Enzo Lo Grasso
Zhandalee And The First Metamorphosis

Zandi stopped crying instantly and with a wide-eyed look, she turned her face to Clara.

--What did she say? What date do we have today? Would you please repeat it? –Zandi asked.

--Of course, today is August 16, 1999 -- the old lady replied, showing with her finger the calendar hanging on the wall.

Zandi watched the calendar and ran out, she stopped her run in the middle of the small courtyard getting down on her knees with her hands on the ground and looked down. Immediately Ima and Biko ran behind her stopping at a few meters from her, while Efia and Clara watched from the door.

Zandi felt licked hands resting on the ground, it was Yao who wanted to comfort her. She slowly raised the glance and she saw the big eyes of the dog looking at her full of love towards her, Zandi hug it giving back to its face a shy smile, then Biko arrived with a wary gaze towards the dog and gradually all the others arrived.

--What's the matter with you? -- Clara asked in a loving voice.

--Madam, in the place where I live today should be August 16, 2011. It is the year of my finding on the beach by my adoptive parents, I should be about two years old, believe it or not, I do not think I'm crazy, so what's going on? – Zandi answered getting up.

--There is certainly a reason to all this, I do not think you're crazy, you're here because in my opinion you have to fulfil a task that you'll have to find out, and I think you'll find out very soon – Clara said tightening the girl to herself.

--We do not believe you're not crazy too, and we're here to help you find your way, -- Efia said.

Biko and Ima nodded and all five joined in one hug. After a few minutes Mrs. Clara told to the boys:

--I have to go to my job now, later I will try again to contact that number and if I have news I'll let you know right away --

The four boys lined up with a smile waved goodbye and came out of the gate as they entered, while Mrs. Clara looked at them as long as she could see them and then she returned to her desk to continue her work.

--Can we go to see where those trucks are going?-- Zandi said, breaking the silence between the boys.

--Ok! -- Efia and Biko said, while Ima nodded.

-- It's not very far from here, it's right behind that little hill -- Biko continued.

-- But do not let us see, those people do not like to have intruders in the area,-- Ima said.

After a few minutes they began to see the first trucks that came from another street in front them, they parted just above the hill where they had a good view without making any effort to climb, with a wheelchair it would be difficult. So they climbed slowly on the observation point laying down on the ground not to be noticed. From that point they could see the entrance of the large field enclosed by high walls with barbed wire placed above, they can see the entrance where the lorries entered, there was a large open gate, in the middle there was a bar that rose at the passage of the trucks, at the ends of the bar there were two armed men and another one in a sentry box that controlled documents taken from the trucks. On the backside behind the sentry there was a kind of greyish and malodorous little river that with a series of channels was rising in the source.

--You see Zandi, they do not let strangers enter, that is the poison that they throw in our source, the same thing has reduced in this way Efia – Biko said in a low voice.

--What do they do inside? –Zandi asked.

-- From the land of our sacred mountain we get a yellow metal that they call gold, it is useless, it decorates the wearer, but it is expensive, because they are destroying our mountain, our trees, our life, -- Ima said.

--Do someone try to rebel? -- Zandi said.

--No one, they're all scared, only Demetrio tries to give them a hard time, but he's often punished, poor man -- Efia said.

--Demetrio? And who is he? – Zandi asked.

-- He is a boy who lives in the forest, he does not speak well our language, he lives wild like monkeys, he does not like live in the village, someone said he was born in the forest and he does not want to stay in another place, he is very grumpy towards everyone, and he tries to resist to the invaders, but his rudimentary weapons cannot do anything against them and at the end they hurt him, luckily he's a hard bone, not like my brother, -- Ima said looking at Biko.

--I will do it too but I know when I cannot go any further,-- Biko replied

-- Yes, your “further” is fear,-- Ima said.

--Stop it! – Efia admonished.

--Can we look for him and talk to this Demetrio?-- Zandi proposed.

--What do you want to do?—Efia asked.

--One man is not much but if we join we can do something,-- Zandi said, getting up and going down the hill.

