The Book of Sight Read online

  6

  Leaves in the Wind

  Logan felt his heart pounding as he followed the others down the slope from the road to the forest where Alex said the Gylf lived. So far this had been the best day of his life, apart from the one sickening moment when it occurred to him that maybe these kids were playing a trick on him and any minute were all going to stop and point, laughing at him.

  This was not a prank, though. Even apart from the things he’d seen himself, he could tell by looking at Alex and Adam that they weren’t lying. He could see their own confusion and excitement in their eyes.

  Of course, that meant that in a few short minutes he would be meeting a whole race of foot-high people who lived in the forest and, according to Alex, spent their time enjoying things. No doubt about it, this was too far out there for anyone to make up.

  Adam was leading them through the trees when he suddenly stopped short. At first Logan couldn’t see why, but then Alex kneeled down, and he saw the young woman on the path in front of them.

  As described, she was only about ten inches tall and dressed all in green and brown with dark red berries woven into her thick brown hair, but Alex’s description hadn’t done her justice. She was like one of his favorite childhood fairytales brought to life. The little woman’s delicate beauty took his breath away, and though he could hear Alex introducing him and Eve, he couldn’t say anything. Instead, he nodded hello, fighting off the urge to bow or do something equally stupid.

  The tiny beauty (he thought Alex had introduced her as Terra) was watching him with a smile. “This one speaks with his eyes instead of his tongue,” she said.

  He felt self-conscious as the others glanced at him, but Terra began talking of other things, and he was soon drawn back in to the conversation.

  “There won’t be many at our home today. Word came early this morning that the vines have reached full strength, so all who were not otherwise occupied are heading to the gully to swing. I am going there myself, though I was delayed by the discovery of these berries which the birds had left behind. If you wish to come with me, I know that you would all be welcome at the vine swinging.”

  No one had any objection. Terra shimmied up a tree and began to skip along the branches, hopping lightly from tree to tree leading them off the path and further into the forest. They hurried after her, Logan once again bringing up the rear.

  As he crunched along, he found himself imagining the life of these little Gylf and how wonderful it must be, living all together with no worries and all this beauty around them every day. He was just picturing Terra waking up in the morning inside a beautiful bedroom carved out of a tree trunk and lined with soft moss when he realized that the others were getting too far ahead. Better save the daydreams for some other time or he’d be seriously lost. It wouldn’t be the first time that his daydreaming had got him into trouble, but he didn’t want to miss anything today.

  Terra finally came to a stop at the edge of a large crease in the earth. On all sides massive trees stood like old men trailing long cloaks of vines. No trees grew in the gully itself, but the slope was covered in foliage and there were large heaps of dead leaves along the bottom. He heard the cries of greeting before his eyes had registered the large number of Gylf in the trees on every side.

  It was a bit startling to realize that they were surrounded by people, but for Logan, it was like suddenly having one of his daydreams become a reality. Of course, that would be unpleasant for some people, but Logan’s daydreams were all better than his real life, so for him it was a wonderful feeling.

  After a flurry of greetings and introductions, in which Logan caught almost no names, the Gylf showed the kids how the vine swinging was done. Choosing a vine that hung free over the gully, one Gylf would tie the end around his waist and then climb to a secure branch, pulling the vine taut. Up to ten other Gylf would then scamper up the tree and onto the same vine. When all were in place and clinging tightly to the vine, the anchor would let go of the tree, and the whole group would swing out laughing over the ravine.

  The Gylf seemed completely fearless. Many would grip the vine with their legs and clap and wave their arms as they swung, and a few even waited until the vine had swung out to its farthest point and then leapt from the vine onto a tree on the opposite side of the ravine. This feat was met with cheers from those on the ground.

  It all looked like so much fun that inevitably the kids began to discuss trying out the vines themselves. The Gylf couldn’t offer any advice since they knew very little about humans and had never considered anyone swinging on vines but themselves. Alex had some doubts that it would be safe for them with their greater weight (and Logan was secretly inclined to agree with her), but Eve dismissed this objection. She had been vine swinging in the woods with some friends before, and no one had fallen, she said.

  “Besides,” she added. “What’s the worst that could happen? We fall onto those big piles of leaves. It looks like it wouldn’t even hurt.”

  “That’s not really the worst that could happen,” replied Adam with an eye roll that made Logan cringe, “but yeah, the vines look really strong. You guys don’t have to do it, but I want to go at least once.”

  In the end, it was agreed that they’d let the Gylf pick the very strongest vine and then Adam and Eve would take turns testing it. If it worked for them, Alex consented to try it, too. Logan said very little during all of this conversation. He wanted very badly to swing on the vine, but the prospect of falling and breaking a bone was an ugly one. He didn’t want to seem like a coward, but visions of blood and limbs twisted at unnatural angles came unbidden to his mind. Sometimes he wished he could just turn his imagination off, but those were always the times when it was least possible.

  Having decided, they lost no time in getting started. A fine, strong vine was chosen, and away went Adam, whooping and laughing over the ravine. Eve was next and slid off the vine breathless and shining-eyed after her ride. The vine seemed to be holding up well, and since Logan was even lighter than the first two he felt confident to take his own turn.

