A huge boa glided
through the water and slid to its place under the the boulder guarding the
river.
The
yellow dapples in its skin shone in the sun and attracted the eyes of the
children playing on the rock.
-
Pretty snake, a girl called and giggled.
- A
snake, a snake, the boys shouted together, it's a boa, a giant boa!
-
There are no boas here, an older boy sneered them, calm down and let everyone
in peace!
-
Snakes, a scream pierced the air, there are snakes everywhere!
Women
looked around themselves with wariness.
Sisa
gasped and backed away at the sight of heaps of boas slithering on the warm
sand next to the river.
The
trees around the water were filled with their colorful sinuous forms.
She
could see the reds and yellows gleaming in the sun while the snakes lowered
themselves to the ground.
- They
are back, she whispered, but what happened to Amarun?
-
Where are our husbands, a voice wailed, where are our fathers and sons? What
has happened to them? Why have you abandoned them?
A
flock of butterflies bursted in the air and only the wind and the sound of the
water answered to the anguished question.
- I
will hunt them down, a boy bolstered and threatened the boas with his spear, I
will kill them all for abandoning my father and brothers.
The
sky darkened and a strong wind lifted, the air filled with the hammering sound
of tropical rain and the sky was pierced by a sudden lightening.
-
Don't anger them, a woman's voice complained, they will call the thunder on us
and kill us all!
- But
what about my father, a little boy asked with tears in his eyes.
-
Yaya, a girl cried, father! I want my Yaya, bring me my father!
The
air around Sisa filled with sorrow while people run to their huts to protect themselves
from the storm.
She
could feel her magic hiding itself under her clothes like a little scared
lizard.
Her
thoughts were heavy and her feet even heavier while she followed her mother to
their fireside.
The
rain pounded the earth harder and harder and drooped the leaves and the tree
tops, it raised a mist from the river and it was impossible to see around.
She
peeled maniocs with her experienced hands while her mind wandered away and
filled a pot with them.
It was
time to put the plantains on the grill that was waiting over the fire.
An
armadillo waited next to her, wrapped in banana leaves.
Its
meat was still tender and tasty after waiting overnight for them to finish
eating it.
What
had really happened, she wondered.
Where
was Amarun?
Where
were all the men from the village?
Why
hadn't they returned together with the snakes?
To be continued ...
This is the twentieth part of the story.
If you want to read the first part of the story, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 1
To read the second part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 2
To read the third part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 3.
To read the fourth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 4.
To read the fifth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 5.
To read the sixth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 6
To read the seventh part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 7
To read the eight part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 8
To read the ninth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 9
To read the tenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 10
To read the eleventh part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 11
To read the twelth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 12
To read the thirteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 13
To read the fourteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 14
To read the fifteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 15
If you want to read the eighteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 18
If you want to read the nineteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 19
