Amiri and His Disobedience

Amiri and his Civil Disobedience

By Stephen Donnelly

Little Amiri lived on his own in the nice cottage-filled village of Kamokila just down the valley from Palace Amu Nimu. He lived alone, but that didn’t mean plump little Amiri wasn’t happy. In fact he lived a wonderfully fulfilling life collecting mushrooms for his fellow villagers to eat. Garnering his shrooming axe he would venture his portly body out into Weevil Woods. Which at this point was no longer aptly named due the weevils being run out years ago. In fact there were no dangers in those woods other than allowing a felled mushroom to crush you due to your own hubris.

Little Amiri was a humble man. Living in his humble cottage that looked like all the others in the village. It helped that they were all constructed by the Small family just a couple of generations back. Small Hehu didn’t have a lust for imagination and kept his grandparent’s teachings and still built buildings in that same one room fashion. Stone to the waist with thatch roof just high enough to allow you to stand.Small Hehu only did things differently when he was told to.

The Itty family kept everyone clothed. Itty Noelani did her best taking over the tailoring that her mother left for her. Itty Noelani was a cheery lass who loved to see what she could do to make others happy. She even went as far as making Little Amiri’s hat in the shape of a mushroom. A fun quirky little trinket that he loved to wear. Especially when he went to gather more mushrooms for the others to enjoy.

This time in the Weevil Woods felt like any other to Little Amiri. A warm breeze that wasn’t too hot. Moisture in the air made it more refreshing than annoying. Little Amiri thought to himself that it was going to be a good day. Looking for one of his favorite mushrooms. A lion’s mane. The name made him giggle as there were no lions here. And it was white in color which to his knowledge lions were brown or orange even. Though he had never seen one.

Looking for the dropping stringy hairs of the lion’s mane, Little Amiri came across something he hadn’t seen before. A mushroom that stood tall and proud amongst itself. And not in the usual area for mushrooms to grow. But on top of a rock in the sun. Almost like it was sunbathing. Curiosity got the best of Little Amiri over this tan and freckled mushroom so he marched closer to inspect it while whistling his happy tune aloud.

The stem was odd to the touch. Almost like he was touching himself. And the stem had four creases in it running up unto the cap that seemed to be filled in hair and losing the other details in the darkness. Looking down expecting to see a cup or some mycelial latching onto the rock it was four pairs of feet. Hairy like a hobbit and thin and scraggly for perfectly threading around the uneven surfaces of most rock. If it didn’t look like a reptilian octopus, Little Amiri would have sworn they were just people’s feet.

Not to be stopped by the unusual, Little Amiri readied his axe and took a swing for curiosity's sake and was horrified by the retort that followed. The mushroom garbled in pain from some orifice it had and blood spurted out of the newly gaping wound. “I’m so sorry” Little Amiri gasped as he threw his hands over his mouth, dropping his axe, which clattered to the rock’s surface. He didn’t know what talking to it would do but it was better than doing nothing.

The beast recoiled and gained some distance, spinning to see it’s tiny assaulter. Cocking its cap in a fashion that made Little Amiri think he was being looked at. It ‘stared’ at him for a moment before speaking. In a gruff tone it said, “You are one of those tiny people in the village just to the east aren’t you?” It seemed almost pondering. Like it wanted something from him.

“You’re bleeding. I can get Bitty Tane for you. He would know what to do.” Little Amiri offered before his offer was struck down.

“No, but there is something else I need you to do for me,” he started. There was no pain in his voice from the wound. Just sadness and ache from age. “I need you to cook something for me. Something that would attract a mate. For I am a noseling and we can not produce pheromones. So we rely on the great smells made from those that make them.”

Little Amiri pondered for a moment before responding. “I don’t know if I can. I was always told that we must eat our food raw. That we used to cook but it attracted creatures of the wild that would attack us. At least that is what the horror stories the elders tell to us as children say.”

“When was the last time you saw a creature here worth fearing? All I’ve seen were wisps and critterlings scuttling about the exposed roots of the grass.” He replied. Nearly convincing Little Amiri right there if Little Amiri had anything to cook at the moment.

“Let me get to my home. I will see what I can do to make a smell so good it will attract a bunch of friends for you.” Little Amiri said, almost forgetting his axe before leaving.

Little Amiri as quickly and safely as he could rushed home to see some of the others. He knew the first person he wanted to see was Mini Pania. She had all the best flowers and oils that she preserved in little jars that were usually corked to prevent the smell from escaping. They were mostly used for trade and in the wrong hands were considered dangerous by the elders.

“Mini Pania, Mini Pania,” Little Amiri exclaimed as he came rushing down the hill riddled with excitement.

