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<b> Cross the River Nobody could dispute Gohnaka's prowess as a warrior, but had always wanted more. Even as a young boy, it was not enough to have the sweet from his mother's hand. He had to conquor the kitchen under cover of night to steal the whole tray full. So it was that had he traveled hundreds of miles from his home, to seek out the wisdom of an elderly Geomancer. It was said that Sonaya had all the secrets to wealth, success, and power. Gohnaka walked for weeks, asking questions at each town he found, until finally, in a remote village, he found the man he was seeking. He did not disturb the old man, but rather sat quietly outside the door of his home, and waited to be addressed, as he had been taught in his earlier training. Three days came and went before Sonaya noticed him, and when he did it was only to tell him: "Go away, I have no use for you here." Undaunted, Gohnaka sat there, without food, without drink, for three more days, and each morning the old man would step outside, tell him to leave, and walk back inside. On the sixth day, the old Geomancer came outside holding two walking sticks. He handed one to Gohnaka and continued walking. Taking the hint, Gohnaka rose and followed the old man. The elderly Geomancer walked without speaking, and the walk was quiet and peaceful. Eventually, they came to a river, and the old man turned to Gohnaka. Pointing across the river, at a small hut alone on an island, he said simply: "When you cross this river and come to me, I will teach you what I know." And with that, he disappeared. Gohnaka was not daunted in the least. He sat down right there, and began to meditate... Searching within himself for the ability to walk across the water, and thus to achieve the secrets to power, success, and wealth. Fortunately for our hero, there was a small village nearby. The housewives there took pity on the bedraggled looking warrior, bringing him food and water each day. Most days he would not break his meditation to eat, but he knew that logically, he must remain alive and conscious to gain the knowledge he sought, and so when weakness became a danger, he would stop, take a few bites to sustain his body, and return to his meditation. Occasionally, he would rise shakily to his feet and walk to the water, stepping confidently onto the surface only to PLUNK his feet right into the mud below the surface. He would then walk back to his seat on the bank - and continue his meditations. It was a bit over two years before his foot did not plunk into the water, but instead stood upon the surface. Stunned, he took a few steps toward the island before he lost concentration and congratulated himself. *KERSPLASH*! He plunged unceremoniously into 6 feet of icy cold water. Discouraged, wet, and bedraggled, he made his way back to shore and continued his meditations. For another year Gohnaka sat on that bank, breaking his meditations only to eat a few bites of food. One day, his eyes popped open with a suddenness that startled the old woman who was delivering breakfast to his side, and without a word he walked to the bank. Stepping on the water's surface, he walked without faltering until he reached the Island. Proudly, he walked up to the hut there, and knocked softly on the door. "Good Grin, what took you so long!?" the old man asked him, upon opening the door. "I am sorry," he replied, shamed by these words, "It took me three years to master my body enough to walk across the water." Laughing loudly, the old man said: "I will give you your first lesson then, since you have come all this way. Still choking back the tears of laughter, he said "If you wish to be a warlord, you must learn to see the best way to reach each goal. Would you not agree?" Eager to show his desire to learn, Gohnaka nodded. Then the old man pointed across the river at a small house on the other side, and the little rowboat floating in the river nearby. ..Shawnee | |