The City Upon the Mountain was a feast for the eyes, in fact, for all the human senses. The deeper Toruk moved into the City, the more enthralled he became with the sights, the sounds, the smells. He found the City itself to be immaculately clean. The young Lijian detected not a single speck of dust, paper, or any other kind of rubbish scattered or floating around. The cobblestone road upon which he walked squeaked with cleanliness beneath his boots, gleaming as if it had just been scrubbed with the most powerful of chemicals. The walls of the buildings they passed popped with vibrant color with not a mar, chip, or worn section to speak of. And some of the colors were strange to Toruk, colors he had never seen before, colors that could not be rendered by the mixing of all the colors he knew.
The cleanliness was even in the air, for Toruk breathed easily, much easier than when he was on the paved black road. The City’s air felt like silk to his nose as if ribbons of fresh, smooth, silky air were slipping into his nose and out of his mouth, filling his body with the same cleanliness of the City.
“Over here, Toruk,” said Veronica, gesturing for him to follow her toward a cluster of buildings surrounded by a courtyard with a small fountain in the middle.
The buildings were conjoined, sharing a wall in between them, forming a circular block. The entirety of the block seemingly spanned a circumference of about 500 feet. Each building boasted of a different color. For the colors Toruk could make out, he saw soft blues, soft yellows, and soft greens. Yet he could not determine what material the buildings were made of, for they did not resemble wooden buildings nor concrete or some other mixture. Some were tall with multiple stories while others were only one-storied. All had clean, clear windows beneath beautiful cloth-like awnings that matched the color of the building. Each building had a sign affixed to the front, just over the front door. The words on the signs were of a language Toruk had never seen before. He could not decipher it.
“What do they say?” he asked Veronica as they approached the fountain in front of the buildings.
“What, the signs?” she asked, following his gaze.
“Ta. (Yes.)”
“Well, that one says ‘Clothes for Sale,’” replied Veronica, pointing to the last building on the far left. “And that one says ‘Shoes for Sale’,” she said, pointing to the building next to it. “And the one next to it says ‘Books for Sale.’ The next says ‘Home Items for Sale.’ Then the next one says ‘Homes for Sale.’ The one next to it says ‘Bags for Sale.’ And that last one on the right says ‘Food and Drinks for Sale.’”
“Why couldn’t I read it? What language is that?”
“That’s Galussian, Toruk. It’s the ancient language from the Order of the Galu.”
“An ancient language?”
“Yes, the Voice Upon the Mountain taught us this language when he created us. Only us Galus and the Voice understand Galussian. That’s how he talks to us…in Galussian. But Galus speak all languages, including Vana, the language of love, the language of the Voice Upon the Mountain.”
“How will he talk to me?”
“The same way I’m talking to you now, Toruk, in Lijian. But the Voice speaks all languages so he will use whatever he feels is comfortable for you.”
“Will you teach me Galussian?” asked Toruk, pausing to take in the sights of the buildings and the fountain.
“One day, Toruk,” said Veronica. “But not today. Today you must meet the Voice.”
When they passed the little fountain, Toruk noticed that people or perhaps Galus who were either going in and out of the buildings would pause at the fountain and slightly nod their head at the water before moving on.
“Why are they doing that?” asked Toruk.
“Doing what?” said Veronica.
“Nodding at the fountain when they pass it.”
“Oh, yes! I almost forgot!” said Veronica, suddenly nodding her head in the direction of the fountain, too. “Every fountain in the City Upon the Mountain holds the water of the Chena. We must always show our respect to the Chena. That’s why we nod when we pass by.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why show respect to the Chena?”
“Do you not know the story? The Chena Sea sacrificed itself to become the Chena River, Toruk, in order to save the humans from starvation and death. If the Chena Sea had not become the Chena River, there would not have existed the land of Ceto, Liji, Ulo, nor even nearby Hepto. All trade would have stopped, and the people would have died from starvation. The Chena, through the purity and power of his water, saved souls. So we honor him whenever we encounter his blood.”
“His blood?”
“The water, Toruk, the water. It is like the Chena’s blood, his lifeline, his pure, powerful lifeline. We honor it as much as we honor him.”
“Oh.”
