Dangling by the rope, James did not panic. He was sure his strength could hold for hours if necessary. Kilani, now standing above him, began walking back toward the trailhead. He lifted himself up onto the rope careful not to pull too hard and slowly stood. Balance came naturally once he found his center of gravity. Quickly, he moved to the edge. So many questions ran through his mind as he jumped down from the support line onto the leaf-covered trail. Kilani was nowhere to be seen. James ran down the path determined to speak with her. He covered the distance back to the shack in less than a minute. She was standing outside the entrance when he came to a halt.
“Please,” he said. “I have so many questions.”
“They can wait. Right now, you must follow me,” she replied.
James yelled out as she darted into the forest. It was instantly obvious she had no intention of waiting for him, so he began his pursuit. They ran through the forest at amazing speed. James couldn’t believe the ease at which he was hurtling fallen trees and dodging branches. His breathing was as relaxed as if were standing still. Instead of loud, cumbersome footfalls, their steps were light and silent.
The ground pitched downward as they passed into a clearing, and for the first time since his arrival trees didn’t block his view. Far in the distance stood a mountain topped with sheer rock and surrounded by dense jungle.
“We journey to the top of Mt. Misery,” the woman said.
“That will take days,” James replied.
“We must reach it by nightfall.”
She ran off again before James could argue. They continued toward the mountain. Never slowing, never tiring. They crossed a river and skirted the perimeter of a large lake before reaching the base of the mountain.
As they ascended, the trees became smaller, the undergrowth more and more sparse until James could see through the vegetation. The trees gave way to stone. At the base of the stone was a large, steep yet still passable scree field. Beyond that, the rock jutted directly upward and the smooth face looked unclimbable.
Nevertheless, Kilani never slowed as she hopped from boulder to bolder across the field of waylaid stones. When they reached the point where the stone face turned vertical, James could see a giant fissure in the cliff. Kilani stopped as they reached the fissure and James took in his surroundings.
The mountain sat in the northwest portion of an island. Deep-blue ocean surrounded the oddly shaped island as far as the eye could see. The green of the jungle stretched to all sides. James noticed several smaller satellite islands surrounding the main island. He looked back at Kilani, but before he could ask a single question, she disappeared into the darkness of the fissure. Quickly he followed, his eyes immediately adapting to the difference in brightness.
James could see light at the other end of the fissure, which must have extended across the entire mountaintop. Kilani jumped up and grabbed hold of one of several ropes that hung just above their heads and began pulling herself up. James followed, using only his arms. He was again amazed at his new strength. By the time they reached the stone shelf around which the ropes had been secured, James felt energized rather than tired.
Directly across from the shelf hung a rope ladder. Kilani jumped, effortlessly caught the rungs, and began her climb. James followed, hoping the rickety-looking rope ladder had the strength to hold them both.
At the top of the ladder was a tunnel. Several bundles of fabric and ropes were stashed neatly on either side of the area against the cave walls. Kilani stepped forward and disappeared around a turn. James followed. She paused, standing in an opening. James could tell from the orange glow that the sun was setting. He stood next to Kilani.
“Give me your hand,” she said.
James took her hand, which was warm and surprisingly smooth. Their eyes met for just a moment. She took a deep breath and looked almost scared as together they stepped out onto the shelf. The instant the orange rays of the setting sun struck them, James felt as if he’d caught fire. They both immediately dropped to the ground, writhing in pain. Terrible screams could be heard across the island as the sun fell below the horizon.
— 9 -
November 1892, Wales
Nine-year-old James sat bolt upright in bed as a scream escaped his lungs, “Manukto!”
A tall, thin, and quite old man stood at the foot of his bed looking down at him. His pleasant expression turned to one of curiosity at the sound of the boy’s scream. James pressed himself against the headboard at the sight of the stranger. The man smiled and stepped toward him.
“Hello, James. I’m terribly sorry to startle you,” the man said with a smile.
The man had an aura about him that immediately put James at ease. The room was dark except for the glow of the fire. James found it strange that he had no fear of this man.
“What was it you were dreaming?” the man asked pleasantly.
“A tunnel,” said James. “I was being chased by… something terrible.”
The stranger appeared introspective for a moment then looked deep into James’s eyes.
“Do you know who I am?” the man asked.
“No, sir. I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”
“Oh, but we have, on several occasions. Although I would hardly expect you to remember them as you were so young. There was one time, as I recall, in the not too distant past when I called upon your parents. You were supposed to be sleeping however you decided to play in the gardens behind the house. I believe we met somewhere between the primrose and the catmint.”
James thought for a moment and vaguely recalled that moonlit night in the garden. Ever since he and his parents arrived earlier that day James had been drawn to the gardens, which contained numerous stone paths, fountains and even a hedge maze. That next evening, while his parents thought he was in bed asleep, James lowered himself from the window using an incantation his father taught him just one-week prior and made his way to the gardens. He had just finished completing the hedge maze for the seventh time when the man appeared. Like this night, the man’s appearance did not instill fear. Rather than hide in the shadows, which he could have easily done, James stepped out to greet the man. The man responded pleasantly and told James to run along back to his room before he was found out. His parents never knew he was out.
The man smiled along with James as if he, too, were enjoying the fond memory.
“So you do recall our previous meeting,” he said.
“Yes,” James said.
“Excellent. Then you know I pose you no harm.”
“Yes,” James replied again.
“Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Akil Karanis. I’ve been a friend of your father’s since you were but a toddler.”
James smiled but made no attempt to shake his hand. He simply nodded and drew the sheets higher under his chin. He was mesmerized by the appearance of the old man: short, pure white hair; a neatly trimmed goatee; and a long, brown duster over what looked to be a maroon suit.
Akil made his way around the foot of the bed and to the chair beside James. “May I sit?” he asked.
James nodded. Akil pulled the chair from under the table, turned it so it was facing James, and sat quietly. He leaned forward, rubbing his hands together.
“Now, boy, tell me. What do you know about magic?”
“I know everything I’ve been taught,” James replied. “And some things I’ve taught myself.”
“I hear you’re quite a prodigy. Will you show me something you’ve taught yourself?”
Completely forgetting his modesty for his want to impress this man his parents so often talked about, James quickly stood on the opposite side of the bed. He looked around and picked up his pillow. He looked at Akil, who nodded. James tossed the pillow into the air and said “ Ego-apur-menderatu.” The pillow silently exploded in midair. James held up his hands and the feathers and scraps of fabric hung suspended. He then began moving his hands as if rolling a large ball of dough. The remnants of the pillow began to swirl until they themselves had taken a round shape. James directed the mass over the bed toward Akil, who watched with impressed fascination. Once it was above Akil’s head, James said “Berrizegoratu,” and the pillow immediately reformed, and dropped on Akil’s head, who couldn’t help but laugh as it slid down his back and onto the floor. James smiled, slightly embarrassed.