Journey to Rainbow Island (33 page)

Yu-ning entered the village and was greeted at the local inn by a kind woman with soft eyes. She glowed with the light of love, and Yu-ning was heartened to be out of the darkness of the ghost ship, in a place where people were kind and friendly. The innkeeper told her that she did, indeed, know of the legend of Joshua, who the village elders believed lived near the top of the island's tallest peak, called Snowy Mountain.

“This is the mining town of Caer-a-mor, young lady. Our livelihood depends on that mountain that towers over our village. We mine basalt, magnesium, and potassium from the mountain.” The innkeeper explained that there were daily expeditions up the mountain—treasure hunters seeking their fortune, chasing stories of hidden caves with gold pieces the size of a fist. “You can normally find treasure seekers at the trailhead early in the morning. You could hike to the top with such a group, I would think. But don't get your hopes up, little one. No one really ever finds anything.”

She recalled Anne, the girl from the factory on Darqendia, telling her about the village. Yu-ning asked the innkeeper if she remembered the sisters, Anne and Ariadne. “Oh yes, the sweet dears,” said the woman. “So sad about their parents, killed in a mining accident. I believe the girls are at school now, on Malinga Island.”

Yu-ning was too tired to explain what had actually happened to the girls, so she said, “They are both fine—they live on Rainbow Island now, and attend a different school.” The innkeeper was glad to hear news of the orphaned sisters. She showed Yu-ning to her room, where the weary traveler was happy to have a hot bath, a tasty meal, and a full night's sleep
in a comfortable bed. She awoke before the sun, refreshed and ready to face Snowy Mountain.

After a simple breakfast, Yu-ning prepared to leave. As she stepped outside, the innkeeper stopped her. “You don't want to climb the mountain unprepared,” the innkeeper said, handing Yu-ning a pair of hand-woven gloves and a thick scarf. Yu-ning thanked her and headed out.

She easily found the wide trail behind the inn, which led steadily upward toward the foot of the mountain. During the night it snowed, and a pure white blanket dusted the entire valley. The peak of Snowy Mountain was impressive—it rose majestically above the beach and village, its lower slopes covered in pine, with vast amounts of snow covering the treeless upper peaks. The summit was reflecting the light of the early morning sun, taking on a pinkish hue. It was a breathtaking vision. Yu-ning was amazed as she gazed at the beautiful peaks and valleys leading up to the crest, framed in pure white snow.

It was a brisk morning, and the air was frosty, but she was dressed for it, thanks to Metatron and the jacket he gave to her, as well as her new gloves and scarf. She walked for almost a mile toward the base of the mountain, her leather boots insulating her feet from the cold snow. Yu-ning paused every now and then to rest and look up at the sky. It was a blissful and quiet journey, and before she knew it, she was at the base of the mountain.

At the very foot of the peak was the trailhead, but before she could see it, she heard the voices of a crowd of people. They were not peaceful sounds, and Yu-ning could sense discord. Rounding a bend in the trail, she saw a small group of
adults and children standing at the trail's entrance. All the adults seemed to be speaking at once; no one was listening to the other.

Three adults were gathered together looking at a large map laid out on a rough wooden table next to the trailhead sign. Two were standing to the side, shivering and looking miserable; the remaining adults were gathered at a distance, chatting secretively. Yu-ning noticed that when they weren't distracted by their parents' unseemly behavior, the three children had moments when they were overcome by the landscape. They looked up at the tall snow-covered mountain with smiles of innocence and awe. When they refocused their attention on their parents, their faces fell again, and they became solemn. This made Yu-ning's heart sink; she knew she needed to offer help. She walked toward them with a purposeful stride.

The crowd turned toward her and stared with cool suspicion as she approached. “Hi, everyone, why are you all standing here?” she asked, trying to inject an air of friendliness into the crowd. She smiled broadly. The people looking at the map turned back to their survey, annoyed by the interruption.

A man narrowed his focus on her, wondering if she could help them, and broke the silence. “We are studying the mountain. This is the highest mountain on the island, and within it are labyrinths and veins of gold. We are studying the maps so we can decide upon the best route.”

