The Adventures

The Visit

THE ADVENTURES OF VIVIAN HARLET

(The Legend of Awi’s Forgotten Treasure)

RATED ??

Chapter 2

That evening,as usual,Vivian would visit taverns with her sister to perform tricks for people. Men would come to drink beers,all kinds of alcohol and then,they would flirt with the tavern wenches.

Being a thief in the day and a trickster at night was a bit of a difficult lifestyle for Vivian. Anna,because of her beauty,would bait most of the male customers and beg them to spare her sister(Vivian) some time as she had some mind blowing tricks up her sleeves to perform to them.

It was gradually getting darker as it approaches midnight,Vivian was performing a card trick for some male customers that crowded her.

They were wowed by her performance that they would place a penny in the bucket cap Anna held for her to perform more tricks for them.

Vivian was elated on seeing that the bucket hat was half filled with money and she brought out three cups from underneath the table to perform a new trick.

“Can I have a volunteer step forward please?” Vivian asks.

Everyone began looking at each other.

“Can I?” A voice said from behind her.

Vivian moves her head backwards and she could see an old,haggard looking woman standing there. A black net woven bag hung on her left shoulder.

Her gray hair looked wet and her skin was very wrinkled. She had a large mole on the nape of her neck and on the tip of her weirdly long nose. She was wearing a black cloak that had white patches on each shoulders and she held a crooked walking stick in one hand.

She was smiling at Vivian in a manner that she felt it was awkward.

“Alright ma’am. Come sit in front of me.” Vivian said,returning the smile to her.

The old woman leaves her back and she walks to stand in front of Vivian. She was offered a chair,she then sits on it.

Vivian raises a penny in front of her with a smile on her face.

“I will put a cup on it and you have to point at which cup has it underneath it.” She said.

“Lets get started then.” The old woman said.

Vivian places the penny on the table and she covers it with a cup. She began moving the cups round each other to confuse the old lady. She peeks at her and when she saw the old lady’s eyes were focused on the cups as her hands swiftly moved them,she thought of a cheat.

She moves the cup behind one,slightly lifting it up unknown to everyone that was looking,she batted the coin into another cup. The action was so swift that no one was able to see it But unknowingly to Vivian,the old woman did.

When she stopped moving the cups,she smiles at the old lady.

“You can make your choice now,ma’am.”

The old woman places the folded knuckles of her hand underneath her chin as she made to look like she was thinking.

“Hmmmm... which should I choose from? Do I get to take the penny if I choose correctly??” She asks,her eyes on the cups.

“Yes ma’am.” Vivian smiles sheepishly at her.

“In that case,I choose this one.”

She pointed at the cup in the middle and when Vivian opens it,she was dumbfounded on seeing the coin underneath it.

“I think I won.” The old woman gently said.

Vivian,although she was still in shock,picks the coin and she gives it to the lady.

“Here you go,ma’am. Would you like to play again?”

“Oh no. I didn’t come here to play...” she collects the coin from Vivian “...you seem like a very smart girl. I saw what you did right there,you know.”

Vivian flinches.

“Saw what? What did I do??”

The old woman radiated a gentle smile and then she leans forward towards Vivian.

“I know who you are. A thief in the day and a trickster at night. I am amazed by your obstinacy and performances. You are indeed the one I am searching for.” She said in a lowered voice as they were surrounded by people.

“Me?” Vivian glances at Anna who was now watching them as they spoke,she then returns her gaze to her “...you are not seriously asking me of such things. Are you?”

“Lets go outside and discuss about it there if you are comfortable with that.” The old woman said.

Vivian glances at Anna. Anna gives her a slight nod and Vivian rose from the chair,so did the old woman.

They left the tavern and they stood a distance far from it. Vivian and Anna stood facing the woman as they were expectant of what she wanted to say.

“My name is Beatrice and I am not from these parts. I am only visiting Liverpool for the first time and I am in search of someone who is capable of helping me.” The old woman said.

“Help you with what?” Anna asks perplexedly as she was very much confused.

“You see,my husband used to be a voyager. He loved to travel the seas,experiencing life in other places and gathering adventures. He believes in a fable of a giant race. It was said that they emerged from the earth,after Ra,the Egyptian sun god and Khonsu,the moon god clashed.

Ra’s golden blood spilled on the surface of the earth and men as tall as ten feet came out of the grounds. They were disastrous and because they couldn’t live with humans,Ra created an island for them to live in. An island of treasures and riches of gold. There,they lived in peace,hidden from the world and no one dares to one day,come in contact with them.” She said.

