JASE
CHAPTER 4
We hadn't even made it back to the hut before a downpour started. One by one, we all rushed inside, seeking the shelter of the huge leaves that repelled the rain above. "Won't the rain leak through?" Ash asked, somewhat surprised that no rainwater was dripping through the ceiling.
"They're water resistant. The trees they come from can only get water through the roots. That's why they only grow near an area with water," Marina explained. She strode over to the center of the gut where the fire pit lay dormant. She took two stones from beside it, and threw in a bundle of twigs in branches. Scraping the stones together, a spark flew to the wood and caught flame. Flint.
Several of the kids hustled to gather around the fire and get warm due to a slightly cool breeze floating in from the rainstorm. Two had already collapsed on sleeping mats from exhaustion, and a Maggie had placed herself on Marina's lap. I looked and saw Tiana had moved away from the fire to sit in the corner, hugging her knees to her chest and her vision set on the ground. Ash had already made himself comfortable in between Arley and Mykel. I sat myself next to Marina and Maggie, with Monica on my other side.
Lightning flashed outside and two seconds later it was followed by the earsplitting rolling of thunder. Two miles away. Beside me Maggie- the youngest- squeezed Marina's hand and let out a whimper, and Mykel and Arley each grabbed one of Ash's arms and clutched them tight..
Marina leaned over to me and whispered, "They're scared of thunder and lightning." With that she opened her mouth and let loose the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.
A lullaby.
An Oneemiyian lullaby.
And so she sang, while I just gazed at her in awe. But for some reason, my focus was diverted. I heard a sound from behind me, and looked back to notice Tiana's mouth moving behind her arms, yet her eyes were looking sleepier and sleepier the more she sang. I noticed Maggie's grip on Marina's hand relaxed some. Then I saw the boys' eyes grow droopy. Even Ash's.
They all fell over, and I followed Marina's example of picking up Maggie-while still singing- and moveed Arley and Mykel to sleeping mats and propping their heads on pillows. I then moved Ash out of the way (mainly by shoving) on top of a blanket, where he lay sprawled across the fabric.
I looked back again, and saw Tiana had finally crashed and burned. I walked over and draped a warm blanket over her. She had been huddled in a manner that said she was cold.
Marina had sat back down in front of the fire, a pleased smile on her face. The warm glow from the fire lit up her tanned face, giving her this glowing essence and her hazel eyes flashed. "How did you do that," I finally inquired.
"We listen to the birds sing all the time. Tiana knows the song too, but she falls asleep after singing it for a while."
"But birds don't usually sound like that," I argued. "How did you copy them?"
"There's a certain species in the jungle that sing in beautiful voices. They communicate that way. Often times they fly closer to the village. A few of us can tell what they are communicating about. Long ago, a group of my people put phrases together of what topics they are talking about and came up with the song. Most grow sleepy after hearing it, so I sing it when I need the kids to fall asleep or calm down, but you resisted for some reason."
"It's beautiful," I complimented "Your voice." She smiled at me. I set my eyes back on the fire pit and hopped the glowing light wouldn't show my flush.
"Hey what's this?" Marina reached over and picked up something that had been laying next to me.
I recognized the small faux brown leather booklet. "Hey, that's my wallet!" It must have fallen out of my shorts' pocket. But that meant... I had been dumb enough to bring my wallet with me on a boat ride. On water. Deep water- at that.
