STARKLITERARIA 

                                                                        By Marilynn Stark          

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                       Giant Little: An Adventure

                                                    By Marilynn Stark (Aunt Marilynn) 

                          Part One

This adventure story is  written in the spirit of the traditional fairy tale.  It should be considered to be an adaptation of the fairy tale or a metaphysical fairy tale.   Giant Little: An Adventure is hereby dedicated to my great nephews, Max and JohnStark, and is given with equal love and affection to all of the youths of my family for their enjoyment and edification.  Go to: Table of Contents

                                                             P rologue

     Not long ago which was before a long time had ever been there was the person known as Giant Little.  He was neither small nor large, nor was he tall nor not tall.  He certainly was not known for his size as no one really could tell for real just how he fit into things from his own presence nor from how that presence was represented in sheer size.  Now before you skip to conclusions about this little boy as regards his attributes most visible, as if you could yourself ever see him, you must understand that he appeared as was necessary in image proper to the need about him -- about him for sure as you never really knew anything about him, yet you would suppose you knew everything about him whenever he was truly needed in a situation.  His size could be large or tall, little or small, apparent or indispensable.  Indeed, this little Giant Little was always where he was needed and never where he was not.  He should have been named 'Hydroflow' or something similar to that since he was like water.  He was anywhere he was needed so that he seemed to be everywhere even if he was not needed.  If you think you can understand, then you yourself must be that one known as Giant Little, that you must be.  If ever you were to see him in action, then you would know how truly remarkable this boy.  It would be as if only he could understand himself, yet it is said that upon meeting him you could see that he was capable of making you understand him as perfectly as he should understand himself. As concerns his true name beyond the nickname through which the many tales of his adventures resound throughout the land, it is said that he was given the name of Philip.  Now the name Philip comes from the Greek word for horse which of course is known hereunto you as hippos.  If you think that it is only from that one word, then you are forgetting that Giant Little is your friend in deed.  For the other part of his name is derived from philos, the Greek word for friend.  If ever there were a friend for one who likes to wander as does Giant Little, then the friend for practical purposes should be a horse.  With a horse you can travel all over the countryside and still be home on time.

     One day Giant Little, whose other nickname was Gai, pronounced like it would rhyme with sky, was roaming about the fields and forests in the area where the River Strong resides.  Here among Gai's favorite haunts does the majestic River Strong spread its sounds and even pure visage like a ribbon on the land at certain nethermost places yet seen from the vantage points of knolls and hills which roll and gather the eyes for grace and greenery.  As he was tired, Gai was looking for a place to take a nap.  He found a nice maple tree whose bounteous branches with their gentle rustlings in the wind were lulling the flowers and wheat grass.  The wind had no remarkable sound except as the leaves could detect it, and so he felt that there was plenty of peace and tranquility to further lull him to sleep just under the tree.  There was also plenty of sun left in the day; he dismounted his horse and put it to graze in the grass, seeing how happy and glad was his mighty steed to be out of a day and to stop now for some rest and food with his master.  He patted his horse with affection for the good use and companionship he so liked in him and said softly, "You had better keep your eyes and ears open for me while I go to sleep here.  It is time for my nap.  Thanks be to you, Victory."  Victory just looked at him a little restlessly at first.  Then the stately horse seemed to settle into his next task without much further ado.  As Gai put his head down on his little nap sack to go to sleep under the spacious maple tree, he looked over at Victory.  His fine horse gently neighed and stomped his foot in one little concert of recognition of the nap for Gai. 

     While Gai was going to sleep, he felt a gentle nudge, and he looked out from his eyes so drowsy to see Victory also nudging at his knapsack.  He remembered he had taken along an apple for Victory to eat on their daily journey, and so he sat up and procured the piece of fruit; then the boy hero lovingly gave it to his mighty horse saying,  "There you go, Victory, you of the most fleet of feet among all horses.  You must need this for more energy."  Victory carefully took the apple from the palm of Gai's hand, nodded respectfully, and then backed out from under the maple as if to give his sanction to Gai for escaping now to the world of built-in peace and dreams -- sleep, as it is traditionally called.  He snuggled into the soft grass and laid his head once again on the canvas knapsack for his sleep, wondering if Victory can also dream. 

     Before long the beautiful and clear, sunny day gave way to a sudden wind dominated by a now stormy, gray sky in a fashion also sudden and unbeknownst to the sleeping child under the tree; however, was he a child, you might ask, to take on such momentous tasks as he is said to have performed all throughout the place where he lived by the kingdom known as Pristinia?  Whichever way you wish to regard the wondrous Giant Little of the land nearby Pristinia, whether as child or boy, as young man or ageless hero that he was, would have been, or might still ever be -- whether child hero or of good cause regardless of age -- whichever way you rest your mind, may that be in truth the way he was and will be to you.  For when the wind came that day and was soon to turn to storm, that one just named for you in his several attributes and possible range of behavior uncommon to children was sound asleep and oblivious to the wider world about him.  That wider world was turning out to be not so friendly.  Victory adeptly nudged the one he guarded as any faithful horse would; Victory's loyalty was obvious since Gai never staked him out to pasture or tied him unless as social tradition might govern in a town, for example.  Victory nudged Gai once again, awakening him and then snorting a warning that there was a rain cloud abroad.  Gai, you might think, was slow to alertness, but there you would err in disfavor towards any laxity in mission.  Gai might sleep on the way; nevertheless, Gai was always ready.  When danger or even the challenge of a storm might bother the tranquil setting which should be likely to prevail as he would wend his way throughout the area to be explored of any given day, Gai was always ready.  Of course there was something most unusual about the wanderings of Gai since he never seemed to miss school, yet he was always talking or thinking about the beatific life of living in 'what is'.  In fact, one of Gai's school friends one day in the library went to an encyclopedia and looked up the country 'what is' only to find that it was not listed.  When he confronted Gai with this fact, Gai stiffened his being a little and sounded out the letters one by one for his friend, " 'W-h-a-t-i-s?'  Did you capitalize the W and the I or just the W and not the I?  Tell me, for it is only the truth through the 'I' in you I in truth do descry."

     Gai's schoolmate was rather taken aback at this, for he thought secretly that Gai might be the son of the head of state of whatever 'what is' is, and he genuinely thought he would be helping him to report a missing country.  He thought over the riddlelike answer from Gai which resembled a question and said nothing.  

     Gai saw this and then remarked, "Nouns are persons, places or things.  'What is' cannot be succinctly described with adjectives, adverbs or nouns.  So how can you make a country out of that?"

     Gai's conversation had its usual lull as his listener became enthralled with the concepts just heard, and then that listener broke the silence with an answer: "Through the presence of people amany who also know 'what is'." 

     Gai beamed and said nobly, "One day I will see the people who know as you know but did not know that you know until I answered your query; forsooth, they will be my charge."  

     His friend named Secret said then, "Gai, you will see them?"  

     "Yes, I will see them," Gai answered simply or not so simply.  

     Secret asked, "How will you see them?"  

     Gai quipped, "For who they are as according to 'what is'."  

     Secret asked further, "What will that do?"  

     Gai answered, "It will keep them free.  They will remain free; as free as the fortunate ones I know of who live in the Liberty Love Forest."

     Secret pondered Gai's overall message that time.  Then looking down at the floor in deep thought, he lifted his head to remark with a deep understanding of his school friend, "Ah, the people of the Liberty Love Forest.  That is a small state over by the River Strong.  You have mentioned that to me before.  It is a high democracy which you call a beautiful place . . . ."  

     "I call it home in my fondest dreams.  Some day I want to marry and settle there when I get big," Gai interrupted his finest friend Secret.  

     His friend then said in answer to this confession, "I want to go with you when we grow up."

  "Then you must be my friend, my truest friend, and I will lead you there when we grow up," Gai said lovingly.  

     Secret broke down at this show of friendship and answered, "Gai, when you see the people, you mean you lead them, don't you?"  Gai kind of twinkled his eyes in the affirmative, and then swung about on his heel, giving the books in his hand a flourish in the new direction and departed for the next hour of the school day without saying anything in answer to Secret.   

