Chapter 2: PARINACOTA
(between 400 and 500 AD, La leyenda de Omer y Rayen)
Omer and Rayen and everyone finally went to sleep on the beach, except for the older ones who took turns watching for danger.
When the sun was rising over the mountains, Omer and Rayen's father had a premonition with the rising sun. He felt there was something in the great eastern mountains that was necessary to see or do there. A young man came walking down the beach to them, and they asked him from where he came. His name was Lauca and he had come down from the mountains via the great stream that flowed until the sea.
Abukabir took this as a great sign and asked if he could send one of his party with Lauca to a high mountain to fulfill a sacred mission. Lauca agreed but in his canoe to return to his mountain land, he could only take one small person, one who weighed less than a wild wolf.
Omer cried, "Take me! I am light and very good at climbing!"
Omer's father, Abukabir, consented with his permission. Rayen said she would prepare Omer's favorite treat for him when he returned.
Omer went swift and strong up the river with Lauca. The snow-covered Eternal Mountains
became bigger and bigger as they paddled their way up-stream. They finally arrived, and then Lauca said he would help Omer reach the highest peak after eating cheese and fruit with his family. They enjoyed it very much.
Then they ascended the great mountain known as as Choquelimpie and it was one of the hardest things Omer had ever done, but Lauca was a good guide and Omer trusted him at the scariest parts. They had carried boots and parkas and ice picks for the ice fields and glooming glaciers reaching up to the sky.
And then he saw it: the soaring eagle with a fish in its talons! Could this be the sign of his father?
The eagle shreaked three times and then dropped the fish! It fell onto an ice ramp and slid to a small pool of crystal-blue water. There Omer found it, and saw the red and blue stripes of its gills.
Lauca said, " This fish portends to happiness and strength. It is a legend among my people to enjoy the clean blue water and the red-hot coals, for body and spirit." Omer knew this was the important message that he must bring back to his family.
Clean water and vibrant warmth would keep them safe on their long journey, even if they had little to eat, as the eagle who lost the fish.
END OF CHAPTER TWO (2): PARINACOTA
Omer cried, "Take me! I am light and very good at climbing!"
Omer's father, Abukabir, consented with his permission. Rayen said she would prepare Omer's favorite treat for him when he returned.
Omer went swift and strong up the river with Lauca. The snow-covered Eternal Mountains
became bigger and bigger as they paddled their way up-stream. They finally arrived, and then Lauca said he would help Omer reach the highest peak after eating cheese and fruit with his family. They enjoyed it very much.
Then they ascended the great mountain known as as Choquelimpie and it was one of the hardest things Omer had ever done, but Lauca was a good guide and Omer trusted him at the scariest parts. They had carried boots and parkas and ice picks for the ice fields and glooming glaciers reaching up to the sky.
And then he saw it: the soaring eagle with a fish in its talons! Could this be the sign of his father?
The eagle shreaked three times and then dropped the fish! It fell onto an ice ramp and slid to a small pool of crystal-blue water. There Omer found it, and saw the red and blue stripes of its gills.
Lauca said, " This fish portends to happiness and strength. It is a legend among my people to enjoy the clean blue water and the red-hot coals, for body and spirit." Omer knew this was the important message that he must bring back to his family.
Clean water and vibrant warmth would keep them safe on their long journey, even if they had little to eat, as the eagle who lost the fish.
END OF CHAPTER TWO (2): PARINACOTA
