Mountain Hotaru - Runner Up

[carnage_lee]

Mountain Hotaru

Long years, the Hotaru had dwelt in the mountain paths of Kumano Kodo. The ancient pilgrims had paved the way back in the Edo period. Yaki-yama or burning mountain in the English was the most dangerous mountain in all of Western Japan. With much precipitation and tales of bandits and wolves plaguing the pilgrims in the early days it had gained a local reputation as a dark place and adopted the name of Perilous Pass.
It was on this pass that Hotaru dwelt. All fearing it was, all evil, as black as night with huge wings and talons. Hotaru was as big as the darkness sometimes bigger. It could change and expand, shift shape, decrease as well as multiply. You never knew just how vast or dark Hotaru was until it was too late and time had stopped.
Hotaru could control time. Manipulate and twist time. Control time against you yet seldom allow it to work for you.
Yaki Yama was a deserted mountain; its forests were devoid of any known life. Silence reigned throughout its paths, no one went there; nothing came from that void. Hotaru’s void was completely paramount. The myth wove Yaki Yamas fate. Hotaru would never allow any external change or influence in its bleak environment. Hotaru with green light, moved and shaped all.

School

The bell tolled at three o clock, the same as it did at the end of every school day. Aki had finished her first week of junior high school. She was now walking reluctantly towards the school gym. She would be expected to choose a sports club to join. There were many choices, soccer, basketball, track n field, baseball, tennis, badminton, softball and even ping pong. The club she decided on would be her club and after school activity for the next three eternal years, it would probably continue after into high school. The only problem Aki had was that she didn’t like sport or clubs, gangs or cliques of any sort. There was the music club and the art club but they were full of people she didn’t really know or like. Her older brother Kota was in Soccer club so she supposed she’d be forced to join that one. She decided to kill some time and hide from the club leaders. So it was that instead of going to the gym as she was supposed to, she found herself in the school library.
Why they can’t have video games club or reading club, she thought to herself as she skimmed an English story book. It had been translated into her language mind you and was another account of wizards and magic, standard school library stuff. She had nearly finished this particular book, she had been reading it since yesterday, and she was wondering if this story would have yet another happy ending. All the school library books seemed to have a happy ending she had noticed.
Aki was always lost in books she could never concentrate in regular lessons. The main reason for this, she supposed, was because most of the teachers never stopped talking. They were so desperate to have control of the classroom that anytime for actual thinking and processing information was lost. Most of the time, her eyes glazed over so that the sounds from the teacher or the students became a murmur in the back of her mind. It was an oppressive paranoid murmur; a hum that gnawed away at her brain as if seeking to destroy her soul. She tried to ignore it but it worked away at her, day in, day out. Until finally the only processing happening within was a mass of hatred and self-loathing.
It may be said that Aki was a dark character. Her few friends were concerned about her but also a little afraid to spend time with her for more than half a lesson. She was interested in getting away from everything dull; particularly in her mind. Her imagination allowed her to escape the formality of time in the grey world. If only she could bring forth the colourful existence of her world in to this then maybe she would have an easier life.
At the moment her life was retched and boring. As she sat in the Math’s class on Tuesday morning at ten o clock, blocking out sums, daydreaming, she suddenly found herself thinking about Hotaru. She couldn’t believe she had already forgotten that tale.

For years the Hotaru myth had haunted the pilgrimage roads in Japan. Some say it is gigantic with black wings, a hard shell and within that shell burns a demon fire hellish to behold. Scouts, monks, travelers and government have each tried to trap this thing with little or no effect. Usually these bold attempts have ended in disaster or with fatalities. Hotaru was as old as time itself, dwelling in the forest and mountain paths of Kumano Kodo. The mountains stretched the length of Mie Ken and beyond into the dirty south. They didn’t lead anywhere and nobody ventured there. Most local people knew the legend from childhood and had no desire or nerve strong enough to test the reality of that legend. Those thick fern forests covering the mountains stretched silently along the coast like a sad ship or sea creature sleeping in the water.
Not for a good thirty years had anyone ventured that way. Not since the last vanishings. Kumano Kodo was a nowhere place. Parents forbade their children to venture there keeping them at home or busy in the game centers and shopping malls. ‘The Mountain Hotaru is no thing for children’ was the saying, a warning to stay away. If you walked alone on the ancient paths and didn’t look behind or keep your wits about you, then it would be too late. Hotaru would have you. Like lightning you would be gone.

