16 Chapter 16: Perpetuating of Modesty

"Modesty is not about the descent dress you put on, it's how you allow people to peek upon your heart."

Mahli read as she stopped by the museum. Elim proposed an open wall within the Bit by Bit museum. Mahli memorized the short phrase as she walk back to the chief's office. Jogli noticed Mahli's continues mantra. He knocked on her table to distract his wife from murmuring. Jogli asked why was she talking by herself. Mahli recited the phrase and Jogli ruffled her hair as he grab a piece of paper and wrote it for her. Mahli squealed in gratefulness as she slip it under her notes.

Jogli and Mahli's cliche gesture got interrupted by a child's voice as he spoke in panic. The boy's magenta eyes were on the verge of tears. His tanned skin are soaked and his faded sapphire hair were damp.

"Chief! Chief! Please help my father!"

Jogli approached the kid and Mahli summoned Tirzah who is currently drooling from her afternoon nap.

Mahli shook her to the point her flexible chair went for a circular wheel but Mahli was unable to wake her up. Mahli shouted at her ear and slapped her face but was hopeless. Elim heared Mahli's shout and he approach the chief's window.

"What is wrong Mahli?" Elim peacefully inquired.

"Someone needs the Chief but I can't wake her up!" Mahli complained as her voice rises.

Elim made his way back to his office and pour a coffee. He stride back to the window and handed it to Mahli.

"Pastor, I can't do this! Chief's face will get burnt! Mahli argued in disbelief.

"No! I am not asking you to splash it! Put it under her nose." Elim clarified.

Mahli followed his instructions and Tirzah's brow twitched, her eyes fluttered open and Tirzah immediately stood up.

Mahli informed Tirzah of the young boy's plea and they joined Jogli. Jogli was doing his best to calm the eight year old kid. When Tirzah appeared by his side the boy repeated his line. Jogli was taken aback of Tirzah's current look. Her hair were frizzy like a nest that got scratch by a crow. Her face had a marked of her dried drool and her posture from the back makes her look like a beggar.

Eshcol heared the commotion from the office when one of the villagers rush toward the peak of the river. Eshcol recalled the destination and it was the Anfipolis Falls. Eshcol excused himself from the museum to follow the crowd.

Eshcol can't climb up the rock surface since the current near the falls were extreme for him. His sandal got unloose and the water carried it off from his feet. Eshcol was about to swim when Elim appeared to snatch it for him.

"Grandpa you should have asked for help. Don't jump in." Elim adviced as he advance toward Eshcol's spot. Eshcol thanked Elim and asked him what was the reason for the commotion.

" Mr. Pipe accidentally slipped on his way home on the falls surface and he is currently dangling in the midst of the high falls." Elim informed as he helped Eshcol to climb up to the upper boundary.

"How about our Chief?" Eshcol added as they reached the plane and dimensional locus where the perpendicular gush of tge water were steep and flat. They were at the edge below the cataract of the falling water. Elim pointed where was Tirzah.

Eshcol glance and can't recognize their chief. Elim noticed his confuse face.

"Grandpa the one who had her hair unkempt." Elim voiced out.

Eshcol focused his pupil and Elim was right.

"then why does she looked like a homeles woman?" Eshcol asked in between muffled laugh.

Elim sighed and answered.

"She just woke up from her nap."

Tirzah arrived with the boy and some women and kids who already arrived there before they did screamed at Tirzah's current state. When Tirzah spoke the villagers recognised her speech and voice. One of the tourist who visited the museum mocked and scorned at how Tirzah looked. A woman in her mid thirties pointed her lack of grace and decency.The villagers glared at them to shut their mouth.

Tirzah sat down and grabbed the crying boy's shoulder and smiled. Mahli wanted to comb her hair and wipe Tirzah's face but her worries got eradicated when Tirzah tenderly spoke toward the boy.

"Hey, young man. I will help you unless you stop crying. Your snort is all over your face."

The boy nod his head and wiped his face with his shirt. The villagers mentally noted in unison. "Look whose talking."

Jogli and Iconio finished what Trizah instructed. They tied a flexible and legnthy article to the nearest track. Tirzah instructed them to leave the part of the belt material with lock and safety pins. Jogli gave it to Tirzah. Tirzah aligned herself from Mr. Pipe's position. When she gathered all of her courage she jump off to the extreme flow of water.

Tirzah's eyes were unclear due to the water and the force of gravity that speedily sucked her downward. She extended her hand when her body passed the man's shoulder blade. She grappled his waist with the belt. When Jolgi felt the sudden heaviness from the end of the belt he commaded the men to pull upward. When they successfully pull the belt on their place, Mr. Pipe coughed. When Jogli notices that the Chief was not with him. He went to check and his sight got dizzy from the height.

The people started to panic when they can't see and find their Chief. After a muted moment Tirzah swam out from the bottom. The people got awestruck at the sudden posture of their Chief. Her black hair cascaded with the water. Her wet shirt shaped her edges and curves aside from her arm that is toe manly with her muscles. Her pale skin glitters with the droplet. Their unkempt Chief transformed into a Nymph in their view.

The villagers started to applaud at how she cooly saved Mr. Pipe. The cheering got empowered when Elim extended his hand to help Tirzah stood up.