‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio d’™ Annunzio sat on the very edge of his bed and shuddered.’  The shiver went not only through his body but his soul as well.’  At sixteen he should have been in the streets of Naples with the gang watching young girls go by and whistling after them with his friends; this was the way of the youth of the city, not sitting in his room and moping.’  But that was just how it had been now for over a month. He was in a deep depression and unable to shake himself out of it.’  He’  remembered only too well how it began.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  He and Chiko, had been wandering through the flea market looking at odds and ends when he spotted it.’  Today he was not prepared to swear whether he saw the mirror first or it was the mirror that saw him.’  Not sure that it was truly his reflection he saw or a similar face staring back at him. He had stopped to peer at it out of curiosity.’  Initial fascination quickly turned to some subconscious power over which he had little control. He felt transfixed – hypnotised from the first glance.’  The man at the stand, seeing Julio’™s fascination, said:’  ‘œBoy, it came with other handicraft from Ethiopia.’  You can have it for a song.’  One hundred Lira only. Okay?’œ
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The vendor’™s voice may have broken the spell temporarily and Julio had been unable to resist. He paid for it but did not look at it again. He kept it in its bag to be examined later in the privacy of his room.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Chiko chided him.’  ‘œWhat do you want with that junk?’’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œJust an urge’, he said.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  In his room he removed it. At once he realised what had intrigued him about it.’  Although the mirror reflected his image, there was something strange about it that he could not place.’  The silvering was somewhat darker than one would expect so, too, his complexion, There was also something about the hair that he could not place. It was as if another image was staring back at him.’  It brought a shiver to him and he had placed it face down on the dresser in his room.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  But from then on he could not get the face he had seen to leave him.’  Wherever he went, whatever he did it followed him haunting him. ‘œWhy can’™t you leave me alone.’  Go away to where you came from. I don’™t need you in my life.’ But it was not to be. Neither his father nor mother could find fault or anything unusual about the mirror.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  When psychologists and even a psychotherapist also failed, Julio, depressed and bewildered wondered whether he would be forced to live with this pseudo-image in his mind for the rest of his life.’ ‘  Julio’™s parents were no less upset at Julio’™s plight.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  One day at dinner Julio astonished his parents when, coming to a sudden decision blurted out: ‘œPapa ‘¦ Mama? I must go to ‘¦ to Ethiopia. To Addis. The mirror came from there.’  Please! You must let me go.’ ‘ ‘  I do not know why but I feel that I simply must.’  Also I must go alone.’  Something tells me it is the only way for my cure ‘“ to be rid of this spell.’  Yes, Mamma,’  spell!,’ he added seeing the shock on his mother’™s face.’  ‘œI am quite sure of it.’  Please do not wonder.’  I am sure that it was fate that the mirror came to me and that only in Ethiopia will I find an answer to end my suffering.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio’™s parents became silent.’  The thought of their inexperienced boy alone in a strange and wild country was for them a nightmare.’  As the days passed the suffering on Julio’™s face convinced them that they should let him have his way.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  A week later Julio’™s parents stood at the airport window, waving tearfully farewell to their son, who, with just a small back-pack containing a few essentials, was leaving for Africa.’  With as much wonder at his actions as were his parents, Julio waved a final farewell as he mounted the steps to the plane’™s cabin.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Mervyn Medicks.39,Eliezer Yaffe *
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  At Addis Ababa, for the first time in his life, Julio knew what it was to feel alone and a complete stranger.’  He did not know which way to turn or where to start.’  Near the town centre he found a cheap hotel that offered a reasonable room. Finally alone and as ever tormented by the image, he fell upon the bed and into a troubled sleep.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  At first light the following morning he made his way to the central market place of the city’  quite near the Palace.’  In the hubbub of people, camels, donkeys and the cackle of chickens, in sprawling, shanty houses, merchants were selling everything from carpets to camels, matches to hand-made artefacts. Julio did not know Amharic and his English was weak. He was glad to discover that many inhabitants spoke more than a smattering of Italian. Showing the mirror first to one then another merchant, he finally arrived at one who sold mirrors of many varieties including ones similar to the one he held out to show.