Gug-Gug waves his hand in front of the hole with the silver arm sticking out over the small bowl and sees warm water flow from it.  Ummba stares in awe, expecting to see a huge wet mess, but the water mysteriously disappears into another hole at the bottom of the bowl.  Both search for the water that vanished and are puzzled.  It is gone.  They find two more rooms with silver arms over bowls with holes where the water goes away. It is astonishing.
 
The next thing they look at is the strange item with a big hole around the top inside a small area able to fit one of them at a time.  Both remember the pictographs’ information.  All they have to do is sit on it instead of going out of doors squatting.  And best of all, when finished using it, there will be warm water sprayed on their bottoms, followed by warm air.  Giggling, they take turns trying it out inside the tiny chamber.  Ummba is especially anxious to teach Bahab how to use it.  This is definitely different from what Gug-Gug and Ummba are used to, yet it is not uncomfortable.  
 
Ummba, intrigued by the images in the pictograph, wants to use the deep body bowl immediately.  She touches it and finds it is solid and more comfortable than any standing pools of water in rivers where rocks usually scrape her.  She hates cleaning herself in icy cold water.  Summer is the only time creek or river water is warm enough to use without shivering.  Ummba mumbles out loud to herself, “Ughma wha doo shee-kap ya.”  I am tired of always being dirty and I hope this big body bowl stops us from smelling so badly.  With excitement, she undresses Reemee and herself.  She puts all their clothes on a platform and stands uncertainly in the big bowl.  Warm water begins to fill the space and Ummba sits down into it, placing her baby on her lap.  The water swirls and she notices the fragrance of lavender flowers like those she has picked and dried in her past wanderings. The warm water has the feeling of many gentle hands massaging her.  Reemee coos and giggles. She splashes with her pudgy hands and all too soon, the water exits the bowl.  She stands up and steps out, holding Reemee, and walks to the box she remembered seeing in the drawings.  She can see through it so is not afraid to use it to dry off.  The contraption blows warm air to dry their skin after being in the big body bowl.  It feels good.  Reemee babbles happy sounds as she enjoys the warm breeze blowing on her.  Soon both are dry. Ummba runs her hands over her skin and finds it is smooth to the touch and she feels clean.  The fragrance of lavender lingers gently as she sniffs her now sweet smelling baby.
 
To her amazement, on the platform where she dropped her dirty old rags are new clean folded ones.  She gets clothed in the fresh soft material and runs excitedly to Gug-Gug to share her body-cleaning experience.  He inhales the air around her and smiles, liking the sweet odor of Ummba.  She points Gug-Gug toward the bowl and grabs Bahab guiding him there, too.  She leaves both to experience it on their own.
 
Ummba and Gug-Gug are animated with excitement, sharing the joy this home brings.  Their family goes back into the room with their images.  Gug-Gug looks at her with a silly expression and rolls his eyes.  Both gawk at the reflections in front of them, make funny faces, body gestures, and even stick out their tongues with grunting noises and smirks.  The children giggle as they watch their parents playing. This is great fun.
 
Gug-Gug and Ummba choose a room with a rectangular box near the bowls of running water.  Reemee, held in Ummba’s arms, is asleep by the time they reach the bedroom door.  Babab soon falls asleep next to them.  Gug-Gug and Ummba are awake, lying side-by-side, smelling good and feeling tired.  Holding hands, both stare at the room around them and think about their new life as they fall asleep in spite of the excitement they feel.  They are warm, wrapped in soft cushy covers.  In the morning they realize it is freezing outside, while inside The House it is warm and cozy, Gug-Gug and Ummba realize they all are protected from the outside elements. The gods are favorable.
 
In the morning, Ummba watches Gug-Gug’s fascination with the voice in the gift of the gods, pictrograph, she sees The House appear in life form but as small as her hand. It pops out from the surface.  She rushes over and puts her hand on the life like image and asks aloud what it is.  There is a voice that tells her.  She excitedly asks another question and gets an answer.  This is the first time Gug-Gug had looked at the pop-up apparition since he first saw it.  Now he touches the image and asks questions too.  Shocked, they realize they are about to learn more than they ever can imagine.  Here they learn as long as they ask the questions.  It fills their lives with knowledge never expected.  Ummba asks what the voice in the gift of the gods is. The voice says ‘ hag agu bee la’, book, for education’.  They practice saying that too as the words are new to them.
 
 
Ummba goes to the hag agu and asks the name and use of the five platforms in the food room.  It shows her what it is and how to use it and tells her the name of the room it is in.  A ‘kitchen table and chairs’, she tries saying it out loud, over and over to remember.  She is happy and will use it.  She rushes back to the kitchen, happy she has a name for it.  She pulls one of the chairs out and sits on it.  It is a perfect fit.  She put the food on the table.  Today their breakfast is eaten in comfort. It is a warm delightful meal.  The food is unfamiliar to them but is tasty, yet not unlike their familiar flat bread and one thing tastes like fluffy eggs.  After Gug-Gug and Ummba have eaten their fill, they go to the hag agu and plan to learn all they can.
 
