DIVINE (?) INTERVENTION
Paul Crilley
The Shaman Logray knew this—had seen the proof with his own eyes.
The deal their God struck with the Darkness—to share Endor equally—had been broken. The Adversary reached out with damp, spindled fingers to corrupt their world. Wind-riders dropped from the sky bringing invaders who ravaged their homes, wiping out entire tribes to build their shining structures. White ghosts sped through the forests on steeds that spat red death upon any who got in their way.
They were on their own, but Logray had to make sure no one else knew this, had to make sure the other Ewoks still believed the Golden One spoke to him. It was the only way to save the tribe, something Teebo—Logray’s apprentice—was making increasingly difficult for him to do.
“We’ve prayed,” said Teebo passionately. He stood in the center of the temple that had formed inside the Great Tree. He turned slowly to address the crowd. “We’ve begged the Golden One to help us fight off the agents of darkness.”
Logray studied the crowded room, trying to gauge the mood. The Council of Elders had been called two days ago, messengers sent to neighboring tribes when Logray noticed an increase in the number of wind-riders dropping from the sky—wind-riders that ferried more of the tall ones, both the unmasked and the white ghosts. There was a feverish rush to the invaders’ movements, as if they were preparing for something big.
All eyes followed Teebo as he moved toward the Holy Stone, the glowing amber orb gifted to them by the Golden One Himself.
“But our pleas are ignored. The Golden One stands back and allows the Adversary to destroy our homes. He watches while Ewoks are slaughtered by the white ghosts. He does nothing while the two-legged beasts flatten trails through our forests.”
Teebo turned to face the council. “We tried to ignore them. We hoped they would leave us alone. Even when they slaughtered an entire tribe—”
The council glanced toward Romba, a refugee from a village that had been destroyed to make way for the tall ones’ structures.
“—we stayed silent. Hiding. Cowering. But we’ve all seen how their numbers have increased over the past days. It can mean only one thing.” He paused and looked around dramatically. Logray could barely restrain an eye roll. Teebo always had a flair for the dramatic. It was why he would make a good shaman. “They’re coming for us.”
Logray slammed his staff against the floor to draw everyone’s attention. “Which is exactly why we must leave the village! We need to find a new home. Somewhere far from the softskins. Somewhere safe.”
“You want us to flee?” snapped Teebo. “He shook his head in disappointment. “I never took you for a coward, Master.”
There was a slight inrush of breath from those gathered. Logray stared coldly at Teebo. There was a moment of heavy silence before Teebo blinked and looked away in shame.
“I’ll put that down to the heat of the moment—my apprentice.”
But Teebo wasn’t finished. He looked pleadingly at Logray. “Master, please listen. It’s because we do nothing that the Golden One does not come. But if we fight. If we defend our homes from the invaders—that is when He will appear and help us push back the Darkness.”
Teebo’s war party, his private inner circle, waved their axes and spears, shouting their support. Members of the council nodded in agreement.
Logray saw this with dismay and felt the future slipping away from him. Over the past few weeks he’d been having visions of the forest burning, Ewoks lying dead, slaughtered by the invaders’ fire-sticks. He knew in the very depths of his soul that their fate depended upon the outcome of this council.
Logray leaned on his staff and moved slowly to the center of the room. All eyes were on him. This was his last chance to plead his case.
“We stand at a crossroads,” he said. “Our entire future rests on the path we decide upon today. We’ve seen the armor the invaders wear, the fire-sticks they carry. We’ve seen their power. Their ruthlessness. And you want us to fight them? With our spears? With our axes and catapults?”
“Better than hiding away underground,” said Asha Fahn.
Logray scowled. He should have done more to steer Teebo away from Asha. Ever since they’d become close, Teebo’s confidence had grown. She was a bad influence on him.
“I’m not saying we hide forever. I’m saying we wait. We watch. Only a fool rushes into a battle against an unknown enemy.”
