Opposing Forces

by aldivan teixeira torres

  —So, you are awake. Congratulations! You won the challenge. The second challenge aimed to explore your capacity of self and action. The two paths that represented the "Opposing Forces" have become one and this means that you must travel the right side without forgetting the knowledge that you will have upon meeting the left. Your attitude saved the child despite the fact that he didn't need it. That whole scene was my own mental projection to evaluate you. You took the right approach. The majority of people when faced with scenes of injustice prefer not to interfere. Omission is a serious sin and the person becomes an accomplice of the offender. You gave of yourself, as Jesus Christ did for us. This is a lesson that you will take with you your whole life.

  —Thank you for congratulating me. I would always act in favor of those who have been excluded. What puzzles me is the spiritual experience I had earlier. What does it mean? Could you explain to me, please?

  —We all have the ability to penetrate other worlds through thought. This is what is called astral travel. There are some experts in relation to this matter. What you saw must be related to your or another person's future, you never know.

  —I understand. I climbed the mountain, completed the first two challenges and I must be growing spiritually. I think that soon I will be ready to face the cave of despair. The cave that performs miracles and makes dreams more profound.

  —You must perform the third and I will tell you what it is tomorrow. Wait for instructions.

  —Yes, General. I'll be waiting anxiously. This Child of God, as you called me, is very hungry and will prepare a soup for later. You are invited, ma'am.

  —Wonderful. I love soup. I will use this to my advantage to get to know you better.

  The strange lady departed and left me alone with my thoughts. I went looking in the forest for the ingredients for the soup.

  The Young Girl

  The mountain had already turned dark when the soup was ready. The cold wind of the night and the cri-cri-cri of insects makes the environment evermore rural. The strange lady has not yet come to the hut. I hope to have everything in order by the time she arrives. I taste the soup: It really was good although I did not have all the necessary condiments. I step outside of the hut for a little bit and contemplate the heavens: The stars are witnesses of my efforts. I went up the mountain, found its guardian, completed two challenges (one more difficult than the other), met a ghost and I am still standing. "The poor strive more for their dreams." I look at the arrangement of the stars and their luminosity. Each has its own importance in the great universe that we live in. People are also important in the same way. They are white, black, rich, poor, of religion A, or religion B or of any belief system. They are all children with the same father. I also want to take my place in this universe. I am a thinking being without limits. I think that a dream is priceless but I am willing to pay for it in order to enter the cave of despair. I contemplate the heavens once more and then go back to the hut. I wasn't surprised to find guardian there.

  —Have you been here long? I hadn't realized.

  —You were so concentrated in contemplating the heavens that I did not want to break the spell of the moment. In addition to that, I feel at home.

  —Very good. Sit on this improvised bench that I made. I will serve the soup.

  With the soup still hot, I served the strange lady in a gourd that I found in the forest. The wind whipping in the night caressed my face and whispered words in my ear. Who was that strange lady that I was serving? I wonder if she really wanted to destroy me as the ghost hinted. I had many doubts about her and this was a great opportunity to clear them.

  —Is the soup good? I prepared it with great care.

  —It's wonderful! What did you use to prepare it?

  —It is made of stones. Just kidding! I bought a bird from a hunter and used some natural seasonings from the forest. But, changing the subject, who are you really?

  —It shows good hospitality for the host to talk first about himself. It's been four days since you arrived here at the top of the mountain and I am not even sure what your name is.

  —Very well. But it is a long story. Get ready. My name is Aldivan Teixeira Tôrres and I teach college level Mathematics. My two great passions are literature and math. I've always been a lover of books and ever since I was very small I have wanted to write one of my own. When I was in my first year of high school I gathered some excerpts from the books of Ecclesiastes, wisdom and proverbs. I was very happy in spite of the texts not being mine. I showed everyone, with great pride. I finished High School, took a computer course and stopped studying for a while. After that I tried a technical course at a local college. However, I realized it wasn't my field by a sign of fate. I was prepared for an internship in this area. However, the day before the test a strange force demanded continuously for me to give up. The more time passed, the more pressure I felt from this force until I decided to not take the test. The pressure subsided and my heart was calmed also. I think it was fate that made me not go. We must respect our own limits. I did a number of tenders, was approved and currently hold the role of administrative assistant of education. Three years ago I received another sign of fate. I had some problems and I ended up having a nervous breakdown. I started then to write and in a short time it helped me to improve. The result was the book "Vision of a Medium” which I have not yet published. All of this showed me that I was able to write and have a dignified profession. This is what I think: I want to work doing what I like and I want to be happy. Is that too much for a poor person to ask?

  —Of course not, Aldivan. You have talent and that is rare in this world. At the right time you will succeed. Victorious are those who believe in their dreams.

