Talon, Encounter

By Gigi Sedlmayer

FINALIST with Book Excellence Award 2018

FINALIST Talon: Encounter, is a winner in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards! The silver one

was selected as a finalist in one category: "Young Adult." (The silver one, not gold from last year.)

Nominee by GLOBAL EBOOK AWARDS 2018 *<

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aurora House
• Release date: Aug 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9780994261540

Book preview

1

Matica and the Poachers

‘N o, no, no!’ Matica screamed out from the time they had seen it. She had hoped not to see it so early, especially while laying on Talon and trying to fly home. ‘It can’t be. Not so early. Not now.’

Not only was she agitated, Talon was grunting nervously as well, shaking himself and flapping his wings irregularly, hardly flying straight. Matica had difficulty holding on, being so edgy herself.

They flew for only half an hour when they were shocked through to the core. Talon turned around straight away and now they were on their way home, still not believing what they had encountered.

Talon didn’t fold his wings to his body after he had landed and Matica had slid down to the ground. Talon, with bulging and big grey eyes ran around restlessly. He couldn’t stand still and was grunting nervously. His expression showed real worry.

Matica also couldn’t stand still. She clutched her mouth with one hand, her worried eyes wide open. Pacing around, thinking it over she watched Talon, with narrowed eyes.

Tamo and Tima quietly circled the village.

‘You saw the you know who.’ Crayn confirmed, worry on his face as he came outside, Mira following behind him. They sat on the bench but Matica was still standing, watching the restless Talon. She nodded her head, thinking, he is more agitated than I am.

Before Crayn or Mira could inquire where they had seen the poachers, Matica faced them and said in a deep voice, as if that was natural to her, ‘Yes, we saw the you know who, again.’ She emphasized the word ‘again’. ‘They were in Ramah this time and were sitting on my big rock, talking.’

Then she yelled out, stamping the ground with her foot and waving her arms over her head, ‘They sat on my rock! That’s not fair.’ She pouted her lips, then started to hyperventilate.

Crayn and Mira just looked at her, wondering about her outburst and her hasty gasps and gulps.

‘Well,’ her father indicated calmly, waving at her to come to him. ‘Come here and calm down.’

She hesitated first, but then she sat on his lap, cuddling and leaning her head on his chest. Her breathing began to slow down. He spoke soothingly into her scalp, his lips touching her hair. ‘I believe the rock isn’t there just for you. But again, I know what you mean. The rock was your special place, your place where you meet Tamo. Yet, the bad news for us is, they’re way too close. And that’s not good.’

Mira had to clutch her mouth to stop herself crying out loud. But then she nodded and stated calmly, stroking Matica’s back, ‘We understand you, my love. But put the rock aside and be realistic. We have to deal with the you know who, not with the rock. It’s much more important, at the moment anyway.’

Matica pushed herself away from her dad, passing in front of them. Crayn, nervous and worried about his daughter and the encounter with the poachers, sat uneasy. He couldn’t sit still, and was sliding around the bench as if it became too hot for him to sit on. Worry lines spread across his face.

Then Mira whispered, not so sure anymore than she was before. ‘They are this close.’ Then, ‘No, no, no. It can’t be.’

‘Mum, we saw them and even heard them.’ Talon came to her side and nodded.

‘Yes, yes, I believe you,’ she whispered absent mindedly. ‘Oh my. It’s… it’s so horrible to know they are so close.’ She lifted her head. ‘They’ll be here soon.’

‘I know what you mean, Mum,’ Crayn pointed out. ‘Now,’ he said, turning to his daughter, ‘where have you… Oh…,’ he tapped his forehead, ‘in Ramah. Right.’ He combed his hair with his fingers, thinking.

Just then Pajaro walked slowly toward them, still red-eyed from crying for his padre, Elcano, who had passed away. But, he was alert enough to know what was going on around him.

Looking up at the condors, he asked, ‘Why are they so quiet and circling so low over our village? Is something wrong or is it still because of my padre?’

