The King & his Four Nightingales by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid

The King & his Four Nightingales Author

Eva Petropoulou Lianoy Translation into English

Xanthi Hondrou-Hill

Once upon a time there was a king in a palace built on the top of a high mountain. The king was very talented and clever. He made his town very beautiful and organized and around the town he built high walls, so that itâ&#x20AC;&#x17E;s cytizens would be protected from attacks from barbariens. So, everybody was living happilly and fullfilled. Everything was running harmonious and smooth in town. The king had thought of everything well in advance, even for the problem with the drinking water, which occured the past years because it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x17E;t raining anymore. The king had learned that the town would have problems with droughts in the future, because he had been consulting with architects and other scientists and was prepared. 4

The palace and the rest of the town had been built much higher than the springs of the river and the water always runs towards the sea. It would be probably impossible to rebuid the town somewhere else. This is why he decided, together with his advisors, to make the rooftops of the houses flat. All the rooftops of all the houses in the whole town were built flat. 5

The flatroofs were leading to three walls and these were leading to three pipes and these pipes were leading to a huge deposit tank. The tank was burried very deep in the ground, even deeper than the foundation of the palace. The tank had two openings with filters. This is how the rainwater could dribble in there and after it had been filtered it would flow into a second bigger tank which was exactly next to the first one. There were two big pipes coming from the second water tank and leading into the central water supply unit, and from there into another very complicated system from small and even smaller pipes which each and every one of them was connecting the houses with the central water supply unit bringing fresh and clean water to every house. The inhabitants of this town were dealing with rebuilding and feading the clouds.

The citizens had invented a unique machine, with the guidance of their king, which was rejuvenating the clouds. On a daily basis the cytizens of the kingdom were collecting the thoughts, the happy thoughts of everybody. The happy thoughts were placed in a very big funnel which was going into a big bottle. Well, there the happy thoughts remained for weeks, or even months, and after a very special and long preparation and a good mixture they were put in a steam cooker with lots of whipping cream so that they will be fluffy and than they went into another even bigger machine, which, well, looked very much like a canon! Every two hours you could hear canon shots firering from the storage of the palace, poof and puff, and poof and puff again and again. The thoughts were travelling high to the sky and creating shapes and different sizes. They were becoming clouds and one by one in a row they would come out white, or pink, 7

another one creamy blue and then they would slowly slowly come closer together and start mixing their colours, sometimes because they would get angry they turned grey and then other times they would start crying because they were feeling despair and frustration and injustice.

When the clouds started crying, they were crying for hours, days, even weeks and their tears were running on the flat roofs, the water was gathering in the platform and from there through thousands of big and small and even microscopic pipes into the big tank. It was filtered there from all the salt and the clean water was flowing into the even bigger water tank and from there it make its way into the pipes of the water supply unit where it was stored for the next tough time when there wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t be any water in the palace. The pride and joy of the king were the four nightingales. Each and every one of them had a different way of chirping and when they were singing they had the skill to get the sun to rise, the flowers to blossom, the people to fall in love and to smile. The nightingales were not in cages but were flying free in the garden of the palace and when they called and heard their names, they went back into their rooms in the palace. Everyone had a nickname and all of their nicknames together 9

made the word HOPE. The first one was called H. The second, who was very cheeky, was called O, the third nightingale was wise and was called P and the forth, the most beautiful of all of them, was called E. E was the one the king loved the most. E felt the special bond he had to the king.

Everybody in the palace and in town knew that E was chirping very beautifully and crystal clear. His song was in fact so very melodic that one morning it made the golden rays of the sun wanting to get up and dance a little earlier, and the people of the town to get up even earlier than the morning, so that they could go and listen to his song. The people respected and loved all four nightingales of the palace and often they went to the gardens with their children to listen and adore their sweet song. Life was flowing like the water in the palace, up there. Nobody could even imagine that something could go wrong. One day, messengers brought a letter to the king from a neighbor who would like to visit the kingdom and talk to the king about the water problems he was dealing with.

The king was very happy about that and called his council together, he told them to cook all the fine food for foreign visitors and they should have the machine for the rejuvenation of the clouds ready for show. The nightingales had just started chirping in the gardens to mark the moment, the morning, calling the sun to rise in a dance like the God Dionysos. The whole world was showered in light and all flowers blossomed. The children were running in the streets here and there, in between the flowers of the gardens. How much happiness can fit in a garden? The guests were arriving and observing the festivities which were happening in the sun kissed town. They couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t get enough of all the happiness and all the goodies which were around them, they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t believe their eyes and their mind. Two of them, which had curved noses like vultures and a hate loving face, who just about couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t form the slightest smile 12

looking with suspicion at everything, said to each other: "They must be great magicians and have strong spells!" In that same moment a scene, as if it came from a theatrical performance, jumped in front of them and performed like well-tuned clockwork, without the need for a submitter to support it, joy and happiness were overflowing from one end of the kingdom to the other. The flowers bloomed on each balcony and the leaves of the trees became denser. The cycle of life was growing… “It isn‟t fair, that there is so much beauty just in one neighborhood! Why are these people here eating and drinking?”, asked the darkest guest. “We will have the same opportunity soon, we will share all knowledge and we will have drinking water and a little bit of light. The king will lend us one of his beloved nightingales, to invite one ray of the sun to come to our place, too.”

