2

The Path of Enlightenment

A through-composed Novel by Christopher Moors

2. Elvington nodded at Zoshu’s memory recovery and then glanced to his right to acknowledge two more bright young spirits meandering towards them. Corina called out, “Welcome to the party, I thought you might not make it.” “We had to come for such an important occasion,” called back the first arrival Yin Ward who was followed closely by his companion Babbette. Now human energies, they had once been Zoshu’s pet cats back on Earth. Zoshu had dragged them across a continent and back, and they never wavered in their Love for him. Delighted, Zoshu rushed towards them and the three shared a beautiful moment of reconnection. Feeling wondrously happy, Zoshu turned back around and was surprised to see many more entities emerging from the shadows.

There was Marah his two time wife riding up slowly on a unicorn surrounded by a symphony of butterflies and forest creatures. Tree spirits and hobbits, elves and fairies, flower dancers and grass tenders trundled over by the dozens to see the man of the moment. “Who is this that can both see us and walk amongst men?” a little fairie Esmeralda Twinkleton whispered to an elven elder Erskin Pettywild. “It is Zoshu, our friend and the one who forges a straight path. In some places he is known as ‘Aumen Ackbar’; in our language it roughly translates to ‘he who walks the middle way.’“

Six owls who had served as assistance during some of Zoshu’s past adventures came to rest on a large arm of the astral oak tree nearest to them. One word apiece, they said zealously, “We - are – here – for – you - Zoshu.” Zoshu waved and thanked them for a very specific omen they gave a short while ago that helped him sort out a tricky time.

The ground rumbled and Zoshu was amazed as a safari of animals of every form imaginable came marching by in acknowledgement of his courage. Lions and zebras, giraffes, rhinos, and hippos, horses, zorses and tigers, and many more that seemed to be a mixture of each other…an elk with a long neck, or an elephant with spots. There were also older Earth mammals such as the mammoth, saber toothed tiger, and a range of bullish creatures with a myriad of horn configurations.

Elvington turned once again to Zoshu and spoke with a confiding smile, “Now you see how we send you off around here!” By this time Marah had dismounted and was approaching. Corina, Zoshu’s mother/sister/daughter stepped back into the shadows. Elvington went over to speak nicely with the sprites. Before saying a word, Marah looked deeply into Zoshu’s eyes. Zoshu trembled and felt his heart whimper helplessly, “Hello, my Love.” She leaned forward and kissed him slowly and softly before saying, “Yes, hello, my darling. It has been awhile.” Out of breath, and slightly aroused, Zoshu fell back into his body.

Rubbing his eyes, he looked around his bedroom. “It happened again,” he said to himself, “and I remember everything!” He ran over to the notebook he kept on the night stand for just such an occasion and furiously jotted down the whole story. Zoshu knew this was no ordinary dream, but an extraordinary story; one that somehow he was starring in. It was the story of his life.