My Favorite Book - a cyclic narrative
Read it backwards or forwards, and start at any picture :D
(Entry #10)
Dear Diary,
It has been 10 years since I last wrote in this diary. I misplaced it one day and thought that I had lost it for the longest time. I cried over it for a bit, this diary meant a lot to me, I had recorded all of my thoughts, fears, aspirations, and emotions into its worn out pages. When I found it again, it was in a corner of our shelter, half buried in the sand. The rain had gotten the best of it, and most of the pages were too wet and damp to read or distinguish anything. But 9 pages remained. It was funny rereading what I wrote in those 9 entries, and it almost seemed as if the other pages had been destroyed on purpose. The 9 entries seemed to summarize all that had happened to us on the island and highlight how our struggles after the banishment.
I decided to add one final entry to this diary; I am too old to be keeping a diary nowadays, I have too much responsibilities to attend to. But a lot has changed on the island. We have now grown to a healthy village of 159 people. We set up a new Council that acts in accordance with our daily lives. Nobody has absolute power, and we live in harmony with the island and each other. Irrigation and agriculture is flourishing, and we have begun to construct shrines for the Gods once again.
About 2 years ago, Genji passed away. It was a tragic day for all of us, but he had always preached thankfulness and perseverance to us. He taught us not to mourn, but to appreciate all that had happened. I guess, even to this day, we still follow the lead of the wisest man I know.
-Arya
(Entry #8)
Dear Diary,
I have been having nightmares about snake people for a week now. One week ago, the scariest news I have ever heard came from the expedition. They discovered other signs of life on the beach. There were huge reptilian beasts in the forest, and they seem to be moving towards us. I could not sleep that night, and no matter what Mother or Yasu told me, I couldn’t get the image of a snake man out of my mind.
The next day, the showed up at my camp. The sight of their blue skin and cold, heartless eyes caused me to begin screaming and crying. I ran to mother, who was doing her best to be strong. She held me and watched as Genji approached them.
I do not know how Genji communicated with them, but when he came back, he told me that we had received an ultimatum. Get off the island, or be killed. There was a long silence, but then Genji told us that they only way that we could stay is if we beat them in a display of strength. Their messenger had told us that they would leave us in peace if we could best them in a duel.
Genji told us this was the final test by the Gods. This was it. This is why we had been expelled, why we had been training, and why we had been struggling. This was the moment that we come together and defend what is starting to become ours. I barely heard the rest, I was too distraught.
2 days ago, we went to the layer of snake people. Their city was magnificently crafted with gold and silver from sources that we could only dream of. In the middle, overlooking the beach, stood a stone ring. It was here that my brother and Tadahiro faced their two best warriors.
I couldn’t watch the fight, and made sure that my face was buried in Mother’s skirt during the whole ordeal. Once, when I opened them for a small peak, I caught sight of the snake leader. The sight raised a slight whimper to my lips. He was a towering behemoth with 4 arms and was about twice the size of our tallest man. A bone from god-knows-what was on his crown and he was watching with a petrifying gaze.
All I know about, and all that I care about, is that we won. We beat the snake people. I remember their ruler turning belligerent and angry when his people lost, calling them useless. But nonetheless, he stuck to his word. He agreed to let us live on the island, and promised to never bug us again.
Yasu is going to have a story to brag to his kids about, that’s for sure.
-Arya
(Entry #3)
Dear Diary,
Dad has been unusually quiet and seclusive lately. He barely ever talks to anyone, and won’t even tell Mom where he goes during the day. I think that he frowns upon us and won’t accept the new surroundings.
I grew close to Genji as he often came to check on Yasu and how he was doing. Yasu was one of our top warriors, and Genji helped him cope with how Dad was acting. Although he refused to admit it, the fallout with Father had made a definite impact on Yasu.
Genji goes on walks everyday after lunch and meditates by himself. One day, I gathered up enough courage to follow him. It was a long and arduous climb to the apex of a small rock formation about 20 minutes from where we set up camp. By the time I reached the top, I was sweaty and panting for breath. I wondered how Genji found the strength to come here every day, he was nearing 70 years of age and appeared more fragile than ever.