But seeing the worry lines on Mira’s and Crayn’s faces, also how upset Talon and Matica looked, he put two and two together. ‘Oh no!’ He sat heavily beside Crayn on the bench and said to Matica in a grave voice, not as a question, but as a statement, ‘You saw the you know who and come home quickly to tell us.’

Matica nodded. ‘Talon came to cheer me up after your padre died, so we flew for another round. At first it worked, then we both got a shock seeing the you know who in Ramah. They will be here any day now.’

‘In Ramah? So close already?’ Pajaro cried out, knowing what she was talking about. He put his elbows on the table then his head into his cupped hands, shaking his head. Through his fingers he mumbled, ‘Oh, no. That is not good, not good at all.’ He let his hands fall into his lap then he looked back at Elcano’s hut, his padre, then back to Matica.

‘That is not fair. That means I have no time to mourn my padre.’

Matica looked sadly up at him. ‘I am so sorry, Mr Pajaro. I…’

Pajaro squared his shoulders, then he wiped his eyes. ‘It is not your fault Matica. But I have to say it is not fair either. But,’ he went on, looking at Talon who looked back at Pajaro, ‘as much as I do not like it, I cannot help it. The you know who will come first. All right, I am ready for them.’

‘You sure about that?’ Crayn asked him anxiously.

Pajaro looked him into the eyes. ‘Of course I am. Well, it will not be easy for me, but I just have to. I have to put my personal feelings away and focus on the now. When someone needs my help, I am here. And that is Matica and her condors right now. She and the condors come first. Elcano would not have wanted it differently. So, yes, I am.’

Crayn looked admiringly at him and nodded, thinking, He will be a great leader of his group. Like his father was, putting his own feelings to the side.

‘Thank you, Mr Pajaro,’ Matica acknowledged and twined her arms around his neck. Pajaro first hesitated, wondering where the Mr came from, but then he hugged her back.

When they separated again, both with wet eyes, she continued, ‘I’ll never forget that, ever, that you sacrifice the mourning and the burial of your father. If they really will come as soon as we think we have to get ready for them.’

Looking up to see the condors circling over them, she cried out, ‘Where are they? They’re gone. Talon, where are they?’ Talon looked up and shook his head. ‘Are they patrolling to make sure they are not coming right now? Or, maybe they’re making sure they will be going away again. Gone for today.’

‘Pajaro,’ Crayn cut in, nodding his head to his daughter, ‘If Matica is right with her interpretation, and I believe she is, then you can mourn your padre, at least for today.’ He put his hand on his shoulder. ‘The you know who are not here, yet. And they won’t come today. It’s already way too late for that, I would say. And Tamo and Tima are making sure they won’t come right now. They will inform us, right Talon?’ Talon nodded. ‘I think they might come before you can put Elcano to rest though. All right?’

Pajaro nodded. He wiped his face with one hand then he admitted, staring straight ahead, ‘My father said that he likes to be cremated, not buried.’

‘Oh, right, yes, Matica mentioned it. But I thought…’

‘I know. That is not our custom, but this is his wish and I will fulfil his wish.’

Matica nodded and put her hand on her father’s arm. ‘Elcano said that he didn’t want to have worms going through his flesh and eating him.’

‘Matica!’ Mira called out. ‘How could you?’

‘But that’s what he said, Mum.’

Pajaro nodded. ‘Mira, it is true. My padre said that. So, I guess, I have to fell a few trees and we will cremate him. But the fire might draw the you know who.’

He started to go on his way.

‘We can’t avoid that. All right then.’ Crayn looked at his wife, then at his daughter. Both nodded.

Just then Tamo screeched loudly from the sky. Talon ran and soon was airborne. They circled higher and soon they were gone.

Everyone watched them leave. ‘What was that about?’ Pajaro asked.

Crayn, guessing what it meant, explained, ‘That was a sign from the condors.’ Matica nodded. ‘They just told us, that the you know who are gone again. They are not coming this way. That was his loud screech.’

