It Is Said (Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox) (4 page)

A good name, he thought, keeps its luster in the dark.

Beyond the hills of the valley, he could see the morning star approaching. But it was still dark enough that he could see all the stars in the heavens. This symphony of starlights and distant worlds and far off moons had always brought him peace after his nightmares.
 
But this time, something was not quite right.

There were starlights everywhere, but there was rain. There was rain, but there wasn’t a single cloud in the night sky. Each star, world, and moon was clearly visible and yet the night sky wept without cause.
 

Mathias looked down to the ground below his bedroom window, which was at the highest point of his grand home. The rain was causing a pool of water to form, and he could see the starlight above beginning to reflect off its surface. As Mathias continued to watch, the pool continued to grow and the starlights inside of it began to swirl.
 

There was a flash of bright white light and Mathias’ head began to spin. Faces. Voices. Sounds. Moments and places, all too fast to understand, engulfed his mind.

Losing his balance, he stumbled back from the window. His mind in mayhem, he reached out for his bed.
 
It seemed to be pulling farther and farther away. He grabbed the closest bedpost and fell back upon it. Darkness swallowed his consciousness.

The body of Mathias Bootmaker lay on the bed, quite still, for only a moment, and then it was gone. The impression of his body, left on the bed sheets, faded quickly as well.

The crystal goblet, with what was left of the water, dropped over the edge of the bed. The dragon seemed to fly as the goblet glided to the floor. Landing gently, it began to roll across the room and as it passed over the lip of its cradle, the cool, clear water was transformed into sparkling golden grains of sand.

3.

Sandbox Harbor

At first, there was nothing but black. Then, there was a clear rich blue. Full white clouds appeared, blown into view by a warm gentle breeze. Birds danced in the sky, silhouetted by the glowing presence of the sun. Other worlds, moons and stars faded into view. Some were very close. Others were so far away they were barely visible.

The sound of the air moving through the leaves of a tree surrounded Mathias’ mind. The picture before him began to sway. The rhythm was soothing and the undulations he now felt beneath him made him sit up.

What he thought was the mahogany bed post was actually the branch of an oak tree. He was no longer in his bed. Or his room. Or anywhere near his house. He was now perched, rather precariously, atop a very large oak tree with no clear idea of how he had gotten there. Any fear of falling was instantly eliminated by the magnificence of the view before him.

He was overlooking a town square full of life within a busy harbor community that was bustling with lively music and festivities. Houses and shops stretched out beyond this central point, but today that part of the town was mostly vacant.

As was the one and only road in or out of it.

Further away, the road entered a beautiful forest that surrounded this place. At this end, the road linked to the square and that’s where most, if not all, of the citizens were gathered.

At the center of the square was a large grand fountain. There were people everywhere around it, and yet, the crowds moved with ease and a sense of goodwill.

Colorful banners and flags hung from all manner of places. The people themselves were dressed in different types of clothing and in many cases elaborate costumes. No face appeared to be the same. No face was the same color. Children made their way around adults who in turn made way for the elders. All were celebrating.

Out of many, these people had become one.

From his tree top vantage point at the forest edge of the square, he could see down towards the sea that surrounded what appeared to be an island world.

The edge of the square that faced the ocean led to an expansive ravine. Hundreds of small, brightly colored houses were built into the walls of the canyon all the way down to the stone docks that lined the harbor.

Several winding paths of stairs, cut down and in between the dwellings at various angles. Archways over the stairs connected a labyrinth of footpaths covered with golden sand. Rails and train cars ran vertically up and down the ravine. Passengers were deposited above at the square, at the center of the ravine, or down below at the docks.

These people had become masters of movement.

The harbor itself was impressive. Mathias could see vessels of all types. Ships that were powered by sail, by engine, and by other ingenious forms of propulsion. Craft that rode above the waves and dove down below them were all anchored here. A massive, elaborate, and varied flotilla called this place home, and by the activity on those ships and on the docks, Mathias could tell that this fleet was about to set sail.

A red bi-plane suddenly buzzed by the tree. It was close enough that Mathias could see the pilot of the plane wave at him as he passed. The barnstormer pulled back hard on the stick and the quaint craft shot straight into the air. Several more powerful airplanes, all of them different in appearance, shot past. The branches of the tree swayed deeply in their wake.

Mathias took a tumble, but managed to hold on to the branch. As he reseated himself he could see ballooned craft rising into the sky. Some were simple. Others were mind bogglingly complicated.

A flash of light to his right caught his attention. Far off in the distance and floating on a cloud above the treetops was a beautiful and extraordinary castle. Three tiers made up the structure.

The first, at the base, appeared to be another village. The second was a stately fortress of some kind. The third resembled a lofty and elegantly designed mansion, with acutely peaked gables facing towards various points of the compass. Two tall towers, one higher than the other by a third rose from their midst. Those served to frame the tallest tower which at its crown had a clear crystal sculpture shaped like a flame.