It took me a good 20 minutes to get the nerve to approach him. He was sitting on a gigantic white shell that I had never seen before, and his beloved yew staff was propped besides him in the sand. His footprints looked so faint and bare in the sand that it looked it he had floated to his location. I tried to sneak up on him and give him a playful hug like I always did, but when I got near him I suddenly realized Genji was crying. To see the man who had done so much for not only my family, but all of the remaining 36 of us, gently weeping in this secluded place tore at my heart and I immediately felt a tear trickle down my left cheek.
When he saw me, he did not jump. He did not yell at me or reprimand me. Genji never did. Instead, he offered me a seat and gave me his knowing smile and asked me why I had followed him. There was a knot in my throat, and I let out a choked sob before asking him why he had been crying.
To a nine year old girl struggling to come to terms with her new surroundings, Genji’s words left me speechless and feeling small and insignificant. He answered me honestly, confessing that even he was lost and unsure of what to do. Even Genji did not know if the Gods were still with us. Even Genji was afraid and weary of the unknown, and deep down, Genji blamed himself for everything that had happened to us. He had talked to each of the families, and the weight of the sorrow that he had seen had begun to take a toll on him.
But at the very end, Genji said something that forever changed my life. He told me that I will never see him cry again, that I will never see him falter again. He told me that if he could get us into this mess, then he would get us out of it. The determination and passion in his voice seemed so confident and assuring that all I could do was nod in my childish manner.
We walked down the hill together. I felt like I had aged ten years within that past hour.
-Arya
(Entry #1)
Dear Diary,
We set sail today, all 44 of us. It was a surreal day, and I seemed to notice small details everywhere I went that I hadn’t noticed before. Not a single bark escaped from the watchdogs and I even saw one with its tail between its legs. The air was thick with tension and hatred, and when the last of us had filed onto the boat, we looked back and saw a village that had turned its back on us. There were no crying parents or couples sharing a final farewell kiss, but instead just a quiet rustle as the trees swayed in the background.
We were gone before we knew it. It was on the first night that I decided to start this diary. I couldn’t sleep- the constant bobbing of the boat was giving me a headache and I missed home. I even missed the annoying crack on my roof that was growing every year with the rainy season…
I don’t know what will happen to us. I don’t know if I will even live to see the sunrise. All I do know is that we have been exiled from our homeland. For our people, the Gods are present in all aspects of our daily lives, from the battles we win to the dinners we eat. However, a rift formed between us when our leader, Genji, wanted to begin training warriors to protect our homeland. It had been tradition to never practice the art of war unless we were under siege, but the recent onslaught of barbarian attacks were keeping many of us awake at night. The Council refused to train, but Genji formed a small army and for years, they trained and trained. My brother, Yasu, joined them in their cause, even though father forbid of it.
All was going well, Genji was a master of the old arts, and the warriors had grown incredibly disciplined and organized. But then somebody rattled out Genji and the Council broke in on one of the training sessions. Everything fell apart so quickly after that, and within a month, all the families associated with Genji and his group of warriors were banished. This is the ultimate form of punishment for our people. We do not behead, as it violent. Banishment is something much much worse, as our land is considered sacred and blessed by the Gods. Leaving it is worse than turning your back on the Gods.
I’m tired, I’m hungry, I’m scared. I don’t know what to do. If I say a prayer to the Gods, will I be heard?
-Arya
(Entry #9)
Dear Diary,
Things have considerably calmed down, and I have finally had a chance to rest up and explore the island for myself. It is a beautiful place, lush plantation is abundant all over the island and the berries are plentiful. Just now, I found a small black berry that tastes like sweet plums. The taste almost brought tears to my eyes- plums used to be my favorite fruit back home and Mother would always buy some at the local market just for me.
