The mountain had already turned dark when the soup was ready. The cold wind of the night and the insect noise makes the environment evermore rural. The strange lady has not yet come to the hut. I hope to have everything in order by the time she arrives. I taste the soup: It really was good, although I did not have all the necessary condiments. Furthermore, I step outside the hut for a little and contemplate the heavens: The stars are witnesses of my efforts. I went up the mountain, found its guardian, completed two challenges (one more difficult than the other), met a ghost, and I am still standing. "The poor strive more for their dreams." I look at the arrangement of the stars and their luminosity. Each has its importance in the great universe that we live in. People are also important in the same way. They are white, black, rich, poor, of religion A, or religion B or of any belief system. They are all children with the same father. I also want to take my place in this universe. I am a thinking being without limits. Furthermore, I think that a dream is priceless, but I am willing to pay for it to enter the cave of despair. I contemplate the heavens once more and then go back to the hut. I wasn't surprised to find guardian there.
"Have you been here long? I hadn't realized.
"You were so concentrated in contemplating the heavens that I did not want to break the spell of the moment. In addition to that, I feel at home.
"Excellent. Sit on this improvised bench that I made. I will serve the soup.
With the soup still hot, I served the strange lady in a gourd that I found in the forest. The wind whipping at night caressed my face and whispered words in my ear. Who was that strange lady that I was serving? I wonder if she really wanted to destroy me, as the ghost hinted. I had many doubts about her and this was a great opportunity to clear them.
"Is the soup good? I prepared it with great care.
"It's wonderful! What did you use to prepare it?
"It is made of stones. Just kidding! I bought a bird from a hunter and used some natural seasonings from the forest. But, changing the subject, who are you really?
"It shows good hospitality for the host to talk first about himself. It's been four days since you arrived here at the top of the mountain, and I am not even sure what your name is.
"Very well. But it is a long story. Get ready. My name is Aldivan Teixeira Tôrres and I teach college level Mathematics. My two great passions are literature and math. I've always been a lover of books, and ever since I was minimal, I have wanted to write one of my own. When I was in my first year of high school, I gathered some excerpts from the books of Ecclesiastes, wisdom and proverbs. I was pleased, despite the texts not being mine. I showed everyone, with great pride. Furthermore, I finished High School, took a computer course and stopped studying for a while. Thereafter, I tried a technical course at a local college. However, I realized it wasn't my field by a sign of fate. I was prepared for an internship in this area. However, the day before the test, a strange force demanded continuously for me to give up. The more time passed, the more pressure I felt from this force until I decided not to take the test. The pressure subsided, and my heart was calmed also. I think it was fate that made me not go. We must respect our limits. I did several tenders, was approved and currently hold the role of administrative assistant of education. Three years ago, I received another sign of fate. I had some problems and I ended up having a nervous breakdown. I started then to write, and in a short time it helped me to improve. The result was the book "Vision of a Medium" which I have not yet published. All of this showed me that I was able to write and have a dignified profession. This is what I think: I want to work doing what I like, and I want to be happy. Is that too much for a poor person to ask?
"Of course not, Aldivan. You have talent, and that is rare in this world. At the right time, you will succeed. Victorious are those who believe in their dreams.
"I do believe. That's why I'm here in the middle of nowhere, where the commodities of civilization have not yet arrived. I found a way to climb the mountain, to overcome the challenges. All that is left now is for me to enter the cave and carry out my dreams.
"I'm here to help you. I have been the guardian of the mountain ever since it became sacred. My mission is to help all dreamers seeking the cave of despair. Some seek to make material dreams come true such as money, power, social ostentation or other selfish dreams. All have failed so far, and they have not been few. The cave is fair with its granting of wishes.
The conversation continued in a lively manner for some time. I was gradually losing interest in it as a strange voice called me out of the hut. Each time that this voice called me, I felt compelled to go out of curiosity. I had to go. I wanted to know what that strange voice in my thoughts meant. Gently, I said farewell to the woman and set out in the direction indicated by the voice. What awaits me? Let us continue together, reader.