Mini Pania’s grey curls can be seen poking through her little bonnet and the wrinkles on her face only made her smile that much more precious. “Yes darling, what is it?” Mini Pania almost never got visitors since her wares were dangerous if messed around with. So she was always excited to see someone wanting to see her.

“I need something from you. To help a friend. I have cut him and I need an herb that can help his healing. Bitty Tane said, ‘I need the uki uki.’” Little Amiri was lying because he knew this flower smells the best of the ones that she has. He took his chances on whether or not she knew what the flowers were for or could do.

“If it is what Bitty Tane needs then I shouldn’t deny him.” She produced a jar containing a green leaf almost grass like flower with a few protruding pistols that seemed to reach out to the winds as a gesture of a hug. “Be safe with these. Though I shouldn’t have to tell you.” She gave him an extra smile before letting him part.

Little Amiri gave the jar a quick pop of the corked lid to take the strong smell in. The warm smell of something heated brought a little joy to his heart, it was fluttering at the act of doing something that he shouldn’t be doing. Though he couldn’t stop now. He needed to see Small Sefina for some surinam butter. Then some supplies from home. Putting the jar back in the pouch he rushed over to see Small Sefina.

Seeing the surinam as he crested the hill he had to climb, it took his breath away. The spikey-legged, brown chitin-covered creatures roamed the seemingly larger field grazing on the random tidbits being nuzzled by their young. Small Sefina was tending to her herd and even petting one of her favorites roughly between its antenna. Its stiff translucent inner wings fluttered against its textured chitin-covered outer wings.

“Small Sefina, I need some butter. Please, it is for a friend.” Little Amiri seemed almost out of breath, but his words found their way out.

“Of course, Little Amiri, I had some fresh made earlier this morning from this old thing,” Small Sefina said as she ruffled some fingers under the creature's face and its pincers chirped happily in a cheery reaction. Small Sefina retrieved the butter for Little Amiri and they both exchanged wide smiles before Little Amiri parted to his home to gather his last few things. A pinch of salt, a small knife, a small chip of flint paired with a shard of metal, and a small amount of surinam jelly that he had saved from the last moon holiday. Little Gerald gathered them all in a small brown paper box to keep them organized in his little satchel.

Little Amiri hadn’t ran this much in one day since he was a child. It brought his heart racing with the joy of being free. It almost made him run faster to go see his new friend. Now he was going to help his new friend find love.

Getting to the rock in the grove, he saw his friend looking like two nostrils standing back-to-back proudly in the receding sunshine protruding through the clearing in the treetops. “Mister!” There was a small pause while he tried to collect himself as to why he forgot his strange friend’s name. “I’m sorry. I seem to have forgotten your name.”

If the featureless creature could express something it would have tried to show concern. Possibly with a smile. “No worries, little one. I never told you what they call me. For there are no they. Do you have what I asked for?”

“I do.” Little Amiri produced the things and started to make a fire. “Cooking is banned in my village for the smells it would make. I am sure it would help with what you needed.” With a small fire crackling, he placed a rock in the middle, allowing it to heat up. Using another surface, he took the knife to the uki uki.

The creeping cryptid shook happily. “What is that smell?”

“It isn’t ready.” Little Amiri said shyly, starting to wish he had some space.

The butter was starting to glisten and salt was dancing around waiting for some company. The perfectly shredded uki uki started to join in after being mixed in the jelly. The smell permeated the air drawing hums coming in from outside the forest thundering in Little Gerald’s ears.

“You have done well, child. My people come.” Little Amiri no longer felt safe. The breath of the creature brushed over Littler Amiri’s skin. Wiry arms protruding from the darkness.

Little Amiri ran home. He ran fast. As fast as he could to elder Ne'ilalomeatiga. He needed his wisdom. Elder Ne'ilalomeatiga was found in his usual place. “Elder Ne'ilalomeatiga, I need to tell you something.”

The wise elder placed a hand over Little Amiri’s mouth to shush him. “I heard the hums. Why did you summon them back? How did you summon them back?”

“I cooked the uki uki,” and again he was shushed by the elder.

“I know what I must do,” the elder stated as he gathered some supplies from a small brown paper box on a table nearby, tossing them into the fire while starting a chant. The familiar hums grew louder. The elder grew louder as well as if to combat the ever encroaching doom. As soon as fire flashed a violent blue and fizzled out, the noise stopped.

“You foolish boy. I had to curse the uki uki with a violent smell so now they would be used to ward off the evils.” The elder stood over the cowering boy.

“I’m so sorry, elder. What can I do?” Little Amiri said with tears in his eyes.

“Nothing.”