The man next to him elbowed him in the ribs as if he had divulged too much information. He and his wife stared at Yu-ning. The woman said, “Do you come from here? Do you know this place?”

Her husband continued, “We are on an expedition, and we hear that there are treasures inside this mysterious mountain.”

“Treasures?” Yu-ning asked inquisitively. The adults stayed silent and continued huddling around the map; they looked guarded and tightened their circle. “I don't think there are treasures in this beautiful mountain,” Yu-ning remarked. “Not from what I've been told,” she added.

One of the children, a boy around nine years old, whispered to Yu-ning, “I heard them say that this mountain has hidden caves full of gold. They want to find the gold, but they don't know if the information is accurate.”

“Oh, I see. Well, look at this magnificent mountain—I believe there are treasures waiting for us. What's your name?” Yu-ning asked sweetly.

“James,” the boy replied, smiling. Yu-ning held out her hand and James took it.

“Well, James, the only way to find out is to climb up the mountain. I'm sure it holds treasures of a different kind, don't you? Look how magical it is. And what are your names?” asked Yu-ning, gazing at two little girls who looked to be about seven years old.

“My name is Marisol, and this is my sister, Solimar. We are twins. But my sister is deaf, so if you want to talk with her, you need to speak where she can see your face—she reads lips!”

“Oh, but I know some sign language, Marisol. We learned it at my school!” With that, Yu-ning signed to Solimar that she was happy to meet her. Solimar's face lit up when she realized Yu-ning understood sign language, and she started gesturing very rapidly back to Yu-ning.

Yu-ning began to laugh, and said, “Whoa, you are going really fast! I can't follow you. Sorry—I wish my signing was better!”

Solimar started to laugh too and said, “That's all right. I can just read your lips, and talk to you that way.” Yu-ning was amazed at how clearly Solimar could speak. She was already feeling a warm kinship with James and the twins.

Yu-ning tried to gather all the adults together and said, “We can go find the treasures together. We can climb this beautiful mountain. I am trying to find a man named Joshua—some say he lives at the top.”

A man replied, “She is right, we should start our climb. We've come all this way to make this expedition. Moreover, we've been standing here for hours. I'm not going home empty-handed.”

“Yes,” another man agreed. “Either we do it now or we turn around.”

“Well, we don't even know if there are gem deposits; it may just be a legend,” said James's mother. This theory elicited a withering look from another woman in the group.

“Come on, Mom, look at how beautiful it is, just like this girl said,” James said, turning toward Yu-ning. “What's your name?”

“Yu-ning,” she said cheerfully.

“Just like Yu-ning said. Let's climb it; let's do it!”

Yu-ning removed her pink crystal heart necklace from under her jacket in an attempt to bring more light into the tense situation. A glow of pink mist surrounded the children, but hopeful smiles were lost on the parents, who didn't seem to notice the pink light. They turned back to one another
and continued talking about safety measures. The children looked crestfallen.

Yu-ning saw brightness out of the corner of her eye and turned in anticipation. It was One. He appeared at Yu-ning's side dressed in brilliant white clothing, beautiful white light flowing around him, mixing in with the hues of her pink crystal. Yu-ning, James, and the twins saw him and were astounded by his awesome presence and the warmth of his divine light. Yu-ning introduced One as her special friend. Several adults noticed the children's strange behavior and walked over to investigate. The children's eyes were wide and their smiles were broad and beautiful. They were entranced.

James's mother interrupted this reverie. “What are you kids doing?” she said. “James, stop daydreaming; I told you I needed you to help us hold these maps.”

James looked at his mother and said softly, “You don't see the man dressed in white, Mom?”

“See what?” she said, with mild irritation. “James, I don't have the patience for your games right now. We have to get moving; it's getting colder.” She led James away from the girls, but as she pulled him away his eyes remained fixed on One. The children realized none of the adults could see One, and they knew they were in the midst of something magical and special.