“So what!” said the other guest, who had a nose like a vulture, “I want to have everything now, otherwise I don‟t want them to have it either. I want it now!” Dark wild thoughts were starting to go around in a group of guests and suddenly the cloud making machine started working by itself. It took their thoughts and started to shoot them one by one in any kind of direction, puff, poof, puff, poof, puff and cooloo coorou boom and thunder was heard and lightning struck and created a whole lot of chaos. A strong rain started out of nowhere. People were running to get cover under the roofs and shelters. In this big confusion one of the bad guests grabbed the forth nightingale E. He put it in a leather pouch and ran away from the palace as fast as he could. The rain continued with lightning and thunder.

“Somebody must have had really bad thoughts, really terrible ones,” said the king. “We will have water for five years. Protect my nightingales! Quick! Bring them to their rooms!” The staff started whistling for the nightingales to return. One by one they came flying through the windows and were sitting in the dry places but, E was nowhere to be seen. The king‟s men were whistling for hours. They went to the nether floors of the palace, to the wash rooms, to the kitchen, to the stables. E was nowhere to be found. It flew away! They went to the King to tell him the bad news. After a few hours of running the man with the curved nose reached a very dark and ugly city. An iron door opened to the sound of his voice. “Open door, wedged door! Open at once!” The big iron door opened all up and the view inside was even more terrible. There was a bad smell lingering which was 15

everywhere in the whole area. And the darkness… everywhere. Movene, this was the name of the man who stole the nightingale, walked up a steep unserviced road and reached finally the badly done castle, which was guarded by four guards, who were also very ugly. “Make way!!! Make way you stinking worms…” Movene was very angry. He pushed with his long hands the door open and entered his room, which was also cold and dark. He let the nightingale out of his leather pouch and put it in a cage. “You will stay here till tomorrow morning and than you will start chirping, when I tell you to. You should chirp loudly and clear, to call the rays of the sun to come to my country,” these were the words of the ugly man. 16

The nightingale went hiding under a pile of papers, in the corner of it‟s cage. He was very scared and very lonely, away from his brothers. The nightingale was hoping to be found soon by his brothers and for the good king to come and rescue him, to bring back to his sunny kingdom. The next morning daylight didn‟t come. The darkness and gray clouds were everywhere making their rounds. How revolting is this country, thought the nightingale. “Get up you lazy, time for work. Start chirping. Call the rays of the sun to come to my country. To come quickly, so that the day will come to us,” said Movene, whilst shaking the cage of E. The nightingale got scared. He went for a walk in his cage. He drank a little water. Did some gurgling. Opened his mouth to chirp… But nothing was coming out. He, who was the 18

most beautiful nightingale with the crystal clear voice, didn‟t sing anymore. It was scary… He had lost his voice! “Come on, lazy bird!! Get up… Get up! I command you…” All the shouting and all Movene‟s commands were useless. E couldn‟t chirp anymore. He had lost his voice. He went back in his cage. He was heartbroken. He went back into the corner with the pile of papers hiding under them. Now, that his voice was gone, he wouldn‟t be able to call the rays of the sun ever again, not even for his beloved king. E stopped eating. Lost slowly slowly all his beautiful feathers. The moments were passing, the hours, days, weeks and months and his king was nowhere to be seen, neither were his brothers. Some people said, that even in the sunshine country the cloud making machine was working every day, because the people there were having 19

only sad and horrible thoughts. It was raining so much, that there was flooding everywhere and the people were living in the tallest trees. In the meantime Movene was angry every hour of every day. He was shouting every morning, midday and evening and demanding from E to chirp to bring the sun. But it was hopeless. E remained sad in a corner of his cage. He couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t even whistle anymore. Movene called all the magicians and wise men of the Dark Land to solve the mystery with the nightingale E. After a long meeting the wise men decided: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The nightingale cannot chirp, because he is not together with his brothers. The nightingale is called E. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t have a voice as long as he is alone. His name symbolizes one small magic word, which can only work when all four of the nightingales can sing together; they all together can call the rays of the sun to rise. 20

The word they form is HOPE! Only then the rays of the sun listen. It is worthless to keep the nightingale locked up. In the end it will be dying from sadness. And you will be to blame for, Movene,â&#x20AC;? said both, the Wise men and the magicians. Movene had changed several colors in his face from all the anger he felt. But he did get scared. And he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t really want to hurt the nightingale. He wanted to bring the sun to his town. He knew, that the wise men and the magicians were telling the truth. The nightingale was sick. There was only one solution. He would have to free the nightingale. He did everything he could for the dark town, but he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t want to be burdened with the death of the nightingale.

He went to his dark room where he was holding the bird. Got closer to the cage and opened the door. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here you lazy bird, you are free. Go before I change my mind!â&#x20AC;? E made a circle around Movene as he flew out of his cage and left through the open window. He flew very quickly. He flew very far. Back to his kingdom. To the Kingdom of HOPE.

The End.

Ο Βαζηιηάο θαη ηα 4 αεδόληα ηνπ Εύα Πετροπουλου Λιανού

Κάπνηε δνύζε έλαο βαζηιηάο ζ’ έλα Παιάηη θηηζκέλν πάλσ ζηελ θνξπθή ελόο ςεινύ βνπλνύ. Ο Βαζηιηάο ήηαλ πνιπκήραλνο, ηεηξαπέξαηνο. Δίρε θηηάμεη ηελ πόιε ηνπ όκνξθα θαη νξγαλσκέλα θαη είρε θηίζεη γύξσ γύξσ από ηελ πόιε θαη πνιύ ςειά ηείρε γηα λα πξνζηαηεύνπλ ηνπο θαηνίθνπο από ηηο επηζέζεηο βαξβάξσλ. Έηζη, όινη δνύζαλ επηπρηζκέλνη θαη ραξνύκελνη. Όια θπινύζαλ ηόζν αξκνληθά ζηελ πόιε.

