The Minstrel's Path
Part 26
by Kim McFarland

The Minstrels had been traveling north for some time. They had started soon after the thaw, and now…well, it was hard to tell what time of year it was. It seemed like it should have been warmer. The farther north they journeyed, the cooler the overall climate became. That was why they had started out when they did. They wanted to arrive during the warmest part of the year.

When the Minstrels reached an underground river, Cantus and Murray stopped and stared, puzzling the other Minstrels. Brio asked, "What's wrong?"

Murray said, "There's a bridge."

Cantus asked, "Who built it?"

Murray tested it with his foot, as if to assure himself that it was real. The wood creaked slightly but held firm. He said, "Either or. Maybe both."

"Both would have to agree to it," Cantus said.

Murray nodded. He told Brool, Brio, and Balsam, "This river is kind of a dividing line between territories. Before, any bridge over it was temporary, little more than a sturdy board, and it was always taken away when it wasn't being used. This one's built to last. Looks like things have changed since we left."

Instead of crossing the bridge, they turned east and entered another tunnel. When they could hear voices in the distance Cantus took the Magic Pipe out of the bindings of his backpack. The others took their cue, except for Murray, who already had his guitar in hand. Cantus stopped and gestured Murray forward. They looked at each other for a moment, then Murray nodded and took the lead, playing his guitar. Cantus followed, playing softly on the pipe.

They entered a long gallery. More lanky, green-furred creatures like Murray had been drawn by the music. They looked at them in amazement—but not alarm or hostility. Things had changed. Cantus remembered the way they had eyed him at first, so long ago. Warlike Fraggle, beware of it! But the children hadn't known any better, and had listened to his music, and stopped being afraid. And by now they were grown up and had children of their own.

When they finished Murray spoke. None of the others could understand what he said; it was another language, full of vowel sounds and hums. The other creatures there were momentarily startled. Then they started grinning. One snickered.

Puzzled, Murray said, "What's so funny?"

Another Pisca answered, "Your accent. You talk like a Fraggle."

Murray shrugged. "Oh, yeah. Well, that happens when you travel with a Fraggle for half a lifetime." He gestured at the rest of the troupe. "We are The Minstrels. We travel throughout the Rock, playing our music for all."

"M'rray?" another Pisca asked.

He looked at her. She looked different, but he knew the voice. Edrra. He said, "Yes. It's been a while."

"I did not think you would still be alive."

"Well, I am."

She looked uneasy. He could guess why. The obvious subject made him uncomfortable too, so he changed it. "The bridge. Who built it?"

Cantus, guessing that Murray would be a while, started playing his pipe softly. The others joined in, giving the other Pisca something to listen to.

She answered, "We and the Fraggles did. We trade things."

"That's great."

"M'rray, have you returned?"

She didn't have to say that as if it would be a calamity, did she? "No. I'm only visiting. My home is with The Minstrels. We travel." He glanced over at the Minstrels.

"You have no real home? Or family?"

She looked as if she pitied him! He said, "Where they are, that's my home. They are my family. Cantus is my brother-found."

She shook her head. "A Fraggle? I don't understand, M'rray."

"You never did. That makes both of us." He said wryly. "Smile. Listen to the music. Forget the past. I have."

"That's the wisest thing you've ever said."

Some things don't change. He said, "You have a mate now?"

"Yes. And children."

"Then why worry about me?" He walked back to the Minstrels and joined their tune.

After they finished Murray said in a low voice to Cantus, "How about we move on."

"So soon?"

"Yeah."

Something was bothering Murray. Cantus nodded.

In the twisty tunnel leading to the river, Cantus asked, "Who was the one who mispronounced your name?"

"She wasn't mispronouncing it. That's my name. M'rray."

Surprised, Cantus said, "Mray?"

"No. M'rray."

"All this time I've been mispronouncing it? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Heh. You say it with a Fraggle accent, that's all."

Cantus tried again. "Mrray."

"No, no. That sounds weird coming from you. I'm used to Murray, so let's stick with that, okay?"

"All right." A person had the right to decide what they would be called, Cantus told himself. Still, he was not happy to learn that he had been mispronouncing his closest friend's name all along.

"Anyway, they built the bridge together, and they trade now."

"That's wonderful."

"It certainly is a change."

"Why did you want to leave so soon?"