Relieved, Pajaro’s shoulders drooped then he went off to mourn his padre. Having dinner that night, the conversation was going at length concerning Elcano, the birds and about the poachers. As they talked it over, Matica’s mind cleared and became trouble-free and so she had a good night’s sleep.

2

Mito

Next morning – it was again a wonderful day, like always at this time of year – Matica went with her father and Aikon to school. Everyone was still quiet and sad but tried to cope with the situation that Elcano was no more. Even though hardly anyone saw him in the last few months because he was bedridden, they knew he was there and would give them any advice or counsel. They knew he would help them with anything if they would have the need of him. But, now? There was a void in the community of the Indians now, but again, they know that Pajaro is there, his very capable son. They have to focus on Pajaro now, change their thinking. They believed in Pajaro, confident he will be like Elcano was, and will lead the community as his father had before him. But they also relied on Crayn and Mira. Now in school they all looked at the red eyed Pajaro and Crayn.

Before Crayn started his lesson, Pajaro announced Elcano’s wishes that he wanted to be cremated not buried as was their custom, and that he will put Elcano to rest the following morning. He asked for help to cut down two trees to lay him on. Also, he hoped that the poachers wouldn’t come then. Otherwise the cremation would be happening after they had dealt with the poachers.

Pajaro didn’t stay for Crayn’s lesson, instead he went to his padre’s hut to prepare his cremation. But again, Crayn didn’t teach the Indians today either, he just praised Elcano and his wonderful personality and leadership of guiding his people and reassuring them that nothing would change. Pajaro, his son, will do the same as his father, and lead them to glory.

Matica told the Indians where she had encountered the you know who the day before and that they would probably see them here soon. She ended with, ‘I hope they’re not coming tomorrow, when Pajaro wants to cremate his padre. Any time after, but not then. ‘But again,’ she continued, ‘the you know who might see the fire and will be attracted by it, will come and seek it out. Well, I really hope not.’

The Indians agreed and said a quick prayer that they would have the time.

At home after school Crayn, Matica and Aikon with Mira enjoyed lunch outside, admiring the chirping humming birds as they flew around the big tree, searching for the nectar in the flowers. Finding a flower they hovered in front of it, flitting and swirling on nearly invisible wings, inserting their long beaks and tongues into the flower to extract the nectar.

Finishing their lunch and wondering what’s keeping the condors, Mira stood up to take in the lunch dishes when they heard Talon’s, Tamo’s and Tima’s screeches, but still from far away. Mira went in, but Crayn with Matica and Aikon stayed, waiting to see if Talon would land on the table as usual to show off.

Sure enough, with outstretched claws, Talon descended and slowly landed, scratching his claws over the wooden table and keeping his wings aloft. Leisurely he watched them then he folded his wings to his body, stroking the three of them over their heads, messing up their hair with his wing. Next he strolled, nearly pranced, over the table by lifting up his head proudly and unfolding his wings again. As soon as he came to the end of the table, he turned around and, stretching out his wings to their full length, he pranced on, even though Crayn, Matica and Aikon were still sitting there. He brushed them simply away with his strong wings. They had no choice but to bend out of his way or get off the bench. But one thing they knew with his action, they didn’t need to be afraid that the poachers were near.

In the meantime Tamo and Tima had landed and stood around the table, watching their son demonstrating his beauty and size. They grinned proudly.

Presently Crayn noticed Mito standing not far from them, watching Talon’s show.

‘Mito, what is it?’ Crayn asked him, narrowing his eyes. Not that he expected something bad, but something it has to be. Something with Pajaro?

‘Talon, I love him. I heard him, Tamo and Tima coming. So I wanted to see if I could see him demonstrating his beauty.’ He grinned. ‘Well, I really do not like to disturb his show. But yes, Pajaro sent me to ask if the condors have told you if they have seen the you know who?’

His English is getting better, Matica thought. Great. He’s learning. Or was it only a smugness of him and now it’s the real him? Hmm. Interesting.

Tamo and Tima, as they had watched Mito, shook their heads. Talon turned to look at Mito as well and shook his head also, screeching loudly.

