Angel Fall

by Coleman Luck

“Here is exactly where you are. You brought the baby home.”

  For a moment Amanda stood in shock; then tears came. “You mean…it’s over? We made it?”

  “Your journey has ended.”

  She felt dizzy and, in her dizziness, started babbling. “This-is-it. We-did-it. I-never-thought-we’d-get-here-but-we-did-and-just-look-at-it-it’s-so-beautiful-I-can’t-even-stand-it.” She babbled until she almost fell into the pool.

  The voice in the treetops laughed again. “Be careful or you’re going to get wet.”

  “Okay-okay-I-will-it’s-just-all-so-wonderful-and-I-feel-wonderful.” Then she paused. “But…could I still see him? I’m-so-used-to-having-him-with-me-we’ve-been-together-so-long-it-feels-weird-when-he’s-not-here-could-I? Would-it-be-all-right?”

  The laughing voice replied, “Slow down, my child. Of course, it’s all right. Follow the path beside the stream. It will lead you to him.”

  Amanda turned and looked. Flowing away from the pool was a little stream, and next to it lay a path that led off into the forest. Rushing over, she began running through the trees, laughing and calling out. “We made it! We got here! We’re on the Mountain! We did it!”

  The soft voice came again. “Doesn’t it feel good to walk and run without pain?”

  She stopped, suddenly feeling very guilty. “Yes, it does. I don’t know who you are, but if you’re the one who healed me, I’m sorry for being so ungrateful.” She fought back tears. “I didn’t even say thank you. All I was thinking about was being happy and wanting to see the baby.”

  “Your joy is all the thanks I need.”

  “Are you the Healer?”

  “I am. My name is Melania, and soon we will meet face-to-face. But go slowly and let my forest touch you. All that matters here is loving, and feeling, and being One with the beauty. Hurrying can take the joy away. Breathe deeply. Say to yourself, Let peace and Oneness enter my heart for I am One with all things. Will you do that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. And I’ll see you in a little while.” Amanda heard a soft rushing sound in the trees, and she felt as though the person she had been talking to was gone. She looked around. Why was she hurrying through such a lovely place? Bellwind’s island had been beautiful, but the beauty had been veiled in sorrow. There was none of that here. Melania was right; the terrible journey was over. Now was the time to rest. Lifting her head, she closed her eyes and began breathing deeply. Then she whispered, “Let the peace and Oneness of this lovely place enter my heart, for I am one with all things.” Instantly she felt tension leaving her body, replaced with a joyful calm. The colors around her seemed to grow more vivid, and from far away came the echo of singing. It was all so peaceful that she thought about lying down and letting her mind drift in the dreaminess, but she just couldn’t do that until she had seen the baby and shared the joy with him.

  Breathing in the sweetness of the forest, she walked on. As the path wound through the trees, the gentle singing grew louder. It was like the voices of many women softly chanting words as old as the ages in a language she couldn’t understand. But just hearing them filled her with joy, as though they were calling to her, telling her she wasn’t alone, that sisters who loved her were waiting a little farther along just a few steps deeper into Heaven.

  Closer.

  The chant-song grew more complex, voices rising, falling, harmonies within harmonies weaving on the wind. Finally she entered what must have been the oldest part of the forest, and the singing was everywhere. All around her towered trees that looked as though they had been planted at the dawn of time, their trunks covered with ancient moss that hung like robes of dewy splendor. Though they were old beyond imagining, none was gnarled or misshapen. Each one stood straight and tall. Long ago their highest limbs and branches had woven together into an endless vaulted ceiling of pale green leaves through which fell shafts of hazy sunlight. To Amanda it was like being in a forest of tree grandmothers who had gathered to sing when the world was young and had enjoyed it so much that they had kept on singing for ten thousand years. Though all were stately and dignified, there was a softness about them too, like regal old women who love to take little children in their arms. As she walked among them, she realized that each tree had a voice all its own. Some were low and gentle. Others were like singing birds. Often she left the path and stood beneath a particularly beautiful tree so she could hear it apart from the rest.