Murray stopped walking and sighed. He could just tell Cantus that it was none of his business, and the Fraggle would accept that and move on. But he really didn't want to keep secrets. "She was someone in my life."

Cantus looked at him, puzzled. He had never mentioned her before.

Murray went on, "All right, she was my mate, long ago. All Pisca are supposed to be paired off, that's just the way it is. She and I, well, it wasn't the best match. We didn't hate it, but, well, there just wasn't anything there. We probably would have been good friends if we'd been just friends. When I left it was a relief for both of us. Oh, don't look at me like that, it's not like we had children."

"You left your mate to travel with me?" Cantus said in disbelief.

"Yep. And I don't regret a minute of it," Murray said firmly. "And it freed her up to find someone else and get on with her life, so it was best for everybody."

They looked at each other for a moment. Then Cantus said, "Crazy Pisca."

Murray smiled. "Yeah. Let's move on."

When they got close to the Fraggle colony Cantus paused. A familiar scent led him to a cluster of pointy-capped, spongelike mushrooms. He picked one and, looking at it closely, said, "I haven't seen one of these since we went south." He bit in. It tasted as good as he remembered, and brought back surprisingly vivid memories.

The other Minstrels looked at the mushrooms. Brio and Balsam each picked one and sampled it. They found the taste pleasant enough. Brool didn't bother; the scent didn't appeal to him. Murray had tried these once, long ago, and knew he didn't like them.

The Minstrels made their way to the Fraggle Colony. Cantus closed his eyes as he walked, playing the Magic Pipe. Music and memories guided him back to the place where he was born.

The acoustics changed. Now they were in an open cavern. He could hear the echoes of the music off distant stone walls, and the soft sounds made by many attentive Fraggles. He opened his eyes and saw the Deep Gallery, exactly the same as it had been when he grew up here, the same as it had been for millions of days and would be for millions of days to come. He lowered his pipe and began to sing,
"Music grows in the rose,
Rock and rain and the blowin' snowstorm.
Everything seems to sing
Everywhere I go..."

Murray could hear the passion in Cantus's voice. He really was keyed up. Well, no wonder, he thought, and sang along with him.

When they finished the song Cantus raised a hand, palm outward, in salute and said, "Hail, Fraggles. We are the Minstrels. We travel throughout the Rock, bringing together its peoples with music. We have traveled to the south, to the east, and to the west, and now we are here in the north."

"What are you?"

The question was asked not out of suspicion, but in honest curiosity. "I am Cantus, and I was born in this colony. This is Murray, who came from the Pisca colony on the other side of the bridge. From the south come Brool, who is of the Ainu; Balsam, of the Thrumb; and Brio, a southern Fraggle. Though we come from different peoples, we sing our songs together."

"Can we sing with you?" asked a young, eager Fraggle.

"Absolutely. All of you are invited to join in the music, because the music belongs to all of us!"

They played and sang for some time. It was a little like a Fraggle Medley; the Minstrels provided the idea of the song, and the colony's Fraggles built on it and made it their own. Stone soup music, Murray called it. It went on for a long time, and wound down only because the participants had sung themselves out for the time being and wanted rest and food.

A Fraggle came up and spoke slowly and deliberately to Murray. It sounded like gibberish to Cantus. Murray's eyes widened. He replied.

Though Cantus had no idea what they were saying, he understood now. This Fraggle had learned to speak Pisca—or was still learning, from the careful way he spoke—and wanted to show off his skill. Cantus smiled. The bridge was not only over the river. The bridge was in people's minds as well.

"Jago?"

An old Fraggle, his fur and hair pale with age, came up to the Minstrels. He sat on a boulder and looked at Cantus. "Jago, is that you?"

Cantus had not recognized him until he spoke. "Tunesmith?"

The old Fraggle waved a hand. "No longer. Cheel is now the Tunesmith. I've taken back my name. Shonky. Call me that."

"I'm happy to see you again," Cantus said warmly.

Shonky smiled and nodded. He said, "You did it, didn't you? I never really understood what you were trying to do, but it looks like this is it."

Cantus sat beside him. "We are all part of the world. Our differences are not as important as our similarities. Music is our common ground, and that is why we travel throughout the Rock."

Shonky studied him, then said, "It makes no sense to me, but not much does these days. If that is your calling and you're happy, then I'm glad."