The Tea Garden.

The tea garden was the last inhabited point before the forest borders that led to Yaki Yama. In the height of the tourist season it was extremely busy. Now it was the tail end of winter and the beginning of spring. The cherry blossoms were almost in full bloom, encircling the tea garden in a veil of subtle pink. A rectangle of blossom trees protected the cottage and garden from the elements. The trees bowed towards the garden and its cottage away from the wind.
Ron sat and dozed with a half full glass of beer under one of the biggest trees. He was perched leisurely on the old garden furniture they had bought when they first took on the place. It was now slightly weathered and dark from the timely rain. He could afford to buy new plastic furniture but he thought this would spoil the feel of the tea garden. No, he knew where he was with the rotten wooden picnic tables. They sat four people, stacked easily, and the old wood conveniently disguised food stains.
It was midday and the sun beat down upon Ron’s sweaty forehead. His face was red from the sun and alcohol. His face had in fact become slightly purple over time gone by as he was a steady drinker and a lover of rich food. He hadn’t needed to get dressed today as the tea garden was closed until next Monday. A long dribble rolled down Ron’s chin and splashed promptly onto his vest. He was relaxed and at one with his home.
The chime on the mantelpiece clock sounded from inside the cottage. It sounded so far away to him as he opened his eyes. Next to his head, on the table, was a cheese and onion baguette with a slice of tomato on the side of the plate. Jean had not forgotten lunch, this was heavenly. He would eat the baguette, leaving the tomato as usual, sup some more beer and spend the rest of the afternoon lounging in the warm sun. Maybe he would read the sports pages in the newspaper or take the dog for a walk, but for now he was happy where he rested.

No one really noticed Aki was missing from the after school clubs. No one really noticed until well after she had reached the tea garden some five hours hike from the town. Tired of walking in the unknown she was finally relieved to retire to a warm kitchen, Jeans kitchen. There was a strong smell of filter coffee mixed in with the scent of dog breath. Teddy was sleeping soundly. The great beast guarded the tea garden both in and out of season. He guarded it with a passion and a rage that was both feared and to be reckoned with. Nothing or nobody passed the garden gate without Ted’s approval. This wasn’t good for business as there had been a few bitten customers and several court cases over the years.
Aki was glad he was asleep as she wasn’t a huge fan of dogs. She took a sip from her minestrone soup and prepared to tell Jean her story for the second time. She had told Jean she had gone for a short walk and gotten lost. Jean didn’t doubt her story and stirred her soup with a wooden spoon meditatively. Even if she had doubted it she wasn’t letting on. Jean needed an extra pair of hands to help her as next Monday would be the start of a busy season. So it was, with Ron’s permission, Aki was allowed to stay at the tea gardens with the condition that she would begin work at the start of next week.
Aki’s room was to be a wooden storage loft above the kitchen. The floor was furnished with old tatami mats. A futon and blanket were there for her to sleep on. It was very comfy and Aki soon found herself drifting off to the sound of frogs croaking in the rice field.
Ron and Jean had a new helper.
A little more about Ron and Jean, they had lived in Japan for ten years and their English style tea garden had proved very popular. Jean was rushed off her feet most of the time making scones served with cream and strawberry jam and her famous loop the loop soup. Her Japanese was not fluent but good enough to get by. Ron had refused outright to take on another language and had pride in speaking only in English to his bemused Japanese customers. Ron’s authentic English was a big attraction at the tea garden. Language learners would come from all over Japan for a free chance to practice their English and enjoy a delicious cream tea.

