AВ man came forth from amongst the group ofВ people and headed toward the brave travelers. The stranger was tall, lean, and oddly dressed.
В«Who are you?В» the man shouted, scowling.
В«We come inВ peace,В» Noumat shouted back with his ringing voice. В«Our names are Etan and Noumat. We went off on this journey byВ order ofВ Pharaon, the head ofВ our settlement. We are here toВ learn. We will be your apprentices.В»
The tall man eyed them with suspicion but he believed that Noumat had told the truth. After some thought, he said: В«Follow me. IВ will introduce you toВ the chief ofВ our brotherhood. My name is Verum.В»
Etan and Noumat followed Verum straight away.
«Come over here. I know who you are,» a man, standing in front of the others, said rather huskily. Neither Noumat nor Etan had ever seen such an old man. «Yes, I remember your manly faces very well. I’ve seen you in my dream. My name is Laurus. They also call me Dream Seer. We’ve come from faraway lands, rich with lush meadows and thick forests, the lands that are nothing like this barren ground, in order to meet you. Pharaon’s desire (yes, I know who he is) was so strong that I could see him and so I set on a journey towards you together with my faithful friends and companions.»
Etan and Noumat’s amazement gradually turned into fear of the unknown power. They were in awe of the astounding knowledge of the old man. But they didn’t undertake such a long journey just to yield upon meeting the unknown they were looking for. Moreover, the young men did not want to let down the people of their settlement, who needed help and support from the outside.
«There is no need for you to beware anything or anyone here,» Laurus said. «We’ve brought two spare camels with us. For you. So let us not waste any time and set forward, to the lands that will captivate you. You will be given special knowledge and your people will be able to multiply and replenish.»
Etan and Noumat had never seen camels before since their lives were so poor and meager. The friends ofВ Laurus helped them get on the bizarre beasts and walked byВ their side, making them safe from aВ fall.
«You know why I love the desert?» Laurus spoke again, sitting on the back of a leisurely walking camel. «You are alone with your thoughts here. There’s nothing to distract you from yourself, your inner voice. I like meditating here. But first things first.»
The desert was indeed lovely, especially now, embraced byВ the late sunlight. The sandhills imitated the wild waves ofВ aВ vast ocean as if they had frozen motionless only toВ offer the travelers aВ chance toВ get an eyeful ofВ their magnificence. It was easy toВ lose the way inВ the endless desert, as their tracks were immediately covered with wind-blown sand. But the travelers moved with confidence, easily navigating the peculiar waters.
It got absolutely dark. The sky dressed up in its best apparel, sprinkling stars, shiny like diamonds, over travelers’ heads. They rode in silence and only the quiet conversation between the wind and sand could be heard.
В«IВ wonder,В» Noumat thought, В«what do the sand and wind know? What are they talking about?В»
He remembered what his father had told him when he had been aВ child: В«You can confide your secrets inВ the sand and wind, they will never betray you. If you wish for something, ask them for it and they will help you get it. Before aВ man was born into this world, the sands and wind had already been inseparable. They know the secret ofВ eternal life and undying love.В»
Lost inВ his thoughts, Noumat was swayed byВ the powers ofВ the dream world and sank into aВ deep sleep. Etan fell asleep too. The camels kept walking, leisurely carrying their heavy bodies.
But Laurus’s people didn’t have time for rest. Laurus raised his hand, barely visible in the darkness, and then all the travelers stopped and dismounted. Only Noumat and Etan were still sleeping right on the backs of their camels. It didn’t seem to bother anyone.
Laurus and his companions sat on the sand, forming aВ wide circle, reached for the sky, and closed their eyes. The night was far advanced. Suddenly, Laurus began whispering quietly. If you listened closely, you could make out words ofВ gratitude.
«Almighty World around us and within us,» Laurus said in a low voice, «we thank you for the travelers you have sent us in response to our prayers. We took the Great Path and we won’t wander from it. We can feel your support.»
The rest ofВ the words got lost inВ the murmur ofВ wind that was carrying the sand from one hill toВ another. But one thing was clear: As Laurus uttered those words, he looked happy and pleased, and his companions did too. For aВ little while, they kept nodding their heads rhythmically, then opened their eyes, stood up, and continued on their journey.