                                              Bo Creek          

   Table of Contents : Part One

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

        Table of Contents : Part Two

Chapter 10

Bottom of Page

                       Chapter 1      

     Now when the gray sky with its own hour of the day dimmed by the loss of light spoke ominously to Gai and to Victory through the voice of its wind that time, it so happened that they were about fifty miles from Liberty Love Forest.  Immediately and much like a soldier, Gai shot up from his soft, earthen, grass-covered bed to attend to the signal of Victory.  They were in action in moments.  Gai knew that this rain was likely to be a short, torrential downpour typical to the current season.  He looked out from under the hood of the quickly donned poncho which he had presciently placed in his saddle pack to see if the weather-telling western sky was at all clear for them on the horizon.  It was clear.  As they galloped deftly across the field, Gai knew that the real urgency was to be ahead -- something he had sensed just as he was mounting his horse.  The wind, the sky, the imminent rain were only signs now, yet they gave motive force to some unfolding mission of which he had had a premonition.  His keen eyes searched the open space for his mentor and teacher, Grandmaster Drona.  Drona taught him warrior arts, martial arts, from an impersonal distance, for that was Gai's level of acuity in the study of truth, in the study of what is real.  This master would always guide Gai, would never fail him, and he showed him the way through the perils and the pitfalls of any mission, mishap or situation whatsoever.  Nowhere was Drona to be seen as Gai moved deftly across the large fields which were bordered by a narrow grove of trees.  Gai in blind faith kept moving; he was called forth through the sense of what he knew was danger.  Many times there were robbers about who were likely to try to steal his horse, for it was a fine black stallion just like a purebred.  Gai's horse was a gift from the wilds to him which Drona had helped him to claim and to tame.  Many had felt an envy of Gai for this horse.  Victory was indispensable to Gai for just this type of mission, and he knew the speed of Victory to be remarkable at times.  So did most know of the speed capabilities of Victory; the good people would study the exploits of Gai accordingly, and they were openly happy that he had been given such a fine consort and transport for his various battles.  Still, as Gai adeptly coursed across the landscape nearby the River Strong, there was no Drona in sight.  Gai thought to himself that once the rain began his range of sight would be limited, so he bravely let go of the idea that he would receive exact direction from his good and wise grandmaster from the physical plane.  Gai then felt the first drops of rain starting, and he goaded Victory to the race.  What race against what remained to be seen, yet it was beyond the rain for certain.  Gai thought to himself as the large but sparse drops began to gain momentum, "I have a feeling that Catster might be there.  I know there is trouble at the River Strong where Bo Creek feeds in.  I will get there on time; otherwise, I would not be going at all."

     Catster is a large cat, a cheetah who is reputed to be able to change form -- usually into a dragon.  Many times Catster will partake in frays with bands of evil men who like to rob  travelers on the roads and who smuggle stolen goods from the neighboring states to one of their many hideouts in the mountains.  Of late Gai has noticed that there is more smuggling going on than robberies, so he suspects that gold and rare gems are the contraband typically to be expected.  The consorts of Gai are not usually people; this is precisely how Giant Little accomplishes the weighty victories he is likely to strike against the thieves and against the badmen.  Catster will outsmart even the most treacherous of the treacherous, those who practice black magic and possess occult powers of remarkable dimension and dark capability.  Gai is humble in a way not often understood by others who observe his prowess in these struggles.  Gai finds his humility in his surrender in an egoless way to the power of the goodness and omniscience of his supernatural mentors and guides.   

     The appointed rain pelted his poncho and challenged his horse's footing but for the muddiness it made as they coursed the green vale.  Before too long Gai saw the turn to make which would lead straight to the River Strong.  The turn was a break in the woods, a break which was about a half mile wide.  The noble boy and his fleet-footed steed, barely even slowed by the rain and its mud, went resolutely towards the opening in the woods.  As they were turning to make entry into the wide passage thus afforded them by the clearing, they saw the sun and coursed straight ahead.  The rain abated almost as quickly as it had arrived, giving ominous presence to the party arriving now upon an obvious breach of civility somewhere near the river; in fact, Gai heard a couple of yelps and knew that a fight of some sort was underway.  He hoped to catch any smuggler he might encounter, confiscate the contraband, and take the smuggler alive to the appropriate authorities in his town.  Then he dismissed that as unlikely since these are some of the most wanted and dangerous samples of bad ilk that anyone could ever imagine could exist.  They terrorize and spread crime and hurt on a fairly regular basis.  They love the area nearby the River Strong where its tributary Bo Creek intersects; that land has been under political contestation for years now.  Thus, what authorities would there ever be to whom Gai could report this trouble once uncovered?  That is exactly why Gai and his noble consorts are even likely to be there at any given time -- it is constantly being anarchized by the unsavory few from various other provincialities in the larger region. Nobody actually knows under which jurisdiction this land should be placed in the regional governing districts.  Therefore, it is difficult to prosecute any bad man who commits a crime there and gets caught; this is as recent history tells.  

     Now the River Strong came into sight.  Gai heard a scream from a girl which made his hair stand on end.  He stiffened his resolve to get there on time and face her plight forthwith.  What if they were doing her harm?  Did they have her captive and in transport to one of their evil enclaves never to be returned to civil life with her parents again?  No, this could not be happening; he said to himself, "I will save her.  I once long ago had a dream about this."  As usual and as he is wont to be, Giant Little was where he was needed, and he was there on time for any task, large or small, which should be his rightful calling.  This would be Giant Little to the rescue. 

     Suddenly, he saw a scene which did not truly surprise him.  Giant Little had expected a battle to save someone taken hostage even before he left his house; he had steeled himself accordingly.  Such prescience had come to him the night before in a vague vision of the battle, a vision which had been calling him forth.  He had only partially recognized it as even believable.  Now the more immediate calling he had felt since the ride in the rain was becoming most real and was right before him.  There was a girl just about his physical age who was in the hostile charge of two bandits.  She was tied at the hands and feet and was held thus captive in the back of a wagon sitting on the trailside.  Apparently, even in the brazen event of the abduction of their fair captive were the kidnappers stopped alongside the river at least to water the horses and have a meal.  Gai saw this all from a certain distance; however, he saw the particulars in his mind's eye more graphically than he could make out an exact image of the hostage, for example.  Such was the awareness of the boy hero of the battle in front of him; this awareness was to give him a working advantage in the now active, indeed, growing confrontation.  

     Gai did not have any intention of breaking his speed as he approached more closely the site.  The two bandits read this and bolted towards their wagon when they heard him galloping towards them and closing the distance; most definitely could the outlaws feel the ferocity of the boy warrior.  They were scrambling for a plan.  All of a sudden, one of them ran to the campsite and grabbed his bow and arrows; needless to say, he was ready to fight any encroacher.  However, do not think for a second that Gai was working alone as he posed his courageous entry into the area where the young maiden was being held against her will.  If you thought Gai was to be alone in this, you would not give notice to the level of intervention necessary to save the girl's life if not Gai's, as well.  These were cutthroat, deadly bandits.

     Gai invited open battle with a detached yet determined, stentorian war cry, "Y-a-a-a-tz!"  Battle was now a given.  Gai himself was amazed at the sound which had emanated from his own throat; never before had he heard such an echoic effect as he had just heard in any of his invitations to battle.  It was as if he had made the outcry from some large cave with the capacity to make sound resonate as well as echo.  This the great Giant Little interpreted to mean that he had a given advantage over the enemy before him, and that he would strike victory.  Such peculiar sound  the boy warrior could only perceive as a direct representation of ultimate truth in battle.  Moreover, Giant Little perceived through this supernormal vocalization that the battle in which he was now engaged would indeed be a pivotal one; he had with prescience been expecting something of this magnitude.  The open invitation to fight which had just issued from his vocal cords gave indication of his much more expansive grasp of the critical nature of the confrontation which was summarily unfolding after long germination. 

      How would he fight?  He would charge -- that was his instantaneously derived strategy because that was his level in fight.  So charge he intended, and the wicked kidnappers sensed this.  They felt it, as well, subsequent to the war cry of Gai whose sheer threat sent transient, weakening thrills through their very muscles.  As Gai's martial arts war cry echoed ominously across the River Strong, it amplified the timely announcement of the boy hero's dire resistance to those mean kidnappers for all of the creatures to hear.  

     Before Gai could reach the exact locus of the crime against freedom in front of him which he was skillfully divining as he went along and just as the bowman was taking up his arrow for aim and target, Catster would come out from his hiding place located in a wooded vantage point right next to the campsite.  After all, hope looked dim for the noble young lad and the young lady in acute distress; Catster was needed and would join in battle.  He was to arrive by an aerial leap  upon the developing scene from his vertical perch in a tree.  Gai was but one person against two, and he carried no weapon; the one bound up in rope had no way to escape if an opening were even made in terms of sheer timing in battle and in the array resultant to its offensive giving.  While Catster remained still as a hidden stalker in the tree branches, Giant Little was charging relentlessly -- that badman sensed that Giant Little was seeking a way to leap upon him from his moving horse.  Catster instead startled the badman just as he was lifting his bow and arrow to take aim at the approaching warrior Giant Little.  Catster made a loud thump-a-jump right onto the back of the archer, felling him summarily to the ground.  After Gai saw this, he finished his entry briefly, he called his horse to a stop, and he leaped to the ground to find physical issue with the other badman who was making tracks to grab his charge and hold her very life hostage at gun point -- as Gai read it.  That sense of his opponent's plan girded Gai to the hilt of defense; thus, he was to strike an open challenge to the timing of such a would-be capture by intercepting it before it could ever happen.  The frightened girl read this in Gai, seeing in Gai's mind that he did not want her to go through that kind of ordeal.  This made her pray for her life itself.  Physically the girl felt so filled with fear that her throat was constricted, her heart was racing, and she was breathing abnormally fast and shallow breaths now.  As she tried heroically to summon more strength for the fray even yet developing around her, she fell back into the horror of not being able to free herself somehow from the ties placed upon her.  The most severely compromised, heretofore helpless hostage finally with the advent of this strange boy on horseback who came out of nowhere found a belief from some mythical plane; with Giant Little's arrival her distraught mind reached upwards for some concept at a level of mythical possibility in her desire to be saved.  It was said in the folklore which grew up around Giant Little that those who were ever saved by him would perceive some intangible thing about him while he was saving them.  This air about Giant Little could only be described as if he should be regarded as otherworldly when in a saving act, or even when in dire action on an overall mission.  Now the unfortunate hostage in life-threatening straits nearby the River Strong perceived even through her state of fear the meaning of what mythical stature Giant Little had occupied in the stories she had heard about him.  Verily, her perception of this small-sized hero gave her courage.  

