Page 75 of Tiger's Tale
Cupping his hands, Iriko shouted down. “We made it! Send the priest!”
Irritated again, Nik asked, “How do you expect Zakhar to climb up here in robes?”
Iriko shrugged. “I’ll help him. Take off the shoes and we’ll see.”
Bending to remove the boots, Nik grumbled, “I don’t like the casual way you play with people’s lives.”
“Maybe I do it because I don’t care that much about mine,” Iriko answered as he caught the magic boots Nik tossed in his direction. The laces had retracted when Nik removed them. He hoped for Zakhar’s sake that they would work to help Zakhar just as they’d saved Nik.
“Don’t care? Why would you say that?” Nik asked.
“Because it’s true.” Iriko walked over to the edge and glanced down as if judging the distance. Nik didn’t know if he could actually see using Stacia’s or Veru’s eyes from where he stood.
“If I could die, I would,” Iriko said softly. “I’ve tried to. Repeatedly. Turns out it’s not as easy to kill a tiger as one might believe. It isn’t right that my sister is gone, and I got to live. The people needed her, and I was foolish. She shouldn’t have saved me. End of story. If there was a way to trade places with her, I would.”
“Is that why you left? To try to end your life?”
“You sure ask a lot of questions, don’t you?” Iriko said. Then he grinned and took a step off the edge of cliff, with the magic boots in hand. As Nik ran to the edge to peer down, he realized he couldn’t see a thing through the fog, but he did hear Iriko’s whooping scream of delight on his journey down.
* * *
Good. It seems like they’re cooperating after all. They’re going to make it to the top. All they need to do now is figure out which trail is the right path to the top, and we’ll be seeing them in just a few short hours. Then we can start them off on their real journey—the trials that await each of them.
But surely, it would be kinder to offer them guidance now, Vesako, and not expect them to face such hardships on their own.
Bah. You cannot teach a baby to walk by moving his legs for him, can you?
No. But...you can still encourage. Offer open arms and hope and catch them when they fall.
Sometimes the pain of falling is necessary for growth.
Not always.
The two mentors floated out of body in the fog, watching the progress of the young people. The one from another world, Anik Kadam, appeared to be very concerned over the possibility of their demise. He cared about them already. Anik’s emotional connection to them was interesting to the White Shaman, Vesako Alingida. The two men had spent the equivalent of a lifetime together, drifting through the cosmos in thought, though in the physical world it had only been a few days. Vesako had not only come to admire and respect Anik but trusted him completely.
Do you not believe there is growth to be found in the trials we have prepared?Vesako asked.
Of course, Anik answered.I only ask that you consider our involvement. Instead of watching from a distance and allowing the universe or the cosmos, if you prefer, to deal out cards at random, isn’t it nobler to give just a tiny push from time to time, a gentle nudge, so that instead of unwanted consequences they each become their best selves? In so doing, they might all have an opportunity to forge a life of happiness and joy.
Does that not take away their freedom of choice?
Not as I see it, Anik replied.They are who they are. We do not manipulate them, only drop in clues or aid from time to time so they might have their best chance to grow.
You are playing at being God, Vesako said.
No. I am being a father. But perhaps you are right, in a way. Many religions think of God as a father.
I thought your religion believed in many gods and goddesses.
Let’s just say that over the decades I have become vastly open to the idea that I might not know everything.
It seems to me you know a great deal.
Ah. You yourself have taught me there is so much more. So very much more.
And you have taught me the same. Very well. With this group of young people, I agree to take on a more...parental role than I have in the past. Perhaps you will join me on this adventure. I sense you aren’t yet prepared for your journey home.
No. I still haven’t found Nilima.
