WIJKEN Av VISKERBIJ

PROSPERITY, EXPANSION , ORACLE

“The duty we owe to History is to rewrite it” Oscar Wilde.

12957BBBC.

Where the Tribe of D’Akanii’s survivors had washed ashore turned out to be the narrow southern tip of a long island, extending roughly four times its greatest width, with a cluster of tiny islets just beyond. The coastline could be easily walked in the space of a month, yet it was a full three cycles before the exploration was completed. Small game and deer were plentiful, not yet shy of the humans. No other people were found, but the overturned wreck of a lengthy and strange boat was discovered high above a bay to the east. Nearby, a fairly new cairn was discovered, and within lay the skeletons of a woman embracing a man. By his skull was the same headband as that which Wijken had gifted her Grandfather. Clearly the two had briefly survived the tsunami, but who had constructed the cairn ? During the second summer the tribe relocated to be near the cairn, using the longboat as a temporary shelter, whilst they built sturdier homes of low stone walls. Fallen tree branches provided support for turf roofing, inlaid with matted grasses. During the mapping of the island and the founding of their new security, all of the women fell with child, Wijken herself twice bore a girl, in her eighteenth and nineteenth summers. The menfolk, from all their years in the marshland were familiar with raft making, Putting their knowledge to use for catching an abundance of fish in the shallow bay below their village, which they named Viskerbij - “Next to the fish”.

12954BBBC.

Gradually the tribe settled into a new routine of daily rituals, and early in their fourth Klenten they all revisited the grave of Moeder Av Drefuss. Her stone circular birthing place transformed into a sheltered festival kitchen, and they feasted, beat simple rhythms, sang and danced around her cairn. The first of many annual pilgrimages, where the elders would retell the legends of Orolandus, the Golden Light of Knowledge and Truth. Of Eduahaana and Halimar Sarcari. They would tell too of the sufferings en route, the attacks of one eyed giants, of swamps and yellow faces, hot caves and volcanos. Of Cairns, other Tribes and a terrible Tsunami. Thus came Birgin and Birgit to know of their own mysterious origin. Meanwhile at the village, Skander an Wijken were accorded certain roles; he as the organizer of communal tasks, his sister as the care giver and teacher for all the growing youngsters. She passed on the skills she had learned from Benedara, so enabling the womenfolk to spend time making, at first spruce and bone needles, with which they could sew the hides of deer. Soon enough the children outnumbered the adults, the noise of their lives giving fortitude to the still small community. As the eldest girl, Birgit was ever at Wijkens side, learning and bonding. Wikjkens own daughters loved and followed her, developing medicinal and hunting skills as they approached pre-womanhood. Birgin throughout his youth watched intensely the construction and fishing skills of his elders, rarely speaking except when noting an apparent difficulty. He became gifted in making or improving tools, which he would bring to Skander for comment.

12944BBBC.

In the13 cycles since the tribe’s terrifying arrival on the Good Island there had been no further deaths or catastrophes. That winter the three oldest members of the tribe passed peacefully in sleep. Birgin asked Skander “Why” “Aah, their time had come, as it does to us all…..” “If then, this is to keep happening, how will the tribe continue ?” “Ideally, we need many more people, preferably joining from our sister tribes, from Orolandus” “Are there any that survived the flood ?” “That much we know not. other than the cairn builders of Jameera and Askara; yet I believe it is possible” “Then we must rebuild the old long boat and search for them” “Yes, I have thought long about this, and have asked Wijken to try to sew deerhide sails, for which we need masts…….” The boy sat quietly for a while. “Then to make good masts, we need tools to cut thicker harder branches, and that is something I too have thought long about. And I believe this is also possible…. Come Klenten, you must consider how to righten the boat and move it to the beach. I will make the cutting tools !!” The two stood facing, gripping hands and grinning. Eighteen moons further the boat replete with two small sails and six oars was bobbing on the tide. That summer, after false starts, with two added oars they navigated a full circle of the island…. Yet the boat was still difficult to power and steer. They laboured on through the winter cold, fitting taller sails and a much longer broader, rear mounted single oar to help with steering. After their Klenten rituals at the Cairn of Moeder Av Dreyfuss, leaving Wijken and Birgit with the children, they set off to the west, a crew of the nine strongest, carrying spare sails and oars, and provisions for three weeks. Returning soon thereafter accompanied by a smaller boat full of smiling strangers.

12941BBBC

During the boat’s absence, Wijken was busy reassuring the children of their family’s safe return, some of the children asked Birgit how Wijken was so certain. She told them that Wijken was a Woman of great Wisdoms, equal to the Oracles of Orolandus, and planned a homecoming surprise. A little embarrassed she explained what she had told the children. “Then we must create this surprise together !!” So they drew and painted a skin image, a full face and figure of the twins mother, which they would present to Birgin and the crew. The children were greatly impressed, and Birgin even more so. “Aywa !!” he cried, “She gave us safety and success”. Taking the skin with him he disappeared into the forest for days at a time. The two groups mingled, more trips were made, strangers came and went, some settled in the Viskerbij community. The days grew shorter, then one afternoon Birgin returned with the skin, requesting that Wijken and Birgit would accompany him into the forest at dawn. After walking some distance he asked them to drape their heads, and taking them by the hand led them, unseeing, a little further between the trees. “Now, stand still and uncover your eyes” There before them stood a giant, a Human figure carved from a tall tree, a sculpture of Moeder Av Dreyfuss. The viewers were startled, dumbfounded, awed, then jubilant.

“One day, when I learn how to sever a whole trunk, we will take her in our ship to her Cairn” All three cried and laughed and cried again, the whole walk home.

TO BE REVISITED.

NeXt Article. Oct 25th. FRESH AIR. Time for Change.

NeXt A, B + C. Sun Oct 29th. Mostly Arts.

NeXt Legend. Nov 1st.”Samuel Savorie. French Resistance, WW1. Peace and Adoption”.

Further Article. November 8th. Interruption. T.B.A.

Well Folks, as certain Yorkies would say, “Ta Very Muchly !”. … or in La Belle France, “Je Remerceri !” Your interest is very much appreciated, oh yes indeed !! See yer soon, Peace, Maurice