Ο Βαζηιηάο είρε πξνλνήζεη γηα όια θη αθόκε θαη γηα ην πξόβιεκα κε ην πόζηκν λεξό, πνπ είρε δεκηνπξγεζεί ηα ηειεπηαία ρξόληα, κηα θαη δελ έβξερε πηα. Ο Βαζηιηάο, ινηπόλ, αθνύ είρε ζπκβνπιεπηεί θη άιινπο αξρηηέθηνλεο θαη επηζηήκνλεο, έκαζε όηη ε πόιε ζα θηλδύλεπε ζην κέιινλ από ηελ μεξαζία. Δίραλ ρηίζεη ην Παιάηη θη όιε ηελ πόιε πνιύ ςειόηεξα από ηηο πεγέο ηνπ πνηακνύ θαη ην λεξό θπινύζε πξνο ηα θάησ, ηε ζάιαζζα. Έηζη, ινηπόλ, λα μαλαρηίζεη ηελ πόιε ήηαλ κάιινλ αδύλαην, απηό όκσο πνπ έθαλε ήηαλ λα θηηάμεη κηα πιαηθόξκα ζε όιεο ηηο ζηέγεο ησλ ζπηηηώλ. Οη ζηέγεο ησλ ζπηηηώλ ρηηδόληνπζαλ επίπεδεο θαη ν Βαζηιηάο καδί κε ηνπο ζπκβνύινπο ηνπ δεκηνύξγεζαλ κηα επίπεδε πιαηθόξκα ζε θάζε ζηέγε. Ζ πιαηθόξκα απηή θαηέιεγε ζε ηξία ηνηρώκαηα, πνπ θη απηά θαηέιεγαλ ζε ηξεηο ζσιήλεο θη απηνί νη ζσιήλεο νδεγνύζαλ ζε κηα ηεξάζηηα δεμακελή. Απηή ε δεμακελή βξίζθνληαλ πνιύ βαζηά ζηα έγθαηα ηεο γεο, πην βαζηά θαη από ηα ζεκέιηα ηνπ Παιαηηνύ. Ζ δεμακελή είρε δύν αλνίγκαηα κε θίιηξα. 26

Από εθεί ινηπόλ πεξλνύζε ην λεξό ηεο βξνρήο θη αθνύ θηιηξαξηδόηαλ, από εθεί πήγαηλε ζε κηα άιιε κεγαιύηεξε δεμακελή πνπ είρε θηηζηεί αθξηβώο δίπια ζηελ πξώηε. Από απηήλ ηε δεύηεξε δεμακελή, δπν κεγάιεο ζσιελώζεηο νδεγνύζαλ ζηελ θεληξηθή πδξνξξνή, ζε έλα άιιν αθόκε πην πνιύπινθν ζύζηεκα από κηθξέο θαη κεγάιεο ζσιήλεο θαη ζσιελάθηα πνπ ην θαζέλα ζπλδεόηαλ κε ηνπο ζσιήλεο ησλ ζπηηηώλ θη από εθεί θπινύζε από ηηο βξύζεο γάξγαξν θαη δξνζεξό ην λεξό. Οη θάηνηθνη ηεο πόιεο απηήο σο επί ην πιείζηνλ αζρνιηόληνπζαλ κε ηελ αλαπαξαγσγή θαη εθηξνθή ησλ ζύλλεθσλ. Λόγσ ηνπ ύςνπο πνπ ήηαλ θηηζκέλε ε πόιε, νη θάηνηθνη, κε ηηο νδεγίεο ηνπ Βαζηιηά, είραλ εθεύξεη κηα κεραλή, πνιύ ηδηαίηεξε θαη πξσηόηππε, ηε «ζπλλεθν-αλαγέλλεζε». Κάζε κέξα ειηόινπζηε, νη θάηνηθνη ηεο Φώξαο απηήο έβγαηλαλ πξσί-πξσί θαη ζπγθέληξσλαλ ζθέςεηο, ηηο ραξνύκελε ζθέςεηο όισλ. Απηέο ινηπόλ ηηο έβαδαλ ζε έλα ηεξάζηην ρσλί πνπ νδεγνύζε ζε κία ηεξάζηηα κπνπθάια. Δθεί, ινηπόλ, θάζε βξάδπ ζηνηβάδνληαλ νη ραξνύκελεο ζθέςεηο θαη πεξίκελαλ νιόθιεξεο βδνκάδεο, κήλεο άιιεο 27

