An Excerpt from
Gil Brangdon’s
One if by Land, Three if by Sea
Day: 739
I awoke on this morning as I did most mornings, alone; I looked around the tiny room made of magenta painted steel and reinforced glass that has been my home for some time now. But as my eyes adjusted to the light I knew something was off. Not in a bad way, it’s just when you live in a mobile underwater pod station docked on one of the deepest darkest lagoon beds in the world you begin to develop an understanding and rhythm to your existence. When something throws that off you recognize it. So I went immediately to the control room, I did not brush my teeth, I did not shower, or wash my face, I skipped breakfast, aside from an avocado flavored powdered supply drink. You know what I always say, an avocado flavored powdered supply drink a day keeps the doctor away. Which is good since there are no more doctors on land and almost none in my lagoon, let alone at this depth.
I approached the controls and immediately checked everything, but everything was normal, my air levels were secure, no breaches of any kind. For a moment I took a seat, and a generous breath of air, but then jumped several feet in the air when I heard a most peculiar sound. It was faint, but quite emotive, I turned on the outside lights but nothing was there, I could not see a thing. So I undocked my vessel and began my search, I knew this lagoon like the back of my hand, but that day I was a stranger. I didn’t know where I was going; I was just following the melodic sounds in the distance. The closer I got to the source the louder this music became; I began to hear words in the long since dead language of Italian. It was truly haunting to hear these tragic melodies of which I could not understand, but I continued my search till I seemed to be right on top of the source. It was as if I was in one of the finest music halls in Italy. Of course before the country was overtaken by the sea.
So there I sat listening to this music, scanning the dark treacherous lagoon bed for any signs of life. When all of a sudden I saw her. You would never have noticed her unless your eyes were as primed for discovery as mine. It was, what appeared to be a baby bird. She was no bigger than a mouse, but the sweetest of golden in color. I rushed to the pod station doors, I put on my suit as fast as I could, and I swam out to meet this creature. Her eyes were closed and her song continued till I was inches away. She stopped, looked up at me, and smiled. I said, “ Little creature, will you please join me in my pod station so I may share a word with you?” She nodded and followed me back to the pod bay doors.
Once back inside and dried off, I provided her a seat, and asked if she wanted an avocado flavored powdered supply drink. She declined. Next I asked her what her name was. In the quietest of voices she said “My name is Azar and I am sorry if I disturbed you with my song.” I was flabbergasted, “Of course you did not disturb me, it has been lifetimes since I have heard a voice so beautiful.” She was quite flattered, but after asking me my name and about my ship, I was able to inquire about the song. “It is L’Orfeo, an opera by Claudio Monteverdi, it tells the story of Orfeo, and his fruitless trip down to Hades to bring his dead bride Eurydice back to the land of the living.” Said Azar “ I sing it for my lost lover Aiwa, the most beautiful of angel fish, she is above the surface far from my reach.”
Now as you know I am a fan of the works of the ancient Greek writers, their stories have kept me and my quest going long after the world was consumed by water and flame. And as you should also know my vessel is named Poseidon for the God of the Ocean. So as I sat listening to her sad tale I could not help but be captivated, and inspired to help reunite these two star-crossed lovers. But first I needed a little more information.
“Why is your love so far from reach?” I asked. “When were you last on the surface? Much has changed” Azar said. “Well I have been on my mission for many years, since the great wars above the surface I have been down here. I did not watch the planet consume its inhabitants. Instead I have looked for a solution under the water, only surfacing for short periods of time over the years to collect supplies.” I told her, to which she proceeded to tell me of the years that had passed above, and ultimately of her confinement down here at the bottom of the lagoon.
