Chapter Five: Smurf's Story
The Smurf led Brainy back to the tree with the smurfberry bushes beside it. When he saw the zipper-like scar of bark that had closed the entrance to his old home, Smurf stopped short.
"Great Smurfs!" he exclaimed. "I guess we'll have to picnic in the open. My house seems to have been swallowed up by its own tree!" He walked over to the smurfberry bushes and smiled. "Well, at least Smurf's seeds grew. We can have some of these smurfy berries to go with our meal. Have you ever tried these before, Brainy?" he asked his guest.
Brainy stared at him incredulously. "Of course I have. These are smurfberries! Everysmurf eats smurfberries! They are our most important food, one might say the staple of our diet." Noticing he had the Smurf's full attention, Brainy puffed out into lecture mode. "There are over four hundred different recipes that have smurfberries as their main ingredient. In fact, I wrote them all out in a book once: Four Hundred and One Smurfy Recipes by Brainy Smurf. Unfortunately, no smurf was very interested." He looked thoughtful. "I still can't understand it. I suppose some Smurfs are just too set in their ways to try something new, even if the new way is better."
"You mean, your way," said Smurf with a twinkle in his eye.
Brainy looked at him. "So, what's wrong with that? If my way's better, shouldn't they go with that?"
Smurf hid a smile. He felt he liked this young Smurf. He was a bit arrogant, but for all that there was something likable about him. He had an innocent kind of openness about him, something Smurf had never encountered among the other Smurfs he had met on his travels. Even the nicest of them had seemed a little brusque and impatient with his company. This young Smurf seemed grateful for it.
"That's very interesting, Brainy," he said. "But, I'm afraid my resources are limited at the moment so we can't try out any of your recipes. Let's just pick some of these berries. They're very good by themselves. I'm hungry, aren't you?"
"Well, come to think of it," said Brainy, "I could do with some refreshment. I've had a most unsmurfy afternoon. A handful or two of fresh smurfberries could be just what I need to smurf me back up."
The two Smurfs sat on the grass by the riverbank and started munching companionably on the fat, red berries. After a time, the older Smurf reached into the bag he had been carrying on his back and pulled out a small bundle of seeds. "These are the last of my supplies," he said, taking a few and holding the bundle out to Brainy. "I knew I'd get back home today."
Brainy took some and nodded his thanks. "But, if your house is gone now, what are you going to do?"
Smurf sat back and looked happily at the rushing water, glittering in the late afternoon sunlight. "I guess I'll just have to smurf myself a new one!" He turned to Brainy. "If you're going to be around for a few days, I could really smurf your help."
Brainy felt uncomfortable again. He was starting to like this Smurf. There was something kind and familiar about him. Despite all his nerves and caution, he could feel himself starting to trust him. He wanted to help this Smurf rebuild his home. He wanted to stay and learn about his adventures in this strange world of the distant past. This was a fascinating, once in a lifetime opportunity. If he wrote a book on this, some of the other Smurfs in his village might actually listen to it. They might even come around and actually ask him for a copy. They might-if he ever got back home. He had to face the possibility that he might never see his village again. In that case, it would be best to make as many friends in this time as possible. But first, he had to decide whether he should tell this Smurf the truth about himself and his presence here. Maybe this Smurf had learned something during his travels that could help him. He wished Papa Smurf was here so he could ask him what was best.
"You told me you've been traveling for the last three hundred years," said Brainy after a long pause. "If you weren't traveling for its own sake, you must have had a reason, a reason big enough to make you leave your home, perhaps never to return. What was it?"
The Smurf looked at him, acknowledging the way he had changed the subject away from himself, then picked up one of his roughly made books from the small pile he had been carrying with him.