θνξέο, θαη ύζηεξα από κηα ηδηαίηεξε θαη επίπνλε δηεξγαζία θαη αθνύ αλαθαηεύνληαλ κέζα ζε κηα ηεξάζηηα ρύηξα κε κπόιηθε θξέκα ζαληηγί γηα λα είλαη αθξάηεο, ζηε ζπλέρεηα έκπαηλαλ ζε έλα ηεξάζηην κεράλεκα, πνπ έκνηαδε πην πνιύ κε θαλόλη! Κάζε δπν ώξεο ινηπόλ αθνύγνληαλ θαλνληνβνιηζκνί από ηηο απνζήθεο ηνπ Παιαηηνύ, θαη πνπθ θαη παθ,θαη παθ θαη πνπθ, νη ζθέςεηο ηαμίδεπαλ ζηνλ νπξαλό θη έπαηξλαλ κνξθέο θαη ζρήκαηα πεξίεξγα. Γίλνληαλ ζύλλεθα θαη έλα-έλα ζηε ζεηξά, άιιν άζπξν, άιιν ξνδ, άιιν κπεδ θξεκ, θαη λα ηα ζύλλεθα ζηγά ζηγά, παθ, παθ, πνπθ, παθ, ζπγθξνύνληαλ ην έλα κε ην άιιν θαη παζηώλνληαλ θαη άιιαδαλ ρξώκα από ηα λεύξα ηνπο θαη άιιαδαλ ην ρξώκα ηνπο ζε γθξη θαη άξρηδαλ λα θιαίλε γηαηί έλησζαλ απόγλσζε θαη αγαλάθηεζε θαη αδηθία. Όηαλ έθιαηγαλ απηά ηα ζύλλεθα, έθιαηγαλ γηα ώξεο, εκέξεο, αθόκε θαη γηα εβδνκάδεο νιόθιεξεο θαη ηα δάθξπα έηξεραλ ζηηο επίπεδεο ζθεπέο, ην λεξό ζπγθεληξσλόηαλ ζηελ πιαηθόξκα θη από εθεί πεξλνύζε από ηα ρηιηάδεο κεγάια κηθξά θαη κηθξνζθνπηθά ζσιελάθηα θη έθηαλε ζηε δεμακελή. Δθεί θηιηξαξηδόηαλ θαη έθεπγε όιε ε αικύξα θαη ην θαζαξό λεξό θπινύζε ζε κηαλ άιιε δεμακελή θαη έπαηξλε ην δξόκν ηνπ γηα ηηο ζσιελώζεηο θαη 28

ην κεγάιν πδξαγσγείν, όπνπ απνζεθεπόηαλ γηα ηηο επόκελεο δύζθνιεο κέξεο πνπ δε ζα ππήξρε λεξό ζην Παιάηη. Τα θακάξηα ηνπ Βαζηιηά, όκσο, ήηαλ ηα ηέζζεξα αεδόληα ηνπ, πνπ ην θαζέλα είρε έλα μερσξηζηό θειάεδηζκα θη είραλ ηελ ηθαλόηεηα όηαλ θειαεδνύζαλ λα θάλνπλ ηνλ Ήιην λ’ αλαηέιιεη, ηα ινπινύδηα λ’ αλζίδνπλ, ηνπο αλζξώπνπο λα εξσηεύνληαη θαη λα ρακνγεινύλ. Τα αεδόληα δελ είραλ θινπβηά, αιιά πεηνύζαλ ειεύζεξα ζηνλ θήπν ηνπ Παιαηηνύ θη όηαλ άθνπγαλ ηα νλόκαηά ηνπο επέζηξεθαλ πίζσ ζηα δσκάηηά ηνπο, ζην Παιάηη. Τν θαζέλα είρε από έλα παξαηζνύθιη θη όια καδί, όηαλ ηα θώλαδεο, ζρεκάηηδαλ ηε ιέμε «Διπίδα». Τν πξώην θαη κεγαιύηεξν ην νλόκαδαλ Δι, ην δεύηεξν θαη πην ζθαληαιηάξηθν ην θώλαδαλ Πη, ην ηξίην αεδόλη θαη ην πην ζνθό Γέιηα θαη ην ηέηαξην, ην πην όκνξθν, ην έιεγαλ Άιθα. Ήηαλ ζ’ απηό πνπ είρε αδπλακία ν Βαζηιηάο. Αιιά θαη ν Άιθα έλησζε ην ίδην δέζηκν κε ηνλ Βαζηιηά ηνπ. Όινη γλώξηδαλ θαη ζην Παιάηη θαη ζηελ Πόιε όηη ν Άιθα ήηαλ ην αεδόλη πνπ θειαεδνύζε πνιύ όκνξθα θαη θξπζηάιιηλα. Ήηαλ ηόζν κεισδηθό ην ηξαγνύδη ηνπ, πνπ έθαλε ηηο ρξπζέο αθηίλεο ηνπ 29

Ήιηνπ λα ρνξεύνπλ θαη λα ζέινπλ λα ζεθσζνύλ πην λσξίο από ηε κέξα, πξνηνύ γελλεζεί ην πξσηλό, ώζηε λα πάλε λα ηνλ ζαπκάζνπλ. Οη θάηνηθνη ζέβνληαλ θαη αγαπνύζαλ πνιύ ηα ηέζζεξα αεδόληα ηνπ Παιαηηνύ θαη πνιιέο θνξέο πήγαηλαλ ζηνπο θήπνπο ηα παηδηά ηνπο, γηα λα ηα ζαπκάζνπλ θαη λα ηα αθνύζνπλ λα γιπθνθειαεδνύλ. Ζ δσή θπινύζε ζαλ ην λεξό ζην Παιάηη, εθεί ςειά. Καλέλαο δελ θαληαδόηαλ ηη επξόθεηην λα ζπκβεί. Μηα κέξα, νη αγγειηνθόξνη έθεξλαλ ζηνλ Βαζηιηά έλα γξάκκα όηη θάπνηνο γείηνλαο επηζπκνύζε λα επηζθεθηεί ηε Φώξα θαη λα ζπλνκηιήζεη καδί ηνπ, γηα ην πξόβιεκα ηνπ λεξνύ πνπ αληηκεηώπηδε θη απηόο. Φαξνύκελνο ν Βαζηιηάο θαιεί ην ζπκβνύιηό ηνπ, ώζηε λα καγεηξεπηνύλ από όια ηα θαιά γηα ηνπο μέλνπο θαη λα είλαη έηνηκε ε κεραλή «ζπλλεθναλαγέλλεζε» γηα παξνπζίαζε. Τα αεδόληα ηνπ ζηνλ θήπν κόιηο είραλ αξρίζεη λα θειαεδνύλ θαη λα νλνκαηίδνπλ ηε ζηηγκή, πξσί, θαιώληαο ηηο αθηίλεο ηνπ Ήιηνπ ζε έλα ρνξό δηνλπζηαθό. Ζ πιάζε ινύζηεθε από θσο θαη ηα ινπινύδηα άλζηζαλ. Τα παηδηά άξρηζαλ λα ηξέρνπλ εδώ θαη 30