“Many years have passed since I have seen Aiwa, but I blame myself for our separation. You see Aiwa is the most beautiful of all angelfish, the moment she approached the surface I knew I had fallen in love. I had to have her, so I found one of the only remaining pieces of land, and even harder than that I found one of the fewest reaming trees, one so large and so exquisite, as to honor my love. I built for her a house in that tree, larger than any castle or mansion that stood before the great floods, and I filled it with water. I filled a bucket twelve times as large as myself and brought the ocean to the air, so that I would be closer to her. And in the final bucket I brought Aiwa, and we were happy. I would fly around, and she would swim, and at night we would sleep together in our house in the clouds. I would hold my breath and dive deep into the water and bring up artwork from centuries past, the prettiest jewels, and of course the best of foods. And each time I returned she would tell me what a fool I was, and that all she wanted was to swim below me as I flew above. But the fool I am, I would not listen, I dove deeper and deeper, pulling Picassos from sunken museums, and pearls from the necks of long dead queens. Until one day I dove too deep, in search of the rarest oyster this world has ever seen, I had it in my wing, but when I turned around, my wings would not move, the toxins your race had put into the water had coated them, broken my feathers, and stranded me at the bottom of this lagoon. I have lived off of tiny breaths from the small amount of air within that single oyster. But with each breath I take, I sing Monteverdi’s words, the tragic tale of love lost out of doubt.” With that she took a breath and began to walk towards the door.
Now because I am Gil Brangdon, and as I have told you, a huge fan of all things Greek, I imparted a word of wisdom upon my new friend Azar from the very story she eternally sings, “He who sows in suffering shall reap the fruit of every grace. You sing these very words yet you do not comprehend them.” Azar looked confused. “You must not sit here feeling sorry for yourself, unlike Orfeo, who can never see his bride again, for she is trapped in the underworld, your love is just above the surface.” I told her. “But my wings are broken, how will I take care of my love, she will never again know the beauties this world has to offer. “ Azar responded. “ So you have learned nothing from your entire time trapped down here? You have spent years singing this morality tale yet seem to have taken nothing from it.” Azar looked out the window into the dark waters of the lagoon, and considered my words.
“So you really think that Aiwa will love me, even though I have left her for so long? Even though I am unable to bring her the most precious of jewels? Even though I cannot fly above her?” She asked. “ If Aiwa is the beautiful soul you have described, she will undoubtedly be happy to see you again.” I said. “If this is true than I have been a fool. My new friend, is there any way you might be able to get me to the surface in this vessel?” She begged. I of course obliged, and for the first time in over three years I headed towards the surface, happy to help a friend, and also very excited to see the sun once again. I may even stay above for a little while in order to study the new landscapes. I also felt it important to remind Azar that her lover Aiwa is an independent woman and could of course make any decision she likes, she bound to no one.
The moment we reached the surface we were both blinded by the sunlight we had not seen for quite some time. It was much quieter above than I remembered and an image worthy of a painting. Azar pointed me in the direction of her tree house, and off we went. Within the hour, the massive structure appeared in the distance. Larger than I had expected from Azar’s tales. She had become almost silent as we docked and made our way up the mighty staircase that lead to the entranceway. With a gentle nudge she opened the door and within moments saw Aiwa. Both of their eyes filled with tears as Azar walked towards the large pool in the middle of the house. I must say this house was one of the nicest I have ever seen, how a small bird built it is beyond me, but crazier things have happened.
“I am so sorry I left you my love.” Azar proclaimed, “I was a fool. I could not see that all these material things meant nothing to you. Instead I trapped myself beneath the ocean. But if you will have me back, I will spend the rest of my days by your side.” Aiwa looked at her long lost love, and said, “You know I hate oysters right?” and with a smile invited Azar to come swim beside her.
I proceeded to wander about the tree house letting the two lovers get reacquainted, and marveling at Azar’s fine woodworking skills. Later that night the two let me prepare them my avocado flavored powdered supply drinks, and really seemed to enjoy them. In fact they more than enjoyed them, as Azar finished off her second glass, a funny thing happened, and to this day I’m not sure if it was the clean water in Aiwa’s pool or my avocado drink, I prefer to think it was the drink, but as a cool breeze blew in through the window, Azars feathers began to rustle. Slowly at first one and than another began to straighten out, and before you knew it, she was airborne. That seemed to be my cue to leave, so I walked out the door and down the huge front steps, as Azar flew though the house and dipped down to kiss Aiwa as she jumped from the water.