     She said to herself in desperation, "He will save me.  This is a miracle.  It -- it must be Giant Little.  It is Giant Little.  I know it is Giant Little.  It has to be Giant Little.  They know it is Giant Little.  There is nobody else like him.  He will save me!  Giant Little!  Oh, you great one!  Save me!"  With this prayer for his rescue her breathing steadily calmed down.  She started to recruit her mind now to being brave, yet she could feel the horrible machinations of the remaining criminal as he was madly approaching her; he was bent on her as if his own life depended on it now.  Once again, she began to tremble as he was running towards her to take her into a physically locked target disposition at gun point in the battle.  He fired a shot into the air over his head and then was madly waving his pistol in the air as he ran to get her; he was so much crazed it was terrorizing.  This made her glimpse her own death.  She in a miraculous leap of abstract faith pulled her focus out of that possibility of her death on the strength of seeing Giant Little whom she watched now; she willfully trained her eyes away from the badman so as to call back what courage she had mustered as she watched and believed somehow that Giant Little would win this insane fight.  She had no idea of how some strange cat had intervened and felled one of her captors as it did; instead, she had thought that the boy hero would be the one to save her.  However, her observation of Giant Little was that he had launched this miraculous initiative to somehow rescue her.  She saved her faint faith and hope for freedom through this great intervention on the fact that one of her kidnappers was out cold; indeed, he lay motionless on the ground totally incapacitated.  She now had some chance, at least.  She looked over at the felled criminal motionless on the ground; she registered her eyes upon Giant Little immediately afterwards.  As she was pleading with him in her heart to take action to defend her, she saw what had been the small body of Giant Little subtly loom, or so it appeared to her, into a larger, man-sized form for a fleeting instant.  It was at that moment in battle when Radhita truly glimpsed at the greater power of Giant Little.

     Giant Little in a mere glance had read the desperate pleas and the entire mindset of the fair young maiden.  He sensed to what degree her mind was frozen in fear and how totally threatened was her body in the straits in which he found her.  Giant Little extended the laws of physics just a little bit more than a little as he performed a long-reach flying side kick in the targetting of the evil one who was running over to the wagon to take the young lady into direct and face-to-face hostageship against him in battle.  That brazenfaced villain, armed with both a pistol and a deep enmity for Giant Little, was crazy enough to just use it on the girl; however, Gai's sudden arrival from an unexpected distance of aerial accomplishment is what stopped that rude rouster from ever even touching the young girl at all again.  Gai's flight rivalled the cat's arrival, for certain.  Indeed, a vertical drop is easier in some ways than a running leap for dint of offense.  Furthermore, as the badman was disarmed when thus caught unawares by such a superhuman feat as Gai's surprise flying sidekick, Giant Little watched to see if he would  re-collect himself, grab the pistol back, and rebound from the ground to make further fight now against him.  This boylike master who might be regarded as yet a boy in body alone had made victory in a single blow; thus should Giant Little's battle to free the hostage be told.  Forsooth, he had effectively stripped of gun that awful enemy, yet he had stunned him twice through the strike: once by the target belonging to his flying foot at the extent of the baffling, mighty flying kick and once by the force with which the enemy hit the ground.  There was no time for that kidnapper now, for he had subsequent to hitting the ground lost his consciousness.  

     The element of time in taking the young maiden's freedom by claiming her to captivity's hold had visibly expired for the armed torturers -- such was the abstract observation of Drona who was only a couple of miles further down the intended line of battle.  Drona and two of his masters were engaged in fending off the terrible Durydon, the leader of the two gangsters now being felled.  That terrible Durydon was present in the area and had been steadily encroaching upon the battle scene.  Drona had the divine power to envision a battle in the offing without being physically present at the battle; moreover, he had the divine power to see the constellation of those contending in battle with one another on the field, and he could figure out its very outcome -- presciently, if necessary.  Such was the rare power of Drona.  

     Gai quickly gathered up the maiden in his heart when he mentally secured the opponent as having been knocked unconscious; indeed, he verified that Catster's opponent was still unconscious.  Then he ran over to the distressed young lady and freed her from the ties which constrained her body.  Brave as she was, she let out no tears although her face was livid with all-consuming fear and mild shock.  She did accomplish an immediate surrender to the next phase of escape, however, as she physically and mentally latched onto Gai once he had untied her.  She grabbed his arm when he freed hers, closing her eyes tightly as she fought back her intense emotions.  When she opened her eyes again, she was seemingly disconnected from direct recognition of anything around her or of the situation.  Gai was anxious to make certain that she would be consciously aware enough to make an escape with him on horseback.  Fearing that she might slip into unconsciousness, Gai gently held her face by the chin in his right hand and searched with his own eyes and with all his heart for the light in her eyes to show her cognitive awareness of him somehow.  The young girl was touched most deeply by these efforts of Giant Little; she came around into full and conscious awareness.  She looked at him in partial desperation now and gave a slight nod in recognition of his might;  he saw that.  He beamed in answer a remarkable love at her as he gently patted her shoulder repeatedly to soothe her.  However, that recognition in her of his might told him what to do next.    

     The victorious boy hero simply said to her most evenly, "I will get you out of here.  I will get you out of this.  You will be free.  Ride with me.  Be my princess for now and forever more!"   

     Free now, she summoned up her strength and ran with Giant Little as he took her hand over to Victory.  Catster led the way as they departed the first stage of what was to become an immense battle to save the freedom if not life of a beautiful princess from the neighboring nation-state of Liberty Love Forest.  The evil hordes from the underworld of all of the states around so hated the beatific nation-state of Liberty Love that it was protected by both visible and invisible warriors of weapons and warriors of truth.  Gai was determined to return his princess to her rightful home in due time and that no matter what it might take.   

     Catster is another creature in his own right.  Seeing all of this at that very moment of harried, yea, desperate departure -- the young man on his steed with his immature princess holding tight behind him on the saddle -- Catster let out his resounding barklike calls to be heard for miles around and over the wide waters of the River Strong where the sounds carried and carried.  It was as if Catster were compelled to announce the urgent departure of the callow youths in order to summon forth support for their success in the momentous event now underway.  Every existing creature in the region knew the meaning of this cavernous, catlike voice announcing the bitter battle which had enveloped the spirit about the place; this was not the first battle Catster and Giant Little had conducted in the area.  When Catster let out a second, high-pitched sound more like a squeal, it was taken by all who heard it as a sign that battle had broken but that all in the area should be aware that they should be on the alert for further trouble.  Silence then fell like its own waiting army over all the vicinity and its surround.  It was as if all the creatures in the most far-reaching radius of distance would hide their knowledge in case the battle were to spread and cause others to enter the region in search of further contention.  Silence also can confront as mightily as can the most awesome army itself.  Silence unnerves the enemy to good; it is the haven of inner peace of the self for the noble and the good who are warriors of truth.  Woe unto an enemy to good who faces that wellspring of peace of the self in the noble heart wherein resides all the shroud of self-defense; when passive stance of a respecting noble heart is broken, indeed, determined and dire action may in some instances take over.  This can be most terrible in its power to vanquish the destructive intent of evil.   

     Thus were many creatures drawn into the fight as Giant Little and Catster made way out of and beyond the now transient encampment of the villains at the Bo Creek inlet and River Strong intersection; the heroic Giant Little was now miraculously extricating the captive from the horrible villains.  Those creatures: the birds, the frogs, the squirrels, the deer and the many vociferous crickets and other insects made expectant the very air about the place with their respectful silence.  Villains are wont to work in bands together; it would not be long before further and more challenging objection would be made as against this heroic deliverance to safety of the young and hitherto helpless princess.  Of this you can be certain: that dire and further objection to the bold flight of that fast-fleeing foursome would be made before too long.

