17
ON THE NIGHT OF JONAS AND MARIA’S funeral, a strange occurrence took place. The sun never went down. The citizens of Kolkaper stood on the doorsteps of their houses, waiting for night to arrive. Their legs became weary and so they sat on the doorsteps and waited. The sun showed no signs of departing.
‘Go sun,’ one citizen said. ‘Go away.’
‘Stubborn light,’ another said.
The inhabitants didn’t know what to do – this had never happened before. Some stores accidently stayed open longer than usual because they thought it was still afternoon and not night. The children were excited because they weren’t told to go to bed. ‘How can we send them off to bed?’ one parent asked. ‘The sun is beaming through the curtains like lightning.’
The stray dogs and cats all looked up with their tails raised and their tongues out, wondering when the streets would be dark and quiet and ready for their lurking. The crickets, wanting so badly to chirp, couldn’t be a nuisance – they too were confused.
It was now midnight and the citizens were becoming cranky and grumpy. No one was nice to each other. No one could really even speak anymore. They were either scared or shocked; no one was amused. Around one in the morning, there was an impromptu town meeting at the Centre Square. Here, Rinja and the Council discussed with the citizens what they ought to do.
‘We can cover the town with a huge blanket,’ one person said.
‘Is there a way we can all go temporarily blind?’ another asked.
‘If I can’t sleep,’ one citizen said. ‘How will I be able to water my plants in the morning?’
There was disorder and constant bursts of outrage and frustration. Rinja was at a loss.
‘This must be the doing of the Forest,’ someone shouted.
‘Forest,’ Rinja whispered to himself.
He hurried off without saying a word to the rest of the Council – and they were left arguing with the townspeople.
March sat in the kitchen of the Faccinises’ house and enjoyed the stubborn sun. Four days had passed since Jonas and Maria’s funeral. Four days had passed since the sun had refused to go away. The problem of not being able to sleep wasn’t new to her, nor a hassle. There was a knock on the door and when she opened it, she saw two aged men with long grey beards. They each wore tattered top hats and held splintered canes. Their lab coats had holes in them and the sleeves were unravelling as the threads had become loose. Their spectacles had broken flames and each set of glasses was missing a glass. They looked at each other and then at March.
‘We are Larry and Rezna,’ they said.
‘Which one is Larry and which one is Rezna?’ March asked.
They pointed at each other and said the other’s name.
‘And what can I do for your?’ March asked.
‘It has been too long,’ Rezna said.
‘Times have changed,’ Larry said. ‘People have changed.’
‘Do I know you?’ March asked.
‘I know you,’ Rezna said.
‘I know you,’ Larry said.
‘We know you,’ they said at the same time.
‘We are scientists,’ Larry said.
‘I should be afraid of you,’ March said. ‘No matter. You can’t do anything now, being as aged as crocodiles.’
‘We come with good intentions,’ Rezna said. ‘Rinja,
the head of the Council, has sent us here.’
‘Just like the first time,’ Larry said.
‘But this time, we are humbled beggars,’ Rezna said. ‘And not myopic enemies.’
March invited them in. They went to the kitchen, where she offered tea to the ragged-looking scientists. They politely said no, as their nerves, their health, were not in good shape due to the lack of night and rest.
‘We now know the life you live,’ Larry said.
‘We now have seen the world through your eyes,’ Rezna said.
‘A lot has changed since we held you in our arms so long ago,’ they said at the same time.
‘Help,’ Larry said.
‘Us,’ Rezna said.
‘Please,’ they said at the same time.
The scientists and Rinja had met, discussing possible ways of making the sun go down and they believed that March would be the best chance to rid the town of this curse. Rinja knew where this trouble came from.
‘It is a curse from Jonas and Maria,’ he had said to the scientists. ‘With their deaths, they have left a parting gift
– a gift of scorn.’
The scientists agreed.
‘We deserve it,’ they all said. ‘We must be forgiven. We must correct our faults.’
Both Larry and Rezna had stepped forward, saying they would approach March because they were the ones who had acted as a catalyst for the Faccinises’ demise and March’s departure to Koofay.
‘So here we are now,’ Larry said to March.
‘Will you help us?’ Rezna said.
March looked at the nest, resting on two branches that were jutting into the kitchen. She looked at the tea kettle on the stove and a painting of Jonas and Maria on the wall next to the cupboard.
‘Meet me at the market in three hours,’ March said.
‘When the sun is supposed to set,’ Rezna said.