Gently Cantus said, "I want to leave the world a better place than I found it. If our music can bring people together, I will have succeeded."

Shonky nodded "You…you took a new name, didn't you? I'm sorry, I don't remember it."

Cantus was unoffended. It was normally an insult to call someone by a childhood name rather than their chosen name, but he could not blame Shonky for being forgetful. "Yes. My name is Cantus."

"Cantus. Cantus," the old Fraggle repeated, trying to commit it to memory. "Where do you live now?"

"We travel the rock."

"Don't you have a home? A colony, a family?"

Cantus smiled. This was the one point that most people found hardest to believe. "The Rock is our home, and we Minstrels are a family. The colonies we visit welcome us."

"Still, it's a shame, never even having children."

Cantus chuckled. "I have sired fifteen children in twelve colonies. Two of them have children of their own."

That startled Shonky. "Fifteen children? And I thought music was the only thing on your mind."

Cantus heard a stifled laugh from Murray. Calmly he said, "It is an honor I have been given many times."

Shonky shook his head. "I don't know when you found time for music. You certainly will have made the world a better populated place than you found it."

Cantus merely nodded. There was no malice behind Shonky's remarks. Shonky started to say something, then looked curiously at Cantus. "Jago…I was going to say something…" He shook his head. "My memory is bad. I can remember things that happened when I was young, but not what I'm talking about." He laughed apologetically. "That's what happens when you live a long time."

"At least you still have your flute."

"No," Shonky said, shaking his head. "I retired many, many days ago."

Cantus was shocked wordless for a moment. He said, "You were the Tunesmith!"

Gently Shonky said, "That was my job. When it came time for me to retire, I was glad to put down my flute. Not everybody lives and breathes music, Jago."

Cantus felt a tightness in his chest. How could the Tunesmith have given up on music? He had shaped Cantus's skills, challenged and frustrated him back when that was what he had needed to set him on his path. Cantus could not imagine wanting to live without singing and playing music. Music was life itself!

But, he told himself, that was not true for everyone. Even his old master could tire of making music. Cantus must accept that. He said, "I would like to play for you, Tunesmith."

"I'm retired. Cheel is the Tunesmith now," Shonky told him.

"You were my Tunesmith. If you will call me Jago, I will call you that."

"You took a new name…" He searched his memory.

"May I play for you?"

"Yes. I like to listen, at least."

Cantus sat on the stone floor in front of Shonky, legs crossed, like a student in front of his teacher. He raised the Magic Pipe and began to play.

Murray looked over. He recognized that tune, though he had only heard it once, over half a lifetime ago. The other Minstrels, assuming this to be a cue, laid hands on their instruments, but Murray held out a hand, stopping them. This was a private moment between Cantus and his erstwhile mentor.

Shonky closed his eyes and listened to the pleasant tune. When Cantus finished Shonky said, "You play beautifully."

"Do you remember that song?" Cantus asked.

"My memory is bad. I'm sorry. I may have heard it before, but I don't know where."

"When I first brought Murray to visit this colony, Fraggles weren't friendly with Pisca. When we came in, we played this tune, Murray on his guitar and me on my pipe. People stared at us, not sure what to do about the outsider I had brought into our home. Then you came over and, on your flute, joined with us. If you hadn't done that, things might have turned out very differently. I am grateful."

Shonky paused a long time. Then he whispered. "I wish I could remember that. I'm glad that it happened."

Cantus said, "You taught me everything you could, and you trusted and supported me even when you didn't understand. You did not have the answers I was looking for, and because of that, I went out and found my own answers. That was not what I wanted, but it was what I needed. Thank you."

Murray came over. He said, "Thanks from me too. I remember the day you played with us too."

Shonky smiled. "You're welcome, both of you. Jago, you said you both played it. Would you both play it now?"

"Of course," Cantus answered.

Murray sat beside Cantus, guitar in his lap. "Sure thing."

Shonky closed his eyes and listened. He still could not recall that day, he thought he could hear a flute in the distance of time.

Fraggle Rock and all characters except Edrra and Shonky are copyright © The Jim Henson Company and are used without permission but with much respect and affection. Edrra, Shonky, and the overall story are copyright © Kim McFarland (negaduck9 at aol dot com). Permission is given by the author to copy it for personal use only.