‘There you have your answer,’ Crayn said, pointing at the condors with his chin.

‘Most amazing, that is.’ Mito shook his head in surprise.

He’s falling back into his old ways? Matica thought.

He went on, ‘I never thought I would get the answer from the birds. Thank you, Tamo, Talon and Tima for letting us know that the you know who are not nearby.’ Mito bowed to each of them. ‘I appreciate that very much, yes I do. By the way,’ Mito looked at Crayn then at Mira, who stood in the door, watching all, ‘we felled some trees for the pyre for Elcano. Pajaro is building it now for his padre. He insisted to do it himself.’ Then he said nodding and grinning, looking at Matica, ‘He is.’

‘So it really is happening,’ Matica stated and thought, his speech before was only a scheme of him. I am sure of it. How else can he learn so fast to speak correctly?

Mito nodded to her. ‘It is not our way, but as Pajaro said, it is Elcano’s wish. Yes.’ Mito grinned cunningly as if he knew and felt her thinking all about his speech.

‘Yes, I know. Where is he building it?’ Crayn said.

‘Behind the hall, it is,’ Mito said, grinning again at her. ‘Tomorrow morning the burial ritual will proceed.’

‘Thanks Mito.’

As Mito walked away Crayn looked after him, thinking of Pajaro and murmured, ‘What a man. He’s mourning his father, but he is still all ears with what is going on around him. He will be a great leader for his people.’

Mira came to his side. ‘Yes, he will.

Crayn looked at her. ‘You heard.’

Mira just nodded.

3

The Embrace

Talon stalked on to show off some more. But Matica, remembering something, climbed on the bench and stopped him by putting her hand on Talon’s claw. Talon stopped and looked enquringly down at her hand then at her, grunting, as if he was asking, what are you doing? I am not finished.

‘Talon,’ she then whispered into his ear, ‘you love Mum as well, don’t you?’ Talon tilted his head and nodded, he still had the enquiring look on his face then his expression said, why that strange question? Of course I do, all of you.

‘Talon,’ she went on, whispering, ‘you have hugged all of us, but not Mum yet.’ Matica looked meaningful at her mother then looked back at Talon. ‘Would it be okay if you would give Mum the wonderful hug?’ Talon grunted and looked strangely at her, as if he would say, but I have hugged her.

‘Talon? What’s the matter?’ And then she remembered. ‘Oh, right, yes. You have hugged Mum already. I remember. Yes. But Mum said it was so short.’ She looked at her mum. ‘Can you do it again?’ Talon pushed her simply out of the way and jumped down from the table.

Mira and Crayn were still standing together, admiring the birds.

Talon, not folding his wings fully to his body, walked over to her. Crayn, as if he knew that something was up because he saw his daughter whispering to Talon and looking to his wife, made room for him.

‘What is it, Talon?’ Mira asked him, stroking him over his head, as he kept standing in front of her.

Talon grunted softly then very slowly he lifted his wings and enfolded her in his wings.

Bit by bit and hesitantly, as if Mira couldn’t believe what Talon was doing, her hands appeared around his body. She embraced him as well. Talon stretched out his head and laid it on her shoulder, enjoying it as much as she was. And then deep sobs could be heard from her. Then a muffled, ‘Oh Talon, that’s so wonderful. You do it again to me because you think, as well as I do, that the first time was way too short and too quick. Oh, I love you so much. Thank you for giving me that wonderful embrace. Thank you so very much. I love it. As Aikon said, I’m a condor now.’

When Talon let go of Mira after a minute, Tima waddled to Mira. With a shaky voice, Mira asked, hoping it would be, ‘You like to give me that embrace as well now? Yes, you are all here. Not so as it was the first time, where only Talon was here.’ She just fell around Tima and hugged her. Tima opened her wings and embraced her.

When Tima opened her wings again to let Mira go, Tamo followed Tima.

Mira stood alone again after several minutes, she wiped her eyes and face with the back of her hands. Next she fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. It was nearly too much for her.

