“Tozar!” she exclaimed and tugged his sleeve.
“Our communal center!” he answered proudly.
The sloping roofs of the buildings gleamed so brightly in the sunshine that Rhuna squinted. Below the shining tops, she saw wooden walls with many windows and poles set atop a foundation of large and solid stones.
“The roofs have gold panelling,” said Tozar, seeing Rhuna’s mesmerized stare. “Gold is a greatly desired element, beautiful to behold and vitalizing to the soul.”
.
A commotion of enthusiastic shouts finally distracted her from the dazzling gold rooftops. The boat had been moored along a jetty opposite the splendid communal center.
“We bid you heartfelt welcome! Welcome to Medíz!” shouted several people in unison while opening their arms wide above their heads as if to embrace the entire boat. She saw several Masters in white robes standing along the jetty, and several brown-skinned people in colourful clothes among them.
“Alight from your journey and take rest!” called one of the Masters, gesturing everyone to walk across a short wooden gangway that had been placed between the ship and the jetty. Tozar took Rhuna’s hand and firmly guided her off the boat alongside him.
“Soother of the Seas, I greet you warm-heartedly!” Tozar exclaimed as he reached out his arm to grab the welcoming Master’s outstretched hand. They shook each other’s hands exuberantly several times while expressing gladness to see each other again. Rhuna had never seen such a happy greeting, and she wondered how many people Tozar knew.
“I may introduce Rhuna,” Tozar said as his hand gracefully gestured towards her. The Master who had greeted them also wore a white robe, and had a protruding nose and reddish beard. He took her hand and shook it gently.
“Welcome to Medíz, Rhuna. May you find repose and contentment in our peaceful land!” he said warmly.
In that moment a dark- skinned man entered Rhuna’s sight. His tall and broad stature startled her, as did his large white teeth and shining skin.
“I am Mala Mahuni, and I also welcome you!” he boomed in a deep and solid voice. His wide smile was infectious and Rhuna felt a smile cross her face. It was an unfamiliar feeling.
“Hello,” she said to him.
“You have come a long way,” continued the big brown man, still with a wide grin. His shiny black hair hung in tight curls down to his shoulders. “My ancestors journeyed to your land some generations ago,” he said. Rhuna felt an instant bond with this dark man, and she compared him to the men from her home. Mala Mahuni had the same dark eyes and wide nose, but his whole appearance was cleaner and more refined. And he had rubbed a scented coconut oil on his skin which only women did in her old home.
“Come! Let us enter the reception rooms and be refreshed!” said Soother of the Seas, gesturing everyone to follow him.
They entered a large building with walls of different-sized stones and a roof of wood and dried plant materials. It reminded Rhuna of the Masters’ small house on her island. As they entered, she saw familiar painted bark sheets draped on the inside of the walls. The designs on them were like those she often saw at the market. The familiar sight put her at ease.
The room they entered contained a long table in the middle, and many large cushions and mats spread around it along the walls. The table was covered in a vast array of foods she had never seen before. She stopped and stared while Tozar grinned.
“This is the welcoming feast given to guests and other arrivals,” he said, sweeping his arm widely across the whole view. “Behind are rooms to bathe and refresh after the journey, and beyond them peaceful resting quarters.”
“Can I eat this food?” she asked, still staring at the colourful bowls and plates of food.
“As much as your soul desires, Rhuna!” exclaimed Tozar exuberantly. “And I will join you!” he added, taking a plate and handing another to Rhuna. “Take!”
Rhuna didn’t know what to take, so she imitated Tozar exactly, taking of the same plates and bowls as she moved around the large food table behind him. She recognized chicken meat, cheese and some leafy green vegetables in a milky sauce, but all other dishes looked very exotic and lavish.
“Try these, Rhuna! They are potatoes with cheese - most excellent!” said Mana Mahuni, who had been hovering behind her. “And take this avocado!” he said, taking a green object from a bowl and placing it on her plate. “It’s another Atlan food, very delicious!” he said enthusiastically with his permanent grin.
