Chapter 18
Their days fell into a routine. Abe would get up and go outside to check on B’rofi and give him a few handfuls of oats. The first morning he stepped close to Abe and lowered his head to think, ‘Naphor, honor to be with’. Like he was telling Abe a great secret. Then he abruptly wandered off to graze in the small pasture that grew near Naphor’s tree.
The old man cooked breakfast and Abe washed dishes. They would spend half an hour in the small garden of the tree gathering the day’s food. Then the lessons would begin in Naphor’s study. He would give Abe assignments like having him isolate a memory and then stay with it, remembering as many details as he could. Abe struggled with sitting quietly during these sessions. He was used to dealing with volumes of information flowing like a river, a constant flow of ideas tumbling over each other, just skimming the surface of things long enough to identify them or categorize them. This was something completely foreign. Thinking long and hard about one thing, especially something as simple as his first bicycle was just maddening. He was always eager to move on. Okay, Red. Shiny. Chrome fenders. ‘Next!’ his mind would clamor for a new subject. He chaffed under the discipline of it. It was so boring!
"How is my remembering every detail my first bicycle going to help me in any way?" he whined to his teacher.
"It is the ability to filter out the extraneous thoughts and focus on those thoughts that you wish to convey to another that makes good clear Moheen possible. Without it all you have is chaotic word fragments and emotions muddling everything. What you end up with is unintelligible to the other. That is why B’rofi pulled away from you that first time you merged, you confused him terribly."
Abraham sighed, "Okay okay, I'll try again.” He took a breath, let it out and made his mind visualize his bicycle. It was it was all mixed up with the emotions he had about it. It had been a surprise, so he was very excited at the time. He was only five years old. When he felt like he had it pretty well narrowed down, he told Naphor he was ready. The old man had been reading nearby, he got up and came to sit in front of Abraham.
“Now put all five of your fingers together like this.” He demonstrated. “Place them here, just so. He took Abraham's fingers and positioned them on his own forehead. “Focus again. Now it's all emotion I’m getting. . . try again."
Abraham took a deep breath and let it out once more. The red bicycle the bell the streamers on the handlebars, the leather seat, the white walled tires… Naphor removed Abraham's fingers from his forehead.
"Your bicycle was red it had a bell and decorations on the handle bars, red white and blue ones. He continued to describe it in detail. "Very good, that's enough for today."
Naphor showed him how to wash his clothes in the tubs that grew outside, up against the trunk of the tree. There was warm water in one and cool in the other. A paddle wheel contraption agitated them and was operated by water power when you shifted the lever. There was a kind of ringer like the ones he had seen in history books. He hung is clothes on the lower branches of the tree to dry. He was rather embarrassed to think someone had been doing all this for him at the old tree and he didn't even know who was, or who to thank.
They finished their day over a hot meal with Abe doing up dishes again. This went on for many days until he lost count.
* * * *
One day, Naphor whistled for B’rofi, who came trotting down from the slope not far away.
"Abraham, tell B’rofi I have a treat for him."
Abe walked over to the horse laid his head on the white blaze.
“No, use your fingers this time." Naphor said.
He took a step back and wiped his hands on his pant legs. A curious gesture that had B’rofi’s ears working back and forth wondering what Abraham was doing. Abe placed his fingertips lightly on the broad forehead.
Naphor has a treat for you.
Is it? B’rofi shot back.
I do not know.
He immediately left Abraham and walked over to Naphor and nuzzled his pocket. Out came handful of dried fruits which the horse gobbled up right away. He patted the horse’s neck and sent him off to roam the hills again.
“Good. Very good.” His teacher nodded. "Let's try again today since you are doing so well.”
He placed Abraham's fingers on his forehead. “Tell me my thoughts.”
Abraham felt silly half the time when he tried this. Sometimes it felt like it was a parlor trick. And so far he had failed miserably at this technique with Naphor. B’rofi was one thing. His thoughts were so straightforward and simple. True, they might be tinged with a lot of instinctual horsey stuff, but those things were pretty easy to understand. Human emotions and thought processes were on another level altogether.
He did as he was told however and closed his eyes to help himself quiet down. He was suddenly enveloped in an altered state. He could feel an added pull and knew that Naphor was assisting him greatly, yet he found himself navigating his own way too.
Things began moving in slow motion. He was standing in a darkened place lit very dimly by the phosphorescent lamps. These particular ones were blue and green. They were illuminating some sort of platform. On it was what looked like a large flower with woody petals. Resting in the center was an object about the size of a small football. Its surface was reddish brown. At first it looked polished and shiny but as he looked closer, he saw that the surface was swirling and suddenly it looked opaque. He could see things moving inside. Then it changed and looked solid again. He began to feel dizzy and pulled away from Naphor.
