The Boy Who Could Fly Dan Brunck

The people often talked about the events that took place during those days. The old and respected men, along with some young ones who had found favor with the old, would sit around the life giver and speak about what had occurred. I would sneak around in the bushes and listen to what they had to say. I was very skilled with my feet, being able to avoid all sounds that they tried to create. Yes, I kept my feet in line. And when I needed them. They were there for me. I was not a reckless boy like most in the village. I understood much more than I was given credit for.      On the night before, the regular wise were sitting in the circle waiting for the chief cleric to create the life giver. I gazed in a sense of disbelief at how incredibly intent the others were at the cleric's ability to create the life giver. The cleric would chant and breathe over the bright orange spirit until it was full grown and provided light and heat. They would have been surprised to know that a little boy could do exactly what the one they revered as a god could.      Their discussion this night was the same as it had been the night before, and before that. And as I heard the same thoughts and ideas reinforced, I knew that I would carry through. I knew the next day would bring all my work into fulfillment. The people would sing their chants about me. I must admit that my heart fluttered that night as I silently crept away from the council. The village was in the perfect sense of paranoia that was needed. I walked towards the moon regretting that the night of fulfillment must come on a full moon. I did not need light to find my way. I was not like the other boys in the village who would not dare go out without a lighting source, a source received only from the chief cleric. Darkness was my friend in those days It loved me and I it. The relationship was mutual. When I needed it, it provided.      Through the forest I floated. Never faltering, never letting up my guard, I made no sounds audible to the human ear. When I reached the river, I stopped. This would be my last respite before, but after, I would have only respite, no work. The water reflected the light of the moon. The clerics would tell the people that their powers created that image in the river. They said that if the water was touched it would lose its reflection and the offender would die. Only clerics could touch the water, clerics collected the water, and they performed a spell on it to make it clean. Yes, I admit these thoughts crossed my mind as I cupped my hands to take a drink. They would be surprised to see a child doing a cleric's work.      No one ever knew where I was.. I had the ability to come upon someone without their knowing, I had a control over my feet unlike any other animal except one. The sounds of the night were quite obvious as I searched for my prey. Sounds in the night were my friend. Their sound would cover my occasional lack of concentration. They made sure that none, not even the proud new clerics, could track me.      At last I came to my destination. There, covered by the forest floor was the key to my plan; the one thing that would make it complete. Without it, nothing would work. I can still remember the day I found it. I did not at the time realize the significance.      It was one season before when I found it. Now it scarce, but then it was more abundant. I went out on one of my trips through the forest. My hut family did not care about these, nor did my life family. Nobody cared about me, but they soon would. I had been tossed from hut to hut like the ball the little children play with. As I walked through a ravine I saw the thing eating it. There, hanging from the tree, was the item that would help me tame it; control it; master it.      It did not hear me. Nothing can hear me when I don't want to be heard. I slowly came up behind it. The black and brown mixed with unparalleled beauty. Mystical, this was something the clerics would've run from. They hid, called it a demon, a terrible spirit to be avoided at all costs. I had never seen such a creature in my life and at first it engulfed me in a sense of awe. This is what it wants. The awe keeps it from being captured; this is its defense. But I was able to pull myself out of it. I was strong. I saw the thing as it left, a sight that no eyes could ever forget. I came back the next night, and there it was again. Finally, I realized how I could do it, the idea finally came to me. I was foolish to not think of it earlier. I would conquer the village, me, and no one else except me.      When the season began to fade I went back to that same ravine. I sought out and found all of the fruit that it ate. This was the gold prize; with this I could control it. I saw that it ate only one thing, I saw when it ate that one thing, and I controlled how much it could have.      But now it was time. I had the last of the fruit buried underground away from the ravine. I fed the thing every night. It respected me, it had to, that was the only way it could work. I gave it life and in return it gave me its trust, at least as far as a human can measure trust in a wild beast. Now there was little food left and soon I would have to make it leave. Now was the time. My steps faltered as I walked towards my destination. I admit I was nervous. When I arrived, the creature was there, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of it.      I took out the leaves and debris covering the hole and as I untied the knots the animal began to sniff in the expectation. Long had I waited for this day. Finally I would be appreciated - no fakes - just me. I took the fruit out and extended my hand filled with the prize. The animal willingly ate straight from my hand. After an entire season of feeding it had come to accept me. And, as it had allowed me to do the last three nights, the animal lowered and I climbed on its back. It's fur was a softness compared to that of no other animal, with spots that resembled those of a leopard, the animal was unrivaled in its beauty.      There was no need for a saddle - the animal seemed to take pride in giving its rider comfort, or so at the time I thought this way. I lightly kicked the animal in the sides and, almost as though it had known my wish, the animal started into a trot through the forest. I must admit that this animal was more brilliant on its feet than I, but still, I controlled it. Slowly it gained speed, until the mighty wings on the side began their graceful movements. The wind in my face made my eyes water and I had to concentrate to keep control of my mind - the animal held a sense of splendor and awe that I could not let overtake me. I had to remain in control of it.      I remember that when I had first seen the animal, I had not known that it was capable of doing what only birds can do. But ever since it had flown away that night almost a season ago, my mind had yearned to be on its back taking part in its magical ascent. And for the fourth time, I was about to experience that joy again. Only this time, I would use it to complete my plan and give myself the adoration I deserved.      Now, the animal jerked up and began to fly above the giant trees. No cleric could do this, no cleric could tame this beast, and no cleric could fly. Soon they would see, and I was so close that my heart beat with a strength rivaling that of my mind. The blood was sent through my veins with the strongest pulse I had ever experienced. I kept my body under control, and in turn that of the animal, I pointed it towards the village. Finally, they would see.      Far below me, I saw the village and the light of the life giver with the clerics and wise still talking. Soon they would know that they were talking about me. I was the one who had the village in fright, I was the rider of the winged creature. It was mine and I had mastered it. I kicked the animal and leaned forward preparing for the sharp drop. The animal obeyed immediately and dropped through the sky. Over the sound of the beating wings I could hear the screams of the petrified villagers. They were wailing and screaming to the clerics. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the chief cleric running away. This was what I had waited my entire life for. This was the moment, and now they would know. They would praise me as a god and the clerics would be banished, I would make sure of that. I would be remembered throughout the entire country, the rest of the villages would also praise me. Yes, finally the clerics would see that I was not a mistake of the gods, they would praise me as a child of the gods. All of these thoughts raced through my head as I turned the majestic animal and urged it to come around for a second pass.      I would land the great beast and all would see it was me, I would then create the life giver and use it to just the opposite of its name. They would fear me, I could fly, I could create the life giver. Now the beast turned, but not in the direction I had directed it.      Its shining brown wings went at a quicker pace and the animal leaned back. It climbed higher and higher until it was ascending straight into the sky. My heart was pumping faster then before, my hands tried to tighten their grip on the animal's neck but they were wet with sudden sweat. Then I panicked - why could I not control this beast, I had tamed it, controlled it, no one else could do this but me - I kicked my heels into its side but it did not respond. A thought flew through my head that maybe I had not conquered this beast, maybe it was not tamed, maybe it had defeated me, but I quickly dismissed the notion and tried ever more to concentrate. The awe of the animal now fully engulfed me and my hands no longer felt the soft fur. Down below me I could hear the screaming of the people. But it had changed, it was no longer that of fright, but of disbelief. I wondered where I had failed and how I had gone wrong. Surely I had done everything right, surely I was brighter then the clerics, surely the gods found favor with me and not them. The screams were now very loud, and becoming louder. Up above me, silhouetted in the moon, was the animal that was my downfall.

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