“Eat the fruit. “Daddy stop, say.
Through the cracks of peacock’s leaves, Abo saw Pinatuboub, who was sprayed with a dark red cloud, lighted up in the sun for the first time — perhaps the last time — since the gods were angry.
Apo Quino opened his fist and watched with hesitation the four wild olives in his palm.
“Eat it. “Daddy repeats, impatiently shakes his body.
Apo extended an invitation to enjoy the good food around, confirming that no one else existed and slowly eating the fruit. On the way down the hill she found an olive tree, and Dad asked her to thank the mountain god, Abona Mayari, for her gift and promised to sow the seeds elsewhere and then remove 15 green olives for her. The fruit is sweet, but Apo can’t eat it all. She wants to sneak it back to her mother.
“Bring the fruit of the highlands to the lowlands, and you shall be crippled until death.” Dad says, “Every Aeta knows, you idiot. I’m sorry.
Abo buried olive seeds in the soil, and Dad used his bow to draw the weeds in front, and she made her move.
Quino, a tribe living at the highest end of Mount Pinatubo, is two hours away from the nearest village of Aeta, where they rarely go down unless they go to the village of Sapumbatu below the hill to trade monkey skins for salt, arrows and fabrics with lowlanders.
“The ruler of Quino’s eight rivers, Abona Mayari, does not need gods and Spaniards. Dad used to say, Over the years, many Aeta villagers have converted to Catholicism, and priests have helped them to build rain-proof shacks and brick houses, and they have begun to wear colourful fibres, stop hunting and sell rough carvings to tourists for money. This is a sad decline in the eyes of the Quino tribe.
“Abona Mayari will be angry. He’ll send Grandpa Pinatubo down to punish those idiots. Many nights, in the flames of light and the smell of bat dung filled with caves, Dad sorted the bow strings while saying that men from other families would come along.
The caves of the Quinos were a source of pride to them, and for centuries they had sought refuge from the beasts, the mosquitoes and the storms, in the words of their father, in the bodies of the mountain god Abona Maya.
Until the Day when the Mountain God will be angry.
Abo remembers that it was the fourth night after the full moon, and the weather was rather hot, and during the day men hunted two fat Bitatava lizards, and the stew became very rich for dinner.
After dinner, the men came together to talk, and a couple of hounds chewed on the iguana bones, and the mother used the fire to bake a hot stone knife to continue the uncompleted tattoo on Abo’s back. A rough blade cuts through the skin, Abo bites on his lips, and the wounds of the last tattoo have just swollen, and now is the best time to strengthen the pattern, so repeat it three times, that it will be branded deep into the skin and will not disappear for life.
“Your name is Bob, it’s a name borrowed from Mayari, Abona. Mother said, “Oh, my God, smell the smoke we’re contributing, and bless us not to get wet by the rain, but to our wet feet.” I’m sorry.
“Thank you, Lord Yamato and Grandpa Pinatubo. “Apo, bows to the flames.
Then the low noise came from the depths of the rock, and the dogs were standing their ears, and they said, “Did the rock roll into the valley?” If the water’s drowsy, it won’t be able to fish tomorrow. I’m sorry.
“I saw a lot of monkeys in the woods below Eagle Rock. We could catch them. Another person said:
After a moment of grunting from the Earth’s heart, somewhere above the head suddenly burst, the hounds cried out of the cave, the sky rolled over, and countless bats came from deep into the cave, covering the light of the torch.
As the people straddle to the outside world, the Mount Pinatubo, which is high in the clouds, is covered with a blood-red cloud that creeps like its inner organs, smelting its nose, the moon is twisted and the sky becomes unknown.
People kneel before the mountain gods, even the oldest men of the tribe have never seen this. Mother hugged Aboh in her arms and told her not to be afraid, except that the mountain gods were angry at the lowlanders and the converted Aetas, but Abov felt that her mother was shaking more than herself. My father touched the earth with his forehead, did not celebrate the name of the generous Maya of Abona, promised a month of monkey meat, bananas and rice in exchange for the mercy of the mountain God, but the mountains responded with a warm cry, with a blood-coloured cloud overlooking the people who were shaking.
No one could sleep that night. When the morning light shines on the short walls on the edge of the cave, people look out, the mountains remain the same, and the sky recovers, with only a circle of red smoke surrounding Pinatubo, like a ceremonial embroidery ring.
