On the table, Aklivor spread the papyrus scroll and held it down with clips at the corners.
“Look here, Tanti,” he said. “This map is extremely ancient and secret. You must learn it and memorize it as though it has been imprinted on your mind from the day you were born. Then erase it from your eyes as though it never existed. Am I clear, Tanti Marin?”
“Clear, sir. Almost.” Tanti answered as he tried to concentrate.
“You can see before you the map of the lost countries of the north.”
“The northern countries? But they’ve been isolated for years.”
“Indeed. You’ve been granted a great privilege today, to be one of the few who will arrive at the places that have been sealed off for dozens of years. If not for the urgent situation and the great abilities we’ve discovered in you, I wouldn’t dare expose the map. The complete isolation was meant to keep our area safe from border disputes and old grudges, which caused harsh wars and actions of hostility and revenge.
“You must cross the Basalt River over here.” Aklivor pointed at a line drawn in red. “And arrive here, to northwest White Anura. That’s where you’ll find the magnificent mushroom that will heal the land of our country. Am I clear?”
“You’re clear, sir.”
“Shall I continue? Are you listening to me, Tanti Marin?”
“I’m listening.”
Aklivor turned and went out to the orchard. He returned after several minutes, carrying red apples. He washed the apples, gave one to Tanti, and sat down.
“In the Water Farm, there are still some trees bearing their fruit,” he said. “Unfortunately, they’re dwindling as well. Sit and eat the apple. It will help you concentrate. We still have two more hours until twilight, and I have many things to tell you.”
The fresh apple had a pleasant taste. They ate silently for some time. When they were done, Aklivor resumed training Tanti for his quest.
Time passed quickly as he listened to Aklivor, describing the history of the mushroom known as Pikomanoria—or Kagular Masharin, in the ancient language—which originated in the heyday of the ancient kingdoms, which were united in a treaty when the passages were open. At the time, the healers and the mages discovered the crystal mushroom’s power to heal and prevent dire illnesses. In some places, they managed, by extracting and combining accelerating oils, to produce a potion that maintained youth and prolonged one’s lifespan. This potion was accepted among royalty and nobles. Its price increased when the mushroom’s powerful properties were discovered and it proved useful for healing wounds and bruises, curing diseases that until then were incurable, mood swings, and more. The increased demand led to a shortage and dwindling areas of growth, and prices were so high that only rulers and the kingdoms’ wealthiest could afford it.
“In one of the conferences of the confidants, it was decided to restrict the use of the crystal mushroom solely for healing, in order to maintain the balance and normal way of life. This didn’t last for long, because people in positions of power forced the healers to provide them with the potion, something that was against their will and worldview. They tried to warn the nobles about the effects of the mushroom on the brain, telling them that it affected reasoning and self-control. Some suffered madness, uninhibited power hunger, and lack of self-control. Others suffered terrible pains in their limbs and needed increased dosages of mushroom extract. The nobles ignored the warnings and paid no heed to the danger signs.
“The desire to prolong life and postpone old age increased beyond reason. A ruler who managed to extend his lifespan didn’t make place for his heir, thus creating bitterness and despair around him. There comes a time when one retires and makes way for the young. A rule that continues for too long tends to become dirty and corrupt. A man who no longer fears death starts to believe that he’s been granted unlimited power, that he’s above the law and morality, and he enforces his desires and whims on his subjects. He won’t listen to his counselors and laughs at their warnings. In the end, this ruler will earn enemies, and if he won’t die from disease or old age, he’ll probably be murdered.”
Aklivor continued. “At the time, most of the healers and the confidants were educated people with values and wisdom. They were well versed in the exoteric and esoteric, and their opinions and suggestions influenced many. They helped heal and empower both body and soul. They helped and cared for whoever came to them, whether rich or poor, whether people of power or simple folk. Many of them were close to kings and served as their confidants.
“During those dark days, the relationship between them and the rulers suffered a blow, as they protested against their conduct. On the other hand, they also lost the faith of the people when the required medicines to heal diseases were no longer available. Suspicions and acts of revenge tainted the atmosphere and permeated many aspects of life. Among all those tensions and rivalries, there was a story about one of the mages, who witnessed the deterioration of his queen’s mood and the madness overcoming her, causing her to make cruel and catastrophic decisions. He slightly changed the compound of the potion. A change that made it lethal.
“The greedy queen died in agony, and the mage escaped to a neighboring country, fearing her heirs and supporters. He received the patronage of the rulers there and their protection. This caused strife between the two countries and the beginning of the war, which drew in other countries such as Blue Nautilin, Admin, the Bonook, and many more.
“The balance of power shifted. Some populations grew, while others dwindled. Seas dried up, prairies became toxic swamps, and herds of furry creatures captured the canyons and terrorized settled territories. People struggled now with famine, war, and destruction. And then the Hayatulaum appeared beyond the swamps… And the rest is history.”