With plates piled high, they sat on soft cushions while a large jug of water and some drinking and washing bowls were placed beside them.
“Enjoy!” said Tozar merrily.
Rhuna had never enjoyed eating so much. The potatoes with soft cheese and the avocado made her rapturous. The exotic food melted smoothly and deliciously in her mouth. She imitated Tozar as he regularly swished his eating fingers in a bowl of water. When he was finished, he took a small piece of cloth from a nearby pile and wiped his hands and face with it. Rhuna did the same. Tozar gave her a very satisfied look.
“Are you content?” he asked. She nodded enthusiastically. Then she turned her head and saw Mala Mahuni sitting nearby. He gave her a nod and grinned. He had eaten his food and held a small bowl of drinking water in his hand. Her gaze continued across the room and found Sunshine on the Mountain gesticulating avidly with both arms and hands, rolling his eyes upwards, then closing them for a long moment as he savoured his mouthful. Rhuna giggled silently.
Next to Tozar, several other Masters had gathered and were drinking water and talking. Her attention moved to the red-bearded Soother of the Seas as he leaned towards Tozar.
“Your journey has been eventful and unexpected,” he said.
“We may never master the entire depths and breadths of knowledge and skills of foresight,” lamented Tozar.
“Nevertheless, the Gazing of the Waters revealed important matters, both good and bad. Is the island Chinza to be abandoned by Atlán?” Tozar nodded. “The girl is the only Chinza native to ever leave the island, so I hear. I assume you foresee her future on this or a similar island?”
Tozar nodded again, then spoke in a firm, loud whisper which surprised Rhuna.
“She was of assistance to me during my necessary concealment from the hostile natives, and has none of the traits of her Zao people. She remains unblemished and pure of any Dark Influences,” he said sharply.
“Yes, yes, of course,” nodded Soother of the Seas.
After more mundane discussions with others, Tozar stood up and looked down at Rhuna. “It is time for a refreshing bath, Rhuna!” he said joyfully. In that moment a tall woman approached them.
It was the first time Rhuna had seen a female Master and she stared at the woman for a long time. She was struck by the woman’s long and wavy pale yellow hair and her white skin. Then Rhuna noticed her fine, narrow nose and thin lips which moved gracefully into a gentle smile.
“My name is Whisper of the Wind.” Her voice was mellow and warm. “May I escort you to the wash rooms?” Rhuna nodded and stepped towards her, still exploring the woman’s face and hair as they walked out of the large dining hall.
“You have had a long sea journey,” said the woman as they entered one of the wash rooms. “You long for refreshing baths and oils.” She let Rhuna stop and look at the room with all its contents. Instead of an old wooden trough, her bathtub was a large and gleaming white square in the floor with steps and layers, and along the walls stood tables and shelves full of containers, large and small and in many colours. The enormous bath was already filled with water, and Rhuna realized that she longed for a refreshing wash.
“Which perfume do you prefer in your water?” asked Whisper of the Wind as she walked towards one of the rows of containers. Rhuna stared blankly.
“I shall choose one for you,” said the woman with a gentle smile. She poured the thick liquid into her cupped hand, then dispersed it in the water with a few brisk strokes of her arm. “There! You
may bathe now,” she said.
“Oh!” said Rhuna as she took her first step into the water. “It’s warm!”
Whisper of the Wind nodded and smiled, then folded Rhuna’s old tunic and placed it aside.
“I shall wash your hair with the appropriate lotions,” said the woman as she began rubbing Rhuna’s back with a soft and soapy sponge. The perfume from both the water and the soap struck her senses and enchanted her.
“They smell like flowers,” Rhuna said delighted.
“All our fragrances are plant products,” explained Whisper of the Wind in a soothing, almost singing tone as she covered Rhuna in soapy foam. “We use flowers and herbs blended with earth minerals to produce fine oils, essences and soaps. Every plant has its properties for healing, re-energizing or cleansing. I shall use some rich revitalizing herbal lotions for your hair,” she added.