There were so many tourists the following Monday that Aki was completely rushed off her feet. Carrying trays, serving hot soup, pouring tea, washing dishes, emptying bins, filling the coffee pot, working the till, wiping the tables as well as serving ice cream was the order of the day. By 5 o clock she was well and truly flabbergasted.
That night around the warmth of the open kitchen fire Ron told a story about an old friend. His name was Keith Virgil and he and Jean had first met him some years ago working in a high brow chain of high street supermarket in London. One of those supermarkets that only cater for the right kind of people, the ones with a hefty bank balance and standards to live up to. It was here that Ron and Jean befriended Keith. Ron told their story and jean translated for Aki. 　

“He was a very lively fellow was Keith,” said Ron. “He always longed for the countryside; it almost killed him at times to be cooped up in that supermarket day after day. He was one of those survivalist types. Always running from some hidden danger and talking about emergency tactics. He even carried an SAS pocket survival book around with him and he was often found to be reading various discontinued army pamphlets from the war office. Well, Jean and I took a liking to him from the start. Our ‘man of the forest’ as he liked to be known always had time for us, even if it was just to talk about how to dismantle landmines and other exciting things. About a year after we moved to Japan, Keith came to stay with us. He was desperate to have some company I think as he was quite the hermit in England. He stayed with us and we showed him all the new curiosities we had discovered out here. He really enjoyed himself I think. After a few days of his stay had passed, we sensed restlessness in him. Being the natural explorer that he was he decided to explore Yaki-Yama. Of course myself and Jean didn’t know the stories or the legend of Hotaru at that time so we thought nothing of it. He said he would be gone a week or so. We never saw him again”.
Ron and Jean looked very sad and busied themselves with the dishes and cleaning away. Jean changed the topic to more everyday pleasantries and so Aki retired to her loft.

During the night Aki was woken by the noise of cars pulling up outside the tea garden gate. Looking out of her window she saw three policemen trudging up the path that led to the cottage door. This was not good she would have to hide or escape.
Climbing into her cupboard she overhead Jeans voice, “No I haven’t seen her I’m afraid, no one of that description has been here”. Why was Jean covering for her she wondered to herself, shaking in the dark. Surly they weren’t that desperate to keep staff! Aki was thankful and gave a sigh of relief as she heard the front door close and the police cars drive away. She was glad she wouldn’t have to return to that terrible school just yet but also perplexed at why her employers hadn’t given her away. Were they simply just nice people?
Either way after this, Aki couldn’t just go back to sleep. So she stole her jacket from the wardrobe, took some bread and a flask of water from the kitchen and silently left the cottage.

There was only one path other than the one back to the village from where she had come. This was Yaki Yama. Perilous pass and the road through Komano Kodo.


Sleeping on the trail

Aki was the kind of girl who didn’t scare easily. Having been by herself most of her life, she wasn’t easily daunted or manipulated. She had her way and the way of the world, there wasn’t a lot in between but she knew never to cling to anything for too long. Or indeed to rely on others for much, she had her inner strength and that she understood was a very special talent to hold. For this very reason she felt the time was right to leave Ron and Jeans cottage.
The mountain trail of Yaki Yama was thick with heavy undergrowth. She reached the beginning of the trail before dawn and set onwards and slowly upwards along the forest path. The path was constructed of many huge irregular shaped slabs of stone. It was assembled by hands a long time ago perhaps. The pilgrims had built this road she remembered. The going was tough and there was much precipitation. With the morning slowly peeping through the roof of the forest Aki decided she could go no further. She hid herself in a shelter of warm leaves and foliage within the trees and fell suddenly into a deep sleep.
She was in a vast underground lagoon, traveling slowly forward on a rowing boat. There were two other shipmates; an old man and a young girl were in front with their backs to her. She could not make out their faces as they were wearing copper bowls fashioned into helmets. They seemed to have silver pistols, Aki was rowing. The boat sailed into a huge underground cavern and came up alongside a great galleon. The scull and crossbones was flying and the galleon was firing cannonballs into the water. Another gigantic ship was aiming back at the galleon and shots were landing in the water alongside their small rowing boat. It seemed they were caught in a cross fire between the two great hulks. Water sloshed violently over the side of their small boat, threatening to capsize it. Suddenly they were overloaded with water and began a plunge down a huge dark waterfall. It was like plunging into a deep abyss. She couldn’t see anything.
Next the boat had smashed and landed inside what seemed to be the interior of a rotting wooden shack. The rowing boat was destroyed and Aki was alone. The stench of the rotting wood was too much. Aki wanted to be sick. A murky dark green light filled the shack as if she were inside a fish tank. All around her there was a silence she couldn’t bare. A fire in the grate started and she moved towards it for warmth. No warmth came however and she was soon caught in the flames. She had become a flame, twisting and licking the chimney, everything was so bright she looked desperately around herself for a pool of water or bucket to put herself out in.
She was rising higher and higher as a cloud of smoke leaving the shack through the chimney and climbing way, way above the mountain and forest. Above the sky, in black space, she looked down at the Earth. The globe was spinning quickly on its axis. It looked like a small fish eye now, it was winking at her. She was back at a kitchen table; Jean was serving her a cream tea with plenty of jam. She was talking happily with Jean about her adventures recalling her story in the lagoon, and she glanced up at Jean. Jean was a frog lady and gave a croaking sound in agreement to Aki’s story. With a loud scream Aki quickly awoke.
But where was she? This was not the forest floor she had fallen unconscious on earlier.

