The Color of the Gods

Valve II: The God's Color - J.E. Barber

Lera's nimble hands traced the cavern walls. They guided her pale, nude form through myriads of tunnels and holes. She didn't need to see, and she couldn't, it was eternally dark in the caverns. When she walked through the tunnels Lera felt. She was guided by an unconscious memory.

Stepping down into a larger cavern in the pitch-blackness, she reached towards her mother, who kneeled in a corner of the cave. In the background Lera could hear other children and mothers whispering and talking.

Lera's mother stood up. "Child." She places her rough hands on Lera's fair face. "You've always been lovely to touch."

"I dance mother! Feel?"

Lera spins and hops around the dark figure of her mother

"Yes dear, I feel your vibrancy. It feels lovely."

"Dance, mother! And sing!"

"Lera, I have things I must concentrate."

"Still? How long are you going to sit there?"

"Until I understand."

"I can feel your thinking."

"You're growing up Lera."

"It's like a gong in my head. I can't stand the noise."

Her mother got up, rubbed her head, and beckoned her off. "It's a phase, dear."

Lera wandered through the large cavern, infinitely dark. It was where a group of families lived. Here they were born, they ate, they slept, they thought, they died. She felt a small presence next to her. She could feel it because the air became 'tightened' around her. She glanced her head to the left.

"Mari, dance with me!"

The other little girl who came up next to her was only seen through her voice.

"Not now Lera, let's go to where the Gods do not paint the world with their color."

Lera and Mari walked towards the cavern wall, for they could 'sense' it there, and began tracing their hands around the great cave and its halls.

As always it was crowded in that small room. The air in that cave hole was very warm, it was humid from the many children standing around breathing. Lera and Mari joined them until they could feel bodies all around, and stared at where the Gods stopped painting.

The tiny pinprick of light held against such ageless darkness was a mere nothing; it did not even light up the area around it. But from that tiny crack within that cave, the children stared and the two adults watched. It had been there since they had been there; therefore it was older than them and their culture. Therefore, it must be from the Gods.

A gentle hush fell upon the small crowd instantly. The sense a movement in the earth. A deep trembling. Lera had an intense feeling to push forward to further look at this light. Moving all kids and adults out of her way, she brushed around the area with extreme caution. Blackness came to her.

Lera awoke. She sensed something wrong, for she was dusted with rubble and dirt, a slight drip of blood coursed down her cheek. Bodies were on the ground around her. She felt one of the adults by her feet.

The small crack was a bit bright, and Lera shielded her eyes against it light. Having an urge, Lera scratched around the gap. Curiosity drew her. A voice behind her sputtered dryly.

"You mustn't! It is where the Gods have not painted."

"But it is the way to heaven." Lera beckoned.

"No, it is not! It is emptiness, nothingness. Upon an art picture do you not stare at the swirling lines or the blankness that is not drawn upon? No Lera, you must not go. It is where the Gods do not deem us to dance."

"But it is so bright! It indeed is painted, for how can nothingness be so beautiful?" She continued to dig. Rocks and dirt flew from the wall.

"The Gods do not paint such colors! Look how it pierces ours! Such conflicting lights do not mix! No child, this is the cave of another God! An evil one! No!"

Lera punched through as all the children and adults scurried back in horror and dismay. Lera covered her eyes with her hands and screamed at the pain of the brightness and intensity of this new color. She ran and ran.