Veronica led him away from the fountain but was soon stopped by a friendly Galu. He was formed in the image of an elderly man with cocoa brown skin and gray curly hair. As all the Galus, he was cleanly dressed in what appeared to be clothes fitting for a man of his age, clean and pressed loose-fitting pants held by a clean black belt in which a clean, soft blue short-sleeve shirt was tucked into. He wore clean, brown loafers, walked with a wooden cane, and wore a cloth cap atop his gray hair. Even his face was exceptionally clean, glowing with wisdom, his brown eyes twinkling with joy, his full lips stretched into an easy smile as he spoke to Veronica.
“Fine day, isn’t it?” he said to her in Galussian.
“Oh, yes, a beautiful, fine day, Chester,” she replied in Galussian, smiling back.
“And who do we have here?” asked Chester, “A newcomer?”
“Yes,” said Veronica, switching to Lijian, smiling warmly at Toruk. “This young man is indeed a newcomer.”
“Well, welcome, young man,” Chester responded in Lijian, respectfully tipping his hat. “Our City is your City.”
“Thanks,” mumbled Toruk.
“Are you to be a Galu?” Chester asked Toruk.
“Well, we must be going, Chester,” interrupted Veronica as she motioned for Toruk to follow her. “Until we meet again.”
“Yes, Veronica, until we meet again,” said Chester, smiling softly, tipping his hat before ambling away.
“What just happened there?” asked Toruk as they neared the cluster of shops. “Why didn’t you tell him why I’m here?”
“Toruk,” said Veronica, briefly stopping and looking at him intently, her voice stern and low, “there will be times when the task the Voice has for you will be plain to all and there will be no need to conduct your affairs in secret. But there are some tasks, sometimes the most important of tasks, which must be done in secret. Distributing the Sacred Waterstone is one of those important tasks. Only us Galus who were on the train with you know about the specific details of that task and that is for your good, Toruk. We must keep it that way.”
“But, Veronica, what would be the harm if others knew?”
“Oh, a Galu would never harm you. But like most beings created by the Voice, we communicate, we talk, we share. If all knew of the details of your task, then it would inevitably trickle down to the Shadow. That creature’s eyes are always on the Peak. His ears are always tilted up, listening, waiting to hear something tumble down from the Peak.”
“The Shadow can hear us?”
“Only bits and pieces, but he is clever, Toruk, very clever. He knows about the Waterstone and your call to find it, but nothing more. So keep this task between those of us who know more, at least until the Voice says otherwise, alright?”
“Alright.”
As they continued, Toruk could not help but to notice a particular building bathed in spectacular light blue paint with a matching awning and open windows. Toruk could tell it was the shop that sold food and drink. Galus were going in and out of the building carrying drinks and cartons of food. When Veronica attempted to lead him past it, he abruptly stopped when the scent of well-seasoned cooked food suddenly wafted by his nose.
“No, Toruk, we must not keep the Voice waiting,” said Veronica. “Follow me.”
But the scent was stronger than Veronica’s stern warning, luring Toruk toward the building and through its front doors. Once inside, Toruk was immediately confounded by the expanse of the seemingly small building. The ceilings appeared to him as 14 to 15 feet tall. The entirety of the store seemed to go on and on for hundreds of feet. The interior walls were of stark white paint, the floor was dark mahogany, buffed to a shine, clean without a speck of dust or dirt to be found.
The store was filled with stark white mirrored counters holding baskets of what appeared to be baked bread, finely baked desserts, colorful candies, packaged bowls of ripe, perfect fruit, and packaged cups of colorful liquids. The interior walls of the shop were covered with floor-to-ceiling stark white shelves packed with more packaged foods too numerous for Toruk to count. He saw packaged cookies, cakes, more bread, more fruit, more drinks. He saw packaged bowls of what appeared to be cooked dishes that he could not name. Some appeared to have substances that resembled rice, vegetables, and even stews. He saw baskets of eggs, baskets of cheese, and baskets of colorful berries and nuts.
And as the smell brought him deeper into the store, it led him to a counter behind which appeared to be a middle-aged man dressed in a sprightly yellow and green uniform with shoulder length brown hair. He tipped his hat at Toruk, smiling brightly as he greeted him, his hazel eyes twinkling with friendliness.
“How can I help you, young man?” the proprietor asked in Galussian.