‘Mum, are you okay? Did you like that?’ Matica asked.

‘Like?’ Mira yelled out, stood up and blew her nose into a paper towel she had in her pocket. ‘I loved it! And Talon did it longer than the first time, and now all of them hugged me. That’s the most amazing feeling I ever had. That was so wonderful.’

Then she said to the birds, ‘Thank you so very much, Tamo, Tima and Talon, for giving me that embrace. It’s wonderful. No, it’s amazing.’ She closed her eyes, bathing in their embrace.

‘I should go,’ Crayn said. Mira waved her hand at him.

‘And we’ll fly now, right Talon?’

Aikon yelled out, bringing everyone to a stop, ‘Do you know I never thought birds can do something like that? It’s amazing, if you think about it. They can embrace us, like dogs do, us humans with their wings. And that means they love us, they really must love us. And,’ he continued, ‘when you consider they are birds not humans, it’s actually more amazing. Don’t you think?’

‘Yes, Aik,’ Crayn confirmed. ‘I actually just thought the same thing. They really act like us, don’t they? They act like humans, not like birds. I know. Amazing, yes, it’s amazing. It’s the only word that I can think of to describe them, and their behaviour. And they are still birds.’

For long minutes everyone stood around, not really knowing what to do next. But then Talon waddled over to Matica, turned around and opened his wings, inviting her to lay on him.

‘Yes Talon. But wait, I have to get my poncho.’ She ran into the house, passing her mum, who still kneeled, stunned, with glassy eyes and couldn’t move yet. Matica stopped in front of her and lightly touched her on the arm.

‘Mum. Are you okay?’

Mira nodded her head. ‘Amazing. Yes, as Dad said. Amazing. But go, yes, go, enjoy your flight, but look out for the you know who.’

Nodding, and yelling, ‘I will,’ she ran into her room, grabbed her poncho and raced out again to Talon. She threw it over her head then leaned on Talon’s back. Instead of Talon running to get airborne, he just stared at Mira.

‘What is it, Talon? You watch Mum, right?’

Talon grunted.

‘She looks stunned, is that it?’ Matica said. Talon nodded then grunted again. They watched Mira, as she still looked stunned into the nothingness.

Then Mira stood up and went to Crayn, who guided her to sit at the bench. Crayn grinned, happy for her that the birds had given her the wonderful embrace. Sitting down, Mira stared into the big tree, without seeing it; staring into a void, thinking about the birds and their behaviour. She couldn’t stop being amazed, and after a while, laughed out loud.

Tamo and Tima stood in front of them, watching them, amused. Talon joined them, after Matica had hopped down again.

‘Yeah, you can look amused,’ Crayn finally said, stroking Tamo on his head. ‘Are you really birds? Or what are you? Well, never mind, you are not humans, you are birds. I know that much and I can see that. And that is that. But, as Elcano said, we are all connected. Yes, it’s true. But now I have to go.’

Tamo nodded when Crayn stood up to tutor the people some more. Seeing the majority of the Indians standing close by, Crayn asked them, ‘Did you see what the birds did with Mira?’

They all nodded and grinned, and some said, ‘We are truly all connected’.

Crayn nodded and waved at them to follow him. Reluctantly they turned and started walking.

Matica watched all, then she asked her mum, ‘Mum, are you all right? Can I go?’

Mira shook her head, then she nodded, ‘I am. I will be. I have to digest the embrace. It’s amazing. It was much more than it was the first time. The first time it all went too quickly. And it was only Talon. Now Tima and Tamo embraced me too. That is…that is…’ She ran out of words.

‘I know.’ Matica grinned, thinking. She voiced it, ‘Mum, I was thinking. Dogs do embrace their owners. Aikon mentioned it already, but they have legs to do it with. Birds have wings. Well,’ she mused, ‘the birds wings are the dog’s legs. Right Mum?’

‘Hmmm,’ Mira acknowledged.

‘Okay, Mum. I’m going flying now. See you later.’

Mira waved after her.

