a dream. I wanted to be among family—my family—as myself." She paused with her eyes glued to his. "And then I saw you. The first time was when you were standing outside my hospital room and the second was in the marketplace, and I thought you were the most magni
ficent man I had ever laid eyes on. Something in your eyes captured my heart."

  Bren said low, "Violet, don't. We can’t go down that road again."

  She lowered her gaze to the ground. "You're right. It's not possible to make someone see what they can't or aren't ready to see." She cast one last glance at the sky and said, "The truth is written in the stars. Goodnight Bren."

  30: Searching

  Throughout the next two weeks, Violet tried to determine where the Spirit Tree would have once stood according to landmarks, and although she felt like they were close, there was nothing definitive to help in their search. The topography was much changed after fifteen hundred years.

  Something they did accomplish, however, was setting up a base camp with the two small tents and supplies Bren had retrieved before leaving the compound. The weather was warm during the day, but a change of season was in the air as the evenings cooled. As for their water supply, they were not in danger of running out of it anytime soon. They had chanced upon another section of creek flowing aboveground, and after Bren used his water kit to strain sediments, the water was potable. Their main concern was running out of food sticks as each day passed without locating the Spirit Tree. With no visitations from Frannie, Violet became concerned. She had been so sure the tree was there. And if they found it; what then? Frannie had not given her instructions about what to do. And when viewed from a logical perspective, how could a tree help the earth and its inhabitants? Perhaps Bren had been right in his skepticism.

  During their second week they began scaling the surrounding ridges. Violet was convinced that if she could find the crest where Raven Sees had encountered Frannie, she could reestablish her bearings. They reached the summit of the ridge they were currently exploring and Violet walked to the edge. She removed her sunglasses and placed a hand over her eyes to shield them from the bright sunlight as she scanned the area below. It seemed familiar, but she couldn't be sure. Glancing around the bluff, she didn't see the large boulders that Frannie had sat behind and her heart plummeted.

  Bren, standing to the left of her at the other edge of the bluff, motioned her over. She sighed and went to join him. She said, "Honestly, I don't know if this is the pinnacle or not."

  He pointed downward and she moved her gaze to some boulders. He said, "It looks like part of the ridge has shifted."

  Violet's mouth dropped and she said excitedly, "Can you see the other side of that outcropping?"

  "No."

  "We've got to get down there!"

  Bren studied her face. "Does the shape of the rocks seem familiar?"

  She bit her bottom lip. "I'm not sure, but I might recognize it from the other side."

  Bren pursed his lips. "Okay. But let me go first. I'll check it out and come back for you." He hammered a stake into the ground and then lifted the rope attached to his belt. After securing the rope, he easily lowered his body to the floor of the fallen shelf. He moved to the opposite side of the boulders and called, "There's a large flat space!"

  Violet's body tingled with anticipation. Maybe they were finally making progress. In her excitement she shifted from one foot to the other waiting for Bren's return. When he reached her again he shook his head and almost smiled. She said with mock irritation. "It's okay; laugh at me. I know this might be for nothing, but anticipation is a wonderful emotion and I can't stand still."

  He chuckled. "Dr. Morningstar, your anticipation is contagious."

  Bren secured the rope to Violet and eased her to the ledge. He said, "The ground is slippery with loose gravel so be careful and wait for me."

  "Okay." When he was beside her, she followed him around the boulders to a flat area and studied the backside of the outcropping. Closing her eyes, she visualized her life as Frannie in this place. She remembered something and opened her eyes. She scanned the rocks again, looking for…" She gasped. "There it is!" She pointed. "I remembered a rock shaped like a bird on a branch, and there it is!"

  Bren knelt and placed his hand on the small shape. He met Violet's gaze. "Looks like it's been protected by the surrounding rocks, so it could have survived all these years."

  "It did survive! That's it. I'm sure of it."

  "Okay. Now that we're in a place you remember, let's go back and see if you can set some boundaries of where to search next."

  Back on the bluff, Violet again closed her eyes and envisioned the trail through trees leading down into the valley. She opened her eyes and motioned. "The trail was over there and it led to the creek. Then the creek led to the Spirit Tree."

  "How long once you were on the trail until you reached the tree?"

  "It was over an hour."

  "Okay. Let's head in that direction."