  As Amanda wandered and listened, she became aware of one magnificent voice. It took awhile to hear it clearly, but when she did, she realized it was like no other. It sang a haunting melody that would rise to the treetops, then vanish beneath the thousand harmonies below, only to soar again in heartbreaking loveliness. The more she heard it, the more it felt like the voice was singing the story of her whole life, heartache and joy, pain and happiness, every experience she had ever had, blended and interwoven. Often tears would come to her eyes, and she would find herself whispering, “Yes, that’s the way I felt,” and, “I remember that. How could I have forgotten?”

  How long she walked, she had no idea, but constantly the one voice drew her on. Finally she rounded a bend and discovered that the path disappeared at the edge of a lustrous meadow, in the center of which stood a single tree. And it was glorious. Its long gentle branches were covered with silver leaves, and out of them grew clusters of shimmering black flowers. Glowing mist drifted from it, creating soft halos in the air. Though it wasn’t tall, the tree seemed to be the center of everything with all the others gathered around it in worship. And the singing voice was coming from within it.

  The singing stopped and the voice called to her, “Amanda, my daughter, I’ve waited so long. Come to me.” With wide eyes she crossed the clearing. “Are you…the Healer?”

  “I am. Come closer.”

  Slowly she walked forward and felt the warm mist surround her.

  “You’re…a tree?”

  “Does that surprise you?”

  “I guess nothing surprises me anymore.”

  “Trees are known for their music. Did you like my singing?”

  “I loved it, but sometimes it made me cry.”

  “That’s because the song was about you. Amanda, dear child of earth, your life is a song of faithfulness and courage.”

  “I don’t know about that. All I did was get carried here in a wagon.”

  “Your great strength brought you here. But you have traveled far, and I know you are hungry.”

  Amanda realized that she was famished. “Well, I haven’t eaten in a long time.”

  “Come beneath my branches.”

  As she stepped under the tree, she was bathed in a luscious fragrance. Among the flowers she saw fruit so ripe it looked like it would fall to the ground at any moment.

  “Hunger you shall never know in my forest.” The voice was coming from above. “I invite you to taste my children.”

  “Your children?” The girl was startled.

  “Fruit are the children of trees.”

  “I never thought of it that way.”

  “In ages past all creatures knew such things. No one would take the children of a tree without asking permission of their mother. But that was in a time before time, and it doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that you are with us at last and my forest is here for your pleasure. Take of my little ones. Their sweetness will continue your healing.”

  “Am I still sick?”

  “Growing well is a journey of many steps, and you are far along. First came the healing of your body. But now must come Oneness to your soul. Eat as much as you desire.”

  Though she felt a bit odd about it, Amanda reached up and plucked a piece of fruit. When she bit into it, the taste made her forget everything else. A strange sweetness tingled in her mouth, and each bite made her ache for more. “It’s so good.” She mumbled as juice ran down her chin. After six pieces she had to stop. “I want to keep eating, but I’m so full.” Then something began to happen. The tingling sens
ation grew and her eyes started to blur. She rubbed them and looked around. What she saw made her knees so weak that if she hadn’t grabbed onto a branch she would have fallen.

  She wasn’t in a forest. It was a garden of spirits. The outer shells of everything looked like soft glimmering ghosts. Inside them were living creatures mingling, loving. That’s why the singing had been so complex. She understood now. Every vine, every branch, even the roots under the dirt, all were one. Life entwined forever. She looked down. Beneath her was an emerald carpet of soft slender beings, bending and weaving in the wind.

  Grass.

  That’s what she had always called it. But each blade was different. And every tiny shoot knew who she was and why she was there. And they were singing too, in little voices that had been drowned out by the trees. For a moment she could think their thoughts and feel what it was like to be a blade of grass in a sea of brothers and sisters. No life apart. One with all. What joy there was in Oneness.