The Quino tribe began a day of work in a state of unease, and it quickly became clear that the beasts had fled the hill before dawn, that monkeys, boars and peacocks had disappeared, that even bats that lived deep in caves had disappeared, and that fish in the creeks had become scarce and that skilled hunters had returned empty-handed. The women who went to pick were surprised to find many fruit trees blooming overnight, and spent only half a day filling all the baskets.
Is this the anger of the mountain god, or is it a gift? When the night comes, the men light a smoke from the lowlanders, and the will of the Maya of Abona is discussed with piety. No one can come to an answer. Mom stopped giving Apo tattoos, and she was afraid it was the act that provoked the gods. After the meal of rice, monkey dry and melon, Apo lays down to the adults and touches the cold rock with his nose.
She lays on the inside side of the cave, where the sew goes deeper, where the bats live, where the Quinos never explore. Bo didn’t like the way he talked to him, the way he talked to him, the pain she was bringing to her, and she liked to talk to herself about the rocks and pretended to hear a response from the Mayari of Abona.
She’s been talking to herself for 10 years since she spoke, and this night, a miracle happened.
O mountain God, why are you angry? She said, “Tighten the rock with your ears.”
“Who are you?”
A voice came from deep within the rock, and Aboh never heard that deep, low and empty. She sat up, staring at the backs of the giants who were blind and blind in the fire: “Mother, are you talking?” I’m sorry.
Mom looked at her and said, “I’m sewn, and nobody talks to you. Go to sleep, Apo. I’m sorry.
Apo caressed the beating chest and lay down near the rock: “I am Abo, Abo of the Aeta tribe of Quino, 14 years old. She whispered, “Is the mountain god talking?” I’m sorry.
“…can you hear me? The sound is coming through granite, through mountain peaks, through the bodies of Maya in Abona.
“Yes, I can hear you. “Apo has been talking to you all the time, mountain god, can you hear me?” I’m sorry.
“…Apo. “Where are you?” I’m sorry.
The girl replied, “I’m in the cave of the Quino tribe on the eastern side of Grandpa Pinatubo, where four streams meet. I’m sorry.
“I don’t know where. “I was near the border, it became cold and light, and I didn’t know where to go.” I’m sorry.
“Is the mountain god angry?” Apo asks: “Because the lowlanders cut down trees and the Aetas who believe in God stop praying to you…”
“I’m not angry, I’m scared. I’m sorry.
“Does the mountain god fear too? What are you afraid of? I’m sorry.
“Fear of being left behind. I’m sorry.
“Who left?”
“by companions. I slept a long time, and when I woke up, my people were gone. I’m alone.
“Where did they go? If we go hunting, we’ll go back. I’m sorry.
But…
The ground is shaking, Pinatubo is burping, the Quinos in the cave are crying out, and the voice from the ground is gone.
“O Lord of the mountains!” And Apo put his hands in a circle on a rock, and shouted to it, “O Lord of the mountains, are you still there? Are you leaving?”
“What are you doing?” I’m sorry.
The man’s voice cried, “Don’t disturb the Maya of Abona, go to sleep!” If you’re not good, you’ll be hit in the head by a rock on the hill tomorrow. I’m sorry.
Bobo stood up and pretended to fall asleep. “The Lord of the Mountains?” she cried at the silent rock until dawn.
A few days later, Dad decided to go down the hill for the purpose of visiting the lowlanders for information about Pinatubo, in addition to adding salt and smoke to the tribe. Bo’s got Dad’s leg and she likes lowland stuff, and those things called TV, cars and Coca-Cola are amazing. Father did not want to, because Abo’s first brother was attacked by a king cobra on the way down, and died before he was sent to town; the second brother saw the world below the mountain and never wanted to come back, and was adopted by Sister Fandvira to settle in the civilized world.
Downhill is a curse for the Quino.
In the end, Dad compromised because he was 42 years old, almost the oldest man in the tribe, and Abo was his only child now.
They spent six hours down the hill and arrived in the village of Sapambatu before noon. And when I saw those red brick huts and the satellite antennas on the roof, my father wrinkled his head, and he laid down his arrows and spears, packed his coats, and put on talismans and ear covers: “I went to the nuns to ask about the news and sold the monkey skin, so don’t go far.” I’m sorry.
He said, ‘Do not eat strange things, even though they are to be shared according to the custom of the Aeta.’ Remember?”
“Remember. “Apo noded his head hard, and she knew Dad would visit the expelled son first.