“There’s no time to wait!” said Teebo. “You’ve seen their moon. With every village that’s destroyed, the moon grows larger.”
The Council of Elders whispered to one another. Logray couldn’t even argue the fact. The moon had appeared as the slimmest of crescents one day, barely visible. But it had grown steadily since then.
“It is a countdown,” said Teebo. “Once the moon is fully formed, the Adversary will descend and reclaim his throne, banishing the light forever.”
More muttering and nodding. Logray felt a hopelessness open up in the pit of his soul. The balance had shifted. Teebo’s impassioned plea was winning the Elders over.
He needed time to think. Time to come up with a plan.
He glanced at Chief Chirpa. They had known each other for over fifty years now, ever since they were woklings. Chirpa’s face revealed nothing. Logray couldn’t tell which way he was leaning.
“I humbly request the council break until sundown,” Logray said. “I need time to commune with the Golden One.”
Asha Fahn snorted. “What for? He never answers.”
Logray looked at Asha with contempt. “He answers. You just don’t want to hear what He has to say.”
Logray looked questioningly at Chirpa. The chief nodded.
“Until sundown,” he said.
Logray felt his calmness return as he made his way through the lush, green oasis of towering evergreen trees. Sunbeams flickered and flashed through the dense canopy. Rustling pine needles created a gentle chorus, a constant whisper that brought the forest to life. He arrived at his destination—a small clearing where an ancient tree had fallen over in some long-forgotten storm. The tree was still alive, its twisted roots embedded firmly in the ground. They formed cool cavities and fissures that Logray used when he wanted to be alone, where he could feel supported and embraced by the forest.
Logray stopped moving, standing still on a bed of pine needles and moss. Shafts of hazy sunlight dappled the clearing. He took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of earth, pine resin, musty leaves.
These were the moments when he doubted himself. Maybe the Golden One hadn’t abandoned them. Despite the presence of the invaders, there was still so much beauty around them.
A bearded jax sat grooming itself, unaware of his presence. Logray watched the yellow-eyed creature, trying to take in the moment of peace. To hold it in his heart.
He wasn’t sure how many more such moments there would be. As if to reinforce this thought, he felt a low vibration in his chest. Then the sound came—a deep, throaty roar. The jax bounded away. Logray looked up to see a wind-rider moving slowly by. Low, almost touching the treetops.
It was coming in to land. Logray felt a rush of panic. Why here? None of the invader’s structures were nearby. The closest was about ten thousand meters away. There was no reason for the wind-rider to be here.
Logray set off in the wind-rider’s direction, using his staff to shove the thick ferns and vines aside.
Logray arrived at the crest of a hill that descended into a wide meadow. The wind-rider had already landed, its mouth gaping open and resting on the grass.
Logray watched as the tall ones exited the bowels of the creature. They weren’t like the invaders. Not the black-and-gray-garbed softskins nor the heavily armored white ghosts.
These tall ones wore clothing that helped them blend in with the forest. There were around twelve of them, all armed with death sticks. They moved as a unit, like Teebo’s war band.
The two that came next were even stranger. A softskin with an air of arrogance that Logray took an instant dislike to, and a giant creature covered in brown fur. The two were deep in conversation.
“Whaddya mean it doesn’t make sense?” snapped the softskin. “Of course it makes sense.”
The fur-covered one raised its head and roared. Logray had no idea what it was saying but he got the impression it wasn’t very happy.
“Fly casual. It means don’t draw attention. What it doesn’t mean is pushing the throttle open like we’re in a podrace. You’re lucky the Empire didn’t revoke our clearance.”
The large creature let out a series of growls that caused the tall one to look at it in amusement.
“The throttle stuck, huh? Admit it, Chewie. You were in a rush ’cause you were hungry. We all heard your stomach. It sounded like an acklay. A big one, too.”
“Han, stop giving him a hard time. We made it. That’s all that matters.”