  Slowly Amanda walked back out into the clearing. Before her stood hundreds of lovely tree-spirit women, their arms reaching toward her. Suddenly she could understand their language. Their chant-song was about her, and how brave she was, and how she had come home to them from a long and terrible journey. Most of all it was about how they loved her and wanted to make her One with the life that was in them. Amanda was about to run to them when she heard a rustling sound behind her.

  Turning, she saw that the beautiful tree had disappeared. Standing in its place was a tall slender woman. Her skin was soft brown and her eyes were violet. Her long hair was like silver leaves and woven in it were clusters of black flowers. She wore a gown of moss and her feet were bare. Around her shimmered halos of silver mist. Her loveliness was so delicate and ethereal that Amanda felt like she was in the presence of a goddess of dreams.

  “You’re…Melania?”

  The woman nodded and smiled. “Now you understand the true power of healing. The eyes of the soul must be opened because all creatures join hands in the rebirth of a single heart. Only when that takes place can we become free from the shadow of dying.”

  “I feel so happy.” Tears were in Amanda’s eyes. “I feel like this has always been my home and I want to stay here forever.”

  “This is your home. But there is one more thing that you must do before your work is finished.”

  “What is it?”

  “An act of joy that will fulfill the purpose of your life. But right now it’s time to go and see the one you carried over so many weary miles.”

  “Oh, yes. Where is he?”

  “Come, I’ll show you.” The woman turned and led her across the clearing. On the other side the path became visible again. As Amanda walked, she had never experienced such joy. The whole forest was alive with singing creatures that reached out from every tree and bush and flower, trying to touch Melania. It was like a mother walking among her children. The air itself seemed to ripple with ecstasy. A kind of dreaminess entered her mind. This was Heaven. She knew it.

  “All of them love you so much,” Amanda said.

  “They were dead and I brought them back to life again. But my power is limited to this mountain. You have walked through my poor world, Amanda. What is it like away from here?”

  “It’s awful. So ugly.”

  “But it will live once more because a new Healer is among us.”

  “Really?”

  “It’s you, my child. You are the Chosen One. Within you lies the power to make this world into what it was meant to be. That’s why you were called to bring the baby home.”

  “I don’t know how to heal anything.”

  “The gift will be awakened. All you need is a little of the courage that brought you here.”

  “It was Wanderspoon who brought us here. We never would have made it otherwise.”

  “Speak carefully. That name is a curse. He brought you because he wanted a reward. He’s a pitiful creature.”

  “I know, but sometimes I almost felt sorry for him.”

  “He wasn’t always the way he is now. Once he had great gifts.”

  “We spent a night in this dead, empty city, but he thought it was full of people and he was their king. While we were there, I had a dream. In it, there was an earthquake and a fire and a lot of people died.”

  Melania stared at her. “You dreamed the truth. It must be part of your gift awakening. What you saw happened long ago, during the last Great War. What else did you dream?”

  “The buildings fell down, and Wanderspoon was right in the middle of them. How did he get away?”

  “He isn’t human.”

  “What is he?”

  “When the Worwil came to Boreth we brought spirits with us to help us do our work. He was one of mine. I gave him power to heal all creatures. But he turned against me, choosing to rule instead of serve. So I took his power away. Now his life is cursed. He hoped that if he brought you here the curse would be removed.”

  “What’s going to happen to him?”

  “He will wander on and on, trying to fill his hunger.”

  At any other time Amanda would have found the words very frightening. But in her dreaminess she simply walked on looking at the pretty flowers and trees. They had been climbing for an hour when Melania left the path and led her into a tiny clearing. There, in a patch of sunlight, lay the little boy fast asleep.

  “Shhh,” Melania whispered. “We don’t want to wake him. I’m sure he hasn’t slept like this in a long, long time.”

  Amanda whispered, “He’s so beautiful, and I love him so much. I want to pick him up.” The woman smiled and led her away. When they had gone a short distance, Amanda stopped. “There was a question I wanted to ask, but I can’t make my mind remember it. Oh, I remember. What’s his name?”

