The Forgotten Eden (13 page)

“
We walked along the path through the meadow, talking about my carefree summer days and the upcoming move to Tuscaloosa. I could scarcely believe the beauty and wonder that surrounded me, for I’d never seen any place like it in Alabama. For that matter, I’d never seen pictures of a place like this anywhere else, either. I don’t blame you for thinking I should’ve known I was headed for trouble after what I’d already experienced. But my mind was already clouded by desire, both for Genovene and an adventure any teenage boy would die for.

“
We soon reached a large grove of enormous fruit trees standing at the meadow’s western edge. Almost all of the trees at their fullest maturity, each one stood between forty and fifty feet high. Their thick branches were overloaded with fruit that looked like giant purple tomatoes.

“‘
These are somila trees and have been part of my homeland for hundreds of years,’ she said, and motioned for me to stop walking. ‘
Sh-h-h
!
Listen closely and tell me what you hear.’

“
Almost immediately, I heard something low and rhythmic. But it took me a moment to figure out what it reminded me of.

“‘
It sounds like someone’s breathing.’

“‘
Yes!’
She squeezed my hand in response. ‘According to legend, the sound we’re hearing now is the collective breaths of all the trees at sleep. When I was a little girl, my brothers and sisters and I spent a lot of time in this grove playing hide n’ seek, or simply enjoying the peacefulness here.’

“
Once aware of the sound, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed it when we first entered the grove. Not that I wasn’t already impressed with the unusual size of the trees. I’d never seen fruit trees this tall, and definitely none with trunks anywhere near as thick. Every one at least eight to ten feet in diameter, they lined both sides of the path.

“
We moved deeper into the grove where the trees grew closer to one another, allowing only trickles of sunlight to seep through their dense foliage. I listened to the trees breathe while they ‘slept’. When we reached the end of the grove, I suddenly experienced the peculiar feeling of being watched from all angles, like what happened the previous day in my backyard. I looked around me but didn’t see anyone.

“‘
Are you okay?’ she asked, frowning slightly.

“‘
Yeah...it’s just a little spooky here.’

My male pride triggered by my aroused libido, I didn’t want her thinking I was a puss. I decided to change the subject by asking a question I’d been thinking about.

“‘
So, Genovene…how many brothers and sisters do you have?’

“‘
Two of each,’ she said. ‘I’m the oldest, and therefore most privileged. But, each of us has an equal role in ruling our village and the surrounding areas for our father.’

“‘
Where are they now?’

“‘
My sisters and my oldest brother are visiting another grove, while my youngest brother is waiting at home in our village.’

“
I nodded, and then asked the question I’ve since learned women loath.

“‘
How old are you?’

“
She laughed again, maybe amused by my persistence to learn so much about her.

“‘
Let’s just say I’m old enough to do as I please,’ she said. ‘But, also young enough to enjoy your companionship, Jack.’

“
I immediately blushed.

“‘
Enough questions,’ she said, adding a seductive wink. ‘Save them for later, sweetie.’

“
I really enjoyed her attention. Several times she’d brushed up against me, her shapely form pressing up and lingering against my body. Her invasion of my personal space thrilled and excited me, even though the powerful and untamed emotions she stirred made me nervous.

“
We exited the grove, and the path took us downhill into another meadow. This one even larger than the first we encountered, in its midst lay a large pond. Two schools of ducks and geese swam through cattails and lily pads near its western shore. A number of weeping willows dotted the pond’s shoreline, and a long wooden bridge stretched across the pond from the path to its continuation on the other side.

“
The immense gold tower loomed majestic less than a mile away. It dominated the area so much that it reminded me of a postcard my uncle once sent me, of Mount Rainier in Washington state. Except in this case, the shimmering golden sides of the soaring edifice replaced the glistening snowcaps of that mountain. In awe, I slowed to a near halt. Only the gentle prodding of Genovene brought me up to the pond’s edge.

“
Like the other bridge, this one was covered with intricate carvings. Genovene stepped onto it and I followed close behind her. Though made of sturdy wood, it creaked and swayed noticeably. When nearly a third of the way across, I leaned over the side and looked down into the water below. So clear I could see almost everything, including the very bottom of the pond. Like looking down on top of a huge aquarium stocked full of fish in all shapes and sizes. A few larger fish moved near the surface, their sides gleaming in brilliant colors as they swam. One of them eyed me in such a way that I grew uncomfortable, forced to look away.

“‘
Did you know, Jack, that your mother and father once spent an entire summer with my family long ago?’

“
She caught me completely off guard by this.

“‘
Wha-a-at?? Th-they
did??
’
I immediately forgot about the fish. ‘When was that??’

“‘
I guess it was ten to twelve years ago,’ she said. ‘I was just a young girl then, but I remember them both quite well.’

“‘
Tell me about them...
please!
’ I begged her. I knew so little about them, despite the stories my grandfather told me.

“‘
They were really nice,” she said. “Your mother was a pretty lady…sweet, and intelligent. Your father seemed very ambitious…a handsome man, too.’

“
She turned and looked at me, slowing down her pace. Her smile compassionate, I couldn’t hide my hurt and sorrow given the fact I missed my parents terribly. I appreciated her gentleness in telling me this information about my folks. But, something in the way she looked at me—barely discernable in her eyes—told me she hadn’t revealed everything she knew about them.

“
She reached back and gently took my hand again, picking up her pace. Nothing more was said between us until we reached the shore and stepped back onto the path. In the meantime, I let my thoughts drift back to the fish I’d encountered a few minutes before. More of a hungry look it’d given me, I decided.
Very
hungry.

