Welcome to my seemingly endless journey.
A trip that will take you to places I might have visited many moons ago.
It´s a tale that came back to me when I meditated on one of my past lives. A life I told you about in my unbelievable true story.
As promised in that story I will now share this story with you.
Chapter 22
Meanwhile, one of the men runs back to the beasts of burden left on the path. He returns with a rope braided from hemp and throws it to Yani. "Tie it around your torso and hold on with all your strength. Try not to move. Everything will be fine," the oldest man calls out to him.
The group gathers, positioning themselves one behind the other. "One, two, three, jerk," but there's no movement. "One, two, three, jerk," the rope tightens completely, and Yani holds on with all his might, feeling his body loosen slightly from the oppressive mass that tries to engulf him. With each tug, a little air comes back into his cramped position.
After a few minutes, they are able to hoist Yani aside. The men put their arms around his shoulders and welcome him back to the realm of the living.
How could I have been so stupid as to forget this, especially when I'm here all alone?
I stare at my legs, which had sunk to my thighs in the devouring earth, as the men had dubbed the place. The realization that this would probably be the last place my eyes would see slowly dawns on me.
It's a frightening feeling. To literally perish here in complete solitude. I never realized how alone a person can be in their final hour when they are conscious of their impending death.
Only those who go through it can comprehend the resignation it brings. The resignation that follows immense distress and memories of loved ones. After seeing their faces in my mind's eye one last time, I accept that this is my end, and I say my goodbyes.
I look at the blue sky, where a few clouds float by. It radiates power. There is so much beauty in this world, and so often I forgot to appreciate it. Now, in this final moment of seeing, I observe closely. With eyes that are not disturbed or blinded by thoughts or memories of what has happened or what must happen. I look without thinking and see without needing.
Then I remember the words, "Whoever gives up loses."
Have I given up? I ask myself, and immediately the resignation dissipates. I may be dying, and I accepted that. But I'll have plenty of time to rest when I am dead. If there is a chance to escape this fate, I must seize it.
I take a deep breath, and then a huge cry for help escapes from the depths of my body. "Help," I repeat after a few seconds. In this vast plain, such a cry carries far, but will it be far enough to reach anyone? The chance of someone being in the vicinity is, well it´s bigger than nothing. But if I am meant to live, then so be it.
Again, I scream as loud as I can. From somewhere, I feel the powerlessness bubbling up.
Then doubt sets in.
I don't know what to do anymore.
Whether to surrender or to continue hoping and crying out, even when the situation seems hopeless.
I close my eyes and start to meditate, I try to let go and accept what happens but before I can fully turn inward, I hear footsteps. Strange footsteps, heavy and light at the same time. They come closer, sounding anything but human. I begin to worry about what will appear from behind the tall bush in a matter of seconds.
But then I feel myself smiling, a smile of relaxation. I realize that whatever emerges, it can hardly make my situation worse. I see a huge set of horns, and then the head of a water buffalo. And atop the buffalo's back, a human, or rather, a boy. He is dirty and his hair is disheveled. Yet I recognize him, my young student, in an instant.
"Numico!" I shout out of joy, but my voice breaks, tears welling up, squeezing my throat. It seems so unlikely that I pinch myself to check if I haven't fallen asleep or become deeply absorbed in meditation. The stab of pain assures me that I am truly trapped in this massive heap of earth, and my salvation appears to come from a boy that is twelve summers old.
"Numico, you've come at the right time," I manage to say once I recover from the surprise. "I know, Master. I heard your call the first time you cried out."
"But how in the name of the greats did you get here so quickly?" I ask but before he replies the answer begins to dawn on me.
A taunted smile settles around Numico's mouth. He pauses before speaking: "Well, Master, I have been following you since you left. The idea of being left alone while you embarked on this journey didn't make sense. It didn't match the images I had seen or the words I had heard. It was necessary for me to make this journey with you. We would need each other, for one cannot possibly complete the task contained within this journey without the other."
He looks at me, probably searching for some kind of approval before get continues; "So, I followed you, with great difficulty, I must say. But until today, you didn't notice me. However, it was necessary for me to bring you salvation now. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't do that unnoticed. I had hoped to be further from our village when we met, but fate had a different plan. I hope you believe me and understand that my presence on this journey is just as necessary as yours."
Silently, I gaze into the eyes of my savior, who should have never been here. Transfixed, partly due to my situation, the days since I left the village flash through my mind. There have been so many little clues, but I haven't noticed a thing. What will the villagers think? That I kidnapped a child? And what about his parents?
Somewhat annoyed by these thoughts, I shout, "The rope! Throw the rope!" Numico picks up the rope he had hung around one of the horns and throws a loop already made around my neck. It's a good throw, as I push the rope down so it tucks under my armpits. Then I grasp it with both hands. "Ready, Master?"
"Yes, I could have been ready even sooner," I jest. A few minutes later, panting and with hands and armpits aching, I sit at the edge of this devouring pool of death.
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