A Whisper of Wings Read online

  Sister Mouse broke. She couldn’t bare it! The girl sobbed against Zareemah, and other villagers hesitantly came to help them walk. Fishermen looked up from their nets and lines, then slowly turned away as the death-procession moved towards the endless sound of waves.

  The sun trailed gentle fingers across the far horizon. Tiny purple crabs were digging tunnels in the sand as the Dream Walkers settled Zareemii’s bed beside the shore.

  It could not last much longer. Brother Gull croaked in warning as he felt the boy’s life fade. Brother Fish felt for Zareemii’s pulse and heaved a sigh.

  “Zareemah, he is going. Hold your son one last time. Hold him and give thanks for the life you shared together.”

  Zareemah gave a dreadful choking cry and flung herself against her son. Brother Fish laid his cape across the ground.

  “Sister Mouse, please do what you can.”

  “No! Brother, not this time! Not Zareemii!”

  “I do not have the gift of sending. He has no one else but you.”

  Sister Mouse backed away, clutching at her mask in agony.

  “He was my friend! My student! Please, I can’t bare it…”

  “Please Sister - your student still has need of you.”

  She couldn’t! To hear Zareemii’s voice again; to touch him and tell him he was dead. To point the way for him, but not to follow…

  But there was no one else.

  Sister Mouse laid herself back into Brother Fish’s arms. To lead Zareemii’s Ka she was going to have to die. The other priests must pump her heart and breathe air into her lungs. The girl gave a hideous jerk and then toppled back onto the ground.

  Her heart fought against her mind. She clamped down hard to still its beat.

  Mouse! Mother Mouse, lead me! Set me free and guide me to Zareemii!

  The woman’s body arched up in a dreadful spasm. She screamed once with the dreadful pain of death…

  And suddenly she soared free!

  She felt a darkness that seemed filled with light - an emptiness that flowed with laughter. Bright black eyes smiled as the Mouse Spirit swept her up with joy, and the Priest-girl gave a shriek of glee. Tricks to play and things to find! They would laugh and dance and play through all eternity. Mother Mouse drew her over to Zareemii and wrapped them in her love.

  The Priest knew she was in danger, but she no longer cared. Life was pain and struggle. Why go back? Why send Zareemii on a journey when there were so many games to play. Mother Mouse led them onwards in a dizzy dance of joy.

  Something bright and shining filled the world with light. It hung softer than a whisper and more lovely than a flower. So beautiful, so powerful! The dancing spirits stopped and stared at it in awe.

  The presence stroked at Sister Mouse with gentle hands of love.

  ~This is wrong, little Priest. You must go back. It is not yet your time to die.~

  “No! No please, I like it here! I don’t want to go back!”

  ~This place will always be waiting for you. But now, you must go back. There is work to do.~

  “Oh please! Please, don’t make me go!”

  ~Your friends are waiting for you. Think of all the grief you’ll cause. Do you see? See them crying all around your lifeless body?~

  Oh Sweet Rain! The voice was right! The Priestess saw her friends. Brother Fish tore off his mask and wept, then thrust Brother Gull aside and crammed his lips down on her mouth. She felt air rush in to fill her lungs, and her heart began to beat. The world of spirits faded as life rushed back to fill her mind. The girl hungrily twined her tongue up in a kiss, and Brother Fish sobbed as he was drawn into her softness. He loved her; why had she never seen it before…

  In the kingdom of the Ka, the light reached out to take Zareemii by the hand.

  ~Come Zareemii, it’s time to go back home now. Your mother is crying for you.~

  Mother! The little boy gave a wail of anguish. He allowed the shining presence to take him back towards the land of life.

  Something leapt and begged about them, weeping in hurt and loss. The Mouse spirit skittered through the ïsha sea in panic.

  *Don’t go! Stay with me! Be lonely never more. Please-please-please-please-please! Be fun, be happy! Many runnings, many matings. Tricks to play and secrets to be dug!*

  The glowing presence touched Mouse with regret.

