Torogai leaned forward eagerly. “Perhaps it uses a lot of Yakoo names for things. Tell me that part and maybe I can help you.”
Shuga nodded, and they settled on the floor. Torogai thought that Shuga would have to go and get the memoirs, but to her surprise, the Star Reader closed his eyes and began to recite from memory.
“Siguru — the Yakoo child who bore the egg of Nyunga Ro Im — went to Aoike Pond and ate the shigu salua. As the magic weavers and I made to follow in the child’s footsteps, we were attacked by Rarunga….” Shuga spoke smoothly, flawlessly interpreting the ancient Yogoese into modern vernacular while preserving the rhythm of the old language. Torogai felt her skin crawl as she realized that what had happened to them yesterday was exactly what had happened two centuries ago.
“Siguru escaped into a tree and thus was he saved. The magic weavers wove their charms to see the world of Nayugu. ‘This is an ill-fated spot,’ they cried, and carrying Siguru on their backs, they escaped from that land. Rarunga, they said, could smell the egg and track the scent from Siguru’s feet, which penetrated the land of Nayugu; wherefore they bore him on their backs.”
Torogai slapped her knee and exclaimed, “Of course, the smell. The nectar from the shigu salua must transfer its scent to the egg! Ah! How stupid of me!”
Shuga continued, ignoring her outburst. “Siguru reached the land of Sahnan as midsummer drew nigh. Oh, beautiful Sahnan with its bubbling blue spring, source of the Aoyumi River! A small spring it was, but in this summer when drought gripped all the land, its pure water was the single thread of life for all living things. There a thousand birds, a thousand creatures slaked their thirst …
“But in the land of Nayugu, Sahnan was a great muddy swamp spreading endlessly in all directions. This, this was the very home of Rarunga. Brave Siguru! Boldly did he set foot on Sahnan.
“Now was the time to do as had been done since ancient times — to bear four bright torches and surround Sahnan, keeping Rarunga at bay. But woe betide us, for the power of Nyunga Ro Im that lay inside Siguru created a white mist over the water’s source, and try though we might to light the torches, it was to no avail.
“Ah, woe! We could do naught but bewail our helplessness as Rarunga’s claws rent Siguru asunder….”
Torugai’s head jerked up suddenly. “What?! You mean he died? You’re telling me that he was killed?!”
Shuga nodded, his face grim. “Yes, the boy died. I expect that this is why, in our legend, the blood of the boy possessed by the demon runs into the water’s source.”
Torogai gnashed her teeth. “Damn! How could this be true? When I asked the Water Dwellers of Nayugu about it many, many years ago, they told me the egg hatched and the Yakoo boy didn’t die.”
“Is that so? And did they tell you how Rarunga was destroyed?”
“They didn’t know! Besides, it’s impossible to talk with them for very long because it’s so hard to stay between Sagu and Nayugu.”
Shuga shook his head slowly. “Then perhaps some children in the past did survive. But the boy two hundred years ago died.”
“Well then, what about the egg? Was it eaten?”
Shuga groaned. “No. That’s just it. It wasn’t. Magic weaver, do you know of a creature called nahjiru? In fact, I don’t even know if it’s a creature. It may be another name for the wind.”
“Nahjiru? Nahjiru. No, I’ve never heard of it.”
Shuga frowned. “You don’t know? Of all people, I thought that you at least would be able to tell me. If I knew what it was, I would understand a little better what happened.”
“Well, I’m sorry! You’re not the only one who’s disappointed, you know. But tell me what that part says, the part with the nahjiru in it.”
Shuga nodded and, closing his eyes once again, began reciting from the memoirs.
“The Yakoo magic weaver, heeding not his own safety, leapt inside Rarunga’s claws, snatched the egg from the torn body of Siguru, and threw it up, up into the heavens. Then came the nahjiru, and seizing the egg, it sped south far across the sky. Ah, this, in truth, is the law of the universe. The egg carried by nahjiru is returned to the deep, deep sea to breathe clouds into the heavens….
“Ah, this, in truth, is the law of the universe. Soft clouds billow in the heavens of Sagu, sweet rain falls to revive the earth.”
Torogai, who had been lost in thought, suddenly exclaimed, “That’s it! Of course! Now I understand. That’s what it’s all about. Damn!” She groaned. Shuga leaned forward eagerly.
“You understand? What is this nahjiru? Tell me.”
Torogai raised her face and hit the floor with her fist. “What a fool I’ve been! How can I call myself a magic weaver when I didn’t even notice something like this?” She fixed Shuga with a piercing stare and told him what nahjiru meant, and how they could defeat Rarunga according to the passage he had just recited.
When she had finished, Shuga’s face was even paler. How could he have missed this vital point when he had spent so much time studying Nanai’s memoirs? It was ironic: Torogai had read too much into the Star Readers’ schemes, while Shuga had totally dismissed the Yakoo lore. As a result, they had both overlooked the wisdom concealed within something the two cultures shared: the ancient midsummer festival.
“I’ve failed,” Shuga said. “It’s too far to reach Sahnan now. Even if this method succeeds, we have no way of telling them in time.”
Torogai stood up. “There is one way, though I don’t know whether it will work or not. Still, it’s worth a try.”
“What is it?”
“I can ask the Water Dwellers of Nayugu to take them a message. I’m sure my apprentice will understand it.” She turned abruptly to look at Shuga’s puzzled, anxious face. “I doubt I’ll have another chance to speak like this with a Star Reader, so I’m going to be frank while I have the chance. This time, don’t try to hide the truth just for the sake of your stupid politics. I can’t stand the thought of putting people through this same ordeal a hundred years from now.”
Shuga averted his eyes for a second, then met her gaze squarely. “I’ll do my best. Let me promise you this, Yakoo magic weaver: When I become Master Star Reader someday, I will find a way to make sure the truth is passed down.” Torogai’s mouth, which had been clamped in a stern line, softened slightly. Seeing this, Shuga added, as if it had just occurred to him, “I also have a request. Will you teach me the knowledge of the Yakoo in which Master Star Reader Nanai was so interested?”
Torogai’s eyes widened. “Well now, that’s an interesting thing for a Star Reader to say. It’s a deal, if you’ll teach me about Tendo in return.”
It was Shuga’s turn to look surprised. “You still want to learn new things even at your age?”
“Of course! But you’d better be careful. If anyone finds out you’re interested in Yakoo lore, you’ll never get to be Master Star Reader. Be clever about it. And if you want to learn about the Yakoo, then you’ll have to let me go unharmed.” She cackled. “Making up stories is your strong point, right? I’m counting on you to come up with a good story that doesn’t hurt the prince’s reputation but still includes us. This won’t wait until you’re Master Star Reader, either, so you’d better get cracking.”
Shuga stared at her silently for a moment and then nodded. “I’ll do my best,” he said.