A Short Fantasy Novel About Good vs Evil (in 9 parts)

The Mistycs

Episode Four: Bridge Island

The heat from the sun was intense and scorching and the mere act of alighting and mooring
the Orchid left beads of perspiration all over their brows. Dreamer looked contented as he
scanned the shore and with a mellow smile he said,

"I like this island. The heat forms the perfect bed for my train of thought."

Wiseman gave a brief nod and with a faint look of scepticism he warned,

"But beware of burning Dreamer, the sun god is also the great mischievous deceiver. He gives
us the heat that lets our minds and bodies grow but without care it can dominate and wither us."

"You are correct as ever Wiseman, " agreed Dreamer, " we must make ourselves a simple
shelter. The fallen palm trees and fronds over there look just the job for it. I believe it would be
nicer to use already fallen wood than cutting any living palm trees, yes?"

The other two smiled and nodded their agreement and Blossom said,

"How thoughtful Dreamer that you care for and love the earth so much. Mother Nature will
always keep her eye on you for your kindness."

Dreamer smiled and replied,

"For this I am thankful Blossom, the planet is and can be our only and all giving provider if only
we knew how to live on it and use its resources with care and responsibility."

"Indeed, thoughtful one," Wiseman and Blossom chorused.

Dreamer set off towards the abandoned stockpile of wood while calling back over his right
shoulder to the others,

"Shall we busy ourselves and get this shelter built then?"

Wiseman and Blossom looked at each other, nodded and joined him and with all their
combined efforts and individual skills they had soon constructed a simple and sturdy palm
wood shelter that would shield them from the elements that were bound to bombard such a
small island as this one.  The three of them sat in the welcome shade of their shelter
to regain some energy before they all agreed that they were also feeling hungry and thirsty so
Wiseman, as captain of their ship, offered to explore for some food and water for them all. As
he got up and strode off towards the more dense jungle undergrowth behind them he looked
over his right shoulder and exclaimed,

"Won't be long and I shall return with a feast fit for the divine."

Dreamer waved and Blossom looked on as they stayed behind to look after the shelter, gather
fuel and prepare a fire pit to ward off the cooler night air that would blow in later. As he was
gathering small twigs and dry rushes for kindling, Dreamer paused for a moment and gazed out
at their boat which bobbed and swayed on its moorings in the shallows,

"You know Blossom, the more I look at her, the more I realise what a magnificent yet modest
vessel the Orchid is."

"Of course she is, she is ours now. Given to us by the mist. For if the mist gives, it gives
everything it can, but if it has to take, it takes all in its vengeance."

Dreamer frowned and replied,

"Ominous words, Blossom. No compromise you mean? Black or white?"

"Oh no Dreamer! In fact, quite the opposite. The mist is a very accommodating entity that is just
very defined in everything it does. No doubt, no fear, just change."

Dreamer sighed at this,

"If only humanity could share that lesson with each other, what a wonderful place the world
could be."

Blossom nodded agreement,

"Yes, it would be nice and I think that is what the mist tries to teach us. To learn how to live with
each other in peace and how to adapt to change to get the best from our lives and live them to
the maximum of pleasure. So many lives are often wasted on pointless human activities that
lack any real sense of fulfilment or purpose."

"I know Blossom, just look around now at the beauty of this new island. There is so much for
our eyes to see and yet many humans continue to live in perpetual darkness."

"There are many shades of darkness though Dreamer."

Dreamer thought on this for a moment and replied,

"Hmmm....yes. Some see many more shades than others. Like Wiseman for instance. Ever
useful and dependable. I wonder how he is getting on finding our evening meal?"

"He'll be back soon," said Blossom and together they sat and watched the red sun begin to set
accompanied by the enchanting sound of the gentle waves lapping onto the shore which
soothed and comforted them. As they were both about to nod off a familiar tanned and sinewy
figure appeared from the jungle undergrowth carrying a rather enticing looking bundle
underneath each of his arms. Dreamer stood up and jogged towards him calling out,

"Hail the brave hunter gatherer! We had begun to think you were lost out there in the jungle!"