Koya.

A room with sparse furnishings, one low table in the middle and a raised alter platform where there hung a scroll with ancient Chinese script. Some kind of Haiku perhaps, thought Aki. It was so quiet. She sat up and tried to gain her bearings. Shocked but also a little relieved she seemed to be in the safe living quarters of a temple. A Buddhist temple at that, she could hear a clear chime on the wind. The gong sound was faint but piercing to her mind. She was very calm all of a sudden. Feeling relaxed after her strange dreams she stood up and opened the paper window shutters on the left of the room. The sun was burning warmly through the forest shade and the miniature garden was alive with dashes of light here and there. It was a very beautiful garden and a joy to look upon. Why had she been brought here, perhaps some monks had found her sleeping in the trees. She decided to explore the rest of the temple. To reach the main temple building she needed to enter the garden. Crossing the garden stream over some stepping stones, she paused to admire some dragonfly that had gathered around an ornamental water trough. She enjoyed the scene. The trough was made from bamboo. The water filled the trough from a pipe and every few seconds it would tip it over into the shimmering stream making a clunking sound. This sent the dragonfly into a scatter so that they would pull away in surprise and then move back to the water a moment later.
Across from the garden, Aki reached the main temple building. Inside the great hall, one knee high polished lacquer table was set. On it was a bowl of miso soup, some rice, tofu and green tea. Breakfast it would seem. The hall was very long and vast but it was warm and had a friendly feel. Checking the smaller rooms adjoining the great hall and the entrance porch, Aki couldn’t find any monks. They all seemed to be out or busy somewhere.
She knelt on her knees and said itadakimasu before enjoying her meal. She presumed it had been left for her, as there were no other diners or sounds of life in the temple. It was a good breakfast. The smell of incense wafted on the air as she retired to the front of the temple porch. At the entrance she soaked in the warm sun and thought about what to do next. It had been dawn when she fell asleep in the trees, it was still morning now. Was it the same day or had she slept for a long time.
She could stay the day and rest another night, but that would be foolish. She wished she had Ron and Jean with her for guidance but then she remembered she had to be strong as she was on the run. She couldn’t allow herself to become lazy.
There came a gentle croaking from a pool that was to the left of the main temple gate. Strolling over to the rock pool to find the source Aki spied upon a huge frog who was meditating. He wore a simple red Buddhist robe and seemed to be deep in contemplation. “Gerro Gerro Gerro” hummed the big frog. Aki was so surprised to see a frog wearing clothes and sitting in a meditative position that she couldn’t help but cry out to him. “Excuse me, Mr. Frog”, she stammered “Are you part of this place”?
“Gerro”, the frog stopped his chanting. He slowly opened one eye. “Can you speak English” smiled the frog. “Only a little”, said Aki. “I’m a beginner; I’m a junior high school student. My name is Aki”. Aki enjoyed English classes at school but had never been in a situation outside the classroom where she had to actually use it.
“I suppose you are wondering how you got here?” Aki couldn’t answer. She thought she understood but it was difficult for her. The frog continued to speak in English “You weren’t brought here; you came here by yourself I believe. Did you eat breakfast?” Still no answer, the frog went on, “I am part of this place yes, as you are too. Anyone and anything that is here is part of this place, please don’t forget that, with your groupings and clubs and social orders. Anyway, you are only human so I’m digressing a little. Please take your time to rest here, there really is no rush. There is work to be done around the grounds if you feel too idle, gardening, cleaning and the like. Take your pick. By the way, I’m The Frog Monkman, nice to meet you Aki”.
Aki knew this small part of his sentence and replied eagerly “Nice to meet you too”. The wonderful Frog Monkman closed his eye and went back to his studies. “Gerro Gerro Gerro, he continued to hum.
She gave a nervous giggle and ran back inside the temple, through the porch and into the great hall.
On deciding there was no great rush Aki wanted to explore the grounds a little bit more. There were many different rooms but most seemed to be guest rooms. The interesting room was behind the entrance porch to the right. It must be the Frog Monkman’s study she thought. Peeping out of the sliding window she saw that the he had left his pool. She wondered if it was safe to have a nose inside his study.
Everything was dark green in his study, not so much a slimy green but every object and fitting was tinted with the colour of the deep. The ticking clock, the big oak desk, the pictures of aquatic life, the bookcase, the fan, the floors, ceilings and walls were all deep greenish in there look and the atmosphere of the room was very old and learned. The Frog Monkman was clearly a person of great intellect. Not wishing to spend to long in here in case she was caught Aki decided to look through the bookcase to see if she could find anything of further interest. Many old volumes of folk tales and Japanese records lined the shelves. After glancing around there was one paper bound article that stuck out like sore thumb in the bookshelf. It was damp to the touch and felt like it might fall apart as Aki reached up to take it.
It was written in English handwriting, Aki moved to the oak desk and set it down to read.

