FROM FAR AWAY

I was standing on a big rock whose surface had been smoothed by water, rain and wind. The rock was surround by water. Long waves rolled lazily from the sea and broke silently when they hit the rock. I was facing the open ocean. Behind me, not many yards away was a sandy beach. It was surrounded by high but smooth cliffs. To the right the tongue of a cliff moved into the crystal clear water, interrupting the white line of the beach. Huge palm trees looked like green parasols. Their long leaves were swinging the light breeze which blew in from the sea.

I was naked. I felt the salty air and the warming rays of the sun on my skin. In my hands I held a long fishing rod, but I didn’t fish. I just stood there and watched the colorful fish playing at the foot of the rock and enjoyed the peace.

When I heard a strange, deep monotonous sound I turned around, angered by what had disturbed the beautiful silence.

A line of dark clad people came slowly walking out of the water, there where the tongue of the cliff dipped into the sea. At first I could only see the heads emerge, covered by dark hoods. Then the shoulders broke the water surface, then the rest of their bodies appeared from under the water. When the strange, mysterious procession reached the beach, it continued to move in slow motion.

I watched those dark clad figures in surprise. I tried to understand the words of their monotonous song. Was it a song or was it a litany, a litany I recall from when I was a child? Why couldn’t I see the faces under the hoods? Why were these people clad in thick frocks like monks? Where did they come from? Where were they going? The procession came to a halt. The mysterious group formed a half circle which was facing me. For a second I wanted to cover my nakedness, but I felt no shame, no fear. I felt proud!

The sound coming from the the half circle grew louder, menacing in its tone. Now I could hear what it was, a Gregorian Choral which I had to sing when I was forced to participate in religious exercises. Did this half circle of gender-less human figures try to get me back to this long forgotten time?

I started to hum, then my voice grew louder, but it was not a Choral coming from my mouth. It was a Scottish melody, ‘Oh, flower of Scotland’! Why did I sing that lovely song of freedom? I tried to stop singing, felt it was not proper to answer to the choral in that way–but couldn’t stop. The choral grew louder. It sounded threatening. I answered by nearly yelling my song. The wind tried to help me. It grew stronger, carried my voice to the beach. Louder and louder I sang. I felt like a warrior, naked and proud.

Slowly, ever so slowly the half circle formed a straight line again. The choral faded away. I could feel tristesse, sadness floating towards me. Suddenly I felt sorry for these anonymous humans.

I jumped into the water and swam towards the shore. I wanted to see the faces under the hoods. wanted to speak to these poor people. When I reached the beach the procession had moved on in the opposite direction from where it had come. I tried to follow but couldn’t. I yelled but no sound escaped my lips. I tried to wave but my arms would not obey me.

One after the other the people disappeared behind a sand dune. The last figure in the procession seemed to hesitate. It stopped on the topof the dune, turned around. Reflections of the sun in the sea lightened the face under the hood. I recognized you at once. I was shocked, I couldn’t believe you had joined a medieval Christian procession, that you had dressed like a nun. I tried to speak to you, but still my voice failed. You smiled, but still didn’t follow the others. You seemed to wait for me. Suddenly my muscles obeyed again. I ran towards you, embraced you, held you tigfht against my naked body. You didn’t make the slightest move, didn’t try to free yourself from my embrace. I lifted you up, carried you to theplace I had left the water. How light you were. When I reached the water, I put you down, push the dark hood hiding your head backwards.

Again you only smiled. You remained silent. You took a step backwards, hesitated for a second, then your fingers undid the knot that held a thick rope around your hips. When the rope hit the sand, your frock opened and fell to the ground. Suddenly you were as naked as I was. You came towards me, put your arms around me. Your smile was not sad any more, but you still didn’t speak.

Again I lifted you up. Then I waded into the water very carefully. Somehow I remembered you were afraid of swimming in deep water. The water got deeper. I was surprised I could still wade. It was as if were walking on an underwater bridge. I walked until I reached ‘my’ rock. Then I put you down. You grabbed my hand, held it tight. Together we sat down. I put my arm around your slim shoulders.

Silently we watched the red sun as it slowly set behind the horizon.

It is important to me to tell you that this is the first time I have ever used someone else's story. He was a close email friend of mine for several years, lived in Norway. I came across his emails to me that I had saved and couldn't resist sharing this with you. I have many more of his dreams but will not usurp his privacy any further. --Val