Part 16 (1/2)
Her rooer; out she had to fly into this new splendor, the night splendor
”The good Lord will take care of ”
As she was about to fly off through the silver light to her favorite ed creature alight on a beech-tree leaf not far away Scarcely alighted, it raised its head to the ainst the other, for all the world as though it were playing on a violin And sure enough, the sound came, the silvery chirp that filled the whole moonlit world with melody
”Exquisite,” whispered Maya, ”heavenly, heavenly, heavenly”
She flew over to the leaf The night was so mild and warm that she did not notice it was cooler than by day When she touched the leaf, the chirper broke off playing abruptly, and to Maya it seemed as if there had never been such a stillness before, so profound was the hush that followed It was uncanny Through the dark leaves filtered the light, white and cool
”Good night,” said Maya, politely, thinking ”good night” was the greeting for the night like ”good
”Please excusethat I had to find out where it came from”
The chirper stared at Maya, wide-eyed
”What sort of a crawling creature are you?” it asked after some moments had passed ”I have neverinsect I am Maya, of the nation of bees”
”Oh, of the nation of bees Indeedyou live by day, don't you? I have heard of your race fro he eats the dead bodies that are thrown out of your hive”
”Yes,” said Maya, with a faint chill of apprehension, ”that's so; Cassandra told me about hiht falls and snouts in the grass looking for dead bodies-- But do you associate with the hedgehog? Why, he's an awful brute”
”I don't think so We tree-crickets get along with him splendidly We call him Uncle Of course he always tries to catch us, but he never succeeds, so we have great fun teasing him Everybody has to live, doesn't he? Just so he doesn't live off ree But not caring to insult the cricket by contradicting, she changed the subject
”So you're a tree-cricket?”
”Yes, a snowy tree-cricket-- But I er It's full ht I must play”
”Oh, do make an exception this once You play all the tiht is the loveliest in the world,” answered the cricket ”It fills the heart with rapture-- But what my music doesn't tell you I shan't be able to explain Why _need_ everything be explained? Why _know_ everything? We poor creatures can find out only the tiniest bit about existence Yet we can _feel_ the glory of the whole orld” And the cricket set up its happy silvery stru Heard fro in its loudness
The little bee sat quite still in the blue su deeply about life and creation
Silence fell There was a faint whirr, and Maya saw the cricket fly out into the ht makes one feel sad,” she reflected
Her flowery e of the brook stood the tall irises brokenly reflected in the running water A glorious sight Thein the braided current, the wavelets winked and whispered, the irises seeht the little bee She dropped down on a blue petal in the full light of thewaters of the brook, the quivering flash, the flashi+ng coo of countless sparks On the bank opposite, the birch-trees glittered as if hung with the stars
”Where is all that water flowing to?” she wondered ”The cricket is right We know so little about the world”
Of a sudden a fine little voice rose in song fro like a pure, clear bell, different from any earthly sound that Maya knew Her heart throbbed, she held her breath
”Oh, what is going to happen? What aently One of the petals curved in at the edge, and Maya saw a tiny snohite hu on to the flower's riers Then a small blond head arose, and then a delicate lu inup out of the iris
Words cannot tell Maya's awe and rapture She sat rigid