  —I do believe. That's why I'm here in the middle of nowhere where the commodities of civilization have not yet arrived. I found a way to climb the mountain, to overcome the challenges. All that is left now is for me to enter the cave and carry out my dreams.

  —I'm here to help you. I have been the guardian of the mountain ever since it became sacred. My mission is to help all dreamers seeking the cave of despair. Some seek to make material dreams come true such as money, power, social ostentation or other selfish dreams. All have failed so far, and they have not been few. The cave is fair with its granting of wishes.

  The conversation continued in a lively manner for some time. I was gradually losing interest in it as a strange voice called me out of the hut. Each time that this voice called me I felt compelled to go out of curiosity. I had to go. I wanted to know what that strange voice in my thoughts meant. Gently, I said farewell to the woman and set out in the direction indicated by the voice. What awaits me? Let us continue together, reader.

  The night was cold and the insistent voice remained in my mind. There was a kind of strange connection between us. I had already walked a few feet outside of the hut but it seemed to be miles by the fatigue that my body was feeling. The instructions that I mentally received guided me in the darkness. A mixture of tiredness, fear of the unknown and curiosity controlled me. Whose strange voice was this? What did she want with me? The mountain and its secrets... Ever since I got to know the mountain, I have learned to respect it. The guardian and her mysteries, the challenges that I had to confront, the encounter with the ghost; it all became special. It was not the highest in the northeast or even the most impressive, but it was sacred. The myths of the medicine man and my dreams have led me to it. I want to win all the challenges, enter the cave and make my request. I will be a changed man. I will no longer be just me, but I will be the man who overcame the cave and its fire. I remember well the words of the guardian, not to trust too much. I remember the words of Jesus who said:

  -—He who believeth in me shall have eternal life.

  The risks involved will not make me desist of my dreams. It is with this thought that I am ever more faithful. The voice becomes stronger and stronger. I think that I am arriving at my destination. Right in front, I see a hut. The voice tells me to
go there.

  The hut and its illuminating bonfire are in a spacious, flat place. A young, tall, thin girl with dark hair is grilling a type of snack on the fire.

  —So, you have arrived. I knew that you would answer my call.

  —Who are you? What do you want from me?

  —I am another dreamer who wants to enter the cave.

  —What special powers do you have to call out to me with your mind?

  —It's telepathy, silly. Aren't you familiar with it?

  —I've heard of it. Could you teach me?

  —You will learn one day but not from me. Tell me what dream brings you here?

  —Before all, my name is Aldivan. I climbed the mountain in hopes of finding my opposing forces. They shall define my destiny. When someone is able to control their opposing forces they will be able to perform miracles. That's what I need to accomplish my dream of working in an area that I enjoy and with that I will make many souls dream. I want to go into the cave not only for me but for the entire universe that has provided me these gifts. I will have my place in the world and that is how I will be happy.

  —My name is Nadja. I am an inhabitant of the Pernambucan coast. In my land I've heard talk of this miraculous mountain and its cave. Immediately I was interested in making the journey here even though I thought that everything was merely a legend. I gathered my stuff, left, arrived in Mimoso and went up the mountain. I hit the jackpot. Now that I'm here I will go into the cave and will fulfill my wish. I will be a great Goddess, adorned with power and riches. All will serve me. Your dream is just silly. Why ask for a little if we can have the world?

  —You are mistaken. The cave does not perform petty miracles. You will fail. The guardian will not allow you to enter. To enter the cave you must win three challenges. I have already conquered two of the stages. How many have you won?

  —How dumb, challenges and guardians. The cave only respects the strongest and most confident. I will achieve my desires tomorrow and no one will stop me, you hear?

  —You know best. When you regret it, it will be too late. Well, I guess I'll be going. I need some rest because it is late. As for you, I cannot wish you good luck in the cave because you want to be greater than God himself. When humans reach this point they destroy themselves.

  —Nonsense, you're all words. Nothing will make me go back on my decision.

  Seeing that she was adamant I gave up, feeling sorry for her. How can people become so petty sometimes? The human being is only worthy when he fights for righteous and egalitarian ideals. Walking the trail, I remembered the times I've been wronged whether it was by an ill-marked examination or even from the neglect of others. It makes me unhappy. On top of this, my family is totally against my dream and does not believe in me. It hurts. One day they will see reason and see that dreams can be possible. On that day, after all is said and done, I'll sing my victory and I will glorify the Creator. He gave me everything and only required me to share my gifts because, as the Bible says, do not light a lamp and put it under the table. Rather put it on top for all to applaud and be enlightened. The trail breaks and immediately I see the hut that has cost me so much sweat to build. I need to go to sleep because tomorrow is another day and I have plans for me and for the world. Good night, readers. Until the next chapter...