"Ever since I was a little Smurfling, growing up all alone in this forest, I have wondered about the existence of others like me. I noticed that all the other creatures and plants around me were individuals in a much larger population of similar life forms. I was all alone, one of a kind. I had the idea in my head that I was a Smurf, and that it was my duty to watch over and protect my forest, but I knew nothing more than that. When I was younger, I used to walk for miles and miles to observe the workings of the small human town at the edge of my forest. I used to imagine a village of Smurfs where each one worked for the other and no smurf was ever lonely. But, the village I had in mind would not be like a human town. It would be more like a family. A family of Smurfs, living and working together. But I knew deep down that this was just a dream. There were no others like me.
"Then, one day when I was about one hundred years old, I was cornered by a poisonous snake. I truly thought I was going to be killed. Suddenly, out of nowhere, came this Smurf in yellow clothes. He had a golden beard and a very large hiking stick. He jumped right onto the snake's head, just as it was about to lunge for me, and knocked it cold. Well, we got to talking, and he told me that there were many other Smurfs in the world, in many different countries. In times of danger, they even got together and, when they did, they could ward off even the most evil of magical spells.
"I had never known Smurfs had magical abilities before. But, then I started thinking back to when I was just a little Smurfling. I had been able to do amazing things then to ward off owls and foxes and other animals that would have loved to gobble me up before I had the chance to grow up. These powers had been purely instinctive, however, and had faded as I grew older and became better able to take care of myself. Now, I started to wonder whether they were truly gone after all. Perhaps, they were buried deeper now. All I would have to do would be to learn how to use them again.
"After the other Smurf had gone, I decided I had to leave my home, to find out all I could about Smurfs and their abilities. I traveled for many years without seeing one Smurf. I crossed mountains and rivers, some so wide I had to sometimes ask a friendly bird for a lift across. Still, I had no luck. Just as I was about to give up and go back home, I came across a small hole in the ground. I could hear a hammering sound from inside. Curious, I crawled in. There, I saw an amazing sight. A Smurf of just about my age was there, hacking away at the stone wall of the hole. A small, seed-oil lamp lit the cramped space, and in one corner I could see a small pile of glittering stones.
"This Smurf was a bit gruff when I interrupted his work, but he took the time to talk to me and to answer some of my questions. He said he cared nothing for magic or for other Smurfs, that his life was devoted to collecting and hoarding these pretty stones. But, he did tell me that there was an old elf who lived in a glade not far from there. After a bit of cajoling, he even consented to take me there, though he said it was more to get me to leave him alone than to be of assistance to me.
"This elf-Lyssandra was her name-was very wise and very old. She was also very kind. She liked my curiosity and my eagerness and decided to help me learn as much as I could about Smurfs. She became my teacher, my mentor. Under her guidance, I learned a great deal about magic. I wrote down everything I learned from her in these books." He patted the stack beside him. "I stayed with her for nearly two hundred years. She introduced me to beings I had always thought mythical. I met Mother Nature, Father Time, even the Sandman! Mother Nature showed me how very spread out Smurfs were. There were barely five hundred of them in all the world at this time and it seemed that I was the only one who felt the desire for companionship or the curiosity required to hone my magical abilities.
"When I had learned all I could from dear old Lyssandra, she let me go exploring by myself. This time, though, I knew where I was going and I had magic to protect me. I met and talked with many more Smurfs, as well as imps, elves, pixies, and other beings that were not nearly so friendly. I'm afraid I made a few enemies during this time, as well as many friends. Finally, I returned to Lyssandra. She was very impressed with all the progress I had made and with how well I had used her teachings. At our final parting, she had me apparate us both to a cave, not far from here, where there is a pool of water so still and clear it has earned the name of the Reflecting Pool. There, she performed a spell she had often told me I was never to try-a spell for seeing into the future. I observed anxiously as she watched the Reflecting Pool reflect strange visions of things that might be. Not will be, because the future is always uncertain.
"She told me that after I left her, there would come a time of great danger to all that is Smurf. With the help of a stranger from a different time, it would be up to me to save my fellow Smurfs from total extinction. She said if I managed this, I would finally gain all that I desired. She would tell me no more than that. After a tearful farewell, she vanished, leaving me alone once more to make my way back home.
"That is my story." He turned shrewd, twinkling eyes to the young Smurf beside him. "Now, it's your turn."
