As they got closer to the ring of trees, it became very steep and Charlie had to concentrate on clambering between the boulders that blocked the way. Having scaled one very steep section, he looked up from the path for the first time in a while and he could see what looked like a halo of trees resting on top the hill. It only took them a few minutes more to come face-to-face with the circle.
"These trees are extraordinary," said Charlie, patting one of their iron-like trunks.
"Yes, this is where you appeared and it's a mighty powerful place," answered Shamir, leading Charlie into the circle.
"So, is this the doorway to the other side?"
"Well, yes and no. You see, this ring is only the side door that connects to a ring of beech trees in Provence. The portal can be used in both directions, but it's dangerous and limited in its capacity. The main doorway, which I will show you shortly, has none of these limitations. However, it has not been in service for many years from either side and is lying hidden in your world. Pascal has an old map to help find it, but even with this, the exact location may take some considerable investigation, as it has been hidden under a spell for hundreds of years."
"So, what's so important about finding this door? I know it will allow the elves to travel safely between the two worlds, but there must be more to it than that, isn't there?"
"If the doorway is opened from your world, it will mean that the valley and the elves will become visible to humans again. Not immediately, but within a fairly short amount of time."
"But why would you want that? Just keep things the way they are, stay invisible, stay safe and work from the shadows. Don't let us destroy all of this and that's what we'd do, I know it," cried Charlie.
"Charlie, we are not in control of any of what's happening, we never have been and we never will be. That's the point, we have to learn to serve life as best we can and that's all we can do. Nature decided to bring you here now and we must honour that decision."
"But how do I do that?"
"You must use what you've learnt here. That to use your breath to still fearful thoughts, takes you to a place where you feel connected with nature and the power that holds it all together."
"I just wonder whether I can remember how to do that when I'm back on the other side?"
"I can truly understand that, but I know you will. It will then take a lot of courage to follow that path, believe me," said Shamir, putting his hands gently on Charlie's shoulders.
"But what about the elves, how do they feel about this?"
"The elves abide by the same beliefs. Only a few have ever made it back through the portal successfully and that has left them a fractured civilisation. With the opening of the door, they will be reunited and even though there are grave fears associated with this change, they trust in the perfection and power of nature."
"I know, it's just all happening so quickly and such a great responsibility."
"It is time for this to happen. The Earth needs this, humanity need this and the elves need this. Trust in the timing of all things, Charlie, the responsibility is with life to create, you just concentrate on staying present for the ride," said Shamir, looking deeply into Charlie's eyes.
"Come on, let's go and see this door, is it near here?" said Charlie.
"Yes, it's very close," said Shamir before heading off to one edge of the circle. They followed a small path for a hundred metres or so, until it stopped on the edge of a thick stand of ancient oak trees. In the clearing the foliage didn't touch in a jigsaw above their heads, but left a circle clear for the light to stream in. At either side of the clearing stood two particularly large oak trees, that stretched out one huge arm each across the gap between them. The effect created an archway that was quite clearly visible if viewed from a little distance away.
"I can see it," said Charlie, quietly, looking down the path.
"You can, that's good. Of course we have no way of knowing whether you will remember this experience when you return, although I'm pretty sure you will," said Shamir.
"I sincerely hope I can. It would be sad for such an incredible experience to be lost."
"I know you will, you beautiful man, but really, it's all out of our hands. Just keep your heart open and that will keep your intuition clear. What I'm hoping is that the door the other side still looks like its partner this side. We planted an identical configuration of trees over there, but there's no real way of knowing whether they have stayed hidden and in their original shape. It will be up to you and Pascal to track it down. However, for now, come with me and I'll introduce you to the two trees that hold the door in place on this side. They're extraordinary beings and really very nice," said Shamir, stepping into the clearing.
"Nice, I never thought I'd here you describe a tree as nice," laughed Charlie.
As Charlie followed Shamir, he felt a strange tingling feeling beginning to rise from his feet as he approached the two trees. By the time he was under their foliage, the vibration was travelling through most of his body. But, strangely, it wasn't making him feel nervous at all and as he realised this, the sensation reached a crescendo in his chest. He felt giddy for a moment and sought the stability of one of the tree's exposed roots. As soon as he was sitting, the uneasiness passed and a deep whistling sound in his head replaced it.
"I've gone from being dizzy to hearing a booming sound in my head. What's going on?" asked Charlie.
"Don't worry, it's just their greeting, it sounds a bit like the language of whales to me," answered Shamir, as if it happened all the time.
"Oh, will it take long?" shouted Charlie, not realising the volume in his voice.
"Oh yes, a tree's greeting can take weeks, particularly one as old and experienced as the one you're sitting on. But don't worry, she's giving you the abridged version and your body will adjust to the sound soon enough."
"Can you understand any of it? Unlike the teacher tree, I can't understand a word of this." said Charlie.
"Some of it yes, but the oak trees have a strange history and this has made their dialect incredibly complex and idiosyncratic. So it's very hard to learn their language unless you listen to them for a long time." answered Shamir, patting the other tree tenderly.
