HOWL
Daniel Navarro



I never saw what happened, I didn't even react.
Suddenly my body took on a mind of its own and leaped up in the air while the horizon turned into a kaleidoscope of blue to green to brown before my eyes.

She fell along with me, both of us helpless.
Her screams were my only indication that something was terribly wrong before another burst of noise silenced her and she disappeared through the foliage.
Never passed thru my mind that her maternal instincts and treatments to me were forever disappeared from that point on.
Something unpleasant was happening to my body, it seemed as though a hot wire had been pushed between my ribs.
My fall appeared in slow motion as I fell towards the earth.
Time appeared to stop until I finally heard voices and felt myself being dragged, I remember hearing yells before fainting.


Did day break or did I wake up? I'm confused.
My side hurts.
Escape is foremost on my mind, I look upwards but the effort makes me sick.
Fingers to my ribs tell me that the blood has dried forming a scab. I don't hear any familiar sounds, I'm lost.
The smell of this place is repulsive and when I try to move ropes hold me tight.
Battered and bruised, my aching body feels like it did once after a three against one fight with me on the losing end.
That time I was able fight back.
My eyes are out of focus and I'm thirsty.
This is a strange jail.
Outside I hear voices.
The different tones tell me that there are probably several of them.
Someone walks in looks me over and kicks me in the face.
There's no way to fight back with this rope around my neck.
A different voice approaches and an exchange of sounds takes place.
I don't understand.
The new voice is gentle yet insistent.
My attacker leaves, there are no more voices now but I can feel the gentle one is still near me. I tremble with fear.


Later that night, things quiet down and I sense someone approaching.
A soft voice soothes me.
It continues to speak as careful hands free my neck and turning my body towards the open door urgently push me out.
I look at the smiling moon in silence, puzzled, not believing that my body is free.
Taking a few weak steps I cringe, expecting blows to rain down on me, in the background that voice continues, now urgent and insistent, pushing me away.
Afraid I almost bolt back but my instinct takes over and I head into the darkness of the forest.
Soon the repulsive odor falls behind and is replaced by the fresh smell of vegetation around me.
Free!


With difficulty I climb a tree, my wound is starting to hurt badly, and find a large branch on which to rest.
The branches hide my presence, yet still afraid I welcome the dawn mist as it begins to form and rise.
Looking around slowly I try to understand where I am, see something I recognize.


My movements are slow as I turn in the dim light to explore the area hoping to find familiar landmark to point me in the right direction.
Nothing.
Gripping the tree branches I start to move higher up hoping the rising sun will show me where to go.


Three days later, far from that place of frightening sounds my anxiety began to subside.
There had been few safe paths to travel and most of the trees were cut down making movement dangerous and difficult.

On the third day I heard something which excited me: a howl.
Even though it sounded far away I tried to answer but I was still too weak and the cries died in my chest.
Despite the silence I felt happy and eager to continue on my way.
Several hours later howls began to resonate powerfully around me, I knew they were close.
I howled in return and this time their answer was immediate the sound raising the hairs on my black face with pure joy.


With renewed strength I leaped headlong towards the sound careless of which branches I grabbed.
Joy flooded through my body.
My wounded side still hurt but the blood and fur had matted into a protective scab.
I would heal.



Leaving a growing silence behind them, a group of graceful howler monkeys vanishes into the forest followed by stream of morning light filtering through the trees forming delicate prisms that fall in rainbow colored cascades.


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Translated by Louis Claveria.