literature

Heaven Beyond the Mountain

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Four straight months, the man had journeyed across the jungles of Africa. His guides were exhausted, tired, and ready to call it quits and return home, but the man insisted on continuing. His spirit raged above all of his journeymen, and he was willing to march on till the end of days…..

“Oi, you! When are you going to blasted sit down and rest a while!” screamed the guide named Mathew. He was born to an Australian family and had been raised in Africa. Even though his family had moved back to their homeland, he had stayed on. The man continued walking, not even bothering to turn around and face the man who had been addressing him.

“Oi! Oi!” Mathew eventually quieted down, realizing his pleading was making no difference to the man. Mathew turned to his fellow guide, Robert, who had known the man for a few years.

“I don’t think this bloke knows where he’s going! We’re the guides yet we’ve been following him for the past 3 blasted months!”

“4 months, I believe,” replied Robert.

“That’s what I said- 4.”

“No, I believe you said, ‘3’.”

“What does it matter?  This guy doesn’t know what he’s looking for.”

Robert shook his head. “Oh no, the man knows what he is looking for. I just don’t think he can find it.”

“Oh yeah, I remember”, Mathew began, “some mystical place called zulu wezu wentaba”.

“Haha, I believe the locals pronounced it as izulu phezu kwentaba.”

“What does that mean?”

Robert turned and smiled at his fellow guide. “It means, ‘heaven beyond the mountain’.”

The two were surprised to see that they had caught up considerably to the man, who seemed oblivious to fatigue, hunger, and the blistering heat of the sun. The three walked a few hours more before the man prompted them to rest for a few hours. Mathew preparred the tent while Robert began starting a little campfire and cooking the food. The man just simply sat by himself in a corner, drawing in the dirt with a stick.

Mathew whispered to Robert, “I’m not sure who’s crazier, him, or us for following him.” Robert chuckled at Mathew but offered no reply. For some reason, Robert trusted the man and believed in him and his story, no matter what his head told him.

Dinner consisted of the usual- a small piece of flatbread and some beans. Robert lamented that he felt like a cowboywhile Mathew claimed he felt like a World War II soldier. The man offered no such inclination that he felt different than who he was- he always felt like “the man”.

Before the sun had even risen, the man was packed and ready to set off again into the wilderness. Mathew and Robert reluctantly trudged along behind the man,who appeared as though he could feel no pain. Robert was unsure of where the man was going, glancing down at his compass and realizing they had first been traveling north, then south, then east, and finally west. He wanted to tell the man that they were essentially going in circles, but he felt a stronger urge not to, and he let the man continue on his path. Fortunately for Robert, Mathew never noticed that they had been going in circles.

“What was the name of this place again?” Mathew asked Robert as they a pair of dead tree trunks.

“Heaven beyond the mountain.” Robert replied.

“And he has been there before?”

Robert smiled and turned to face Mathew. “Yes. It’s a long story, but I’ll try my best to retell it to you as he told to me. The man said he was born in this place, heaven beyond the mountain, and was the son of its founder, the Chief. The Chief is the most gracious and kind person that any man can and will ever meet, so he tells me. This place is like no other place on earth. There is no currency, and the law of the land is peace. There is no selfishness- people only know how to give, not take. Love can be felt everywhere, from the trees, to the rivers, to the rocks, and most importantly, through the people. Food and water are abundant and the only storms that pass are those to renurture the natural beauty around the place. It truly sounds as if it is paradise, a utopia of all utopias.”

Mathew was left quite speechless for a moment, but was able to muster enough strenght to ask, “Then why did he leave?”

A soft frown appeared on Robert’s face. “Well, from what the man told me, there was a fight.”

“A fight?”

“Yes,” Robert sighed. “I don’t think I have the strenght to talk about it for the moment. Please forgive me, won’t you?”

“No, of course! I understand. Sure sounds like a hell of a place if you know what I mean.”

“Haha, I think you mean a ‘heaven’ of a place,” Robert replied and the two shared a rare moment of pure laughter and enjoyment. At hearing the laughter between the guides, the man smiled and continued walking.

By nightfall, they had made it to a waterfall, one which neither of the guides new existed. The man said they were fast approaching the place and the water that fell from the fall was that which came from the mountain.

“What mountain is that again?” Mathew inquired as he munched on a stale piece of bread.

“The mountain that stands guard to the place, if I am correct,” Robert answered.

“Blimey, we are almost there, aren’t we! Well, better get started early in the morning, eh?” Mathew said with a wink and for the first time on the journey, show some enthusiasm. Robert smiled and followed Mathew into the tent. The man sat quitely by himself, looking towards the stars, and smiling. They were almost there....


***

The next morning was not met so pleasantly, for the rain poured upon the three travelers as they tried to make their way up the river.

“Bloody hell!” exlaimed Mathew. “My compass isn’t working. The blasted thing is broken!”

“Wow, mine too!” replied Robert. “Something is not right.” Each of the men’s compasses were continually turning counter-clockwise.

