Traveler of Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain, a high peak in the old country, was named so for its blue appearance in the afternoon. This afternoon was no different. No trees grew on the mountain, only sparse grasses when the jagged crags flattened into terraces. Animals roamed the grasses, mainly rabbits and mice, while birds scanned those fields from above, hoping to find a meal.
Nathan stopped at an ascent, having just walked over a mile from the base of the mountain. He looked out away from the mountain, noting a good path for his eventual descent. Nathan saw that there were frequent rock slides near his location, so camping here was not wise, he decided. He would hike farther up, onto a jutting rock shelf up ahead. "North by Northwest", he noted.
Nathan thought about his brother, Duncan, and the last time he saw Duncan before his passing. Duncan practically raised Nathan, teaching him what little of Life's mystery he knew, sharing lessons about life, death, happiness... Nathan always loved Duncan, but now he was gone. His last words to Nathan rang deeply in Nathan's mind.
"Do you remember Blue Mountain, brother?"
"Yes, of course," replied Nathan, weeping at his brother's bedside.
"Be the mountain. I will not have impacted you any less once I am dead. Remember your life and wear your scars, be they painful memories, loves, triumphs, whatever shaped you, as the mountain wears its weathered rocks. The mountain is strong and is beautiful. Be the mountain."
"But... how can I?"
"Hush, brother... You will understand. It is now my time to go. I will climb the mountain again some day, but today is my day of rest. Goodbye, Nathan."
And then he was gone. The sickness took him, and Nathan cried out to the heavens to bring him back. God had no answer to Nathan except the empty look Duncan now gave as his soul disappeared beyond the horizon.
Duncan was cremated the next day at dawn. His hunting knife, his walking stick, and his fur cap were the only possessions Duncan asked be preserved after his death. He had nothing else to keep. Nathan kept the knife in his wardrobe, hung by a leather strap on a peg attached to the door. Nathan used the walking stick and wore the hat now. Nathan found it grimly appropriate that the only items left behind by his mentor were tools of his trade.
Nathan focused on the mountain, using the memory of Duncan to power his efforts to reach the rock shelf. A short while later, he unrolled a blanket on the mildly flat rock and gazed at the stars, shining back at him in approval of his journey. Nathan soon fell asleep under those same stars.
Immediately upon the break of day, Nathan rose and started his ascent. The hike was hard, not in the distance, but in the ruggedness of the mountain and the lack of game trails. At least there was no rain. Rain was almost always death for a climber on this mountain. No clouds roamed the sky.
It was noon before the peak was in sight. Nathan had never climbed Blue Mountain before, but Duncan had, and he said the view from the top was almost God-like... Nathan couldn't believe that, but he still wanted to see it for himself, and to finally reach the top as a tribute to Duncan. Unfortunately, the ascent to the peak was nearly straight up for the last several yards.
Nathan reached the final stretch at about supper time. He stopped at the vertical wall and scanned around for hand holds. He saw a few, and started up. The climb was arduous, so Nathan left his pack at the bottom. After several minutes, he reached a flat spot upon which to sit.
Nathan closed his eyes and prayed for one last time. After a time of waiting to catch his breath, Nathan started up the last few feet to the peak.
Nathan was quite surprised to see an old Bonsai tree growing in the rock. Folded into the branches of the tree was a piece of paper. Nathan grabbed it and unfolded it. It was a note from Duncan...
Nathan looked out from the mountain and couldn't believe his eyes. The view was indeed God-like. The valleys and plains all around looked to be part of his own creation, his own world he presided over from the mountain. It was heavenly. The feeling inside was rapturous. Nathan read the note.
'I told you it was God-like.'
