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The Gift

Richard's (SF) Storyline, Chapter 2.2

copyright comidacomida 2018

Suddenly faced with numerous spirits each wanting to have me experience faith differently, I took Balam up on his offer to learn a little about the ways of the ancient Mayans. Looking to the others, I calmly declared "Balam offered to share some knowledge with me, and I think that's as good an idea as any. Besides, I have a college level Spanish preparatory class coming up and it's good practice."

I added in the second part to make sure no feelings got hurt. It didn't work. Jack puffed up, his wings rising off his back and shaking before settling back down. "He saved thy life, so I suppose thou dost feel that he is due some kind of recompense for the deed... just remember that thy life continues."

Before I could say anything further, Jack spread his wings and took off, leaping through the ceiling. Despite the fact that he was gone I could hear the sound of wing beats disappearing into the distance. Treboada stood up off the coffee table even as Sabhana sat back down on the sofa. It was the cream-colored Wolf who offered perspective. "He lost his ward not long ago, Richard. He chose you as his new devotion-- do not hold his desire to make new connections against him."

Treboada didn't help much with his counter argument. "Feh... th' lad's interested in learnin' more about the ket."

Sabhana looked to him. "Jack obvious cares enough that being constantly set aside is causing him pain."

I objected. "Hey! I'm not ignoring him... there's only so many hours in the day."

The black Wolf let out a hearty 'ha' before adding. "Relax boy-o. The Griffon cannae fault yeh fer 'avin' a 'pinion. 'Pinions're like arses, yeh know-- we all got one."

Sighing, I rolled my eyes. "It's not like that... I just--"

Although the spirits were intangible I could still somehow tell that Balam was resting his paw on my shoulder. "Come. You are distacted, and that is not a good thing if you wish to learn about the gods."

Both Wolves looked at me, obviously waiting for an explanation. I kept it simple. "I'll explain later."

Although Treboada and Sabnaha both gave a pleasant farewell I couldn't help but get the feeling that Treboada's was a little condescending. I remember thinking at the time that I couldn't win for losing, and that, no matter what, someone was going to be upset that I didn't have enough time for them. I grumbled to myself even as I followed Balam down the hall, speaking under my breath. "Well... I didn't exactly ASK for this..."

Returning to my bedroom, Balam stepped through the open door and went to sit on the floor. Rather than say anything, he simply motioned across from him. I obediently moved to comply, sitting down on the carpet cross-legged. "What are--"

My question was forestalled when he raised a paw and, once I was back to being silent, he raised a single digit to his muzzle and held it up to his pursed lips; I recognized the 'shh' gesture immediately. Once he had my attention he then raised both paws, pointing first to both of his ears and then both of his eyes. The meaning was quite simple: he wanted me to listen and watch but not speak. I nodded to confirm I understood his meaning, and settled in to observe with an open mind.

I had never heard Mayan spoken and to this day I still don't know if what Balam chanted was Mayan but it was beautiful and primal. His voice was clear and purposeful; the volume of his spoken verses rose and fell like the blowing wind and the pace he used flowed mercurially from smooth to staccato. He intoned a lengthy, prayer-like monologue and I was lost in the words; despite being unable to understand them I had no trouble following along if, for no reason other than the beautiful spoken performance.

Once he fell silent, the Jaguar closed his eyes, and started a soft, low hum. I watched intently as he raised his cupped paws and as he parted them, a reddish liquid poured out, landing on a saucer I hadn't noticed on the floor. The fluid, which turned out to be melted wax, dripped neatly in a solid bar, taking the shame of a thin, red candle. Without opening his eyes, Balam addressed me in Spanish. "The East is the rising sun. Red. Fire. It signifies gratitude for the start of a new day. Place this candle to the East."

It took me only a moment to figure out which way was east and I did as he requested. He closed his paws together again and, as I looked back to the carpet in front of him I saw that a white ceramic bowl had appeared. His paws parted and what looked like fresh, clear water cascaded down into the bowl; not a drop spilled. "The North is night. White. Water. The source of stillness. It signifies gratitude for the rains and the life they bring. Place this bowl to the North."