When I got back home today, Mother surprised me with a treat. It was my birthday today, and she decided to celebrate the occasion by making my favorite meal and mixing the local herbs to make me a moon cake. Yasu jumped out from behind a tree and gave me a wooden sword that he had carved himself and joked that I would one day become a better warrior than him.
A smile crept up on my face. Dad was gone, but Yasu and Mother would always be there for me. Just to see them here on this island, still remembering when my birthday was and making sure that I felt special put a warm feeling in my chest and I hugged them both tightly. We had been through so much together, but I felt like we had only grown closer because of it.
Whenever I close my eyes before I go to bed, I can imagine Mom sitting tranquilly outside, surrounded by the numerous plants that she takes care of on a daily basis. Her love for me never wavered, and I promised to myself that I would one day make her proud.
-Arya
(Entry #5)
Dear Diary,
Words cannot express how happy I am right now. We found water! Finally! It has been a month since we first landed on the island, and some of us were growing worried about the water supply. But our expedition group finally came through today, and they found a majestic waterfall that lead to a glistening lake in the middle of the forest. We immediately moved near the lake, and for the first time in a long long time, I saw my Dad let out a small smile.
There were kids laughing and playing in the water, splashing water everywhere and attempting to build sand castles. The mothers watched from our makeshift tents, relieved that we had finally gotten a break. Genji smiled gently from his tent, refusing to accept the gifts and thanks of all the families. When I caught his eye, he gave me a weary nod, and smiled. I have so much respect for him, to be strong and firm in leading us even when he was struggling to keep up in his daily activities showed how much he cared for us and wanted us to prosper.
There was a feast today! We have been gathering berries and fruits since we landed, and we decided that now was an appropriate time to celebrate. The celebration lasted all day, the food was great, and I feel full for the first time in months! I’m so happy right now! The moon is bright, there is a gentle breeze, and the water is glistening gently, while a steady thumping of water hits the lake from the waterfall. This is beautiful.
-Arya
Setting sail picture 2 (?)
(Entry #6)
Dear Diary,
About 6 hours ago, the expedition found a dead body among the rocks about a half mile north of our campsite. At first, they were confused. The body seemed to have fallen off from the top of a gigantic tree that was protruding over the edge of a small cliff. The crew lowered themselves into the valley of rocks, and received a numbing shock.
Dad had committed suicide. When they told us, Mom turned deadly quiet and Yasu stormed out of room, tears streaming down his cheeks. I sat there, confused and refusing to believe what had happened. Dad had died? Why… How could he leave us?
My hands are shaking so much that it is hard to write. I wonder what the last thoughts that ran though my father’s mind were. I didn’t know what to do, or where to turn, so I ran away into the forest until I couldn’t run anymore than fell down and cried.
A hand gently touched my shoulder and I jumped and angrily spun around to find Yasu standing there. Sobbing, I hugged him and told him that I wanted to go home. I wanted to get away from this island that had brought so much suffering and strife into our lives. Yasu was silent, gently stroking my hair. I stayed in his arms for a long time.
When I calmed down, I turned to him and asked him why Dad had died. Yasu looked at me as if he was sizing me up then told me why he thought Dad had died. Dad had still not gotten over banishment. Back home, he was one of the best architects, deeply in touch with the surroundings and nature. He strongly advocated peace, and when Yasu had betrayed him, he was never able to recover from it. The Council had told us that the Gods had chosen for us to the banished forever from the sacred land, and Father had taken it to heart. Nothing could replace it, no matter how much Genji ensured us that we would be okay or how much water or food we found. Dad has lost his job, his homeland, his family, his passion, and, ultimately, his pride. So he did the only honorable thing left that he could think about. He gave himself up for one final judgement by the Gods.
I hope that he went to heaven.
The funeral is tomorrow. I’m gathering flowers for it now.
-Arya
(Entry #7)
Dear Diary,
Genji once again began training with the warriors. In this strange environment, safety was on everyone’s mind, and our warriors were the best way of defense. There were 20 of them, all highly skilled and trained in the old ways.