The next morning, when Etan and Noumat woke up from their deep sleep, they thought their eyes were deceiving them. The sands were gone. The mountains around them were buried inВ verdure. The air was thick with the chatter ofВ birds and the soft rustle ofВ waterfalls.
«What a fertile land!» Etan said in bewilderment as he dismounted his camel. Noumat stood agape, trying to get a good view of the surroundings, and couldn’t say a word.
There was aВ clap ofВ thunder and it suddenly began raining hard. All the travelers hid under the crown ofВ an enormous tree: Only rare drops ofВ the rain could get there.
«My dear companions and new friends,» Laurus said in a calm voice. «Let’s sit down. Many of you are marveling at the metamorphosis of the surroundings. You keep asking yourselves about the sources of these phenomena.»
His wrinkled face betrayed aВ good-natured man: The deepest lines had toВ be caused byВ laughter. His stately body was wrapped inВ something like aВ dark, shabby long-sleeved robe. Silver curls framed his face with bright green eyes; surprisingly good teeth and full lips were hidden behind his mustache and beard. You could say that Laurus was handsome, confident, and composed. Everything around him seemed toВ give him real pleasure.
There was aВ nice chill and freshness inВ the air. Ants were running around tirelessly, engaged inВ some very important and urgent work. The whole world around them was moving, full ofВ joy. The whole world welcomed the rain.
В«Close your eyes. Take aВ deep breath,В» Laurus said with deliberation. В«Listen toВ nature.В»
Etan could not stop looking at the beautiful, abundant landscape. He did not want to miss the rave of colors around him. However, he paid attention to Laurus’s advice and concentrated his mind on his breath. He felt in harmony. He was merging with nature. It was amazing.
Noumat could not concentrate. A swarm of midges was flying around his face and he couldn’t get comfortable on the hard ground, no matter how hard he tried.
Laurus kept on with his speech: «Everything in the world is connected: The sky, earth, stars, you, and me. Everything is just a thought at the beginning. But this thought is persistent, familiar, a thought of conviction, a thought of truth, your truth. Everything we see around us is this thought, already «ripe’, «begotten’. Poor thoughts build a poor world, thoughts about plenteousness build a world of plenty. But nothing in the world is unwanted. Nothing is wrong. All its parts complement each other. One thought leads to another. We feel each and every thought deep in our bones; each thought is the energy we feel within us. But you already know that. A thought of the terrifying will make your breath quicken, your palms sweat, or it may even turn your hair gray. A long-lasting thought of the horrible will cause ghastly diseases, set the wheels of destruction in motion. And by contrast, a happy thought will bring out the most pleasant emotions, a state of euphoria. Long-lasting happy thoughts will heal your bodies, attract happy events.
Everything around you and you, yourselves, are the ripe thoughts, fit for consumption right here and now, just like aВ fruit fallen from aВ tree. The good news is that nothing is static; things change.
Our friends came from the lands where soils are not as fertile as here. But if they choose to turn things around, it can be done. Now open your eyes. It’s time for us to go to the cave for the meeting we all longed for.»
No one wanted Laurus to stop. His speech was soothing, mesmerizing like the sounds of a wondrous instrument. The listeners’ bodies seemed to become as light as feathers, and they felt as if they were soaring.
Everything Laurus had said was bizarre for Pharaon’s friends but the old man seemed to know what he was talking about. Etan and Noumat decided to put themselves in his hands and followed him into the cave. They were growing more and more curious.
They saw an amazing sight. The rain had already stopped. The sun was shining bright, clouds were floating inВ the sky, constantly altering their peculiar shapes, reminding ofВ aВ playfulВ cat.
Laurus’s companions, Noumat, and Etan slowly headed towards the highest mountain. They passed by luxuriant growths of vegetation; the soil under their feet was alive with millions of living things running around and bustling, stirred by human footsteps. Finally, they reached a clearing and the mountain appeared before them in all its grandeur.
В«My dear friends,В» Laurus addressed the travelers, В«follow me and have no fear.В»
There is no way toВ describe the beauty ofВ that mountain. Blanketed with broad-leaved trees, it looked soft and cuddly despite its monumental size. As the travelers came closer, they saw aВ small opening at its foot.