I did as he asked. His paws lowered to the floor and, with them, a small incense holder and a stick of incense, already lit. The stick looked as though it was made of charcoal, and it smelled faintly of a perfume-y flower. Eyes still closed, Balam spoke to me "The West is Air. Black. Incense. It signifies gratitude for the insight and rest brought to us by sleep. Place this incense to the West."

Yet another time I moved the item he presented to me and, not for the first time, I wondered how we were both able to touch what it was he summoned; if it was spiritual then surely I shouldn't have been able to-- but I did. The Jaguar's paws rose again and as they parted, a shower of dirt and soil cascaded down into a yellow earthenware bowl which, like the containers before it, and miraculously appeared while my attention was elsewhere. "The South is Earth. Yellow. Dirt and soil. We are grateful that it brings abundance, fertility, and is the most important direction for the Maya. Place this bowl to the South."

Even as I moved to do as he requested, Balam continued his ritualistic discussion. He rose one arm up and the other down and, as he spoke, he slowly lowered the first and raised the second until they were each balanced, palm up, at shoulder height. "From Above, the House of the Heavens. Blue. where star people and ancestors gather. From Below, the House of Gaia. Green. Where the heartbeat of her crystal core guides us. Light shines down on us from Above, and an energy rises up from beneath us from Below. These merge within us, in our heart, and we feel connected to Above and Below. We feel gratitude."

I felt a tingling, unsure whether it was just one of those moments when I was experiencing something profoundly interesting, or if, perhaps, I was able to barely comprehend what it was he was explaining. The Jaguar continued, heedless of my considerations. "And from the Center. Turquoise. A beautiful blend of blue and green. The source, which is everywhere at once. We give gratitude for what we know, and what we've yet to learn."

He then switched back to Mayan as he slowly ended the prayer and opened his eyes. "Oh Yum Hunab Ky Evam Maya E Ma Ho."

Only once he fell silent did I get the feeling that it was okay for me to speak. Glancing toward the various items placed between us in the various cardinal directions I was only a little surprised to discover that they were all gone. Regardless, I focused on my main and most important question. "What was that?"

Balam rubbed his paws together, faint flecks of reddish chalk-like pigment forming little wisps of dust as he did so. He spoke, and explained in what was probably as eloquently in Spanish as he could manage but, he obviously didn't know enough to say what he wanted to say and I didn't understand all of what he succeeded at saying. What I was able to piece together, though, was that it was called the Prayer to the Seven Directions, and it was a standard prayer for Mayans to use when they started their day, before any major undertaking, and at the beginning of any other ritual.

Once he'd finished the explanation I asked the only question I could think of. "Who did they pray to?"

He looked to me, Golden eyes attentive as he countered my question with another of his own. "Does it matter?"

Of course it did, I remember thinking. If they had a god they prayed to then obviously there had to be some information about their deity. Wasn't a god or god-like figure (or multiple ones) the center for almost all religious belief? I suggested as much. "Well... it doesn't make much sense praying if you don't know who you're praying to."

He blinked, raising his paws up to draw lines in his fur with the pigment on his fingers; only as he started his body art did I realize that he was completely naked. Even as he adorned himself with markings, the Jaguar continued looking at me, speaking. "The Prayer to the Seven Directions is a prayer of thanks... of appreciation. It is said with every direction that we give gratitude for what we receive. If you visit a place and are given gifts and treated well then would you not say 'thank you' even if you do not know who is responsible?"

I thought about that for a few seconds. "Well... yes, but I'd still want to know who my host was... I mean, isn't that part of religion?"

Balam's tail flicked on the carpet, and he leaned forward, reaching up to run his red-pigmented thumb across my forehead. "It does not have to be. Sometimes simply understanding what we have to be thankful for is enough."

I waited until he had sat back once again before I--