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They walked deep into the forest. Each tree, plant, herb and
flower seemed to Maribel a part of the exotic vegetation in
the rainforest, which was contained in the book of unknown species.
The flickering candlelight barely competed with the moonlight,
but it had the power to unveil, if momentarily, the figures
of night birds, creatures of color invisible to the human
eye. Forest animals rested, tucked in damp earth holes or
in their cozy nests. Some breathing shadows appeared and disappeared
in flashes on the path ahead. Others, more cautiously, were
camouflaged in the massive blackness. The noises were an impressive
yet necessary addition to the equally scary sights. Maribel was already sorry she had been so curious.
"We better go back," she whispered to her companions.
"It's late and tomorrow is the first day of school.
We could come back some other time."
They obviously didn't hear her, but when the night
birds perceived her voice, theirs exploded in a single and
mysterious chant. There was no sign of an end to their journey.
One sound in particular made her wish she hadn't been there.
"Sssheeesheeeetaaah!" She almost fainted.
"Those are the crickets, ya fool!" Tooth tried
to calm her. The old man, who mumbled endlessly, began a story
that captured Maribel's attention.
"A long time ago, we gnomes were free to roam the
land. There were passages all over the world.
Well, almost all over.
There were places where people kept closing the exits.
So they forgot all about us. Nevertheless we kept on digging
passages. The old paths were so beautiful that
the most respectable creatures were very willing to
share our adventures. Eventually, when human societies grew
more complicated, we began sealing the entrances and exits
to protect our secrets and ourselves. We lost communication
with the fellowship in faraway places we used to visit in
a short time."
"Even so, we managed to keep on journeying. But
there are many other
reasons people don't see gnomes any longer," concluded
Longtooth.
"Poor little things!”
"Dontcha pity us," retorted Longtooth. "We
are still the keepers of nature's secrets. We are still willing
to share with the wise. Those who lost contact with us became
so mediocre they have no reason to live."
"And why don't you open new entrances?" she
asked.
"It ain't so easy," responded Chi.
"The problem started," explained Longtooth,
"when Yodín's Three Books were stolen. They kept the
formula of the seven powers.
"Who is Yodín?" she asked, her interest now
piqued.
"He is the universal guardian of knowledge. One
of the masters of the fellowship."
"Fellowship?" The word sounded mysterious to
her.
"The White Feather fellowship. A fellowship made
up of wise sorcerers, magicians and special humans,"
replied Longtooth.
"Who stole the books? the girl asked.
"One of his apprentices. They said he stole them
to give them to an ambitious man who planned to conquer the
world. He had promised to share his power over men."
"What happened then?"
"They betrayed each other," said the gnome.
"For it is written in Yodin's book: evil destroys
itself," said Chichi reciting a well learned lesson.
"Where are these books?"
"Two of them were rescued by Akum, a warrior prince
of the Chibcha race, who in gratitude, Yodín named Great Guardian
of these lands. But there is one book missing therefore Yodín
never entrusted the books to anyone. Every time there is an
accident such as this, we must start by undoing the stupidity
of greedy humans. But I have said enough.”
"We will make her forget so she won't remember,"said
Chichi.
"But I have a good memory," she said, prompting
the gnomes' smile.
"What does Agmmandiel look like?" Maribel asked
as the gnomes arrived at a spot in the land surrounded by
trees.
"Ya'll see, when he shows up," said Longtooth
demanding silence. He examined carefully the circle surrounded
by tall trees and then listening, he cleared his throat and
stamped his right foot three times. He then produced an acute
whistle which seemed native to a strange bird, not a small
gnome. The wind put out the candlelight and the moonlight
prevailed.
As if responding to this ritual, a whirlwind arose from
the ground, circled the trio and began to glow as if the soil
was suddenly transformed into stardust. A mysterious energy
irradiated everything in view. A silent explosion, followed
by a spectacular celestial mixture of green and blue, emitted
the enchanting figure of a bird. Its incredibly beautiful
feathers covered endless wings. A dazzling crest of silver
and gold led into an infinite tail which took the colors of
the spectrum of light. When the bird completed its transformation,
¡t ascended from a tremendous height, at phenomenal speed.
The moonlight appeared dimmed by the lunar blue. The bird
reached an unseen point, descending as a fantastic metamorphosis
began to take place.
The bird had transformed itself into an Indian boy of
unusual beauty. His raven black hair was covered with a lace
of tiny white flowers. A necklace of bright-colored beads
hung from his neck. He wore a white loincloth and delicately
woven alpargatas. At a given time, the boy, who appeared
to levitate, jumped onto a branch where he sat with a mischievous
attitude.
"Greetings my fellows of the woods,” he giggled.
His radiant, amber eyes shined like fireflies in the dark.
Maribel was trying to figure out whether he was an elf, an
Indian or both, when suddenly the boy started to recite a
charming riddle:
I'm the spirit of the forest
Nature's spirit of all love
I'm the guardian to all children
I am here and I’m not.
Agmmandiel lives in the roses
in the flowers and the plants
I give shape to noble metals
gold and silver with my hands
Agmmandiel smells like a flower
Agmmandiel flies like a bird
Agmmandiel serves the Wild Kingdom
and yet no one is aware!!!!
