Chapter One
“Listen to all the teachers in the woods. Watch the trees, the animals and all living things–you’ll learn more from them than from books.” Joe Coyhis, Stockbridge-Munsee
The waters were swift, the riverbank was still. Deep ran the current, shallow was the soil. Uninhabited, the land beckoned a visitor to wander the ghastly shore. Footsteps from times gone by lay deep beneath the ancient ground. A cry from within reached out to the wind spreading like fairies through the blue September skies. The tree branches hung low sweeping the earth with leaves of red, yellow and orange. Dressed as warriors, they guard the kingdom.
Jack was on the other side seeking a pathway to cross. A log, rocks, a breach of some kind may guide his way. Why cross he asked himself? To place his feet upon the foreign soil? To pamper his desires or conquer his fears? The wind swirled around Jack’s face leading him downstream. Dark shadows fed thick green moss upon the rocks. Water from the river bathed their bristly hairs allowed his feet to slip with each step.
Guarded by instinct, he moved with the wind against his back. Jack came to a bend with rocks towering ever so high. A tattered and torn gray log with dangling green ferns dancing in the breeze just above the choppy waters lay across the frigid boundary. Here, he whispered to himself to cross. He gazed upward to the azure skies, no clouds, no birds, nothing. Jack slithered somewhat reluctantly across the gnarled tree. The rushing water below tarried his being, He raised his eyes and stared at the other side. Closer he moved.
Once across the log he tumbled downward through a deep layer of salal and came to rest upon a bed of ferns. Jack shook his head and gazed upwards through the tangled branches of the forest shrubbery with only glimpses of daylight. He looked at his pocket watch and it was a few minutes after twelve noon. With a deep breath, he began to make his way through the dense undergrowth and out into a thick canopy of tall trees.
A narrow and dusty trail could be seen winding through the deep dark forest towering overhead. Jack shifted his backpack over his shoulders, brushed himself off and began his inward journey. It was so dry twigs snapped and echoed through the air as dust settled upon the brush.
His intense footsteps destined to a point far away beyond the canopy of evergreens, towards a respite of a lush green meadow and sounds of a waterfall. Sweat dripped onto his brow, settling upon his eyelids, blinking his blue eyes one at a time he did not miss a step.
As a drone he labored as being controlled from afar. The shadows gave way to rays of light as he neared the forest edge. The scent of wildflowers and a hint of moisture in the air drew him ever faster to the brightness. Soon he emerged into another land and his stride relaxed, a slight mist replaced the dust laden air and massaged his nostrils.
Ever slower he walked lowering his arms to his side with a sense of wellbeing in his soul. The sun shone bright here but was not hot. The earth was green and flowers competed with the blades of grass. A pristine waterfall in the distance sent millions of soft water droplets throughout the air.
A huge log brought him to rest releasing his energy; he sat upon the once giant tree. His boots dropped from his feet to the ground and shedding his backpack and shirt exposed him to the wild expanse. Jack ran his hands through his wavy brown hair and reached for his water bottle to quench his thirst while gazing to the aqua hue of the waterfall. He pondered the solace of his surroundings and reached out towards the tranquility of the moment. One man, now in a world of his own, drawn here by a world he left behind.
(from Whispers In The Wind – The Calling by Patrick Timm).