"Hmm, so could I ever learn it if I had the chance?"
"Of course, anyone can, the ability to do so is innate in all humans, it's just a matter of tuning in to the right part of the brain."
"I heard the old tree when I got lost, but it still didn't occur to me that I could talk to any tree, I suppose the whole concept is just too weird to take on board completely," said Charlie.
"Exactly," said Shamir.
"Hmm, well I don't know what she's saying at the moment, but I feel lovely," said Charlie.
"The tree you are sitting on is called Argantiash and the one over there is called Grantiantash. They are of the ancient line of oak trees that has inhabited your country for so long. But really, they're just a couple of sweeties, aren't you girls? Maybe you'd like to sit in her lower branches for a while. It's really lovely, and it may help you remember more when you get home. These trees impart a feeling that can endure most things. If you ever want to make a big decision, or just feel generally better about things, go and sit under a big oak tree. It's like diving into the ocean, it always helps."
"Okay, I'm game, but how do we get up there? Their lowest branches are still well out of reach, even if I stand on your shoulders." said Charlie, looking at both trees in turn.
"No, we won't need any unnecessary gymnastics."
With that, Shamir sat down and gestured for Charlie to do the same. He then closed his eyes and within seconds a contented look came over his face, which prompted Charlie to try the same thing. Within a matter of minutes, he felt totally still within himself, and for a while his mind soared free of its normal restraints. As he opened his eyes, a gasp slipped from his lips, for he was no longer on the ground, but up in the oak tree, nestled comfortably at a junction of her huge limbs where there was a flat area b
ig enough for two people. Shamir was sitting beside him, still with his eyes closed, and the ground was a good ten metres below them.
"Whaa," he whispered, looking down the trunk. Shamir opened his eyes and smiled at their new location, as though it was nothing new to him.
"How did we get up here?"
"The tree helped us, of course," answered Shamir, with a cheeky look.
"Of course, how stupid of me," said Charlie, smacking his forehead with his palm.
"Would you like to see it happen this time?" said Shamir laughing.
"Yes, I certainly would," said Charlie.
Before either of them had been given a chance to say anything more, Charlie felt the tree begin to move. At first, it was only the main trunk, but then a branch to the left of where he was sitting began to move towards him. His initial reaction was to recoil from it, but having been deposited up in the tree so gently, he was able to fight such a reaction and remain utterly still. The branch coiled around him like a giant anaconda and held him so gently that he could barely feel her touch. It then lifted him off of the platform that they were on, and down slowly to the ground. As his bum touched the grass, Charlie reached up the branch that was gradually returning up the tree and patted it lightly with both of his hands.
"Thank you, grand one. That was truly unbelievable, if I forget that experience, there is no justice in the universe," said Charlie, as Shamir appeared from above him on his own branch.
"WAHOO," whooped Shamir, hopping off the branch while it was still two or three metres off the ground and doing a full three hundred and sixty-degree somersault as he did so.
"Thank you, my grand friend," he said, simply, before turning towards Charlie.
"There's some Elfwater back at the circle, we might stop there for a quick refuelling. I think we should be heading back now while we've still got plenty sunlight to find our way over the escarpment," he said, tapping Charlie on the shoulder.
They reached the circle in no time and Shamir walked around the circumference of it until he came to a tree that had a partly hollow trunk. Inside was a large stone jar that was sitting on a specially designed rack. The shelf had twenty or thirty mugs hanging from it. They both took one and Shamir filled them from a large white jar. Charlie took his and gulped it down as quickly as he could swallow, having grown addicted to its scented flavour.
"God, I love this stuff, it makes my insides tingle," said Charlie, after he'd drained his cup.
"They've been brewing it for ages and they've certainly got the formula right, after all that time. Why don't we have a quick rest here while the water refreshes us, then we'll head for home don't you think?" said Shamir, sitting down and leaning against the trunk of one of the trees. Charlie sat down right next door to Shamir and closed his eyes. Soon he felt calm throughout his body. They must have been there for ten minutes or so when, suddenly, a feeling like a bolt of lightening shot up Charlie's spine from the ground.
"AAHH," he gasped, as his eyes snapped open and his whole body went rigid.
"WHA.what," exclaimed Shamir, as he was pulled from his peace with a horrible jolt.
"We've got to get home, back to the village, something's happening. It's terrible, we've got to go. We've got to go right now," shouted Charlie, jumping to his feet.
"What is it, what's happened?" asked Shamir.
"I don't know, we've just got to get back there quickly, really quickly," continued Charlie impatiently.
"Okay, we'll take the fastest route home, down the steep face of the escarpment, we'll be home much quicker," said Shamir striding off.
The vegetation changed as they got nearer to the cliff. The deciduous woodland gave way to the denser, tropical growth that flourished in the wetter parts of the valley. Jungle plants grew in this area around the cliffs, where the spray from the river's massive waterfall filled the air with a perpetual mist. Huge rainforest trees provided support for endless creepers and ferns that smothered every inch of their bark, fighting for light with all the plants that reached up from the crowded forest floor. Only a tiny path wound it's way through the unyielding mass of plants. Charlie was amazed at Shamir's fitness, as he sprang along the path, dodging any creepers that hung across in front of him as nimbly as any teenager.
