Hiku and the Search for the Purple Emperor

By AL Groethe, KD and ASHLEIGH THOMAS

Have you ever tried to imagine what lies between your eyes being open and your eyes being shut? Have you ever wondered what is happening at the precise moment when your eyelashes flutter together like the wings of a small, delicate creature? If you are one who has never wondered, We wish to tell you a secret. There is a world in that space between wakefulness and sleep, a world dotted with island after island and it existsin the blink of an eye.
Hiku, a young butterfly, discovers what is truly important to ones life when he flies to six of these islands in search of lifes meaning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496927149

AL Groethe

KD Groethe is a retired Music and English teacher, author and composer. He and his daughter, AL Groethe collaborated on Hiku and The Search for The Purple Emperor. Alison lives in Banbury, England with her two boys, aged seven and nine and her partner of nineteen years.

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© 2014 KD & AL Groethe. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Hiku and the Search for the Purple Emperor

AL & KD Groethe

The authors intentionally use the British spelling of words in this story.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/22/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2715-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2713-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2714-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014912661

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Prologue

Rocmajindy

Muse

Runwalk

Zam

Pirate’s Point

Lawcunor

Warcomdy

Sunbegot

Epilogue

Prologue

H ave you ever tried to imagine what lies between your eyes being open and your eyes being shut? Have you ever wondered what is happening at the precise moment when your eyelashes flutter together like the wings of a small, delicate creature? If you are one who has never wondered, I wish to tell you a secret. There is a world in that space between wakefulness and sleep, a world dotted with island after island and it exists—in the blink of an eye.

Rocmajindy

H iku, a young male butterfly, a Blue Adonis, lived on such an island. It was called Rocmajindy. He lived with his mother, his father and his brother, Bok. A more attractive place was never to be found. His family had lived there, along with other families of Blue Adonises, for years and years. Their warm tropical paradise was surrounded by a sparkling aquamarine sea, wrapped in clouds as light and soft as candy-floss, and painted in colours of coral, pink and blue. A sweet-smelling breeze circled the island evermore, through the rocks and crags, in and out of the tall swaying grass and lastly, twirling high into the sky.

Known fondly as the Blues, Hiku and his ancestors were the most beautiful of butterflies. Their wings were an electric, sparkling blue that gleamed in the sunlight like priceless jewels.

The Blues loved to spend their time eating nectar and honey and relaxing on their favorite rocks in the midday sun. However, their preferred activity was flying. Their reasons for flying didn’t matter. Flying on the fragrant breeze known as the Sweet Breath of Life mattered. Doing what butterflies do—darting about crazily, gliding slowly and doing wild dives, turns or spins to amaze their friends—mattered. Hiku and his family lived happily on Rocmajindy. All appeared perfect, but perfection was not always what it seemed.

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One day Hiku and his brother, Bok, were playing at a small waterfall. They were standing on a flowering hyacinth trying to taste the sweetness of its honey through their feet.

Well, said Hiku to his brother.

Well, what?

Can you taste it?

Taste what?

The honey, Hiku said, sounding impatient.

I don’t know. Can you?

They stood for a moment, stroking their chins with their wings, and waited.

Are you sure Dad said this certain butterfly could taste honey through his feet?

I know what I heard, Hiku said.

"You could have heard him say something sounding like the word taste."

Hiku glared at Bok.

You could have.

Bok! He said—

Okay! Okay! his younger brother shouted back, interrupting. But … it doesn’t seem possible. He paused. What was his name again?

The Purple Emperor.

Lifting his feet one after the other, trying to walk out of the sticky honey, Bok said, He must be pretty darn clever.

Just then, Blue Boy, a friend, arrived at the waterfall. He was shouting something neither young Adonis could understand—while trying to land with style, but with little success. The brothers laughed at his bumpy arrival.

Hiku, Blue Boy shouted, you must come quickly. Your father said it was important.

Blue Boy’s expression made Hiku feel sick to his stomach. He knew something awful had happened.

Quick, Bok, help me out of this sticky mess, he said.

Finally, after the brothers got out of the honey, they flew home as fast as their wings would take them. Arriving at the grass enclosure that had been their home for—forever, they detected nothing out of the ordinary … except it was eerily quiet.

As Blue Boy was about to leave, he said, You know where I am if you need me, and patted Hiku on his forewing.

Thanks, he replied.

Hiku opened the door and saw his father sitting in his favorite flower. Mrs. Sinoda, their neighbor, was standing next to him. His mother’s flower was empty.

Dad, what’s the matter? Hiku asked. Why did you send Blue Boy for us?

Where’s Mother? Bok said, appearing worried.

Mrs. Sinoda asked, Do you want me to stay?

No, Hiku’s father replied, his eyes filling with tears. We need some time alone.

All right. The lady’s voice was comforting. If you are sure.

I’m sure, Hiku’s father answered softly.

As Mrs. Sinoda closed the door, he motioned for Hiku and Bok to sit beside him.

My beloved sons, he said, I have some terrible news to tell you. … First, you must promise you will be strong. If not, we won’t make it as a family.

We promise, the boys replied with a look of fear in their eyes.

With a trembling lip, their father asked, You’ve heard others speak of Rakma?

Yes, Bok replied, it’s the screeching, gray-winged blackbird that bursts from the sky. It takes away bad butterflies—those who don’t want to live by Rocmajindy’s rules. It makes the sound of its name, Rakma! Rakma! Bok replied, imitating its cry.

As gently as he could, their father said, Your mother’s gone. Rakma took her while she sat enjoying the warmth of the day.

When is she coming back, Dad? Bok asked, not understanding his father’s words.

She won’t be, Bok. I’m sorry. She’s gone from us forever.

Bok was suddenly awash with tears, while Hiku became enraged. He moved in circles around the small room, angrily flapping his wings.

I don’t understand, Dad, Hiku implored. Rakma only takes bad butterflies, and Mother wasn’t bad. She was so kind. Everyone loved her. This shouldn’t have happened to her … to us.

With his last words, Hiku flew into his father’s wings. He needed to be held. Life would never be the same again.

***

Six months had passed since Hiku’s mother was taken by Rakma. It felt like forever to Hiku. He had hoped to feel better with time. He often woke from a night’s sleep on his floral leaf, and for a second, everything was fine. Rubbing his eyes, he would slowly remember his mother was gone. His stomach would twist into a huge knot. Hiku’s father led the boys by example. He tried hard to be brave even though he was so sad. Bok recovered somewhat from the tragedy, but Hiku was miserable—down, really down.

Bok, Hiku often shouted, stop messing around! I don’t want to do any senseless flying. I want to sit and think.

Flying to stay alive was all Hiku could bring himself to do.