Laurus entered the cave first, followed byВ the rest ofВ the travelers. He took something out ofВ his pocket and the mysterious object lit up the dark cave.
The travelers went further down and, still not too far from the entrance, found themselves inВ aВ spacious cave. The walls were covered with inscriptions but no one could read them. Laurus placed the shining object into the center ofВ the cave and sat down on the floor. The others sat downВ too.
Then, something unimaginable happened. Laurus closed his eyes, whispering quietly. His head was moving oddly and then froze. As he woke out ofВ trance, he gave the travelers aВ strange look. Something changed inВ it.
«What is shining over there?» Noumat whispered into Etan’s ear.
В«IВ have no idea,В» Etan said, equally baffled.
В«This is aВ stone that accumulates sunlight and then glows inВ the dark,В» Verum, who was sitting next toВ Noumat and Etan, said calmly and quietly.
В«My word!В» Etan and Noumat said inВ unison, trying not toВ make too much noise.
«I’ll tell you what. I didn’t even think that learning can be so exciting and enjoyable!» Etan said.
В«IВ know, right? And this is just the beginning!В» Noumat said eagerly.
В«IВ am glad toВ be here with you,В» Laurus said inВ aВ strange voice. В«It is good toВ see you. IВ welcome Etan and Noumat who came from far away. IВ know why you are here. Your land can be fertile too. You will manage toВ go far since Pharaon possesses the great power which he will discover soon.
He is the chosen one. Take these seeds and young plants and put them into your sands. Have faith, there will be aВ heavy crop.В»
The faces ofВ all the people sitting around Laurus expressed astonishment. His voice died down and there was silence. No one who was there had ever witnessed anything like that.
They left the cave and followed Laurus again. The old man was walking alone, at some distance from the others. When Etan and Noumat approached him, he said: «A long time ago I dreamt that two men would come and learn something in the cave. Something that would be precious for them and all humanity,» the eyes of the old man twinkled mysteriously. «And now let’s get to the nearby village, have a meal, and ask for seeds and young plants.»
В«Tell us, Laurus,В» Noumat said as they were walking towards the village, В«who was it, talking through you?В»
В«It is hard toВ say,В» Laurus said broodingly. В«It has never happened toВ me before. But those were not my thoughts. IВ marveled at the words IВ was saying. But one thing is certain: IВ felt really good as if happiness spilled into my body. IВ felt like IВ was flying. That thing, it was not evil. It is good, peaceful, and even loving energy. It wants the best forВ us.В»
В«Laurus,В» Etan said. В«Where do you live? Do you have aВ family?В»
В«IВ have children but IВ am mostly wandering the world. My friends follow me everywhere, they have been aВ second family toВ me. We give knowledge toВ those who seek it. InВ that, we find joy and purpose ofВ the earthly life.В»
В«Where do you get this knowledge from?В» Etan asked. В«It was so interesting and unusual what you said about our thoughts. IВ sometimes ponder over it myself: What do IВ have so many thoughts for? What good are they doing toВ me? Where do they come from and where do they run? Or are they stored somewhere, motionless? But it turned out, our thoughts are what gives birth toВ the things around us. How marvelous!В»
В«IВ get my ideas from my dreams,В» Laurus replied. В«Or, when meditating.В»
В«Laurus, what do you think aВ dream is?В» Noumat asked.
«A dream is a reality of another world, another dimension,» Laurus replied, without a moment’s hesitation.
В«IВ am not sure IВ understand,В» Noumat muttered.
В«Then you will, later,В» Laurus gave him an encouraging smile and patted his shoulder.
«After we get everything we need for the crop,» Noumat turned the conversation to the matter he understood better, «we will have to go back as soon as possible. I think our people are waiting for us. Laurus, can we take some of your men to help us in Pharaon’s settlement and maybe stay and live with us? Our people are kind, they will give your men a warm welcome. Our home will be their home too.»
«We will all go to the settlement with you and spend some time there,» Laurus said. «Relying on today’s revelation in the cave, there will be great changes. Those who want to stay and live with you will stay.»
«Laurus is quite hopeful, that’s for sure,» Noumat said to Etan quietly. «I doubt anyone would want to stay and live in a desert after they’ve seen such an abundant land.»