"This is where the path becomes quite steep, so watch your step. When we reach the bottom, you'll recognise where we are, near the flat rock where you bathed yesterday," said Shamir.
"Okay," panted Charlie.
The path down the face of the valley wall was treacherous in the extreme. The cliff was nearly vertical and only the occasional stunted tree dared to cling onto minute patches of dirt that sat amongst the hostile world of roughly hewn stone. The path was non-existent, but Shamir seemed to know the way down as though he did it every day. Charlie was careful to follow his moves exactly, hopping down between the huge granite outcrops at quite a pace. At times, he felt like calling out to him to slow down a little, but he felt the urgency hovering in his chest, spurring him on as fast as he could manage. When they reached the bottom of the cliff, Charlie saw the flat rock Shamir had mentioned about fifty metres in front of them. As he did so, it was like a gear shifted in his head, he shot past Shamir and belted off at a full sprint towards the path that ran along by the river.
"Someone's drowning, SOMEONE'S DROWNING," his head screamed at him. His legs felt strong and powerful and his breath pumped in and out in a fast, controlled rhythm. Two elves appeared on the path just ahead of him, but he whirled passed them without slowing at all. He had no time to explain or to even shout, his mind was focused like never before and nothing was going to break that concentration. Time was running out, he could feel it.
"UURGH, come on, come on," he grunted to himself, as he forced his tired legs to keep pumping. The river was right next to him now, no more than five or six feet away and the path wound its way along its bank all the way into the village. He charged along the mossy floor, not knowing what to look for, when suddenly he saw an image in his mind.
"Keep going, keep going," his intuition still urged him, so he just kept running as if his life depended on it. Up in front of him was a small rise in the path, which opened out onto a grassy knoll that overlooked the river about ten feet below. It was the favourite place for summer swimming, because you could jump down into a large pool of deep water below that had been created by an eddy in the river. At this time of year the river was cold and swollen and only a fearless few took showers in the waterfall, but no one swam in the river itself. Without slowing his pace at all, Charlie charged up the slope and plunged off the edge of the hill, totally blind to what was below him.
"AARRGH," he screamed, flying through the air.
He knew the pool was there, from seeing it the previous day, but as he flew down, a lightning bolt of fear for his own safety whipped through him. It was obliterated as he hit the freezing wall of water right in the middle of the swimming hole. Down he went, beneath the surface, with his clothes immediately dragging heavily on him and the severe cold tensing his tired muscles to the point of cramping. By the time he stopped going down, he was a good six feet below the surface and it took every ounce of his strength to struggle up for air. As he emerged from the water with a great gasp for life, he could finally see the focus of his efforts. It was an elf, a young boy, and he wasn't moving. His face was still just above the water, but his eyes were closed and he was sinking. He was so close that Charlie was able to catch him as he went past, by reaching out his arm with an instinctive lunge. He could feel his heart beating as he grabbed him around the chest, but he wasn't breathing as far as he could see, and water was dribbling out of his mouth. A number of young elves had gathered at the riverbank and Charlie kicked and pulled with all his might until one of them could reach out enough to help them ashore.
"ARGHH," he shouted, heaving the young elf the last bit into their waiting arms. Charlie's body was in pain as he struggled desperately to the bank, but he couldn't collapse, not yet, he had to help the
young elf further.
"Give me some space," he shouted, barrelling through the elves who hovered around Charlie without knowing what to do next. They all separated as he spoke, and he quickly knelt down over the unconscious elf.
"Please let me do this right, I've only got one chance," he whispered, before taking a deep breath and exhaling it into the boy's mouth while firmly holding his nose.
"One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four," he repeated, while he pumped on his chest in the way he had been taught at a tedious summer scout camp he had been convinced to attend a couple of years before.
"Dreadful no more," he muttered, as he continued the process and plumbed the depths of his memory to stay calm. Breathe in, breathe in, one, two, three, four.breathe in, breathe in, .one, two, three, four, and so it went on. "Come on, come on," he whispered, desperately, with all the elves banked around him in total silence. "Don't slip away, not now, don't slip away," he continued. Then, suddenly, just as the hopelessness rose in his chest, he saw Shamir out of the corner of his eye.
"PAARRGH," gasped the young elf, dragging in a huge breath of life, before coughing up water in a violent torrent. Charlie helped him roll onto his side as he convulsed quite violently as his lungs repelled the water that had threatened to extinguish his life. No one dared move, other than Shamir, who knelt down beside them and checked the young elf's pulse and helped balance him with his touch. Once Charlie could see the boy was safe, it was like a trigger of release in his body. He felt his entire body begin to spasm as the relief flooded through him. He tried to stand up but, for some reason, as soon as he tried, the blood rushed to his head and he reeled around, before collapsing heavily on the floor. When he woke up, only a few minutes later, he was looking directly up into Shamir's smiling face and he was shaking from the cold.
Charlie's Dream Page 20