The others followed her, when they were all on the ground, Efia sat in the carriage and Zandi continued:

-- If we find him, we can know something more about these people, what they do etc etc, he certainly knows more than what we could discover, he risked fighting and certainly he saw.

--But he's inside the forest, there it's very dangerous, there are scorpion, snakes, leopards and black panthers, we will not get out of there alive,-- Biko said.

--You are always the usual fearful,-- Ima said.

---Biko is not all wrong, no one dares to enter them since several years, and those who did not 'ever came back -- Efia added.

- I know, but if I'm here it's definitely for a reason and I think if I'm holding hands I will not solve anything, and someone has to do something. Look, everything's dying, first he's going to die what surrounds us and then we will die. No one is obliged to follow me, after all I have nothing to lose. Tell me where I have to continue and I will go there, I will have five hours of light or maybe more, if everything is okay I'll be back when the sun has not set yet,-- Zandi said.

-- The road is there! It starts right from those trees over there, from there you can get to the heart of the forest, but do you will really go there? -. Biko said.

--Yes!-- Zandi said starting to move but she was stopped by Efia.

--Stop! --

--Efia, I must go, maybe I'll find out the reason I'm here,-- Zandi said

--I do not want to stop you, I'm coming with you,--Efia said with a smile.

--Well, I come too,--Ima said.

-- Me too, otherwise who will push the wheelchair? You are girls -- Biko said starting to push the wheelchair taking the lead of the expedition, the other two girls with a smile moved in that direction.

After not even five minutes of travel, they heard a big roar and a cloud of smoke came forward on the road they were following, they accelerated their pace and after making a couple of bends they arrived at the scene, there was a dozens of people who watched, Mosi too. Immediately the boys approached the old father of Efia, they watched what everyone was seeing, from outside the enclosure where they were, they were able to see well the scene: there was a large pile of rubble that before were a house, there was a big bulldozer, the architect of this disaster, on the right side the fence had been thrown down by the entrance of the bulldozer, on the opposite side the thick woods began bordering to the plot of land of the unfortunate lord, behind the destroyed house there was another plot with a house near to the destruction, scattered near the mechanical means there were three soldiers armed with a machine gun, near the house a woman with her two young children watched her house destroyed crying in silence, her husband with Nassor (the chief tribe of Zebenjo) spoke with despair with one who seemed the higher than the three soldiers.

--Father, what has happened? -- Efia asked.

--Those bad people, those invaders have destroyed their home,-- Mosi said.

--Why do they these abuse of power?,-- Zandi asked.

--If I have well understood, another way must pass here to facilitate the arrival of trucks coming from the sacred mountain -- the old man answered.

--Why does the general state allow them to do that? Should not it intervene? -- Biko asked

--It cannot, because they are all corrupt, in exchange for gold they concede everything, they are selling our land to the stranger, they told me they are very powerful, this mine is managed by a very powerful international multinational -- Mosi answered.

Meanwhile, the animated conversation of the soldiers was heard.

-- Where will I go with my family? What can I bring them to eat? I had my field here, I cultivated it and with its fruits we lived in peace – the owner shouted crying.

--Our street must pass here, we have had the concessions, so you have to go away --the highest soldier answered.

--It cannot be that one morning you destroy a family, without telling anyone, and without an adequate compensation, this is steal –Nassor admonished in the direction of the soldiers.

--Silence! Do not you dare talk to us in this way!,-- the second soldier replied, threatening with the weapon.

--What problem is there?, he and his family can come and work with us, we will treat them well -- the first soldier answered looking at the others and bursting into a laughter.

--Yes, of course, work 16 hours a day, whipped, for a cup of rice just to make you enrich with our stolen land – Nassor made clear.

Meanwhile, Zandi began to feel a tingling that came from her chest. But it did not attract her attention, she made her way through the people present and she went in the middle of the dispute. Slowly everyone's eyes focused on her, when she was among the soldiers and the oppressed people ..

--Why do not you leave these people alone? Why do not you make pass your road more distant lengthening a bit the way? - Zandi said warning to the soldiers.

--Go away baby, these things for big people, go back to play with dolls--a soldier replied after a brief laugh.

-- Someone should make you pay for it!- the girl said.

