Previous Chapters can be found here:
April 6,12,18,25
May 3,11,16,19
Well boys and girls, I am happy to report that I have re-written the last chapter, therefore I will be posting a chapter a day here in my diary until we are finished. (31 in all). Though I can see now that there is no end of tweaking and finding small errors.... But this is my best shot at the moment. I am still working on the best way to transfer the files here in a way that manages to retain their proper formatting. So without further ado...
Chapter 9
In the morning, Abe woke to see the doctor standing over him.
“How are you feeling this morning Abraham?” he asked.
“You must have seen Doven this morning.” Abe smiled.
“Why yes I have, and I am enjoying your language, so expressive and varied. So many words to chose from!”
“Glad you like it. It has given fits to millions of people who have had to learn it as their second language let me tell you…”
“Well, my prescription for you this morning is to take a nice long soak in the tub and we will take you down to the dinning hall where you should make a good breakfast. It will be ready soon I’m told.”
When he emerged from the bath, the doctor undid the dressing on his arm and nodded approvingly.
“Let’s just cover this tender skin with a light bandage shall we? Other than this, I think you have made a full recovery.”
“I have never seen anything like it, replied Abe. Those wounds should have taken weeks to heal. You’re a miracle worker Doc.”
“Oh no not me. He said, we have had many years to learn the healing powers of our plants. Your recovery was quite normal.”
“Well, thank you for your skill and concern.” Abe said, flexing his arm and spreading his fingers, then making a fist. “It feels great.”
They left together and walked down the hall finally passing the familiar corridors that Abe had seen so far and entered a wide staircase that curved around to the left. The sides were irregular gnarled wood and at intervals had those phosphorescent lights along the ‘walls’.
Soon they came out into a great open expanse that Abe was not prepared for. This was the room he had seen when he first arrived. He had been so delirious then he was not sure if he had imagined it or not. What he saw now was not his imagination.
The great hall was filled with light that streamed down from high above, and yes, there were leaves up there. This must be the center of the tree and the living quarters were in the growing part. All along the inner walls were balconies that looked out into the hall. There looked to be about four levels. In the middle of the great hall there was a fountain of water bubbling up from an outcropping of gnarled roots in intricate patterns. Ferns and a variety of other delicate plants grew all around the large pool. And to one side stood a small tree that reminded him of a Japanese maple. And arranged irregularly near the fountain were benches, chairs, and a few tables that grew up out of the floor. They were made of reddish wood, polished smooth. It was a beautiful place.
He walked along gawking as people around him were bustling about, heading in one general direction. They smiled at him in a welcoming way. When they reached the dining hall, he saw Doven and they sat down together, but didn’t have a chance to say a word before Aeron made an announcement in their language. Doven translated for Abe.
“My friends, yesterday our guest agreed to Moheen. We now know his native language. Doven will be available today for you to acquire this new language. I suggest the heads of household come to him, and then you each can pass this on to your own family. We don’t want to wear him out completely!” Everyone laughed a little and then Aeron said a simple blessing over the food.
“Holy One, You open Your hand,
and renew us day by day.”
“Anay” they responded.
And then they all sang a song with a haunting melody, and for several seconds after the last notes faded they stood in silence, until Aeron said in a booming voice. “Anay!”
During this display of reverence Abe stood in awkward silence. He had not been exposed to much in the way of prayer, he felt his face getting warm while he looked at the floor during the song and the silence that followed.
Everyone sat down and began the meal. There were wooden bowls full of fruits and nuts. Abe saw boiled eggs and some kind of cooked cereal. There were ceramic pitchers of milk and round loaves of bread that smelled wonderful. He tried everything. Some of the foods were quite familiar. Apples for instance seemed much like the ones on Earth, but there were other fruits, plum like things that were vaguely like bananas inside, only the flesh was bright yellow. Others were obviously berries but were the size of small apricots. And they all seemed to be of vibrant hues. The bread was full of grains and nuts and was wonderful with butter.
But what struck him most about the meal was the atmosphere of joviality and good spirits. There was much laughter and back slapping and excited discussion going on. The men seemed to be telling tales to each other and the women sat, some with their heads close together, sharing secrets and laughing. Children chattered and the younger ones were passed from person to person giggling all the while. It was so unlike what he was used to that he found himself staring at everyone and forgetting to eat.
While he was taking this all in, Doven had been gabbing away to Abe about the wonderful aspects of English that he was discovering. And how did one ever decide which word to use when one could choose from so many, and what did “fit as a fiddle” mean anyway, and was a mouse a small animal or part of a machine? Abe listened to him and tried to answer his questions a few times, but couldn’t get in a word edgewise and finally gave up and just let the Barney in him run. Abe knew eventually he would calm down and they could have a real conversation, but his enthusiasm had the best of him at the moment.
When they were almost finished eating, Aeron came over and sat down on the bench near Abe.
“How would you like to begin your tour of our G’var Daath this morning?” he asked.
“That would be great.” Abe answered.
“Fine, I will meet you at the outside entrance to the Great Hall in a little while, I have some things to take care of. You can wait for me there.”
“I’ll be there.” Abe said.
Aeron worked his way out of the dining hall, stopping to say a few words to people here and there, and picking up a child for a hug.
Doven finished his meal and excused himself saying, “Well, I have work to do this morning! I’ll be seeing you later Abraham. Adios!”
Abe smiled, wondering if he would ever be able to explain how English got to be the way it was to these people.