The Wake of Terror
The night air chilled my spine and the harsh winds caused our home to shudder endlessly. Is it possible that the idle gossip of the village rang with truth and I was just too blind to see it. I feel utterly useless and my mother has withdrawn further into herself as I struggle to keep both of us warm in our humble home. Thankfully , I managed to trade some of my smaller paintings for some candles and blankets and our roof had been repaired last summer so hopefully we will arise out of this storm relatively unscathed.
It was a sleepless night as I could not shake the overwhelming sense of foreboding that came over me just as the cold chilled me to the bone. I knew that sleep would not come to me on this night and could not simply sit idly with such a storm approaching so I set forth to hastily create some protective items that would hopefully prevent or at least alter its path away from our village. I found some leftover clay from a previous village and molded it into a frog and set it to harden in the hearth . Once it dried , I planned to place it in the direction of the hail cloud. My mother and I also began our peaceful recitations of the mantra of Sakamuni Buddha and burned tsang or cedar to ward off the wrongful deities that wished to harm our village. I prayed the hailmaster of our village had foreseen the oncoming storm and had taken to proper ritualistic precautions to protect us .
To soon, the storm overcame the village with huge balls of clear ice that left great destruction in its wake. Countless homes were severely damaged and the bridge that the traders relied upon to bring livelihood to the village was utterly wrecked. The village was in a state of utter panic and many were quick to blame the apparent wrongdoings of their neighbors to explain why this would happen to our humble village. Perhaps it was the hungry ghosts that loved to wreck terror on the innocent or a curse was brought upon us.
Thankfully, many in the village put together their limited funds and resources to rebuild the village as it was crucial to our survival at this time we are slowly recovering our losses. Many looked to the village elder for the incredible wisdom and knowledge that only one in his enlightened state could give and it was amazing to receive guidance from one who is well on their way to escaping the cycle of rebirth. The following weeks brought about a more positive outlook and I know that next time , I will not hesitate to aid in any way I can or heed warnings however mundane they may be at times.
Once the weather had cleared, I rushed to the monastery to see how my father’s mural had fared and it was not good. The protective tarp that I had placed over it was left in tatters with huge holes littering its surface and I could see the vibrant colors peaking out. However, it seemed as though the damp air tampered with the drying process and much of my recent work had bled away and I had to start anew. I was heartbroken but I knew that this would not be an easy task and so I set forth to repair the damage , once again praying that another hailstorm of this magnitude would never wreck our village again.
On my way back from the monastery at sundown, a friend of mine Tashi gripped my arm firmly, urging me to gather in the square to hear the elders speak as an urgent matter had been brought to their attention.
“What of my mother ? ” I asked, hesitating to follow
“ She is waiting for you Kya , do not worry .”
Relieved, I made my way to the square where the village was gathered.
“ Friends, it is with a heavy sorrow that I bring you an update of the neighboring village. It has been overcome with grave sickness and we must offer our services as they have done for us many times in the past. The naga illness has spread quickly and our talented healers and ritualists will be of much assistance. I urge you all to provide and care for our friends in need, any aid will be much appreciated I am sure.” The Elder spoke
“ You must go daughter” My mother urged me quietly
“ I cannot leave you Mother, I must be there for you.” I said firmly
“ I will be fine Kya, do not let all that your father taught you go to waste. You must offer your help. I know that times have been difficult but you must be strong.”
With a heavy heart, I left with the others on the newly constructed bridge , praying that not only my mother would be alright in my absence but that my novice skills in ritual would help those who were suffering. Despite my initial hesitation, I now know that this is something I must do.