  He gripped the vine firmly as Terra showed him, stepped back for a running start, and then swung out into open air. It was exhilarating, like flying. Hearing the laughter of the Gylf swinging on other vines nearby, he felt a bubble of happiness swell inside him. He flashed a quick grin at Alex as he swung back past the others on the high ground and out again over the gully.

  Of course, it was too good to last. On his third swing out, just as he reached the farthest point, Logan heard a sickening pop over his head. For a split second, he didn’t register what was happening and then he was falling, vine still clutched in his hand. He heard someone scream, he wasn’t sure who, and then he hit the ground hard on his side.

  A moment passed while he just lay there without moving, a pain throbbing in his side, and then he sat up. Just as Eve had predicted, the piles of leaves had mostly broken his fall, but something very hard had struck him just above his hip. Craning his head around, he could see an angry red mark that would soon be a nasty bruise.

  “I’m okay,” he called out to the others, pushing the leaves aside to see what he had landed on. Something shiny caught his eye, and he pulled out what looked like an old trophy, a two-handled metal cup all rusted over. What a weird thing to be in the middle of the woods.

  By that time, the others had managed to scramble down into the gully and were coming towards him. He could see the look of alarm on Alex’s face and of guilt on Eve’s. The Gylf also wore concerned looks as they dropped lightly from the vines onto the leaves around him. Adam brought up the rear, and Logan could tell by his expression that he was just waiting to be told that there was no injury so he could laugh over how funny the fall had been.

  “I’m really fine,” Logan reassured them. “No big deal. I just hit this and bruised myself a little.” He held up the cup.

  Once they had seen for themselves that Logan was not hurt, everyone was very interested in the trophy he had found.
A little investigation led to the discovery of a few other objects nearby: a corroded tin bowl, a thin rusty chain, several broken pens and pencils, and countless scraps of paper, soggy and unrecognizable.

  Then Adam gave an excited cry. He had wandered further along the gully away from the main cluster of vines to where a large rock blocked off one end. There around the base of the rock was a whole pile of old rusty junk. Logan thought that people had just been throwing trash down here, but Adam was pointing to one of the items half buried under the refuse. It was a sword, quite rusty but seemingly still in one piece.

  They all stood looking at it for a minute. Something prickled on the back of Logan’s neck. His eyes told him that he was looking at an ordinary pile of junk in the woods, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

  Eve was asking the Gylf about this place.

  “We do not know what all these things are,” answered a young man whose name Logan could not remember. “We never come to this rock.”

  “Why not?” asked Logan.

  “For no reason that I know,” the young man said. “We simply do not come here.”

  “Is it off limits or something?” wondered Eve.

  “No, it is not forbidden,” he replied. “There is nothing for us here.”

  Suddenly Alex called out commandingly, “Stop!”

  Adam had begun to climb up the pile of junk. He paused as everyone stared in surprise at Alex. She wore a very strange expression. It seemed to Logan that she was looking at something that no one else could see.

  “I’m just going to get that sword,” said Adam.

  “Don’t,” insisted Alex. “It’s not safe.”

  Adam cocked his head as he surveyed the pile. “It’s fine.” He stamped his foot. “It’s a pretty sturdy pile actually.”

  “I mean it,” Alex held firm. “Don’t climb it.”

  But Adam had turned his back on her. He was almost to the sword now. Logan found himself holding his breath. Adam was standing over the sword now. He bent down and tugged, but it was wedged between two pieces of junk so rusty it was impossible to tell what they were. Adam leaned one arm against the giant rock to get some leverage and pulled hard. There was a crunching noise, and then the earth next to the rock caved in pulling half the pile crashing and clanking with it. Adam yelped as he was knocked off his feet.

  It was all over in a matter of moments, and when the dust settled everyone was relieved to see Adam’s head still sticking out of the ground. He was clinging to the edge of the hole that had opened around him.

  Immediately several Gylf rushed toward him.

  “Do you think it’s safe?” asked Eve, looking at Alex.

  “Safe or not,” replied Alex, “we can’t just leave him there. The Gylf will never be able to get him out by themselves.”

  They all stepped gingerly onto what was left of the junk pile and picked their way over to Adam. When they got there, they saw that things were not as bad as they had looked. Adam was not hanging in the hole but rather standing on the pile of garbage which had fallen below him. It was just far enough down that he couldn’t climb out, but at least he wasn’t in any danger of falling further in. Logan and Eve each grabbed a hand and pulled, allowing him to scramble his way out. When Adam finally collapsed breathless beside them, they all looked at each other silently for a moment. Adam’s legs were cut and scraped, but other than that he seemed unharmed.

  “I guess I owe you a serious apology,” he said finally to Alex. “I should have listened to you.”

  Alex didn’t answer, but Logan thought she looked more thoughtful than angry.

  “How did you know that was going to happen?” Eve asked her.

  Alex shrugged. “I don’t know. It just didn’t seem safe to me.”

  “But you were so sure,” Eve insisted.