4

Pajaro

As Crayn pushed through the crowd to go to the community hall, he heard Pajaro’s voice and saw his upraised hand. He stopped and waited for him. Everyone else stopped and waited to see what Pajaro wanted.

‘Crayn,’ Pajaro called at him, ‘don’t bother to teach again today. They would follow you, but…’ He looked back and pointed behind him. Crayn saw all the elders walking around.

Before he could ask Pajaro what they were doing, he said, ‘I spoke with them and they all agree that we should prepare ourselves for the you know who. I don’t really know how, but we try and do our best. So, I don’t think that you should teach today, or tomorrow, until we deal with the you know who. Anyway…’ he looked at the ground, ‘all mourn, as I do, for the loss of my father.’ Pajaro walked back to the bench and sat opposite Mira. He put his elbows on the table, his chin into his cupped hands, and stared at the table top.

Crayn, looked back at him, wondering. He finally walked back as well and sat beside him. Matica told Talon to wait a bit longer and sat beside her mother, watching Pajaro, wondering what he had in mind.

A little smile appeared around Pajaro’s lips, as he looked at Talon. ‘What a wonderful bird you are, well all of you. Tamo and Tima as well.’ His smile widened, looking at Tamo and Tima, as they stood side by side watching him.

‘You saw what the birds did with me?’ Mira asked him.

Pajaro nodded, turning to the crowd who were still standing nearby. Pointing with his chin, he stated, ‘And all of them saw it too.’ He turned back, wiping a black strand of hair off his forehead and looked at Talon standing beside Matica, waiting and watching. ‘What would I have given that my padre could have seen all that. That is exactly what he would describe the relationship should be with us and the birds. Why else would he say we are all connected? He knew. What a shame he had to go before he could witness that or at least I could have told him.’

Crayn nodded, assuring him, ‘I believe that Elcano has seen it. He maybe hasn’t seen it with his own eyes, but he knew about it, or maybe better, he has sensed it or even seen it with his inner eyes, you know. Don’t you think?’

Pajaro’s eyes widened, looking at Crayn. ‘You think so? That would be good, real good. That would confirm it all, you know, when he said we are all connected. Did Matica tell you what my padre has said to her?’

‘Yes, I have.’ Matica nodded and mused, ‘We are all connected.’

‘Yes, we are.’ Pajaro turned toward Crayn. ‘It is wonderful, is it not?’ But then, as he was aware of Tamo standing close behind Crayn, he jerked and grabbed Crayn’s arm, staring into Tamo’s eyes.

Crayn, not knowing that Tamo stood behind him, yelled out, ‘What is it, Pajaro? Are the you know who coming?’ Both turned around to face Tamo.

‘No, no, look,’ he declared. ‘Look at Tamo. He has wet eyes. Tamo, are you still mourning about my padre?’

Crayn, seeing Tamo’s wet eyes, bent over to Tamo and embraced him. ‘Tamo, what is it? Are you still sad about Elcano? Are you mourning as well, as Pajaro is? And Tima,’ looking at her, ‘you have wet eyes too. Still mourning? Yes?’ He let go of Tamo and bent over to Tima as she walked close to him and embraced her. Both birds had lifted their wings and fluttered them.

Letting them go, Tamo and Tima nodded then grunted quietly at Crayn, letting their heads drop down. Pajaro stood up slowly so not to frighten them, then kneeled in front of both condors. Tamo bent his head as if he knew what Pajaro wanted to do. Pajaro, very carefully and slowly, put his hand on his head. Tamo let it happen, closing his eyes. Pajaro said, ‘Tamo, are you really sad because of my padre?’

Tamo opened his eyes and looked sadly at Pajaro, then he grunted.

‘Yes,’ Pajaro agreed, ‘he was a great man. But Tamo,’ he stroked him down to his wing then his hand fell to the ground, ‘I sense there is more to it but I guess we will never find out about that, will we? It is really a shame.’ Pajaro wiped his own eyes with his other hand, looking into Tamo’s sad eyes. ‘Connection, yes, I think it has something to do with that connection Elcano talked about. We are all connected he had said. Hmm, yes.’ Then he looked at Tima. Tima bent her head and Pajaro put his other hand on her head. ‘You think the same as your mate, right Tima?’ She nodded as Pajaro’s hand fell

to his side again. She watched his hand.

