A sound echoed from atop the mountain. Some say it’s a melody, others have sworn the sound was of the wailings of the sky creatures of Burabura. In either case, once again, The Midnight Rambler was set on another journey to one of the farthest ends of old earth.
The journey appealed to The Rambler not for the accomplishment, nor the Benefit of human kind; human kind can help themselves. The aim of his journey was merely to satisfy his curiosity. And so he went on.
Armed with a long rifle and his wits, The Rambler navigated the ancient pathways of old earth at his own hovering pace. The journey went smoothly with nothing of significance to report, as was his way.
As The Rambler approached the mountain he could hear a distant ominous whiz. This place was like no other. It seemed as if the mountain radiated awe and reverence onto the horizon. The Rambler, wearily, began his climb, at his own hovering pace.
Halfway through the climb, the sound began fading in... A strumming of some kind. It was like no other, joyful yet filled with sorrow like the feeling of the happiest of memories accompanied with the nostalgia that follows them.
The Rambler was drawn to the sound and gravitated by it. He kept climbing. Near the top The Rambler spotted another creature. A partridge like no other. The bird stood beside an eggless nest on a lone branch hanging barely through the cracks of the stones.
“Have you heard the calls, Rambler” asked the partridge. “Everyone on earth heard them, old and new” answered The Rambler. “What is it anyway?” He added. “Harti” said the bird. “The melody maker. He’s just ahead. And keep the nose of that rifle away would you?” “Sure...”
The top was just a hover away. The sound that once echoed now prevailes over all sounds. At this point The Rambler wasn’t certain if the sound was playing in the air or right in between his ears. Finally, a man holding a concaved wooden instrument appeared sitting on the edge...
- “There you are, melody maker. You’ve been heard, hermit. What’s the deal?”
- “I’m no such thing as a hermit”
- “Yes you are. You are Harti the hermit. You’re causing many people great distress.”
- “And others great joy.”
- “True... What’s that instrument anyway?”
- “This is an oud like no other. The wood was taken from the tree of life itself, and the strings are those of a dragon’s heart. A worthy instrument of such impossible materials. Don’t you agree?”
- “Indeed” said The Rambler with assertion. “And the song?” He asked.
“I’m fishing for a dream” answered the melody maker. “I lost it long ago. I used to be able to call it to mind immediately and see it all so vividly. Now, all I can remember is that I had a dream, so I fabricated this melody to call for it to come back, and it might.”
- “Dreams are made of smoke.” Said The Rambler. “ Once the fire is gone the smoke fades away.”
- “Perhaps. I’ll still call for it anyway.”
- “I’m sure you will, hermit...”
The Rambler couldn’t tell what to make out of the melody maker. He was truly like no other. But then again, everything in that place was. So The Rambler decided it’s time to hover away leaving the echoes of Harti behind him while setting for a new rambling destination.