  Alex nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “Well, however you knew,” said Adam, “I’m never ignoring your advice again.” He gave her a smile that seemed to Logan to be asking for some sign of forgiveness.

  Alex half-smiled back but was still very preoccupied with her own thoughts.

  Now the Gylf, who had stepped out of the way while Adam was being pulled out of the hole and for the last several minutes had been holding a huddled conference in low voices, approached them.

  Terra spoke for the group. “We have been discussing our situation and what is appropriate to do next. It seems to us that the reason no Gylf come here may be greater than we realized. We do not know what this place is, but it is clearly not a natural part of the forest. We will ask the grandfathers, but we who are here are agreed that it would be better to leave this place alone in the future. For now, our most important concern is healing your injuries. Unfortunately, we do not have any skill at nursing humans. Perhaps you can tell us what is best to be done.”

  “I’m okay,” said Adam. “Don’t worry about me.”

  “You should get those cuts cleaned,” said Eve. “There was a lot of rust on that stuff. You could get infected.”

  Adam was about to object, but Alex said, “She’s right. You’re a mess. I have antibiotic stuff at my house if you want to clean up so your mom doesn’t see you like that. She didn’t seem like the type who would want you bleeding on her carpet.”

  Having just said he’d always listen to Alex’s advice, Adam could hardly argue.

  Logan felt disappointed that they weren’t going to see the Gylf’s home. He knew that they could come back another day, but he hated to head back to the ordinary world after so short a time here. The thought of going home to the dirty trailer park where he lived was repugnant.

  Still, he could tell by Adam’s expression as he stood up that he was in more pain than he let on, so Logan tried not to be selfish and shouldered his backpack along with the others.

  Terra accompanied the children to the edge of the woods. As she gracefully stepped along a branch near him, Logan was amazed at the incredible way that she fit into the loveliness of the forest. Each branch and leaf and fern was pulsating with life, and this little woman was the walking expression of that life.

  Finally, after the fifth time she caught him staring, Terra laughed lightly and said, “I can see why sight was given to you. Your eyes speak of their joy in the beauty around them.”

  Logan hesitated but then asked, “What exactly is this… sight?”

  She stopped and tilted her head a bit. “You see, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And most humans do not.”

  He thought he knew what she meant, but he felt the need to have it put into words for him. “But it’s not like people are blind. They can see. They read. They write. They walk around without bumping into things.”

  “True,” she laid one slender hand on the tree trunk next to her. “But when they see this, what do they see?”

  “A tree.”

  “Yes. And when you see it, what do you see?”

  Logan looked at the tree. He wanted desperately to say something profound, but he didn’t know how. “A tree, but…”

  But what? he thought. There weren’t words for what he felt as he touched the tough, knobbly skin, as he felt the life pulsing through that strong trunk, as he looked up at the graceful branches stretching out to embrace the sky in an ecstasy of green.

  Terra smiled. “Exactly. A tree, but… That is sight.”

  The others had stopped and were waiting, so Logan turned and continued walking silently.

  As the kids said goodbye to Terra and promised to come back soon to visit, Logan found his reluctance to leave settling into depression. Then he felt Terra press something into his hand. He looked down. It was the wreath of berries that she had been wearing in her hair.

  “A gift for the quiet one with the talking eyes,” she said.

  “Oh, uh, thank you,” he stuttered. “You didn’t have to…”

  “It increases my joy to see your pleasure in them,” she smiled. “Now they bring joy to more than myse
lf.”

  Strangely, as he followed the others back to the road, Logan did feel a sense of joy. This wasn’t just one of his daydreams. This was real, and it would keep being real. Even if most of the world was boring and ugly, there were still truly beautiful places. Now he had seen one with his own eyes, and he had only to look down at the berries in his hand to remember it.

  7

  Muttering Over and Over

  The following day found the kids tripping across the abandoned lot behind the trailer park where Logan lived. Eve looked around and laughed to herself. If her friends could see where she was and who she was with, they would have a few things to say about it. For some reason, that didn’t bother her. In fact, it sort of added to her sense of excitement about this new adventure. You could bet that none of them were doing anything half so interesting right now. She tried to imagine her essay on “What I did this summer” and chuckled out loud.

  These last couple of days had been like nothing she could have imagined. She had never read the kinds of books that would have made her picture herself meeting miniature people living in the woods or discovering secret hieroglyphics in the clouds or sharing mysterious headaches with a group of weird kids she’d never met before.

  Not that these kids were at all bad or anything. They’d actually been really nice. They were smart and fun, a combination she didn’t previously know existed. Eve was relieved to be with other people who understood what was happening to her, even though she still couldn’t shake the desire to laugh sometimes at how seriously they were taking everything.

  This morning had been one of those times.

  They had all met at the circle of trees again, and Adam had started in right away. He wanted to name the circle of trees. If it was going to be their main meeting spot, it should have a name, he said. Everyone agreed that it was a good idea, but coming up with a name was harder than it sounded.

  Alex suggested the Circle of Seeing or the Ring of Renown. But those both seemed a bit long and heavy. Eve thought maybe something simple like The Aspens would be better, but Adam said that sounded like the name of a golf club.