Rhuna had never bathed for such a long time, nor had her hair ever been washed and rinsed several times so thoroughly. The scents made her sleepy and she felt she was floating.
Whisper of the Wind patted dry Rhuna’s back with a thick soft cloth, then reached for a garment in bright red and blue colours. It was a sleeveless wrap-around dress with a matching belt, and the fabric felt smooth and comfortable on Rhuna’s skin.
“It is made of cotton,” said Whisper of the Wind when she saw Rhuna examining the fabric. It is your first new dress. Soon you shall learn to make your own garments, also,” she added with another friendly smile. Rhuna stared into her face, once more transfixed by the features that were in such contrast to the faces she had seen all her life.
“Are you frightened?” asked Whisper of the Wind.
Rhuna shook her head.
“Perhaps you are nervous?”
Again Rhuna shook her head.
“You shall be very content here among us,” the woman said, then turned to reach for a large flat object. She held it in front of Rhuna and smiled again.
Rhuna stepped back in surprise. She saw her reflection in the bright and shiny plate, far more precisely than in any water reflection she had ever seen. She stood transfixed by the foreign reflection and held her breath.
The girl she saw had much lighter skin and hair, and her nose was far more narrow than she realized. Only the soft round tip of her nose reminded her of the faces of her home. Even her eyes were light brown instead of dark brown. She touched her cheek and was startled to see her own hand in the reflection. Her fingers were pale and thin, her lips also thin and well-defined. Then she remembered the neighbourhood children who joked about her appearance.
“You are beautiful,” said Whisper of the Wind, halting Rhuna’s fall into despair. Then she handed Rhuna a fabric bag and opened it to reveal the contents. “Your belongings,” she said.
Whisper of the Wind showed her a small hand mirror, a comb, ribbons for her hair, another dress and belt, a pair of sandals, several small containers of oils and perfumes and a necklace.
“It is a pendant with a geometric design that young women choose to wear,” she said as she placed the necklace over Rhuna’s head. She looked at her image in the large mirror again and saw the large round pendant on her bare chest, just above the folds of her dress.
“Is it gold?” asked Rhuna, recognizing the bright and gleaming metal that reminded her of the sun.
“Yes it is. However not genuine gold. It has been transformed,” said Whisper of the Wind. “You shall learn about this also,” she said with another gentle and graceful smile.
When Rhuna had slept long and deeply in the lavishly soft perfumed bed, alone in a small but cheerful cubicle, she quickly put on her new dress and used her new comb. Then she went out into the dining hall where she had heard voices. Tozar was standing in the middle of the hall, near the long table bedecked with freshly prepared food. He smiled as he watched her approach.
“What are you smiling about?” asked Rhuna.
“You,” he said, still smiling.
“Can we eat now?” she asked as her eyes surveyed the big table.
“Of course! And then we shall journey on foot to visit various important sites of this community; you and I.” Rhuna nodded happily.
Tozar strode quickly with long and regular steps, and Rhuna struggled to stay at his side. Her feet felt numb and clumsy, making it even more difficult for her to keep up the brisk pace.
“I can’t feel the ground with these sandals on,” she complained.
“Soon you shall realize the benefits of having thick leather underfoot,” said Tozar with a playful smile. “There are many long walking tracks ahead of you, and then you shall value the footwear.”
“Where will I be going?”
“To far-away places, if you so desire,” he answered.
Rhuna thought about walking long distances to these far-away places and wondered if she would always feel so uncomfortable. The sun prickled on her bare arms and her dress clung to her sweaty skin. She looked at Tozar whose hair looked bright yellow-white in the sunshine, and whose face remained a cool and pale colour.
“Aren’t you hot?” Rhuna asked.
“My garment is of a material that insulates against both the heat and the cold,” he said.
“Oh.”