В«Yes, the chances are slim,В» Etan said.
Deep inВ conversation, they came toВ the village. They asked the first people they saw for what they needed and it was not long before they received aВ generous gift. Two pretty young women helped put woven sacks on the backs ofВ Etan and Noumat. The sacks were not large and did not prevent them from walking properly.
В«What are your names?В» Noumat asked the women.
В«IВ am Ichel,В» the one Noumat took aВ liking toВ said.
«And I’m Dune,» the one who charmed Etan said humbly.
В«Would you come with us toВ our settlement? It will become your home, and Etan and IВ will become your family. We will take care ofВ you, love you, and protect you.В»
The young women happily accepted the proposal. They had been longing for aВ family for aВ long time and they liked Etan and Noumat who were well-built and kind.
Laurus kept smiling while watching them. He remembered how he had first met the mother ofВ his children.
They had been both just as young and happy, eager toВ see life inВ all its shapes and sizes.
В«Laurus,В» Noumat broke the thread ofВ his happy thoughts. В«Laurus, we are ready toВ head back toВ our native land.В»
В«Right,В» Laurus said quickly. В«IВ will tell my companions.В»
About twenty people agreed to come, those who were most excited about Laurus’s thoughts on the world order. They felt that his words were true. Laurus never imposed his ideas on them. Listeners came to him willingly, aching to look at the world from a completely different perspective. Laurus used to say that where is a ready learner, there is a teacher. All the people of like minds were looking for the answers to their questions. It was them who would find Laurus rather than the other way round. Some of the listeners accompanied him on his journeys to learn as much as possible about this new peculiar vision Laurus shared with them.
Before leaving, Ichel and Dune wined and dined the travelers, serving the best local dishes. The travelers were absolutely happy.
And so, Noumat, Etan, Ichel, Dune, Laurus, and his followers started their journey back to the desert where Pharaon’s settlement lay. They were all riding camels since there was a long way ahead of them. However, the travelers were elated. Some of them were going home, others were euphoric at the thought of starting a family of their own, while others were in anticipation of wondrous events.
The camels walked slowly, swaying remarkably. Every now and then, someone would get sick from this swaying. This forced them toВ take breaks from riding and walk on foot byВ the camels inВ order toВ clear their heads at least aВ little.
Etan and Noumat were riding side byВ side.
«You know,» Noumat said, squinting in the sun, «I am so glad it shaped so well. We fulfilled the mission Pharaon had entrusted us with: We are bringing him new knowledge, new people, and you and I even managed to find the loves of our lives. It’s marvelous!»
«Yes, it is,» Etan agreed. «We were incredibly lucky to meet Dream Seer. Remember he said he had been waiting for us? I can’t imagine how it is even possible. Every minute spent with him seems to be filled with light. It feels so good just being around him. Now I see clearly why there are people who willingly leave their settled lifestyles behind in exchange for constant wanderings. They get the chance to feel his incredible energy and listen to his wise words.»
There was aВ buzz ofВ conversation around the group ofВ travelers. The companions did not mind talking toВ each other as well, breaking the monotony ofВ the journey. Some were talking about the beauty ofВ the surrounding landscapes, others were sharing their plans for the future, still others were fantasizing about sharing the knowledge they had been given byВ Laurus with other people so that they better understood the world around them.
All the companions came from different places, were completely different from each other inВ their looks but they all shared one common feature. They looked at the world around them with their eyes wide open. They were learners, future teachers, and inspirators.
Meanwhile, the lush green lands were left behind, and the travelers were passing through the barren sands, blindingly familiar and dear toВ the hearts ofВ Etan and Noumat.
В«My dear friends,В» Laurus said toВ the travelers. В«Let us halt for aВ while and meditate.В»
They all dismounted, sat down on the ground inВ aВ big circle, raised their hands, palms facing the sky, closed their eyes, and focused not toВ miss aВ single word Dream Seer was saying.
В«My dear friends,В» Laurus repeated. В«Listen toВ your breath and try not toВ think about anything else. Get yourselves inВ the calm frame ofВ mind. Then, if any idea comes toВ you from the world ofВ thoughts, remember it, for it is precious.В»
