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(many, many years after,,, and, at the same time, before,,,)
Deep in the ancient forest, back where no man had ever walked let alone ever cut down even one magnificent tree, a place so deep in the forest that it was said for millennia to be nothing but darkness as if night never left its touch with the ground. Past the 500 year old trees, past the thousand year old trees, trees so big that a score of homes would rise from just one ancient forest giant, back so deep in the forest not even man's follies and wars cast a single din on this breezeless summer morn or disturbed the feathery treetops,,, sprang a most humorous sight.
In a small clearing, where not only sunlight shone through the ancient trees but too, where moonlight and the stars would be clearly evident at night, rose puffs and streams of dust as a furry creature gleefully played and scurried about with little thought except that of joyful play in the warm morning sun.
Over and over the furry creature rolled with a stick that crooked at one end that he swung at a small round object almost lost in the dust he kicked up in his play. A sound somewhat like “goff” could be heard as the crooked stick made contact with the small round object and the furry creature chased it merrily through the dust.
“Goff” came the sound again and again as the furry creature chased the round object from corner to corner of the sunlit opening. “Gotcha again.” The furry creature cried out in pure enjoyment knowing, or at least thinking that there was no other being about to see his youthful play.
“I am going to knock you into the next netherworld you little curse of the great Ke'Mo. Great Ke'Mo, ha! All he does is mope around our village all day muttering to himself mixing this and that in bowls. I'll teach you, little round thing, how great I am and how fruitless it is to try to flee me.”
From behind the trunk of an old hickory tree, some 20 arm's length around, some two or three rows back and almost completely hidden by the dim light of the forest, a pair of watchful, clear blue, all seeing eyes, intent on capturing every movement of this most humorous site in the sun drenched clearing, kept track of each humorous movement.
Making mental notes, the clear and intently watchful eyes peered around the ancient tree and with practiced silence stepped slowly into the clearing, still gazing intently at the furry creature playfully chasing the little round object with a crooked stick.
“What silliness is this I see?” said the one with the clear, all seeing eyes, “A Majdelene playing in the dust like an elephant does after his bath,,, Ru'Di the elephant is more fitting,,, it would seem!”
The furry creature, with the crooked at the end stick, the round object and all the dust swirling around him in the sun drenched clearing, quickly regained his composure, but still caught off guard from being caught as he quickly replied,
“Hush woman, have you no respect for the child within us all who lives to love and play? What if I were to waste this precious sunlight that the sky and our Lord has given us upon this beautiful sunlit morning or, should I tell your precious Ke'Mo that I would waste this joyous light because some overly sane and serious, yet, I must admit, appealing maiden, thinks it not manly to live the child in all of us?” Ru'Di answered his friend.
“Manly,,, why Ru'Di, are you,,, dare I venture,,, “third stage”? You have not shared this with me before. May this be the “why” Ke'Mo sends me to look for an elephant with a stick and ball? Goff, goff, goff, that is all that I have heard these past minutes. That and the site of enough dust that if mixed with water could make enough clay to potter our village for years to come. Ru'Di,,, third stage? Name your “Great Adventure”,,, this I dare you!” Ru'Di's friend said with the beginnings of a taunting, yet playful, smile.
“Yes, Sar'Ha, I am grown, now. If the great and wise Ke'Mo has sent for me, it is he who will name my “Great Adventure”, for only he can name a “Great Adventure” as great as I am sure I will have. It will be the greatest adventure any Majdelene has ever had.”
Sar'Ha, with her clear and all seeing eyes replied, “If you can dust yourself off sufficiently to walk amongst family and friends with no laughter, that will be your greatest adventure!”
A smile, a wink, and Sar'Ha was gone once again amongst the massive and ancient trees.
Ru'Di, still a little taken back by being caught by Sar'Ha playing as the “child in us all”, began to dust himself off as he started back towards their village.
And, he dusted.
And, he dusted some more.
And, he dusted some more,,, and more.
All the way back to the village he dusted as he thought about what it might mean for their leader, the great Ke'Mo, to beckon one to come quickly.
Ru'Di was still half-covered in dust from his play in the sunlit clearing when he arrived at the edge of their village.
