I Am Adam

by J.T. Twerell

  Chapter 14

  Year 30

  Eve and Sunna loved the times by the water when they could laugh, talk, and not be interrupted. Eve watched Sunna run and play in the water and was entranced with the growth of her little girl. Eve sensed that Sunna was in touch with a deeper truth, and seemed to feed on the conversations the two of them shared about God's plan and the Power of Love and Light. While sometimes disappointed that she never had more than one child, Eve felt grateful for the one she had brought forth. Sunna was rapidly becoming a young woman, and soon would have her own children. As she watched Sunna play, she thought back on her times with Dawn and Star and how they all loved to play together. In her heart, she knew they were well and following in their own journey, but she still missed seeing them.

  The life she now enjoyed was full of love and peace, guided by the plan of God for his creation. Other than the problems with Adam Fish, the people truly lived as one and celebrated their lives together in all they did. She did miss her communication with Domatarious, but understood that he was with her always, even if she did not see or hear him. He had not visited Sunna, but Eve knew in her heart that he would show himself to her in the proper time.

  "Mother Eve, look at this that I have found in the water," Sunna shouted as she ran toward her. She knelt before Eve, opened her hand, and showed her the stone she had found. "Look at how bright and beautiful it is and how it shines in the sun."

  Eve took the small stone and found it was heavy for its size. It was different from the rocks and stones on the beach, as it brightly shone as though it was a light all in itself. Eve recognized it as the type she had seen farther down river. When beaten into smooth shapes, the stones became decorations for ceremonies in the village. "That is beautiful Sunna. Show it to Adam later and he will be able to make it into something for you."

  "It is beautiful and I want you to have it," Sunna said.

  "Thank you Sunna, I will have Adam make something for me and it will always remind me of you. I have to go back to the village and meet with the Elders. Do you want to go with me or stay here for a while?"

  "I will stay for a while," Sunna replied. "Maybe I can find some more of the bright rocks for you."

  Eve kissed her and headed back into the woods as Sunna went down to the water’s edge and continued to look for bright stones. Sunna had been looking for some time when she began to sense someone else near her. Looking around, she saw no one, but continued to feel a presence. She heard a tree snap and saw a figure move up ahead. "Hello, who is there?" she hollered up the beach. Hearing no reply, she ran to the spot to see what was making the noise. As she approached, a young male stepped out and surprised her.

  "Why are you here?" the male asked her.

  "I am looking for bright stones in the water. Why are you here?" she asked. He said nothing, but as she looked at him, she was amazed she did not know him at all. There were no people in the settlement who she did not know, and this unknown person was now a puzzle.

  "Who are you?" she asked.

  "You are not allowed to be here," he said rather abruptly.

  "You must be from Adam Fish," she said softly. Looking around her, she suddenly realized that her wanderings down the shore had taken her rather far, and she was close to the place Adam Fish called his home. She had never seen Adam Fish, and the Elders all warned the children not to go near that part of the woods or river.

  "I am Adam called Sunna," she said.

  "You have hair like the bad female," he said as he grabbed her arm and started to pull her toward the woods. Sunna was startled at his move, and instinctively pulled her arm free and backed up from the male.

  "What are you doing?" she shouted. "You cannot grab me and drag me where you want. Who are you to do this?"

  "I am Fire, son of Adam Fish, and you are going with me because you have come into my land."

  Sunna knew she should run from this male, but something about him kept her rooted in place. "Fire, son of Adam Fish, why do you treat me with such anger? I have done nothing to harm you."

  He took a step toward her, and she stood firm and held her ground. He was older, but Sunna was tall and able to look him in the eye. She felt no fear in this place, only a sense that this male called Fire was unsure what to do next.

  "No person is to come on our land unless they ask. Why have you not done as we have told you? Why are you causing trouble?"

  Sunna laughed and said, "Fire, I was walking along the water, looking for stones. You came and became angry with me. Now tell me, who caused the trouble, you or me?"

  "You came on our land without asking. That is causing trouble," he shouted at her.

  Sunna stepped toward him, placed a hand on his chest, and quietly said, "I am sorry I did not ask. However, next time I come to see you, I will stand near the water and ask," she turned and walked slowly back to the river, feeling his eyes follow her. Then she heard him run up behind her and follow her to the river.

  "Why would you come back?" he asked, in a much quieter voice.

  Sunna turned, looked him in the eye, smiled, and said, "Probably to see you Fire." She then turned, walked back down the beach and around the bend. As she disappeared from sight, Fire was still standing in the same place, watching her.

  That night, as she sat with Eve by the fire, she told her about her meeting with Fire. Eve watched Sunna closely as she described the encounter, and saw no sign of fear in Sunna as she talked.

  "I think I would like to go see Fire again tomorrow," Sunna said. "Tell me what you think about my idea."

  Eve sat and looked at the fire and thought many different things. As Sunna's mother, she wanted to protect her. She knew that Adam Fish being separate from the other Adams was not a good thing. She had tried to meet with Adam Fish in the early times of his separation, but he called her a bad woman with light hair, and told her to stay away. She found Adam Fish's wife, Day, and tried to talk to her, but she told Eve not to look for her anymore for it would upset Adam Fish. Since then, no one from the settlement had journeyed to see Adam Fish and his group. Every full moon the village would gather in the clearing and celebrate Mother Sun and the Blessing of The God of All Good things, and they always gave thanks for Adam Fish, Day, and their children. They asked Mother Sun to provide a way to bring all the Adams back together, and now Sunna had run into Adam Fish's son, Fire.

  "Sunna, that is hard for me to decide," she said. "I do not think Fire would hurt you, but I also know that Adam Fish believes I am the cause of his problems. I don't know why he thinks this, and your Father Adam and I have tried to think of what caused Adam Fish to hate me, but we cannot even guess the answer. We have all prayed for a way to bring the Adams back together, and now this has happened with you and Fire. I remember Fire is older than you, but he was a small boy when I last saw him. I have taught you the way of listening with your heart and not your head; go with the eyes of the soul, and see what God desires to do with this problem."

  Sunna reached out, gave her mother a hug, and then laid her head in her lap. "I will see what happens as God desires. But Fire is also a very good looking male." Eve and Sunna laughed at this and quietly sat and watched the flames in the fire, each lost in their own thoughts.