"What was that?"
He realized he was shaking. He walked around shaking out his hands like someone who had touched a live electric circuit.
"That was very good Abraham. Very good focus. Tell me what you saw."
“A wooden thing, that looked alive.”
"What you saw is the first seed our tree has ever produced. G’var Daath is now one thousand years old and this is its very first seed."
"What's to be done with it?"
"That we are not sure of yet. There has been much speculation and excitement over it. We have had no end of discussion among the council members. There is no clear answer as yet."
"Where is it?"
"It formed inside the very first tree, the one that is growing on the continent of Anora. It's a seventy day journey from here. It has been on my mind a lot these last days and I thought I would share with you."
"Let's have dinner." He said smiling. Like they had just finished a game of checkers, instead of taking a telepathic look at something that was hidden hundreds of miles away.
Abe shook his head and followed him inside. Damn. What next?
* * * *
One evening Naphor said over dinner, "I think it is time you went on your way Abraham. I have to get back to my own work. You have been a good student. You have the fundamentals, now you just need to practice. Even though this is a useful skill, don't rely on it over much. And don't ever try to read minds without permission."
"Where shall I go?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"The only place I know is where I came from. By the way, does each tree have its own name?”
“Yes. That G’var Daath is called Tzemat.
“I said awful things to Aeron.” Abe said simply.
"He is a forgiving man Abraham and it is probably best that you should make amends sooner rather than later. And maybe you can join their biologists now that you have some small skills with Moheen. Who knows, you might even bring a fresh perspective to their work."
“It’s an appealing thought to have something to contribute instead of just wandering around like a guest.”
“Of course. Absolutely. To be useful would be much more satisfactory for you.”
“I will always be in your debt Naphor.”
“It was meant to be, Abraham. I'm happy to have learned your language and learned something about your home world."
"Will I be able to learn the native language?"
"You go and see Doven. I'm sure he can help you tremendously, especially now that you have some skill in merging. It will be much easier for you. But part of the joy of learning is the learning itself. That is why we don't impart all knowledge to our children this way. They must learn to use all their mental capacity, not just Moheen. There is satisfaction in figuring things out for yourself. Don't forget that Abraham.”
"I’ll try."
* * * *
In the morning after breakfast, he gathered his things together and found Naphor outside saddling B’rofi.
"It is customary to inform your horse about your journey. Will you do the honors?"
Abraham touched the horse lightly, as he had been taught. ‘We go to Tzemat, my friend!’
B’rofi started to prance in place so eager to be off that he hadn’t a thought in his head to share at the moment.
Abe laughed out loud. “I think he got the message!”
"Yes, yes. It is good to be going home is it not my friend?” Naphor said, patting B’rofi’s neck.
Abe turned to the old man and said quietly, “It's been an honor sir, and more than I deserved."
Naphor inclined his head. “Have a swift journey Abraham of Earth. Carry my greetings to the elder and all the people of G’var Tzemat.”
Abe mounted the inpatient horse. "Goodbye!" He shouted and B’rofi neighed over his shoulder at Naphor as he broke into a cantor that soon became a joyous gallop toward home and friends.
Is he the one? Aeron’s thought wafted into Naphor’s mind.
I’m not sure. Was the reply.
Chapter 19
They made good time on the way back. The weather was fine and the sun warm. Great white clouds moved like giant ships in the golden sky.
The air was fresh and filled with fragrance from the blooming journey bread in the flats and from other bushes to their right in the foothills. The birds were singing more than usual, as if they too were enjoying the beauty around them.
They camped farther up into the foothills that evening, and Abraham knew they would be home by late afternoon the next day. They settled in for the night not far from the road with a nice view of the flats awash in red blossoms. It was quite a sight in the golden orange light of the setting sun. They looked almost like neon beacons covering the plateau.
When they arrived a little before sundown on the second day, the fields were empty and they made their way around to the horse pasture at a trot. B’rofi let out a loud whiney and the whole herd seemed to answer and broke off their eating to come and greet their comrade. Abe quickly dismounted and unsaddled him and slipped the bridle off his head. B’rofi bolted off into the midst of the herd and they all had a wild run up into the hills.
As he was gathering up saddle and his things to put away in the shed, Terren came out from the archway wondering what all the commotion was about in the horse pasture.
“Abraham! Welcome back!” he slapped Abe on the shoulder and then gave him a hug. “We have missed you, my friend.”
“I’m sorry I left in such a hurry, and that I didn’t say goodbye. I um… well, I . . .”
“No need to apologize, you are back now that is all that matters.”
“I need to see Aeron. Is he in his study?”
“As far as I know. Terren walked off toward the pasture. “I’ll see you at supper.”