They had left the settlement and walked along a track through moist dense jungle where the air felt thick and heavy. Rhuna noticed that the plants looked greener and fuller than any she knew from her home. She heard unfamiliar sounds from the treetops and smelled many new scents along the way. Some plants boasted large flowers in bright colours and unusual shapes, and every so often buzzing insects caught her attention.
After a while, the thick foliage began to thin, and she heard voices ahead. A small cluster of houses appeared and Rhuna examined the solid walls and roofs. She imagined people gathering stones from round about and placing them in such a way to make straight walls for the house. People were going about their daily activities around the houses, in gardens and open fields nearby. One man stood up from his garden work and called a cheerful greeting to her and Tozar. Rhuna felt alarmed and wondered if she knew this man, but he looked too clean and well-dressed to be someone from her home. Soon, other men and women called a happy greeting or waved their arms at them as they passed. Rhuna observed the people’s clothes and noticed that they all wore sandals like hers. Their dresses and skirts were of the same cotton material as her dress, and some had bright colours she had never seen on garments before, such as green, pink and purple.
“Why is it so different here?” asked Rhuna.
“These people enjoy the benefits of Atlan culture,” Tozar answered simply. Rhuna thought for a moment.
“But why are the Atlans different then?” she asked.
“Perhaps you may ask, why are the Zao different,” said Tozar giving her another playful smile. “The Atlan people have knowledge and skills others have not, therefore it is our duty and responsibility to enlighten these and provide the benefits of Atlan culture. For this reason I have brought you here, to Medíz, Rhuna. To learn, benefit, be happy.”
“Won’t you take me to your home? You said I could come visit you there,” she asked, beginning to feel unsettled.
“Not immediately…” he began carefully. His hesitation unnerved Rhuna even more. “It is more beneficial for you to remain in Medíz in the immediate future, and after the passing of some time it shall be appropriate for you to visit me in Atlán.”
“Won’t you stay here with me then?” asked Rhuna shakily. Tozar’s stride was unchanged.
“No, Rhuna, I must return to my home to fulfill my duties. You have many friends here, and you shall be busy with your studies at school during my absence.”
“School? What’s that?”
“An establishment to impart knowledge of the world, in particular of Atlan society and the skills I demonstrated to you on Chinza; do you recall, Rhuna?”
She thought of the images in the pond’s reflection, the sculpting of the giant statue and the stone Tozar had changed
with his thoughts.
“I can do that at school?” she asked.
Tozar said yes, then looked ahead and pointed. “Behold, Rhuna. We have arrived!”
Rhuna saw a clearing where Masters and Zao men and women bustled around, enjoying their work. Behind them lay several rows of enormous solid stone blocks, perfectly aligned and matched to each other, and several single stones lay strewn about between the people.
“Are they building a house?” asked Rhuna.
“Several large structures to accommodate many people, to be precise!” said Tozar excitedly. “Come, let us watch the process!”
Tozar led her around the worksite to a small mound and motioned her to stand on it. Then he pointed towards the nearby row of stone blocks where a Master stood and stared at a single block on the ground in front of him. The rectangular block reached up to his belt, and Rhuna saw that he was a tall man, also with light hair like Tozar, but with a longer, flowing beard.
“What’s he looking at?” Rhuna asked.
“He is concentrating his thought energies,” answered Tozar. “Observe.”
Rhuna watched the Master and the stone block. She noticed that the sides of the blocks were straight and that all blocks were the same size. After a while, the Master broke his stare and signalled to some Zao men standing nearby. The two Zao men bent down and took hold of the block, one man on each side, then they lifted the large stone block easily above their waists. They carried it to the nearby row of stone blocks and placed it on top, making sure it was aligned with the others.
“But isn’t that big stone really heavy?” Rhuna asked.
“It was indeed! By concentrated thought energies it has been rendered almost weightless for the purpose of lifting and moving it into place.”
“You mean like you changed that little stone just by thinking?”
“There is somewhat more involved than merely thinking, Rhuna, but yes, it is the same process. Behold now. Once the block has been inspected for correct placement, it will be returned to its original weight.”
Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom Page 6