A Story of Life
Written by Peter Schneider
Copyright 2013-2017 Peter Schneider. All rights reserved
Copyright Cover Illustration Olga Likhotina | Dreamstime.com
Content
Book One: The Beginning
Book Two: Maturity
Book Three: Today
Book One: The Beginning
Chapter 1
Karmen woke up in the little fish hut of her parents as she did every day of her life. The weather was lovely and the sun was shining, putting some nicely colored rays on the wooden floor in front of her. It was time to get up :)
Chapter 2
A few minutes later, she was sitting at the small bamboo table where she, her parents, and her brother usually had their meals. She was having one of the standard dishes children usually had in Dreamland: dried caramel fish in a bowl with fresh seawater. She nipped at her orange juice.
Chapter 3
Her mother came back from the town hall where she had tidied herself up and exchanged with the neighbors. Rose was her name and she had put a slight violet makeup on her bronze skin and under her dark eyes. The red color of her lips approached Karmen’s chin.
Chapter 4
“Hello, my little angel. Are you ready for school?” Rose asked. Karmen smiled back cheerfully. She took another deep dip of the orange juice and finished the last few caramel fish chips. So tasty, she thought.
Her mother brought her out of their little fisher hut, and they walked to the quay where the school bus would arrive.
Chapter 5
Abel showed up. He swung his great fish skin bag around so that the iron shark teeth were swirling through the air. “You little devil,” Karmen’s mother said, smiling nervously. She was always a bit anxious when she saw how well those two children got along. Fire and water, she thought, how come they were such good friends?
Chapter 6
The school bus boat arrived and the children climbed aboard. Rose reminded her daughter to come home as soon as school had ended. Karmen promised, turned away, and laughed at a joke Abel made, quickly forgetting the promise that she had just given her mother.
Chapter 7
The school day was long. The hot sun slowly rose, burning over the cloudless sky of Dreamland. Karmen received another whale scale as a reward for her good attitude and quick response time at the daily classes. Abel, as usual, had to go home empty handed. His quick mind easily wandered away, and his attention was altered with every bird that passed.
Chapter 8
Finally, day’s end approached and the children were impatiently awaiting the diving class. As the sun lowered, they quickly jumped into their swimsuits and started to play their usual hide and seek game. Fishes and fishers. Divers and swimmers. Abel jumped high into the air as he rose out of the sea. He was one of the best swimmers, he knew it, and he was proud to show it. Karmen watched him with admiration.
Chapter 9
When she finally got home, she was happy, but felt hot from the long day on the sea. She smiled happily at her mother. Her father wouldn’t be home before the end of the week. He was working as a gas diver on one of the fishing factory boats off the island, circling around the sea and diving for hidden gas reserves that would be put to good use on the local energy tanks.
Chapter 10
Karmen was still too young to understand, and when her father came home for the weekends, he mostly slept, leaving her to wonder who he really was.
Chapter 11
Before going to bed on her pillow camp in the corner of the room, Karmen’s mother slowly danced in the middle of the hut, praying to the stars for wealth and safety. And fish.
Chapter 12
Karmen again awoke to the golden rays sparkling on the wooden floor. She stretched herself. Her muscles were aching. She wasn’t used to the hunting lessons which had recently begun. She knew she wouldn’t be a hunter and she didn’t want to be. She knew her place would be somewhere dry in the village, taking care of the resources of their little planet.
Chapter 13
Just as she had yesterday, her mother dropped her off at the school bus, where she joined Abel to go to school together.
Chapter 14
The sun rose hot in the sky and Abel was chosen to lead a little fish hunting convoy. Karmen would have loved to stay close to him, but he had to choose those who were capable of fulfilling their roles under the water. Chaser, striker, blocker, and the one who had to throw the harpoon to slay the chosen beast.
Chapter 15
Karmen went back to her slides of dried seaweed and continued her calculations. How many tons of mân daua rhîns were required to nourish a family? And what was the purpose of a resource-driven economy? Abel came back. His brown arms were tense from his swimming and hunting efforts, and a wild look in his eyes and a bright smile witnessed the success of his group.
Chapter 16
He was the first to come back, and they drew the fishes they had found and caught on the deck of their school. Their teachers came out of their eggs and surrounded them, dressed in white, as they danced, and their long clothes swirled around their bodies, just as the fish did, as they were trying to flee from the yet-to-be hunters.
Chapter 17
The water was still red behind them, as their school boat left the small deck.
Chapter 18
This evening, Karmen was a bit confused. She liked Abel a lot and they were playing together since they met at their first swimming class. But she had felt something new today as she watched him coming out of the water, proud of his achievement. Something was different. The color of the blue sky, his dark eyes, and the red water she had seen crossed her dreams.
Chapter 19
The next morning when she woke, it seemed to be a day like all before, but something felt different. She sat at the bamboo table but wasn’t able to finish the caramel fish chips. “What was wrong?” her mother asked. Had she been in the water too long? Had she been participating in too difficult games? Had she danced? It was none of those.