Logray shifted his attention to two more figures emerging from the wind-rider. They were wearing the same camouflaged clothing and helmets, but they carried themselves differently. Even from this distance, Logray could feel an air of serene calm about them.
What was going on? Who were these softskins? They definitely weren’t like the invaders. They talked the same language, but that was where the similarity ended. If only they—
—Logray froze.
His eyes widened in shock as he tried to understand what it was he was seeing.
It…it couldn’t be.
Could it?
Logray watched in utter amazement as a stiff-legged figure exited the wind-rider. It glowed golden in the sunlight, highlights and haloes flashing from every part of its body.
Logray stared in amazement.
The Golden One.
Could it really be Him?
He was exactly as He had been described in the stories Chief Buzza used to tell the woklings around the fire. The Golden One’s form was cast in shining gold drawn from the sun’s very own glow. Every time He moved, flashes of light blinded Logray, glints and winks of reflected holiness.
But it was the eyes that captured Logray’s attention. Chief Buzza had said the Golden One’s eyes gave off a soft and steady glow, like two tiny stars that had been plucked from the sky. From within, the Golden One could only see light. Darkness was defeated merely by Him looking at it.
The figure below perfectly captured this description.
“Yupyup,” he said softly.
Rejoice indeed. The Golden One hadn’t abandoned them after all. He had responded to Logray’s prayers and come to lead them to safety.
Relief flooded through Logray’s body, months of stress and worry melting away in an instant. He knew he’d lost the battle that morning. Most of the Treeta Dobra backed Teebo, letting their hearts rule over their heads in wanting to defend their homes against the invaders. But if they truly wanted to survive the return of the Adversary, they had to use logic. And the logical thing to do was hide.
No one would be able to argue with him now. Not when their deity had actually chosen to appear before Logray. Not when Logray led the Golden One—their actual God—into the village.
Logray had let his cynicism and bitterness color his outlook. He had seen the destruction all around him and couldn’t understand why the Golden One would allow such things to happen.
But it had been a test of faith all along. A test he had failed.
Shame overwhelmed him. He could only hope the Golden One would understand his fears, would show him mercy.
Logray had to restrain himself from rushing into the meadow and prostrating himself at the Golden One’s feet. He was everything Logray had ever imagined. A figure glowing with inner glory. A God who radiated light from his eyes, a God who—
—tripped on a tree root, falling face-first into the undergrowth.
“Oh my!” he exclaimed. “Someone help! I’ve fallen over! Help!”
Logray frowned. He couldn’t understand the words, but there was no mistaking the tone. Why did the Golden One sound so pathetic and wheedling?
A small white-and-blue creature rolled down the ramp and stopped next to the prone figure of the Golden One. It let out a series of beeps and whistles.
“What do you mean, ‘What are you doing?’ What does it look like, you brainless hunk of scrap metal! I’m stuck! Oh, this is so undignified!”
The brown-furred creature made a mewling, questioning growl. His softskin companion glanced at the Golden One with barely disguised contempt.
“I dunno. We’d probably be better off leaving him here.”
“Oh, General Solo! Have mercy!”
The large creature mewled again.
“Fine. But only if he promises to keep his trap shut. We’re on a scouting mission here. He’s gonna give our position away.”
“Oh, thank you, General Solo. You won’t regret it. I’ll be as silent as a tooka-cat. As invisible as a—”
Before he could finish, the large creature grabbed him by the back of the neck and hauled him to his feet.
“Be careful, you mindless brute! That is no way to handle a droid of my standing.”
The…Golden One?…turned his attention to the softskin. “As I was saying, you won’t even know I’m here. I’ll be as invisible as a wampa in a blizzard. In fact—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. He took a single step—one!—and got his foot tangled in another root, falling flat on his face for a second time.
“Oh, the shame!”
Logray slumped to the ground in disappointment. This wasn’t the Golden One. This was just another of the strange creatures the tall ones used for menial labor. He hadn’t seen any others with the same coloring, but there could be no doubt about it.