     There was no time for talk between Gai and his beautiful princess Radhita.  He and his now physical guide Catster had to make time in order to retain their unexpected vantage over the enemy to Radhita's freedom and life.  As Gai gained a sense for the current success and progress in the battle before him, he began to imagine even speaking with her -- to actually talk with her conversationally so as to become acquainted with her.  He had heard of her and considered her to be a princess although he had never before met her.  She was the daughter of the head of state of Liberty Love Forest.  He turned his mind back to the escape; he realized that there would be just so much time before his first victory in rescuing her would be discovered by the fellow badmen of those whom he had just vanquished with Catster.  His mighty steed Victory never had traveled faster.  As Victory galloped and sped ever onwards tirelessly, Gai directed him to avoid the beaten roads, taking certain narrower pathways of which he knew; Gai was bent on such sudden mission -- to find and to divine the safest way back to Radhita's parents in Liberty Love Forest.  This was to be a distance of several miles; Gai estimated that distance to be about fifty miles.  It might have to be approached in a highly indirect route in order to give improbable place to any encroachments by the enemy to their journey.  This was to be their dynamic and desperate escape with Catster in the lead.  Catster comes from the fastest animal species on land, the cheetah.  The fact that Gai's stallion could keep up with Catster was Gai's measuring rod in any battle he entered where he used his horse; indeed, that horse's speed gave Gai greater courage in any situation of urgency.  Gai was always meeting situations of an urgent nature; as if he were born to do so, Giant Little thrived on defending good against evil.  In order for his horse to travel at the speed of the cheetah, however, the cheetah was most likely to be present in all such situations.  Of this you can be assured.  Furthermore, there was no other horse ever heard of or known about who could run as fast as Gai's horse Victory and keep up with a cheetah. 

     Radhita was not visibly injured; that Gai knew.  She held fast and seemed much calmer now to Gai.  As they slowed down to gain a turn at a small intersection on the back trails of the land further on past Bo Creek, Gai took the moment to turn towards Radhita.  He caught  glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye.  She was almost in shock as he observed, but she was melting into the recognition that deliverance had finally arrived for her.  She started to smile but then expressed more fear of what would lie ahead for them.  Then all at once she cried out, "Take me home to my mother and father!" as if she were asking for some impossible thing which was something far beyond reach.  

     Radhita's tangentially given plea sent shivers through the skin of Gai's arms and legs and made the hairs stand on end; he saw how hopelessly lost and mercilessly taken over she had felt as hostage to such a wicked ilk.  Gai did not answer immediately as he maneuvered on the trail and goaded on his noble-looking steed; instead, he was integrating more deeply into his mind and heart the sound of her soulful plea for safety and freedom as she issued it in the midst of the feat he was performing in this immediate rescue of her.  Gai's entire body sent its power and blessing to the most innocent victim of a horrible kidnapping who was now in his own command as one liberated from her captors.  As they coursed quickly and adeptly across a straightaway which was virtually roofed by the most luxurious overhanging boughs of the glorious, majestic trees which lined their route, giving them the aura of vital shelter and visual cover from all sides, Gai's head lifted slightly to the stiffening of his neck.  "Victory and I will get you there," he then shouted over his right shoulder with a slight turn of his head.  "Victory is fast," he encouraged her.  Radhita thought for a second and realized that the horse which was delivering them must be called Victory.  She hugged Gai but a little tenuously at this promise, and Gai steeled his nerves all the more for his heroic quest and its success to save the life and freedom of the daughter of a very important wise man from the beatifically democratic state of Liberty Love Forest.  Gai had always loved his neighboring country.  He shifted the reins of the horse to his left hand while he turned his right shoulder back to her slightly, making a powerful fist and holding it while clenching it ever more resolutely in the air throughout a couple of Victory's gallops so that she could see.  Radhita distantly recognized at this show of defense by Giant Little that he would be the one and the only one who would understand how to save her and save her forever more.  Her eyes issued forth two tears at even a glimpse of this momentous recognition on her part, and she bravely fought them back.  She started to dry them with her hand once she had succeeded at not giving in to more of them; then, she instead started to dry them against Gai's back so that she would not have to let go of him as they roughed down the lane together on Victory's back.  Gai still was wearing his waterproof poncho since there had been no time to remove it once the portentous rain had stopped.  When he sensed Radhita's dilemma over the drying of her tears on his back, Gai reached into his pocket, procured a white handkerchief for her, and handed it back to her.  At this show of all-knowing care for her, the young maiden was most astonished and even more deeply consoled.  She used the handkerchief to dry her two tears with a newly realized gratitude for the unfolding event of a great rescue and then tucked the handkerchief back into Gai's right poncho pocket for safekeeping.  Radhita reached within herself now for more courage in her changing plight.  She looked all about her so as to adjust to the terrain of their journey as much as to its event.  Radhita looked upward and could see small patches of the blue sky through the multivariate, shining facets of the rich green leaves of the forest trees twittering in the breezes as if twinkling good omen to the fleers.  She thought of home.  For the first time now she had hope.  Indeed, hope that she could ever be with her parents and people after all had just dawned in her mind past its deep, unexpected embattlement.

                                                            Chapter 2   

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     Gai and Catster were approaching a major intersection of the trails in the thick woods standing all about them through which they barreled in haste.  The immediate life-death reaction felt by both Giant Little and Radhita had calmed down now; however, there was maintained a certain sense of urgency in the unfolding escape which motivated great speed.  Indeed, Catster was in the lead and was streaming heroically through the forest in tandem with Victory.  Gai knew these trails well since one of them connected over to a pond close by the River Strong where he liked to swim.  He skillfully guided Victory along knowing where Catster was most likely to be leading them.  

     After they were far enough from the battle scene, Catster gave a brief survey up and down the trails and then slowed to a near stop.  As he was also slowing to a stop, Gai sensed a change; he sensed a major change in the prospects before them for security.   Catster did an about-face and walked over towards Gai and Radhita on the trail.  Catster tended to Radhita momentarily, and what Radhita saw astonished her.  She looked into the cat's large eyes.  There in the eyes of this remarkable cat she found a wellspring of knowingness and a kind of love suffused with compassion.  Observing this, Gai felt warmed and glad of the exchange between the two since he realized that Radhita's faith and courage would be vital to the mission underway.  Catster was Gai's consort --  his unfailing guide in all urgencies of mission.  

     Victory had been galloping now for almost an hour.  The unsteady terrain and many turns in the trails made the going even more demanding than the sheer speed or even length of journey.  There was a brook by the side of the trail whose gurgling sounds seemed to be inviting the well-taxed horse over to its bank.  The mighty horse looked over at the brook momentarily, but he nodded his head in the negative to signal Gai and Catster that he did not want to take up valuable time for a drink of water at the brook.

     Gai now looked to Catster for ideas; finally, he broke the silence and spoke with a sense of urgency yet elevated trust to the wondrous creature: "Catster, I sense that it is time for us to take shelter from the night.  It is early sunset, and I think that the princess whom we have saved thus far should have some rest and food after her ordeal.  Victory knows.  My horse also knows that we might not have much time here; trouble could once again strike at us."                                             Photo by M. Stark © 2006 All Rights Reserved

  "Hmmh," Catster deliberated with a considerate mind.  He searched the area for any sign of an encroaching enemy perfunctorily yet carefully as he seemed to know that the immediate area was actually clear for the time being. 

     "Tell me," Giant Little continued,  "should we press on and take the night by distance, or would we be safe in this area until the rising of the sun?  Tell me -- the journey ahead to Liberty Love Forest is certain to be long and convoluted.  She needs rest.  Our embattled princess needs rest."

     Catster glanced briefly down the trail they were about to follow and then turned his head gently to one side and said, "Let us give the gentle princess some rest nearby here."  He righted his head, looked over at Radhita with compassionate regard, and then nodded his head slightly.  Radhita read a certain nobility in this marvelous cat; indeed, she almost wished in passing that he could have been a human being instead.  

     Catster saw this in her and then continued with an even more understanding mind saying,  "We can set up a useful campsite over by the nice pond.  We will keep her there as safe as can be for the night.  When the sun returns on the morrow, its golden promise will assuredly be given us.  May the smiling sun of the new morrow bless again our great journey back to her parents and to her just freedom, so that she will know no more of sorrow and steep travail."  Catster spoke with the softest heart and warmest concepts he could muster so as to let the young girl find herself in her new status with her new-found heroes.  He watched her face for her reaction to his compassionate concepts; they were indeed concepts well chosen to calm her and to console her if even by poetry.

