Once again, we stood on the platform. I was a boy again, Artem, and Katsa was a bear cub. The boulder was to our right, and blackness was still all around.
“How do I go back, Katsa?” I asked him. Katsa looked at me, and then he ascended his boulder.
“You cannot yet go back, Artem. You never even said goodbye.” My surroundings changed, the boulder melted into a throne and golden walls sprung up around the edges of the platform, I stood in the throne room of my father, Spirit King, Lord of Riches. On the throne sat Katsa, and he changed into She. A She with brown hair that lay smooth down her back now, instead of being in pigtails. And Maria said to me:
“You have done very well. You were hardened and set against the world at first, but now you have overcome those obstacles. You learnt to trust and follow, you learnt to see through the lies of others with the fox. You learnt to listen and heed the call with the nymphs, you learnt to come out of yourself and voice your feelings, you learnt to help others. You remembered your love for Mother, and your first view of the Living World. You know that you can go back and do good now.
“Your father, Spirit King, Lord of Riches has been inspired by your perseverance, he has also decided to once again attempt the Living World; perhaps you may see him, he bears still a cross-shaped scar on his temple and back. In his place, I was left, for you did not know that like yourself I am a Spirit Child. Abiku. Changeling. Always coming and going. But unlike you, I wish not to stay.” I looked deeply into her eyes, and I saw many different lives, a Roman Emperor, a Greek farmer, a murderous child in Spain, a Dine baby during the British invasion, a black slave turned into a wealthy man after his freedom, a shaman in ancient times, a dragon in Slovakia, an Australian Aborigine child, a young knife victim in Britain, a killer in America and a King in early Nigeria. Even a preacher in early Jerusalem, and an apprentice in early Japan. And so many more lives. I had only lived once yet.
Maria, Spirit Queen, Evening Jewel, called my name, my True Name.
“Pathfinder, have you any last request before you return to the World of the Living?” I smiled, a deep smile.
“Yes, Spirit Queen, Evening Jewel. I would very much like to play.” And I held up her doll.
*****
I withdrew my finger from the mirror. I covered it again with the dirty green cloth. I went back to my room with it, and I climbed onto my bed; I opened the window wide, making sure the street was empty. And I threw the mirror down with all the force I could muster. It fell to the ground and broke with little sound. I was sure the neighbour woman downstairs did not wake up.
Joseph drove up soon with Mother; I was still at the window, looking steadily at the tiny shards of glass. They stepped out of the car, dressed of course, in black. Mother observed the mess.
“Artem?” Her tone was sad and questioning, I did not refrain from answering because I wanted to upset her, but because of the joy of her return. I watched her and Joseph disappear inside the house, stepping lightly over the glass. There was a period of silence, and then it was sharply broken for Her footsteps were heavy on the stairs.
****END****
