Aedre's Firesnake

by Rayner Ye

  “We feel bad you’re working here. Aedre, I’d like you to reconsider coming to the village, Kos, to teach union.” He nodded at Gus, who expanded an aurashield around them. Gus remained outside of it and findled with an ancient recording device.

  Her heartbeat races, and she stood and peered at the swirling light. “What’s going on?”

  Somare stood too, holding his palms out in surrender. “Don’t panic. It’s time for me to tell you everything. I’ve been waiting to talk to you without that drone listening. Didn’t want it to follow you to my home in Kos and put my family at risk. Gus told me you'd seen the news.”

  Tears welled up behind her eyelids. “Yes.” She sagged into the sofa. “The man with the drones killed my friends. Do you know him?”

  Her eyes widened with fear. “Where’s the drone?”

  “Outside. We installed a positive pressure barrier. My bungalow is a new build, and there’s no other way inside. I can finally talk to you about what’s happening. It can’t hear. We have soundproofing.”

  “But what if it contacts the gangsters?”

  His shoulders stiffened as he glanced at the front door. “We didn’t know what else to do. If we’re lucky, they’ll assume it’s an innocent mosquito barrier, which it is.”

  She let out a loud sigh and poured herself tea, no longer nervous. “I’ve never managed to get rid of that drone before. It can burn holes through mosquito nets.”

  “With enough air pressure, it can be blown in a certain direction, as long as it isn’t attached to a surface.”

  “Why did you invite me here?”

  “We want you in our village.”

  “Why? Surely not to teach union.”

  “That’d be your disguise. You won’t believe what I’m gonna tell you.”

  She helped herself to another snack and crossed her arms. “I’m listening.”

  “When I was six, my mother asked me to fetch water from the river. It was pouring rain. When I arrived there, a strange woman approached me—”

  “Strange?”

  “Like you. Fiery hair and white freckled skin. A five-pointed star carved into her cheek and eye.”

  Her breath briefly stopped, and she ran a finger along her scar.

  “She told me she was a time-traveller.”

  What? Is this guy tripping? Aedre chuckled and covered her smirk. “Time-traveller?”

  “That was what I had thought, and being the cheeky boy I was, I called her rude names.” With his finger, he drew a line across his forehead—the gesture for insane in Inarmuzza. “She ordered me to stay where I was and watch some real magic. She lay on a rock in the river, aura shield on, and closed her eyes. A duplicate of herself appeared out of thin air. She was floating next to me while her other body remained on the rock.”

  A cold shiver ran up Aedre’s spine. “Was it Haunted River?”

  He inhaled a sharp breath. “How’d you know?”

  “Sh—“

  “Sharr Shuvuu?”

  Her skin tingled with discomfort as she stood and pressed fingers against her lips. “You know Sharr Shuvuu?”

  “Like Bamdar, I know of her. I’m not supposed to know. It’s a secret.”

  “Bamdar?”

  “The Godfather of the Yiksaan mafia. His drone’s waiting outside for you, trying to get in. Don’t worry. Our conversation being recorded now’s about union and meditation. You are unsure whether to return to my village.”

  “Okay. I’m all ears.” She rubbed her eyes. “But first, how do you know about Sharr Shuvuu? She said I must go to Haunted River and spirit travel from there.”

  He jumped up, nodding and smiling. “Yes! That’s what you must do. Your future-self told me to tell you the same. The woman with a star scarred on her face. She was you! Much older than you are now, though. She told me lots of things and took me to lots of places.”

  Aedre stared at the tabletop. “Where did she take you?”

  “Where did you take me, you mean?”

  This is surreal. He knows my spirit guardian from the Otherworld? What he says must be true. “Sorry. Yes. Where did I take you?”

  “Through a time-portal.”

  “Where? How?”

  “We caught a bus to an ancient amethyst pyramid upriver from Haunted River.”

  She pictured the Satsang pyramids. They were located all over the world.

  Somare gazed over her shoulder. “And from inside that pyramid, we went into an indigo light and travelled all over Plan8. It was wonderful.” He looked up, searching his mind, as fond memories bubbled into his heart. He went cold at the next image and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “But then you took me sixty years into the future.”