εθεί, αλάκεζα ζε ινπινύδηα ηνπ αγξνύ. Πόζε επηπρία ρσξάεη απηόο ν θήπνο; Παξαηεξνύζαλ νη θαιεζκέλνη, πνπ είραλ θηάζεη ζηελ ειηόινπζηε Πνιηηεία. Όιε ηελ επηπρία θαη ηα πινύηε πνπ βξίζθνληαλ κπξνζηά ηνπο, δελ ηα ρόξηαηλαλ νύηε κε ηα κάηηα νύηε κε ην λνπ. Γπν από απηνύο, κε κύηεο θπξηέο θαη ραηξέθαθν πξόζσπν, πνπ κεηά βίαο έθαλαλ έλα ειαθξύ κεηδίακα ζηξαβνθνηηάδνληαο ηα πάληα, έιεγαλ κεηαμύ ηνπο: «Πξέπεη λα είλαη κεγάινη κάγνη απηνί θαη λα έρνπλ μόξθηα δπλαηά!» Δθείλε ηε ζθελή, ζαλ από κηα παξάζηαζε ζεαηξηθή μεπήδεζε κπξνζηά ηνπο θαη δνύιεπε ζαλ θαινθνπξδηζκέλν ξνιόη, ρσξίο λα ρξεηάδεηαη νύηε έλαλ ππνβνιέα γηα λα ηελ ππνζηεξίμεη, ε ραξά θαη ε επηπρία, πνπ μερείιηδαλ από ηε κηα άθξε ηεο Φώξαο σο ηελ άιιε. Σε θάζε κπαιθόλη αλζνύζαλ ηα ινπινύδηα θαη ηα θύιια ησλ δέληξσλ γηλόληνπζαλ πην ππθλά. Ο θύθινο ηεο δσήο κεγάισλε… «Δίλαη άδηθν λα ππάξρεη ηόζε νκνξθηά κόλν ζε κηα γεηηνληά! Γηαηί απηνί νη εδώ λα ηξώλε θαη λα πίλνπλ;», είπε ν πην ζθνηεηλόο ζηε κνξθή θαιεζκέλνο. «Μα θη εκείο ζε ιίγν ζα έρνπκε απηή ηελ επθαηξία, ζα κνηξαζηνύκε όιε ηε γλώζε θαη 31

ζα έρνπκε θη εκείο πόζηκν λεξό θαη κηα ζηάια θσο. Ο Βαζηιηάο ζα καο δαλείζεη έλα από ηα αγαπεκέλα ηνπ αεδόληα, γηα λα πξνζθαιέζεη κηα από ηηο αθηίλεο ηνπ Ήιηνπ θαη ζην δηθό καο κέξνο.» «Σηγά η’ απγά!», αληηκίιεζε ν άιινο θαιεζκέλνο, πνπ είρε κηα κύηε γακςή ζαλ ηνπ γύπα, «εγώ ζέισ ηώξα λα έρσ ηα πάληα, αιιηώο λα κελ έρνπλ νύηε απηνί. Τα ζέισ ηώξα!» Σθέςεηο βινζπξέο έθαλαλ αλακεηαμύ ηνπο νη θαιεζκέλνη θαη μαθληθά ε κεραλή «ζπλλεθναλαγέλλεζε» άξρηζε λα παίξλεη εκπξόο. Άξρηζε λα αξπάδεη κία-κία ηηο ζθέςεηο ηνπο θαη λα ηηο εθηνμεύεη πξνο νπνηαδήπνηε θαηεύζπλζε, παθ, πνπθ, παθ, πηθ θαη θνπινπθνπξνύ, κπακ θαη κπνπκπνπλεηά αθνύζηεθαλ θαη αζηξαπέο θαη έλαο παλδνπξιηζκόο. Ξέζπαζε κπόξα δπλαηή. Όινη έηξεραλ λα θξπθηνύλ θάησ από ζηέγεο θη ππόζηεγα. Μέζα ζε απηόλ ην ρακό, έλαο από ηνπο θαθνύο θαιεζκέλνπο άξπαμε ην ηέηαξην αεδόλη, ηνλ Άιθα, κέζα ζε κηα δεξκάηηλε ζαθνύια ηνλ έβαιε θαη έηξεμε γξήγνξα καθξηά από ην Παιάηη. Ζ βξνρή ζπλερηδόηαλ θαη αζηξαπέο θαη θεξαπλνί. «Κάπνηνο έθαλε πνιύ θαθέο ζθέςεηο, πνιύ ηξνκεξέο» έιεγε ν Βαζηιηάο.

