Some time had passed.
"Shame on me that I had to scream to realize that!" Even though I screamed, my mother forgave me and started talking again like there was no break.
"I got you a present for your birthday."
[Ah, that's right… it's my birthday today. I completely forgot.]
We were humble folks, so I was surprised to see that she had a gift for me.
"Really? What is it?"
She took the necklace off of around her neck and gently choked me with it.
[Wait… Mom GAVE ME a WOMAN'S necklace as a gift?!! ]
Puzzled, I glanced at her and asked,
"Mom, isn't this something women put around their waists?"
"No, look closely."
I looked down at the necklace.
It had a circle that was black, and in that circle was the picture of a black eagle.
[Hmm… Why she's been carrying about a man's pendant this whole time is beyond me.]
"Where did you get this?"
"Your father gave it to me on my birthday. And now, I am leaving it for you."
"But why a man's necklace?"
"Because on that day, your father forgot it was my birthday. He didn't buy me anything, so he gave me this. 19. "The next day, he went out and bought me this bracelet," she said, gesturing to the one around her wrist.
She was laughing as she related the story and, really, it was all kind of a funny little moment.
[She always looks so warm when she smiles like that.]
I couldn't contain my curiosity after the story.
"Mom, how did you and Dad meet?"
"Hmm… Oh, right! We must eat before the food goes cold!"
As was her custom, she evaded the question and pretended she had forgotten it.
[Why won't she ever tell me how she met him? Is she hiding something?]
We continued eating.
"Mom, your food is as good now as it ever was."
"Thank you. Because it's your birthday today, I have something special for you. But … well, we seem to have run out of firewood. Could you go get some?"
"Sure, no problem."
[I wonder what special food she's going to make today. Her cooking always tastes good, but if it is my birthday, then I am sure she is going to make something that tastes even better!
[I should go now. I'll take the axe with me. There are a few dried-up trees by the river. I'll bring those back.]
Our house stood at the end of the village, between it and the river.
If you walked on past it, it was the road heading down into the woods.
I picked up the axe and ran outside.
I saw Hans, the village leader, on my way.
The man was not more than thirty years of age and was still unmarried, but the master.
He had learned to sword-fight once, but when his father died, he returned to the village. So instead of finishing school, he took over his father's duties.
He always carried two swords.
He said he had been taught to use both hands in a fight while at the academy.
Occasionally, he even showed me some of those basics — how to lift a sword, how to strike.
He was the only person in the village who treated me as a little brother.
For that reason, I admired him.
"Hey there, little guy. What are you doing with an axe wider than you?" he asked with a grin.
[There he goes again. Always teasing me. But he is not a man to make fun of others. That's just the way he is for me (showing a sign that we're so close)_
"It's not that big! I'm not a baby!" Scripted, baby!
"Oh, a man now, huh? You still have a long way to go before you can call yourself a real man.
You'll be a man when you can take care of your own life… and for other lives.
Ah, my little man!" he said, patting my head.
He wasn't wrong.
A real man is a protector and strong in the time of need.
There was truth in his words.
"It's my birthday today."
"Well, well! Do you remember when you came for the first time—how small you were, I hardly knew you? And now look at you. A young man."
[He called me a young man … That makes me kind of happy.]
"I'm off to chop some wood."
I walked past him.
Before I'd gone far, he called after me.
"Be careful! Don't go that deep into the river!"
[I've reached the forest. Time to chop and winter some firewood.]
I began to hack off branches and trunks, laying them neatly one on top of the other to make carrying them less arduous.
Soon I had quite a pile collected.
[Almost there and I'll be through.]
I had just gotten started when a holly branch scratched my arm.
Blood began to trickle down.
"Ah, my hand!" I looked at it. "I think I might've skinned it... What do you do for bleeders?"
It all came back to me, and then I remembered—the river, not far from there.
I went down to the river to wash the blood.
Several things had been washed there: cartwheels, wooden planks — probably brought in by the flood from the day before.
I removed the bandage from my eyes and washed my hands.
And because I was sweaty from chopping, I splashed some water on my face.
That was when I caught my reflection in the river.
And I gazed deeply into my own red eyes.
Then something sparkled in the water.
A glint below the waterline caught my eye.
Curious, I put my hand in and grabbed it.
Puzzled, I answered, and it was a crystal—a small red gem-like stone.
It appeared to be of value, like a ruby or a diamond.
I was thrilled.
[No way! A crystal? It looks expensive…]
"We're gonna be rich!"
Standing there with the gem in my hand, I thought — maybe now Mom wouldn't have to work so hard.
Surely one of these had to be worth a bundle.
And then another thought occurred to me.
[If there's one in the water … perhaps there are others.]
I searched the area carefully.
Half an hour later, I had discovered five rainbow crystals.
I was beyond happy.
I pictured my mom's expression when she saw them.
"Not one, but five! I still can't believe it! Mom's going to be so happy!"
I had them in one too, while I started for home.
All of a sudden, I heard a weird noise.
*Crack.
"Are the crystals okay?"
I peered close up — and saw that tiny cracks had started to appear on their surfaces.
The cracks slowly spread.
[What's going on? Are they breaking?]
I leaned in closer.
Then, all of a sudden, the crystals turned to fine powder, and the particles went directly into my eyes.
But though they were as small as dust, they greatly grieved him.
The pain was unbearable.
"Aaaaah!!"
I was screaming as loud as I could, but I knew no one could hear me.
The river was noisy, booming with all that sound.
And I was a long way from the village.
No one would come.
There was nothing I could do.
I continued to rub my eyes, attempting to get rid of the sensation, but it just made it worse.
Then I noticed something else.
[Is that… blood?]
I had blood oozing out of my eyes — not a lot, but it was there, and I felt it.
[I have to show this to Mom. Fast.]
I let my arms fall back and surveyed the area.
But everything I looked at was tinged red.
I couldn't see well because there was blood in my eyes.
[I have to hurry!]
I pulled together all of my energy to go back home.
I took a few steps, but my body quit on me.
All red things... turned to black.
[What's happening to me? Why is everything going dark?]
I realized — I was losing consciousness.
It was as if my life was draining.
My body felt, well, light and airy, as if it were floating.
But the ache in my eyes held my spirit down, wouldn't release.
It felt as though my soul and body were at war.
The pain was trying to keep me awake, but the weakness of my limbs drew me into sleep.
Eventually… the pain lost.
I crumpled to the floor and lost consciousness.
Some time later, I was gently waking up.
I made an effort to open my eyes, but I couldn't, the burning ache was still there.
It took some considerable effort for them to part, forced open.
And I saw…
I was in my room, nestled in my blanket—back home.