Читать книгу The Chest of Visions: Secrets of Caperston - Tim Ferguson - Страница 9

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Getting to Know You

Date . . . April 28th

Hello,

Are you there? I am reading your electronic news. You mentioned a book, the Bible, but I am not familiar with it. Is it a holy book? You also talk about Christian youth and the man Jesus. I would like to learn more. I am not sure how I found your news report. It seems to have been by accident. I put some numbers into my compol, and your report appeared.

My name is Mattpaul. I live with my parents a short distance from Lake Gael in Caperston. I am in my last year of school and I look forward to completing school and beginning work. My father is an assistant to our Ruler and has promised me an important job when I graduate.

We live comfortably and never have worries. We are called the Valley People. There are some rich Valley People, who are fortunate and live on the shore of Lake Gael. It is pleasant to visit their homes. Even though my father is second in command, we live more modestly. That is fine with me.

There are also Mountain People, who have much less than we do. We rarely see them except for our annual kickuml contest. They live on the other side of Lake Gael in older residences. They appear to be friendly, and I want to get to know them better.

I went with my teacher and class to visit the Mountain Village and discovered that their world is different than ours. They live higher in the mountain where it is colder, and they wear more modest clothing. They grow their hair longer to protect them from the cold. Our teacher said that Mountain People have lived on the mountain for many generations. No one, not even our books, talks of a time when the Mountain People came down from the mountain except to fish in Lake Gael. After fishing they immediately return to their villages. Once every ten days or so, one family member comes into town to gather supplies. Sometimes they pay with denorites and other times they barter with fish.

The occasion for our visit was a kickuml game against the Mountain Youth. We thought we were good but a little while into the game a ball was kicked high in the air. Before it landed a Mountain Youth jumped up and struck it with his head. Our goal protector was so surprised that he was slow defending the hit and it became the first goal of the game.

We never saw someone use his head in this game and asked our coach. He checked the rules, which said that we cannot use our hands, but nothing is listed about using our heads. So, the game continued, and the Mountain Youth were particularly good at using their legs and their heads. We lost. After the match, a Mountain Youth named Marcus offered to teach us how to “head” the ball. We listened and practiced this skill with him. We will learn it and maybe do better the next time we play.

My friend Huchfee and I spoke with Marcus after practicing with him. He told us of a man who has visited the village. I do not know how to spell his name, but it was pronounced: Chi-hay-su. This man talked about another ruler who did not live with us but was everywhere. Marcus said that Chihaysu was going to speak at a meeting place on Lake Gael in a few days. Huchfee said we should leave school to hear him speak. I do not know.

I could get in much trouble, but I would like to go. Perhaps I talk too much. I hope someone gets this message. If you do, write, and ask questions.

Mattpaul

Date . . . April 30th

Dear Mattpaul,

You did not leave a contact e-mail so all I can do is add some thoughts to your correspondence. Your letter and my response will be recorded on a webpage, which, when you visit again, you will be able to read.

I am not sure where you live. You give an address of Caperston. Is that a country? Is it a town? You also mention a compol. What is it? I would like to learn more about the differences amongst your people. Thank you for telling me of the kickuml game. It is very much like a game we call soccer. Lastly, the Bible is a holy book. Have you ever read one? I would like to get to know you better.

Tim

Date . . . May 2nd

I am glad someone read my message. Lake Gael in Caperston is my address as our world is small. Caperston is my country. You asked about my compol, but first let me tell you my story. Huchfee and I were worried that we would be caught when we went to hear Chihaysu, but we were not. On the day he was visiting, our teacher cancelled class and gave us a project to complete. We left but did not do the project. We figured we could do it later.

We left school and walked around Lake Gael to go where Chihaysu was speaking. He was sitting on a piece of wood beside the lake. There was a group of about fifteen individuals, all adults except for Huchfee and me.

Chihaysu talked about someone named God, who is like our Ruler. He said our Ruler oversees our world, but this God rules over our feelings inside. He also said that our Ruler treats the Mountain People differently than he treats us, the Valley People. Chihaysu claims God treats everyone, Mountain People and Valley People, equally because our feelings and our dreams are the same.

Mattpaul

This idea excited me. When I talked to Marcus last week, I felt like him because we had many of the same hopes and dreams. In addition, we are the same age.

I also really liked when Chihaysu taught us how to talk to this God. It is something he calls praying. This was an unknown activity to me. Chihaysu insisted that everyone be quiet and, at first, I was uncomfortable with the silence. Then I began to feel peaceful. Since Huchfee and I were afraid of being discovered, we could not stay long so we quietly left. We then went and completed our project. Huchfee went home but I sat down and looked across the lake. It was a nice day. Then I tried the praying activity. I was not sure that I was doing it right, but I am glad that I tried.

