By G.R. Nanda
The oracle, the muse of the Atlantic tribe was a sweet, but at times stubborn and inaccessible woman. Elder Hawk spent much of her time inside a spacious hut referred to by the tribespeople as their “nest.” Her time was spent indoors, away from the effortful labors performed by the younger and the physically stronger while they were under the spell of the acht-chi.
She had lived long enough and worked long enough to deserve some peace, solitude and a tribal role that was less physically taxing. Her affairs involved communicating with the god Great Father Hawk, attending to the tribespeople’s woes and confusions. She also attended to every birth and every expected death. Above all activities, she slept. Rich dreaming allowed her to communicate effectively with her god.
On this night, the tribespeople counted unexpected visitors as “births.” It was because of this that Elder Hawk’s nighttime slumber was interrupted by pounding at the door.
Elder Hawk’s eyes opened into small slits. Her plump body was sunken into a large sack of leaves. Her shrivelled brown skin was exposed on her face and her thin hands- the rest hidden in her baggy robes. Across from her at the front of the long room, illuminated by small torches on the walls, past the large rug on the floor and the hawk altar in the small basin of water at the middle, the two main doors shuddered. Torchlight spilled from under them.
“A birth!” someone shouted from outside in the howling wind. “A birth!”
Elder Hawk closed her eyes and laid her arms on her stomach under her breasts. She breathed deeply.
None of the courtship rituals from my knowledge warrant a birth at this time! thought Elder Hawk. How could a secret romance have blossomed under my watch? This troubled her greatly. If she wasn’t able to identify, initiate and plan the courtships of the Atlantic tribe, she wouldn’t be fulfilling her role as Elder Hawk.
The doors opened with a loud blow. The night’s laborpeople walked in carrying torches that alighted dust and orange fog spilling into the room. The wind blew through, tickling and dampening the small flames of the torches hung on the walls. The laborpeople were carrying a long lean body strung up on their tightened hands.
“Elder Hawk!” said Li, one of the laborpeople, who left the mass of people to rush around the fountain, kneeling before Elder Hawk. He was a tall muscly man with long black hair collected in a pony tail and wisps of thin facial hair, slanted eyes and tan skin. He stared wide-eyed into the sleepy eyes of Elder Hawk. “A new birth! You must decide the fate of this newborn!”
The doors were slammed shut. The flames of the torches cast swirling shadows across the walls and their faces. The laborpeople behind Li spread throughout the room and made sure to stay behind. Two people laid the body in front of the fountain.
“A newborn?” exclaimed Elder Hawk. “How many newborn infants have you seen that big?”
Li bowed his head, contemplating a response.
The knot in Elder Hawk’s chest loosened. She did not in fact miss a tribal courtship. However, a knot formed again. A being- a teenager had been birthed- brought into the world of the Atlantic tribe.
“Quite an unexpected birth,” commented Elder Hawk. “A teenager. A young man.” She arched her back and squinted at the unmoving body on the floor. His garments were unlike anything she had seen on her fellow tribespeople. A long crinkled suit of red and grey material covered him from his torso to his feet. “He appears to be from…….. the outside world.
Li looked up at Elder Hawk.
“That does appear to be the case Elder,” he said. “It makes me afraid.”
“Before He-hawk dropped him as prey, we were warned by the last shift of laborpeople and watchers that a vehicle from the Past World had landed on our watchtowers. The birthed one we brought probably comes from this vehicle.”
Elder Hawk’s eyes widened. Torchlight shimmered on her large brown pupils. Her eyebrows and eyelids were stretched with concern and shock.
“A vehicle………,” she repeated, “……… from……….. the………… Past World.” She exhaled for a long time at the last two words. Her lips tightened and turned downward. She wore a pained expression on her face.
Li nodded.
“Very mysterious,” he said.
“Where is the vehicle?” said Elder Hawk.
“It must have been pulled down by laborpeople in the West Wing. We heard of disturbance and clamor from the watchboys. He-Hawk told us to expect larger than usual prey.”
“Is this…………… boy here,” began Elder Hawk, pointing to the body on the floor behind Li, “the only one of his kind? Was he alone in the vehicle?”
“I -,” started Li, “- I – I don’t know.” He bowed his head. Li’s exchange was complete. All that he must say had been said. They both knew that Elder Hawk must begin her birthing initiation rite.
“The Great Father Hawk still works his instruments of fate from the cosmos,” said Elder Hawk. “He has seen to our visitors from the Past World. We will pull from his teachings and His Word.” She tapped her left ear. “I continue to listen and I always do. The fifth nightgown of the month is awaiting. Calm your hearts. I will listen and spread His Word then. Go now, with your laborpeople. Send the next shift and relieve yourselves of the acht-chi.”
“Yes, Elder Hawk,” said Li, still bowing his head. He stood up and faced the laborpeople. “We leave. Acht-chi fulfilled.” He headed out the door with everyone else shuffling to the door. Gas spilled in when the door was opened. They emptied the room, bringing their large torches outside with them. When the door closed, the room was dimmer and quieter.
The boy scooted on his side, leaning against the basin in a fetal position. His eyes were still closed.
“Open your eyes,” muttered Elder Hawk. She stood up from her sack. The feathers inside shifted and ruffled against each other. “Knowledge and re-birth await!”
G.R. Nanda 