Elizabeth-Irene Baitie - Crossing the Stream

Contents

CROSSING
THE
STREAM

ELIZABETH-IRENE
BAITIE

ACCORD BOOKS

NORTON YOUNG READERS

AN IMPRINT OF W. W. NORTON & COMPANY

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS SINCE 1923

To my entire family, the wings that lifted me.

CONTENTS

ATO FROZE MID-STEP, HIS MOUTH DRY .

No. No. No.

He glanced around wildly. Behind him were the trees. Beside him rose the rock with purple thistle. Ahead was the pond, circled by dead water plants, reflecting the sun on its still surface. Beyond it were the vegetable rows, and past thosethe House of Fire. Everything was still here. Everything except...

His legs could not hold him up. Stumbling forward, he sank to his knees.

He pressed his fists against the sting in his eyes. Still, a tear trickled down, along the corner of his lips, warm and salty, dripping down his chin.

It was over. They had come so close. But like everything else, the dream was dead.

And he had wanted so hard to be good enough to go.

Several weeks earlier

ATO STARED AT THE PRINT ON THE SCHOOL BULLETIN BOARD . His breathing stopped.

Nnoma spreads its wings in welcome toAsafoEarthWarriors.

Are you old enough to leave home on your own, but young enough to believe that the earth needs you?

Do you have a project to protect the green earth, the blue sky, and the animals and people between the two?

Show us!

Then let us ferry you away from the crowded city to the mountainous bird island of

NNOMA.

Your project is your invitation. Submit it to us by June first, Ato read. That was twelve weeks from now.

Nnoma was open at last! A vision of the island flooded Atos mindrock-studded mountainsides and leafy lower hills. He had sailed over the choppy gray waters that surrounded the bird island a thousand timesin his dreams. He had landed on its famous eastern peak, the Dawn Locus, where the first rays of sunrise struck in an explosion of red and orange light. Here, thousands of bird species lived protected, including his favorite birdthe peregrine falcon.

Move!

How long does it take you to read that?

We all want to have a look!

Ato had seen all he needed to. Beside him, Dzifa elbowed out a path for them through the mass of sweaty school kids surging toward the bulletin board.

Ato, weve got to get in! Her small, heart-shaped face was alight with excitement.

Yes, they did, Ato thought, heart pounding, as they walked down the school corridor to join another friend, Leslie.

Leslie pointed to Atos hands. Thats because Nnomas open? he asked in surprise.

Ato looked down: his hands were trembling. He clenched them into fists, and flanked by his two oldest friends, he walked toward the parking lot.

The last time Nnoma had opened was when he was seven years old. It had been five years of dreaming since then. Five years dreaming about visiting the famous bird wonderland that his father had helped to build. His father had written him one letter. Its words had played on repeat in his head since hed learned to read:

My son, its been months of hard work, but now the dream is forming before my eyes. Im sitting at the highest point of Nnoma: its called the Dawn Locus. One day I hope you will sit here with me.

Ato, now that the Nnoma dream is here, it must stay alive. Those of us who believe in it must protect it. For now, the sun shines, but enemy storms are gathering. One day they may be unleashed. If they are, I have a plan. It is protected, somewhere below this rock peak where the sunlight first greets Nnoma, where the falcons watch over the valley. With enough Asafo, we can protect this dream. Whenever I hold you in my arms, I can see you are truly likemeAsafo, a protector of our world.

When your steps are strong enough to match mine, we shall walk this mountainside together, to protect this dream. Only a few people are privileged enough to step on Nnoma. You will be one of them. Youll prove yourself good enough to come here. Ive asked Mummy to blow on your little toes to make you laugh. One day, your toes will be firm enough to grip this rock.

Ato halted in the middle of the open school corridor. We need to start our project. Now.

Leslie stuck out his lip doubtfully. Dyou know people can get diseases and parasites from infected birds?

No negative vibes! Dzifa shoved back her spectacles and gave Leslie a warning look.

Being in the same school was the only thing his two friends had in common. Good thing Dzifa had stopped biting kids the way she used to back in kindergarten, Ato thought, or shed have eaten Leslie alive by now. Even at twelve years old she still looked as if she wanted to deal with problems kindergarten-style.

Why is Nnoma such a big deal? Do we really want to hang out with a bunch of birds with fleas and viruses? Leslies shoulders sagged with a lack of enthusiasm.

Trust Leslie, Ato thought. Always figuring out how something could not be done. Maybe because its the biggest bird sanctuary in all of Africa, Leslie? he said. Maybe because nobody knows when its going to open? And when it does open, only a few people get to visit at a time, cos birds need protection from humans? And maybe, he thought, because my father needs to know he was right about me: I am good enough to go there.

Leslie was typically unconvinced. Think, guys: Therell be dangerous hills. Birds with chicks and bad tempers. And snakes, cos snakes eat bird eggs. Even if we do get in, I bet something bad will happen. Remember when those Year Ten guys sneaked in spray paint on the school trip to Cape Coast and vandovandili

Vandalized, Dzifa snapped.

Yeah, did that to the monument. The whole class got sent back and school trips were canceled the rest of the year. Imagine if a group of kids like that got to Nnoma this year? Imagine! Wed all get thrown out and Nnoma would never open again.

Leslie was so like a parakeet, Ato thought. Cheep-chirp-cheep... as he backed out of everything. Unlike Dzifa. She always reminded him of a magpie: flying face-first into everything.

LeslieDzifa swept her forefinger across her lips in a zip-up motionstay home. Well send you pictures from Nnoma.

We will? Ato asked.

Leslie plowed on. Ato, I knowyour dad wrote something about some secret plan on Nnoma. Whatever plan he left, the rats would have gotten to it by now. Rats eat paper. And bird eggs.

Ato felt the blood rush to his head. When Leslie talked like that, it made him wish hed never mentioned his dads letter to him. You dont know that, Leslie, he said, forcing his voice to stay steady. Besides, weve been planning this project to get into Nnoma for years. And were starting. Tomorrow.

But well be up against so many other projects. We dont stand a chance!

AtoDzifa adjusted the strap of her gym bag on her skinny shouldersdont listen to him. Were on. Tomorrow. And now its basketball for me. See you later! With a wave of her twiggy arms, she darted off toward the playing court.