“
The gravel path lasted another hundred yards or so, steadily heading uphill until it ended at the foot of a grand staircase cut into the middle of a rocky hill. Genovene led me up to the staircase, pausing briefly at that juncture before continuing our ascent.

“‘
Once we climb these stairs, we’ll be on the final walkway to my village,’ she said. ‘We’ll reach my home in the next few minutes, Jack!’

“
Filled with enthusiasm, such girlish giddiness, she wrapped her arm inside mine. Lifting her gown slightly, she began walking up the stairs with me drawn tight to her side. Again distracted, I couldn’t think of anything else, including the fish, the recent mention of my folks, and the growing heaviness of the talisman in my pocket.

“
When we reached the top of the staircase, we stood at the edge of a long corridor of colossal trees. These mammoths were quite similar to the giant redwoods of northern California I later saw in pictures, though also quite unique. She called them ‘carnacs’. Completely green, they reminded me of giant stalks of broccoli. They soared almost two hundred feet above us with trunks easily twenty to thirty feet in diameter.

“
The path resumed once more, but it had become a smooth floor of what looked like polished white marble. The corridor gradually widened, allowing the necessary space to accommodate the breadth of the massive trees, whose long lofty branches formed a connective canopy. Long slender vines hung down from these branches. What really captured my attention, though, was a pair of magnificent golden gates less than a quarter of a mile away.

“‘
There’s the entrance to my home, Jack!’ she said, pointing to the gates. ‘See, I told you it wouldn’t take long!’

“
She literally beamed with excitement, so much that for a brief instant I could’ve sworn her form shifted, like a weird kind of hologram or some shit. Like she actually
glowed
, man. Now I was really freaked out about all of this. I mean the enormous trees, the gates, and now her unearthly appearance—not to mention the incredible tower and all. It seemed like I’d stepped into some weird, dark children’s storybook. Or, the Twilight Zone, I guess…. But when I rubbed my eyes and looked at her again, she appeared normal. I decided my eyes had somehow played a stupid trick on me.

“
While looking at her, something scurried up the tree next to me. I turned to look, but it’d disappeared before I could clearly see it. Then it happened again. Only this time, whatever scampered across the floor on its way to the other side vanished behind the trunk of another carnac.

“
Genovene directed my attention to the treetops, where at first I didn’t notice anything unusual. Once my eyes adjusted to the corridor’s dimness, I spotted a pair of nest-like huts perched high up in the trees. In each sat several miahluschkas, their hooded faces shrouded as they watched us move closer to the village entrance.

“‘
How’d they get up there?’ I asked.

“‘
Like that,’ she said, pointing to a nearby tree. A pair of miahluschkas scaled the tree from the ground to the very top at incredible speed. She motioned to the treetops just beyond the pair. More miahluschkas swung from tree to tree using the vines hanging from the highest branches to propel themselves. Like agile tree monkeys they moved effortlessly. I watched another descend from its hut to the floor in a matter of seconds.

“‘
They’re
amazing!
’ I couldn’t believe they possessed such incredible agility.

“‘
They’re the only guardians we’ve ever needed out here,’ said Genovene. ‘They’ll swoop down on any unwelcome intruders when needed.’

“‘
But ain’t you afraid someone could come in here and mow ‘em all down with a gun?’

Despite their incredible athleticism, I couldn’t picture them stopping an armed intruder unless by sheer numbers alone.

“‘
You’d be surprised, Jack,’ she said. ‘My little friends have
very
sharp teeth and claws. I’ve seen them tear apart a pack of wolves before. It wouldn’t be a good idea to underestimate them.’

“
She still smiled, but I could tell she meant for her words to be taken seriously. I hoped I hadn’t offended her. Meanwhile, more and more miahluschkas came out of their hiding places. I looked up toward the treetops and saw the hut-like nests were now more abundant. Their shrill calls to one another echoed eerily throughout the corridor.

“
The twin gates soon came into clear view. Each one spectacular in its own right, with elaborate, embossed designs, they rose more than two hundred feet in the air. The crystal wall encircling the village was slightly taller than the gates. Behind it, some of the village buildings shimmered in the sunlight. I really wished Grandpa and Jeremy were there to share this experience with me.

“‘
Isn’t it wonderful, Jack?’

“‘
It’s
totally
awesome!’

“
She nudged me forward until we stood directly in front of the massive gates, and then she led me up a short flight of stairs that brought us right up to them. I moved up to the left gate and touched it. The gate felt warm, its gilded surface absorbing sunlight. My fingers caressed the soft metal, tracing intricate symbols.

“
I noticed three sets of huge rings resembling door knockers, roughly twenty to eighty feet above my head. Decorative rather than functional? Had to be, since only a mythical giant could use them to open the gate.

“
Genovene stepped over and asked me to take my talisman from my pocket. Many of its designs matched those on the gates.

“‘
Your talisman is a key to the gate before you,’ she said, whispering in my ear. ‘We’ve taken great pains to make sure our glorious village remains a secret. Only a select few ever get to see it. Can you imagine the stories you’ll have to tell, along with experiences the vast majority of people will never share with you? You’re truly special, Jack. Enjoy the moment. It’s
your
special day!’

“
She pulled away, holding her talisman before her. She walked over to the right gate and stood beneath the huge row of rings on that side.

“‘
Wait for my signal. When I count to three you must put your talisman into the slot located below the gate’s handle,’ she instructed, allowing me time to locate the slot, nearly a foot above my head. ‘Remember, this is your only ticket to gain access to everything that awaits you beyond these gates. Be sure to insert your talisman into the slot at
precisely
the same moment I put mine in.’

“‘
Okay,’ I told her. I tried to slow my breathing so my excitement wouldn’t get the better of me.