Secret of the stones

Night crept by, slowly and silently, like a thief. Forest animals were preparing to go to sleep. Silence came down heavily on the forest.
In the nearby bush, there were some disturbance, and a scared hamster ran across the small path that led to the meadow on a hill. A head appeared from the bush. A small boy was looking for a place to spend the night. Long eared owl hooted.
Moon was high in the night sky. Everything had gone silent, even shadows were still. Complete silence.

A shadow started moving silently. It was a man dressed very strangely. He had tight green pants that emphasised every move his muscles made. Long dark hair, cascading down, was covering his shoulders.
At the edge of the forest he stopped. Wind blew; his hair danced and sparkled under the moonlight. Covering the hair with a hood, he gazed at the sky and stars, like searching for some sign. On the faraway part of the meadow, some huge stones placed in circular shape spread their shadow over a thick oak table in the middle. There were chairs around the table that were pretty much of same shape except for one, which was made of white stone, hand rests were in the shape of bear claws.

The big owl was sitting on it’s back.

Stars twinkled above. At the exact moment when the moon appeared just above the strange ruins illuminating its inside, the man walked out from the shadow, walking right by the bush where boy was sleeping and not even noticing him.
Same time more shadows crept out of the forest edge, all dressed the same way and one of them carrying a sack over the shoulder. Something was moving inside.
All of them came to the middle of the ruin, and greeted each other silently. Longhaired man came to the white stone chair, glanced at the man with the sack.

Little boy woke up, and was watching all that from the shadow of his bush.
- “Take it out”, - said the longhaired man, his deep voice echoing in the ears of the other members of the group.
- “Yes master”. - said the man with the sack, pulling out a milky white goat.
Two man from the side grabbed goat by the legs, while the third one poured some dark liquid into it’s mouth. It was lying on the oak table not moving at all.
Longhaired man pulled out the curvy knife and raised it to the moon. In one moment it appeared as if the engravings on the blade and handle were moving. He placed the knife on the smooth satin cloth. Taking the clay bowl in one hand he circled among the men taking a drop of blood from each. Finishing a full circle he returned to his chair, sat down and cut his palm, letting the drops of dark red blood mix with other blood that was in the bowl. Wrapping his palm with a white cloth he took the curvy knife and spilled some greenish liquid on it. With it he approached the goat that was peacefully lying on the table, chanting the words of ancient Rune. His eyes sparkled. He took the goat by the neck exposing that soft tissue below the chin. His devotees chanted louder and louder. At the moment when their chant reached its peak he placed the knife

blade into that soft tissue making a small hole, letting the blood drip.
The Boy covered his eyes with his small hands, peaking through his fingers, when red goat blood rushed down painting milky white fur in scarlet red.
Longhaired man took another clay bowl and placed it under dripping blood to collect it. He placed the bowl at the side of the table and took the curvy knife in his hands. Devotees were chanting rhythmically lowering and increasing the voice, swaying in a strange trance. The curvy

knife was tearing bones and flesh of that goat. On the place where chest was supposed to be was the hole. Putting the knife on satin cloth he placed his hands in goat’s chest pulling out goat’s heart that was still ticking in slow motion. He lifted that heart to the moon, which somehow became reddish due to incoming morning. Slowly with respect he placed the heart at the centre of the table. While the other members pulled out other internal organs and placed them in a special order on the table at same time chanting Runes. In one moment there was silence, they pulled out round, stone pieces and placed each in specially carved hole on the table just next to the goat’s flesh. When last stone reached its position they sky darkened. Druids were chanting runes in almost frenetic manner. Suddenly bluish lightning appeared on the sky.
Boy closed his eyes in disbelief. He started rubbing them not wanting to believe in what he had just seen.

Stones lifted forming windy circle, and started swinging around, creating the vortex. Druids were swaying in trance. For them time stopped to exist. Their minds have become one, pictures formed in their mind showing the future and the past. They travelled with the strength of their minds staring in the inside of endless blue circle. Circle sparkled very strong and at one moment it seemed like blue light surrounded everyone there, everything disappeared. They all stood in silence frozen. Moment long as a lifetime.
Ritual was over. Boy couldn’t believe his eyes, druids started to fade in front of his eyes. Magical rocks disappeared; everything vanished not leaving any trace of what happened there. Warm morning sun rays shone on the valley. Old owl flew away from the rock she was sitting on. Pictures of druids remained carved in boys mind leaving inerasable trace. He thought that all that was just a dream, but somewhere deep within his soul he heard the sound of owl hoot like words. Confused and grown before his time boy went home keeping the secret of the stones for himself…

End

J.J

Hello friends,

I have to thank Joyful Forester for song that he wrote as response to my “My Friend” blog entry. Here is the song and the translation.

(I have to admit that I asked for help in translating song as I was just inpatient to do it my self…)

DO DIL JO DHADAKE EK SAATH

DO ZUBAAN BOLE EK BAAT 

SOCHE DO LOG KUCHH EK SAATH

NAZARE KUCHH DEKHE SAATH SAATH

DEKHOO MAI PAIRO KE NISHAN

JAATE DOOR TALAK EK SAATH.

Two hearts which beat together

Two tongues (mouths) which speak the same thing

Two people who think the same thing

The eyes which see same thing together

I see the signs of the footprints

Going too far.. together...