Toruk, figuring the proprietor had merely greeted him, smiled in response, then closed his eyes, savoring the familiar smell, for it reminded him of the delicious stew Matyp used to cook, a Lijian stew filled with all the spices and ingredients of the cultural dish, sending him back to memories of his childhood when he was running in the schoolyard with little Rona and his friends, when he was skipping beside his father when they went for long walks around Ceto’s downtown, when his mother greeted him with warm hugs and sweet kisses on the forehead after he bounded up the stairs from school filled with childish exuberance and silly, fantastical tales, when he-
“Sir?” the proprietor said, shaking Toruk from his thoughts. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Well, I don’t speak Galussian,” said Toruk, hoping the proprietor could understand.
“Ah, a Lijian!” said the proprietor in perfect Lijian. “How can I help you, newcomer from Liji?”
“Well, that smell,” began Toruk. “I, uh, couldn’t help but to-”
“You mean this stew?” said the proprietor, bending down to pick up a large smoking pot and place it on the counter.
The proprietor opened the cover to reveal the exact dish Toruk had seen in his own home.
“That’s Lijian stew,” Toruk whispered as he eyed it, his stomach grumbling. “My mother used to make that.”
“Well!” said the proprietor happily. “Let me give you a bowl.”
“Oh no, I don’t have any money,” replied Toruk, holding up his hands in protest.
“That’s good because no money is needed here,” said the proprietor, chuckling, reaching around for an empty bowl and spoon.
“But I thought this was a store?” asked Toruk, unable to take his eyes off the stew.
The proprietor laughed heartily. “You truly are a newcomer! There is no money in the City Upon the Mountain. What we sell, we sell for free. All we ask for in exchange is your satisfaction and happiness,” he explained.
“No money?” said Toruk, watching the proprietor, with a big spoon, fill the bowl with the bubbling, delicious stew.
“Yes,” he said as he worked. “The City Upon the Mountain is unlike any other. You’ll find that out soon enough. What brings you here from Liji?”
“He was just visiting,” said Veronica who had been quietly watching the scene, waiting for Toruk to turn around on his own and refocus upon his task at hand. “We will be going now.”
“But the stew?” asked the proprietor, holding up the bowl in front of Toruk. “Should I package it for you, young man?”
“Yes, please,” said Toruk.
“No,” said Veronica, overriding the young Lijian with a flick of her hand. “He will not be needing it now. Perhaps on his way out, Bradley, but not now. We must be going.”
“But, Veronica,” pleaded Toruk, “I’m hungry.”
“You’re not hungry, Toruk,” she said. “The stew is just conjuring up memories that will not help you now. Those memories will only serve to distract you. I warned you about the magnificence of this City. Ours is a glorious City, filled with love and great comfort. But you have no need for food right now. You will have no need for it for some time.”
“But I don’t understand,” said Toruk as he reluctantly turned to follow Veronica.
Just as they were leaving, a Galu entered the store, inadvertently brushing past Toruk. This Galu was in the form of a half-man, half-tiger with whiskers atop his human-like nose, tiger ears atop his human-like head and paws attached to his human-like arms and legs. The rest of his body was that of man, walking upright, outfitted in clean, bright blue pants, and a light blue shirt.
“Good day, young man!” the Galu said happily to Toruk in Galussian. “Sorry to bump into you.”
Toruk was seized with awe by the Galu’s appearance, unable to readily respond.
“We were just heading out, Remp,” said Veronica in Lijian so Toruk could understand. “We’re simply out for a visit. Good day to you.”
Remp tipped his hat goodbye but then tapped Toruk on the shoulder before the young Lijian left. “You know,” said Remp to Toruk in Lijian, “there’s a meeting assembling nearby in just a few minutes. I’m here to bring some candies for the meeting. We love newcomers.”
“What meeting?” asked Toruk, intrigued by Remp, noticing his human-like mouth was filled with tiger-like teeth.
“For the Order, young man,” he said. “That is why you’re here, isn’t it? To become one of us Galus?”
“Well-” began Toruk.
“We must be going,” Veronica interrupted again. “Thank you, Remp for the invitation, but he is just visiting.”
“But no one just visits the City, Veronica,” said Remp. “There must be a reason. You should come, young man. You will thoroughly enjoy it. Why don’t I take you there now? We don’t need the candies. There really just for delicious visuals. It’s not like we can actually eat them!”
“Remp, please,” said Veronica, clearly perturbed that the Galu was stalling them. “We must go.”