Brainy had listened to all this with rapt attention, his large eyes wide with wonder. Now, he gave a start and sat up straighter.
"Well, uh, Smurf, that was really the most incredible story! I, er, suppose I could tell you a little something about how I got here." Brainy cleared his throat, trying to think how best to word this so he didn't make the Smurf even more curious about his village or Papa Smurf than he already was.
"Well, the weather this morning started out about as humid and unsmurfy as weather can possibly be. I went to the riverbank, not too far from where we're sitting now, to enjoy the breeze. While I was there, I accidentally collided with this strange little creature named Molk. He had silver-white fur, glasses almost exactly like mine, and I don't know how many greenish-black hands under it. When we collided, our glasses were knocked off and we each picked up the wrong ones. As it turned out, Molk's glasses were enchanted to smurf the wearer back in time. Before I knew it, here I was. I still have his glasses."
Brainy reached into his pocket and pulled out Molk's black-rimmed glasses. His companion reached out a curious hand and Brainy dropped the glasses into it.
"So, you're from the future," he smiled. "You were raised by another Smurf in some kind of village. That could explain why you're so much more open and sociable than the other Smurfs I've met." Brainy looked very uncomfortable. Smurf chuckled.
"Don't worry, Brainy. I won't pry any further than that into your history. I, too, fear for the continuity of the timeline." He examined Molk's glasses closely, then nodded. "Yes, this is a very strong enchantment. But, I don't believe it is irreversible." He looked around at the wild landscape and sighed. "Oh, what I wouldn't smurf for Lyssandra's lab right now. We're going to have to do some experimenting before we can find out how to make these glasses smurf you back home."
Brainy lit up like a Christmas tree. "Really!" he exclaimed. "You can make them smurf me back home!"
"It's quite possible," the older Smurf nodded thoughtfully. "Lyssandra taught me a spell once that is designed to make deep enchantments reveal themselves. If we knew just what this enchantment was, we could figure out a way to counteract it, or at least manipulate it."
Brainy beamed. "Oh, this is wonderful! Is there anything I can do to help? I'm not too bad at magic myself. In fact, I am Papa Smurf's personal assistant. Oops!" He clamped a hand over his mouth.
His companion gave him a curious look, but didn't say anything. Brainy looked sheepish behind his glasses. "I'm sorry I can't tell you about Papa Smurf," he said apologetically. "You have no idea how much I want to tell you everything. I'm really starting to like you, you know."
The older Smurf grinned. "I like you too, Brainy. You seem quite a bright young Smurf."
Brainy beamed. "Thank you! It's good to know that my abilities are obvious even to Smurfs who have only know me for a short time."
The older Smurf smirked behind his hand, then started flipping through the pages of one of his books.
Brainy stood up and went to peer over the other Smurf's shoulder. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "I know some of these spells! That's the one for creating a magical sound barrier. And there's the one for making magic wands smurf backwards!"
The other Smurf shot him another curious look, but before he could say anything they both heard a shout from the woods behind them.
"Halloo!" came the shout. "Hey, youngin', are you there? It's me, Smurf! Smurfatootie, what's happened to your house!"
Brainy's companion jumped up to his feet with a cry of excitement. "Smurf!" he cried. "I'm over here, by the riverbank!"
A middle aged Smurf with a waist-length white beard and yellow clothes walked briskly towards them from the direction of Smurf's old house. He had a well packed rucksack on his back and a sturdy hiking stick in his hand.
"Is he the Smurf that saved you from that poisonous snake?" asked Brainy with interest.
"Indeed he is, Brainy," grinned his companion. He waved to the approaching Smurf. "Over here!" he shouted. The older Smurf quickened his pace.
"Why, I never would have known you, youngin'," he said as he joined them on the riverbank. "You've grown up a lot in the past three hundred years. You've even got the start of a beard coming in, I see."