«Θα έρνπκε λεξό γηα ηα επόκελα πέληε ρξόληα. Πξνζηαηέςηε ηα αεδόληα κνπ! Γξήγνξα ζηα δσκάηηά ηνπο!» Οη απιηθνί άξρηζαλ ζα ζθπξίδνπλ ζηα αεδόληα. Έλα-έλα έκπαηλαλ από ην παξάζπξν θαη πήγαηλαλ λα θνπξληάζνπλ ζηα ζηεγλά θαγθειάθηα ηνπο, όκσο ν Άιθα δε θαηλόηαλ πνπζελά. Γηα ώξεο ζθύξηδαλ νη απιηθνί ηνπ Παιαηηνύ. Καηέβεθαλ ζηα θάησ παηώκαηα ηνπ Παιαηηνύ, ζην πιπζηαξηό, ζην 33

καγεηξεηό, ζηνπο ζηάβινπο. Πνπζελά ην ηέηαξην αεδόλη. Δίρε θάλεη θηεξααά! Έηξεμαλ λα πνπλ ζηνλ Βαζηιηά ηα θαθά καληάηα. Μεηά από θάπνηεο ώξεο ηξέμηκν ν άλζξσπνο κε ηε γακςή κύηε έθηαζε ζε κηα πόιε ζθνηεηλή θη άζρεκε. Μηα ζηδεξέληα πόξηα άλνημε ζην άθνπζκα ηεο θσλήο ηνπ. «Άλνημε πόξηα, ζθελνπόξηα! Άλνημε ζηα δπν!» Ζ κεγάιε ζηδεξέληα πόξηα άλνημε δηάπιαηα θαη ε ζέα ήηαλ αθόκα πην απνθξνπζηηθή από κέζα. Υπήξρε κηα άζρεκε κπξσδηά πνπ απισλόηαλ ζε όιε ηελ πεξηνρή. Κη απηή ε ζθνηεηληά, παληνύ. Ο Μνβελέ, έηζη έιεγαλ ηνλ άλζξσπν πνπ έθιεςε ην αεδόλη, πξνρώξεζε ζ’ έλαλ αλεθνξηθό θαθνηξάραιν δξόκν θη έθηαζε κπξνζηά από έλα θαθνθηηαγκέλν θαη ζθνηεηλό θξνύξην, πνπ ην θύιαγαλ ηέζζεξηο, ην ίδην αζρεκνκνύξεδεο,θξνπξνί. «Κάληε πέξα!!! Κάληε πέξα βξσκεξά ζθνπιήθηα…» Άζηξαςε θαη βξόληεμε ν Μνβελέ, έζπξσμε κε ηηο καθξηέο ρεξνύθιεο ηνπ ηελ πόξηα θαη κπήθε ζην δσκάηηό ηνπ. Τν ίδην ζθνηεηλό θαη θξύν. Έβγαιε ην αεδόλη από ην δεξκάηηλν ζαθνύιη ηνπ θαη ην έβαιε ζ έλα θινπβί. «Δδώ ζα κείλεηο κέρξη αύξην ην πξσί θαη κεηά ζα αξρίζεηο λα θειαεδάο, όηαλ ζε δηαηάμσ. Να θε34

ιαεδάο δπλαηά θαη θαζαξά, λα θσλάμεηο ηηο αθηίλεο ηνπ Ήιηνπ λα έξζνπλ ζηε Φώξα κνπ», απηά είπε ν θαθάζρεκνο άληξαο. Τν αεδόλη πήγε θαη θξύθηεθε ζ’ έλα ζσξό από ραξηηά, ζηε γσλία ηνπ θινπβηνύ ηνπ. Ήηαλ πνιύ ηξνκαγκέλν. Καη έλησζε ηόζν κόλν καθξηά από ηα αδέξθηα ηνπ. Παξαθαινύζε λα ην βξνπλ γξήγνξα ηα’ αδέξθηα ηνπ θαη λα έξζεη λα ην πάξεη ν θαιόο ηνπ Βαζηιηάο πίζσ ζηε θσηεηλή Φώξα ηνπ. Τν επόκελν πξσί, κέξα δελ μεκέξσζε. Τα ζθνηάδη απισλόηαλ παληνύ θαη ζύλλεθα γθξίδα έθαλαλ βόιηεο. Τη απνθξνπζηηθή είλαη απηή ε ρώξα, ζθέθηεθε ην αεδόλη. «Σήθσ ηεκπέιε, ώξα γηα δνπιεηά. Δκπξόο, μεθίλα λα θειαεδάο. Κάιεζε ηηο αρηίδεο ηνπ Ήιηνπ λα έξζνπλ θαη ζηε ρώξα καο. Να έξζνπλ γξήγνξα θαη λα έξζεη ε εκέξα θαη ζε εκάο» είπε ν Μνβελέ, ηαξαθνπλώληαο ην θινπβί ηνπ Άιθα. Τν αεδόλη ηξόκαμε. Έθαλε κηα βόιηα ζην θινπβί. Ήπηε ιίγν λεξό. Έθαλε κεξηθέο γαξγάξεο. Άλνημε ην ζηόκα ηνπ λα θειαεδήζεη… Μα ηίπνηα δελ αθνύζηεθε. Απηόο, πνπ ήηαλ ην πην όκνξθν αεδόλη 35