Remp nodded respectfully and smiled, “Sure, Veronica,” he said. “Of course.”
But as he left the store, Toruk suddenly ran behind him, intentionally ignoring Veronica’s calls. The young Lijian was awed by the strange-looking Galu, thoroughly curious to learn more about the Order of the Galu. He followed Remp to a nearby building, small and slim with no awning hanging over its door nor a sign affixed to its front. Remp, clearly aware that Toruk was following him, stopped at the front door of the building and held it open for Toruk.
“Come on, young man,” said Remp, smiling with his tiger-like teeth.
Toruk followed Remp into a large, wide room, spectacularly clean with stark white walls, white marble floors, and a plethora of white couches and chairs, white lamps and white rugs. It was filled with happy, talking Galus as strange as Toruk had seen on the train. Some appeared as human, fully limbed, some as human but floating with no legs. Some were globs of floating golden light pulsating as they talked while others appeared as otherworldly creatures with various animal-like features.
“Sit down,” said Remp, gesturing to a nearby chair.
Toruk obeyed, momentarily forgetting about Veronica and her warning. He was mesmerized by the Galus surrounding him and waited expectantly for the meeting to begin.
Then with a clap of his paws, Remp called the meeting to order.
“Friends…and visitor from Liji,” he said to all in the room, speaking in perfect Lijian, “a meeting of the Order of the Galu has now begun!”
The Galus quieted as Remp began.
“Now, we have all heard of the Voice’s recent order,” he said. “It is a big one and presumably a long-enduring one, commanding many of us to assist people coming to the Peak. This will be a new set of tasks, friends, for these people will not become like us. They will reside here just as they are, as people. Some will be traveling back and forth from the Peak to their lands. We must be prepared for our roles, friends! We must make the Voice proud!”
“But how will the people reach here?” asked one Galu. “How will they find the way?”
Remp shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know,” he said. “Such details have not been circulated yet. All we have are our roles. According to the Voice, some of us will be the people’s guards, some of us will be tasked to encourage the timid ones to keep going, some of us will remain here to prepare their rooms, while some of us will assist them in preparing for the journey.”
“Well, how did you reach here from Liji, young man?” said a Galu seated next to Toruk. “Perhaps your journey here can enlighten us.”
“Yes,” said Remp, “I meant to ask you that in the store. All, this is a young man from Liji who I just met in the food store. Tell us your name and the purpose of your whereabouts, young man. Go ahead.”
All eyes turned to Toruk who felt apprehensive, suddenly missing Veronica’s presence and protection.
“Well, I, uh,” began Toruk, looking around for Veronica, hoping she had followed him in the room as she had in the store, but he did not readily see her.
“Go on,” said a smiling Galu standing near him, one that appeared as a young woman with flaming ginger-colored hair. “It’s alright.”
“Yes, tell us how you reached here,” said another Galu. “Did you come by way of the Tavatu?”
“My brother was with him on the train this morning!” exclaimed a Galu, a floating blob of golden light, pulsating as it spoke. “Yes, he did come by way of the Tavatu.”
“So how did you reach Matla Valley all the way from Liji?” asked yet another Galu.
“And how did you outsmart that wicked creature lurking in that wretched Satqin?” questioned another Galu.”
“For a human to come such a long way and not become a Galu, it must be for a very special purpose, something only the Voice could conjure, would it not?” asked another.
“Young man, were you called by the Voice? Did he lead you here?” asked Remp, studying him curiously. “Does it have something to do with his most recent command? Are you going to bring something to Liji?” Or perhaps bring Lijians back here?”
“I, uh, I think I should be going,” said Toruk, suddenly standing up, finally remembering Veronica’s words. “I really am here to visit the City and nothing more. And someone is waiting for me downstairs.”
“Ah, yes, Veronica,” said Remp, smiling warmly. “Well, why don’t I invite her up? She ought to be here, too.”
“She’s just showing me around,” replied Toruk, quickly walking to the door. “Thank you for the invitation, but I really must be going.”
Without waiting for a response, Toruk bounded out the front door and back into the cobblestone courtyard to find Veronica standing just paces away.
“I knew you’d come to your senses, Toruk,” she said with a wink. “I knew you’d remember my warning.”
“I’m ready, Veronica,” sighed Toruk. “Take me to the Voice.”