Abraham left his bedroll and clothes bundle on a bench by the archway and headed up the stairs. He hurried up the first three flights, then slowed as he realized he had no idea what he was going to say.
He knocked on Aeron’s door. “Come in!” he heard him call out. He opened the door and there were several of the men sitting around the desk. They all looked up as Abe came in the room.
Everyone smiled and greeted him, some shook his hand. “Welcome back Abraham.” The elder said.
“It’s good to be home.” Abe said, and meant it.
The elder spoke to the assembled men in their native language and they all began to file out patting his shoulder or shaking his hand as they left.
As the last man closed the door, Abe turned taking a deep breath, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.
“Sir, I must apologize for the terrible way I left you. I was unforgivably rude and ungrateful. I’m sorry. I behaved like a fool and a spoiled child.
Something I seem to have been doing ever since I came here. I hope to do better in the future, if you don’t mind me staying here that is…”
“I accept your apology Abraham and you are welcome to stay with us as long as you like. You have been through a lot since you arrived.”
“I have been staying with Naphor. Or maybe you already know that?”
“Yes, he told me you were safe with him, the night you arrived.”
“He has been teaching me to do the Moheen. I was a dull and stupid student, but he persevered. I think I am about at the skill level of a beginning child, but at least I know the very basics. It’s no easy thing to learn, I have to say.”
“It takes many years to become as proficient as Naphor, and we are thankful to have him, for he makes it possible for many of us to communicate over long distances.”
“I am ready sir, if you will allow me, to find something useful to do here.
I am not sure what that will be. But Naphor said I might start by learning from the biologists.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me. I will speak with someone about it this evening. I also suggest to you that you allow my daughter Kirah to help you learn our language, if you are inclined to give that a try.” He said with a raised eyebrow.
“That sounds good to me. I can’t expect everyone to go around speaking English all the time just for me.”
“Good. I will discuss it with her. Though I am sure she will be happy to instruct you.”
It is good that you have arrived just at this time, for tomorrow evening our music director and our orchestra and choir are giving a concert. There are people from neighboring communities who are traveling to attend. As a matter of fact many of them have already arrived. We are all very anxious to hear the new piece as it is the first full symphony written by one of our young students.”
“I will be looking forward to it. I think I will go get cleaned up now and ..oh, whoever has been washing my clothes, let them know I will be doing that for myself now. Naphor taught me more than just Moheen! And I will be available for work in the morning.”
“Well, why don’t you speak to Behn the head gardener, I am sure he will have something for you to do. I will point him out to you at supper.”
“Great. I will see you later on then.”
Abe went back down and retrieved his bundle and went to his rooms.
He found several clean changes of clothes in his wardrobe after taking a bath. He made up his mind to go check out the clothes washing facilities right then. This was one area he had not gotten to yet. He wadded up his dirty clothes and coat and headed out into the great hall. There were a few people visiting by the fountain. He walked over to them and was given another round of hearty welcome homes and then he asked directions to the clothes washing area. One woman was headed that way anyway and escorted him there. He found just a few people working as most of them had done their laundry earlier in the day and it was already hanging out to dry. It was good to know exactly what to do, and in no time, he had his things all hung out too.
He decided to go see if he could find Doven in his study. On his way back up into the upper levels of the tree he encountered people coming and going who didn’t seem to recognize him. The guests for the concert. They were dressed slightly differently than the people who lived in Tzemat. Some with brighter colors, some more subdued, but each with their own distinctive style of clothing.
He knocked on Doven’s door and heard him call to come in…
He was sitting on a tall stool at a tall writing desk near the window, he looked up when Abe entered and almost fell off his stool. “Abraham! You are back! When did you get in? Where have you been? Are you well? You look well. Is everything all right with you? I - - we have missed you!”
Yep, that was Barney all right.
Abe filled him in on all his adventures, leaving nothing out. Then he said, “See I can do a little mind merging now. May I? He asked. Doven nodded eagerly. He placed his fingers on his friend’s forehead, sending him a question.
‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’
I don’t know. Barney thought back.
Then a stream of possible answers began to flood through Abe’s mind in a whirl and he had to break the connection… “Whoa, too much information! The answer is: ‘to get to the other side!’ ” Barney looked at him for a moment... and shook his head. I don’t think I will ever understand the humor of your people Abraham. But he brightened as he said, “But don’t give up trying to teach me!”
“I won’t.” Abe promised.
They spent a pleasant hour catching up on the news since Abe had been gone. There had been a birth, and one of Barney’s students had completed a manuscript of a language he had been studying and it had been sent to the bookbinders. A good friend of Barney’s was coming from G'var Daath Lumeer for the concert and he was looking forward to seeing him. Soon it was time for supper so they headed downstairs, chatting like lifelong friends.