Past the outer line of dwellings, each a family called home. Past his families modest, yet comfortable house where there flowed a gentle creek at the rear. The creek was also the home of creatures such as crawdads, minnows and big plump bull frogs that liked to bellow a call to play late at night when Rudi closed his tired eyes and tried to ignore his leggy friends and fall off to sleep.
Ru'Di dusted some more.
As he walked towards Ke'Mo's dwelling, and by odd habit of talking about each house as he walked past, Ru'Di began, “Sar'Ha's family, how nice with the flowers in the windowsill and her fathers hand made furniture welcoming guests. Another house gone? I will miss them, but there is A'sha's house,,,” and some sixty more on this side alone, with as many empty spaces beckoning new families and friends.
The village sat in a clearing with just one large, old tree shading each house from the noonday sun and bad weather. The village was arranged in the shape of an oval with smaller homes for smaller families and larger homes for larger families, naturally. It is the Majdelene way to take no more than needed and always give more than needed or asked.
Everything was neat and orderly with no mess or litter to be found. Stacks of firewood were neatly arranged and close to the doors so that heating or cooking could be done with little effort. Walkways were tidy and their stones placed conveniently for all to walk including the elderly, and almost every window had a flowerpot or some type of decoration.
Yes, even if one had to come from play, coming home to their village always had a warm feel to it.
Unless you looked towards the far end of the village, to the dwelling just outside the oval ring of homes and saw “it”.
“It”, was Ke'Mo's dwelling. Darker in color and feel than any other of the homes in the village,,, as if “something else” lived there other than a Majdelene. Some say that the darker color and feel came from Ke'Mo being sad these great many years, yet,,, as in the Majdelene way,,, no one talks of why or what,,, when it comes to another.
Smaller than any other, darker in color, sitting by its self, looking as if it had needed something for many years, repair was mostly commonly whispered. Not in the Majdelene way.
But,,, as every rule, almost, has an exception, so too, the Majdelene way when it came to the great and wise Ke'Mo's sad, and some said, broken heart.
Ru'Di tried to avert his gaze as he approached, and tried desperately not to think about anything remotely concerning Ke'Mo or his home as he not only had great respect for their leader but too, a spackling of fear.
Ke'Mo was never talked about, at least for the past several hundred years, but it was said that once upon a time, before his Great Adventure, that Ke'Mo used to be the happiest of all Majdelene.
Ru'Di found this hard to believe and thought that he would never want to be their leader and end up an old sourpuss like Ke'Mo.
Ru'Di continued to swat dust from him self as he arrived at Ke'Mo's door. A knock was not needed to anyone who came to Ke'Mo's door in peace. As Ru'Di stood still in the opening to Ke'Mo's house two things occurred: Ru'Di had the briefest of visions of something, he knew not what, and secondly, Ke'Mo said, “Quickly lad, it has started. Come in.”
Ru'Di entered and sat on the three-legged stool that Ke'Mo nodded to. He listened as Ke'Mo began to tell him of a story some 719 years past.
“Lad,,, Ru'Di is it. Why I know your Father well, your Mother, too. One would think that they would have picked a more traditional Majdeline name rather than these new names all the rage these days. Naming Majdelenes with human names,,, not that there is anything wrong with human names,,, or humans. None the less, you hail from solid stock, lad.
“And, by the way,,, this humble place only needs a woman's touch.” Ke'Mo said and turned his head away as sadness from warmer memories filled his thoughts for a fleeting moment.
“There was a time, lad, when men rode horses and adorned their bodies in metal for protection and a sense of self importance. Mostly it was a time of darkness in history when men made constant war on each other. For the longest time it seemed that evil would prevail but, it would almost seem, man's better nature won out.
“Man still wars with other men these days, and in the future, the only difference is that man becomes more apt in his ability to destroy.
“If only, as a young Majdelene on his “Great Adventure”, I had not been in a hurry and filled with too much of my own self worth to think that I could go back and correct a temporary solution with a final and full solution,,,, it would have not cost me my true love and man's history would have been better served.”
Ru'Di looked up at Ke'Mo for the first time since entering his home and did not notice all the bottles and containers of varying sizes filled with things he did not want to ask about, and saw in Ke'Mo's face,,, sadness in such a degree that the fur on Ru'Di's back crinkled and his breath left him paralyzed.
A pause took on the form of feeling as if all eternity had arrived.
