Golden Box Book Publishing GBBP Magazine, June, 2017 | Page 9

tall and wide wooden pole in the middle of the circle. Ilona
fingered the intricate designs carved into it. It was painted with
brilliant colors. On top of it was a giant carved falcon, standing
with wings open wide, as if it was getting ready to take flight.
Ilona tugged at Zoltan’s shirt excitedly and whispered, “I’ve
seen this place before! Every time I play my tune, I see this village
in my mind or some other place pretty much like this.”
“Really? I always see this kind of place in my mind when I
play my birth tune too!” He smiled. “And I always see the Turul
bird. I think everyone pictures a different place when they play.
Mom says she feels like she sits by the Blue Danube in medieval
times. Dad’s vision takes him back much further. It is curious that
we both see a similar place and time,” Zoltan marveled, following
Ilona’s gaze.
“Yes, it is,” Ilona agreed, wondering about the coincidence.
They reached the jurta that stood a short distance outside of
the circle. Zoltan grabbed the small wooden stick hanging on the
side of the thick leather door cover, and lightly tapped the round
drum hanging next to it.
“Doorbell,” he explained.
“Who art thou?” a pleasant voice sounded from the inside, in
ancient Hun language.
“The Traveler and the Healer are asking permission to enter,”
Zoltan answered, in the same melodious mother tongue.
“Come hither.”
Zoltan pulled the thick leather covering aside and urged Ilona
forward. Inside, the light was dim and flickering, emanating from
oil lamps hanging on the walls of the wide, round room. Zoltan
motioned for Ilona to take her shoes off at the entrance. They
walked forward on the thick carpet covering the floor. A beautiful,
statuesque, dark-haired woman slowly rose from a curved sofa-
like piece of furniture. She wore a soft green, delicately decorated
calf length tunic, with loose black trousers. Her hair was braided
with soft leather thongs. Ema was standing in the alcove. She
shrieked when she saw Ilona and Zoltan and started running
towards them, but was stopped dead in her tracks by a simple
hand gesture from the statuesque woman.
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