In the spirit of competition, a tournament was set up to find out which of them was the most skilled and talented. I remember Yasu was very excited to show Mother and I just how skilled he had become at the art of war. He would stay up long nights near the waterfall and practice technique by himself. I was cheering for him all along, and would always offer to help him. He would simply laugh at me and give me a hug but tell me to tend to the plants or help others prepare dinner.
The day of the tournament brought an excited mood to everyone in the village. Several of the boys had set up a betting system, betting on who they thought would win the competition. Genji took the warrior aside and told them that no matter what would happen in the tournament, he was very proud of all of them and that they should never get too carried away. They were fighting in full traditional armor and with the finest of weaponry.
The sun beat down heavily on us, but nobody cared. The tournament was long and arduous, but packed with energy. Mother and I cheered for Yasu as loudly as we could from the sidelines. He did very well, but was eliminated in the semifinals. For an 18 year old, it was an impressive display.
The two final warriors in the competition were Tadahiro and Soutarou. When it was announced, we went crazy. The two were known to harbor a deep hatred for each other, and both was extremely talented and competitive. It was sure to be a good match. When they faced off, we all cheered. Even Yasu watched with a respectful and attentive eye.
The two fought for close to an hour, getting more and more bloody. For some odd reason, we forgot that it was only a display of skill and allowed them to fight. We cheered wildly, even though the two began to get seriously injured. They were both going at each other with a stark fervor.
And then it happened. Tadahiro caught Soutarou off balance, and in one quick sweep, had Soutarou on the ground. Before anyone could react, Tadahiro impaled Soutarou. He killed him. The crowd fell silent.
I do not know what happened next. All I know is that an uproar occurred. Mother hurried me away from the scene.
-Arya
(Entry #4)
Dear Diary,
Genji stuck to his word. The next day, he gathered everyone together and instilled some hope in us. That same edge of leadership and determination was back in his voice, and he insisted that the Gods were still us, that they had sent us here for a reason that our faith in them should not falter as they had been merciful and kind enough to let us survive the perils at sea. There was an ample supply of vegetation and food to be found along the island, and it would last us for a long amount of time, hopefully enough for us to start growing our own sources of food. For some mysterious reason, a water source could not be found. We were sure it had to exist as vegetation and plant life was vibrant on the beach, but nobody could find any rivers or lakes. But the fact that we were alive and recovering from the taxing past couple of months was definitely rejuvenating a majority of us.
There were cliffs all along the coast for as long as any one could see, and the expedition that had went out last night said they followed it for a good 4 hours in both directions. In the distance, above the cliffs, a forest of sorts was visible. We decided during our meeting to move closer to the forests, as they provided a better source of shelter for us in case of tidal waves or thunderstorms. It would also give us a better chance to explore the island and possibly find a source of water.
We combed the shoreline for most of the day and finally found a easy section of the cliffs that was easily climbable for all. Genji went first, slowly making his way up the cliffs, before lowering ropes and sticks down to help the rest of us climb, especially the little kids.
When it was my turn to scale the cliffs, the cliffs suddenly turned into a terrifyingly endless wall with no end. I am petrified of weights- when I was a little kid, I used to climb waterfalls with my brother. One day, when we reached the top of a waterfall, I slipped on a rock and landed in the water. I panicked, and flung around helplessly until my brother grabbed my waist. Before I was raised back to salvation, I remember catching a glimpse of the lake below us. The sight still gives me nightmares today.
But Mom gently touched my hand and nodded. And I realized I couldn’t be scared. I had to set an example for the younger kids, I had be strong for them, for they were way for unprepared and scared than I was. I had to grow up, there was no time to explore forests or play with toys anymore. So I gritted my teeth and followed Mother into the abyss, keeping my head held high and the legs steady. Looking back, I am very proud of how I dealt with the ordeal. It was over before I knew it.
I’m going to bed. It’s late, and I’m exhausted from today. One thing is for sure though. We are safe and healthy. Two reasons to smile. Those are hard to come by nowadays.
-Arya
Hey there, this is Thomas Sun.