Smurf flushed deep blue. "Oh, well, I don't usually let it go so long. It's just that I was so excited to finally be going home that I didn't take the time to tend to it." He waved his hand over his face and the reddish-brown bristles faded away. He suddenly seemed years younger. The older Smurf gave a start.
"Smurfatootie, youngin'!" he exclaimed. "If I'd known how to do that years ago, I wouldn't have this bush in front of me now, believe you me!"
"I could remove it for you," the other Smurf offered.
The older Smurf shook his head. "No, don't bother with me, youngin'. I'm too used to it now. It's become part of me, if you can understand that."
The other Smurf nodded. "I think I can," he said.
The older Smurf smiled, then he turned to Brainy. When he spoke, though, he was still addressing his old friend. "So, youngin', who's the kid?"
"This is Brainy Smurf," Smurf announced. "He's come here by accident, from the future."
"You don't say," said the older Smurf with interest. He peered closely at Brainy. "You know, your voice sounds exactly like his did when I first met him. Kinda whiny." He chuckled. "Nice to know you'll grow out of it someday, eh, youngin'?"
Brainy stiffened. "My voice is not whiny!" he exclaimed. "And I'm not a kid."
The older Smurf chuckled again. "Of course you're not." He nudged the other Smurf, shooting him a wink. Brainy crossed his arms and harumphed.
"Where do you come from, youngin'?" the middle aged Smurf continued. "And, what's that thing over your eyes?"
Brainy sighed. It seemed no smurf in this time had ever seen a pair of glasses before. He was doomed to stand out as a curiosity until he somehow managed to smurf a way home.
"These are my glasses," he said, not very patiently. "I use them to see with."
"Smurf noodles!" the older Smurf exclaimed. Brainy stared at him. "You mean to say you can't see without those contraptions!"
"Yes!" Brainy exclaimed back. "Honestly, I don't see why this is such a big deal to you Smurfs. It can't be all that strange to see a Smurf with glasses, can it?"
"No need to get your feathers in a fluster, youngin'," said the middle aged Smurf. "I didn't mean no disrespect. Actually, I kinda like the idea. Lately I've noticed my eyesight's not all that it used to be. That can be dangerous when you're an old adventure Smurf like me. Maybe later, if we've got time, you could tell me how they work."
Brainy looked uncomfortable. "Well, actually-"
"Brainy doesn't plan on staying, Smurf," said the other Smurf, coming to his rescue. "And, he's very concerned about smurfing up the timeline. Perhaps, now that you're here, you could help us smurf him back home. I'm going to need several special ingredients in order to smurf the spell to get these glasses to reveal their enchantment." He held up Molk's glasses for the older Smurf to inspect.
"Spells? Enchantments? Great Smurfs, what have you been up to while I was away, youngin'?" asked the older Smurf in amazement.
"Smurf here has been very busy learning all he could about magic and about Smurfs from a kind old elf named Lyssandra," said Brainy. "Isn't that right, Smurf?"
"Yes, Brainy," said Smurf distractedly, barely glancing up from his spell book. "That's right. Why don't you get Smurf caught up with recent events while I look up this spell."
"Yes, Smurf," said Brainy importantly.
The older Smurf sighed. "Now I'm in for it," he muttered to himself. "This Smurf looks to me like the kind that just loves listening to the sound of his own voice." Trying not to look as bored as he felt, the old adventurer listened as Brainy told him all he'd need to know to help him get back home.
Just then, there came a very loud crackling thump from the forest behind them. The three Smurfs jumped and turned to each other.
"What in the world was that?" squeaked Brainy nervously.
"I dunno, youngin'," said the middle aged Smurf, pulling at a snarl in his long beard. "It sounded like something big just crashed down into the middle of the forest."
A sudden peal of rumbling laughter echoed from out of the forest. The Smurfs shivered. They had never heard such a disturbing sound.
"I don't know what that is," said the beardless Smurf nervously, "but whatever it is, it doesn't sound friendly."
Several more crackling thumps were heard. The laughter grew louder. "And," the Smurf continued with a slight tremble in his voice, "it seems to be headed this way!"