They walked into town with mud, and the Aetas in fancy T-shirts said hello by the side of the road, and Dad didn’t pay attention. And several tourists raised their cameras, and he warned them with cold eyes and saliva: “Foot! Get away from me!”
“Mira aquí!” “The tourists laugh and wave their arms.
They came to a red brick house with a cross. Sister Fandwire! “The Quinos came from Grandpa Pinatubo.” I’m sorry.
The nun appeared at the door and she was the whitest person Bo ever saw, white as the full moon.
“I know what you’re doing here. “Come have a cup of tea, I’ll tell you what happened.” How are you, Po? Your brother’s fine. He took a bus to Iba yesterday. Half of the village of Sapambatu has left. I’m sorry.
“She has no brother. “I don’t drink tea.” I’m sorry.
The nun said, “There are a number of Aetas who have also moved to the lowlands, and you must go. A week ago, there was a red smoke in Mount Pinatubo, which I reported to the Manila government, and Dr. Punobaye, a volcanic scientist, took the investigation team to the top of the mountain and detected more than 200 vibrations in one day. Listen, the volcano is going to explode, and soon. The government summoners are on their way to notify each Aeta tribe. I’m sorry.
Dad’s eyebrow is shaking: “Grandfather Pinatubo is not a volcano. I’m sorry.
“It’s a volcano. I’m sorry.
“It never explodes. I’m sorry.
“Not for 500 years, but not for the future. I’m sorry.
Dad shouted, “Abona Maya is kind to 20,000 Aetas.” I’m sorry.
“God loves people. A disaster will come, but God will make a promise to those who depend on him, wipe away all their tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more cry, no more pain. “We should face the suffering with courage.” I’m sorry.
“Your God, not my God. Let’s go!” Dad spitted on the nuns’ robe and ran out of church. When they left the village and returned, Bo could not see the car, the TV, nor drink Coca-Cola, she was afraid to speak to her father, who had never been so angry.
It wasn’t until I saw that wild olive tree again that Dad stopped and made the panting Abo catch up.
“Don’t talk to anyone about nuns. The man threw monkey skins into the bush and said to his daughter harshly: “If not, the Maya of Abona would be angry, understand?” I’m sorry.
Bo’s crying, but she doesn’t know what happened.
It rained the next day when a man dressed in khakis came to the cave door, claiming to be a messenger for the Manila government, and his father drove him away with spears with a few men, saying that his documents were false and that he was wearing a cross around his neck and that he was a perturbing spy from the Catholic Church.
The day the hunters did not reap any harvest, there was little rice stored in the caves, and the women were worried to pick back the fruits, which were sweet and big, but rotted in branches, as if the rainy season had ended in days.
In the evening, it was dark, rain hit banana leaves and adults sat silently in front of fire ponds smoking. Apo said again to the rocks: “Master, Lord Yama, are you there?” I’m sorry.
“Who are you?” I’m sorry.
“I’m Bo of Quino. “Where have you been?”
“I’m moving towards colder and lighter. The sound said, “I don’t know where to go, but there’s a force pushing me there, and I think the partners left in the same way.” I’m sorry.
“I hear you’re going to use the volcano to bring down punishment. Is that so, Lord Yamato?” “Will we die? Where are the others? Where are the lowlanders?”
The sound stopped for a while.
“I don’t understand. It replied with a little confusion: “I’ve been living here, one direction is hot and heavy, and the closer I get, the more thick and even hard around, the other direction is cold and light, and if I go deep, it feels like I’m losing my grip. There is a layer of border in a cold direction, and I have never jumped through it, but the partners have disappeared and I think they have gone across the border. I’m sorry.
“Just like the world below the mountain. Are you going to Manila? “I heard everything there is. I’m sorry.
“I don’t know, I’m lonely and scared. I’m sorry.
“Don’t be afraid. “I am with Lord Yamato. I’m sorry.
“It’s coming to the border. Am I in the right direction? I’m sorry.
“Dad says Abona Mayari is always right. I’m sorry.
The earthquake began, with bat dung at the top of the caves falling, the ground cracking open, and a drowsy spring sprung out of it. The Quinos were hoisting up pots, baskets and meats to leave the caves, shaking in the night, and father protected fire with his body, crying in the rain: “Are you going to abandon us, ruler of the eight rivers, the highest of the Abona Maya?” Have you stopped enjoying the fireworks, the fruits and the rice we gave you? Don’t you bless our feet from the rain? I’m sorry.