     Radhita heard the honey-sweet love of the divine creature before her in every word he uttered and was astonished to know the power and presence of this messenger of freedom, this hero in fight and flight.  Her eyes were blinking repeatedly after what she had just heard regarding her need for rest and security.  She remembered fleetingly now the amazing battle cries with which Catster had signaled their desperate departure from the kidnappers just after Gai had  rescued her from bondage.  His speaking voice she was now hearing was of great contrast to his animal-calling voice.  How greatly calmed she was by this, and she kept silent in wonderment at what was unfolding before her as Catster revealed his soft inner nature to her.  This all to her was a profound message of hope, insooth.  Keeping her eyes steadily upon the unusual feline creature before her, the young princess switched her seat in the saddle slightly; as she placed her hands on her knees, she lifted up both shoulders and awaited the next words of the great Catster.  This gesture completed itself as an inadvertent shrug when Catster remained quiet.  He in turn seemed to be assessing the entire situation the foursome faced.    

     Gai was now twisting his body and head as they sat in the saddle so that he could see her out of the corner of his eye.  "You have no fear, my lovely princess," he said nobly.  "Catster and I will not fail you.  The worst is over.  Let us make camp and give you food and rest.  We will build a campfire.  The pond is just minutes away.  You are safe now for the time being.  You know you are safe with us.  We will guard you and keep you beyond --  you will be beyond all danger and harm.  No one will be able to harm you when you are safe within our hold.  Now you are safe and within our hold.  Know that, my dear one, my dear, beautiful princess."  

     As these words seemingly delivered her to a new hope, a brand new beginning, a total reversal of the terror and endless struggle she had known while in the sordid charge of the two dangerous, armed kidnappers, Radhita was beginning to see the light; still, she started to choke up briefly.  Then she caught herself.  Her fears and her regard for the power of the unknown were vanishing from her mind as she understood now the actual deliverance she was experiencing.  She stiffened in her seat a little and started to want to express her inmost sentiments.  However, she quickly thought better of that idea; instead of praising her bold and courageous rescuers, she claimed her own courage to them as if she wanted to more fully join them and know them.  "Catster -- and are you Philip Latel -- Giant Little?" Radhita respectfully queried.

     Giant Little answered with dispatch, for the lovely maiden had spoken at last.  He was barely mindful that she knew his name.  "Yes, and you must be Radhita?"   

     "That is I.  Oh, did you hear the yelps through the forest as you were approaching the place where we were briefly encamped this afternoon?"

     Catster looked knowingly at Gai and bowed his head to Gai politely in deference to his awaited answer of her question.  Gai saw this and turned now a quarter of a seat in the saddle towards Radhita.  His mind seemed to look beyond the exact question while at the same he was considerate of that question with the utmost concern.  "Yes," Gai said.

     "Well, those yelps are because I attacked one of those horrible scoundrels from whom you rescued me with a kick in self-defense.  They were going to deny me a meal.  I struck in a non-vital place to cause pain, but it worked," the noble young lady proclaimed with sincerity.  In addition, a certain sense of success was communicated to the more advanced warriors in whose presence she now clearly was beginning to thrive.

     "You would have been justified to have done away with them," Gai said with a deep conviction of mind as if he wanted to advise Radhita so as to console her past the facts of the battle she had just known.  "Then you are a student also of the martial arts?" he asked politely.

     "Oh, yes.  Father says I must learn the art of self-defense since we live close to danger at times," Radhita said.  As she spoke this truth now to Gai, she reflected upon how useful had been her father's advisory.  "However, I never, never saw such an awesome, great feat as your single sidekick with which you flew at that criminal who was coming to get me worse than ever," Radhita said in a tone which communicated her wonderment at what Giant Little had accomplished in her defense.

     Catster broke in here to urge the party on to make camp for the night.  They set forth in the quietude of the bucolic surround, not hurried now as before, and within a little while they reached the pond.   Radhita was introduced to the most beautiful pond she could have imagined, yet her brave heroes knew the place well.  She marveled at the peaceful repose shining before her eyes with the red setting sun just yet visible over the trees, the fragrant blossoms of early summer lending a sweetness to the air, and the majestic pine boughs gracing the edge of the side of the pond further to their countenance.  In a sudden breath of awe, the young lady remarked, "Oh, my brave and good deliverers, this is truly a magnificent sight to behold.  How perfectly calm the water, and how charming to me the cradle of wonder it makes for my battle-stricken eyes.  What is the name of this lovely pond, pray tell?"   

     Catster answered softly, "This is known as Strong Pond since it feeds from the springs not far from the River Strong.  You will take your comfort here for the night.  We will let no harm befall you.  We will guard you."

     Gai and Radhita were dismounted from the well-exercised horse who was busily drinking from Strong Pond.  Gai looked at Victory and declared to Catster, "I want to see about procuring a chariot from the temple which neighbors this area, so that Radhita can ride in greater comfort, Catster."

     "I think that is a great idea.  We can take a slight detour out of here in the morning and see about that for her.  The trails should be able to accommodate a small chariot.  If need be, we could always abandon it in case we had to choose a more remarkable and more clandestine route," Catster observed with no hesitancy.

     "Do you see that path over by large rock, which disappears into the thicket, Radhita?  Not far in there is a small building which is used for the swimmers who visit here from the surrounding towns and villages.  I will give you my bedroll, and you can take rest in the shelter of that facility.  There is a place for you this night even despite all the troubles you have seen.  For how long had you been confiscated?"

     "It seems like it has been forever.  Now I am given courage and relief in sight through the miraculous prowess of you and Catster and your beautiful horse.  I am so grateful to you, Philip.  I feel like I have always known you -- oh, your question," Radhita answered in earnest.

     As she began to review the event of the kidnapping briefly in her mind, her desire was to carry out her duty and answer Gai, yet she did not want to remember it too much.  She looked around the heavenly place so newly introduced to her battered senses, and she decided to respectfully answer her hero despite the pain from the crime which dwelled in her heart; bravely then, Radhita focused on the question which had been put to her: " I had been confiscated in the early morning of three days ago, I think, so that I had been two nights with the kidnappers en route, largely, to where you found me.  I do not know this area the way you and Catster do, so I cannot really say precisely where we had been.  Sometimes we steadily traveled; sometimes we would then hide.  They hid me not far from home for the morning of the first day; then when scouts said that the way should be clear, that father had not sent out any sentinels looking for me, they set out to take me deeper into captivity."

     "I never thought I would see freedom again at times," Radhita continued.  "I would pray fervently for a miracle since I knew it would be only a miracle which could intervene and save me.  Philip, I owe my life to you!  I am afraid that they might have killed me in the fray if you and Catster had been less brilliant.  They might have killed me anyway.  I am eternally indebted to you for your heroic power, to both of you.  You seem so well-trained and experienced in this matter, this further escape.  I had heard stories about you.  Now I know you are for real," the shy maiden spoke at length.

     "Do not concern yourself further with what has just happened to you, my Radhita.  For I will rescue you now and for always," Giant Little said as he fell by her feet on his knees, clasping his hands tightly together and looking up in totally inspired love for his beleaguered charge.  He watched her lovingly as she avoided eye contact at first; then softly did she put out her hand to him as she searched his eyes for the reality with which he had just presented her.

     "I am so sorry this terrible thing ever happened to you," Giant Little said so compassionately as he took her hand and held it with reverence and spoke his full heart to her.  "Those wicked men have no other perspective in life than to commit crimes and bring their evil upon others.  I am a genius at fighting them.  But now I know that all of my strife for the side of good was for this mission alone, to save you, Radhita.  I do not want anything like this ever to happen to you again.  I will make sure it does not.  Marry me when time allows.  I will be your devoted husband and provide you with my love and with my protection.  Please do not fret.  We will successfully escape those bandits, those reprehensible reprobates who just tried to commandeer your freedom.  Commandeer your freedom they will not."

     Radhita was seemingly spellbound by this show of devotion and assurance of security for now and forever more.  She went into a stare into the distance briefly as if remembering her recent despair and then came back to Giant Little's eyes where she searched for belonging and further rescue.  She quietly said, "Save me."

     Giant Little stood up at this behest, took both her hands into his, and quietly said with all his heart, "I will."

    Radhita smiled, a new light came over her face, and she said, "I never knew there would be a young man like you who would come into my life and become my hero like this.  How can this be?  I could barely sleep I was so afraid, Gai.  I thought my father would never get to me ever, ever again since he is the Prime Minister, and these parts are filled with rebels and outlaws, extremely uncivil people who answer to no governing state, it seems.  I knew that this is where they would take me.  Gai, I thought my life was over.  God has given me you to counterbalance what ordeal I have just come through.  I feel I cannot live without you.  You are everything to me."

     Gai took in what she said; then he caught hold of the larger moment before them and circled back to it.  In a mighty show of courage and firm resolve, he gently let go of her hands and moved quickly across the ground to a vantage point a few feet from the edge of Strong Pond.  He eyed the corner of the pond which was slightly curved, but quite square.  Then he let out a war cry, took off on his feet so fleet for a few brief running steps and became aerial.  He soared as if magically through the air and over the water in full and glorious sidekick form with both fists drawn and a peaceful look on his face.  Radhita's eyes were widened to see the wondrous lad incited so remarkably and with no warning to such a show of intended fight for her.  Giant Little went with great force into the side of a pine tree whose girth seemed in Radhita's mind to have been designed by the Creator to receive his heroic blow, his miraculous left-footed sidekick. 

