THOMAS L. CHIU
HE CALLED HER
THE VOYAGE TO THE STONE
Once Upon a time there was a Kingdom on the edge of a mountain
range. The range was called Armacorran. The mountains had sparked many legends
because they glowed at certain times of the year with such brilliance that
the whole earth seemed on fire.
The ruler of the Kingdom was Amalek, a very old, benevolent, and wise man.
Retiring and introspective, Amalek let his court be run by his imperial
assistants. Munificent as well as disciplined, he exuded a graceful demeanor
and was sovereignly revered by everyone in his domain. The residence of
the ruler, perched high on a steep hill, appeared like a giant fortress.
It was foreboding.
The townspeople, although unafraid of the emperor, looked up to him with
awe and from a certain distance. Indeed, to many he was an inspiration.
A decree was posted one day in the town center announcing that the emperor
was searching for a successor. There was no rush. He gave them twelve months.
The emperor wanted a fabled stone in the mountains beyond the Kingdom that
he dreamed about. Whoever found and brought the stone to him would be given
the throne. This particular stone, according to the emperor, possessed qualities
of supreme kindness, untainted justice, and purity of soul.
The voyage to the stone started for everyone in the Kingdom. The whole town
was involved in the preparation. It was going to be a great race. Some thought
this was the ultimate of one's journey through life. It was going to be
adventure that would entail rigorous and careful planning.
The young and the old spent many hours mapping the routes to the mountains.
The feverish tempo the decree generated created many emotions in everyone,
including Cymbelino, a bricklayer by trade who lived with his mother. He
had extensive knowledge of the terrain of the mountains. Cymbelino studied
the formations of the earth's crusts, the desert and the sand dunes. He
was an expert on stones: their colors, textures and other attributes.
Cymbelino contemplated the search and the many hardships involved in this
kind of venture. He was not very enthused, however. Every morning he rose
early thinking about why he felt so indifferent, when everyone else was
leaving, preparing to capture the stone. This event was not only an excitement
for the people but also a crusade.
Cymbelino did not think he was special or gifted. He was dutiful, performed
the tasks required of him, and was, moreover, faithful to his mother.
"Cymbelino, where are your spirits?" asked his mother. "No
one's staying here to let glory go."
"My spirits are here," said Cymbelino, pointing to where his heart
was. "I have no idea about this madness-to look for a stone for the
emperor."
"Oh, but you do not know about his stone, do you? If you did you would
be the luckiest person in this tiny universe of ours," his mother continued,
trying to persuade Cymbelino to join the rest in the pursuit.
After many days of pondering, Cymbelino, not wishing to disappoint his mother,
decided to leave home. He prepared, like all the townspeople were doing,
for the long arduous journey.
What Cymbelino's mother did not know was the presence of utter calmness
and inner peace of Cymbelino; for he was going in the opposite direction
towards where his ancestors were buried.
Cymbelino was going to look for answers to many nagging questions that recently
had come upon him. He felt the need for spiritual guidance. He wanted to
find out the meanings of these quests everyone was toiling for.
Was he qualified to be a successor? Was finding the stone really the answer?
At the site of the burial grounds, Cymbelino decided to camp. He prayed
to the only gods he knew. He looked into himself and began examining his
life.
Time came, finally, for the proclamation of a new emperor. Naturally, those
who came back from the mountains of Armacorran were anxious to declare their
treasures before the emperor and his court.
Amalek was ready to receive the hundreds of prospective candidates. One
by one they came with stones of various shapes, colors, and sheens. The
emperor examined each stone with extraordinary patience and care.
Unfortunately, the emperor did not find anyone worthy of his succession.
When the evening arrived, and just as the massive doors of the fortress
were to close, the emperor heard a voice.
It was Cymbelino's. He was haggard and limping from long months of walking
and was near starvation.
"My honorable emperor," began Cymbelino. "I come with humility
and with shame, for I have no stone to offer you. I am your stone, if you
may consider me as one. I am from this land of yours. I learned that I can
give and receive, that there is no magic in the ways of governing. You have
ruled with sublime passion and tranquility. I believe I can follow in your
footsteps."
The emperor listened without interrupting Cymbelino.
Indeed, there was no need further for the search of a stone.
The qualities of the stone must come from the man himself. He, the emperor,
learned a new lesson. He was awakened to a new beginning.
And as for Cymbelino, the Kingdom was his to keep and rule. It would be
the start of many voyages to himself.
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