  ~Oh Mouse, they must go back. Don’t be sad. I shall teach them how to speak with you. You will never lose them. But it is wrong for them to stay here with you now. I must bring them back to life.~

  The Mouse spirit sighed and saw the sense in it. She reluctantly let them go, and the creature of light dipped and swirled in gratitude.

  ~Thank you for looking after them, my Sister. May your life be ever bright with fun and laughter!~

  Zareemii suddenly felt air rushing through his lungs. ïsha power poured through him like a river; it soothed him, healed him, and filled him with its energy. He opened up his eyes and gazed into a smiling face. A face whose eyes shone greener than the eternal sea.

  “The boy! The boy’s alive!”

  A ring of villagers stared at the naked stranger. A sense of unearthly peace and beauty swirled about her. She drew a long slow breath and raised her face towards the sun, while in her arms Zareemii stirred and rubbed his eyes. Zareemah-Kha gave a cry and flung herself upon her child.

  Shadarii placed the little boy into his mother’s grasp, then smiled and began to simply walk away.

  “Wait!”

  Sister Mouse tore herself from Brother Fish’s arms. “My Lady, who are you? How did you save me?”

  There were other strangers standing on the beach - lean Kashra with the girl’s light shining in their eyes. Zareemah-Kha looked up from her reborn child. She called out to the naked stranger, her voice broken with her tears.

  “Thank you! Oh thank you! Oh Rain, how can I repay you? Everything I have is yours!”

  The naked woman turned and sadly shook her head. The stranger needed nothing.

  Her eyes somehow seemed to speak.

  <>

  She turned to leave once more. Sister Mouse lunged forward in alarm.

  “Revered one, please! Stay with us. Teach us.” She faltered as the strange green eyes once more touched her with their love. “I want… I-I need…

  “- Please. Stay with us. Let us return kindness for your gift of life.”

  Grass seemed to grow inside the stranger’s footsteps. She gazed into the Priestess’ eyes and looked into her heart.

  <>

  The villagers stumbled in Shadarii’s wake, watching in amazement as flowers blossomed in her footprints. Fishermen fell down onto their knees as the procession passed; women knelt and hid their eyes behind their awe-struck wings.

  Suddenly a little girl ran by; a skinny little creature bearing a great string bag of toasted crabs. The Silent Lady threw back her head and smiled as Kïtashii tossed a steaming crab towards a villager. They danced along the rooftops and swirled before a delighted crowd.

  Someone gave a laugh. People caught Shadarii’s hands and let the dancing take them. All tears were forgotten, all sorrows left aside. Villagers and priests, fishermen and pilgrims, the reborn and the laughing mother; one by one they gathered in Shadarii’s light. They danced inside her rainbow and filled up the world with joy.

  ***

  Zhukora sat quietly in her house and made a meal of simple hunter’s fare. The night lay hushed and quiet, still glowing with the energy Zhukora had unleashed. Young men whooped overhead as they practiced fighting skills; men and women avidly debated politics while dredging streams for food. Zhukora smiled and listened to their energy and trust.

  She listened, and she was content.

  Revolution had spread to the other tribes - from the depest valleys to the tallest mountain peaks. Throughout the villages, peace and
order reigned. All Kashra were equal. All now had a common goal. The self-hate had finally been purged, burned out of their heart in a single night of fires. For the first time in living history, the alpine peoples were united by a single will; a single blazing love.

  Zhukora.

  The dark empress sighed and sipped her tea, lost within the clear perfection of her Dream.

  “Zhukora! Zhukora, it’s happened!”

  A blonde bolt of lightning streaked into Zhukora’s lodge. Daimïru skidded to a halt in a spreading cloud of soot.

  “Zhukora, it’s happened! Two casualties. One dead, one injured. Killed by plainsmen.” The girl knelt and cracked her wings out in obiesence. “Everything went as planned. We made a deep raid into the plains territory. I set two grass fires to drive out game. We caught kangaroos in their thousands! Hundreds of them plunged down the cliffs! Enough food for half the nation.”