Ru'Di finally caught his breath and asked “Ke'Mo, is it time for my “Great Adventure?”
“Even though you are barely third stage, I must send you on your “Great Adventure.” Ke'Mo replied.
“Great and wise Ke'Mo, with all due respect, I am ready.” Ru'Di said as he rose from the three-legged stool proudly.
“Ready, or not,,,,” Ke'Mo lingered.
“What is it, great Ke'Mo? Why do you look so? Is my “Great Adventure” to take the final solution back in time to finish what you did not?”
“Not exactly,,, I am not sure and that is what bothers me, lad. I don't know. I do know that you must go and all Majdelene must trust your worth as it will not only prove the future of us, but too, the future of all mankind as well.
“You know, Ru'Di, my brave child, that to do one good deed for just one human being gives you the right to become whatever real bear you wish.” Ke'Mo stood for a moment shaking his graying head.
“Ru'Di, it is hard and I must admit, a bit scary, to be sending you on this “Great Adventure”. It has the most serious consequences,,, if unsuccessful. So much rides on the success of you journey and I can't help much,” the great and wise Ke'Mo said in all seriousness.
“Why is that, Ke'Mo? Tell me what it is I must do. I am not afraid. I am sure that whatever needs doing, there is a friendly way of keeping peace upon our land.”
“Ru'Di, I know not what it is you must do, only that you are our, and man's, last chance for everlasting peace. I admit, I always have a fair idea what it is that a Majdelene is about to do when they set out on their “Great Adventure”, only,,, not this time,,, not yours.
“Your friendly spirit, your kindness, your gentle understanding,,, lots of dust,,, is all that I can see of your “Great Adventure”.
“As you well know, a Majdelene is not real until he or she helps some human over the loss of love, loss of hope or the loss of a friendship.
“Why, take Sar'Ha for instance! She brings together young girls as best friends for life so well they have started calling her “Sar'Ha, the Joyfriend Majdelene.” Not many young female Majdelenes like her are about and still single, you know.” Ke'Mo smiled for a moment. When the seriousness of Ru'Di's “Great Adventure” returned to his thoughts, his smile quickly left.
Ru'Di plopped back down onto the three legged stool in a small cloud of dust and asked, “Am I to die, Ke'Mo? On my “Great Adventure”?”
“Ru'Di, in the morning I send you aloft to another time, a time from my youth, for you to fix what I could not. This is not just your “Great Adventure”, this is everlasting life to all that inhabit this planet. I am sorry my young friend, that I burden your young shoulders with such magnitude but, it can not be helped.
“I do not know if you will die, all I know at this time is that you have something special inside of you, something you nor I know what to call it. You must find that something special from deep within you, no matter the cost, and use it to save mankind and in turn, we Majdelenes. Good must prevail over evil or, all is doomed.”
With those words said, the great and wise leader of all Majdelene fell silent with his head down and his eyes staring at his own feet.
Ru'Di stood slowly from the three-legged stool, leaving a small dusting upon it. As he turned towards the door to leave, he turned his head back at Ke'Mo and said,
“You're kidding, right? Like you would place the entire fate of the entire world in my hands?” and with that Ru'Di clapped them together in a sign of emphasis.
Dust flew everywhere.
In all of Majdelene history, many, many thousands of years, not once had there every been a hint of litter in a Majdelene village,,, until that afternoon.
Ru'Di left a trail of unsightly dust falling behind him as he walked slowly back to his family's dwelling.
Ru'Di absentmindedly tossed his crooked ended stick along the path and noticed not when the round object Ke'Mo had given him some time before,,, fell from his pocket.
Atop Jo^Meo^Kee there stood a large, circular knob of granite rock. In future times this large, circular knob of granite rock would serve pilots well as a navigation landmark. To the Majdelene, Jo^Meo^Kee was a most special place.
Only in their prayers was the name J'o^MeoKee^ ever mentioned. As children played and stories of bravery were spouted, young, male Majdelenes would say that someday they would climb “Jo^Mo^” as they called it. The girl Majdelenes would laugh at their bravado.
Nothing magical or mystical was thought of J'o^MeoKee^, just that in the beginning when Majdelene came to be, the “Word” and the laws were brought down from it.
Respect. Totally.