There was a flash of light from within the crystal. Like a spark. Like a little bit of magic. The flashes were coming at a regular pace. The castle in the sky was, in part, an opulent lighthouse.

With each flash Mathias remembered a little something. Fears Corner. The Man in Black. The children. The hall. The house. The mouse. With each flash it felt like a little bit of his life was returning to him. He remembered how he got to the top of the oak tree. He remembered this place was called Sandbox Harbor.

Then the bough broke and Mathias fell to the ground.

The drop was slow. He watched as the top of the tree raced away from him, but the fall felt leisurely. His body never touched a branch. He just seemed to slip between them. The landing was gentle. The grass under him felt soft and plush.

Mathias barely had time to enjoy the comfort when a donkey wearing a bowler hat unexpectedly blocked his view of the tree. A pirate appeared next. On his shoulder sat a white rabbit.

“What have you found Albert?” the pirate asked with the expected slur and growl to his voice.

The donkey snorted.

“I know,” he said as he turned to look at his four legged companion, “trust me, we’ll be at the lead in no time,” he whispered. “You have to admit this is very intriguing.”

From behind its back, the rabbit produced a small notepad that appeared to be made up of green leaves. From behind his long ear he pulled a well chewed stick. He scratched out a note with the stick. Tore a leaf from the pad and handed it to the pirate.

“Is that who I think it is?” the seafarer read aloud. “I think you may be right,” he said to the hare.

The trio looked down to Mathias.

“Are you okay, brother?” he asked.

“I’m not really sure,” Mathias said without thinking. “Ask me again another day.”

The pirate laughed deeply and loudly. He crumpled up the rabbits note, thrust it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed.

“I’m a great consumer of knowledge,” he said with a wink and another laugh.

The donkey shook his head. The rabbit rolled his eyes. The pirate reached down and grasped Mathias by the arm.

“You can daydream all you want, mister,” he said as he pulled Mathias up and off the ground, “but you can’t spend all your life under a tree.”

Mathias landed again, on both his feet this time, right in front of the man he thought was a pirate, but was now someone quite different. Not a giant, but his ancestors might have been. Everything about him was just big. He towered over Mathias. He was dressed in a lush deep blue robe. He had long grey hair and a beard to match. He wore a gold laurel crown on his head.

“I am Valentino Palabro,” he said with a wide smile.

The big man was waiting for Mathias to recognize him. There was no recognition to be felt, because there was none to be had. There was none to be had, because there was nothing but confusion.

“I am Valentino Palabro,” he repeated, “the bookbinder.”

The donkey nudged the almost giant at his knee with his head.

“This is my assistant Albert,” the big man said as he pointed down to the donkey.

The rabbit, still on the man’s shoulder, scribbled another note. Tore the leaf off and dropped it down to Mathias who caught the floating message. The carved letters were very clear.

“I am Louie, the librarian,” he read aloud.

“You have lovely penmanship,” Mathias shouted up to the author.

The rabbit took the stick and put it length wise under his very prominent two front teeth and bit down as he eyed Mathias suspiciously.

This family of three belonged together. They were obviously longtime friends and comedy cohorts. They were obviously desperate for Mathias to acknowledge who they were. The uncomfortable silence between them all began to grow.

“I’m beginning to think you don’t know who we are,” Valentino said almost sadly.

Mathias looked at the big man, the donkey, and the rabbit. He had no answer for any of them. He looked at the world around him. He had no idea what was going on. Like the rabbit, Mathias thought it best to keep his own council until he could learn more.

“Unfortunately, I have no idea who any of you are,” Mathias admitted as politely as he could while he chewed and swallowed his note.

“We know who you are little brother,” Valentino said with certainty.

Mathias was about to ask how they could know him, when in the blink of an eye he was looking down at a small child with a rabbit standing by his side.

“Give me your hand, Mathias,” the diminutive Valentino asked sincerely.

The bookbinder was now wearing a cut at the waist, dark wool coat. Very clean white pants and clean proper shoes. On his head he wore a black wool cap. On his nose rested a pair of round spectacles with very dark lenses.

Mathias knelt down in front of the child.

“Who and what are you, Valentino Palabro?” Mathias asked.

“Like you, I am many things Mathias Bootmaker,” the child replied. “Now give me your hand.”

The bookbinder held his hand out waiting. Mathias reached out and put his hand on the child’s hand. Valentino put his other hand on top of them both.

“My hands see what my eyes cannot,” the boy revealed.

The darkly colored glasses he wore were not just costume. They served a purpose. This version of Valentino was without sight.

“Why don’t you know who you are?” the child suddenly asked.

Mathias quickly pulled his hand away.