     No sooner than Giant Little had signaled his virtuous maiden in intended battle for her freedom did the great Catster answer with his own feat, as well.  Suddenly Radhita felt a whirlwind move past her feet from behind her where Catster for his part had been quietly witnessing the formation of a very young couple towards marriage.  With the greatest alacrity imaginable, as if he had special knowledge of the inner secrets of speed unknown to any other creature anywhere, he was so fast, that magical cheetah took off across the ground in a scurry beyond a scurry.  He ran up the side of the tree which had just been inaugurated in battle by his consort Giant Little.  Radhita drew in her breath in utter amazement, for he was not a human being like the other remarkable being whom she was getting to know in conditions dire to safety and normalcy of venue, conditions otherwise known as battle.  Catster did not stop there.  He first scaled the side of the generously branched tree, and then he coursed its lowest limb until it began to bounce with his footsteps; he began to test the camber of the wood of the branch as he kept building up force in the bouncing so as to put more and more of his body weight into the springing.  All of a sudden, Catster proclaimed a howl, a growl and a hiss followed by several chirps before he bounced but three last times on the branch.  With these three last bounces the noble cat effected what was to become a take off as he skillfully made a crescendo in momentum with each bounce.  He then was ejected as if magically, and that Catster just flew majestically from the branch of the tree across the velvety water of the beatific pond where Gai had once accomplished his flying sidekick.  He landed precisely where Gai had begun his maneuver and proceeded to course around the entire  perimeter of Strong Pond at a speed unimaginable to anyone except one who could be there to witness it.  After completing one full circle of the pond, Catster reeled to a stop, skidding almost into the feet of Victory.  Victory neighed a little in response; then, he tossed his head back and snorted loudly.  His eyes became spirited.  He gently walked over to Radhita who stood in amazement at the steady show of battle-readiness she was about to witness also at this time through Victory.  She knew not  what to expect from Victory.  Dusk brushed the air now and ushered in a cool breeze across the still water of Strong Pond causing little ripples which had momentarily caught Radhita's notice; she saw peace in the midst of conflict through the quiet message of those ripples in the pond.  Now Victory stood before Radhita, and he proceeded to display the most regal respect for her as he first bowed his head and then knelt down on his front legs.  His head bobbed a couple of times as he whinnied a knowing whinny; following this, he regained his feet only to then rear up on his back legs.  His whinny as he reared and flung his hoofs in the air was loud and foreboding, for it was his own battle cry.  

     Radhita read this horse as he thus gave her his pledge.  She felt assured and deeply consoled.  She knew that her journey was to be secure and well-blessed through the dedication of this remarkable horse of whom she had heard tell through the reports about Giant Little's exploits her father and his ministers would receive at times.  

     Once Victory was recovered to his usual stance, Radhita felt a sudden wind of high-spirited inspiration go through her; indeed, there arose within Radhita an answer to all that she had seen as an offering to her in what promised to become an immense battle for her freedom.  She could no longer stand by as an observer.  Suddenly, Radhita reeled around in a full about-face and bowed to her noble, courageous cohorts a full bow with two made fists clenching tightly -- more tightly than she had ever known them to be.  As she righted herself again from the bow, she did another about-face which left her facing the pond.  She assumed a back stance with her two fists held before her to symbolize the readiness to fight; indeed, this dawning feminine warrior seemed bound to the ground in a powerfully appointed fighting stance.  Radhita concentrated avidly on what was in front of her.  Then, fully centered, she openly mobilized; after five or six graceful running steps, she executed a perfectly focused flying front kick high into the air.  She landed with just enough room at the pond's edge to alight briefly and then spring into a dive into the pond; Radhita swam at full speed a powerful and fast front crawl the entire length of Strong Pond.  What a beautiful swimmer had now graced this popular swimming place.  Radhita executed a perfected stroke relentlessly as the party of heroes with her at Strong Pond stood spellbound watching  her.  Never had she known such a feeling of perfection as she felt her body rotating from side-to-center through the water along a precise bodily axis into which all of her energy had burst in maximum power and efficiency.  Her arms were grabbing for each next entry into the water to catch it with her chambered hands, cupped and angled maximally throughout each pull of the water while her powerful flutter kicks worked vigorously beneath the surface as she swam.  Her breathing empowered such a divinely inspired crawl that this world could never tell even upon direct witness.  

     This was the as of yet untapped talent of the brave Radhita Roundhouse of Liberty Love answering the call to self-defense.  It was a totally inspired feat of athletic prowess, and when she finished, she had time to think, "This must be what battle really is."  

    Giant Little began to clap his hands as she climbed out of the pond through the rocks on the other side, and Victory, hoofing the ground where he stood, was neighing and snorting.  Radhita bowed once again a full bow though at a distance across the still pond to her noble cohorts; she was herself astonished at what she had just done.  She was clamoring for air, so winded by her sudden feat and so filled with ecstasy she was.  She had found her own, and she knew it.  With energy from what little food her kidnappers had meted out to her during battle had Radhita just summoned all of her strength and abilities in answering the stupendous cohorts who were now valiantly calling the battle; having seen at this beatific pond-side the hearts of her heroes fully prepared to defend her and to save her further, Radhita had just willfully joined them.  This she knew.  As she ran back to her band of rescuers, she felt exorcised of the evil with which her life had been suddenly enveloped by those mean ones.  With her body and blonde hair dripping wet, she stood close by the small party of her heroes and reveled in how she had just equaled them in like spirit by greeting Strong Pond with her might as swimmer.  At this aquatic feat, this show of Radhita's great spirit, Catster beamed with satisfaction.  Before disappearing into the woods, he looked thoughtfully towards Radhita who was wrapped comfortably in Gai's towel .  So began the next phase of battle for the life and freedom of the noble princess.  It was almost dark. 

                                                            Chapter3

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    Gai was huddled beneath a bush and asleep during the wee hours of the morning when he awoke and felt the silence in the surround.  He immediately checked mentally on his maiden in the small building close by his guard position, the public changing station for swimmers and picnickers at Strong Pond.  She seemed to be at total rest, and there was no activity in the adjacent woods.  Then he heard the switching of a twig a few feet from his place, and immediately he knew this to be his commander, Drona.  He stayed still and waited for instructions and possible strategies for the full extrication of Radhita from the pull now of those remaining outlaws; certainly, those miscreants were bound to pursue their short-lived victory in kidnapping her until she was safe once again in her own country and with her parents.  Both Gai and Drona were keenly aware that the daughter of the Prime Minister of Liberty Love Forest would be the prize of any underworld regime.  Drona began to instruct his student as to the fuller implications of this battle to return her safely to her home and to freedom once again.  

     Drona briefed Gai through their communion on the status of the battle.  It seems that about two miles from where the scuffle had been near the inlet of Bo Creek there had been further battle with the kidnappers.  They had regained consciousness and had tried to stage a pursuit of Gai and Radhita; instead, they had met Drona and one of his masters in further active battle.  Drona assured Gai that these kidnappers would no longer be able to contend ever again.  This deeply relieved and consoled the noble boy.  Drona further impressed upon Gai the vital need for Radhita's safe deliverance back to her home state of Liberty Love Forest since, if she were not fully rescued soon, there would likely be even greater civic unrest in the state of Bohemia.  As it was now analyzed widely, Bohemia retained a certain semblance of its former stature; due to marked corruption and gangsterism in the official government ranks, anarchy and uprisings among the people were widespread.  Gai knew Bohemia well since his home was located on the outskirts of a town in Bohemia which was vying to become part of Pristinia, a neighboring state.  Gai's family was leading in the politics over this strife, so that he was well aware of the prominence of the battle for the hand in marriage he now sought. 

     After hearing of the report thus far on their journey to restore Radhita to her father and mother, Gai was instructed by Drona to sleep some more for the next day's work.  He felt at once deeply relieved and concerned for what would be ahead in saving Radhita fully, yet he was well-steeled by the guidance and omniscience, as well as prescience, of his revered grandmaster.  Tomorrow would bring to him the fruition of his current understanding of the situation in which he contended from a firm seat of discriminatory vision.  He was bound to be challenged by those whose minds were convicted of evil.  He remembered the way Radhita had given him her hand when he offered to marry her, and how softly she had said, "Save me."  He left the world of intense conscious endeavor thinking of her and of the joy of his recent marriage proposal to her; his mind smiling, he fell asleep as one happy young lad. 