The rain was soaking in the cloak of Aboh, and the wounds on her back were sore, she kneeled in the mud and tried to communicate with the mountain gods, and the world was shaking and cold, and she could no longer hear a reply.
The sun had finally risen again, the earthquake had stopped, and the exhausted Quinos were surprised to discover that Mount Pinatubo had returned to calm, that the blood-red cloud had disappeared and that the black and grey rock of reflection on the top of the mountain was clearly visible. Dad blew the dying fire, lit the oiled torch, raised his arms to the sky, and “Abona Maya is angry!” “The mountain god forgave us! Grandpa Pinatubo won’t spray any more fire! I’m sorry.
“Abona Mayari! People bowed to Pinatubo, bowed to the mountain god and spilled the remaining rice and meat to the flames, believing that the smoke would send sacrifice to the gods, because the flames were a way of communicating between the two worlds.
After the party, the Quinos made their caves and slept sweetly in soft straw. Bo fell asleep in her mother’s arms for some time, woke her up in a rush, and she sat up and looked at her eyes, and most of the Quinos did not wake up, and several people were standing out of the cave arguing, among them the yellow-dressed government envoy and a white old man in a hunting suit.
Apo slowly went outside and heard Dad say, “Even if you’re a doctor as the nun says, it doesn’t mean you’re right.” I’m sorry.
“I am Dr. Pinobaye, a volcanic scientist, and I repeat, you have to go down to safety, and scientists from Washington have arrived in Manila, where they believe that the eruption of Pinatubo was no less massive than the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, one of the most devastating disasters in history. All of them! I’m sorry.
“Dumb! Look!” Dad laughed, “Grandfather Pinatub is not angry anymore! I’m sorry.
Dr. Finger Mountain: “This extraordinary silence, which means that the volcanic energy cannot be released, is gathering up and brewing a huge eruption, the smell of sulphur dioxide in the magma that you smell, which means that magma has risen to the surface and is likely to erupt at any time!” I’m sorry.
“Don’t put your dirty fingers on Grandpa Pinatubo! Several Quinos shouted at the same time that their father hit the doctor’s back with a spear and the old man cried back a few steps back. “They will attack us!” “Daddy immediately sent out a call for battle, and many hunters who had just woke up came out, bowed and arrowed, and the venom arrow was shining in the sunset.
Doctor shakes his head in his left hand: “There is no time, and there are two Aeta tribes waiting to be rescued, drop down their guns, let’s go, let the helicopter stand by in the village of Sapumbatu, and withdraw as soon as Washington sends a signal.” I’m sorry.
The yellow man stood up to his anger and collected his revolver, and a Quino hunter untied his bow string, with arrows stabbing into the ground with the leg of the messenger ‘ s pants. Doctors and messengers ran down the hillside.
“Ooh! The Quinos laughed and called for victory: “Go back to Manila, the white pig of God!” I’m sorry.
Apo whispered, “I hear the voice of the Lord of the Mountain, and he says to go to the border…”
Nobody cares what the girl says. “The white man said in the middle of the crowd, “The earth is a ball, inside it is the core, and outside it is the earth, and it’s hot and heavy, and it’s soft and light, and magma goes up from the bottom, and it comes out and it turns into a volcano. Listen, he doesn’t even know the mountain god.” And how does he know that the Maya of Abona holds 10,000 mountain peaks with his hands and maintains the balance of the world ”
Men and women joined him, loudly mocking the ignorant Catholics. Po returned to the cave alone, fell in front of the wall, touched the rock and felt that it was no longer cold, but carried some strange body temperature.
The night came and rained, people fell asleep and the voice of the mountain God finally appeared.
“I’m across the border. Here… it’s weird. But this is the same world, and I’m going further. I’m sorry.
“Did you find your partner?” I’m sorry.
“No, they have left. Leave the world, go to another world. I’m sorry.
“What are you gonna do?”
“I’m going there too. We slept, and then I woke up, and I slept too long, so I forgot the way home. Now, I think I understand. I’m sorry.
“Go to another world … Are you afraid? I’m sorry.
“I can’t be afraid, because it takes a long time on the road, and I’ll be alone for a long time. I’m afraid I’ll wake up alone again. I’m sorry.
“You can talk to me. I’m sorry.
“If … can. I’m sorry.
“Of course. I’m sorry.
