*Note this story is in Tagalog
Sa ilaw ng lumalaking buwan, naghahanda para sa kanyang lakbay ang isang espiritu.
Nagpaalam siya sa kanyang tahanan at nagmuni kung saan siya tutungo.
Sa mga bituin kaya? Kaso okupado ang mga mensahero ngayong gabi.
Sa hukuman naman ng gitnang lupa na mayroong garalgal ng gambala? Kaso ayaw niya masama sa gitna ng kanilang alitan.
Ang lupain ng mga lindol at bagyo? Kaso kakabisita lang niya doon, maiintindihan naman ng mga serpiyente kung hindi muna siya bumisita.
Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata, humakbang paharap, at nagpabalot sa sansinukob.
At sa isang sandali, siya ay naglaho.
**********************************
“Maligayang pagbati, Inang-Buwaya.”
“Ahh, ang tagapangalaga ng ilaw-pilak. Narinig ko ang iyong paggalaw sa kalawakan. Ano ang nagdala sa’yo tungo sa akin?”
Nagsi-urong ang mga bundok sa likod ni Dapu. Hindi mawari ni Ngapal kung ganoon ba talagang kalaki na pasanin ang pagbuhat sa mundo ngunit, para sa ngayon, mukhang komportable pa naman si Dapu sa kanyang karga.
“Naglakbay ako ngayon tungo sa lugar na hindi ko pa napuntahan,” tugon ni Ngapal.
“Ahh, ang hiwaga na naibibigay ng paglalakbay sa kaluluwa. Maaari ka rito sa aking tabi.”
Lumutang palapit si Ngapal sa gilid ng buwaya.
“Ano ang nais mo sa akin?” Tumatagos ang tingin ni Dapu sa kabuuhan ni Ngapal.
“Isang munting pag-uusap lamang ang nais kong hilingin.“
“At ang kapalit?”
“Magkakaroon kayo ng isang panibagong kwento na mapapamahagi.”
Napaungal ang buwaya ng isang tawang humahalaklak.
“Lumalabis ang iyong tapang!”
“Iito lamang ang aking maihahandog sa inyo, Inang-Buwaya.”
“Napa-kalantog mo ang aking umuugod na mga buto. Patuloy, tagapangalaga, ano ang nais mong malaman?”
“Umabot sa aking pandinig ang kwento ng inyong anino.”
“Ahhh, Lawu… Nawala siya sa isip ko sa mahabang panahon.”
“Maraming mga kwento tungkol sa inyong dalawa. Nais ko sanang malaman kung alin ang makatotohanan.”
“Lahat. Wala. Nakadepende ito sa kung anong klaseng anino ang nahulma ng mga alapaap.”
“Hindi ito isang kasagutan.”
“At ito lamang ang makukuha mo sa akin.”
Sa kalimitan, mas alam ni Ngapal kaysa pilitin ang mga bagay lalo na kapag pumapalibot ito sa mga dakilang espiritu. Ngunit wala nang ibang opsyon na naiiwan para sa kanya.
“‘Di ko nilalayong magpakawalang-galang Inang-Buwaya. Nais ko lamang malaman…”
“Dahil kay Sowu”
“Opo.”
“Iisa rin si Lawu sa mga selestiyal na nilalang na binansagang mangalamon-ng-buwan.”
“Opo.”
“Ako ay iyong dinudusta, tagapangalaga. Nakalaban mo na dati ang kanyang uri at nagwagi. Ano pa ang nais mong malaman?”
“Bawat eklipse napapalapit si Sowu sa tagumpay. Kung aking proprotektahan ang aking alaga, kakailanganin ko rin malaman ang tungkol sa iba.”
“At kung paano mo sila matatalo?”
“Opo.”
Ito ang pangunang pagkakataon na inilahad ni Ngapal ang kanyang kinakatakutan sa iba, gayunpaman hindi ito ang oras para sa hiya o awa.
“Nagmamakaawa po ako Inang-Buwaya. Ibahagi niyo po sa akin ang inyong kwento.” Pakiusap ni Ngapal.
Napabuntong-hininga ang dambuhala.
“O, s’ya. O-onti lamang ang may lakas ng loob na pumunta sa aking dominyo at humiling ng ganito.”
“Iiba ako sa kanila.”
“Naroon ang kwento ng aking kamatayan.”
“Pero ikaw ay tiyak na nabubuhay, dakilang espiritu.”
“Tahan, patapusin mo ako.”
“Paumanhin.”
“Marami na ang nasabi tungkol kwentong ito. Doon, namatay lamang ako. Walang dahilan o kung anuman, at naliyab nito ang galit ni Lawu.”
Naglabas si Dapu ng isang pang tawa at napaurong nito ang mundo sa kanyang likod.
“Iyon ay iisa lamang sa mga kwento. May isa pa kung saan si Lawu ay luwal mula sa aking dugo at naghahanap ng paghihiganti sa aking ngalan.”