The Expidition of Keith Virgil 7th May 1998.

Too many fumes, too much petrol and pollution in the air, it’s time to get back to what’s real. I want to wake up in the fresh air again. The central heating costs me a fortune. 30 years from now there won’t be any cars, gas, or electricity. Wars and arguments have already broken out about who controls the oil.
I’m getting a head start, I’m going to live in the ancient forests of Kumano Kodo and prepare for the great change.
People say I’m a survivalist and think I’m a bit nuts but I simply say to them ‘Who is going to feed the monkey when the world’s resources dry up?’ I sometimes add ‘Don’t come running to Keith’.
Any road, I started for the mountains at dawn this morning. It is now dusk and I’m following a golden sunset along the shoreline of the Mie Ken coast. I should reach the start of the trail before midnight. I intend to stay a few days with my friends at the tea garden. The twilight air is warm, the forest is waiting, wish me luck. The ancient road awaits.

10th June 1998

The forest is around me now. I immediately feel safe. The warm green depths will keep me safe. I had the strange feeling today that something in the trees was watching me. I have no idea what it was. It may have been nothing but I know as ‘man of the forest’ when I am the hunter and when I am the hunted. Its nightfall now and I have set camp in a small glade. There is an opening in the trees and I can make out the great bear, although to me though it looks more like a great stag in the sky. Darkness is falling, as are my eyelids. Heavenly sleep comes soon.

Some day at the end of June 1998

It is now several weeks after my last entry. I write in haste as I have no idea where I am or how I got here. I’m in a great underground cavern. There are many stalagmites and no visible exit. What happened? I cannot tell, I must find a way out of here. When I awoke about two hours ago it was as if I had been asleep for a long time. There must be a way out, I’m very tired.

The diary ended here and Aki jumped as she heard a scream coming from outside.