The Great Goddess Tree Tale

X - The search for the Tree

It was Fall ending and Mat already had already taken up his post in the local Hospital. He attended mainly to the inhabitants' usual complaints, but he already had witnessed six deliveries only in the short period in there. In medical practice, he should be prepared for any need at all, that included small surgeries and even deliveries. Despite being a physician by profession, he didn't like deliveries. He only would attend to them when any other surgeon couldn't. On the other hand, small surgeries were his specialty and during his course, he received many compliments from his tutors. His work shift would begin early morning and would finish by afternoon. Johann Marcein had elaborated a new attendance rotation, including the fresh new physician.

The work was intense and always had a waiting line. But, with much effort and skills, the hospital was capable to attend everyone. The medicines would come all the way from the Continent and would cross a long path still there, so the stock should last at least for a week. With a rise in local demand, the number of trips to the Continent soon increased. The road that crossed the Inn passed over the village and ended by the West Coast Village. It was paved with small boulders and had a width that allowed over four big wagons paired. It dealt well with the flow, every time bigger, between the Villages.

Mat would begin his shift when the sun was raising and crossed diligently the road with his wagon. He looked to the left and saw the coast. On the other side of the road, the woods followed with open spaces and few tree vegetation.

The seawater breeze, getting colder each time, hitting him on the face and reminded him of his adventures on the wilds. He smiled alone in the wagon. He couldn't forget his Goddesses and the last night of intense love.

"I have to see them again. I have to find some free time between the returning from work to find them."

And so, he did. On the other day, returning from the work, he got to the Inn and as fast as he entered, he left. He went to the waterfall. Almost two hours by foot. He crossed the woods and didn't find them. He walked around but, after a while, he got tired:

"What the Hell? Where is the Tree's dwelling-place? It shouldn't be somewhere within this region? I must go back... Can't make Kalima suspect it."

After two days, returning to home again, Mat went directly to the top of the Cliff where was the last encounter. He didn't stop by the Inn. He looked over the blue wilderness and found nothing.

Seated in front of the sea, he asked himself if the Tree had vanished from the Isle. It could be a possibility, it doesn't have any fixed place in the world, he argued.

Soon came the inquiry about his own sanity. As a physician, he still had some doubts about the truth of that encounters. Even, after all, it could be only a big delusion from his soul:

"Delusion or not, it satisfies me. What would do a Doctor without his happy little pills?"

He got back to the Inn. He was low-spirited and thoughtful:

"Good night, my doc. How was your day? Did you decide to stay a little longer today?" Kalima greet him with a kiss when he arrived.

"Hi, my dear. Yes, I did. Many patients today. Had to extend my shift a bit. I'm tired"

"Come. Let's have dinner."

After the dinner, Mat seated with some guests at the main hall where the radio was. He listened to the informs that reminded him of the daily life in the Continent for about half an hour. It didn't help. His world now was the Goddesses and the Tree.

At the end of the week, he tried one last time:

"I guess the Tree is somewhere nearby the waterfall. Let's try one more time."

He came back from work, changed his medical clothes and gone. He didn't even notice whether Kalima was there or not. He was starving. He needed to find the Goddesses to satiate his pleasure. On his way to the waterfall, he remembered every one of them.

He saw the waterfall:

"Yes, it has to be there, I feel it!"

He came close but found nothing. He climbed on the top of the waterfall and realized how beautiful were the stones that formed a small natural swim pool up there. Inspiring, he thought; but then he decided to return. When he came down and was going to the water source, he heard his name:

"Looking for someone, Mat?"

It was Kalima. Highly surprised, he replied:

"Kalima? My love, you by this place? Wow, you scared me! Yes, I was looking... No, no, I was looking for no one!"

He looked up and recomposed:

"This is a beautiful place, isn't? I can't get enough of it. Our first love date.

Kalima looked to him deeply, then started to get undressed. She was waiting for him over the large rock."

"Yes, it is indeed beautiful. Come and find what you were looking for..."

Mat went straight to her with a greater hunger than usual. He took her with passion. The love sounds wandered the woods aside. Both moaned while the Woods listened.