κε ηελ πην θξπζηάιιηλε ιαιηά, δελ θειαεδνύζε πηα… Τη θνβεξόνν... Δίρε ράζεη πηα ηε θσλή ηνπ! «Έια, ινηπόλ, ηεκπέιηθν πνπιί!! Σήθσ… Σήθσ! Σε δηαηάδσ…» Μάηαηα όιεο νη θνβέξεο θαη νη θξαπγέο ηνπ Μνβελέ. Ο Άιθα δελ θειαεδνύζε πηα. Δίρε ράζεη ηε ιαιηά ηνπ. Μπήθε ζην θινπβί ηνπ πάιη. Σθπθηόο. Πήγε ζηε γσληά ηνπ θινπβηνύ θαη θξύθηεθε θάησ από ηα ραξηηά. Τώξα πνπ έθπγε ην θειάηδηζκά ηνπ, δελ ζα κπνξνύζε λα θσλάμεη ηηο αρηίδεο, νύηε γηα ηνλ Αγαπεκέλν ηνπ Βαζηιηά. Ο Άιθα δελ έηξσγε πηα. Έραζε ζηγά-ζηγά θαη ηα όκνξθα πνύπνπιά ηνπ. Πεξλνύζαλ νη ζηηγκέο, νη ώξεο θαη νη κήλεο, θαη ν Ήιηνο δελ θαηλόηαλ. Ούηε ηα αδέξθηα ηνπ. Κάπνηνη είπαλ όηη από ηελ Ζιηόινπζηε Φώξα ε «ζπλλεθναλαγέλλεζε» δνύιεπε θάζε κέξα, γηαηί νη άλζξσπνη έθαλαλ κνλάρα ζηελάρσξεο ζθέςεηο θαη ηξνκεξέο. Έβξερε ηόζν πνιύ, πνπ είρε πιεκκπξίζεη όιε ε πιάζε θαη πιένλ όινη έκελαλ ζηα ςειόηεξα δέληξα. Σην κεηαμύ, ν Μνβελέ νύξιηαδε θάζε ζηηγκή θαη θάζε πξσί-λύρηα θαη απαηηνύζε από ηνλ Άιθα λα θειαεδήζεη γηα λα θέξεη ηνλ Ήιην. 36

Μάηαηα, όκσο. Ο Άιθα είρε κείλεη ζθπθηόο ζε κηα γσληά ζην θινπβί ηνπ. Γελ κπνξνύζε νύηε λα ζθπξίμεη πηα. Έηζη ν Μνβελέ θάιεζε ηνπο κάγνπο θαη ηνπο ζνθνύο ηεο Σθνηεηλήο ηνπ Φώξαο, γηα λα ιύζεη ην κπζηήξην κε ην αεδόλη Άιθα. Μεηά από κηα κεγάιε ζύζθεςε, νη ζνθνί απνθάζηζαλ: «Τν αεδόλη δελ κπνξεί λα θειαεδήζεη, γηαηί δελ είλαη καδί κε ηα αδέιθηα ηνπ. Τν αεδόλη νλνκάδεηαη Άιθα. Αιιά δελ έρεη ιαιηά όζν είλαη κόλν ηνπ. Τν όλνκά ηνπ ζπκβνιίδεη κηα ιέμε καγηθή, πνπ κόλν όηαλ είλαη θαη ηα ηέζζεξα αεδόληα καδί, κπνξνύλ λα θαιέζνπλ ηηο αρηίδεο ηνπ ήιηνπ. Απηή ε ιέμε είλαη ε Διπίδα! Μνλάρα ηόηε νη αρηίδεο ζα ππαθνύζνπλ. Δίλαη αλνύζην λα θξαηάο ην αεδόλη θπιαθηζκέλν. Σην ηέινο ζα πεζάλεη από κειαγρνιία! Τν θξίκα ζην ιαηκό ζνπ, Μνβελέ», απηά είπαλ νη ζνθνί θαη νη κάγνη. Ο Μνβελέ είρε αιιάμεη ηόζα ρξώκαηα ζην πξόζσπό ηνπ από ην ζπκό ηνπ. Τξόκαμε όκσο. Γελ ήζειε λα θάλεη θαθό ζην αεδόλη. Τνλ Ήιην ήζειε λα θέξεη ζηελ πόιε ηνπ. Οη κάγνη θαη νη ζνθνί όκσο έιεγαλ ηελ αιήζεηα. Τν αεδόλη είρε αξξσζηήζεη. Μηα ιύζε ππήξρε. Θα έπξεπε λα ειεπζεξώζεη ην αεδόλη. Έθαλε ό,ηη κπνξνύζε γηα ηελ πόιε ηνπ ηε καπξηδεξή, αιιά δελ ήζειε λα θνξησζεί θαη ην ζάλαην ελόο αεδνληνύ. 37

Αλέβεθε ζην ζθνηεηλό δσκάηην πνπ θξαηνύζε θπιαθηζκέλν ην αεδόλη. Πιεζίαζε ην θινπβί θη άλνημε ηελ πόξηα. «Οξίζηε ηεκπέιηθν πνπιί, είζαηειεύζεξν. Φύγε πξηλ αιιάμσ γλώκε!» Ο Άιθα έθαλε έλα θύθιν γύξσ από ηνλ Μνβελέ θαη βγήθε πεηώληαο από ην αλνηρηό παξάζπξν. Πέηαμε γξήγνξα. Πέηαμε καθξηά. Σηε ρώξα ηνπ. Σηε Φώξα ηεο Διπίδαο. ΤΔΛΟΣ

