Beyond Doubt: Whispers of the Unseen - Chapter 32

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 32

"The lord of the forest had the advantage for many years; he knew every corner of the forest and knew how to hide everywhere. So, he was not serious; he played with the fire monsters, he made them roam huge areas before he chased them away."

"Tonight, however, was different. The clamps that pierced his leg had never been there before. He thinks they came into contact with a traveler who taught them the knowledge of these traps. He doesn't think they are inventive enough to come up with this themselves."

"For a moment, he even suspected us, but when I explained to him that we had not encountered any other living soul on our journey, he immediately believed me. Well, that is about it. Oh yes, his name is Rechmana, which means love of life, his mother told him that long."

"She said it was an ancient language from which his name originated. A language of a long-forgotten race, of which his mother turned out to be a descendant. This race, she said, lived here when the great ones walked the earth. He always thought of this as a fairy tale, but his mother told him again and again that it was the truth. That he descended from an ancient bloodline, from which many great sages were born."

"The way he talks about her, it must have been a special woman. But perhaps we should not weigh his stories about his mother too heavily. She is the only human who has ever shown love for him, so chances are, if not huge, that he completely idolized her. But that's just my idea; he hasn't given me any indication that it's really the case."

Numico takes a deep breath, something he probably should have done a long time ago, given how busy he has been with his narrations.

It's a special story, and I take the time to let it sink in. Lying on my back in the tall grass, I look at the beautiful green canopy through which a piece of gray cloud shimmers here and there. This lord of the forest must have lived a lonely existence, I think. No human contact, no love.

Days pass, and Numico and I take turns looking after Rechmana. Numico speaks to him regularly, and I do my best to communicate with hands and feet. It's quite disappointing, although I'm starting to enjoy coming up with creative ways to explain simple things.

The giant recovers very quickly. After about three days, he is already able to walk again; on the fifth day, the wound is completely healed, and he no longer needs to be bandaged. This means we can leave, although I find it difficult to leave our new friend behind. After all, we are his first human contact in I don't know how many years.

If everything has a purpose, it might be that we had to meet this tree of a guy. Should we then ask him to accompany us on this journey, something that would give us both an important advantage? Rechmana can travel with us in the inhabited world, and we are assured of a decent degree of protection during this long journey.

On the evening of the fifth day, the giant goes for a walk. He wants to see how his forest held up during his absence. He's afraid that the fire monsters have set more traps and that they might harm the animals of the forest. This is an opportune moment to speak to Numico in private.

Sitting by the campfire, I lay out my plan. Numico listens attentively; after I finish, he is silent for a while, thinking, and then he speaks.

"You know, Mart, I don't think he's lonely at all. This forest is his home, and the animals and plants are his family. He cares so much about them that I wonder if he could do without them."

"Besides, he's shy around people. I'm afraid he'll decline the invitation just out of fear. But I may be wrong; it's worth a try anyway. Because to tell you the truth, I've already grown attached to that big guy. He's so full of love and respect that you want to be around him to learn how to love. Such a tree of a fellow probably has a heart that matches his size."

When Rechmana comes back, I have Numico translate the proposal. The forest giant's eyes grow watery. "He doesn't want us to go. He will make us lords of his forest if we stay. I explained to him that it was impossible and that we are on an important quest.

"He is very honored by our offer, but he will still have to decline. He fears that the forest is doomed without him, especially now that the fire monsters are setting traps. He can't possibly leave her alone now. But between the lines, I can hear the fear seeping through. He's afraid, not of people as I thought, but of a repetition of what he's done before."

"It's hard for him. He feels indebted to us, and if we leave, he will not be able to settle the debt. He has doubts about his choice, but he does not want to leave this forest. He has never left the forest since he came here with his mother. This is his world."

I understand his dilemma. "Tell him it doesn't matter. That he is not at fault. That his good care for the life in the forest has ensured that the same good care has found him. Thank him for this special meeting and the hospitality. If we ever come back, we will visit him, as befits friends."

The forest giant's eyes widen; he stands up and raises his arm. I startle for a moment, fearing a possible blow.

But before I can move, the arm descends from heaven onto me. An open hand lands, with tremendous control, on my shoulder.

“Friend,” he says. I stand there in amazement, with a huge hand on my shoulder and a lump in my throat. I put my hand on his arm. "Friend," I say.

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