“How?”
“It was just too much for her,” he replied in a low voice. “She killed herself.”
Emma’s perspective changed and she witnessed the scene from a vantage point.
Flies buzzed everywhere. The boy—a tall, lanky youth; Emma didn’t doubt it was Diamond—walked slowly into a wooden shack. It sat somewhere in the city—she guessed New Orleans—in an alley behind a tavern. It was late afternoon and the sun cast its angular light in straight lines along the uneven walls and ruddy floor. The severe geometric patterns appeared to offer a gateway to what lay ahead in the back room. The boy, trembling, pushed the door open, clearly afraid to see inside the cramped space. The woman’s eyes were open. She was most assuredly dead, the flies swarming in a concentration around the wound in her stomach where the hilt of a knife protruded. Her body lay in the corner, like a ragdoll a child no longer wished to play with. Emma could sense the heavy energy around her. Diamond’s mother had been possessed of many spirits, none her own. The pain of managing such malignant entities had pushed her over the edge, and not even the love she had for her son could save her. For a moment, Emma felt pity for her.
She became aware of Diamond and the boat where they still sat. His mother no doubt continued to suffer in the afterworld. Emma could almost understand why he’d want to save her, but there had to be another way other than making unholy agreements with Masau’u.
More rain fell all afternoon. The river swelled, but they encountered no big rapids. After passing several side canyons, Emma finally pulled over to a wash, flowing with water, late in the day to make camp. She and Diamond had little contact, as he made camp some distance from her.
That night, Emma entered a trance and sought Sparrow.
“I’m ready to try again,” she said.
I will assist in any way I can. The big bird gazed on her with clear eyes.
“I need to summon Diamond. How do I do that?”
Take care. His focus is like a whirlpool. It can pull you in.
“I know. How can I protect myself?”
Through a thought, a man can make himself a being of Light or one of Darkness.
She understood. She imagined the light around her, a gleaming white glow that vibrated in an egg-shaped cocoon, surrounding her entire body.
Very good. Ask him to come to you, and in what form.
She nodded. “Diamond, I request your assistance. Please come in your snake form.”
A giant snake slithered up to her. The head bobbed up and down to inspect her. “You’re learning,” he said, the lips of his snake mouth moving.
“I need you to take me to Masau’u,” she said.
“I’ve already done that.”
“No, that was a place of Masau’u’s choosing. I want you to take me to where he dwells.”
The snake’s body curved onto itself as the reptile’s head continued to hang in midair near her boundary of light. “Why?”
“Because if you do, I’ll help you search for your mother. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
The snake slithered and hovered. “I can show you the entrance, but I can’t go any farther. Without an invitation, you’ll never make it in either.”
Fear gripped her, but she quickly pushed it back. She was resolute. She would do this. And slithery Diamond wouldn’t deter her.
He moved with ease into a hole in the earth.
Emma looked to Sparrow. “Can you come?”
I am sorry. I cannot. Masau’u has many traps. There is one, however, who has skill with this.
A mountain lion appeared.
This is Una. She will help you.
Surprised, Emma recognized the cat she and Nathan had seen when at the large cavern so long ago. Silently, she acknowledged her gratitude to the large animal. “We must go.” She turned and dove into the hole Diamond had entered. Una followed, and together they entered the bowels of the earth.
They flew down the tunnel for a great length of time, although time was once again irrelevant. Or maybe it was small, overlapping, malleable, and therefore easy to compress or elongate. Aware that it could be utilized in different ways, she wondered if one day she might master it.
Movement was easy and occurred simply because she desired it. Darkness surrounded them but she could see the sides of the tunnel as it sped past. Finally, they stopped in a narrow cave. Diamond sat coiled before Emma. Una moved beside her.
“You can enter the transition zone over there,” Diamond said. His head pointed to an opening in the dirt wall near the floor at Emma’s feet.
“How far to Masau’u?” she asked.
Diamond’s body continued to move, sliding and coiling in the area he occupied. “I don’t know. It depends on your progress.”
“Can you offer any helpful advice?” She knew such a question was pointless, but it didn’t hurt to ask.
“Agree to do his bidding, and I’ll bet you could walk right in.”
Emma didn’t respond. She could well believe that Diamond had done just that—sold his soul to the devil. She knelt on her hands and knees, and closed her eyes. Dear God, give me strength and guidance. Help me to do the highest good. Protect me from all manner of evil. She opened her eyes, took a steadying breath then crawled into the opening.
As she shuffled along, the smell of damp earth filled her nose. Her palms became caked with moist dirt and tiny roots hung in her face, brushing against her body as she moved forward. The tunnel began to narrow and Emma strained to see ahead of her, but to no avail. She stopped as panic crept in. What if she became stuck?
Use your power to move the dirt, Una said.
“How?”
Expand your boundary.
Emma pictured the white light around her body, and then willed it to push outward. The opening increased and she resumed her crawling. At last they emerged into a large open area. A bridge lay before them, made of stone. The drop-offs on each side disappeared into nothingness. Taking a deep breath, Emma focused straight ahead and began to walk across the bridge. Soon a large gate came into view. As she and Una approached, Emma craned her head back. It had to be forty or fifty feet high and was thick as a giant oak tree. It was locked.
