Gathering

Er hellooo,

Hellooo there,

Oooi, Oooi, likum Mr Butterfly man

Hey, you can’t just abduct someone and whisk them off to who knows where, just like that.

Well you can, but you really shouldn’t.

I’d like to know just what you......................

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Well I must say...........

Mrs Melvyn the bomoh please, shhhhhhhhhh.

Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much.

Well I ..................

Thank you, said Dom.

Aisah was standing amongst an orchard of Durian trees trying to take it all in. To punctuate her spinning thoughts a large durian dropped with a heavy ‘thunk’. Aisah looked at the split durian and immediately thought of coconut milk and sticky rice – she wasn’t quite sure why.

The last few days, and certainly the last few hours had been somewhat traumatic for her, culminating is her being whisked away to this forested place. This place, this forested land to one side of everyone’s reality, was where Dom lived - his rural retreat as it were.

All will become clear Mrs Melvyn the bomoh, and I am very sorry, but, right now, I must leave you.

I leave you in the good hands, er, paws of my housekeeper.

Housekeeper but it’s a..................

Excuse me, said a slightly miffed Gladys

May I finish that sentence for you.

Monkey perhaps, animal maybe

No, no I am sorry spurted Aisah, a little perplexed that she should be arguing with a, ahem, monkey.

Maybe you’d also care to refer to the size of my nose, most people do, why should you be any different, sniffed Gladys her wounded pride showing through.

Gladys was a proboscis monkey, so called because of their slightly larger than usual nose - for monkeys that is. The fact that a proboscis monkey could talk was neither here nor there, for this was Perdak after all, and many things were usual in Perdak, which may, or may not be elsewhere – people entirely composed of butterflies for instance.

Aisah opened her mouth to apologise then closed it again, her hands resting a little defensively on her hips.

The grand Bunian hall was just that- grand and Bunian.

From somewhere hundreds of Bunian had emerged draping the hall with cloth, bunting, little twinkling lights and all manner of accessories to give the overall effect of a very, very special occasion.

The domed ceiling radiated golden once more, while open-topped jars full of fireflies were arranged to light up the entire hall. Several fireflies had wandered from the jars and added specks of stars to the ambience. Everywhere golden light spread across the hall radiating a calm yet very regal feel to the atmosphere.

The truth was that the Bunian loved a bit of a do, but rarely had the opportunity to flex their interior design muscles. So, given the opportunity they went all out to impress, and impress they did. Just-Abangah stood in awe. The Geek’s jaw dropped a little, and Melvyn started to mentally calculate how much it must have all cost. The final figure he came up with was – a lot.

Dignitaries are dignitaries no matter what race or species, and they tended to preen and puff themselves up way beyond their actual importance, and so were easy to recognise. Melvyn noticed tens of Bunian dignitaries sitting in a semi circle. They were at the very front of a hall full of Bunian, facing a dais, in what Melvyn might refer to as the nob seats, facing a cream semi-circular table - behind the table where a number of chairs. On the now glittering wall hung long banners, almost from the ceiling to the floor, containing a letter script which was unfamiliar to Melvyn. Intertwined with the script were images of what appeared to be stylistic cats. A slight perplexity came over Melvyn as he noticed the cats.

Melvyn, Just-Abangah and the Geek were shown to seats on the dais. They were at one end of the crescent of seats, behind the crescent table. As they took their places several important looking Bunian seemed to glide over the floor to take up seats opposite.

A familiar voice practically whispered in Melvyn’s ear as he took the chair on the left, next to him. Bomoh Clark was wearing a very smart, crisply ironed, black and white chequered sarong, a black mandarin collar shirt and a black songkok (hat), almost identical to the ones the Bunian had laid out for Melvyn and his companions - though the songkok on Just-Abangah, seated to Melvyn’s right, and the Geek, seemed to slope at strange angles, both threatening to fall.

Melvyn leered a big grin at Bomoh Clark and relaxed just a little, and was just about to speak when the dais appeared to fill with butterflies. The butterflies whirled and swept across the stage and, eventually, after he was sure that he had made a grand enough entrance, Dom pulled himself together and took the seat next to Clark. A stray butterfly, which may, or may not have been Iron, flew past Melvyn’s nose causing him to sneeze. The indignant dignitaries opposite gave a little scowl, and pushed their noses back up into the air.

An elderly gentleman, also wearing the black and white sarong and black shirt walked past Melvyn, stopped briefly and said in Melvyn’s mind.

I heard that,

and that

It was the sage from the onion patch, now in formal clothing. Melvyn was too shocked to say anything back, not even his usually caustic repartee. The sage winked, as if to say - no problem. He seated himself next to Dom and was immediately caught up in conversation.

Finally, having given her guests time to settle, Princess Sri Ayu, dressed in what could only be described as blue gossamer silks which seemed just to float around her, glided onto the dais and placed herself in the centre seat, slightly raised from the others, completing the semi circle.

The Princess Sri Ayu stood, raised her hands, and welcomed all present. At some point she had memorised the list of those participating and reeled it off with great aplomb remembering the correct forms of address for all the dignitaries, and giving each their due title. This was followed by much formal talk welcoming the most high this, and the grand that, to the proceedings, and Melvyn, Just-Abangah, the Geek and Bomoh Clark all fidgeted, looked at each other, at everyone else, up and down, and grew bored.

Just-Abangah began to find his nose very interesting as Melvyn, like the substitute father he had become, quickly slapped Just-Abangah’s arm with a noise which made Princess Sri Ayu briefly stop talking, and glance a chilling glance in their direction. Like a naughty schoolboy Melvyn shrank into his quite comfortable seat.

Melvyn was not sure at which point he had fallen asleep, but a dig in the ribs by a very apologetic Just-Abangah stirred Melvyn, just as the order of business was concerning the three of them.

While Melvyn had chosen the luxury of sleep over the arduous task of actually listening to the proceedings, a discussion had taken place. The events of the past year were aired, with due deference to the abduction of Aisah, murder of hantu and increasing presence of the supernatural and other worldly beings within the auspices of Tea Mountain and the domain of Bunian.

Time was taken discussing the growing threat of Lost World of Lenyap and in particular - Djinba, the reality of a Nrawa alliance, and what that might mean within the council of wizard bomohs and the worlds of men and kampung. Melvyn, awaking to sore ribs, vaguely heard his name mentioned in connection to the magical Oil of Petra.

Mm, what, oh, er, yes, uttered a slightly confused and dopily sleepy Melvyn. But it was enough, and timely.

Good it is settled then, the Princess Sri Ayu was saying

Melvyn has agreed to speed northerly and rescue the magical oil of Petra, to prevent it being held by Djinba and the menace from Lenyap, and Dom will keep Aisah safe from all possible harm. Melvyn is to choose his mode of transport, but we have services at our disposal which we might render. No doubt Melvyn might wish to have his present companions accompany him on his journey, however if they feel their usefulness is at an end, they will be returned from whence they came.

That just about concludes the general business. We thank you all for attending in such difficult times. The inner council will attend to the particulars, and final strategies employed. Again thank you all for coming.

Melvyn looked at Bomoh Clark, then at Just-Abangah and was about to say something when a voice appeared inside his head.

The broader picture Melvyn, think of the broader picture

I heard that.

Melvyn looked on, wide-eyed.