-- Who? maybe you, insolent child -- the soldier replied pushing her and making her fall to the ground, and while he is trying to hit her with the butt of the rifle the soldier stopped saying:

--Hey! But what is shining under your shirt? what is that bright led?

Immediately from the adjacent forest a sort of boomerang came composed of ropes with two rotating stones that wrapped around his neck and knocked him to the ground, another soldier was hit by a dart on his neck and fell to the ground unconscious, the third man saw his companions dropped and threw the rifle into the air escaping, the bulldozer driver did the same..

Zandi turned towards the forest and from a thick tree behind a branch she saw in the distance the silhouette of a boy about her age, he was completely undressed except for the central part covered by a sort of garment that enveloped the abdomen until above his knees, it was made by small bright green leaves, he was not so dark, he watched Zandi for a few seconds and then he disappeared into the forest. The light of the medallion coming from his chest went out in the same instant, Zandi memorized the scene but she said nothing.

Biko and Ima immediately came to Zandi.

--Are you fine? – Ima asked.

--Yes, I have nothing,-- Zandi answered, getting up.

--That man was Demetrio, he's a smart guy, isn’t he?-- Biko added.

In the meantime, Efia arrived with her father.

-- You have risked a lot, you are unconscious even if you are a deity – Mosi admonished.

Nassor and the family of the house approached.

--You have a lot of courage, but if it were not for Demetrio I do not know how you would be now. We hoped you had some power after your magical coming, but maybe it is as we expected. However now the situation is more complicated because the soldier will report to general Kruken, furious. However I have to thank you the same. – Nassor ended shaking Zandi’s hands and she took the thanks of the oppressed family.

--Now What it happen to them?--Efia asked to Nassor.

--Do not worry! We will find a hidden place in the village, they will be able to stay calm for a while, afterwards I will find them a destination – the chief tribe explained.

People were starting to leave but Zandi remained pensive with her gaze fixed in the forest.

--What are you thinking?—Biko asked.

--There should be a connection between the medallions I wear around my neck and the boy of the forest, but I do not know exactly,-- Zandi replied.

--Let's all eat at my house,-- Mosi suggested.

--When we have finished we will go to the three essays on the sacred mountain, they will be able to reveal something to us, it is said that they know everything and they are centennials. Now let's go with Mosi – Biko proposed.

--It's right, let's do so—Ima confirmed.

Zandi nodded and they walked towards the village of Zebenjo.

Meanwhile, the soldier arrived at the mine field after passing the armed entrance, he immediately went to the command building, a sort of cube with countless mirrored glass also square, in front of the entrance there were two other soldiers that stopped him.

--Where do you want to go, soldier,-- one of them asked.

-- I had to inform the General Kruken about the order that had placed me this morning, a problem had happened -- the soldier answered without breath for the race.

--It's ok, come with me!-- The military manat the entrance answered.

They went together to the main hall where Kruken was with his three bodyguards.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the hall, they found two other guards, the picket soldier said he should bring news to the general through the first soldier, then the one who was at the door came inside to announce and after having received the consent of the general he let them in.

The general kruken was wearing a stiff red uniform with black trimmings, he sat in a sort of throne placed on a dozen steps, at his side there were three other small thrones, at his right and at his left, where the three chosen guards took place, all three wore a huge black cloak that covered their clothing, and they were seated according to their allegedly combative strength. As soon as he sat he beckoned to a waiter who brought him a glass of gold in a golden tray and while he sipped a drink...

--What's wrong with my land?-- General Kruken asked, looking at the glass.

The soldier was on his knees, he raised his head saying:

--My sir, we have been attacked and we could not continue the eviction we had to do for the new road, we also lost two men --

--Who did dare attack you? Who did dare to interrupt my order? – Kruken asked with an almost surreal calm.

The soldier realizes the answer he will give him will made him angry, so he starts shaking and sweating, the general understands and placing the glass in the tray and sacking the waiter gets up and approaches the window looking out.

--Then?!?—Kruken pronounced with a dry and authoritative tone.

--Mister Demetrio, he took us by surprise, forgive us,--the trembling soldier replied resting his head on the ground.