Logray leaned his head back against the tree. So much for a sign. The only sign here was that they were doomed. They were no match for the tall ones’ weapons. If Teebo got his way, every single Ewok in Bright Tree Village would be slaughtered.
Logray sighed. Why couldn’t they just listen to him? He hadn’t steered them wrong in the past. Why did they have to choose now to doubt his wisdom?
But he already knew the answer. Teebo and his friends. This younger generation of Ewoks were different. They rebelled against the teachings of the Golden One, that peace and prosperity were the paths to enlightenment, not war and conflict.
There was a lot of movement and talk among the tall ones in the clearing. Logray wished more than anything that he could understand their language, but it was just an indecipherable babble to all the Ewoks.
Logray paused.
He thought about this for a second, then got up and scurried into the forest, heading back to the village.
Logray was at the head of the hunting party with Teebo and Asha. The others trailed behind, spears and axes held at the ready as they moved silently through the trees.
“I just don’t understand why we had to come with you,” said Asha. “You’ve never asked for protection before.”
“We’ve never been in this position before,” he said, trying his best to keep his voice neutral. “You were at the council meeting. We all heard about the rising number of invaders.”
“Exactly. So what are we doing out here?”
“You are out here to protect your shaman and his apprentice. Teebo and I are out here to seek a sign from the Golden One.”
Logray caught the brief look Asha and Teebo exchanged. Teebo shook his head slightly. Logray knew what they were thinking. Just humor the old Ewok.
One of the advance scouts appeared on the path and hurried toward them. “There are tall ones up ahead,” he said urgently.
“Here?” said Teebo in surprise. “But we’re not even close to their base.”
“Did you see them?” asked Asha.
“No. But they’re using one of our trapping paths.”
Logray could barely contain himself. The Ewoks had traps baited with verkle meat all over the forest. The paths leading to the traps were generations old, invisible to non-Ewoks. They had been curated and manipulated over time, vines, flowering bushes, ferns, and fallen tree branches all subtly guided into position over the years to lead the unknowing prey toward the trap.
“Show us,” said Teebo.
The scout set off, Teebo and the others following.
Logray let the hunters pass until he was at the rear of the group, then he followed a few paces behind. This had to be handled very carefully.
It wasn’t long before they heard a loud crashing sound from up ahead. The hunters held their spears before them as they edged toward the sound.
“Nice work. Great, Chewie. Great! Always thinking with your stomach.”
“Will you take it easy? Let’s just figure out a way to get out of this thing. Han, can you reach my lightsaber?”
“Yeah, sure.”
There was a moment of silence, then Logray heard the fake God speak.
“Artoo, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. It’s a very long dro-o-p!”
There was another crash. Teebo and the others rushed forward, spears extended as they formed a circle around the softskins who had somehow fallen from the suspended trap.
“Wha—? Hey! Point that thing someplace else.” Logray recognized the voice. The cocky one he didn’t like.
Logray moved behind a large fern so he could see what was happening. Unseen. Waiting for his chance.
The scouting party erupted into angry mutterings. Asha stepped forward and held a low conversation with Teebo. Teebo shook his head and pointed the spear back at the softskin’s face.
“Hey!” The tall one grabbed the spear and reached for his fire-stick.
“Han, don’t. It’ll be all right.” A different voice—the soft-spoken one Logray had seen earlier.
The hunting party confiscated the tall ones’ weapons. When they reached the brown-furred creature it let out a growl of anger.
“Chewie, give ’em your crossbow.”
Logray curled his fingers impatiently around his staff. Where was—
“Oh my head. Oh my goodness!”
Logray saw the glint of gold in the sunlight as the false God sat up. There was a gasp of shock from the Ewoks.
Logray moved up behind Teebo and Lonta Kay. “The Golden One,” he whispered. “Our God has come to save us.”