Pajaro stammered as he stood up, but still looked at Tamo and Tima, ‘Tamo, Tima, do you think that Elcano is seeing all, sensing it all?’

Tamo grunted and nodded then stepped one step backwards, Tima followed him. Next Talon waddled to his parents’ side and nodded as well.

Pajaro broke down. He sat back at the bench, put both arms on the table and his head on his arms. His shoulders shook. He was crying. Tamo laid his head on his shoulder.

Feeling Tamo’s head on his shoulder he turned around and said, ‘Oh Tamo,’ and embraced him quickly. Tamo let it happen but looked anxiously at Matica as she and her mother watched all.

And then, as if it was too much for him, Tamo jumped out of his embrace, screeched, ran and became airborne. Tima followed him, so did Talon.

Pajaro followed them with his eyes for a while, wiping his wet face with the back of his hand and sat down again. He shook his head. ‘What birds!’ Next he looked at Crayn and asked him, wondering, ‘Was that okay that I embraced him? I really hope so. Or did I do something I should not have done?’

‘You did well, Pajaro,’ Crayn confirmed. ‘He let himself be embraced.’

‘But he jumped away so fast.’

‘That’s okay. It was just enough for him, that’s all.’

‘I really hope so. Not that I did something I never should have done.’

‘Don’t worry. It was all right,’ Crayn assured him. Matica nodded as well.

Pajaro covered his face with his hands again and through his fingers he said, ‘Elcano’s wish. I really hope, Crayn,’ he looked up at him, ‘he has seen that, felt that.’

Crayn nodded. ‘He has, Pajaro, he has.’

Aikon, who had come back stood a bit away. He had watched all very seriously, not really knowing what to do, but was somehow happy for Pajaro.

Pajaro shook his head and stood up, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand once more, then said quietly, ‘What wonderful birds. Amazing. And we didn’t know that. Matica brought them to us. Not even Elcano knew that before. He had the hope for that kind of relationship. Only in his last days he started to understand that, I think, after they have helped you Crayn. It’s a crime, you know. But you Mira, with your family, changed it all and we are so thankful for you, particularly to you Matica,’ turning to her, ‘you started it all.’

They then all went to their business. Crayn stayed home, it was useless teaching today as Pajaro had said before.

Pajaro finished his pyre for his padre.

Just then Talon flew back in and landed in front of Matica. Not folding his wings to his body, he invited her to fly with him. ‘You like to look around if we can see the you know who somewhere? Or if they are coming closer?’

Talon nodded. So Matica leaned on his back and soon they were in the air, joining Tamo and Tima. But, before they joined Matica saw Amos standing not far away, grinning and waving at her. She grinned back at him and threw a kiss at him.

Mira looked into the sky and waved at the birds as they were still circling around the village. Then she yelled into the sky, ‘Thank you Talon, Tamo and Tima for the wonderful embrace. And now, be sure to be careful and watch out for the you know who, the most terrible people of our planet earth. Never let them see you. I hate people like them.’ Her face distorted but then smoothed out again. ‘If you see them, fly away, fly away as fast as you can. See you later.’

She heard three screeches, then they disappeared high up into the sky.

5

Fear

Matica, never influencing Talon where he should fly, noticed he flew in the direction of the mountains after saying goodbye to everyone. She still had Amos’s grin in her inner eye and smiled, thinking, I haven’t seen him since yesterday. But again, a lot is going on just now. Okay girl, focus on flying now. And then she thought about the embrace the birds gave her mum.

Matica declared to Talon, ‘Thank you for giving Mum the wonderful embrace with your wings. She really loved it.’ Talon screeched. Matica laughed. ‘Yes, I know, you like doing that to the ones you love. As I love it so much too. Even the Indians love seeing it. Thank you Tamo!’ she