“Maybe we should turn back?” asked Mathew. He looked ahead towards where the man was. “Hey, old man with the cheetah legs, I think we should be heading back! Our compasses are broken.”

The man, for the first time on the journey, turned to face Mathew and smiled. He didn’t say yes or no, or nod his head or shake it. He simply just stood there and smiled. Mathew to a deep gulp and continued walking.

“Did you see that stare he gave me? Think he could be some sort of convict?” Mathew tugged anxiously on Robert’s sleeve awaiting his reply.

“Haha, I highly doubt that, Mathew. He was smiling.”

“Yeah, but ‘Physco’ smiles too, remember?”

“You and your worries!” Robert gave Mathew a slight nudge and they continued to make their way through the mud and rain, hoping for some sort of break from the downpour. The rain never ceased, but they did find santuary beneath a tall tree, protecting them from the unslaught of water.

The two guides rested beneath the cover of the tree, but the man did not seek such refuge. He marveled at the rain, taking in each drop from the sky that fell upon his face. The two men felt like asking him to come in, but they knew he would just refuse their offer. Mathew turned towards Robert and gave him a harsh poke on the shoulder.

“Aren’t you going to tell me the rest of that story?” he asked.

Robert sighed and reluctantly continued his story: “Alright, since you asked for it, here I go. This place was like a utopia. The man said that there was prosperity and peace throughout the region. However, he said that one of the members of the group started to allow evil thoughts to rampage his brain. His greed turned him darkness and he wanted more than what he was being given. This prompted his father to banish this man from the place and never to return. The evil-“

“What was his name?” Mathew interrurpted.

“Can you wait a moment? And no interruptions, understand?”

“Oi. Got it.”

Robert took a deep breath and continued his story. “The man told me this dark person went by the name of Lukas. Lukas returned to the utopia with a group of men who had been corrupted by his evil ways. His plan was to take the paradise for himself and rule it. A fight unsued and the good side was victorious. Even though Lukas had been defeated, he swore that he would return with an even bigger and more powerful army next time. Once he had taken the paradise, he planned on moving against the entire world. The man said that at that moment, he knew what his destiny was, and had to confront Lukas. The two met at the top of the mountain, and Lukas proceeded to beat the man with a stick. The man said he did not fight back, and simply took the hits to the cheek. Finally, Lukas had gotten too crazy in his attacks and swung so hard he knocked himself and the man over the cliff.”

Mathew stood up from his sitting position and threw his hands up in the air! “That doesn’t make any sense! How the heck could he survive falling off a mountain? Do you believe that?”

Robert shrugged his shoulders. “I guess he could have been exaggerating a bit.”

“And what happened to the other guy? Did he survive?”

Robert srugged his shoulders once more. “The man told me that Lukas had fallen through a crack in the ground deep under the surface of the earth.” At hearing this, Mathew bellowed out in laughter. He was rolling on the floor unable to control his excitement.

“And the funniest part of this story, old man, is that we’re following this man to the ends of the earth.”

“Oh shut up Mathew. I agree that some of this story seems a bit out of preportion, but the entire point is... is...”

“Is what, huh? That we’re getting nowhere fast? The man is insane!” cried out Mathew. Robert didn’t know what to say or do. Deep down in his heart, he felt as Mathew felt. The story just seemed to unbelievable to be true. How could Robert come to accept such a story? “Maybe you’re right,” Robert said under his breath, low enough so that nobody could hear. But somebody did hear- the man.


***

The sun was as bright as it had been the entire four month journey, but for some odd reason, it was not particularly hot. Robert and Mathew were once again following the man, who had slowled his pace a bit the last few hours. This slower pace was met with much relief from the two guides. However, their concern of their heading did not cease.

“My compass is still spinning like crazy. Do you think he put a spell on it?” Mathew asked Robert, who had been staring at his feet all morning.

“No, I don’t think so.” Robert replied. He had little energy today, mostly becuase of what happened last night. Robert had believed the man’s story so hard, but as Mathew pointed out, it was just too unbelievable to be true. Nothing like that could happen. Robert suddenly banged right into the back of Mathew’s head!

“What are you stopping for Mathew?” Robert asked. But once he lifted his head, he didn’t need an answer any more. Before the two guides lay a giant mountain that’s peak was so high that the clouds laid cover to its top. Mathew and Robert were so dumbfounded they hadn’t even noticed that the man had continued walking. It took the two travelers a while to finally catch up to their leader.

“Are we close?” Robert asked the man. The man did not turn to face Robert or stop walking, he just simply nodded his head and continued.

“Do you think we’ll reach there by tonight?” Mathew whispered in Robert’s ear, and much to the surprise of the two men , the man once again nodded as a sign of “yes”. The man knew that by nightfall, they would be there- they would be home.


Nightfall


***

Robert and Mathew were sore from climbing the mountain. It was tall and steep, and there was little to no pathway for them to walk on. The man looked at ease as he made his way up the mountain. He needed no equipment unlike the two guides, who relied heavily upon their gadgets.

“Don’t tell me we have to go to the top. I’ll be bloody dead by the time I get there,” Mathew complained as he continued climbing.