     Dawn came slowly at Strong Pond.  As the lovely pond reflected the light of the sun with its own added artistic message, the two youths were suspended in the restful repose offered them by the work of Mother Nature's wondrous hand of harmony and bounteous beauty   They were suspended as if enshrouded in a beautiful place where quietude prevailed; it was a place where devotees of nature traditionally gathered for food and sport.  Strong Pond seemed to be in a timeless glade separate from all the concerns of the wider world.  Such a sense of separateness of this little gem in the woods had always held true for Gai in his several visits here to swim.  As the birds began their sonorous greetings at the first light of day, Gai was up and awaiting his companions by the water's edge.  Grateful that his prescience had caused him to pack a generous amount of food supplies, he had built a fire and was cooking for Radhita.  Gai was anxious to see his new friend and to share with her his recent perspective for their travail together.  He was most grateful for what was about to unfold for them.  Gently he reflected to himself, "The battle is the gift."  

     He heard a soft footstep not far, and, thinking it was Radhita, he turned to greet her.  Much to his surprise there was no one there.  He searched for the cause of the noise.  He saw light, divine light, it seemed, much like a mist reach over the pond from the shore like a giant, looming shaft.  With this light came a sense of warmth and lovingness, a deep compassion which he took to be God.  Before long the almost transparent image of a fairy appeared to him and steadily took more solid appearance and form as she moved back over and then onto the land not many feet from Gai.  Call this being a fairy, call it an angel, it was the most appeasing messenger to Gai for all he had seen and heard in the past several hours of battle.  Just by her presence, she gently offered love and wisdom to the one she visited that day.  Gai understood the message that she intended -- that he would succeed in delivering his noble princess to her home -- and he was greatly steeled by this messenger from on-high.  As the light of this supernatural being began to twinkle into nothingness once again, Gai was peacefully watching and still reveling in the visit.  When he realized that the visitor was departing, he saw that she had left behind a shining white packet of food supplies.  This was at once surprising and puzzling to Gai as he had just been reflecting on the fact that he felt he had packed enough food for the journey ahead, certainly until they reached the temple where he would try to borrow a cart or chariot for the journey.  Before he went over to inspect the food, he began to take a deeper message in the divine visitation.  For it seemed to him that a longer period of time would transpire than that which he had estimated would be required for the journey to Liberty Love Forest, or else the fairy godmother would not have delivered him more provisions.  He quietly prayed for the journey and felt gladdened by the miraculous food he had just received.  It gave him courage and deeper insight into the battle, therefore.  As he picked up the package and examined it, he saw that it was rice and cereal.  There was also condensed milk and some cheese.  This gift of food from ethereal source was gilded in Gai's mind; so embraved was he for the tasks ahead by it.  Deciding not to mention to Radhita how they had arrived, he quietly took the new supplies over to the fireside.  He would let time take care of that, for he did not wish to involve her in explanation or undue conversations regarding the nature of reality and of what is.  Gai did not want to unsettle Radhita's mind with the story of a miracle at this point in the battle.  He began to plan the second meal of the day in his mind from the newly delivered provisions, and this idea made him smile and revel in the moment at hand.  He might offer her both cereal and rice with some of the dried beans he had packed for his original outing.

     The light of dawn was steadily waxing, and Gai began to think over a change in plans for the time ahead with Radhita.  He was deeply moved by the delivery of food from on high and began to suspect that it  might be a divine sign that it would behoove them to remain longer at Strong Pond.  He searched momentarily for an answer to this possibility.  As he mulled over the advantages to a delay in the journey, so as to give Radhita time to recover from her strange ordeal in the kidnapping event, he remembered her statement at first seeing the bucolic wonder of the pond.  How Strong Pond had immediately and deeply consoled her affected Giant Little's decision-making process.  As he was about to defer his decision until consulting Radhita, Drona appeared briefly to him as a passing figure at a point not far in the forest where he was jogging by.  He looked over at Giant Little and sent him the message telepathically to stay for two days before departing.  Gai registered the instruction with no effort and then asked why in terms of the external array, possibly, of any enemy encroachers.  Drona answered that in the true spirit of battle it was best to use the journey in order to draw some of the primary underworld figures forth into fight.  This would cause there to be a more complete victory towards the side of good and might serve to uplift the anarchized state of Bohemia in the more general sense.  Drona said that timing in battle is everything and that there is no match for knowledge of when to pose mobilizing.  Gai then asked if Drona was setting up a false strategy based upon two days' duration until departure, so that the enemy would read it; this ruse would allow an element then of surprise with a one-day or three-day departure instead.  Drona replied that this was not a false plan he was presenting to Gai in order to create a decoy in the timing.  Gai, saying that the ethereal source of food was at once beneficent and baffling to him, worked further to bleed the mind of battle through Drona.  This all seemed to indicate a longer time until final victory would be at hand.  Drona assured Gai that nothing could go wrong, that security only was the ultimate measure, and that time and timing in battle could only serve security in perfect measure as long as the knowing mind of readiness for battle prevailed.  The callow mind of Giant Little as a contender now for marriage was endearing to the ancient grandmaster, and he summed up all doubts and questions with the simple observation that his marriage proposal to Radhita would save her from the dangerous precedent which had just been set by the kidnapping she had undergone.  Drona pledged to Gai his ultimate success in marrying her and remarked further that all three nation-states would be greatly uplifted by such a hand in marriage.  Gai sighed his impatience to mobilize at that deeper call to battle in the abstract sense of vying to marry now; nonetheless, he also thought of consoling Radhita with a short stay at the bucolic scene before him.  How profoundly moved this young worker of wonders to begin with, and further, he now was actually seeing the path to manhood and marriage as forming in real actions and deeds in the world about him.  Giant Little bolted up onto his two feet and began his physical training exercises with Drona directing.  

      "This is it," he thought to himself; this is all that he ever lived or fought for in one nugget of almost unbelievable truth and meaning in life.  He must seize the day.  He awaited his beloved princess as he practiced.  

     Gai looked across the pond soon after his workout was completed to see Catster.  The great cat was stretching his body in a nearly prone position from his front feet and legs; he was fully outstretched and in a crouching posture.  Giant Little was glad to see him.  "Catster, where have you been?"

     Catster looked around briefly, blinked his eyes at Giant Little, and then the great cat answered, "Finding rest and repose where rest and repose are meant to be.  Right here at Strong Pond, of course.  What a great place for you to heal your lady, your love, after all her travail and trial."

     "My instructions are to stay here for two days.  A goddess blessed us with a packet of food provisions: some rice, cereal, dried milk and cheese.  This is a miracle this morning," Gai said with a sense of devout respect for the moment before him.

     "I see," the noble cat quipped.  "I see," he said roundly.

     "I am proficient at most things as you may have noticed, Catster, my friend.  But here we are in battle, and I must await Radhita's arrival this morning as if there is no danger abroad.  Any danger may be distant.  Yet I have things to say to her so as to allay her fears.  Do you feel that we will have some peace for a day or two, Catster?  I need to prepare her for what is ahead.  It seems I have much to accomplish in very little time whereas before the events of this morning, I could not wait to move on.  I do not want to disturb her as she said she had barely slept for those two nights while she was in captivity."  Giant Little was giving forth a rare emotional outpouring to his close consort, his constant companion when he was in the wilds.

     Catster yawned cautiously and then went into another full stretch; after finishing his stretch, he walked as if in deep reflection around the pond to Giant Little, watching his reflection in the water as he moved.  He gently asked, "This is such a beautiful day dawning in this surround, indeed, in the beautiful gem that is Strong Pond.  I wonder when she will have rested fully enough to join you?"

     Giant Little said in a tone reflecting his duty to her, "I have been cooking breakfast for her.  I started making the fire just before dawn."  He then went to the fireside, picked up the stick with which he had poked the burning wood so as to stoke it maximally when the fire was building its momentum, and probed the glowing logs and the few embers present to see how much substance for further burning remained in them.  From that determination he then added more firewood which he procured from the neat stacks which were a couple of feet from the fireplace.

     "Relax, oh fine one, for you are so fine and true.  Relax, and let the sun, the trees, the water, the air, and the pleasant creatures all around soften your mind and prepare your heart.  Nothing by definition can go wrong.  Yours is only to find yourself in this as in everything else.  Soon your young lass will be here with you, and you can get to know her in conditions more staid and civil.  Now, tell me, is that a gift?" Catster demanded to know.

     "Indeed, I am aware that this is a gift.  I am bent to the battle, Catster, which I see as the overall gift," Giant Little said definitively.  "I am concerned for the sense of this moment, that she will be anxious to move on and to return home to her parents so as to quell their fears and hurt over what has happened to her . . ."

      "This is a beautiful gift of time and place to get to know your new consort, the one with whom you may spend the rest of your life,"  Catster gently intervened.  "Nurture here your love for her, for she is sure to forget herself and the threat abroad as she gets to know you more, and as she comes to love you more.  What more can you ask for, Philip?  You know, you are her hero now.  You are her great hero and rescuer.  She cannot but love you."