"I know, sorry I took so long, but I got caught up looking around the most idyllic jungle clearing
that you could ever imagine."

Dreamer chuckled at this and said,

"The bounds of our imagination are quite vast, as you know Wiseman."

Blossom nodded in agreement as she joined him as Wiseman smiled and replied,

"But when I show you this place, you will see what I mean."

"And you shall," said Dreamer, "but what have you brought us here? Let us replenish
ourselves first before we see this marvellous place you have found."

"I have brought a divine array of tasty morsels and I filled my old canteen with water for us to
share," proclaimed Wiseman as he unfurled his arms and placed his gatherings on the sand
near to the fire pit that Blossom and Dreamer had just made. There were bundles of bananas,
a couple of yams, kiwi fruits, apples, sweet potatoes, grapes, coconuts and a large pineapple.

"Let the feast begin," announced Wiseman as he spread his arms out over the food like a king
returning from a victory in the field.

The three companions ate until they felt so heavy that their bodies felt like lead. All that
remained were a bunch of grapes, a couple of apples and the top off the pineapple and with
the fire now lit and giving off its warmth and comfort, they all laid around it on the sand, relaxed
after their glorious feast. Looking up at the early night sky, Wiseman turned his face to Blossom
and said,

"I also found and brought one of your sisters too. She lay abandoned on the jungle path that I
was traversing.”

With a look of bewilderment Blossom asked,

"What do you mean?"

Wiseman reached into his left hand pocket and then held out his closed fist towards Blossom's
upturned palm. As his fist slowly uncurled, a small, single red rose dropped out of it into her
hand.

"Being a meadow child, I thought you might like to have her back under your wing, dear one."

Blossom stared at Wiseman's gift in thanks and wonder and then said,

"How awesome you really are Wiseman, she is such a beautiful deep red. I will care for her as
she joins us on our journey."

"Her?" asked Dreamer in mock amusement," can a flower have a gender?"

No one said anything at this, but Blossom held the rose up to her right ear and it appeared to
sway in the breeze, or was it more like an inconspicuous nod? Blossom kissed the petals of the
rose and whispered to her friends,

"This flower child has just told me that her name is Jungle Rose. She wants to be my sister of
fortune and says she wants to come with us to bring us all luck."

Dreamer observed this in astonishment and said to Wiseman,

"Well, your art of finding the unusual never ceases to amaze me dude. "

There was no reply and as Dreamer looked down to where Wiseman was laid he saw that he
was fast asleep, his gentle snoring reaching out into the cool night sky. Blossom looked at
Dreamer as her eyelids started to droop with fatigue and soon both of them were also in a
deep and peaceful slumber as the deep orange of the embers in the dying fire pit reflected off
the shadows that flitted across their serene faces.

***********

Wiseman was the first to greet the new day and he was sat in the early morning sunlight
thinking, allowing the simple freshness of the sea breeze to soothe and cleanse his mind with
its gentle caresses.

Blossom and Dreamer were still yet to waken, but as soon as they did so, Wiseman was
urging them to follow him to the idyllic clearing that he had told them about the night before
because he was eager to share with them the delights of his discovery.

After they had all come round and shaken off the last cobwebs of a good night’s sleep, they
made their way further into the mass of dense and tangled jungle creepers which made the
walk to the clearing seem to last forever. The jungle had the unnerving effect of looking similar
from almost every angle. Dreamer surveyed his surroundings with care and he observed that
the jungle shadows seemed to hover close above and around him, deep in a patient and
ominous scrutiny of them all. Wiseman acknowledged Dreamer's thoughts in an almost
telepathic manner and said,

"Yes Dreamer, the jungle shadows are the eternal watchtowers of the mist on this isle."

"They're making me feel a little paranoid, I know that."

"Don't worry mate, we're almost there now." assured Wiseman to his nervous friend.