Emma glanced down and noticed a wooden box off to the side. She moved toward it and peered inside. Shocked, Emma stumbled back. Body parts filled the receptacle—arms, legs, torsos, hands, feet, and even several heads. There was no blood, but the gruesome sight unsettled her.
He collects soul pieces, Una said. These are the remnants.
Emma nodded, trying to compose herself.
Movement to the right caught her eye. Dogs lay on their sides, lifting their heads to see her. As she stepped closer, she saw they were puppies, their bellies sliced open and entrails lying on the stone surface. Emma sank to the ground. “You poor things, what can I do?”
Una came beside her. Nothing.
“Isn’t there some way I can help them?”
They are a sign of the imbalance of power here. A signpost. Take its warning and move on. But guard yourself. You could be gutted and your own energy taken from you.
Unnerved by Una’s conclusion, Emma tentatively stood and backed away from the animals with great effort.
She looked at the giant gate, a thread of familiarity whispering through her. “I think I’ve been here before. How do we get inside?”
Una prowled back and forth. I do not know. Places like these require keys, or entry from inside. But if you have been here then you may remember the way in.
Emma couldn’t. The memory of it was the vaguest of ideas, a dream she’d had several years ago of a large castle with an impenetrable gate. A guard had told her the secret word to enter, but now she couldn’t remember. Suddenly, the giant wooden door swung open with a loud clang. There was no one present—no creature, no being, no guard. She glanced at Una.
You are remembered and given entrance, but do not think this is a warm welcome.
“Of course.” Emma hadn’t assumed otherw
ise.
Together they stepped across the threshold and walked across a deserted courtyard then up stairs that led to a darkened castle. Once inside, torches lit the way down a long corridor which soon descended down more stairs. Emma felt cold and could smell the dampness of the rocks that comprised the walls of the castle. More corridors ensued, twisting and turning. She soon became disoriented. When the hallway diverged into three different directions, Emma immediately took the middle one.
Wait.
Emma screamed as she fell into a thick sludge then began to sink quickly. “Una, help me!” She tried to grab the edge of the pit that had suddenly trapped her, but her hands kept slipping. She stopped moving when she realized it caused her to sink faster. “What do I do?” she whispered urgently.
Agitated, Una looked all around. I cannot help you. You must call another spirit animal to you.
“Who?” Emma asked, breathless as she sank to her neck.
What animal has stalked you all your life? In your dreams? In your visions?
Panicked, Emma couldn’t think. “I don’t know,” she cried softly. She leaned her face upward as the thick sludge crept to her ears. Her breathing came in short, shallow gasps. Was she about to die? Was it possible to die in this otherworld? She willed herself free of the watery prison, but nothing changed.
“No, no, no,” she pleaded. “Let me out.” Her eyes flew open in recognition. “Rattlesnake.” She sunk beneath the surface.
A huge surge pushed her from the trap. She landed on the edge of the floor next to Una. The rattlesnake emerged from the sludge and slid beside her. She wiped muck from her eyes as she spit and tried to catch her breath. The snake wasn’t large, although bigger than an actual one.
Emma wiped more mud from her face. “Thank you.”
The snake coiled itself, cleansing its skin in the process, and Emma saw the dark and light stripes on the thick body and the rattles on its tail. “Are you one of my power animals?” she asked.
Yes, he answered.
“Why haven’t I seen you before?” Emma tried but couldn’t keep the irritation from her voice.
You have never looked.
Emma made an effort to calm her temper. “What’s your name?”
I am called Riddle. We’ll get along just fine. I don’t strike unless provoked. Neither do you. To find me, simply call.
“Can you help me locate a boy called Loloma?”
Yes.
Emma began to slough off the sludge from her clothing and arms.
Do not do that, Riddle said.
“Why?”
Where we go, it will offer concealment of your Light.
“And where is that?”
To the Land of the Dead.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Emma, Una, and Riddle proceeded through a series of tunnels. Emma became weary and wondered if they were on the right path. A table of food appeared, filled with breads, gourds, squash, and ears of corn. A bowl filled with a dark liquid sat to the side. Emma sensed it was wine, and although she’d never had a taste for alcohol in all her young life, the urge to drink this spirit consumed her. As she reached for it, Riddle slithered before her, hissing and striking at the air in front of her face. Frightened, she dodged the attack and backed away.
“What’s wrong with you?” she demanded.
Do not eat or drink any of this.
“Why?”
It is the food of the dead. If you ingest it, you will not be able to leave this place.
Unease twisted her stomach. She’d been journeying so long, and now was crusted from head to toe with mud. Food and drink would have been a welcome treat. But as she examined the table more closely, she could see the shadowy texture of the food, the incompleteness of it; the lack of substance.
We must keep going, Riddle said.
Emma turned away and followed the snake, Una at her side.
They came upon an enormous underground river.
We must cross, Riddle instructed.
Emma silently agreed. “Can you swim?” she asked Una.
