"Shadow of Makei" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burkitt John H., Morris David A.)

CHAPTER 3: INNER TRUTHS

Shimbekh trudged home despondently. She was afraid to go to her parents with such a strange tale of prophesy and doom. Besides, if there was the slightest chance she was mistaken, she would not want them to know. Even if she were not mistaken, she would not want to break their hearts.

There was only one source of comfort left to her. Since she was a small pup, her spirit guide had never let her down, though she had never relied on a spirit for companionship. She needed to ask him about the vision, and she was angry with herself for not consulting the him before upsetting Kambra.

Sitting alone by the den she had once shared with her sister, she stared off into space, looking at nothing in particular. “Urikh hom dalem,” she said. She began to chant it repeatedly. “Urikh hom dalem, Urikh hom dalem....” The words meant, “Anoint my spirit,” but they began to lose meaning as the chant washed away the tracks of her troubling thoughts, blending into a sleepy surf breaking upon a mystic shore where time and space had no meaning, and there was only the Eternal Now. “Urikh hom dalem. Urikh hom dalem. Urikh hom dalem....”

Before long, she had fallen into a receptive state. A golden mist surrounded her.

“What would you see today?” the voice asked.

Her jaw began to quiver. “You.”

“Me? Do I sense idle curiosity, Shimbekh?”

Tears flowed down her cheeks. “No. I’m so alone! I have no one else to turn to! Please tell me your name. Let me see you.”

“Are you sure? I mean, wouldn’t it remove all the mystery?”

“Who needs more mysteries? I don’t know what’s real anymore!”

“All right, but you may be disappointed.”

Something began to materialize from the mist. At first there were two bright spots in the haze which formed into hazel eyes. Fear shone in those eyes, the fear of becoming vulnerable. But Shimbekh plead with those eyes, and her gentle coaxing brought out a face--and soon the body--of a hyena.

“Oh!”

“Well, I’m Brin’bi,” he said shyly. “You were expecting something spectacular, and you got me. See, I told you that you’d be disappointed.”

“No, not at all!” Shimbekh smiled shyly. “I like you much better that way. I can talk TO you, not AT you.” She looked into his soft eyes and felt kindness flow from him the same way it came from Gur’bruk, only this kindness was hers. She wanted to touch him, but wondered if she could--or should.

“You may try,” Brin’bi thought to her. “I don’t know what you’ll feel.”

She abandoned spoken language and let her thoughts fly freely to him.

“I think you look beautiful, Brin’bi.”

“Well, uh, thanks. So do you, Shimbekh. So beautiful, and so sad. You really need a friend.”

She almost cried. “Can you stay for a while?”

“I have all of eternity.” He yawned as if to prove the point and settled into a sphinx. “So Shimbekh, you’re on the outs with your sister, are you?”

“Brin’bi, tell me it’s not so!”

“Honestly, I don’t know. There are forks in our path, but I believe we choose to go left or right.”

“Then you can’t tell me what to do?”

“I can only give advice. Remember how much you love your sister, and whatever happens, be there for her. That always works.”

“I’d do anything for her.” She sighed. “I’m so depressed thinking about this. Let’s talk about you for now--please?”

“About me? What’s there to talk about?”

“Dozens of things! How old are you? Do you have a home? How did you die? And are you a real hyena, or just taking that shape to please me?”

He smiled. “Does my shape really please you? That’s the way I used to look. I was born near this spot. I was almost your great grand-okhim till I caught a hoof between the eyes. I never even felt pain.” He sighed. “I guess I went left where I should have gone right. As for where I live, I guess this is my home now. And since I became your spirit guide, you’re the closest thing I have to a steady date.”

Shimbekh smiled. “I like that. Why don’t I consider you my steady date too?”

Brin’bi broke into an embarrassed smile. “Why not! When my friends ask me what’s happening, I’ll have something worth reporting.” He laughed softly with a beautiful laugh that made his eyes shine. “This will help my reputation, being seen with a pretty female.”

“Am I really pretty?”

“No. You’re really beautiful--that goes deeper.”

Shimbekh smiled. “I feel much better now. Thanks so much.”

“For what?”

“For being my friend. And for just being you.”