“The Hayatulaum?” Tanti asked. “They’re ancient monsters. Didn’t they become extinct thousands of years ago?”
“The Hayatulaum or similar animals were sighted during those dark times I’m telling you about, when the grass they eat started growing in the east prairies. When the mushroom disappeared, that sweet grass stopped growing, and it seemed as though the Hayatulaum had also disappeared.”
Aklivor continued with his lecture.
“The war continued for several years, and it wasn’t resolved. In the end, the exhausted armies agreed to cease the war, and peace treaties were signed. Treaties were signed between the White Anurians and the Blue Nautilins, between Admin and the hunting tribes east of Anura. Rivalries were forgotten. Passages were opened in the mountain walls, and despite years of hatred, tentative commercial ties were established, as well as cultural ties and exchanges of information. Slowly, the area flourished again.
“The Pikomanoria madness, that lethal mushroom, was halted for now. Using the mushroom was strictly forbidden. But mages and healers who’d lived on as a result of its use continued distributing it from their hiding places. The confidants realized they had to put a full stop to the use of the mushroom, before the delicate balance shattered again. During the big gathering, which took place in the center of light in Balana, confidants of all the countries of the region converged and decided on a course of action. They decided to destroy all of the sources that grew crops of the mushroom, and swore to keep secret the places it had grown in the past, in case it grew and spread again.
“In order to heal, the healers used other medicines, less effective and slower. By now, the healers were hated and blamed for the loss of lives. They were persecuted and searched for hiding places. They lived in groups in isolated areas. Some of them left the area and searched for sanctuary here, in the southern region. No one remembered their glorious past and all the good they did for their countries.
“A large earthquake changed the geography of the area. Boiling lava poured out of the center of a volcano, flowing like a great river, and created a wall of mountains that separated the northern regions from the central and southern countri
es.
“The mushroom vanished and was forgotten, and nowadays, only a few people know of its existence.”
The shadows in the room lengthened. The light became dim and soothing. The sun started setting. Aklivor stopped the lesson and straightened his back.
“We’ll stop here, my boy. Tomorrow morning, the second lesson will begin. And now, let’s go out to the big table in the yard. The sunset is extremely lovely, and none of the members of the Water Farm want to miss it.”
Tanti looked at the linen gown he was wearing and remembered his lost clothes. “I can’t go out like this! I have to look for Manin and ask her where my clothes are.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Aklivor said. “We all wear linen gowns at this hour of the day. You’ll get your clothes back later.”
While Tanti hesitated, Aklivor gripped his arm and walked him out, through a small gate in the garden, while leaning on him. The old man was as light as a feather.
Next to the big table, beneath a tree, Tanti saw residents of the farm, sitting and chatting, while others continued to arrive, wearing the same light linen gowns. When he came closer, he noticed that the table was covered with trays laden with food. People filled their plates and sat at the small tables scattered around the yard, or on the grass. They ate and conversed easily. Tanti remembered that he hadn’t had a thing to eat but an apple since the morning.
His hunger overcame his shyness at the strange company. He approached slowly, hoping no one would notice him, and looked at the bowls placed on the table. He hesitated. Should he help himself or wait for someone to offer him something? He didn’t dare reach out, despite the mouthwatering smells. He didn’t know where to find a plate or a spoon. His despair grew.
“Here he is!” He jerked in alarm. All at once, he found himself surrounded by people. Children grabbed his hands and led him to one of the tables.
“Hurray for the winner!” He heard them shout.
Who was the winner? And what had he won?
“Blessed be the decipherer.”
“Honor the guest!” Those last words were ones he understood, and they sounded pleasant.
A familiar pair of round heads emerged from among the people surrounding him.
Ninei and Ninai ran to him, grinning widely from one corner of their eye to the other. Tanti couldn’t believe he’d be so happy to see them. Behind them, he saw a tall woman with a pale, round face. Her smile was thin and curved, like the moon at a fortnight. It wasn’t hard to guess that this was Ninei and Ninai’s mother. She reached out and patted his shoulder. “So you solved the sinkhole riddle,” she said.
Now Tanti was starting to understand the meaning of the cheering around him.
“It was by chance. I suddenly noticed the blinking.”
“We don’t see it as ‘by chance,’” she said. “But as a unique talent. You passed the test, and you’re the hero of the day.”
Tanti didn’t know what to do with himself. In order to hide his embarrassment, he reached out to grab an enticing slice of bread from the table. He noticed Manin standing before him, some feet away. She was fresh, clean, and graceful, wearing a light-colored linen gown.
He wanted to approach her. Smiling people separated them, pulling him to another table. They seated him with them and urged him to eat.
The sky darkened, and the colors of the setting sun became richer and more vivid from second to second. Sounds of talking and laughter became quieter and calmer. Tanti felt eyes looking at him, sending a shiver up his back. He studied the people around him but couldn’t discern the person staring at him. Perhaps it was just his imagination.
