Dragonfly Dreams, Part Twelve

The woman was old and wizened with years of living in the harsh jungles of Brazil. But there was no mistaking it. At one time, this woman would have passed for Oprah Winfrey’s twin. Sitting in a large red velvet chair underneath a softly twirling ceiling fan, she stared at Frank as the last notes of Billie Holiday faded away. One of her eyes had gone bad and simply stared forward with a milky whiteness. The other eye, however, was as sharp as ever.

He wondered how it had happened. How had this woman…this Irza…been created. And why did she look so much like Oprah Winfrey.

“It was an accident,” a voice startled him. It was a young girl who looked to be all of 12 years old. She was standing behind Irza’s chair. Dressed all in white, the girl had the appearance of a nurse. At least, that is what Frank was guessing that she was.

“The woman that you know as Mizzuz Winfrey visited this land many years ago,” the girl said, “Even back then she was looking for a place to build schools…to help people live better lives. She visited this very village. The day was hot and the pond….yes, that very same pond you saw earlier….looked inviting.”

“But didn’t the villagers warn her?” Frank was in shock. He was staring at a clone of Oprah Winfrey…but she looked so old. What had happened to her?

“Of course they did sir,” the nurse said, “But surely you know that strong-willed women will always be strong-willed…no matter what others try to do to dissuade them. Mizzuz Winfrey simply waited until nightfall…and then slipped away from the village.”

And then Frank knew what had happened next. She had gone for a swim…against the wishes of the villagers….in the pond. The magic pond. And then how long had it taken for her to see what had come out of the waters with her?

“So Oprah Winfrey knows about this place?” Frank asked.

“No sir,” the nurse reached out to stroke Irza’s hair, “When the villagers found out what Mizzuz Winfrey was doing, they came to the pond and ‘persuaded’ her to get out. Of course, Mizzuz Winfrey took it all wrong….she and her entire group left. No money…no school….nothing. And then….soon after….”

She looked down at Irza. She didn’t finish her sentence…..she didn’t have to. Frank knew what had come springing to the surface of the waters. The village had their own version of Oprah Winfrey to keep them company.

Just then Irza gave a moist, meaty cough that made Frank’s chest hurt just to hear. The nurse stepped forward with a cloth and wiped the old woman’s mouth. She offered Irza a glass of water but it was refused.

Her body is old, Frank thought, but her eye is as sharp as a hawk’s eye.

For some strange reason, Frank felt as though he should bow. He knelt forward and tipped his head in the direction of Irza.

She didn’t speak but only lifted her hand. The song changed into “God Bless the Child.” Yet again, it was Billie Holiday singing. Frank didn’t notice any speakers anywhere. The music seemed to be coming from the very air around him.

“Mizzuz Irza welcomes you…you who are most favored,” the young nurse said, not leaving her post behind Irza’s chair.

“Why thank you,” Frank said, “It is a pleasure to finally meet Miss Irza.”

The nurse held up her hand to silence Frank. He watched as she cocked her head to one side as though she was listening to someone speak directly into her ear.
“Mizzuz Irza says that you have come a long way,” the nurse continued, “She says that you are looking for something.”

Frank thought to himself about this strange journey that he had been taking. It seemed like it was months ago when he had landed in Brazil…on a mission by the Gaia Corporation. He knew that he was expected to find something…but he just didn’t know what. And now….would Janet Jones find it before him?

Irza’s hand flew up once again. The song changed. This time it was Billie Holiday singing “It Had to Be You.”

“Mizzuz Irza says that you are the one who are destined to find it,” the nurse said. Frank wondered what was stranger: the fact that the nurse was getting mental messages from the old woman or the fact that he didn’t find this in the least bit strange.

“But what is it?” Frank asked, wanting to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

“I can’t say sir,” the nurse said, “Mizzuz Irza won’t say. I just keep getting images of fire…hot fire….that leaps out at me. It….it scares me sir.”

Irza’s hand flew up once more. It wasn’t Billie Holiday this time. Frank recognized the song as “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie.

“Oh sir!” the nurse exclaimed, bending down to wipe Irza’s brow with a cool cloth, “Mizzuz Irza just told me that you have to hurry! The other one…the one named Mizzuz Jones…is on the right path. You have to hurry….you will find it….tomorrow!”

“But I don’t even know what I’m looking for!” Frank demanded angrily. He stared hard and deep at Irza. She wasn’t moving. Her skin was sagging with age. Her hair was a white, wiry mess. And what was with that eye? The other one stared at him with a ferocious strength that somehow kept him from running toward her and demanding answers to all of his questions.

Until next week……class dismissed!