Dead, Yet Alive

The following morning, Nicolas returned home. He entered his room and wrote a lengthy letter explaining the reason for his death. His father called for him as he was finishing. Nicolas didn't answer. He shaved his head. Washed himself. Then donned on the burial clothes. He pulled the wrap over himself then left the house. He didn't see his father come into his room to check on him. Nor did he hear his cries. Though dead because the law had been broken, he felt he still needed to live.

He followed the feeling into the mountains. Into the forest. Down many tails to another valley. A valley called Plentiful Valley by the city people. Known by the Mountain Forest Tribe as Dead Man's Valley. Why the difference? The trees bore an abundance of fruit and the river was full of fish.

It took Nicolas a few hours to reach Dead Man's Valley. The trees were just beginning to blossom and the stream was clean and clear. Several fish could be seen swimming against the current. At first he walked along the stream then he wandered among the trees. As he neared the rock wall on the East side of the valley he found bones; human bones. The flesh had long been eaten away and some of the bones were missing. Under the bones were scraps of cloth. On closer inspection he recognized it as a burial wrap.

The burial wrap was used by both people, but Nicolas wondered why the bones had not been buried. Usually all bodies were bodies were buried so the animals couldn't get them. He continued walking along the rock wall and found more bones.

"Why?" he whispered.

"Scelus," came the reply in the ancient language. (sin)

Nicolas nodded. "Are you here Sikkim Root?"

A twig snapping made him turn. He walked back through the trees to the river. Another person in a death wrap was crouched by the river. They caught and tossed two fish on the opposite bank. Their face was hidden from him and he only saw the hands, and a stone blade, as they cleaned the fish then beckoned for him to follow. Nicolas waited until they moved to edge of the trees to a circle of stones. They built a fire and he crossed the river. The fish were set over the fire to cook. Hands were pulled back into the cloth and the figure seemed to shrink.

"Are you all right, Sikkim Root?" Nicolas asked.

"Non salveo." (I am not well)

The older people in his city spoke of an ancient language once used by one of the tribes, but no one spoke it anymore. He had studied this language and understood it. Why was Sikkim Root choosing to speak in it? He knew they both spoke another language. One which they both understood.

"What's wrong?" Nicolas asked.

She didn't reply.

"Why are you choosing to speak the ancient language?"

"Abora dicunt." (The trees speak)

Her hands came back out of the death wrap and removed one of the fish, handing it to him.

"Thank you," Nicolas said, taking it.

Sikkim Root took the other fish and leaned against a tree, just in sight. They ate. Their eating was interrupted by a growling. The growling grew louder as the wild cat he'd seen earlier prowled closer. The cat approached Sikkim Root. Smelling this cloth, the cat seemed confused by what she was smelling, verses what she was seeing. One of the Sikkim Root's hands brushed her fur.

"Liliam, mihi non fles," Picea Spinulosa Radix said. (Lilly, do not weep for me)

Lilly's ears perked at the sound. It was Sikkim Root's voice, but it was tainted with pain. She let out a cry and it startled Nicolas. He couldn't describe the inhuman cry Lilly released. Lilly ran off after that.

"What did you do to Lilly?" Nicolas asked, when she returned to the fire and tossed the fish bones in.

"Nihil." (Nothing)

Sikkim Root whistled loudly and an arrow came from the trees on the other side of the river and landed by the fire. Then she turned away and took several steps into the trees. Nicolas followed. Sikkim Root and Nicolas hid from Oak Leaf. They couldn't be found alive.

On the other side of the river, Oak Leaf walked out of the trees. He looked confused. Oak Leaf crossed the river. Picking up his arrow, he entered the trees. His steps were cautious as he wandered further in. He searched all around but could find nothing. It was odd since he had been unable to find her body. Usually the animals didn't pack them outside the valley. So did that mean that Sikkim Root was alive? He had met Lilly on the edge of Dead Man's Valley. Something in the valley had upset her. She was angry at Sikkim Root for losing her soul. Oak Leaf's steps became more determined as he searched. If Sikkim Root was around, maybe he could at least find out why she jumped instead of letting the arrow take her life.

"Sikkim Root, I know you're here. Please, tell me why you did it? Why did you choose to lose your soul instead of rest peacefully?"

"Ad arbora." (For the trees)

"For the trees? The trees cannot speak, Sikkim Root, they never could. …Please, tell me the truth."

