welcome to part IV of the boy and the turtle; a folktale that is my first series of published fiction. you can find the earlier parts here:
thanks for reading - i hope you enjoy!
previously, Don learned he would be traveling with Arla the turtle. his efforts to speed up their travel by carrying the turtle failed massively, leaving him frustrated and covered in sweat.
There was only one way forward. He had to walk alongside the turtle.
Don and Arla walked for many hours, covering hardly any distance at all. The wind was bitterly cold, howling across the valley like a pack of wolves. Don synched his thread-bear coat together and took to dashing about, scrambling over rocks and through brush, racing ahead and circling back, moving for the sake of movement and warmth.Ā
As his energy began to seep away, Don found himself returning, time and time again, to the side of the turtle, who plodded on inexorably.Ā
āHow can you stand this!ā cried Don. āYou move at such a slow, inefficient pace. You hardly get anywhere, get anything done! What do you think of all this time? How did the old man travel with you?āĀ
The turtle looked him in the eye, blinked once, and took another step. The turtleās head swiveled, and Don followed her gaze across the valley. It paused on a fallen tree, an odd rock, and a beam of sunlight striking the ground before them. When the turtle looked back, Don could swear she was smiling. Don grit his teeth in frustration. His doubts swam at the back of his mind, louder now that he could not focus on the goal and was stuck in a painfully slow process; but something of the turtleās energy was rubbing off on him.Ā
For once, he decided to let himself slow down. Don paused. He took deep breaths with eyes closed, feeling the rise and fall of his belly, letting the turtle pass him with the soft scrapping of her every step. When he opened his eyes, a new sight greeted him.Ā
The colors were more intense, the quality of light more pleasing, and birds sang from the trees he hadnāt noticed before. Don felt an odd bubble of joy rise up inside his belly into his chest, and he skipped forward, investigating the fallen log. When he got closer, he gasped at what he saw: mushrooms, a kind well-known to his village as hearty, healthy, and large.Ā
He picked the log clean, placing the mushrooms with care into his bag. A laugh broke free from his lips. He capered and bowed to the fallen tree.Ā
āGratitude,ā he whispered, and he began to move again.Ā
So it went for hours more: Don ranging ahead, around, and behind the turtle, eyes open and relaxed, heart listening, breathing even and deep as he explored the land with an open mind and nimble feet.Ā
Most things yielded no substance at all, but Don found that he did not mind. There was beauty in the upturned root of a fallen tree, the web-like limbs holding stones and dirt in place for more plants to take root and grow. There was beauty in the sleeping fields, the falling leaves, and the mossy stones.Ā
Don walked with more happiness than he had since leaving home, and little by little, his sack filled with roots, tubers, mushrooms, and herbs. Night began to fall, and Arla detoured off the trail, locating a small cave.Ā
Don smiled and patted the turtle's smooth shell. He fetched wood from outside, and in short order they sat near a small, smoky fire, watching the dancing flames in silence.Ā
āArla.āĀ
The turtle looked at him, eyes calm and steady, deep pools of brown caught in the fire's amber glow.Ā
āWinter will stay for a long time yet. Iām afraid that we still do not have enough, and that more will not be able to be found. What do we do? What do I do? Will it be enough?ā
The turtle said nothing, merely watching the boy patiently. Don gazed into the turtleās eyes, wondering if Arla could hear the contents of his mind. So they sat, enchanted, for a length of time beyond description.Ā
Finally, a log cracked and fell, drawing Donās attention. He looked back at the turtle, but Arla was already sleeping, a gentle smile on her reptilian face.Ā
Don stayed up, watching and tending the fire, pondering the exchange. āI suppose,ā Don mused out loud, āthat we can never be certain. We will have what we have. We will share together. And if we stop, truly look and listen, if we honor and respect the land - then the land will give back. Like it did today. Like itās always done.āĀ
He stopped, listening to the crackling of the fire.
āAfter all, what other choice is there? If I give up belief, then what do I bring home? Only more of the same. And if I return with hope, that alone is a gift worth giving.āĀ
There was no response but the crackle of fire, and the soft snores of the turtle. Wind howled outside the cave, and Don felt sleep pulling his eyes closed. Though the fear had not left him, he felt a warm glow of resolve deep inside.
He would wait and see what mysteries the universe had in store tomorrow.Ā
THE END
love,
river
Keep it flowing Sam. Will Don attain enlightenment?
Papadon