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWho make this?,’ he asked in English after trying Italian. He held up the mirror.’  Julio himself, fearing to look at the glass, kept his eyes on the merchant’™s face.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The merchant turned it over this way then that.’  The glass was simple and round, set into a hard-wood plate that extended to form a comfortable handle.’  It was obviously of an uncommon wood for the merchant rather admiringly handed it back saying simply: ‘œThis cedar – from Adama.’’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAdama?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œCedar.’  Only from Adama.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHow to go?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The merchant pointed to an open dusty field crowded’  with a strange array of carrier vehicles, people and packages. ‘œBus,’ he said simply.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The pressure of the image in Julio’™s mind was now stronger than he had felt ever before. In spite of this and again allowing his instincts to lead, Julio felt that this was the way he should go.’  A dollar into an outstretched hand at the open door of a rickety vehicle, bought a seat to Adama.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Looking about him and in spite of his depression, Julio could not help noticing that the features of many of the Ethiopian people was not as African as those he had come across in Naples. They were dark, certainly but they had rather European-like features and many of the young women were attractive ‘“ even beautiful. When the bus left, so fixed was he in his purpose that the scenes passing; the sprawling, ramshackle houses of Addis Ababa, the tree studded countryside held no attraction for him.’  After some hours the bus wound its way laboriously, shaking and lurching up a narrow mountain road.’  Julio’™s attention was, however, attracted by a surging river under a great stone bridge over which the bus scrambled rather than rode.’  ‘œAwash,’ said the occupant of the seat next to him as he leaned over to get a better view.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Six anxious hours later they screeched to a stop. ‘œAdama’, a voice said and Julio, holding tightly to his pack, rose, his legs stiff from so many hours of being pressed to his seat by the crowd of standing passengers.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Once outside, Julio found himself surrounded by an inquisitive group amongst whom were many young children their hands held out in the hope of a penny or a sweet.’  He had absolutely no idea where to start .’  His gaze landed upon the face of a youth about his own age.’  He appeared to Julio sympathetic and Julio pushed through the crowd towards him.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œItaliano?,’ he asked, able to force only a wan smile.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œSi.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The answer delighted Julio even though, as it turned out, the boys Italian was very basic. But for the first time in many months Julio felt a small surge of optimism.’  Clutching at any straw, he felt that perhaps the boy was heaven sent.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI’™m Julio.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œLubo,’ the boy answered.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio held out his hand with a half smile and Lubo took it, clasping first the palm then the thumb.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWhere can I stay?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYou stay with me?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio was surprised at the suggestion, but seeing a certain sincerity in the boy’™s face, nodded consent almost with relief sure that there was no such thing as a hotel or even boarding house in the village.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Lubo’™s mother greeted Julio warmly, she and Lubo’™s two young sisters at the entrance to their small wood and iron shanty room. Its floor was of packed mud but swept clean. Water sprinkled on the floor gave a cool, pleasant atmosphere to the room.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  That night, Julio, on a mat and wrapped in a woollen blanket, opened his heart to his new found friend. In simple words he related to him the story of the mirror and image. He was surprised that Lubo listened sympathetically and attentively.’  Julio discovered that Lubo took spirits and spells very seriously. That the Ethiopians relate naturally to what many from the West consider supernatural.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio gradually realised that since his arrival in Adama, instead of the usual headache,’  he had a great rushing sound in his head ‘“ like raging water.’ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  This did not surprise Lubo. ‘œTwo hour walk from here,’ Lubo said.’  ‘œTomorrow I take you to river ‘¦ big waterfall. Maybe you need ‘“ maybe you find.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  At first light, through misty, wooded slopes the two made their way in silence down to the river.’  Once there Lubo lead the way upstream.’  