Ru'Di, Ru'Di's entire family, Sar'Ha-the joyfriend and her entire family, Ke'Mo, their entire village and every Majdelene from every village within one night's walk away gathered at the base of Jo^Meo^Kee this dew shrouded morning.
Ru'Di was nervous just to be in the presence of the grand mountain with the oldest tree in all of time at the top.
It wasn't helping matters much for Ru'Di to know that he would have to climb the mountain by himself and enter the huge tree to be transported to his “Great Adventure”.
Even though everyone's mood was serious, it was the Majdelene's way to never show anything but hope and support for one another.
Ru'Di's Mother, Ma'Ria spoke softly,
“Ru'Di, remember, I am your Mother. I will always love you and believe in you no matter what the outcome. I will always be proud that you came from your father's and my love.” Tears began to well up in mother Ma'Ria's deep brown eyes.
“I brought your silly stick and ball that you dropped.” It was Ru'Di's friend, Sar'Ha. “And, if you don't mind,,, when you succeed at your “Great Adventure”, what real bear do you choose to become?” she asked.
All the many Majdelenes from all the villages gathered closer with murmurs of “Yes! Yes, Ru'Di, what real bear do you become? Tell us! This is to be the greatest of all “Great Adventures” so you must want to be a huge bear,,, Grizzly? Polar? Tell us which?”
Surely Ru'Di would want to become a bear with great strength and wisdom.
“Before I answer Sar'Ha's and all of yours wishes to know what bear it is that I choose to become when I finish my “Great Adventure”, I must ask the great and wise Ke'Mo one thing,,,” Ru'Di paused, quieting the gathering of the Majdelene.
“Yes, Ru'Di, ask?” Ke'Mo answered.
“Great Ke'Mo, I know it is not polite to ask or speak of what a Majdelene did to help a human, to become a real bear, but I must ask, so it is not my answer, too.”
“I understand, Ru'Di my lad. It is wise of you to go off on your “Great Adventure” with my knowledge. For over 700 years every Majdelene wished to ask me, but never pried as to what I did to temporarily help those humans so many years ago. The respect shown to me was so much,,,” Ke'Mo looked so sad,,, “everyone knowing I would never become a real bear because it was just a temporary answer that I came up with.” Ke'Mo paused and a blush spread upon his cheeks. “I just taught two love sick humans to,,, kiss.”
The great Ke'Mo paused again as he shuffled his feet in the dust,,, “So'Ng^ was with me on her “Great Adventure” and I was so in love, I was sidetracked by her smile and before I knew it,,,,”
“That shows great and true love, old and wise Ke'Mo. Thank you for sharing your secret.”
Ru'Di took three steps onto J'oMoeKee and turned to face the gathering of the Majdelene.
“It has always been the way of the Majdelene that we help humans because this is what is in our heart and to transcend into fourth stage. After completing our “Great Adventure” and becoming the real bear of our choice, we, as the humans say, hibernate so that we may return here to the deep woods every winter to see our families and friends.
“I choose the one bear that all human children believe to be their best friend growing up,,, I choose to be a “teddy bear”.”
Silence befell all the Majdelene present.
“No, really,,, I wish to be one child's teddy bear.”
Still,,, silence.
“Really.” Ru'Di knew that his choice of bear an odd one, but he never thought his choice that unusual as to cause more than a village to fall into silence.
If you can picture in your mind, what a Majdelene looks like, you can see friendliness, happiness, goodness and now, befuddlement.
That is until Ke'Mo spoke and all understood.
“What a wise and loving young Majdelene! Not only will he please a human child with his love, but Ru'Di gets to come back every night as his child sleeps!”
With that, Ru'Di looked at his Mother, Ma'Ria, for what just might be the very last time,, and once more, with a sigh only a person falling into true love can understand, looked to Sar'Ha as he began his walk up Jo'MeoKee and to his “Great Adventure”.
Sar'Ha quickly came to Ru'Di's side and handed him the crooked end stick and round ball that Ke'Mo had given him sometime back and that Ru'Di had absentmindedly dropped.
“You may need these.” Sar'Ha said quietly.
The drums of the Majdelene slowly pounded out their rhythm as all the Majdelene quickly agreed in their quiet whispering about Ru'Di's choice.