  The girl excitedly wiped sweat back from her eyes.

  “I sent parties back on foot to carry all the meat. The rest of us followed down the river. The territory is rich beyond our wildest dreams! Fields of grass all filled with seeds. Wattle trees that have never been harvested in all their lives! Ducks, emu, possums, yams… We found whole herds of meat animals. Some of the game was - well - woolly. Four legs and white thick fur. They didn’t even run. We speared them in their hundreds.”

  Zhukora passed her friend a cup of tea.

  “Daimïru my love, I know it was exciting, but you really must tell me…”

  “Yes, yes! But that’s when it happened, you see! There were plainsmen guarding the herds. We chased the woolly creatures over a hill, then all of a sudden it happened! Plainsmen tried to drive us off. They threw rocks with terrific force! It was just as we have hoped. The plainsman have slain one of us!”

  Zhukora paced excitedly up and down.

  “What happened to the plainsmen?”

  “Oh we slew them. I took one. I killed her with a spear!” The girl’s eyes were filled with sickly light. “A spear is so-so sensual! It glides, it soars, then it plunges home. You should have seen her eyes as she died!”

  “Yes my love, I’m sure you were artistic.” Zhukora softly stroked Daimïru’s hair. “So you slew them? And hid the bodies? Good! The fires will have covered up your trail.”

  “Word has spread. The people are gathering out there in their hundreds! They want revenge!”

  Zhukora hastily stripped away clothes, then reached for her gleaming armour and began to buckle straps.

  “Then our moral course is clear. We must avenge our fallen comrade. We have a debt of blood to pay.” The girl hastily changed her loin cloth. “Quickly! Go and summon the people to a clearing. I must tell them of the crime the plainsmen have committed. We shall have our war at last, my love! They will scream for plainsman blood!”

  Daimïru laughed and scampered for the door. She soared through the darkness, shrieking out in glorious victory. The time had come; finally it would be war!

  ***

  Brother Fish sat in the sand beside Shadarii’s feet. Overhead, the nighttime sky shone darkest blue. Women waded through the shallows dragging prawn nets while fishermen speared their suppers from canoes. Food toasted over an open fire while sea-folk sang their strange soft songs.

  Overhead Mrrimïmei laughed and tossed a ball as the pilgrims played a jiteng game. Totoru snatched the ball, only to plunge straight into the surf. Fishermen laughed as Totoru erupted from the drink, staggering out onto the beach to dry.

  The people of the sea were contentedly at peace. A simple people and a complex one; there were so many new stories to hear and tell. Shadarii passed the night listening to their priests, smiling as fisher folk crept near to hear the Silent Lady’s words.

  Silent Lady neither ate nor drank, nor did she ever tire. Kïtashii served as Shadarii’s voice, turning the dancers hand motions into words for the crowds.

  Brother Fish wound his arm about Sister Mouse and kissed her flowing hair. He looked up at Shadarii and spoke quietly into the hush.

  “Revered one, we have had a crime occur inside our village. A very serious crime. Lady Zareemah says that a new age comes, and that the old rules no longer hold. We therefore ask if you will sit in judgement.”

  Shadarii’s naked fur gleamed soft and bright as she framed words with her hands. Kïtashii watched and then spoke into the night.

  “Shadarii-Zha says she has no desire to intrude into your affairs, but that she will be glad to offer her opinion.”

  Brother Fish formally bowed towards the Silent Lady.

  “Two days ago, a man called Pöshïkaa stole the boat of another fisherman, Lalalii. He took it at night while Lalalii was asleep.

  “We have a rule against stealing boats. Pöshïkaa must now fish for Lalalii for the next full moon. This is the old law, but Zareemah-Zha has told us that the old rules are no more. Revered one, what judgment do you pass?”

  Mrrimïmei whirred overhead; somewhere in the distance fisher women sang. Shadarii dusted off her hands and carefully framed shapes in the dark, the words translated by little Kïtashii who sat in the sand at her side.