Chapter 20
As she stood, Karmen felt her knees giving in. The world around her seemed to move, and she threw up on the table. With an incredible look, her mom saw it happening right before her wondering eyes. The undefinable eaten fish parts and the brown liquid separated from each other and reassembled, took color, and life came back. Several small fishes desperately hopped on the table, and the sugar seaweed plants developed their strong tissue as the water slowly dropped from the table through the wooden floor into the sea.
Chapter 21
Her sister, Carel, was in a mermaiden camp and usually only came home between the seasons. Rose took her unconscious second born into her arms and cried. She knew she couldn’t keep her any longer. Destiny’s fate had shown his color, and it was one of the whitest whites this earth could give. Karmen was chosen to be a life giver. Slowly, Rose began to prepare a little bag with some food and clothes, wishing she could keep her a bit longer, wondering why this had happened so early.
Chapter 22
Karmen was still unable to walk alone, and Rose put her in a blanket to keep her warm and carried her to the city hall. As she arrived and asked to see the white seers, the guards opened their colorless eyes in a silent surprise. After a while, the big green doors of dried plants opened, and she slowly walked into the sacred room. The seers came out of their eggs and approached.
Chapter 23
With a questioning nod, they turned toward her. The blanket dropped on the floor. A gasp escaped the seers’ mouths as they saw the small brown child, Karmen, in her mother’s arms, her legs covered in the white liquid, which dwelled in an abundant quantity over her body, holding together her life.
Chapter
24
With a sudden rush, the seers ran forward, quickly took the child out of her mother’s arms, and held her between them, making the white liquid flow onto her arms and bodies, shivering under the effort they had to make to keep their own lives and to save hers.
Chapter 25
The shouters went to their towers and quickly climbed up the stairs. This is the day they had been awaiting for so long. With long torn crying sounds, they started to call for the big meeting, and the world of Dreamland started a new era.
End of the first Demi.
Book Two: Maturity
Chapter 26
Karmen’s life changed. As she was a giver of life, she was transferred on one of the holy ships to the Island of Life where she was given the training to learn to focus her powers. Others like her surrounded her. Many were much older, in their twenties, but Karmen was only seven. In the morning, they gathered and focused on birth and the beginning, while during the afternoon, they learned about sustaining life and growth. When the evening closed in, it was all about the capacity to accept the end and hope to be reborn each new morning.
Chapter 27
As all students, after sunset, Karmen had to close her eyes and accept the darkness, just as she was only allowed to reopen them at sunrise. But behind her closed lids, the pictures came back, and the red of the sea was mixed with the pictures of her family and the wild smile of Abel after the success of his hunt. She tried to push these thoughts away from the life savers as she was taught, but she was only a child. And, sometimes in the morning, when she had to hope for the joy of a new day, she felt her heart pierced by hate.
Chapter 28
The next morning, she woke up and turned her face to the sun, starting to sing as she had learned to do. She felt the inner energy concentrating in her and its power pushing her up. She slightly opened her eyes and, with amaze, saw the beautiful flowers in front of her which she had just created.
Chapter 29
A tear ran down her chin. She knew she was ready. A few days later the ceremonies began. When they left the island she knew she would never come back. They went from village to village, and whenever they arrived, the people awaited her and the festivities went on for several days, celebrating birth, life, and existence. She was happy. She knew she was useful, and each time they left, they knew there’d be flowers pushing up behind her for many years. They would have land and vegetables, and the fishing grounds would be rich.
Chapter 30
The day when she returned to the little village of her parents, she was surprised to see them in front of her. How much of a difference she saw, and tears filled her eyes when she put her arms around them, feeling carried away from her emotions, knowing she couldn’t stay.
Chapter 31
She followed them home, and suddenly remembered her last days. How was Abel? She wished she could go back to the school boat and play catching fish with her friends again, but she knew it was over. She’d never be one of them again, and with a silent look, she touched the ground where she used to sleep. She went back to her parents and looked at the tanned face of her father; his skin washed grey from the salty water, her mother with her loving eyes and proud smile, and her sister, unsure of how to behave with the girl who once was her sister—herself.
Chapter 32
When she went out of the little fisher hut, she suddenly saw him in a distance on the water—Abel. He must be a talented fisher, a hunter now; his body was ornamented with the various scales he had received for his accomplishments. Her knees went weak. She wanted to see him, talk to him, touch him, but she knew she wasn’t allowed to approach him, and so she just raised her holy voice and began the song of the good fishing grounds and peaceful floods. He quickly raised his hands for the ritual thanking but couldn’t resist, and a smile enlightened his face. She smiled back.
Chapter 33
She continued on her way, and wherever the holy sisters stopped, they left life behind. Plants, birds, fish, and the many flowers allowed the habitants to build new huts on their floating leaves. Happiness spread around her, and as she fulfilled her role, it became more and more obvious. She, the youngest, was the most gifted, and she felt the surprise and astonishment, which followed her easiness while she made her deeds. While others had to concentrate and sing for hours and days to contribute a small force to their field, she could almost react immediately on many demands, and the white color of life just appeared around her and followed her finger tips as if she could control it alone.