  “My sister Bellwind didn’t tell you?”

  “No.”

  “Did she tell you anything?”

  “Not much.”

  “Perhaps she thought you weren’t ready. His name is Aloi, and he is the Living Presence of the Spirit that is in all things.”

  “He’s a spirit?”

  “Listen to a little song that we used to teach the children.” She began chanting softly.

  One. Yes, one. The universe is One.

  When Boreth was shaped from the dust of the stars

  In that Oneness was born Aloi.

  One. Everything is one.

  From the tiniest leaf to the tallest mountain.

  And we call that Oneness Aloi.

  One. Forever one.

  When he comes, he will sing the world to Oneness.

  And then, in him all things will be…Aloi.

  When she was finished, Amanda said, “That’s so beautiful. But there’s something I don’t understand.”

  “What is it, my child?”

  “If that’s who he is, why does anybody want to hurt him? One night we saw evil things riding on horses. If they’d have found us, we’d both be dead.”

  Sadly Melania replied, “In the universe the great battle never ends, Light and Darkness, good and evil, love and fear, the circle turns on and on.”

  “I was really scared that night.”

  “Little daughter, let me take your fear away. In the world of Light and Darkness, which is good and which is evil?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Which is better and which is worse?”

  “I guess light is better. It lets you see.”

  “But too much light can burn your eyes with fire, and only in darkness is the crimson moon revealed. Deeper, child, go deeper, to thoughts that you have never known. Creating or destroying, which is good and which is evil?”

  “Well, creating things is better than wrecking them.”

  “But how can new things come unless the old is swept away? If nothing died, could anything be born?”

  “I guess there wouldn’t be any room left, would there?” Amanda was struggling to make her mind work. “Okay, but there’s one thing I know
for sure. Hurting a baby is always bad. And there’s nothing good about it.”

  “Ah, here is the secret within the secret, the greatest secret of all. Few there are who find it and fewer still who grasp its power. But to the Chosen it is revealed. And you are the Chosen, my child. Aloi is the light. The darkness tries to overcome him because it is the destiny of evil to fight against the good. But struggling against it makes him strong. Like a butterfly trapped in a cocoon fighting to reach the wind. Fighting, fighting, for if it does not fight, its wings will be weak and it will never fly. If there were no evil to fight against, there would be no light in Aloi. Chaos, darkness, and evil are only the names we give the cocoon out of which all light is born.”

  “I don’t understand any of that. How can he fight against things on horses? He’s just a baby. What if they had killed him?”

  “No creature of the Light can ever die.”

  “They killed a huge stone horse and he was a creature of the Light. I saw them do it.”

  Melania paused and her eyes filled with tears. “So, my brother Sandalban is gone.”

  “I’m sorry. I forgot he was one of you.”

  “It’s all right. You saw him die?”

  “Yes, and it was horrible.”

  “But what happened when his body was destroyed?”

  “His spirit rose in the air and he flew away.”

  “So, he didn’t really die at all, did he?”

  “Well, not exactly.”

  “Don’t you see what happened, Amanda? The Servants of the Night released him. They set him free from a world of pain. Wasn’t that for his good?”

  “I…guess so. But it was terrible too.”

  “Yes, evil is always terrible. And what they did to him was very evil. But tell me, wasn’t he happier to be free?”

  “Well, he looked happier. He’d been chained to the ground for ages.”

  “So good came out of bad. Hasn’t that happened to you? Aren’t you a better person for all that you have suffered?”

  Softly Amanda replied, “A lot better. I was so selfish and angry before. But I don’t think it’s that way for everybody. What about Wanderspoon?”

  “Some creatures learn more quickly than others. But slowly, through the endless wheel of life and death and life again, every being, even Wanderspoon, grows toward the Oneness of all things.” She stopped and knelt down. Near the path, there was a tiny flower. “Look, child. Do you see the lovely spirit inside?”