17: The Teasing Spirit

Edith stumbled through the surrounding shrubbery. Her hunger clawed at her stomach, and patches of darkness enveloped her vision. How long had it been since she left the only home she knew? How long had it been since Methuselah was murdered? How long had she forced her way through this barren wasteland? There was nothing to eat, and nothing to drink but the bitter tasting water of the pitiful stream she was following. Black spots danced before her eyes. The extreme heat, her overwhelming hunger, the fatigue of sleepless nights, and the fear bore down on her. The fear of what? She could not remember. There was something... she was going to someone. Her thoughts were muddled and confused. Clinging about her face and neck, her long brown hair intensified the heat. She had long since discarded her dress and eight petticoats, remaing only in her light slip. It made no difference now. The pain in her legs, in her stomach, in her head, in her whole body gripped at her, trying to slow her, dragging her down to the desert sand. Bushes clung to her as if urging her to stop and give up and lie down. Overhead a vulture paciently circled. The sun bore down relentlessly. She couldn't take it. Edith collapsed on the ground.

"Oh the bad misery of the world! My love of loves has perished!"
Felipe mourned, raising Edith's bedraggled dress.
"She has been devoured by a terribly hideous monster, and this lone garmet is all that remains to remind me of her beauty when I am old! All is lost! Let us return home now, men.
Felipe's two men at arms glanced at each other.
"Excuse me, my Lord, but may I make an observation?" said one of them.
"I wonder if the monster had two eyes, or three?" mused Felipe, ignoring him.
"My Lord, if you will give your attention--"
"No, I actually believe it was a cyclops!"
"My Lord, look here! There is no blood on the dress! Your lady was most certainly--"
"Then it was definitely a dragon! She has been scorched to death and her ashes have been taken by the wind!"
"Sir Felipe! If she had burned up, then her dress would have burned with her!"
"You're right! Well... then...I have it! She was taken captive by dream spirits!"
"My liege, please stop that! Look right here, the footprints continue on, along a trail of petticoats."
The man gestured toward the disturbed sand. Felipe considered this information a minute then announced, "You are right. My love is alive! I propose we celebrate this good occasion by breaking for some food and drink. What do you say!"
The two men rolled their eyes at each other.
"Good, I think so too. Break out the rations! It is a time of rejoicing!"

Laughing swirled around her, above her, and below her. Everything had gone black, but shapes moved and twisted in her vision. She was falling, plunging downward into continuous darkness. Suddenly, she was back in the desert. Edith looked up. She felt refreshed, in a way, but still so tired.
"Hello," said a voice behind her, "how are you?"
Turning around, Edith beheld nothing but a large upright stone.
"Wha-- where are you?" she asked anxiously, glancing in all directions.
"I am right here," said the voice. It came from the stone.
Edith, circled the rock, hurriedly searching for the hiding place of the speaker. She felt like she should be frightened, but for some reason she was not.
"What is your name," the voice asked.
Edith hesitated, but seeing no reason not to answer replied, "Edith. Who are you?"
"I am Aeslab, the talking rock," said the voice.
Edith stared, bewildered, unable to speak.
"I would doff my hat to you, Princess, had I a hat-- or arms for that matter."
"You... you know me?" Edith asked hesitantly, beginning to distance herself from the rock. One step after another, she backed away, but suddenly let out a startled shriek. She was falling once again. Merry laughter echoed around her, and puffs of wind tossed her this way and that. Out of the darkness, a whirlwind of bats fluttered and chirped, their clammy wings slapping against her face. Edith threw her hads over her head.
"So you do not like the bats?" came the voice of the stone, "Perhaps flying fish will be more to your fancy!"
Immediately the bats were gone, but she was instead surrounded by scores of dripping, slimy flying fish. As she continued to decend they flipped around her, and waves of salt water splashed out of nowhere, stinging her eyes and drenching her. The merry laughter burst out once again.
"Well," said the voice, "you seem to enjoy neither bats nor fish, but what about butterflies, will they please you?"
As with the bats the fish instantly disappeared, only to be replaced by a swarm of large butterflies. Edith remained with her arms protecting her head, motionless but still falling ever downward. Then she heard another voice, firm and powerful, but ever so gentle.
"What is this, Marius? Tormenting a weary child?" came the voice, "She is innocent and tired, and deserves your care not your teasing; I would expect more of you. Now, let there be an end to this."
The butterflies vanished, and Edith found herself slowly drifting down, like a feather, to land softly on the warm sand of the desert. A gorgeous red sunset graced the horizon with it's dying brilliance as the first stars awakened and opened their twinkling eyes. Edith lay still.
"Marius, Marius," the voice chided, "after these many years you are forgetting what it is like to be tired, and hungry, and alone. You are forgetting the confusion that comes with being human, that insecurity and doubt. Do you not remember that once you were just like this girl, alone and discouraged? Marius, do not forget your dignity. Pleasure at the expense of the helpless only drags you further down. Do not give up hope like so many of your brothers, but cling to what you know. Remember what I told you?
"Yes, Farran, teacher, I remember...but...it just...it seems like the time will never come."
"But the time will come, Marius. Have patience."
"Yes, teacher."
"Good. Now, I have a job for you, to keep you occupied and out of trouble. You are to say near this girl. Gaurd her against those who would decieve her and guide her in the right direction. She will play a very important part in the plan, and even I do not fully understand her role. Protect her. Now I must be off, and you must ensure that she reached the dwelling of Sara."
"I shall, my teacher."
The voices of the two dream spirits faded away and Edith realized that she had only been semi-concious the entire time. As the last rays of the sun dissipated into darkness, she let out a long sigh and relaxed in a deep peaceful slumber.

--Thomas H