One said, “It is true. There are treasures on top of the mountain; and it's true that Joshua is at the top—that your climb will be rewarded. But you must go quickly and only follow the path of light. Though the Darq creatures were not able to follow you here, Yu-ning, there is still danger here. So never stray from the lighted path. Be strong and follow
the light. And help the others find the way. Let love be your guide.”

With those powerful words, One vanished into the cold crisp air in a shower of soft lights. The children looked at each other in astonishment. “Did you hear what he said?” Yu-ning asked.

“Yes. And he was so beautiful, Yu-ning! Who is it?” said Marisol.

“That is One—he is a divine protector—like an angel,” responded Yu-ning.

Solimar began to sign at Yu-ning, but then smiled and switched to speaking words. “What did he mean about
dark creatures
?”

Yu-ning was amazed that although Solimar was deaf, she could hear One. But then, Yu-ning remembered how One had spoken to her in her cave, though Metatron was unable to hear his voice. “It's a long story,” Yu-ning said to Solimar, “but just know that a dark presence is loose in the land, and that is why I need to get to the top. This man, Joshua, may have something that could help us defeat the darkness.”

“We will help you!” Solimar said to Yu-ning.

“I never believed that I could see an angel!” exclaimed Marisol.

Yu-ning nodded eagerly. “Yes, always believe. Never let anyone tell you that the magic you see is not real.”

Yu-ning pointed at the adults. “Look! Your parents are getting ready to leave. Let's climb up the mountain and lead them to the top. There is a man at the top—perhaps he has gifts for all of us!” Yu-ning was shouting with excitement as she rallied the children, who walked over to join their parents. They gathered together behind the adults, who were
whispering to one another and pointing toward several trails that branched off from the main trailhead only a short way up the mountain. One of the parents saw how excited the children were and looked suspicious. “What are you kids talking about?”

“We are going to climb the mountain. There is a kind man waiting for us, and he is going to give every one of us treasures,” Marisol answered innocently. Yu-ning and the children nodded intently.

“That's ridiculous,” one adult responded. “No one lives at the top of this mountain—that is just a local wives' tale. But maybe there are people there who can lead us to the secret mines, where the gold is located.”

“It's true, it's true! One just told Yu-ning it's true,” the children exclaimed together.

“Which one? You are not making any sense. I don't have time for your foolishness,” an elderly man said.

“Not
which
one. Just One!” yelled James. The man just stared blankly at the boy. “He told Yu-ning that a man lives on top of the mountain and he is going to give us gifts!”

The adults shut the children down. “There is only an old hunter up there, from what I've heard. And he is poor—lives in a shack, folks say,” exclaimed one of the men.

“We don't want to be late,” Yu-ning continued. “Follow us; we know the way. Hurry and come with us.”

“We will lead the way, little girl,” said James's father. “You children can walk behind us together, but stay near and obey us.” The children looked at one another and shared confused looks. “Father, look at this pink path ahead of us—don't you see it?” Solimar signed to her father, and pointed at the path of light from Yu-ning's crystal necklace. The pink path of
light wound up the mountain and onto one of the four trails that branched off just up ahead. Her father signed back to her, telling her to settle down and stay in line.

“Remember One's guidance,” Yu-ning said to the three other children. “We must follow the light. That is all we have to do. Don't doubt now before we even begin. We follow the light.”

The children looked at her and nodded solemnly. “All right, let's go,” said James.

The adults—eight in all—clustered in a mass, moving forward in fits and starts in between arguments and confusion. Their doubts, fears, and skepticism spread like a cacophonous drone. Negative comments swept through the crowd as the children stepped forward.

“Follow the path that is projected by Yu-ning's pink crystal heart,” Marisol said to her mother and father.

“What are you talking about, girls?” a woman snapped. “Don't you see how dangerous this is? This mountain is a death trap. We could die climbing it, and if we're lucky enough to make it to the top, we could get lost on the descent.”

Of the four paths that split off from the main trail just in front of them, the pink light was directing them to the trail on the far right. Yu-ning said, “It is this way. Follow the light.”