They talked for a long time.
They have nothing in common, but they are connected. The night was getting darker and the rocks were getting hotter and the sleeping Quinos were dancing in their dreams with the mountain god, and Abbo knew that some time was coming.
“Who are you?” I should remember your name. I’m sorry.
“I’m from Quino’s 14-year-old Apo. I’m going to see Manila one day. I’m sorry.
“I don’t have a name to say in language. I’m sorry.
“No, your name is Abona Maya, Lord Mountain.” I’m sorry.
“I’m from the ancient heart of Abona Maya, and now I’m going to look at the universe. I’m sorry.
“Where is the Earth’s heart and what is the universe?” I’m sorry.
“The Earth is at the centre of our world, the universe is the other world, where our partners go, where my home is.” I’m sorry.
“Did you hear Grandpa Pinatub sighs? I’m sorry.
“That’s to welcome me. I’m sorry.
“Will you bring disaster?”
“I don’t know what disaster is, if that breaks your heart, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
“What’s sad? I’m sorry.
“The heartbreak is… never to see again. I’m sorry.
“Then I’ll be sad. I’m sorry.
“so sorry. I’m sorry.
“Aetas don’t say sorry, because we’re a whole. It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry.
“Well, don’t die, Bo. Hide and look at me.
“Bye, mountain god. I’m sorry.
Bye, Bo.
Rocks are too hot to touch, the voice of the mountain has disappeared, and Apo has woken up his father and his mother and told them to hide, but all the big people can do is look at the red sky outside the cave and pray in horror.
Up into the cracks at the end of the cave, and walking on soft bat dung, she was surrounded by a hot darkness, and she walked for some time and in what direction, and suddenly the whole world began to shake and the sound came from every side, and Apo was wrapped up in bat dung, upside down like a boat, and she breathed like hot oil. At that time she had a dream of a young, old man holding her hand and dancing softly on her grandfather’s head in Pinatubo.
The cave collapsed, and the hot gas from deep into the cave sprayed bat dung and, in the next moment, it was completely buried in mudslides by the soft slopes of rain. The hot rain washes away the mud from his face, Abo opens his eyes, sees the orange red sky burning, Grandpa Pinatub changes shapes, mountains disappear, bright red rivers flow from the top of the mountain. And everything around is burning.
“Abona Mayari…” she whispered.
And the flame came out of it, and in the plentiful inflammation of the sky, a silver thread bursted out of the mouth of the volcano, as a sharp arrow into the sky, and a few seconds later, a sharp whirlwind came, and Apo covered his ears, and, even if he had fallen on his neck, he could not see the silver that was passing away. She knew that it was a sign from the Maya in Abona, and the mountain gods were headed for where the partners were and would never return to the world.
Smacking smokes into the air, hot rain pouring down gray dust, and Abo holds a tree up and coughs. The sound of the helicopter was buzzing from afar, and, at that moment, Abeau suddenly understood the feeling of sadness, to the brother of a civilized society, to the mother and father who disappeared from the flood, to the friends who disappeared from the stars.
But at the same time, she was pleased because she understood that it was not the anger of the mountain god Abona Maya that caused the disaster, but the nitro of another life.
The world is much wider than she would have imagined, except for Quino, and apart from Sapumbatu, and in addition to Manila, there is a further place to go, the end of the mountain, the side of the sea, people and things that have never existed in a dream. The boundary that Dad had drawn did not exist, and perhaps one day she could go to the stars and look for Abona Mayari and his partner.
She’ll never be alone again.
Remarks:
One, this is a novel from the Coco Worldview, which is an iron-based life that breeds in the earth’s core, and that spends a long time in the form of cocoon in the earth’s core and on the mantle, and wakes up following instructions from the cosmos, as the Earth’s thermal pillar rises up on the Earth’s crust, flying into space at the time of the eruption of the volcano, to the destination of the genetic branding.
The story is based on the following true background: the volcano Pinatubo is located on Luzon Island, the Philippines, and the explosion of 15 June 1991 was one of the largest eruptions in the world in the twentieth century. The Aetas are indigenous people of Luzon Island, who have been living in the vicinity of Mount Pinatubo for generations, and Sister Devila, who was in front of the volcanic eruption, was aware of the difference and informed Dr. Punobaye, who told the Government to evacuate the population, thereby minimizing the disaster.
The end–
□ Chang lan
I don’t know.
Keep your eyes on the road.
