Finally, I had a lead.
It’s the first time I’m going on a research trip, and I’ll finally be able to have my name on a paper that isn’t et al. Making my career with the last name Zaide was full of frustration. But I did it for my love.
Botany is a dangerous calling, at least in the Philippines. The mountains are full of danger with separatists and military contributing to my unease.
The current topic of my research is botany and folklore. I believe that there are many species ready to be discovered if only you knew what to ask.
Kamandag, that was what it was called around Western Visayas. It was said to be the home of a terrible serpent called Markupo.
Both are extremely dangerous, as the locals have warned me.
For the Kamandag tree, anything under its shade would die.
For the Markupo, it expels a venom that kills on contact.
For this researcher, it would be a blessing.
I asked an elder in Kinaray-a (My family was from these parts) and she told me there was a path to the mountain peaks that I should go to if I wanted to see the tree. I asked others to come with me but they were too fearful of the old legends.
And thus, I set out alone.
The mountain trek was easier than I thought it would be. I was bringing all my documentation gear, it wasn’t much, just my notebooks and camera, but after hours of going through the path, I could feel the encumbrance.
I was almost at the top when I heard it.
The hiss I was warned about.
They had told me that during days when the sky was clear, I would be able to hear its song.
That day was not today.
The serpent was wrapped around the Kamandag tree. If they were right about the Markupo then I wouldn’t take any risks.
I approached the tree carefully. The tree’s shadow gave death to the unprepared, based on what they said.
I picked a flower from a nearby bush and tossed it to the shade.
Instantly it withered and fell into dust.
My fear turned into immense joy.
This property has never seen before. While the Markupo slept I tossed more flowers and each disintegrated like the first one.
I set up my recorder and kept on with the experiment.
Time was not on my side as the serpent might wake at any moment. As quietly as I could, I took snapshots of the Markupo, only ten were needed.
I gathered my things and set about the trek down the mountain.
Once I reached safety I couldn’t believe it. I had gathered enough date to fill multiple articles.
I showed the videos to the elder and her face betrayed her shock.
“You weren’t supposed to survive.”
In an instant she stabbed me and I dropped.
“Take his body to the tree, the Markupo will be hungry.”
=———————–=
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the description in The Creatures of Midnight , Maximo Ramos, Phoenix Publishing, 1990
Illustration by Brian Valeza used with permission from Rob Martin of Pine Box Entertainment and Secret Garden Games