"Nobody but us, punk!” replied Longtooth, at one
point crossing his fingers as if pretending to secure the
boy's presence.
"Let go, ya evil gnome!” Agmmandiel screamed in
pain, covering his cars with his hands.
"Let go, señor Tooth,” begged Maribel to
no avail as the gnome carefully monitored his victim's every
movement. The boy was no taller than Maribel.
“lt's time ya let us know the answer to your silly riddle.
lt's urgent we meet Akum!" demanded Longtooth.
"The answer to his riddle is the clue to Akum's
mountain,” explained Chichi to a confused Maribel.
"But what does it mean?" She could hardly remember
the words, let alone its meaning.
“We don't even know. He won't give it to us and we cannot
figure it out.”
“Promise that ya'll give us a hint," requested Longtooth
with a mean look. "That ya'll play no trick on US.
“I promise, I promise! But let go of my ears!”
When Tooth uncrossed his fingers, Agmmandiel was relieved.
But then he acted most upset:
"What is it that ya want ya evil gnome?"
"The guacas ya hide from us?" said the
old gnome.
"'Ask the one who stole Yodin's book” answer the
boy.
“We have nothing to do with that! " exclaimed Tooth.
"But your foolishness makes ya vulnerable to evil!”
Longtooth was about to renew his torture when Maribel intervened.
"No more, please Do you like it when they force
you to do what you don't want?”
”Who is this girl? What is she doing here?" asked
the boy.
“She wants to meet Akum,” tooth said ironically.
"Not impossible” said Agmmandiel. "lf she can
see us she must have a talent, but we should find out what
it is?”
Casting a spell with his magic arts he produced a two-legged
branch which appeared first suspended in the air and then
dropped at Chi's feet.
"Better than a map, I give ya this device. All ya
have to do is follow yer instincts. But if ya don’t follow
the rules ya´ll never find another guaca in these lands
again.”
"Thank ya, thank ya little brother," said Chi,
picking up the branch.
"Watcha wanna see Akum for” Agmmandiel turned his
attention to the girl while floating down the tree.
“She's really looking for magic powers,'” Tooth warned
him.
Agmmandiel laughed all the way down. When he landed near
Maribel, he looked directly into her eyes. He seemed very
serious when he spoke to her-. "Nobody has access to
those secrets any longer. Not even us. Yodin has warned us:
the next time we give powers to humans we'll be condemned
to serve the stones."
"l don't want any magical powers,” said Maribel.
"l don't want to get you in trouble or anything. My only
wish is to do the right thing so that people understand me
once and f or all!
'lt'll be easier if ya try to understand them,"
said Agmmandiel.
'But it seems that there aren't nice peopie. Even in
fairy tales."
“Not true!" protested Agmmandiel, with support from
the gnomes." Ya should learn to tell right from wrong
in the first place. Didn't yer elders teach ya that?”
“Or is it that yer looking for wisdom?” Agmmandiel concluded
with a smile. “In that case l see it possible that ya have
the talent Akum is looking for."
To further confuse the girl, Longtooth resumed his habitual
harshness: "But first ya have to solve the riddle."
"What riddle?” asked the girl in defeat.
“The riddle!” Chichi reminded her as if it were public
knowledge. Agmmandiel chanted the poem to refresh her memory.
"But... what am I suppose to say?” asked the clueless
girl.
“A word. The word that started to all his nonsense,"
replied Longtooth sharing her frustration.
“One word? And if I guess it then I'll be able to see
Akum?” she asked with hope.
“When ya find it, ya must say the word before the Bridge
of Illusions,” he said.
“The bridge of what...”
"'The one that leads to Akum's mountain of course"
said the very amused elf-boy.
lt all sounded like the greatest adventure ever, but
nothing she could consider without her parents' permission.
"I'll be delighted to be your guide. Akum needs
help from people like ya” laughed the boy. Maribel couldn't
tell whether he was serious or making fun of her.
"This punk is up to something," advised Longtooth.
But Maribel felt she could trust him.
She didn't know what to think. How many letters does
this word have? Was it as easy as Hang Man? She was a champion
of that game. Or was it as logical as a riddle? Somehow she
was more puzzled by Agmmandiel's hypnotic eyes, which reminded
her of Micifú, grandma's Angoras cat. And hadn't she seen
the flowers crowning his black straight hair in Mamita's greenhouse?
And the splendid feathers of celestial birds, hadn't she dreamed
... ?
“Child, we must go before the rooster wakes up,"
announced Tooth in haste.
Agmmandiel faded away before her eyes. The image of the
boy completely blended into the woods and a squirrel appeared
in the same spot he left vacant. She turned around looking
for the gnomes but they too had vanished. She stood there
al¡ alone in the middle of the forest. There were not even
noises or strange sounds anymore, except for the rooster's
chant.
“Wait, Tooth,” she called. She wanted to tell them about
the dry milk. She wanted to confess that there was no secret
to it. She could get some from her kitchen any time she wanted.
She felt comforted when she realized they had taken the cup.
She had only the light of dawn to go back home.
The solar rays coming through the windows announced the
first day of school. Maribel woke up in her bed trying in
vain to remember her dream.
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