Softly at first, Julio began to hear the sound of falling water.’  As they neared the base of the great falls the sound became so strong it drowned out the rushing in Julio’™s head.’  Julio became elated as they approached the foot of the most impressive waterfall Julio had ever known. The falls of the Awash.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The spray carried on the wind dampened Julio’™s clothes and sent droplets running down his face.’  He felt refreshed.’  Lubo stood aside in silence allowing Julio to go ahead ‘“ to follow his instincts.’ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio placed his pack on the ground. Close to the surging river, he made his way over the wet, grassy bank through the chilling spray towards a great, churning pool.’  The impact of the water caused Julio’™s blood to surge with excitement. Continuing, and as if pulled by some inexplicable force, he moved on over the slippery rocks at the river’™s edge through spray that at times became almost solid water. Treading carefully over wet rocks he forced his way to the rock face at the back of the great fall.’  Drenched but elated, he forced himself on until he was behind the fall of water.’  There, in the powerful turbulence of sound, he found himself in a recess – a shallow cave. He glanced back. He caught a glimpse of Lubo who was standing at the side, peering in. The power of the falling water was’  intense. Julio pressed on into the recess.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  In its relative shelter he paused to reflect. He glanced back at Lubo who was looking intensely at him. The falling water seemed to be cleansing his soul.’  It was then that he saw something that made him start.’  Among the rocks quite close to his feet, what he took at first to be a whitish rock became a human skull.’  He approached it in trepidation. There were also other bones nearby obviously belonging to the same body.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  He looked again at Lubo who was making frantic signs not to touch anything.’  But Julio felt an urge to take the bones from the turmoil of the place.’  He removed his tunic and began to place in it the skull and as many bones as he could find.’  With difficulty he retraced his steps, climbing to a spot higher up on the bank. With his pen knife he cut a small branch and using it, scooped a hole in the soft earth at the base of a great cedar. Into this he reverently placed the bones, covering them carefully. He placed a stone upon the mound and murmured: ‘œRest now.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  During all the proceedings Lubo had stood at a distance, watching in awe. But Julio had not finished. He returned, searching out the place for any further bone he might find. He found none but he did come across a strangely shaped’  bottle of dark green glass. It was plugged with hard- wood.’  Clasping the slippery object to his chest, Julio took it’  outside.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Shivering now with cold, he retreated to the place where he had buried the skull and bones.’ ‘  Lubo, approached slowly and with wide eyed trepidation, sat next to Julio in silence. ‘œJulio, Abyssinian no touch bone!’ Then he pointed to the bottle.’  Julio turned it this way and that to catch the light.’  There was something inside.’  He struck it against a rock and the glass shattered.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio started when a tube-like object fell from it and rolled down the slope stopping when it hit a small boulder.’  Julio ran and picked it up carefully. His curiosity burned. It had an outer wrapping of linen.’  Still watched in fascination by Lubo, he found that the linen bound a fragment of parchment.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio opened it fearing it might crumple and break to small pieces. But it was’  firm and opened to a small sheet some ten centimetres square. His excitement rose still more to see that the writing was in Italian! Shaking from both the cold and excitement he read: ‘˜My name is Julian d’™ Annunzio but I must be also someone else. Nothing can cure me.’  There is another somebody in my brain ‘“ he shouts and cries.’  I cannot bear the turmoil any more.’  Here I can shout and cry and nobody hears me. Here I wish to die. A doctor helped me do a special mirror. If anybody finds me please bury me then I will be at last at peace ‘“ thank God.’™ There was a date:’  September, 1853.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Julio’™s mind reeled. Maybe a great, great uncle! Questions swam in the boy’™s head but for answers he would have to wait. Placing the parchment carefully in a pocket, he and Lubo made their way up from the river to Lubo’™s simple dwelling.’  There, watched by his new-found friend and not without trepidation, Julio removed the mirror from his pack. For the first time in months he looked at the image.’  There was now nothing strange about it. No pressure in his mind; his reflection stared blandly back at him as from any normal mirror.’  Still acting upon impulse and using his pen-knife, he eased the glass from its cedar frame.’  It came free with a squeak, then fell shattering as it hit the ground. A round backing paper fluttered to the floor.’  Julio picked it up.’  Turning it over he paled. Staring back at him was a slightly darker hand-painted image of himself.