‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The earth was cool and dry in the early hours of the morning, sunrise still a pink promise in the East.’  A light morning breeze played leisurely with some grains of sand in a small hollow in which two brown seeds were lying.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I wonder what distance we covered?”, began one, Tsa, to his brother, Shi, still somewhat out of breath.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shi, after the flight and excitement of the last hours, wanted nothing more than to sleep. He forced himself awake and finally said, “It seems to me that that we must have flown as high and as far… as the stars. It seemed an age in time.”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Do you remember the first time we saw the stars”,’  interrupted Tsa breaking in, remembering his first view of the stars from their parent’s crown – “how excited we were?”.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Of course”, said Shi, and the memory came flooding back to him.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I especially remember,” Tsa added, “the story of the wind about the Blue-winged butterfly.’  Do you, Shi ?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shi did. He often thought back to the wind’™s tale; how the Blue-winged butterfly on summer nights can be seen flying into the night sky – up and up. “It is never seen again”,’  Wind had added, “and it is said that it flies to the stars; that it’s they who really know the stars well.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I loved the story and keep thinking about it,” said Shi, a heavy weariness coming over him and desiring nothing more than to sleep. They both fell silent, each gently aware of the others presence and touch.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The first rays of the sun swept away the mist and the field was bathed in early light. Both Shi and Tsa became numbed and drowsy by the warmth.’  It seeped like wine into their veins.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Sleep well, Shi.”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Sleep well, Tsa.”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  With a final effort they blessed one another, and in the warm earth fell into a deep sleep.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  *
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Neither was aware of what caused them to wakefulness. They lay in silence next to one another, wrapped in the dark earth, not speaking neither knowing if the other be awake or no.’  Tsa felt a faint vibration.’  It seemed to surround him.’  Unable to control himself longer, Tsa spoke: “Shi, do you hear? Feel?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Yes. ‘ What’s happening?’  Do you feel it too?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Yes,” said the ever curious Tsa.’  ‘œI’m sure it’s’  rain.’  I remember it mentioned.’  Didn’t pay much attention at the time, but I’m sure, somehow, that this is what was meant.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Some hours later a call from Shi startled Tsa: “I’m swelling fit to burst.’  Is it happening to you?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Although surprised at his swelling, Shi felt exhilarated -‘  even jubilant.’  His body was tingling. The same was happening to Tsa who was excitedly reflecting upon his feelings.’  The brothers exchanged experiences frequently.’  Enthusiastic hours passed.’  Then days. Their first days of early growth.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Then one morning: “Shi, I see the sky! Here, right above me!”. The excited call from his brother brought a small twinge to Shi who was going through an experience he had never counted upon. He didn’t answer.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Then another call from Tsa:” And I can see the sun now, too!’  Can you see the sun, Shi?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shi’s silence began to worry Tsa. “Anything the matter, Shi?”, he asked, his concern showing in his voice.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shi’s main root was in contact with something hard and bitter. It changed the liquids, once sweet and nourishing to a bitterness that seemed to freeze in his veins embittering his whole body. He was in no condition to feel excited about anything except the awful way he felt.’  Neither the sky nor the sun could raise even a flicker of interest in him. Finally Shi spoke: “How do you feel, Tsa?’  Do you feel anything bitter?’  Does you body feel chilled and terrible?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “No.’  Of course not. Why?”.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I feel awful Tsa.’  I’™m touching something that is poisoning’  me. I feel awful and cold.’  Do you think I’m going to die?”‘  The worry and fear in his voice was strong.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I’m so sorry, Shi,” ‘ said Tsa anxiously.’  After a breif silence he continued: ” I heard that if you try very hard, you can move a root’  away from bad places. Try, Shi. Try as hard as you can.”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Tsa fell into a worried silence while Shi mustered as much power as he could for the task.’  Hour after hour he forced his mind to work. The hours dragged to become a day and then a night.’  Slowly, however, Shi’™s struggle was rewarded – the root moved. After much suffering and many more hours of deep thought,’  the liquids gradually became less bitter. Shi struggled on. Slow, by by slow step Shi’™s sap became sweet’  again.