  She leaned in closer. “What did you see?”

  “Me, my family, my grandchildren, all buried in ash.”

  “A volcanic explosion?”

  “Yes. In ten years. I need you to open that pyramid’s portal again and take us through.”

  “I don’t know how.”

  “Firstly, you must travel by river and rain from Haunted River. What Sharr Shuvuu told you.”

  “Then what?”

  “Have you ever seen a crow woman in Sharr Shuvuu’s world?”

  She frowned. “No.”

  “Your older self knew her well. You will need to express your intent to go to the crow woman’s house, near your entrance.”

  “Okay...” Astral projection’s second nature for me. This time travel thing sounds mental, though.

  “She knows where you hid a key to unlock that time-portal. Your older-self drew a map. Sadly, she didn’t trust me with a star-key.”

  “Star-key?”

  “That’s what the keys look like, amethyst stars.”

  “There are more than one?”

  “Yes. But they’re hidden from us for now.”

  “Your future-self didn’t trust Sharr Shuvuu, said she was controlled by others who don’t have your best interests at heart. She only trusted the crow woman in the end.”

  “The end?”

  He nodded. “Your time-travelling self was in big trouble. She may have died. I don’t know. Will you be able to find that key and open the time-portal?”

  “I can try.” What trouble was she in?

  “You open the pyramid, and I buy you a ticket home.” He couldn’t afford it now, but would once he time-travelled—the perfect foreign trade.

  Her heart seemed to freeze, then pound. She bolted upright. “Really? You’ll buy me a ticket home?” I’ll be with Dad and Soozan again!

  He rested his arms behind his neck. “As soon as you open the time machine, I’ll give you money and lead my people to the future. Then you must hide the key. I recommend throwing it over the cliff in the Shaft of Swords.”

  “Why get rid of it?”

  “Your future-self said it was dangerous and Bamdar had used the time-portal to make slaves of everyone.”

  “Bamdar?”

  “The mafia Godfather who is obsessed with you.”

  She gasped. This was all weaving together now. Did the present Godfather know about time travel? Is that why he’s following me?

  “We’ll keep an eye on your drone and make sure it’s elsewhere when you have the key. Bamdar mustn’t find out this time around. Now is your second chance to get it right.”

  “He wouldn’t find it down the Shaft of Swords?”

  “Not if it looks like you’re returning for an honest day’s work.”

  “But we go in naked. How could I hide it?”

  “We’ll plan that later. Don’t worry now. Concentrate on finding the key. Then I can lead my villagers to a safer time.”

  “And lead your captives to a safer time too?”

  He cocked his head. “What?”

  “Giok's only volcano is here, and its magma chamber rests under the Shaft of Swords. You free your labourers. I’ll try to do everything you say.”

  He folded his arms. “Impossible. That’s the government’s decision, n
ot mine.”

  Heat flushed through her body. She stood, hands on her hips. “Tell the government.”

  “They’ll think I’m insane.”

  “I’m not gonna help you until you free your captives.” What a selfish bastard!

  “Listen. Bamdar will come and get you in a couple of months and enslave you as his concubine. It happens. Your future-self told me this. That’s why she asked me to help.”

  She ground her teeth. Was this a trick? “Prove it.”

  He folded his arms tightly. “I have no proof, but who else would know your spirit guardian, Sharr Shuvuu, the owl woman?”

  “It’s cruel to leave them here if this whole place is gonna blow.”

  “It isn’t for another ten years.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You want me out? Get them out first.”

  He wiped sweat from his brow. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Wayan’s Compound

  Her taxi sped away, and Aedre entered Komang and Wayan’s compound garden. She placed her bags at the foot of the stairwell leading to her stilted house, then followed a path to the garden altar. How would the family feel about her? Would their hospitality turn to hostility? Had she hurt their feelings by leaving without saying goodbye?