--A little boy, a boy is opposed to me, a little boy opposes my soldiers, hahahaha -- and he exploded into sarcastic laughter, then turns seriously, stares at the soldier and says:

--Stand up! - the soldier gets up and Kruken starts to turn around him, until he puts next to him and says:

--Take 20 men, take the dogs too, go immediately to the forest, take his life or I will take your life—he ended to speak very calmly.

-- My lord, I will not disappoint you -- the soldier made a typical salute, bringing his fist to the breast and then with a back he fired himself by closing the door.

Kruken slowly approached his third guard who was sitting.

--Sword, make sure he does not disappoint me – Kruken pronounced almost impeccably.

Sword stood up nodding his head and he went out of the room from another door to the right of the throne. The general went again at the window and looking at the poor people who worked in desperate conditions, he turned to a lieutenant placed in the corner of the great hall:

-- We have to increase the work turns, we have to obtain more gold for our organization, the president does not admit unforeseen, we must be the flagship so he will be grateful.--

--But sir, the workers are on their utmost, they are working 16 hours a day,-- the lieutenant replied weakly

--Are you discussing my orders?-- He said in a warning tone and staring into his eyes

--No, my lord, I'll do it now,-- the subordinate replied saluting and going out of the room, while Kruken watched from the window with a wicked smile.

In the meantime, in the cabin of Mosi they were making preparations for the table, the twins had gone to their home to eat with their family, so there were only three, the good old Mosi was intent to control the cooking of the rice in a large clay pot heated on a fire just outside the hut, while Efia and Zandi were busy, Efia cut a little salad and the other set the table.

--Zandi, can you help me to cut the salad, I find it a difficult task because I do not see very well and I to cut me, so I can then wash fruit --Efia asked with a smile.

-- Sure -- Zandi answered. --I'm a guest, helping you is the least I can do -- and she began to clean the salad and cut it with a knife, but from her silent face a tear slowly descended.

--What did you have Zandi? I did not give you some onions to cut -- Ima asked with an ironic tone, then she approached to her and with a serious tone embraced her saying:

--What do you think? Have I said something wrong? --

--Preparing lunch reminds me of my family, you know I miss them a lot even if I do not see them for a few days, and the thing that makes me more sad is the fact I do not know how to return to them -- Zandi answered with a muffled voice.

- I know what it means when you stay away from your parents, and especially when you cannot see them again, and it is like a part of you that disappears because we are their fruit – Efia answere.

-- They are not my natural parents, they have adopted me, but I consider them as if they were to all intents and purposes, they are special with me—Zandi said.

--What do you remember about your natural parents?—Efia asked.

- Well, about my father nothing, about my mother, or rather what we think she was, I have just a few fragments, I was only two years old, she left me on the bank to my adoptive parents and then she turned off. I am very attached to her too, for me her spirit is in the sea, and when I want to talk to her I go to my place on the rocks and I talk to her. It is strange to say, but it seems the sea gives me an answer, and it is funny to say but I feel it inside me, and then after all that is happening to me I do not feel it anymore as a strange thing but a thing that is part of reality -- Zandi concluded by leaning the salad on the table.

- But she was not alone, there was also a child, from what they told me he was taken away, he was bigger than me and I think he knows something, Thiago is his name and he had a necklace like mine but with a red stone – Zandi continued.

--Yes Zandi, there must surely be a connection between the child who saved my mother and the child who was there with you, I'm not good at math, I can do basic things my mother taught me, and if you do some calculus, you're come back in the past, he should now be five or six years old and you two about, so if you go back to the place of the disaster, you could you see what happened, is it right? -- Efia told exactly.

--That’s right! Efia, so I must immediately know what Demetrio has to do with this story and then I have to look for a means to take me to the Mediterranean,--Zandi said, lighting up her eyes.

--Now we eat and then we will help you in all we can do – Efia proposed smiling.

Zandi hugged her and she said only:

--Thank you.--

--It’s ready, pass me the dishes, tell me how it is this time,-- Mosi said, entering the pot of clay with steaming rice.