Art Work Design: Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Dali) 39

Ζ Δύα Πεηξνπνύινπ-Ληαλνύ γελλήζεθε ζην Ξπιόθαζηξν όπνπ θαη νινθιήξσζε ηηο βαζηθέο ζπνπδέο ηεο. Αγαπνύζε ηε δεκνζηνγξαθία από κηθξή, νπόηε απνθαζίδεη λα θάλεη επάγγεικα ηε κεγάιε ηεο αγάπε θαη παξαθνινπζεί καζήκαηα δεκνζηνγξαθίαο ζηε ζρνιή ηνπ ΑΝΤ1. Τειεηώλνληαο ηηο ζπνπδέο ηεο, θάλεη ηελ πξαθηηθή ηεο σο ειεύζεξε ξεπόξηεξ ζε δηάθνξεο δεκνζηνγξαθηθέο εθπνκπέο. Τν 1994 θεύγεη γηα ηε Γαιιία όπνπ εξγάδεηαη σο δεκνζηνγξάθνο ζηε γαιιηθή εθεκεξίδα «Le LIBRE JOURNAL». Ζ αγάπε γηα ηελ Διιάδα όκσο ηελ θεξδίδεη. Δπηζηξέθεη ζηελ ειηόινπζηε παηξίδα, θη από ην 2002 δεη θαη εξγάδεηαη ζηελ Αζήλα. Τνλ Μάτν ηνπ 2011 ζα εθδνζεί ην ηξίην βηβιίν ηεο, «Ζ Εεξαιληίλ θαη ην Ξσηηθό ηεο Λίκλεο», από ηηο εθδόζεηο Έλαζηξνλ. Μάιηζηα, ην έξγν απηό αλέβεθε κε κεγάιε επηηπρία ζηελ παηδηθή ζθελή «Ζιηόηερλν» (Ηαλνπάξηνο 2012), ζε ζθελνζεζία ηνπ Θ. Βνπξλά. Αθνινύζεζαλ θη άιιεο παξαζηάζεηο ζε ζρνιεία θαη πνιηηηζηηθνύο ρώξνπο. Σηε ζπλέρεηα, ζα εθδώζεη ebooks «Δγσ θη ν άιινο κνπ επαηόο, ε Σθηα κνπ» εθδόζεηο Σαηηα «H Zεξαιληηλ θαη ν μσηηθό ηεο ιηκλεο » ζηα ηηαιηθά θαζώο θαη «Ζ θόξε ηεο Σειήλεο» (εθδόζεηοΑλαδεηήζεηο), ζε 2 γιώζζεο αγγιηθά θαη ειιεληθα ζηελ ακαδνλ θνκ θη άιια πνιιά 40

Ζ Κόξε ηεο Σειελεο , έρεη ήδε θπθινθνξήζεη απν ηηο εθδόζεηο Οζειόηνο 2009 θαη 2010 θαη πήξε ηηο θαιύηεξεο θξηηηθέο γηα ηελ εηθνλνγξάθεζε θαη ην ζηπι γξαθήο ηεο ζπγγξαθέσο. Δίλαη κέινο ηνπ Οκίινπ Unesco Λόγνπ θαη Τέρλεο, ησλ Κνξηλζίσλ Σπγγξαθέσλ, ηεο Παλειιήληαο Έλσζεο Λνγνηερλώλ. Δπίζεο ηνπ Διιεληθνύ Παξαξηήκαηνο ΗΒΒΥ Διιάδα. Σπλεληεύμεηο θαη παξακύζηα ηεο θηινμελνύληαη ζε ειεθηξνληθέο εθεκεξίδεο ηεο Διιάδαο θαη ηεο Κύπξνπ. 41

Πξόζθαηα ε έγθξηηε εγθπθινπαίδεηα Φάξε Πάηζε ηεο αθηέξσζε ελα δηζειίδν , γηα ηελ πξνζθνξά ηεο ζηελ παηδηθή ινγνηερλία.ηόκνο 27 ζει 300. Τα βηβιία ηεο έρνπλ εθξηζεί από ην Υπνπξγεην Παηδεηαο Κύπξνπ Ηζηνιόγην: http://evalianou.blogspot.gr E-mail: evvieparra@hotmail.com

Xanthi Hondrou-Hill CV-Biography Xanthi Hondrou-Hill grew up and studied in Stuttgart, German Literature, Journalism and Public Relations Management. Lived in several countries: Germany, Britain, Holland and Greece. She started writing poems in German since she was 15 years old. First publication in the University Newsletter of Stuttgart Germany, in Anthologies "Allmanach" of the "Schristellerhaus Stuttgart" and "Gute Reise meine Augen" which means safe journey my dear, and in online magazines. Around 2000 she starts writing in Greek, when she moved to Naousa.

She is currently the editor for the poetry section of the online magazine APEIRONART and working as a translator from 1995 for Greek, English and German.

 Member of the Society of Greek Poets in Germany  Member of the House of Writers in Stuttgart  Member of many online Poetic Groups in Greece  Journalist for several German Newspapers  Administrator for Naousa Poli Authentiki - The Band Project  Administrator for ΚΙΝΗΣΗ για τα ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ και τις ΤΕΧΝΕΣ