Darkness wrapped the Water Farm. Torches were lit. People continued talking in whispers. Some went to their houses on the farm, preparing for the night. Ninei and Ninai led Tanti to a clean little room and wished him good night.
Chapter 7
Breakfast
When Tanti opened his eyes, the sun was shining through the window shutters. On a chair, next to his bed, he saw his clothes, clean and ironed, and his shoes, polished back to their brown color. On the tiny table stood a bowl filled with water, a fragrant towel next to it. Tanti jumped out of bed, washed his hands and face, and got dressed. Only when he was sure he was properly dressed did he leave the room and go down to the entrance hall.
Avona, Manin’s grandmother, welcomed him. “Good morning, Tanti Marin. How handsome and elegant you look this morning.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“How about a cup of tea and a light meal?”
“I can’t think of anything better at this hour of the morning.”
“Well then, let me take you to the dining room,” she said.
Just then, Manin burst into the room.
“My dear grandmother,” she said.
Avona opened her arms to her and kissed her fondly. “What’s new this morning, my beauty? Did you manage to acclimatize the Yifronit?”
“You bet I did. There was spawning throughout the night. I assume about one and a half million Yifronit hatched. About a quarter of them will survive, and then we can start with the water purification plan. A pleasant morning to you, Tanti Marin,” she said. “You look so handsome and elegant this morning. Like a prince.”
Tanti wasn’t sure if she was teasing him or really impressed by his appearance. He bowed politely. “I assume you’re the one who washed my clothes and polished my shoes back to their original color?”
“Indeed, I did. You slept like a big baby, while I scrubbed your shoes.”
“Thank you, Manin,” he said. “It really was a pleasant surprise this morning.”
“At your service,” she said with a curtsy. “Just don’t make it into a habit, dipping into puddles.”
“Manin,” Avona said. “You’re forgetting your manners. Tanti is our guest.”
“Sorry. I’ll try not to forget.”
“I suggest you go eat and then show him your new spawnings. Maybe give him a short lesson in water purification?”
“Of course. And I’ll also show him my gnats. You must be curious to see them, right, Tanti Marin?”
“I… Of course. If I’m free.”
Avona laughed. “I see you’re in good hands. Well then, I’ll leave you be and go about my business.”
Tanti followed Manin down the stairs that led to the dining room adjacent to the kitchen, which gave off tantalizing smells of baking. Other people were sitting at the tables. Some were eating peacefully; others were eating standing up, while others grabbed a slice of bread and hurried off to work.
“Manin?”
A deep voice came from the shadowed corner of the room. A young, wide-shouldered man got up. It seemed as though standing up took time and that his height never ended. His shadow fell on Tanti, who froze in place.
“Manin, I waited for you. I saved you a nut roll, the last one.”
“You can have it, Dol. I’ll make do today with some tea and an apple.” She pointed at Tanti. “This is Tanti Marin. You know, the emissary.”
Dol’s face darkened.
“Yes, I know. This is the Tanti who abused the mollusks. Sit. I’ll bring you tea just like you like it.” He ignored Tanti and pulled Manin to the table.
Tanti didn’t know if he should join them or go sit at a different table. He felt he was losing his appetite.
A round-faced woman with a kind smile approached him, served him tea, and sat him next to her. Tanti recognized her as Ninei and Ninai’s mother. Others sat around him, chatting and laughing, filling his plate as they urged him to taste this or that. Every so often, he snuck a look at Manin. She didn’t turn her head, even once, toward him.
Ninei and Ninai came in at a run. They hugged their mother and Tanti and went to the counter separating the kitchen from the dining room, grabbed some rolls, cheese, and apples, and sat next to him to eat
.
“Are the people here related?” Tanti asked their mother.
“Many here are Aklivor’s offspring, and there are families who joined. Each family has land and a house. Most people work the land and work with the water and small animals. Of course, we also have tradespeople who arrive from outside the farm, which is good.”
“Of course it’s good,” said Ninei with his mouth full of a soft roll. “Thanks to the outliers, we have a lot of weddings here.”
“And fights,” said Ninai. “When two men fall in love with one beauty.”
“Or vice versa,” said Ninei.
“Yeah, vice versa,” said one of the boys. “When two beauties fall in love with an ugly guy.”
“When two ugly men fall in love with two ugly girls, everything’s just fine and dandy.”
“What’s so dandy about it? We are talking about four uglies.”
“Children, I didn’t think you knew so much,” Ninei and Ninai’s mother said. “Or that you were that good at math.”
She turned to Tanti. “You see, people arrive and settle here for various reasons, while others leave, seeking their fortune in other places.”
“That’s right!” Ninei interrupted. “Our father went to seek fortune and found our mother.”
“She frazzled him. And then came here with him,” said Ninai.
“Not frazzled. Dazzled,” Ninei said.
“What’s dazzled?”
“Turned his head, what else?” said a girl from a nearby table.
“Enough, children. Enough with this talk.” Their mother laughed and blushed a bit.
Journey to Water's Heart Page 6