“The man said that the doorway is in the middle of the mountain. We don’t have much more to go. You realize how much we’ve walked today?”

“No,” replied Mathew, “but my legs do. And they’re telling me about it right now!”

“Haha, it’s almost like magic!” Robert exlaimed, with new rejuvination.

“Bleh.”

“You won’t be saying that once you see what I see....”

“What is—“ Mather never finished his sentence, for once he picked himself up on the edge, he beheld a a huge arch cut out in the heart of the mountain. The two guides looked at each other in the face and smiled.

“The gate!” They ran as fast as they could towards the arch, anxiously awaiting the grand sight that their eyes would behold. In their speed, they even passed the man, who was calmly walking and smiling at his two journeymen! Just as Robert and Mathew looked out through the arch, their smiles vanished as if by magic.

“There... there is nothing! Just more blasted jungle!” Mathew felt like crying but was able to prevent tears from coming.

“This can’t be!” Robert turned to face the man. “You said there was a paradise, but there is nothing here. You lied.”

The man shook his head as if to say “no”. He didn’t frown at this accusation, or show any emotion of anger. He simply stood there- smiling. He took Robert by the shoulder and led him to a corner. Mathew looked curiously at the man’s lips, trying to decipher what he was saying, but his efforts were futile. Robert came back to Mathew smiling, as if he were just given a gift.

“We’re wrong, Mathew, it’s there.”

“Have you gone bloody crazy too?”

“The man said that the heaven is over the mountain, and I believe him. He says that we could get there in less than a day.”

“You can believe that nonsense! I won’t. Let’s just head back. If he thinks he is here, good for him. We’ve done our duty.”

Robert placed a hand upon Mathew’s shoulder. “Mathew, I am going with him. I believe his words and I believe there is a utopia of utopias beyond that gate. I can’t see it now, but I have this feeling in my heart that it is there. I’m willing to follow him no matter where he leads me.”

Mathew could not control the tears that were coming now. His new friend was going into the jungle to his death, and he was powerless to stop him. Robert stood there, smiling.

“I know what you’re thinking. I will be alright. Trust me. Trust him.”

“You’re a bloody fool you know!” Mathew said, and gave Robert a big hug. “I want to come with you... but I can’t. I can’t.”

“I understand. One day, you’ll be ready to come, and I’ll be waiting for you, my friend.” Robert shook Mathew’s hand and turned, ready to enter the gate with the man.

“Wait,” Mathew cried out. “How will I get back?”

“Your compass will point the way, according to Immanuel. Just follow it and you will return home safely,” Robert said.

“Immanuel?”

Robert bobbed his head up and down. “Yes, that is the name he gave me- Immanuel.”

“Good luck,” Mathew said, and waved goodbye once more to his friend and made his way back down the mountain.

Robert turn to the man and smiled.

“Ready?” he asked the man.

The man nodded and the two men made their way through the gate and into the heaven beyond the mountain.....


The End
© 2014 - 2024 Pauper-Circumstance
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Chezzy-Am's avatar
Now, before proceeding like a grammar Nazi and correcting the numerous portions of this work, allow me to clarify a few small details:

for a start, I really loved this prose. I love your prose, man, and this one was also a wonderful work in itself. I liked how good the plot was overall - it had a certain "El Dorado" feel to it, which is good to be honest with you and it helps in reading works of such a sort. Its a sign of good writing when you find that the characters become a significant part of you when you're finished reading, and when you find yourself pondering on the nature of the work overall.

With that said, some corrections needed.

Just to clarify, "Oi!" is Australian, not English. English is "Aye" or "Aeya" in that order. So this:

“Oi, you! When are you going to blasted sit down and rest a while!"

Would instead be:

"Aye, you mad loon - when are y'gonna hold you horses and take a breather?!"

Also, its not "we've been following him", its "we've been tagging along".

Also, this sentence:

“I’m not sure who’s crazier, him, or us for following him.”

has punctuation and linguistic errors:

"I don' know who're the loons here: us, or him."

Robert lamented that he felt like a cowboywhile Mathew claimed he felt like a World War II soldier
Add a space between cowboy and while

Also:

“Blimey, we are almost there, aren’t we! Well, better get started early in the morning, eh?”

Its Australian, not English. If you want to make it English, turn it:

"Mary, Mother o' God, we're almost there? Well, better have an early start tomorrow."


And on a similar note:

"Hey, old man with the cheetah legs, I think we should be heading back! Our compasses are broken"

should be

"Aye, Cheetaman, we should be headin' back! These compasses are broken."


“Oi. Got it.”

instead of Oi, it should be "Aye, Rob"

“...How the heck could he survive falling off a mountain? Do you believe that?”

"How the Deus could he've made it from the fall? Are you barking mad enough to believe such nonsense?"

Robert suddenly banged right into the back of Mathew’s head!

This should be an independent line.

“Bleh.”

Instead of "bleh", write "Matthew scoffed at the remark and looked out to the sky, while stroking his legs in pain".