Beyond Doubt: Whispers of the Unseen - Chapter 15

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 15

The words hit my stomach like a hammer, but the blow broke the existing stone into many pieces.

"Numico, it's not that I don't want you with me. I'm very happy that we found each other again, even though our social positions are probably further apart this time than ever before. I'd love to take you on this journey. Not just for company or because it is your request, but mainly for your wisdom and foreboding, they would be a great support."

"If I were the only one I would even dare to consider the responsibility. However, you know as I do that our tribe is never positive about discovering the world around us. Travels that go beyond the known area are viewed disapprovingly by the elders The only reason they are not banned is because of the necessity of the trade."

"But a journey like this, based solely on a question and the curiosity of man, would never have the council's approval. They would forbid this journey, important as it may be to us. Should we nevertheless decide to undertake it, we risk being excluded upon our return. It is even possible that your family no longer wants contact with you, due to the fact that you have taken an action that was prohibited by the council."

"Rightly so, because risking our young lives for the sake of a dream and sheer curiosity does not benefit the entire tribe, not even part of the tribe."

"In the miraculous case that your parents, without wanting the council's permission, would agree we need a story. Something that explains our absence when we return, like being lost or captured. Only then we could possibly get away with it."

"If it weren't for the fact that I know your parents well and that they are nice, loving people. People who love their children very much and therefore would never allow you to participate in such a dangerous enterprise. Even if they grant you your wish. Then they would only let you go with the permission of the council."

"To cut a long story short," I rage on. It is as if all the parts of the recently broken stone in my stomach were trying to leave my body as words at the same time. So fast that I regularly stumbled over my own words, "It is impossible for me to ask permission from your parents, and you are not allowed to make that request to them either."

"They would go to the council and that would completely destroy my plans. Boy, I hope you will and can understand my choice one day. It was not easy for me," I conclude while looking at Numico to see his reaction and at the same time preferring to avoid doing so.

I see tears welling, and flowing down my cheeks. I have difficulty pushing mine back, but I can swallow them. After a few minutes, a red-faced boy looks up at me.

“Master I understand. I myself had already foreseen all these possibilities, but I secretly hoped that you knew a way to overcome or circumvent them. Vain hope I know, but this trip was my dream, maybe even more than that. Strange as that may sound, it felt like my job, like a life purpose."

"Master," Numico continues, wrapping his arms around me, "Good luck, I'll be with you, see you soon."

Then he turns and runs as fast as he can. Running after him is pointless. He has to go through this alone, it is up to him to deal with this.

I leave the cave as well and although I trust Numico not to betray me, there is a little doubt in my mind. A cornered cat can make strange jumps and so does a boy with nothing left to lose.

I decided it is unwise to return to the village, staying here, or at least near the cave allows me to kill two birds with one stone. When push comes to shove they might think me half a day further ahead than I actually am. In addition, hiding in a sheltered position allows me to oversee the entrance to the cavern and discover any fellow villagers that Numico might put in my path.

Until the dark of night would overtake the gorge and enable me to make final preparations, I dwelt in a hedge formed by undergrowth. It gave me time to go over my plan one more time. The bottom line closed the deal. What did I actually have to lose? A rather empty life, which, if I stayed, would change little.

After a few hours of nothing I feel convinced that Numico didn´t tell.

Sitting with my back against the thick hedge, I began to fantasize about what I would encounter on my journey. It was a pleasant way to pass the time but also a slow way and soon sleep took hold of my conscious mind.

Many hours later I was awakened by the screams of an owl. It was a clear but moonless night, and I need to get my goods from the cabin prior to my goodby theft. As I stumble I land in branches of thorns that scrape my face, drops of blood drip from the wounds over my face. I wipe them off with my muddy hands.

Silently I creep up the steps of the stairs to the village.

This is the risky part, there is no hiding place here. When I reach the top, I breathe a sigh of relief. Carefully I continue until I arrived at my hut. I take the already-filled carrier bag on my shoulders, look back one more time and then move toward the caves as fast as possible.

Running silently was one of the things I mastered very well during my training. It would probably not be the last time it would come in handy.

The food is stored on a higher plateau a bit above the village. Under the sculpture that the previous residents had left for us. It is a difficult climb in the dark, especially when one can not make a sound. I had to feel my way up using my fingers to look for a possible branch or loose stone.

It is taking more time than I had planned, halfway up my will to leave the village wins out over my caution. I must be far enough from the last inhabited cabin by now to not be heard immediately.

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