The two scientists each put one of their hands on March’s shoulder. They bowed their heads and remained speechless. It was their way of saying thank you.
18
MARCH FELT GLORIOUS. SHE STOOD AT the market, looking at the sun, she felt something inside, a spectacular sensation she hadn’t felt before. There were only three other people there – Rinja and the two scientists. They stood a few feet away from her and faced the sun. March wore a long white gown; it was Maria’s wedding dress. There was a strong wind coming from the ocean and the dress fluttered in the wind, making her look like some kind of beautiful ghost. She didn’t acknowledge the three men’s presence, but stared at the sun with her head slightly tilting to the side. She was in a daze – she was awake and dreaming. When the spectacular feeling and the glorious sensation inside of her was in perfect harmony with the world, she opened her mouth.
This was her enlightenment.
My dear world,
This is the song of the sea,
Listen with your eyes closed,
Listen with your lonely sighs,
And let this voice carry you away.
This is the song of the sea,
Sad and soothing,
Let it carry you away
To where the world turns
And reverses itself to another time.
My dear world,
This is the song of the sea,
Listen with your eyes closed,
Listen with your lonely sighs,
And let this voice carry you away.
Oh ocean, oh birds,
Wave and chirp and hear me now,
We will sleep and dream
And we will let ourselves go.
My dear world,
This is the song of the sea,
Listen with your eyes closed,
Listen with your lonely sighs,
And let this voice carry you away.
Come on moon, come on sun,
This is the sad song of the sea,
Lift your heads and rest your chins,
And let my voice guide you to your pillows,
We will all feel better in the morning.
My dear world,
This is the song of the sea,
Listen with your eyes closed,
Listen with your lonely sighs,
And let this voice carry you away.
Together, all, we will travel and see,
From one land to another,
From one sea to a new horizon,
And there will be adventure and love,
And there will be a new life for us all.
My dear world,
This is the song of the sea,
Listen with your eyes closed,
&n
bsp; Listen with your lonely sighs,
And let this voice carry you away.
March sang the song of the sea eight times before the sun started to move. Rinja and the two scientists had fallen asleep standing. They had already closed their eyes during the second song. The whole town was asleep as March’s voice boomed through Kolkaper. It was the loudest March had sung – she used all of her might. She used ever muscle in her body and her lungs were performing at full capacity, even beyond full capacity. Her voice was strong enough to sing the sun to sleep. It looked tired as it went down, almost drooping over itself – just as the three men’s heads were drooping over their shoulders. March kept singing and night came, and the town was dark. The stars came out and shone brightly because there were no clouds to cover them.
March tapped Rinja’s shoulder. Rinja tapped Larry’s shoulder. Larry tapped Rezna’s shoulder. They were all awake. They looked for the sun, but it was gone. They all smiled and turned to March.
‘We are forever grateful,’ Rinja said.
‘Kolkaper can now sleep again,’ March said.
Larry and Rezna each put one of their hands on March’s shoulder and bowed their heads.
‘You’re welcome,’ March said.
‘I am sorry,’ Larry said.
‘I am sorry,’ Rezna said. March turned to Rinja.
‘There will be no more tests,’ March said. ‘And children will not be taken away from their parents.’
The two scientists nodded their heads.
‘Never again,’ Rinja said. ‘We have made mistakes and we now understand the importance of variety – of what we don’t know or aren’t accustomed to.’
‘The Cave Forest will no longer be a cave,’ March said. ‘It will be respected. It will be welcomed.’
‘We completely agree,’ Rinja said. ‘There’s much to be learnt and no longer will Cave Forest be shunned.’
The three men went back to their homes. March walked back to the Faccinises’ house. She lay in bed and closed her eyes. It was the first time she felt exhausted, but as soon as she closed her eyes, they opened again. She realized that this would be her life – a life where her eyes would always be open except when they blinked.
19
THE MORNING AFTER THE SUN HAD GONE down, March bathed and then went for a walk around Kolkaper. The townspeople all greeted and welcomed her. Some hugged her, others shook her hand or gave her gifts. They all thanked her.
‘This morning I woke up and my hair was all messed up and I smiled,’ one person said.
‘My morning tea felt like morning tea,’ another said.
‘I was late to work today and it was great,’ said another.
‘Thank you,’ they all said together.
March kept walking and found herself heading for the Forest. As she arrived at the edge of it, she saw Raj standing there. He ran to her and grabbed her hand.
‘Welcome,’ he said.