The girls took a seat at the table and passed the dishes one by one, the old Mosi filled the dishes overflowing, then finally he filled his one and after putting the pot aside he sat with the girls and they began the lunch.

--I hope you like it, I do not know what food you usually eat, this is what we can offer you, the missionaries gave it because we do not have it every day –Efia said.

--It 'very good, you do not have to worry, in fact I'm very honoured and honestly I do not know how to repay you for everything you do for me, -- Zandi said, stroking Efia's face.

The old Mosi smiled but he said nothing and he continued to eat.

When they were about to finish their plate of rice, screams were heard from outside, these screams became clearer as they approached to them, someone shouted the name of Zandi, she got up and those voices came to the hut, Biko and Ima came from their hut, running and entering.

--What's going on, guys? Why are you running in this way? – Mosi asked with a worried face.

--I came knew from my uncle who works in the base of the invaders that General Kruken sent 20 men into the woods to find and to kill Demetrio, if they find him it's over – Biko explained panting for the run.

--We must find him first, we must save his life and I must know what he has to do with my coming here,--Zandi said.

--We have to hurry, they've already left -- Ima added.

--No, it is too dangerous because if the soldiers find you they will kill you surely, so do not go, -- Mosi said.

--Also my parents have done me objections, but I will go anyway, because I feel that the future of the village is involved,-- Biko replied.

--You can do what you're feeling, but my little Efia is better staying here at home, she is weak and it is very dangerous,-- Mosi said.

-- But dad, I want to go with them, let me go – Efia asked.

--Your father is right,-- said Zandi and Biko nodded.

--It's decided: we'll go,-- BIko said firmly.

While they are going to get out of the hut direct to the forest under the resigned gaze of Efia, Mosi grabbed the arm of Biko.

-- Wait! –Mosi pronounced.

-- Keep this, use it only if it's necessary --Mosi handed a cylindrical cloth to Biko with something inside, he took off the fabric and a scimitar was inside it, then he put a hand on Biko's shoulder saying:

--I recommend you to be careful, those people have no scruples, if you find Demetrio, bring him here at the village and we will hide him. It will be very difficult, however good luck --

--I'll do it, thank you,-- Biko said.

the three boys went out going with a fast step to the forest, while Efia and Mosi looked at them hopefully from the rudimentary window.

Biko, during the way, scrutinized the weapon received, he looked at the drawings engraved on both the blade and on the handle, they were very thin tribal designs that adorned the sword in all its parts.

--Are you able to use it? -- Zandi asked, -- looking you handling it, it seems you've never seen one before.--

--Sure, I've seen swords, when I was a kid I imagined fighting for fun, even with other children, but when things get serious, everything changes --Biko answered.

--We hope we do not have to use it and solve everything using timeliness as a weapon,-- Ima added.

Biko, walking, simulated a hypothetical fight in the wind to get familiar with the weapon.

- We hope so, but in any case I want to get ready for the unexpected, and then you see, it's not so difficult to handle it, look! -- saying so Biko started a duel but with an accidental blow he overflow the head of his sister Ima who drew down appropriately, and he cut her a small lock of hair.

--Ops! Sorry, my sister,-- Biko promptly replied.

--It is better you keep it in its scabbard, otherwise we will not arrive in three to the forest – Ima reproached with a serious face.

Zandi looked at both of them and they all laughed.

--Where exactly are we heading?-- Zandi asked.

- General Kruken's base station is located east of the forest, so his soldiers will leave from there looking for Demetrio, we would start on the west side in the hope of finding him first, and flee from the west part—Ima specified.

-- My sister is born as a strategist, she has already elaborated a plan, even when we were little she was always like that, she was the mind and I was the arm- Biko added.

--Have we some indication about Demetrio's refuge, to speed up the search?-- Zandi said

-- No, no, no one can approach him, his house is the forest, who creates damage to the forest will receive his anger, he is very suspicious to everyone, and I think he will be with us too but we have to try – Biko explained.

--So if he will attack us too, we should not be surprised, maybe he will think we are trying to catch him – Ima said.

- I do not think he listed us as bad people, because otherwise he would not have defended us against the soldiers, his instinct is with us, I think -- Zandi concluded.