Chapter 34
After many summers, she felt her appearance change, and the sisters prepared her ceremony for the big change. She was about to become a woman. She was rolled into the leaves, and the sisters softly let her down on the ocean floor. While she sank down, her consciousness slowly faded away, but she wasn’t worried. She heard them sing in her head and she knew she was safe. Winter came and went.
Chapter 35
When they woke her, she was surprised to see the many hundred heads around her. She softly folded back the leaves around her and looked at her white arms, her white skin, and her white hair. The transformation was complete and she knew she’d be a pure bringer of life. Hundreds of voices began to sing, but when she opened her mouth, it was as if it was all silent around her and a melodious sound appeared like a rainbow in the atmosphere.
Chapter 36
Many boats surrounded hers as she continued to travel from island to island. Dressed in white, her silver hair flew behind her, and the white center of her eyes softly wept over the oceans, knowing that wherever she went, poverty and hunger would leave for many years. Her lips, as softly as roses, sang from morning to evening, and even the slightest hum appeared as a bird’s song.
Chapter 37
But then, one day a messenger arrived on his long narrow boat and hurried up to the sisters. They took the message and, with a sudden look, ran back to Karmen, anxious. Her eyes slowly touched the leaf, and life started to reappear on its surface. She read the strange signs, and the first cloud in a long time appeared on the blue sky. Slowly the boats turned and set sail home, or the place which once had been her home.
Chapter 38
Birds cried out loud when she arrived and a small procession docked at her island. They carried Abel on a bed of soft leaves—or what was left of the proud young hunter. Deep in the sea, a black shark suddenly attacked the hunters, and before they were able to dive away to safety, it had attacked the group. Their wing chaser disappeared in the dark, and when it turned around, Abel went forward to protect the rest of the hunters. The beast rode down upon him like a thunder ball. Karmen was unable to speak, and with a broken voice, she started to sing. For the first time, she continued singing after sunset, and she continued singing until the sun rose again. She continued singing and singing for many days until her voice went silent and she fell asleep.
Chapter 39
When Karmen woke, she looked in Abel’s brown eyes.
Chapter 40
When she woke, she felt Abel’s arms around her.
Chapter 41
When she woke, she felt how Abel held a spoon of hot fish soup at her mouth, and she slowly took a bite.
Chapter 42
When she woke, she slowly moved her fingers, then her arms, and her head. Her whole body was in pain.
Chapter 43
As she woke, she opened her eyes; she was alone. Slowly, she turned her head. Abel was sitting beside her. He was sleeping. He was a young, good-looking man now. She saw that the shark’s bites left deep holes in his body, but he was doing okay. With a feeling of relief, she fell asleep.
Chapter 44
Until Karmen recovered fully, many moons had passed. Usually awake at the morning, she now felt pain at the sunlight and quickly went back into the soft arms of her dreams and woke in the evening, lying awake during the night looking at the stars. Abel was going back to fishing and even if he wasn’t the talented leader of the hunters anymore, he was still capable to supply
those under water with the materials they needed. The fish scales he had collected, and which he once wore proud on his breast, lay forgotten beside the entrance of the little hut. One day he just tossed them over board and into the sea.
Chapter 45
Karmen realized that the sisters were away and one day stepped out of Abel’s hut. She noticed how the village had changed. The flowers were almost brown and their leaves felt hard and wooden. The ever-blue sky showed some heavy clouds; even the color of the sun seemed altered and tired. Slowly, she approached the sea and looked into the dark ocean. Her skin was still white but her eyes were red, and her once innocent soft and creamy skin seemed to be covered by a tight blue net. Nervously, she opened her mouth and tried to speak, but only a distorted broken sound appeared. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned toward Abel. He softly smiled at her and she let herself down, fell into his arms, and breathed his salty skin.
Chapter 46
A few weeks later, they were married and living a simple life. Her parents didn’t live far away and Karmen started to help the villagers at their local disposal tent. She would sit and watch, handing out the local goods to the men and women of the village.
Chapter 47
People were nice to her, but she felt somehow she was treated differently, and sometimes watched with anger or mistrust. Her hair and nails slowly turned black. Abel was still working and she knew he loved her, even if she’d physically changed. But dark storms came up and the fish started to attack the village, divers disappeared, and there were no flowers left. Then, the sisters returned.
Chapter 48
The singing of the sisters appeared on the horizon many days before they showed up. When they lay their boat close to the island, the difference was obvious. Their green leaves, their smile, and their skin appeared fresh and young and healthy, while the people of the little village had lost their colors and their smile. The sister’s song and dance went on for many days, and the village recovered, except for the little hut Karmen lived in. Its colorless grey and brown seemed untouched, and the community gathered for a vote.
Chapter 49
And once again Karmen approached the deep bottoms of the ocean covered in leaves and heard the singing in her head. But this time, she wasn’t feeling safe and loved, only alone. She went deeper and deeper and everything went black around her.