Starfields Read Online Free

field. Because the burst changes the earth’s rotation, great catastrophes can occur.
    “‘According to Mayan beliefs, the world is now entering the starfields.’” Here Alicia broke off to say, “The starfields is a special place at the heart of all the stars.” She waved a hand at the sky, then looked down at the book again. “‘The earth will meet the next burst of galactic energy on December 21, 2012, the date when the Mayan calendar ends.’”
    Alicia set down the book. “Now do you believe me?”
    Rosalba hadn’t been listening carefully. She was awash in shame at not knowing how to read, and the words had flown past her. Alicia was obviously very good at reading. How could she want a friend who didn’t know how?
    To Rosalba’s relief, Alicia closed the book and set it aside, saying, “Let’s make a Mayan pyramid.”
    “For the frogs,” said Rosalba.
    “Yes, for the frogs.”
    They stood up and began to gather stones. As Rosalba worked, piling small rocks into her apron, Alicia’s confusing words swarmed back into her mind. Finally, she asked, “
Which
Mayans know about the end of the calendar? No one in my family knows.”
    Alicia hesitated, staring up into the tall pines. At last she said, “Maybe the ancient ones.”
    “But the ancient ones didn’t write those kinds of words,” Rosalba protested. She’d seen pictures of the swirly glyphs from old temples.
    Alicia brushed off her hands, saying, “What’s important is that our planet is traveling with the other planets from the Milky Way. When the earth gets into the starfields, a big light is going to shoot our sun.”
    Rosalba glanced toward the sun dropping through the trees.
    “The light will make the sun act so crazy it might kill the earth,” Alicia went on.
    “The earth can’t die.”
    “Why not?”
    “It just can’t.” A sharp rock scratched Rosalba’s palm.
    “The frogs are dying, aren’t they?”
    Rosalba shrugged. “I haven’t
seen
any dying.”
    “Come to our camp, then.”
    Although Rosalba didn’t want to see dying frogs, seeing the green tents up close sounded like fun.
    Alicia turned to the pile of rocks they’d collected, saying, “We can make a pyramid just like on the cover of the book.”
    “Let’s build the pyramid next to the house,” Rosalba suggested. Though some of the sticks had been knocked out of place, perhaps by a curious animal, the little structure still stood.
    They laid a solid square for the base, the rocks clattering softly. The stream murmured, and soft patches of light fell onto the forest floor.
    They put down fewer rocks for the next layer, fewer still for the next, building a cone shape.
    As Rosalba worked, questions still wound through her mind. Who
had
written that book? In the end, it was all just words, wasn’t it? The words weren’t even words spoken by a shaman. Nor were they the words of the holy Bible the priest read from in the white-steepled church in town. Was all that Alicia had read true or not?
    “Ta-da!” said Alicia as Rosalba balanced one rock on the tip top of the pyramid.
    Rosalba stepped back to inspect their work. When Alicia held up the book, the little pyramid looked lumpy compared to the picture on the cover.
    “We should name this place,” said Alicia.
    “It’s quiet here,” said Rosalba slowly. “There’s lots of frogs.”
    “How about Frog Land?”
    “Or Frog Heaven?”
    “That’s it!” Alicia clapped.
    Rosalba smiled. Alicia could read, but
she’d
come up with the name.
    “Next time,” said Alicia, tucking the book under her arm, “I’ll take you to our camp. I’ll show you the frogs. I’ll read you more about the prophesy.”

One day when Mauruch gives me a handful of dried mushrooms to chew, I vomit. Nonetheless, before my entrails can spew the potion out, the essence enters me.
    This time I see the priests with their great feathered headdresses stripping a man of his clothes. The man does not resist; his eyes are dazed, as if