Is praying an activity which you do?

You asked about my compol. It is a communication device. In our third year of school we are all given a training compol, which is used in our education. All our tests and assignments are given on the compol as well as music and some comedy shows. It was on my compol that I reported on my project a little while ago.

After our sixth year in school we are given a new and better compol, which allows us to do additional things. There is a station with news of everything that is happening in Caperston. My father often appears on this news station. We also now have the ability to send messages to friends and family members. After we write, we place our thumb on the screen signaling that the message is completed. It was in my experimenting with my compol that I found you.

I hope I will get a chance to hear Chihaysu speak again. He was interesting.

Your new friend,

Mattpaul

Date . . . May 3rd

Dear Mattpaul,

Thank you for describing your compol. Now I understand. Chihaysu talks about a ruler, whom we also know. We call him God. Chihaysu’s teachings remind me of a person, who we believe was God’s son. We are told this man, who lived many years ago, was named Jesus.

You ask about praying. Yes, it is an activity we do. It is both difficult and easy. It is difficult because we do not know where to start. When I am in church, I hear our pastor pray with such ease. Words flow out of his mouth as he talks to God. Then there is time for silent prayer, and I am unsure of myself.

However, prayer is also easy. When we realize that our creator, God, cares enough about us that he wants to hear from us, well, then it is like talking to my best friend. God is our friend, Mattpaul. Your friend and my friend.

Please continue to write.

Tim

Date . . . May 8th

Dear Tim,

I am excited to tell you this. Chihaysu came to Lake Gael again, closer to our village and many people came to hear him, including my father, my sister Rachaeling and her friend Michaeling. He spoke about a ruler, whom he also calls God, and then told a story that I keep thinking about. It was something like this. There was a man who was traveling across Lake Gael when his boat hit an underwater rock and began to sink. The man was far from the shore and could not swim. Fortunately, he managed to pull a piece of wood from the boat before it sank. He stayed afloat by holding the wood.

A short time later a powerboat was seen in the distance. The man waved for help. The boat was driven by one of the Ruler’s most important advisers. He lived in one of the fancy houses on the shore of Lake Gael.

The advisor slowed down as he approached the man and called out, “I am sorry my friend; I cannot help you as I am already late for a meeting with the Ruler.” He quickly drove away leaving the discouraged man holding onto his piece of wood.

Several hours passed and the man was getting cold. He tried kicking his feet to stay warm when another, smaller powerboat appeared. It was driven by the leader of the school. In his boat was a large fish which he had caught earlier in the day. The driver saw the man and steered his boat to him. He reached into the water, touching his hand, but realized that the only way he could pull him into the boat was to discard the prize fish he had earlier caught. He sadly looked at the shivering man in the water and stated, “Friend, I am so sorry. I have never caught a fish this size and need to bring it home and have it stuffed so it may be displayed in my den. I am sure someone else will come.” He then left, leaving the cold man behind in the water.

It was almost dark with the only light coming from a sunset. The man in the water was ready to accept his fate when he heard a “Swish . . . swish” from behind him. A Mountain Man was paddling towards him. When he arrived, he reached over and pulled the man to the side of the boat. Then the paddler realized that the only place he could sit was behind him and that seat was covered by a large bucket, filled with small fish. The paddler stated, “My friend and brother, you are from the valley and I am from the mountain. I have been fishing all day, making a good catch, and my family will be well fed this evening. However, God has brought me here to you and you are more valuable than any, in fact, than all of these fish.” With that said he emptied the bucket of fish into Lake Gael and pulled the man aboard, paddling him to safety.

What a beautiful story Chihaysu told. It makes me think of what I would do if I were driving a boat towards this man in the water. Chihaysu asked, “Who was the truest of friends?” We all called out, “The Mountain Man.” Chihaysu replied, “Stop being separate from the Mountain People. In God’s eyes you are all equal. Reach out to them and make them your friends.”

My father told me that the man Chihaysu seems to be an inspirational man, but that he does not understand that we and the Mountain People are simply different. But I remember Marcus. He was just like me and I want to be his friend.

Mattpaul

Date . . . May 11th

Mattpaul,

Thank you for sharing your story. I think others would like to hear it so I will feature your letters on my home webpage. I hope we will find interested youth from our world to correspond with you. I also hope you continue to make an effort to see Chihaysu. He seems to be a good man and is asking people to open their minds to working together as equals.

It is a message people in our world also need to focus on.

Tim