--We have arrived, we must climb this clearing and there is a slide that will take us straight to the west side of the forest. Slipped sitting in balance if not we could hurt – Biko precises putting his sword with a belt behind the back and starting to climb on the clearing.

Once he reached the top he offered his hand to Zandi and quickly pulled her up next to him, then he bowed and he did the same with his sister, when all three of them climbed Biko moved some bushes and revealed a beginning of the slide that started with a curve on the left. They could not see anything else, in the background they could see the forest much lower than where the three boys were.

--Are we sure we'll live to the end?-- Zandi asked doubtfully.

--Be quiet, even if it 's very much that I do not use it, we will not get hurt, I think, we must always keep the cenrte of the slide, staying in balance sitting down, it' s not difficult – Biko reassured.

--Yes, Zandi, the bed of the slide is made of sand and a sort of moss that allows you to slide without making us ache--

- Come on, I begin, come behind me, Zandi – Ima reassured.

But when she was about to position herself seated on the slide, about twenty meters far they heard a strange little noise and a dozen small birds flew up, the three looked in that direction, then Biko took the sword he had placed behind his back and intimated:

--Who is there? Let's see if you do not want to be killed --

But no sound and no response came from the foliage, Biko advanced a few yards with his sword forward and cautiously to see if anyone was hiding, but he found nothing.

-- Maybe it has been some passing mongoose,-- Ima said.

--Perhapes your sister have reason – Zandi reinforced.

Biko returned near the two girls and he put the swords in the scabbard, he remained a few seconds on the area from which that sound had arrived and then he stood as a third recommending the girls ..

--Attention to the balance, otherwise you can hurt yourself- -

--You think about you – Ima replied and she threw herself followed by a cry of euphoria, Zandi shrugged as if to say '' What doyou want to do? '' and she follow Ima.

--Girls! – Biko pronounced and he threw himself down to the slide.

The run of the slide for Zandi and for the other two was a wonderful and incredible emotion, they slipped sitting balanced on the moss that made them slippery like soap, they passed through colourful flowers of which some petals remained on them, they grazed small animals who watched them astonished, they immersed themselves in a thick and soft green foliage where they were caressed, until Ima and Zandi arrived at the end of the slide where a soft grass allowed them to roll for many meters in a joyful and fun way. They lay smiling, looking at the blue sky, under a tree on which there were two birds watching to the girls laughing, then they both looked at each other strangely flying in the sky.

Ima abandoned her lying position sitting and shaking a little green foliage off her back, Zandi made the same thing a few seconds later.

- It 'was beautiful, I had never tried an experience so amusement, even at the most sophisticated rides, we have to do it again in the future – Zandi pronounced cheerfully.

-- But my brother, where is he? - - Ima said worried looking at the end of the slide, when immediately they heard Biko’s shout, it was not a scream shouted by the girls, it seemed a confused shout, in fact at a distance of dozen yards from where Ima and Zandi had arrived, they could see a great dustiness followed by branches and pebbles and some small animals looking surprised, from this dust the scream came falling to the ground creating a trail, after about thirty meters of pulley he stopped, the head of Biko came out from the vegetation, all dusty with dry branches in his hair and a pile of foliage in his mouth that spit out, then Biko looked at his arms and he saw some big ants starting to climb him up, he broke his eyes and screamed.

--A formicary !!!!! --

He got up and after a few hundred meters he threw himself in a small pond nearby, the girls enjoyed the whole scene smiling, then they got up, they cleaned the rest of the body walking towards the pond. As they arrived near the shore

- But where is your brother? Will he not be drowned,? -- Zandi asked.

--No, quiet, Biko is a fish, he can swim very well,-- Ima replied.

Biko emerged from the water and spitting out a fountain of water he said:

-- I've seen it ugly! --

-- Were you not the boy who made us a thousand of recommendations? -- Zandi asked ironically.

Biko coming out of the water replied:

-- It was not my fault, I slipped perfectly, the sword is caught for a moment on a bush making lose my balance, and then thanks to the luck I end up on a anthill – he ended squeezing the clothes and putting the sword back on his back.