“The…Golden One,” Lonta repeated softly. The Ewok to his left heard, and soon the words were spreading around the entire hunting party.
Lonta dropped to his knees and prostrated himself. The others followed his example, chanting their devotion. Even Teebo and Asha.
Logray grinned as he turned and hurried back into the forest. It would be hours before the hunting party returned with the “Golden One.” Plenty of time for Logray to lay the groundwork for his plan.
He would tell the council he’d become separated from the others and that the Golden One had appeared to him in a vision, forbidding them from taking up arms. His instructions were for the Ewoks to leave the village and hide in the underground cave systems to the north. Exactly as Logray had advised.
All this would be discussed before Teebo and the others got back. And then—surprise!—the Golden One Himself! He’d come in physical form to make sure his instructions were obeyed! And the best thing was, no one could doubt Logray’s word. Not even Asha Fahn. The Chief Shaman was the only one who could communicate with the Golden One. It had always been so.
Which meant by this time tomorrow, the Ewoks would be heading for safety and it would all be thanks to Logray.
He couldn’t have planned it any better if he wanted to.
Logray’s pace slowed slightly as he thought about these words, a frown forming on his face. That was actually true. Everything had gone remarkably smoothly so far. Almost as if…
…Almost as if he’d had help.
Logray stopped walking. The fur on the back of his neck rose. It felt like he was being watched. He shivered and looked around, but he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
But still, he couldn’t shake the feeling.
Logray took a calming breath and sent his senses outward, listening, watching.
Feeling…
Louder than everything—the overlapping symphony of the thousands of birds that called Endor their home. Musical trillings as they competed for attention. Shorter chirps and tweets echoing back and forth as birds flew from tree to tree. The querying calls of flocks keeping in contact. The peep and rasp of younger birds still in the nest, plaintive and begging. The sharp, piercing call warning of danger. The distant hoot of an antary, the nocturnal bird waking up ready for a night of hunting.
And then all around him—as constant as the sun rising—the susurration of spruce needles stirred by the wind, a sound so familiar to Ewoks its absence would be like losing a limb.
Deeper…
Logray could feel the life presence of a pack of squalls, the rodents busy carving out a fresh burrow in the earth.
A lantern bird—invisible above the canopy of leaves, its passage causing currents in the air that undulated for miles around.
A munyip, gliding between trees, singing its own song and silencing the chatter of birds as it…passed.
A herd of bordoks, calmly grazing. A blue lizard scurried past, causing the entire herd to bolt in fear.
Deeper…
The waves of joy and awe radiating from the hunting party behind him. (Guilt, quickly pushed down.) The radiance of their spirits cast a glow Logray could feel like flames from a fire.
But above all that, above everything…something else. Something expansive. Something greater than the combined life force of the entire forest. Logray strained his senses outward but couldn’t pinpoint the source. It was too big. It encompassed everything. It made Logray feel like a raindrop in a summer thunderstorm—inconsequential, insignificant.
The presence…it felt…
It felt…
Divine.
Holy.
…Was it possible the Golden One hadn’t abandoned them after all? That the shining creature had been sent by their God just when they needed help the most and that all this…all this was meant to be?
Logray gave this some more thought. If that was the case, it meant Logray’s plan was really their God’s plan. That Logray was merely the instrument the Golden One had chosen to save the Ewoks and that he was right all along about leaving the village.
But…if the creature hadn’t been sent, if the Golden One had actually abandoned them, it didn’t matter. Logray’s plan would play out exactly the same anyway, and he would still be a hero.
Either way, Logray realized as he stood among the trees, his…he didn’t want to call them manipulations, but…his actions today meant he was responsible for everything that happened tomorrow.
He started walking again, a bounce to his step. A celebration is in order, he thought. Logray had already decided that the false god’s companions would be sacrificed in the Golden One’s honor…
Logray was looking forward to feasting on the cocky one. Arrogance lent a certain…spice to the meat.
He was sure it would be delicious.