The warnings that are given in the hag agu are taken seriously.  They vow to help others when in need.
 
After a few weeks of settling into a routine, they are learning the use and names of the items surrounding them.  They are enjoying every day in The House.
 
Early one morning a band of men carrying sticks, bows, arrows, clubs and spears prey upon them, intent on killing them all and stealing what they can carry away.  The House does not allow them entry.  Gug-Gug and Ummba hold their children tight against them as they sit in a corner shaking with fear.  They feel panic when they hear the bandits loud banging and yelling from the porch.  These men are deadly and vicious. The windows do not break; the door stays closed and sturdy against the pressure of the men trying to enter.
 
After several attempts the band leaves.  Gug-Gug shakes with relief to be spared torture and pain. Ummba looks at Gug-Gug with tears in her eyes, feeling relief they are gone.  They get up slowly from their cowering positions on the floor.  Gug-Gug expects the thieves to return and plans to stay inside The House where they will all be safe.  He believes the thieves are still a threat.  Gathering his bows and arrows, he places them near the stairway to the tower on the third floor, just in case the marauders return.  Those kinds of bands lose patience easily and do not like to wait for anything. Gug-Gug is going to be prepared.
 
The following day Gug-Gug climbs to the third floor.  It is a big round room with windows that open easily.  Each window shows a view of the surrounding area so he sees the full circle surrounding The House.  He has his weapons with him.  It is an ideal vantage point.  He knows they won’t think he is up in the tower and he intends to surprise the bandits.  He watches the group surround The House and spread out in a circle preparing for a surprise attack.  Gug-gug is nervous but ready.  He takes advantage of his position, picks up his bow and arrows just as the group approaches the porch with their weapons.  Gug-gug aims down toward the intruders and lets a few arrows fly.  Before they can notice where the arrows are from he screams a loud war cry that would take the spots off a dog and continues shooting arrows toward them.  Shocked, they run as though Spirit Devils are attacking them. He watches the men scatter like the wind and sees they do not look back.  Now he knows they will never return. 
 
Life settles down. They are safe.  Serious threats are rare and easily resolved. The House protects them.
 
Every time anyone passes the remote area, they greet them and give an invitation for food, warmth, and help.  They spend years learning how to heal animals and people.  They are determined to be helpful to all in need.  There are a a few births, cuts to stitch or bandage, stampedes that injure traveling nomads, broken bones to set, people lost.  Instructions are in the hag agu to help in all situations that have come their way.  Healing herbs, plants, how to mix them, what they are used for and where they are to be found, along with maps are also in the pictures of the layered rectangle.
 
Ummba records their day-to-day activities in a chronological order.  She feels a kinship with all the writers’ journals; many still remain in drawings, others in writing, in a big room called a library.  Those living in The House before them felt honored as Gug-Gug and She feels.  She loves pouring over the history of The House. Life is good.
 
As the years pass, they have a second daughter and name her Loola.  All three children study from the hag agu and realize it is a good feeling when they help others. It will always be their way.
 
Gug-Gug and Ummba live the rest of their lives in The House.  Gug-Gug with his outgoing manner, kindness, and generosity, helps anyone in need and is a friend when one is called for.  One night in his sleep, Gug-Gug passes away peacefully of old age.  Three years after losing her beloved mate, Ummba passes on while reading in the library. She loved to read and was overjoyed to be taught by the hag agu.  Her years spent writing their journal will give direction and information to those who will follow.  It holds the secrets of their life and will serve others that follow them.
 
Loola remains a curious student of the hag agu and becomes well known as a teacher. Her adult years are spent working with natural materials and making clothing.  It is most important for those living in the colder areas.  She travels with her mate and three children.  They help others along their way.
 
Her older sister, Reemee, is an animal healer.  She is talented and able to fix broken wings on birds and build safe cages for healing animals.  The animals all let her touch them and seem aware of her kind gentle spirit remaining tame in her presence.  She is always thankful for the lessons from the hag agu.  Reemee settles in one location far south in warmer land with a fine man who happened to stop at The House one summer.  She lives her life happily with her mate and two children.
 
Bahab feels a calling to heal others and is thankful for the knowledge acquired from the hag agu.  It also taught him a variety of languages so he communicates easily with others and is able to use expert healing skills.  The second year out on his own Bahab meets his life mate and revels in the happiness of having his own family.  They spend their life traveling to remote areas, in order to teach and share his extensive knowledge.  He becomes a beloved healer and visits settlements, villages and farming communities.
 
Life in The House, atop the isolated hill in Colorado proves to be rewarding and happy for Ummba, Gug-Gug and their family.
 
………………………………………Now, once again, The House waits.


J. Price, E-mail  Or send to judyaprice@gmail.com in your e-mail.
2012 ©  Used with Permission of the author.