     Philip paused briefly; then he quietly said, "Catster, my friend, sometimes I need to hear things said in the way you say them at the time you say them."  He paused again and reflected further.  Then the little miracle worker just welled up into open praises to the battle they had just known: "Oh, trusty victor!  Trusty victor, to whose first strike I owe my own strike in the vital defense of my lady, the love now of my heart.  How you do speak truth!  We rescued her from those two reprobates, did we not?  Did we extricate Radhita from those filthy hands with force and with finality, or did we not?"

     Catster smiled and noted the resolve which had been integrated in the mind of his consort after the first real battle with the enemy to Radhita if not the enemy of all of her father's state, Liberty Love Forest.  The great cheetah looked across the pond into the trees on the other side and seemed to be in deeper reflection briefly as Giant Little awaited his reply.  Then Catster smoothly said, "True it is, 'tis true, 'tis true, indeed . . . 

Be in truth as you greet this day, let truth be yours in everyway. 

From enemy great to the one you love, be here in truth as from above;

No matter what fight may see its pounce, there only is truth for weigh's true ounce. 

Measure what is there by truth, whose perspective formed will thou behoove.

Truth is way, by dint of deed, enshroud in truth's eternal seed. 

Be thee large, or tall or small, young or not, thy truth is all. 

May truth's cadence bless thy word, only speak like winged bird;

Upon wings of word from heart thy truth, save you from curse of those uncouth. 

From here from there, from hither and where all will know that truth is here, in each mission you will not fear. 

See truth in all, the way and deed, for love of truth is truth's own heed. 

See and save and save further by truth, let no one pass without forsooth. 

In each and all who come thy way, let truth form for you truth's day. 

See and see, find truth in mission, for all the world is truth's rendition.

Look out across the fine, calm water, whose purity reflects honesty's own true father.

Look up to see the clouds of Heaven, may He rain upon any arid, so to them leaven.

In purity, in innocence, in trial and test, there is truth in and through the elements so blessed.

When mission calls, so e'en across rough water, see truth alone: rescue thou wisdom's daughter.

For one so rescued will save the all, lest we not serve our best: let mankind not fall.

This, great Philip, shall be thy word, shall head off this day, mind's trusty gird.

     Giant Little was deep in cognition for a long while after Catster's accolade.  He observed coolly the beatific water of Strong Pond taking in the shape, the beauty, the peace and the home of nature itself.  So dear to him was that pond; and now was it ever more dear for all that was unfolding for him.  Then Giant Little looked over at Catster and recovered his voice from the silence of his great little self.  He said with a certain dispassion, "Catster, I am here.  I am here, indeed."  

     Catster was now sitting by the edge of Strong Pond, and he decided to take a sunbath in some early morning sun rays which eked through a break in the tree cover.  He slowly lay down, keeping his head upright so as to remain vigilant nonetheless over Giant Little.  He splayed out the claws of both front paws deliberatively, enjoying the stretch.  Then he held up his left paw; he splayed it out again and skillfully blew into the spaces between the five toes while moving in a little arc from the inside toe to the outside toe.  When finished with one paw, he accomplished the other in like fashion and then placed it in a crossed position over the other.  He almost shrugged his shoulders a slight bit, but his steady mind belied any unknowingness a shrug of the shoulders should normally imply.  The beckoning call of a loon from the distance now caught Catster's ear, and he could tell that Giant Little was deep in communion with all of nature's surround.  Gai was tossing pebbles into the pond and watching the ripples each one made, and he stopped doing so when he heard the familiar call of the loon.  As he resumed tossing pebbles once he had reflected on the sound of the loon, he glanced over at Catster.  "Catster," he said, "Have you ever seen that loon?  I always hear it when I visit here in the early morning, yet I have never seen it."

     "Have I ever seen the loon?  We-el-l, you might say I have," Catster replied politely.

     "Do you mean that you have seen the loon in vision alone -- that you have imagined having seen it because you have never seen it?" Gai asked further.

     "No, that is your experience, and I can certainly understand that, my little charge," the great cat said with compassion.

     "I have seen pictures of loons.  Catster, some day I want to stay here as long as it takes to see that loon," Giant Little declared.

     "We-el-l, that might be some time," Catster supplied.

     "Not now but some time when the times are less demanding, I mean . . . " said the brave boy pausing over his own concept.

     "That might be the longest wait of all, Gai. Hmmh, it might be the longest wait of all . . . it  see-eems we have a visitor here, today.  Our honored guest is arriving for breakfast," Catster stated; Catster could hear her footsteps at a greater distance than could Gai.

     "Oh!  Thank you for telling me, Cats," Gai exclaimed.  "I cannot wait to see her, my dear Cats!"

     Gai was brimming over with mirth and bubbling with emotion over the arrival now of Radhita, the love of his heart.  "Catster, I have had dreams about this love of mine.  This had been foretold.  I am living my vision, my very hope.  I love this young lady with all my heart. I love her.  This was all meant to be." 

     "Get her coffee ready.  I will be your glad chaperone, and remember, I can represent you to such as is her father, for he is known as a wise man," Catster assured Gai.

     "You only speak to the wise, is that right, Catster?" Gai inquired as if anxious to make one last point of truth. "The rest of the time you are just a cheetah though unusually fast and fleet of feet.  Am I correct, Cats?"

     "Absolutely, with the exception of the one who seeks knowledge of the absolute and is ready to hear me, to hear truth," Catster replied.

     "I noticed that you spoke to Radhita, but that was in the face of direct danger, was it not?" Gai asked respectfully while waiting with his eyes placed to see her appear on the path.

     "Radhita is of her wise father's tutelage and also poses the inquiry after truth. Need I tell you," Catster then stated in a lowered voice so that she might not overhear.  Radhita now appeared and began to enter the area by the pond side.  As he saw her face in greeting, Gai immediately noticed that she was filled with calm and happiness.   

     Gai quickly waved to his friend, and as she waved back, he walked over to greet her formally.  He bowed his head politely, and she acknowledged him saying happily to Gai, "Is this a beautiful place to be on a beautiful morning?  My friend, Gai, I am so happy to be here and to see you.  I slept soundly; I was so tired.  Thank you for this.  This is almost like a dream to me at times."

     "Please, Radhita," Gai said respectfully showing his great care for her.  "The worst is over now.  I have prepared some breakfast for you.  Have some corn cakes, cheese and coffee with me.  Let us enjoy this wonderful morning here together."  Gai walked with her to the campsite which was several feet from the pond side.  "Have a seat here, and we can eat together," Gai said as he motioned to a makeshift table with two pieces of log as chairs for them.  The table was actually a very large rock which had had a slab of oak wood placed over it and cemented into it.  Gai had eaten at this campsite on previous visits to Strong Pond.  The wood slab was wider than the rock, so that one could sit at the table and have ample foot room.  Radhita's expression upon seeing the eating arrangement and the mellow campfire was a consolation to Gai, for he could see that she was appreciating the roughhewn furniture.  Radhita demurred and said, "Do you mind if I visit the campfire, first?  I have always loved to watch the fire at family outings.  We are also nature lovers."

     "Please, be my guest.  Or actually, you should be the guest of Mother Nature this morning," Giant Little said caringly.  "For you are contained here in this glade and by the shores of Strong Pond where no harm will ever come to you."  Gai's voice sang his heart for her safety in the last few words.  Implying that things would be forever different for her now, he watched her carefully for her understanding of his desire to protect her.  

     Radhita read all this.  Looking over at him with an appreciative wonderment on her face,  she said shyly, "I cannot imagine that anyone would harm me now, Gai.  I simply am not afraid any longer.  You are my hero.  You are what I had heard you are.  I am eternally indebted to you and to our friend Catster -- where is Catster?"

     Radhita was standing in front of the fire, and Catster was lying down by the side of Strong Pond.  When he heard his name, he perked up and answered forthwith, "Good morning, you brave young lady.  How was the rest you took?  I see you are over it."

     Radhita and Gai burst out into laughter at Catster's comment.  Then Radhita retorted, "Oh, that.  Well, I am in another world now.  This is much like the land of magic, so why worry?  Yet, those like yourself who practice magic do so as a matter of course, speak of life as it is for everyone, and offer me then a destiny of provision in marriage to a noble lad.  I think I am quite over it, dear Catster.  I should think there would be something wrong with me were I not!" she joked back.

     At that Giant Little slapped his knee and then laughed all the more heartily while Catster put on the most joyous performance for them both.  He stood up and declared, "Watch this!"  Catster began to chase his tail madly, around and round in circles, first in one direction; then he stopped and said, "I must be going in the wrong direction or something!"  So he chased it in the other direction equally skillfully.  As they caught sight of one another's perception of an impossibly funny Catster, Gai and Radhita laughed to their hearts' mutual content.  

     When Catster had them in the full momentum of laughter, he figured it was tim