  31: Alone and Lost

  The remainder of the day was spent searching for the Spirit Tree to no avail. And when Violet saw their dwindling food supply that evening, she asked Bren, "How long until we have to return to the city?"

  His eyes reflected sympathy when he responded. "A week."

  Violet quickly turned her back to Bren so he couldn't see her distress.

  He said, "We can replenish our supplies and return."

  "And hope we don't get caught by the Secret Police," she sniffled.

  Bren came and stood beside her. "Is the indomitable Dr. Morningstar who navigated the refuse river, crawled through a tunnel, slept in a cave, discovered a rogue doctor, and led us to the red rocks against insurmountable odds, going soft on me?"

  She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I guess I am. Are you disappointed in me?"

  He placed his arm around her. "I could never be disappointed in you."

  She turned her face into his chest and murmured, "Thank you."

  They remained close for several minutes but when she turned her face upward to kiss him, he backed away and bade her good night.

  Through tears of heartbreak, Violet crawled into her tent and fell into an exhausted sleep. She heard Frannie's laughter. "Frannie! Where have you been? We've been searching everywhere for the Spirit Tree. We need your help."

  Frannie's laugh turned into a chuckle. "Violet, my sweet granddaughter, I appreciate your confidence, but everything you need is inside of you. You only have to listen."

  "But I've been doing that and it's led us on one unfruitful chase after another."

  "Dearest Violet, you've been listening with your head, not your heart."

  "But how do I listen with my heart?"

  "The same way you love Bren with your heart."

  "But-but–"

  "Violet, I've come to tell you something very important."

  Violet waited with a mixture of anticipation and dread for whatever Frannie had to say.

  Frannie sighed. "Child, this is the last time I will visit you. You have learned everything you need to know."

  "No!" Violet cried out. "Please don't leave me!"

  "Violet, I'm not leaving you. None of your family has ever left you. We're always with you. I'm just not visiting you in dreams anymore. Whenever you need me, close your eyes and whisper my name; you'll feel me in your heart. And one day you will join your family in a place of unfathomable beauty on the other side—a place of red rocks, beautiful streams, multitudes of animals, towering trees whose leaves sing in the breeze, and a family of many nationalities whose love is the building block of all that exists."

  "I want to go there now, Frannie."

  "No, my sweet, there is still much for you to do here. You must find the Spirit Tree and when you do, your young man will…" Her voice faded.

  "What, Frannie? What will Bren do?"

  "He will do the impossible. Goodbye my dear child. Always remember we love you."

  There was silence.

  "Frannie?"

  Silence.

  Violet woke and lifted wet lashes. Tears streamed down her cheeks because she felt so alone and lost.

  32: Magic

  For the next six days, Violet tried to cover her depression as she and Bren searched fo
r the Spirit Tree. Systematically, they began each day at the base of the cliff and walked in a different direction. The terrain was hilly and rocky, covered with shrubs and thorns, and had many outcroppings of boulders. The tree could be hidden anywhere.

  That evening Bren reminded her that they had to leave the next day. Before falling asleep, Violet begged Frannie to visit her again, but her sleep was only inhabited by nightmares illustrating her own shortcomings. When she awoke she was exhausted, distressed, and heartsick. Bren tried to encourage her by promising they would return.

  While she ate her sustenance bar she knew she had one last chance to find the Spirit Tree. She closed her eyes and remembered Frannie's words before her final parting.

  "Dearest Violet, you've been listening with your head, not your heart."

  "But how do I listen with my heart?"

  "The same way you love Bren with your heart."

  And also–

  "You must find the Spirit Tree and when you do, your young man will…"

  "What, Frannie? What will Bren do?"

  "He will do the impossible."

  Violet thought, Listen with your heart the same way you love Bren. In her mind's eye she saw Bren's gray eyes, his rare smile, and the scars marring his body. Then she peered beyond the physical realm into the emotional one. She saw the pain he wore like protective armor. She saw rejection and sorrow. She delved deeper into his soul and saw his convictions powered by the mistaken belief of his inadequacies formed by the cruelty imposed upon him. And finally, she reached into his spirit and saw his true essence: love, light, loyalty. She inhaled deeply and allowed herself to not only see him, but feel him. Feel his suffering, but more importantly, feel the love, light, and loyalty that were Bren. In an instant she suffered with him, but rose like the phoenix into his spirit. And in that instant she knew that the Spirit Tree would free him.