  The Tremor

  A new day begins. Light appears, the breeze of the morning caress my hair, birds and insects are having a celebration, and the vegetation seems to be reborn. It happens every day. I rub my eyes, wash my face, brush my teeth and take a bath. This is my routine before breakfast. The forest offers neither advantages nor options. I am not accustomed to this. My mother spoiled me to the point of serving me my coffee. I eat my breakfast in silence but something weighs on my mind. What will the third and final challenge be? What will happen to me in the cave? There are so many questions without answers it makes me dizzy. The morning progresses and with it so do my palpitations, fears and chills. Who was I now? Certainly not the same. I went up a sacred mountain looking for a destiny that not even I knew about. I found the guardian and discovered new values and a world larger than I ever imagined existed before. I won two challenges and now only had to face the third. A chilling third challenge that was distant and unknown. The leaves around the hut move ever-so-slightly. I have learned to understand nature and its signals. Someone is approaching.

  —Hello! Are you there?

  I jumped, changed the direction of my gaze and contemplated the mysterious figure of the guardian. She seems happier and even rosy despite her apparent age.

  —I am here, as you can see. What news have you brought for me?

  —As you know, today I come to announce your third and final challenge. It will be held on your seventh day here on the mountain because that is the maximum time that a mortal can remain here. It is simple and consists of the following: Kill the first man or beast that you encounter upon leaving your hut on the very same day. Otherwise you will not be entitled to enter into the cave which grants you your deepest desires. What do you say? Isn't that easy?

  —How so? Kill? Do I look like an assassin?

  —It's the only way for you to enter into the cave. Prepare yourself, because there are only two days and...

  An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter scale shakes the entire top of the mountain. The tremor leaves me dizzy and I think that I am going to faint. More and more thoughts come to mind. I feel my strength depleting and feel handcuffs that forcefully secure my hands and my feet. In a flash, I see myself as a slave, working in fields dominated by masters. I see the shackles, the blood and hear the cries of my companions. I see the richness, pride and treachery of the colonels. I also see the cry of freedom and justice for the oppressed. Oh, how the world is unfair! While some win others are left to rot, forgotten. The handcuffs break. I am partially free. I'm still discriminated against, hated and wronged. I still see the evil of the white men who call me "nigger." I still feel inferior. Again I hear the cries of clamor but now the voice is clear, sharp and known. The tremor disappears and little by little I regain consciousness. Someone lifts me up. Still a little woozy, I exclaim:

  —What happened?

  The guardian, in tears, can't seem to find an answer.

  —My son, the cave has just destroyed another soul. Please win the third challenge and defeat this curse. The universe is conspiring for your victory.

  —I do not know how to win. Only the creator's light can illuminate my thoughts and my actions. I guarantee: I'm not going to give up on my dreams easily.

  —I trust in you and in the education that you have received. Good luck, Child of God! See you soon!

  Having said that, the strange lady departed and was dissolved in a puff of smoke. Now I was alone and needed to prepare for the final challenge.

  One Day Before the Last Challenge

  It's been six days since I went up the mountain. This entire time of challenges and experiences has made me grow a lot. I can more easily understand nature, myself and others. Nature marches to its own beat and is opposed to the pretensions of human beings. We deforest the forests, pollute the waters, and release gases into the atmosphere. What do we get out of it? What really matters to us, money or our own survival? The consequences are there: Global warming, reduction of flora and fauna, natural disasters. Does man not see that this is all his fault? There is still time. There is time for life. Do your part: Save water and energy, recycle waste, do not pollute the environment. Require your government to commit to environmental issues. It's the least we can do for ourselves and for the world. Coming back to my adventure, once I went up the mountain, I better understood my wishes and my limits. I understood that dreams are only made possible as long as they are noble and righteous. The cave is fair and if I win the third challenge, it will make my dream come true. When I won the first and second challenges I came to better understand the wishes of others. The majority of people dream to have riches, social prestige and high levels of command. They
no longer see what is best in life: Professional success, love and happiness. What makes the human being really special are his qualities that shine through his work. Power, wealth, and social ostentation do not make anyone happy. This is what I am looking for in the sacred mountain: Happiness and total domain of the "opposing forces." I need to go out for a little bit. Step by step, my feet lead me outside of the hut that I built. I hope for a sign of destiny.

  The sun heats up, the wind gets stronger and no sign appears. How will I win the third challenge? How will I live with the failure if I am not able to carry out my dream? I try to move the negative thoughts out of my mind but the fear is stronger. Who was I before climbing the mountain? A young man, totally insecure, afraid to face the world and its people. A young man who one day fought in court for his rights but they were not granted. The future has shown me that this was best. Sometimes we win by losing. Life has taught me that. Some birds screech around me. They seem to understand my concern. Tomorrow will be a new day, the seventh on top of the mountain. My destiny is in jeopardy with this third challenge. Pray, readers, that I may win.