"Ad arbora, Quercus Folium. Arbora iubent me salire." (For the trees, Oak Leaf. The trees commanded me to jump)

"No, it can't be! Si... Sikkim...."

"Non fle, Quercus Folium. Sum contenta." (Don't weep, Oak Leaf. I am content)

"I don't believe you. Your voice carries too much pain to be content. You should have just died in peace!"

"Vale." (Be strong)

"Sikkim Root, wait! Let me see you...please."

Oak Leaf kept searching for her until the sun began to set.

"Picea Spinulosa Radix, quam diu sumis dicere Latinam?" Nicolas asked when they were finally alone. (Sikkim Root, how long did it take you to speak Latin?)

"Semper scivi Latinam." (I have always known Latin)

"Semper?" (always)

"Semper." (always)

"Tu gentibus Latinam dicunt?" (Do your people speak, Latin?)

"Sola Quercus Folium." (Only Oak Leaf)

"Quam fecierat Latina?" (Who taught Latin to him?)

"Docui eum." (I taught him)

They slept side by side.

Sikkim Root rose early to gather food. She was on her way back when she heard Oak Leaf approach. She climbed one of the trees and held still. Oak Leaf passed under the tree in which she sat.

"Picea Spinulosa Radix, hic es?" (Are you here?) Oak Leaf asked.

"Aliquis adest." (someone is here)

"Cur necauis sua?" (Why did you kill yourself?)

"Ad arbora." (For the trees)

"Arbora dicunt nihil." (The trees speak nothing)

"Tum dicare nihil." (Then I have nothing to say)

"Sikkim Root, dici mihi aliquid!" (say something to me)

"Ne mittas hic. Remane cum tuis gentibus." (You cannot stay here. Remain with your people)

"Sikkim Root?"

She didn't respond.

Each day would be like this if he kept returning. He would search endlessly for her—her body, her spirit—then he would ask the same question. Why? The only problem with that question was she didn't know herself, only that it had to do with Nicolas.

Sikkim Root remained in the tree until Oak Leaf's calls for her had softened with distance. Then she returned to the cave where she and Nicolas had spent the night. He was awake. They ate. Sikkim Root folded on herself when she was finished. It was hard to hear the sorrow that laced Oak Leaf's voice. They had been best friends for years and Oak Leaf had mentioned once that he might speak to her father for her hand, but now, she was dead. How she wished she understood why the trees wanted Nicolas instead of Oak Leaf—her almost beloved. How much longer did the trees want them to stay in this valley?

"Picea Spinulosa Radix, nunc quod faciam?" (What am I to do now)

"Arbora nos dicunt." (The trees will tell us)

"Arbora non dicent," Nicolas said as they reached the tree line. (The trees do not speak)

Sikkim Root sat up a little but. "Potesne non audire voces arborum?" (Are you not able to hear the voices of the trees?) She had assumed that since the trees had chosen Nicolas, he had been able to hear them speak.

"Non possum audire id." (I am not able to hear it)

"Si non potes audire arbora tum cur egent te?" (If you are not able to hear the trees then why did they choose you?)

"Nescio, sed egeo te." Nicolas reached out to Sikkim Root and she took a step back. "Quid falsus?" (I don't know, but I chose you. What is wrong?)

"Non cogito cur arbora te legissent." (I don't understand why they wanted you)

"Est omnia?" (Is that all?)

"Non est omnia. Odi nescire." (That is not all. I hate to not know)

"Nescis quod?" Nicolas asked. (Not knowing what?)

Sikkim Root left the cave and Nicolas followed. Plentiful Valley was still abundant, but this morning it had a more depressed atmosphere to it. An overwhelming sorrow. Who's was the sorrow? Why hadn't he noticed it before? Nicolas couldn't see Sikkim Root anywhere, but he knew she was sitting in one of the nearby trees.

"Picea Spinulosa Radix, sum paenitens," Nicolas said. (I'm sorry)

"Dolor est non mei. Arbora sunt tristis, sed cur nescio." (The pain is not mine. The trees are sad, but I don't know why)

"Estne quoniam mortuus sumus?" (Is it because we are dead?)

"Non quoniam sumus, quoniam aliquid altera." (It is not because we are, but something else)

"Quod nunc?"(what now?)

"Nescio." (I don't know)