I prefer not to, the cougar replied.
I will take you both on my back, Riddle said.
“I think you’re too small.”
I can fix that. Riddle expanded his size threefold.
“That’s a nifty trick.”
Emma and Una climbed on Riddle’s back then he glided effortlessly onto the water. The darkened depths beckoned to the fearful places in Emma’s heart. She resolutely looked ahead, refusing to open the dialogue that she knew she couldn’t win. She focused on a vision of Nathan teaching her how to tie knots with the rope for the boat. He had teased and praised her, and she had enjoyed his company immensely. The scene kept her warm inside, and she held fast to the thought of seeing him again one day. She would see him. She repeated the thought over and over.
They reached the opposite side of the river. Emma and Una climbed down from Riddle’s back. A wide expanse of land lay before them, cloaked in shadows but still visible in a twilight haze. Emma stepped forward but stopped when Riddle and Una didn’t follow. She looked back over her shoulder.
We cannot go here, Una said.
“What?” She turned to face them. “Neither of you?”
Just beyond you will find that which you seek, Riddle said. We will wait here for you.
Emma hesitated.
Trust yourself, Una said.
Emma worried that might not be possible.
No, it is possible, Una interjected. Trust yourself, she repeated.
Having come this far, Emma couldn't turn back now. She turned and walked toward a land populated by the dead. She glanced to her right then to her left then back again, as if some monstrous creature might pop out of the ground at any time. She moved forward with small, careful steps, while her paranoia kept her alert and at the edge of her nerves. She soon came upon a lair with the flicker of firelight emanating from inside. After a scan in all directions revealed nothing behind her, she stepped inside. A presence loomed, dark and formless.
You are brave to come all the way here, it said.
“I, um…was sent here…I’m looking…” Emma stopped. She needed to be clear-headed. “Are you Masau’u?”
That is one name I am called.
“I’m looking for a boy called Loloma.”
And you think I would just hand him over to you?
“Yes.”
Emma's gaze flicked to the surroundings. The dwelling was simple yet foreboding. Fires burned along one side, with roasting spits above them. Did he cook the souls he enslaved?
I do not get many visitors. If you can solve a riddle, I’ll be more accommodating.
“And if I can’t?”
Then you will stay with me.
Emma didn’t like the odds, but she was at a disadvantage. Best to play along and buy some time to figure out how to accomplish her goal.
What both destroys and creates?
Feeling trapped, she feared what a wrong answer might bring. She contemplated the question. Only one thought came to her, but she felt it wasn’t quite right. She needed to think on it more, but knew time was limited—not because Masau’u would rush her, but because she wanted to stay in this place as little as possible.
“It could be many things,” she said.
Yes.
“A mother?”
Sorry. Not quite right.
The ground fell from beneath her. “Noooooo!” She was sucked with great force into the bowels of the earth. Her arms and legs flung outward, and her hair flew upward as she watched the hole she had just fallen through recede, becoming smaller and smaller.
She landed with a thud, but it didn’t jar her body as she thought it would. Remembering this wasn’t her physical body, she wondered why she felt any discomfort at all. She stood and turned in all directions. Alarm hovered at the periphery of her vision.
Nothing. There was nothing around her but blackness, an inky nothingness. She waved her arms around in an attempt to touc
h something, but there was simply no substance to this space. It was a void, much like the one she had entered when she’d searched for Loloma previously.
Panic swelled as she quickly assessed her situation. She needed to get out. She would not be a prisoner in this place, for months or years, maybe forever, however long that might be. Anger began to rise from her belly. She closed her eyes and felt the swirling warmth fill her; she began to shake from head to toe.
The transformation came without warning. It hadn’t been her intention to change herself, but as the shift overtook her energy body, she felt ready. Strength filled her and rage honed her thoughts to razor-sharp clarity. Now in the body of a sparrow, she pressed her beak into the fabric of the formless space, stretching it until a hole formed. She pulled and tugged to enlarge the tear then pushed her large avian body through it. Fully opening her wings, she soared upwards, each stroke pushing her quickly back to Masau’u’s lair. As she swooped across the landscape, she could see souls scattered on the ground, as if a personal cemetery for the Hopi Lord. But she knew these spirits weren’t fully dead as yet. With a powerful swoop of her wings, she landed at the edge and continued to flap with large gusting motions. The air currents lifted the souls from the landscape and brought them to her. She opened her beak and carefully breathed in each spirit so that it could rest safely in her belly. When she had collected all that were there, she ceased her fluttering and faced the dark entity.
Loloma isn’t among these souls I retrieved, she said. Where is he?
Masau’u formed and unformed. It isn’t I who has kept Loloma trapped.
Emma became aware of a cave off to the left. Still in sparrow form, she hopped to the entrance and peered inside. What she saw stopped her cold.
Loloma was there, but the force holding him tight wasn’t malevolent or even evil, just terribly misguided.
Lenmana.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Emma knew extricating Loloma from his mother wouldn’t be easy. She pondered how to approach the task, ultimately settling on the only avenue she understood.
The Sparrow Page 23