One moment they were struggling through a tangled mass of vines and creepers and then
without warning the jungle opened out into a clearing and as Blossom and Dreamer stared in
wonder at it, it soon became apparent to them that Wiseman's description had been
something of an understatement.  The central splendid feature of this idyllic place was a small
and clear stream that cascaded like tinkling silver coins over a beautiful and multi-coloured
natural array of lichen covered rocks that had clumps of striking flowers tucked away into the
crevices between them. The stream burbled its way over these lovely rock features into a
small rock pool, at the edge of which were three boulders that looked like the most perfect of
natural seats.

Blossom was first to the edge of the pool like an overexcited child and she was delighted by
what she saw darting about under the sparkling crystal surface.

"Oh," she cried, holding her hands to her rosy cheeks in amazement, "aren't they just the most
beautiful creatures?"

"What are fair one?" queried Wiseman as he moved over to join her.

"There are more minnows in here!"

Dreamer looked as he idled up alongside them and he was also awestruck at the beauty
before him in the delightful little pool.

"Yes, what a truly beautiful sight, aren't they Wiseman?"

"Hmm?" came the absent sounding reply from Wiseman who was scrutinising a small, deep

green plant that was growing in abundance in some nearby shade. Dreamer and Blossom
saw that he sniffed it once or twice and stroked its slender, soft leaves.

"What have you found then?" asked Dreamer as he moved nearer to Wiseman.

Wiseman looked round in sudden surprise,

"Pardon? What was that man?"

"What have you found dude?"

Wiseman now returned back to reality and explained,

"Well, unless I am mistaken, this small green plant here is a very ancient and rare medicinal
herb that has been used over the centuries by the mountain clerics of the world to heal
people's ills and cleanse their minds and souls."

Dreamer looked more interested now and asked,

"Oh? Does it have a name?"

"Yes of course. It is known as 'mind suckle', the herb of higher linking. A bridge between
human soul and human body."

"Hmm..." mumbled Dreamer as he reached out and plucked one of the slender, sweet
smelling leaves from the plant's stem. He sniffed it and was just about to place it in his mouth
when Wiseman stopped him,

"No Dreamer. It has next to no effect when eaten. It is more potent rolled and smoked in a
dried tobacco leaf which often tend to grow nearby."

Dreamer looked back at Wiseman with incredulity and humour,

"How come you are such an expert on it then dude?"

"Oh, I used to farm it a couple of years back on a plot that I managed for a far away
nobleman."

"Is it any good? May I try some?"

"Of course my friend, it belongs to no one, it is one of many of Mother Nature's natural
remedies. It may help to clear your troubled and worried mind, but use it with care as in
excess it has been known to produce strange visions in some who partake of it."

"I will accept that risk if it eases my lost soul a little."

"Very well, I shall make us two rolls then, unless Blossom would like some?"

"No thanks guys, I am pure of soul and require no cleansing, but thanks anyway."

Wiseman found a nearby tobacco plant and proceeded to squat down and prepare two cigar
shaped rolls of tobacco leaf with bits of mind suckle leaf wrapped inside them. He passed one
to Dreamer and said to him,

"Here, together we shall share the cleansing power of mind suckle."

With his roll drooping from his pursed lips, he asked Blossom,

"Fair one? Please could you use your nimble fingers and pure thoughts to create for us a
small flame so that we can light our rolls?"

Blossom nodded her acquiescence and placing her cupped palms together she sat with her
legs crossed and her eyes closed and began to chant under her breath for a few seconds until
without warning a tiny blue flame appeared floating above her hands. Blossom cupped it with
care and used it to light some dry kindling and create a small fire so that Dreamer and
Wiseman could reach forward and light their rolls.

Inhaling deep and gentle breaths they noticed that the burning mind suckle leaves had a
sweet and pungent aroma that teased their nostrils and as they took a couple more drags of
the sweet smoke they began to relax and recline in a star struck manner, gazing at the sun's
rays that beamed down through the jungle canopy to warm them.

"I feel cleansed but a little dizzy," said Dreamer.

Wiseman just nodded in silent confirmation and they just sat for a while, listening to the
chattering jungle and watching Blossom tickling the minnows in the delightful rock pool.

"She loves pools, doesn't she?" said Wiseman in an abstract moment of wonder.