  The father, Komang, was busy giving offerings to the Bee Goddess. He wore a white turban, a white shirt, and his golden silk sarong hung in pleats from hips to ankles. He looked lost in thought as he pushed a handful of smoking incense sticks into a bowl of sand on the altar. While he knelt on a stool and prayed, Aedre waited behind a clump of shrubs.

  When he got up to leave, Aedre spoke, “Komang?”

  He jerked his head towards her. “You’re back.”

  “Sorry I left. You were so kind to me. I hope you don’t think I was ungrateful.”

  “Don’t be sorry. We know what happened to your friends.”

  Did they know about the drone or the crazy tales of time travel?

  “You’re always welcome. What's ours is yours.” He raised an eyebrow. “Will you teach union to our villagers?”

  She nodded. Was the drone listening? “Yes. My first lesson will be at sunset.”

  “In the temple?”

  “The temple garden. Do you think that’s alright?”

  He chuckled. “Of course.”

  “Where’s Wayan?”

  “Preparing food. Wanna talk to her?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Follow me.”

  They entered a red-brick building with a red-tiled roof.

  Wayan was washing dishes, her back to Aedre. Wayan’s orange and black batik sarong hugged her small round body, and her striped black and brown hair coiled into an intricate bun.

  “Wayan. Aedre is back. She’s here to see you.”

  Wayan turned and gasped. Eyes twinkling, she rubbed her stumpy hands on her apron, then held them out for an embrace. Her voice was deeper than Komang’s. “Hello, Aedre.”

  Aedre hugged her, then stepped back.

  The palest Native-Red she’d seen, Wayan’s skin colour resembled a Papsnen’s. And her eyes weren’t big like most Native-Reds, but narrow like a Jerjen’s.

  Wayan took a step forward, lips curled in a smile. She clasped Aedre’s hands in hers. “Oh, look at you. It’s so good to meet you finally.”

  Aedre flushed. She’d spent a whole week with them and never bothered to say hello. “Sorry I didn’t introduce myself. I was so messed up.”

  “Don’t worry. Gus explained what happened to your friends. You had a right to be upset.”

  Aedre wanted to open up and tell her about Mums death and Dad’s admission to a mental asylum too. Could she visit an Air Dome and get in touch with him? Now didn’t feel like the right time to ask.

  Wayan reached up and touched Aedre’s hair. “Look at your beautiful hair.” She jumped back. “You must be hungry.”

  “Um—”

  “Let me prepare something. I have mangoes.” She touched a bowl of fruit and set a heating rod in a stone bowl of water. “And I’ll bring mountain herb tea.”

  “Thanks.”

  Wayan rolled her eyes and tapped Aedre’s arm. “Please. You don’t need to thank me. You like curry?”

  “I love curry.”

  “There's no meat. That okay?”

  “I don’t eat meat unless I have to.”

  “Excellent. Why not join us to eat in the dining room? Know where it is?”

  “No. I mean, I don’t know.”

  “It's next to our shop over there.” Wayan pointed to an identical building through the window.

  “Join us in an hour?”

  “That’d be lovely.”

  “I’ll bring you mango and tea first. For your curry, you want sambal?”

  “Yes. I ate sambal all the time in Rajka.”

  Wayan let out a rolling laugh. “Rajka? Oh, my girl. Rajanakki sambal isn't spicy. Ever eaten Giokese sambal?”

  She shook her head.

  “Listen, I’ll put a small dish of sambal on the side. That’s real Firesnake sambal, sweetie.”

  A tremor spread over Aedre’s cheeks and behind her ears. She looked away as grief stirred in the pit of her stomach. Her mother used to call her sweetie.

  ***

  Trees stretched to the blue sky and monkeys screamed from branches as Aedre strolled through long grass along the river’s edge, keeping watch for snakes. The river sang so sweetly, and the trees were green and gentle. The wind whispered into her body, and the sun shined into her soul.

  She found a flat stone, large enough to lie on, then slipped off her sandals and hopped across stepping stones. The drone buzzed around her. Here would be where she’d follow Sharr Shuvuu’s instructions. Had to wait for it to rain. She’d wear her amethyst necklace every day.