  “Rules are used as an excuse to make judgement easy; therefore they can serve to create injustice. Why did your neighbour need the boat? Why did he feel he had to take it without asking?”

  “Pöshïkaa’s family is poor, and his boat no longer floats. He has a new child, and there was no time to build a new canoe.”

  Shadarii slowly nodded. Kïtashii watched her teacher’s hands with absolute concentration.

  “Shadarii-Zha says that Pöshïkaa was wrong to take the boat. He should have asked. The village must also face some blame. Why was Pöshïkaa not invited to share a canoe? Shadarii judges both sides to be guilty.

  “Pöshïtaa must apologise for his fault. When the times are better, he should hold a feast to thank Lalalii for lending him the boat.

  “The community should all come together and build a spare boat for your village. If anyone comes into hardship, the boat can see them through. We pilgrims would be honoured to help you as a thanks for your hospitality.”

  The idea had merit. The fisher folk sat back in amazement to discuss this radical new idea.

  Tingtraka came wandering up from the water side, straining beneath the weight of an titanic fish. Shadarii stared in amazement at the vast size of her catch while Tingtraka coughed and idly filed her nails.

  Mrrimïmei whirred low overhead, looking fat as a pregnant bed bug but still keen to play the catching game. She snatched the ball from her husband’s arms and then blundered off above the waves. Tingtraka cleaned her dinner and glared up into the sky.

  “Mrrimïmei, do be careful! Sit down a while and take it easy!”

  Mrrimïmei banked and fluttered past the dunes.

  “Why? I feel wonderful!”

  “I know you feel wonderful! I just think perhaps…”

  From overhead there came a sudden scream of pain. Mrrimïmei hung in the air, folded up in shrieking agony. Totoru had swooped up from beneath and crashed into her pelvis. The girl span and plunged towards the ground.

  Mrrimïmei clutched her belly and gave a demented scream. Something had broken; a tiny Ka squealed in agony! The girl lashed out with her fist and caught Shadarii’s fur.

  “Sh-Shadarii, save it! Don’t let it die! Shadarii! Shadarii, do something!”

  Mrrimïmei arched her back and writhed. Someone tried to hold her, and she rolled mad eyes and saw Totoru’s face.

  “Get away from me! You’ve killed my baby! You bastard, you killed my baby!”

  Totoru croaked and tried to hold her. Mrrimïmei shrieked and clawed him in the face.

  “It wasn’t me, it was him! It was him! I didn’t kill it!” The girl jerked and felt something slicing her inside. She kicked Kïtashii in the face and tried to struggle free. “It’s broken! Help me! Help me…”

  Shadarii clapped her hands; Mrrimïmei instantly fell unconscious. The little Teacher stagg
ered to her feet with Mrrimïmei dangling from her arms.

  Totoru shook with shock, and Tingtraka rocked the huge hunter back and forth.

  “Shhhh, it’s alright now. It was an accident. An accident, that’s all. Just sit with me a while. No need to move quite yet…”

  Tingtraka met Shadarii’s eyes, but the Teacher helplessly shook her head. No power on earth could help; Mrrimïmei’s child had already gone.

  Tingtraka slowly nodded and pulled Totoru close.

  “It’s no one’s fault, Totoru. We all love you. Just hold me tight. She didn’t mean it. She didn’t mean a word.”

  Hours later, Mrrimïmei lay shivering in bed. Kïtashii and Tingtraka were still tending to her body, sponging her and cleaning her with gentle, caring hands. Mrrimïmei slowly clenched her claws and rolled to face the door.

  “Bitch.”

  Tingtraka looked up from her work, dragging sweaty hair back from her eyes.

  “What?”

  Mrrimïmei spat onto the floor. Shadarii’s scent still lingered in the ïsha.

  “Bitch! She just sat there while I writhed and screamed! Did she bring my baby back? Did she?”

  “She cared for you. She healed you. You’re only alive because of her.”

  “She saved that village boy! Brought him back from the dead! Why not me? Why not my baby?”

  Tingtraka sat up and angrily wiped her eyes. Blood left a smear across her fur.