They walked through the Forest until they reached the centre, where March saw a whole new world. The trees were oak and willow and sycamore. Their branches were decorated with shiny ornaments, causing the Forest to sparkle and from this sparkle, music was made – it hummed throughout.
‘Just like another town,’ Raj said.
There were markets, houses and offices. People walked to and fro, going about their daily business.
As they walked into the town, she saw the talents of Cave Forest. A small girl in the market was creating beautiful furniture. A baby, who was in a small cradle, was making a candle.
‘He can’t talk,’ Raj said. ‘But he’s great with wax.’
March felt comfortable in the Cave Forest. She couldn’t understand why the people of Kolkaper thought this was a place to be shunned. She thought that it was quite the opposite.
‘This is all so beautiful,’ she said.
On that same day, March decided to live in the Forest.
20
IT TOOK MARCH FOUR MONTHS TO MOVE TO and settle in the Forest. She built a house with the help of Raj and the girl who could make furniture. Mr Thenly helped too. On the dresser in her room, she kept the box of letters written by Jonas. There was also a photograph of the Armers and next to it was a bronze bangle and a pack of diapers.
She became a biology teacher for the younger students at the local school, while practising to become a doctor. She wanted to open her own practice, not only for the Forest, but for people from across the world. She also coached football teams and helped children deal with their nightmares. From time to time, she would visit Kolkaper, for she still took care of the Faccinises’ house, where the bird family still lived in the kitchen.
Mr Thenly’s wife, Bornea, passed away happily, while making toast for breakfast. He and his wife never lived together in Kolkaper – because they did not want to. They were too accustomed to loving each other in secrecy and they kept it that way. Bornea died with a smile as she thought about her son. Raj was on his way to becoming quite a successful businessman. His skirts sold throughout the world and his sunglasses were becoming more and more popular. He was also a part of the Forest Council, the youngest member, and he had made strong connections with Kolkaper – so strong that the citizens of Kolkaper would visit the markets of Cave Forest and Kolkaper would welcome the inhabitants of Cave Forest with no hesitation. The two lands blended with each other and there was no longer any enmity between the Forest and Kolkaper.
The Forest also gained one more inhabitant. Without telling March, Mario went to Kolkaper in search of her. After years of selling oranges in the market and cleaning the countertop at the café, he had saved enough money to move. Mr Thenly, in the final days of driving his carriage, took him around and showed him the city. He knew he was going to die soon, because his wife had recently passed away.
‘Lovers,’ he said. ‘We must go hand in hand – just like the seagull and the urn.’ On the last day of his life, he told Mario where March was living. ‘Travel to Cave Forest. There, in the centre of the city, you will find the ocean meeting the sky.’
His last breath drew his carriage to a stop. Mr Thenly died without any wrinkles on his skin. His horses would mourn for him for a week by refraining from eating carrots. Mario went to the Forest to take Mr Thenly home to his son and to find March. He found Raj’s office and told him of his father’s death.
‘This is good grief,’ Raj said.
He thanked Mario and turned back to his father, who lay on the office desk.
‘My father,’ Raj said. ‘Thank you for your kindness and these veins of mine.’
Before he left, Mario asked him if he knew where March was staying.
‘A good season for oranges,’ Raj said.
He found the market and saw March buying oranges. She had dropped a few of them and was crawling on the ground to pick them up. Mario walked up to her, but so engaged was she in picking up the oranges that March didn’t see him.
‘Hello,’ Mario said.
He started to sing to her. March looked up and felt the goosebumps on the inside of her skin.
About the Author
Shome Dasgupta is the author of I Am Here And You Are Gone (Winner Of The 2010 OW Press Fiction Chapbook Contest), and The Seagull And The Urn (HarperCollins India, 2013) / The Sea Singer (Accent Press, 2016). His stories and poems have appeared in Puerto Del Sol, New Orleans Review, NANO Fiction, Everyday Genius, Magma Poetry, and elsewhere. His fiction has been selected to appear in The & Now Awards 2: The Best Innovative Writing (& Now Books, 2013). His work has been featured as a South Million Writers Award Notable Story, nominated for The Best Of The Net, and longlisted for the Wigleaf Top 50. He lives in Lafayette, LA and his website can be found at www.shomedome.com.
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Published by Accent Press Ltd 2016
ISBN 9781910939222
Copyright © Shome Dasgupta 2016
First published in India by Harper Collins 2013
Original Illustrations by Kat Harris
The right of Shome Dasgupta to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The Sea Singer Page 10