Anna lets out a scoff and then she laughs out in a loud manner. Beatrice glances at her as she was surprised to see her laughing.

“Why do laugh,child?” She asks.

“That tale was said to be false as it was rumored to be created for the entertainment of kids. Giant race? A hidden island?? It doesn’t make sense.” Anna said.

“To you it doesn’t,but it is true. My husband spent all his years at sea and he drew a map of the world with his own hands before he died...” the woman stuffs her hand into her bag and she takes out a large scroll from it “...he’d say I should give it to the one who is chosen and it will lead the person to the treasure.”

Vivian was interestedly almost immediately that she snatched the scroll from Beatrice and she quickly opens it to see what is in it.

She could see lines and various lands that were faintly drawn in it. Some of the lines were intertwined but they were leading to somewhere.

Vivian could understand maps correctly,so it wasn’t difficult for her to notice that they were leading to somewhere in Africa but what was more confusing about it is; the lines were in blue and red color,the blue lines were moving out from random places and the red,though it fell out from the map of Africa,it was pointing towards a direction and then,it intercepted with what resembles a star and it was as though,it stopped there.

Anna was staring at the scroll. She could not understand what was drawn in it but she could make out that the illustrations on the maps,where lands and various seas.

“I don’t understand...” Vivian glances at Beatrice “...all the lines on the map,leads to nowhere.”

“That’s not true,vivian—“

“You know my name?!” Vivian was shocked.

“Yes,I do. I have been watching you for a while now and I thought that it was high time that I introduce myself to you. I think that you are the only one who is smart enough to figure the map and I am very sure of it.” Beatrice said.

“A map that leads to nowhere. You can do better ma’am. We should probably return to the tavern.” Anna said.

“You are right. This is funny and time wasting.” Vivian said,handing the map to the old woman.

“But you haven’t even heard about the most spectacular part of this fable.” Beatrice said.

“What part?” Anna asks.

“In this island inhabited by these giant beings,there is a treasure that has been in existence for years. The forgotten treasure of the wind goddess,Awi. They say,this treasure is so vast that it cannot be contained in two ships alone.

Awi became angry after Ammit,the Egyptian goddess of judgement murdered her betrothed. Awi could not bear the pain and she hid her treasure underneath the earth where no god or human can ever reach it. She blessed the giant race abundantly and unto them,she gave the key to the treasure...”

“A key?” Vivian asks,her eyes were wide open.

“Yes. A key. The key to the treasure is unknown as it is only the giant beings that knows where it is and who holds it.” Beatrice said.

Vivian glances Anna and so did Anna.

“This is your chance to better your lives and escape poverty. A chance to be recognized in this society. Find the treasure and you have found wealth. This is not a false fable,this is the truth.” She continued.

They both glanced at her and Vivian stares at the scroll.

“A treasure... a treasure that can make us rich forever.”

“You are right,Vivian.” Beatrice smiles faintly.

“How are we going to go from here? If we are to travel by sea,we would be needing a ship. A Pirate ship to be precise and not every pirate can be trusted.” Anna said.

“Don’t worry about that. I did say my husband was a voyager. He has a ship that is being ridden by some pirates...”

She takes out a piece of paper from the back,she then gives it to Vivian.

“The ship will be approaching bay tomorrow morning. Give the captain this piece of paper and he will understand it.” Beatrice said.

Vivian collected it and she reads what was written in it.

“Thank you,Ma’am.” Anna said.

Vivian lifts her gaze from the paper to the woman.

“Thank you. I appreciate this and we will look into it as soon as possible.” She said.

“There is no time for that,Vivian. Make up your mind tonight and begin a journey full of adventures by morning.” Beatrice said and then,she turns around to leave.

Anna and Vivian watches as the old woman walked slowly down the dark road path and when she was gone,Vivian lets out a sigh.

“Am I the only one who thinks that the old woman was strange?” She asks.

“Indeed She is. I mean,she came to the tavern,won a coin from us and then,she tells us a story,gives us a map and a paper and she wants us to leave Liverpool in search of some giant race and their island. It’s screaming creepy to me.” Anna said.

Vivian chuckles.

“Oh Anna. You are such a problematic person.”

“And you always believe any damn tale you are being told.”

“Well,I believe this one alright. Imagine what we could do with all that treasure if at all we find it.”

“Ha! Please,Lets get inside. It’s cold out here.” Anna said.

They both giggled and then,they moved into the tavern.

TBC.