"Who?" asked Dreamer in a confused manner.

"Blossom."

"What? Bottom? My ears feel funny now."

"Ah," said Wiseman in understanding, "that is a sign that you are near higher linking, crossing
that sturdy bridge that links your logical mind and your imaginative senses."

Dreamer took another sweet inhalation and breathed out again,

"Yes Wiseman, I feel it. Why have I not felt it before without this strange herb?"

"Probably because normal human life is often so rushed and confused that it offers no time to
discover and try alternative paths. Mind suckle, as far as I know, is the best known cure for
many mental and physical diseases in our world that so many people just believe that they
have to endure and live with."

"Diseases Wiseman?"

"Yes diseases, Dreamer. Blindness and pain for many victims. Some even die lonely, horrible
deaths."

"My eyes feel weird now."

"Weird funny ha-ha yeah?" asked Wiseman with a glare of devilment in his eyes and a manic
grin on his face that made Dreamer chuckle and splutter and then they both began laughing
together at some sort of crazy joke for which they seemed to be the only ones who knew the
punchline. Dreamer even started to sing a little tuneless melody that went like this,

"I found a soul cure on the beautiful island called...." the song drifted into the air and Dreamer
asked,

"What is it called anyway?"

"IS it?" asked Wiseman in utter misunderstanding of the question.

"Yeah man, this island, what is it called?"

Wiseman swayed then smiled and stood up and in the proud albeit unsteady stance of a great
actor he announced to no one in particular,

"This beautiful island that discovered us and opened our dreams and aspirations will now be
known to the world as Bridge Island, where we recovered our true senses and ate our fill in a
charming paradise!"

He then gave a heavy sigh and collapsed like a rag doll on top of Dreamer and they both
proceeded to roll around together in another fit of gleeful hysterics.

Blossom, still content with her noble purity looked on this from the side of the pool and
murmured under her breath,

"Another excellent name Wiseman my dear."

As their hysterical peals of laughter chimed across the clearing, a familiar flower in between
the rocks caught Dreamer's attention. He stopped laughing and called out,

"What an outstanding orchid! A bright bastion of colour and beauty!"

Wiseman stopped his laughter and also looked as he sighed,

"Ah, yes, and in the most delicate of yellows too."

Dreamer just continued to stare at the flower until it's pretty head started a strange sort of
metamorphosis into the small visage of a very beautiful, silken haired woman that he
recognised in an instant.

"BELLE!!" he cried out and leapt towards what he thought was his lost love in a desperate dive
to reach her at last, and banged his head on a rock in the process. This left him dazed and his
mind suckle trance broken so that he now saw only the orchid head again leaving him with
nothing more than a sobering and frustrating realisation as well as a deep cut on his forehead.
Dreamer became despondent yet again and he cried out in exasperation.

"I am truly getting nowhere on this interminable journey. A tormenting quest that will never
end."

A solitary, sad tear now trickled down his left cheek and he retorted in frustration as he looked
up at the jungle canopy,

"You take us here, you whisk us there, but still I am no nearer to finding Belle! You tease us
mist and have absolutely no idea as to how fragmented my soul really is. ACCURSED
THING!!!"

No sooner had those two fateful words escaped him than Dreamer wanted to reach out into
the jungle and grab them out of the air again and put them back into his silly and over anxious
mouth, but of course that was impossible. The ill chosen words remained in the air like
predatory vultures waiting for their supper as Dreamer stared on in a dumbstruck and almost
catatonic silence. Wiseman and Blossom drew themselves closer together, worry now etched
into faces that only moments ago had been so full of joy.

The dark jungle shadows moved over them and the creepers rustled into life as the mist
swirled in from the sun and as it drew closer to them they saw that it was no longer its familiar
light and welcoming grey, but now was thicker and darker with a more malevolent air than the
three companions had ever seen it before.  A dark shroud of foreboding.

The mist was now more of a dense black fog and as their small fire was extinguished by its
presence, our noble band of wanderers were enveloped by it once more.......

© Nathan Sandiford 2018, UK - writer