30 on the peak (1/2)

It was late. Any other day, Pharaohs' would be closed. The employees would have retired to their quarters. Today, however, wasn't any other day. Today, the grand elder had come visiting.

As we were driving away, I saw the relief on the faces of the security. Eowyn was even waving, almost too happily. I could think of things to say, but I kept them to myself. Dia had taken the stage, and she had a lot to say.

Jerry was driving. I was by his side. The twins were in the back.

”We should see the peak,” Pratt said as we were leaving Pharaohs'. ”Since we've come all this way.”

Dia agreed immediately. And that meant the decision was made.

”I'm driving,” Jerry said, grabbing the keys.

”Pratt's not very safe driving up the mountains so late,” Dia explained.

She was hanging onto Pratt's arm, smiling as he offered no denial.

”And he's scared of heights,” Jerry added drily.

”I'm not,” Pratt argued instantly. ”Don't believe him.”

I nodded. It wasn't a difficult request.

Jerry sighed, shaking his head, grief painted over his face.

”It is true,” he repeated in a voice only I could hear.

As the engine roared to life, Dia got started too. And she wouldn't stop.

”It's a dull road up, really. Some say it's better under the light of day. Others say the dark of night brings out the character. I think it's the same whenever. Compared to the road up to Pharaohs', the road further up to the peak is rather dull. The only thing interesting are the lightning trees.”

I looked out at the trees all around, and easily recognised them. I knew the folk tale that told of how the lightning trees came to be.

There was a tree down below that was so majestic and so grand that the heavens above burned in envy. And so, the heavens sent a lightning to burn the tree down. The lightning struck. The tree burned for a whole week, until it was only charred remains. The heavens were appeased. Little did the heavens know that the tree had the blessing of nature. And that very same nature, blew life into the charred remains. For a month, the tree appeared charred. Then, birds stamped the branches. Gusts of wind blew away the black charring. A brown tree, full of vigour and full of life, blossomed. A day later, bright green leaves covered the branches. The tree had returned to life, grander and more majestic. The only change, was that the branches were all shaped like bolts of lightning. Birds carried the seeds of the tree all over, so the lightning trees filled the lands. And the heavens looked on in defeat.

The story was a folk tale of our civilisation. Dia's excitement clearly had nothing to do with us and everything to do with the Nashi.