By G.R. Nanda
“The coyote stared at Father Hawk with glaring yellow eyes that glinted with a strange brightness.”
“Father Hawk’s heart sank. He was almost too tired to be afraid or run away. It was indeed getting tiresome, constantly running away, constantly being surprised and chased away by some new threat.”
“It was too much. Maybe, Father Hawk thought, he was okay with this confrontation this time. Maybe, he could just allow what was going to happen to happen.”
“ He was frozen. He was trembling, but he was too tired to move. He couldn’t bear facing the wolf, yet his eyes were locked into its eyes.”
“Father Hawk’s own beady black eyes were staring into the yellow depths of the wolf’s.”
“They were a strange bright yellow. Yellow surrounded a narrow black slit in the middle of the eyeball.”
“The more time Father Hawk spent looking into the wolf’s eyes, the more he could make out the finer details: thin marks– strips of yellow encircling the black slit in dark and light shades of yellow.”
“The coyote blinked. His dark eyelids slowly closed, moving over his eyes. When they reopened, the beam of light shooting down from the ceiling was brighter, thicker.”
“Father Hawk looked up and he saw hundreds of faintly glowing crystals embedded in the rock ceiling around the gaping hole where the beam of light came through. The crystals were of varying sizes, all jagged and all of a pale bluish-white complexion.”
“Father Hawk looked down at the reflection of the ceiling on the water he was standing in.”
“Besides the faint ripples, the image was pretty close to that of the rocky roof.”
“In the water, Father Hawk saw many glowing shite orbs against an expanse of dark rock.”
“It looked like stars against the black expanse of space.”
“The spots of bright white light rippled in the water, but as Father Hawk stilled, the water became calmer. The stillness in the water made it really appear as if it was a pool of stars in space.”
“Father Hawk took another step in the pool, breaking the stillness with ripples once more.”
“The image of the roof and its crystals jiggled. The glowing pinpricks brightened and turned whiter. The substance of the water grew darker.”
“The coyote let out a bark that penetrated the quiet of the cave and startled Father Hawk. He gave a start and staggered backwards. He let out a yelp before he plummeted into the water, consumed by the pool and its starry reflection.”
“Father Hawk closed his eyes and a stinging chill enveloped him, pouring into every part of his body. He was caught in the overwhelming movement of freefall.”
“He gasped and opened his eyes to find himself in the deep starry space that was reflected in the pool. There were crystals no more; for now they were stars– so many stars dotting the black expanse he fell in. Spinning and falling through, the stars became rapid lines of movement and white masses, all of them dizzying him.”
“As Father Hawk fell for some time, the space cleared up for him. His legs trailed above him as his head plummeted. Spinning around, he caught the sight of the coyote still standing atop a rock ledge which was now suspended in space and illuminated by a colorful gaseous nebula of blue, green and red peppered by white stars.”
“Down below, six huge stars– six massive glowing orbs moved towards Father Hawk.”
“Out of their shape popped the huntsman– a ghostly blue apparition. His muscles bulged, his eyes glowed and his beard flowed.”“‘WHAT DID I TELL YOU?’ boomed the huntsman’s voice.”
G.R. Nanda 