Page 76 of Tiger's Tale
At least we’ve recovered your physical form as we journeyed through the great expanse together. Though you aren’t ready to travel home with your corporeal form as yet, we will continue to practice until you are. It won’t take you long, my friend.
The astral version of Anik smiled at his friend.I still have much to learn from you. Thankfully, walking through the cosmos as we do doesn’t affect the timeline.I don’t know how to repay you for your kindness.
You will repay me when we save my world from this villain, and my young people are safely journeying on the path they need to be walking after having passed the trials we’ve developed for them. Then you’ll be ready to help your own tigers.
Yes. I will help you, and you’ll train me at the same time. Thank you, Vesako.
Spasibo, Anik.
Good,Vesako said.The men are on top, and they’re bringing up the tigers now.
* * *
The first tiger had reached the top, but the ascent was far from complete. When the second was harnessed, there was a frightening moment when the rigging began to slip. Stacia teetered, her heavy front half falling out. Though Iriko tried desperately to right her, and she clawed his arm and chest deeply, opening his skin all the way to the bone, it was very apparent she was going to fall and from a very high place.
The rope tried to reweave itself, but she was so heavy the cords snapped repeatedly, and in her desperation, she severed many of them. Stacia scratched at the cliff and shouted in her mind,Help me!to Iriko, who screamed various instructions and concerns back to her. At that moment, she felt like she was going to die. Stacia wasn’t ready. She was supposed to die in battle, in some moment of glory, not dangling from bootstraps on the side of a snowcapped mountainside in Siberia as a tiger.
At least she’d see her beloved mother and father again. There was some comfort in that. Her heavy body dropped several feet, and a piteous roar escaped from her throat. She dangled now by only a cord wrapped painfully around her back paw. It hurt. She moved her tail back and forth, instinctively trying to right herself. Iriko moved down slowly, trying to line up his body with hers. She could smell the blood dripping off him.
Hold on.I’m coming, he said to her mind. But it didn’t matter. It was over. She’d already given up.
Then there was a different voice in her head. It was comforting and familiar somehow. She felt a warm presence near her too. It was as if someone was touching the ruff at the back of her neck, calming her.
The voice said,Clear your mind. Focus. Tell the laces how to lift your body. You know where your equilibrium is found, where your tiger form is heaviest. That’s right. Instruct the cords. Fashion a harness that suits you. Do not forget—you are in control, not the magic. Around the chest. Very nice. Now have them gather you up, slowly, turning your body in just the right way. Good. When you reach the top, tell the others there is a final challenge that awaits you before you get to the top. You must decide together which path is the right one. Remember: when you work together and listen to the experiences of all, in most cases, you will find the right way.
Vesako returned to Anik, and they watched until everyone reached the top and then the two men returned to Vesako’s body. They still shared one form for the time being, as Anik hadn’t yet learned how to jump forms, but Vesako kept Anik’s body in order until the other man was strong enough to return to it.
You did very well with her, Anik said.
It felt right. I’m happy you were here to advise me. Perhaps my universe was calling out to you, and that’s why you’re here. I fear I haven’t been a good mentor these past decades. I’ve sent the dreams, yes, but been largely uninvolved with the lives of the young people. I certainly never thought of taking a direct role, such as yourself.
I disagree with your self-assessment. I think we are both here to learn from one another. Without you, I don’t believe I will be able to serve my tigers well either. I must confess—I’m eager to see the next phase of your tigers’ journey.
It will be difficult for them.
As the experiences my tigers have faced have been. But I would hope that in the end it’s worth the effort.
Yes. Learning is the point of life, is it not?
Indeed, my wise friend, indeed.
24
GO TO THE VERGE OF DESTRUCTION AND BRING BACK
“Tell me what the voice said exactly,” Danik requested as the little group came together at the top of the high cliff.
It was dark and all of them were exhausted, but none of them dared sleep. They were far too frightened of entering a dream and then ending up back where they’d started at the base of the mountain and being forbidden to try again.
Patiently, they waited as Stacia communicated to Iriko what she’d heard and felt as she dangled on the side of the cliff, fearing for her life.
“After the voice told her how to save herself, it said there was a final test waiting for us,” Iriko explained.
Zakhar had pulled paper and ink from the supplies and was quickly scribbling details as they were discussed. “Would you say the voice was male or female?” he queried.
“Does it matter?” asked Iriko.
“I only ask because I suspect it might have been the shaman. He is described as the One Who Hears All—Above and Below. Perhaps this means he can know what’s happening on the mountain and can lend aid or not, depending on his whim.”