The night was cold, and the insistent voice remained in my mind. There was a kind of strange connection between us. I had already walked a few feet outside the hut, but it seemed to be miles by the fatigue that my body was feeling. The instructions that I mentally received guided me in the darkness. A mixture of tiredness, fear of the unknown and curiosity controlled me. Whose strange voice was this? What did she want with me? The mountain and its secrets… Ever since I got to know the mountain, I have learned to respect it. The guardian and her mysteries, the challenges that I had to confront, the encounter with the ghost; it all became special. It was not the highest in the northeast or even the most impressive, but it was sacred. The myths of the medicine man and my dreams have led me to it. I want to win all the challenges, enter the cave and make my request. I will be a changed man. Furthermore, I will no longer be just me, but I will be the man who overcame the cave and its fire. I remember well the words of the guardian, not to trust too much. I remember the words of Jesus who said:
" He who believed in me shall have eternal life.
The risks involved will not make me desist of my dreams. It is with this thought that I am ever more faithful. The voice becomes stronger and stronger. I think that I am arriving at my destination. Right in front, I see a hut. The voice tells me to go there.
The hut and its illuminating bonfire are in a spacious, flat place. A young, tall, thin girl with dark hair is grilling a type of snack on the fire.
"So, you have arrived. I knew that you would answer my call.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?
"I am another dreamer who wants to enter the cave.
"What special powers do you have to call out to me with your mind?
"It's telepathy, silly. Aren't you familiar with it?
"I've heard of it. Could you teach me?
"You will learn one day but not from me. Tell me what dream brings you here?
"Before all, my name is Aldivan. I climbed the mountain in hopes of finding my opposing forces. They shall define my destiny. When someone can control their opposing forces, they will be able to perform miracles. That's what I need to accomplish my dream of working in an area that I enjoy, and with that, I will make many souls dream. I want to go into the cave not only for me but for the entire universe that has provided me these gifts. I will have my place in the world and that is how I will be happy.
"My name is Nadja. I am an inhabitant of the Coast of the State of Pernambuco. In my land I've heard talk of this miraculous mountain and its cave. Immediately I was interested in making the journey here, even though I thought that everything was merely a legend. I gathered my stuff, left, arrived in Mimoso and went up the mountain. I hit the jackpot. Now that I'm here, I will go into the cave and will fulfill my wish. I will be a great Goddess, adorned with power and riches. All will serve me. Your dream is just silly. Why ask for a little if we can have the world?
"You are mistaken. The cave does not perform petty miracles. You will fail. The guardian will not allow you to enter. To enter the cave, you must win three challenges. I have already conquered two of the stages. How many have you won?
"How dumb, challenges and guardians. The cave only respects the strongest and most confident. I will achieve my desires tomorrow and no one will stop me, you hear?
"You know best. When you regret it, it will be too late. Well, I guess I'll be going. I need some rest because it is late. As for you, I cannot wish you good luck in the cave because you want to be greater than God himself. When humans reach this point, they destroy themselves.
"Nonsense, you're all words. Nothing will make me go back on my decision.
Seeing that she was adamant I gave up, feeling sorry for her. How can people become so petty every so often? The human being is only worthy when he fights for righteous and egalitarian ideals. Walking the trail, I remembered the times I've been wronged, whether it was by an ill-marked examination or even from the neglect of others. It makes me unhappy. On top of this, my family is totally against my dream and does not believe in me. It hurts. One day, they will see reason and see that dreams can be possible. On that day, after all is said and done, I'll sing my victory and I will glorify the Creator. He gave me everything and only required me to share my gifts because, as the Bible says, do not light a lamp and put it under the table. Rather, put it on top for all to applaud and be enlightened. The trail breaks, and immediately I see the hut that has cost me so much sweat to build. I need to go to sleep because tomorrow is another day and I have plans for me and for the world. Good night, readers. Until the next chapter…