“At ito ba ang katotohanan, Inang-Buwaya?”
“Oo. Hindi. Siguro.”
“May maibabahagi po ba kayo na kahit ano na makakatulong para sa aking laban?”
“Ito lamang, tagapangalaga. Mayroon kang kaanib sa iyong alaga. Ang ilaw ng kalangitan sa gabi ay hindi ganoon na kaawa-awa kaysa sa unang tingin.”
“Pag-iisipan ko po ng mabuti ang mga salitang inyong ibinahagi Inang-Buwaya. Salamat sa paglaan sa akin ng bahagi inyong mahalagang oras.”
“Kailangan rin kitang pasalamatan. Marami akong natandaan ukol sa aking sarili at sa aking anino. Paalam, tagapangalaga, mapalad ka sana sa iyong pamamalagi.”
Matapos nito, gumawa muli ng isang hakbang si Ngapal tungo sa kalawakan.
Hindi siya gaanong nakalayo bago umabot sa kanyang pandinig ang tawag ng isang pamilyar na tunog.
Ang tunog ng kumbing ng kanyang mga tao.
Kailangan munang maghintay ang kanyang paglalakbay.
Pagkat oras ngayon lumaban.
=———————————-=
In the light of the waxing moon a single spirit prepared for his journey.
He bid his home goodbye and wondered where he would voyage.
The stars perhaps? The messengers were busy tonight.
There was also rumbling of a disturbance in the courts of the middle world? He didn’t want to get in the middle of that conflict.
The land of earthquakes and storms? He had just been there his last trip; the serpents would understand some time apart.
He closed his eyes and took a step forward and bathed in creation.
And in a moment, he was gone.
“Hail to you mother-crocodile.”
“Ahhh, the caretaker of the silver light. I have heard your movements through the cosmos. What brings you to me?”
The mountains on the back of Dapu shifted. Ngapal did not know if carrying the world was a big a burden as it seemed, but for now she seemed comfortable with her encumbrance.
“I have traveled now where I have not yet been,” answered Ngapal.
“Ahh, the wonders a journey can give to a soul. You may stay next to me.”
Ngapal floated to the crocodile’s side.
“What do you want of me?” Dapu’s eyes piercing Ngapal’s being.
“I only request a humble conversation.”
“And in return?”
“You will have a new story to tell.”
The crocodile roared a hearty laugh.
“The audacity!”
“It is the only thing I can offer, mother-crocodile.”
“You have made these old bones rattle. Proceed, caretaker, what would you like to know?”
“I have heard tales of your shadow.”
“Ahhh, Lawu,, I have not thought of them in ages.’
“There are many stories of the both of you. I would like to know which one is true.”
“All. Neither. It depends on what shadow the sky casts.”
“That is not an answer.”
“And that is all you will get.”
Ngapal knew better than to push things when dealing with the greater spirits. But he had no other options.
“I meant no disrespect mother-crocodile. I just wanted to know..”
“Because of Sowu.”
“Yes.”
“Lawu is also one of the celestial beings called the moon-eaters.”
“Yes.”
“You insult me, caretaker. You have fought his kind before and were victorious. What else do you seek?”
“Every eclipse the Sowu inches closer to victory. If I am to protect my charge I must know of the others.”
“And how you can defeat them?”
“Yes.”
It was the first time he had said his fears to another, but not was not the time for shame nor pity.
“Please mother-crocodile, tell me your tale.” Ngapal begged.
The giant sighed.
“Very well. There are not many with the gall to go to my domain and ask thus.”
“I am not like them.”
“There is the story of my death.”
“But you are very much alive, great spirit.”
“Hush, let me finish.”
“I apologize.”
“Much has been said about that story. In it, I simply die. No reason or rhyme, all to fuel the rage of the Lawu.”
Dapu let out another laugh causing the world on her back to shift.
“That is one tale. There is another where Lawu is borne of my blood. Seeking retribution on my behalf.”
“And is that the truth, mother-crocodile?”
“Yes. No. Maybe.”
“Is there anything that could help me in my battle?”
“Only this, caretaker. You have an ally in your charge. The light of the night sky is not as helpless as you might think.”
“I will ruminate on those words mother-crocodile. I thank you for your precious time.”
“I must thank you as well. I have remembered much about myself and my shadow. Goodbye, caretaker, I wish you luck on your sojourn.”
And with that Ngapal took another step into the cosmos.
He didn’t get far before a familiar noise beckoned him.
It was the kumbing of his people.
The journey would have to wait.
Now it was time to battle.
=—————————————————————-=
*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Cielo Manatad
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Cielo Manatad
Story inspired by an interview with Rosie Sula, a Tboli elder.
Illustration by Katrina Escolar-Tan
Enervaugnn https://www.instagram.com/enervaugnn/
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