  Her gaze rested on water bubbling over rock. She’d once read meditating on water flowing towards you had positive effects, while meditating on it flowing away had negative, so she sat and faced the oncoming current.

  Straightening, she slowed her breath, closed her eyes and listened. Leaves fluttered, birds chattered, and monkeys screeched near and far. Water rushed, rippled and gurgled over rocks. The river purified every part of her brokenness, and white light washed away shadows.

  For an hour, she dedicated twenty breath cycles to each of the nine postures of the Bee Goddess and then lay on her back to rest. The stone was pleasing, having retained some of the sun’s warmth, while trees shaded her from its scorching rays.

  If it rained, this would be her time to do what Sharr Shuvuu had told her to do.

  Five minutes later, as if answering her thoughts, a cool breeze rustled the trees, and thunder boomed. A downpour of rain followed.

  Heart thumping and goosebumps prickling her skin, she rummaged through her pockets for her aurashield remote—the red ring which Mosh had given her.

  As she switched on waterproof mode, her excitement turned to sober reality. Poor Mosh. Murdered. She couldn’t bring him back to life, but she could revenge his death.

  It seemed as if the drone was unable to get through her aurashield. Instead, it flew out of sight, probably hiding under a leaf. Even if it was watching, her meditation shouldn’t raise suspicions. Bamdar would’ve seen her practice union before.

  She deepened her breath. An egg of light glowed around her, and like always, she descended into the Otherworld.

  Aedre climbed out of her fox lair, and colour filled her vision as if she stood in a forest on Nerthus or Kuanja.

  She staggered backwards and looked around her, squinting.

  The scenery was vivid, like real life—not grey and speckled and only sometimes met with colour when her imagination permitted.

  She could smell—pine, fertile earth, ocean air. Birds’ sang. Small rocks on the path dug into her soles. Warmth caressed her face and stroked her skin. Her naked body caught rays of sunlight, beaming through a leafy canopy. Warm and comfortable, not boiling like the Firesnake.

  She peered at t
he blue sky. It would be wonderful to explore. Could she fly and shape-shift like before? Even though this world was more real than ever?

  But she was solid too—not a spirit in need. No more diving into a volcano to heal a broken heart. Sharr Shuvuu had told her she could get hurt this way, and she could die.

  A cold shudder travelled up her spine. She took a step back. “Sharr Shuvuu!”

  Sharr Shuvuu landed on her path. Not a shadow of her as before, but Sharr Shuvuu as existent as life itself. Merriment filled Sharr's features. “You did it. I thought you hated me and wouldn’t.”

  “I don’t hate you.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No. I love you.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course. Tell me, is this still a spirit plain?"

  “Every world's a spirit plain."

  "You haven't answered my question."

  "You're in Eeporyo."

  Aedre's heart skipped a beat. "Plan8's Eeporyo?"

  Sharr Shuvuu nodded. “So you’re doing this from Haunted River?”

  “Yes.”

  “You left the labour camp?”

  “Yes.”

  Sharr Shuvuu sighed in relief, then shook her head. “I’m sorry I’ve messed with your life. You were right to be angry. Your life’s none of my business. But you’ve done it.” She beamed. “You’ve travelled by river and rain. I’m so proud of you. Does it seem different?”

  “It’s more real.”

  “Welcome.”

  Aedre froze. "Welcome to Eeporyo?"

  “Yes. Come home with me. We need to talk in private. My family is working in a forest garden all day.”

  Aedre bit her bottom lip. She’d wanted to visit the crow, as Somare had ordered. She needed a key to unlock a time-portal in the pyramid. Then she’d get a ticket to return to Nerthus and be with Dad and Soozan. She wasn’t supposed to tell Sharr Shuvuu though. Stupid. Should never have called her name.

  “Are you still upset with me?” Sharr Shuvuu studied Aedre’s face.

  “No. I’ll come to your home with you, but can’t stay long. Don’t want something to happen to my body in Haunted River while I’m here. I can’t even hear the rain there. All of my sensations are here.”

  “Wanna shape-shift then?”

  “Huh?”