WOITOS SON[1]

von

Klaus Hugler

 Woito ist der der Älteste in den wendischen Dörfern der Niederlausitz am Rande des Spreewaldes gewesen, auch eine Art Dorfvogt, der mit Weisheit für das Recht einzutreten hatte. 

Woito’s Son[1]

One day, when Woito’s son had grown up to be a man his father sent him to Slomka’s Lauch

Which was far beyond the swamps of the Kalpenz in order to look after the cows in the glades. Reluctantly, Woito’s son left the familiar farmstead. But he followed the orders and set out. With the sun burning down his neck he stepped out of the village, the forest in sight.

The grain was full that year, waiting for the harvest. It was lining his path.

Having arrived at the edge of the forest he sat down in the heather beside and old alder. He had reason to do so, because at that point there was a y in the road. But there was no sign telling the wanderer which way to go. He had left the village behind him, as well as the fields.

He leaned  his stick against the trunk of a tree and rested his head on a moss-covered stone. Yet, this lovely place made him feel as if his mission was like the expulsion from paradise. Worry overcame him when he realized that he had to find his way before nightfall. Wistfulness filled him at the thought of the garden behind his father’s house where he, as recent as Whitsunday, had found happiness amidst the blooming dandelions and the humming bees. And from that he should be separated now! Defiantly he looked into the forest which said to be full of danger.

However, as time went by, the charm of the lovely landscape surrounding him brightened up his gloomy head. Hadn’t the mysterious distance always attracted him? And long ago, while still a child, wandering alone in the fatherly garden and discovering the abandoned house, didn’t a strange world open up to him when he opened the door, entering the mysterious rooms and forgetting the garden? Yes, his thoughts were wandering back to the colourful pictures of his childhood turning up in his mind, and they rushed ahead as a yearning for the future began to seize him and tiredness overpowered him.

Suddenly, he was startled because of steps approaching him. He wanted to reach out for his staff, but he had already spotted the delicate figure of a young woman. She was dressed all in white. Her gown was decorated with pearls and precious stones.

When she saw the young man she went towards him and said: “Young friend, I greet you, I know you and you know the doubt doubts plaguing you. You are looking for the path to happiness. I know the way and want to show it to you. If you would like, I will be your guide.”

Captivated by such beauty, our young life-seeker had to fight quite a long while maintain his composure before he was able to respond, “Who are you? Are you a fairy or are you one of the mortal women?”

Smilingly, the beautiful woman answered, “Love, Beauty and Happiness are the names given to me by man; sad fools. Those to whom I deny my favours chide me in their blindness Ignorance, Lust and Sin. Countless people on this planet sacrifice their best for me -sometimes everything that they posses: money, time, health, their honor – sometimes even their life, if I demand it. But to you, Woito, I am going to offer all my favours without any sacrifice. Roses shall wreathe your head. The hands of beautiful women shall smooth out each line in your forehead. Wealth shall empty its golden horn on to your table. You shall be blessed with strength and the ability to enjoy pleasure up into old age. Come with me.”

Woito’s son arose.

She took his hand and showed him the way turning to the left.

It seemed to be the way to paradise. A green, carpet-like meadow spread out between blooming rose bushes in the shade of the late afternoon sun. Its beams danced in numerous fountains and a soft rustle filled the air. All this seemed to invite the wanderer, setting out on his path. However, he hesitated.

His doubts found their expression in one question, “ Is it this wondrous path that leads to the goal?”

Astonished, the fairy responded, “To which goal?”

“The one I must reach!”

“I don’t understand that! The path is the goal… Becoming happy is everything. You are now standing at the gate to happiness and only need to enter. The garden of happiness is meant to be yours. Pick these fruits!

But remember the following! My gifts are not gifts of promise, nor are they gifts of a distant future. I don’t attach conditions to them. I pour the immediately into your lap, you only need to reach out for them with your hand in order to enjoy them…”

She spoke the last words  with hurry and excitement.

She had taken the young ma by his hand and tried now to pull him with soft  onto the path on the left.

As she had thus spoken and reached for him, another woman approached the young man without noticing her. Now, she stepped into his way. Woito’s son didn’t have to ask who she was. He realized immediately that she too was a fairy. Only her appearance was prouder; and to adorn she carried a shield and a sword. In addition, her stature towered above the other fairy quite a bit.

When the young man spotted her she remained silent and looked mockingly at the other fairy. Young Woito bent his head. And he recognized – in spite of all her gradeur – something friendly in her eyes. Finally he found the courage and asked “ Tell me, proud mistress, what am I supposed to do?”

She said thoughtfully with a strong voice, “ You cannot expect any sweet gifts from me as you can from that one. My friends serve me for free, sometimes with a hard fight.”

And then she pointed to the path to the right leading into the forest. It meandered in the burning sun between thorny blackberry thickets and lost itself very soon in the undergrowth. Swamps lined the path and threatened to swallow the careless wanderer.

Discouraged and full of doubts, Woito’s son took heart and asked the fairy, “Who are you that you wander along such a bleak path?”

“I too have many names”, the fairy responded. “The people who serve me voluntarily call me Courage, Truth and Justice, as well Virtue. My enemies- all cowards, hypocrites and tyrants- give names such as Trouble and Worry or worse things. Because this path appears to be so bleak at mere sight, let me add that it is also full of dangers: robbers jackals threaten the passer-by, and you will have to lock the place where you want to lay down your head.”

With all these warnings, Woito’s determination had ever grown so that he looked straight into the eyes of the fairy. “And the goal? Can I reach it?”

“The goal lies far behind the precipices, beyond the depths. It is the country of love, truth, peace and justice. Many go out in order to seek it but only few reach it.”

“Nevertheless, it shall be my way. Your way shall be my way, and your goal shall be my goal. My life shall be fighting and struggling. I entrust myself to you. I am not afraid of precipices,”

he said and took his stick.

“I knew you, Woito, and I knew that you would chose the way of your heart. Now, that you have made your decision I want to tell you the price. Thousands and even more of courageous people have gone that way before you and thousands of people will still follow the truth and justice, and all of them will be signposts and light the way of mankind.

I am not the one who bestows this joy upon you. You do it yourself. You will conquer your lot by yourself. At first, you will learn to say no, no to the wrong compromises, no to the lies in life, and no to the quick money at any price. And you will become more lonesome every time you succeed in refusing – but you will grow stronger. Doing that, you will gain self-confidence. Your heart will be free from fear and opportunism. And those who stand up for right and truth will assemble at that time. You will carry the torch of illumination ahead all of those who seek true life. Your example and your way will become the accepted thing.”

“That is great”, the young man shouted with joy, “but will I ever reach the goal?”

The fairy looked into his face for a long time, “What will happen if you don’t reach it? If you fail? If you fall victim to your enemies? If they force you into submission, and your name would be forgotten?”

“In spite of all that I will go your way, my fairy. It is my way. It is the way of may heart. I want to be a man without any opportunist thoughts and deeds, not because I want to be admired but because it is my happiness. Other people may leave me. I will keep to myself.

They may put my body in  chains and break my bones; my heart shall remain free, and my will unbroken. I will follow you with trust in God. Lead me, I will follow you.”

With these words still on his lips, he reached out for the fairy’s hand, in order to take the path to the right. However, at that moment, the fog devoured the picture of the two women. The scenery lost its strange appearance, and the path was as it was before.

Woito’s son rubbed his eyes and woke up.

He remained sitting for a long while and thought about his vision.

But the he got up, and took the path to the right.

Klaus Hugler

[originally written in german]