‘ ‘ ‘  “Tsa?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Yes.”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I’m feeling a lot better. I’m sure the worst is over.”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I’m so happy, Shi. I was so worried. I missed you a lot.”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Shi, see how tall I’ve grown?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shi noticed well. “Yes,”‘  he said, “I hope I shall not remain short.”‘  Shi could not help feeling a twinge of jealousy at seeing how his brother had grown.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “You will surely grow tall, too” said Tsa.’  “Remember, you were very ill.’’ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shi remembered only too well.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  A few days later Shi was enjoying and taking in the new surroundings.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “Tsa, I feel fine.’  It’s so good to feel happy again – to be alive.’  Do you think I’ll grow as tall as you?”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “I am so glad Shi, and as for being tall, what really counts is being happy. You don’™t measure happiness by how tall you are.’’  All things seemed to interest Tsa – the ever curious Tsa. Shi drew comfort from his taller brother.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  A month after first heavy rain, winter began in earnest. There were days when the skies darkened and thunder rolled and roared like embattling lions.’  The cold stopped any real growth.’ ‘  Lightning streaked across the heavens like demons.’  Winds howled and tore at the young plants as if their one desire was to tear them out by the roots.’  The field became a small lake, covering the brothers and all other plants completely.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  But finally the rumbling ceased.’  The sun’s rays warmed the plants’  and they danced plant dances in the softer wind.’  Colours began to show as so many showed off their finery.’  Insects vied for nectar and the air filled with the buzz of life.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shi and Tsa would never tire of the stories they heard from other plants.’  Of the nights of storm and raging torrents.’  Others told of starry evenings when the wind piped melodies.’  These were diamond days of sun-filled delight.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  One day youths came into the field carrying boxes, planks and branches.’  These they made into piles – one group quite close to Shi and Tsa. There was much excitement and laughter. To Shi and to Tsa, however, there seemed something menacing in the activity.’  But it was not until the evening that their fears were confirmed.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Darkness had only just spread its mantle over the field when’  the groups of youths returned to the field .’  With much jubilation they began lighting their fires. The brightness of the flames added to that of the full moon.’  The youth’™s jubilation was as bright as the scene.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Boards crackled and snapped throwing sparks into the sky which melted and disappeared into the night.’  The flames leaped and danced.’  When the wind was in their direction Tsa and Shi were almost overwhelmed by the heat and smoke.’  Their heads hung in dismay. In their plight they called to one another and wondered whether they would live to see the next sunrise.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Over the sounds of the youths and the crackling of the flames, Tsa and Shi could barely hear one-another’s cries. But worst of all was the heat – the overpowering heat.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  “These are the fires of hell”, shouted Tsa, whose extra hight was now a disadvantage. He hoped that he could be heard above the noise. “I don’t know how much longer I can take this!”
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Time dragged; each minute seemed to each an hour – hours an eternity.’  Time passed interminably until a glow in the East heralded a new day.’  It was only then that the last of dying embers extinguished by the merry-makers.’  Tired but in good humour the young wended their ways to warm beds.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Dawn showed the destruction that had come to the field. It was scarred and pitted with scorched patches which had been a green delight the day before.’  Gone were the happy voices and stories of the plants.’  In their stead was a stunned silence.
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‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Optimism however returned quickly.’  Hope replaced anguish and by the afternoon was heard again excited chatter.’  This time of narrow escapes.’  The relief of surviving the night unhurt.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  By now Shi and Tsa had reached their peak of growth. True, Shi was somewhat the shorter, but they were both fine thistles standing tall.’  Each carried several proud blossoming heads.’  In these huddled hundreds of little brown seeds just as Tsa and Shi had been the year before.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Excitement was electric.’  Anxious parents were instructing their seeds before their greatest of all events: the flight of each to its own destiny.’  Tension was everywhere. There were those already in flight followed by the blessings of parent plants.’  These shouted last minute words of advice as the young seeds flew in the wind to whatever would be their fortune.
Tsa and Shi, too, were instructing theirs in all those things so important for them to know. Tension was high.’  Each small brown seed had a white, fluffy crown capable of carrying it with ease through the air.’  Any moment and a gust, a puff of wind would lift some on their fateful flight. And who is there who can foretell what this will be?’  None. For this is known only to the wind and the wind, its secrets never tells.