Conversations With Jack & Diane
Fire Orchid
Silhouettes in the glow of Kilauea Iki. That’s what Jack
and Diane were as they stood atop the observation deck
overlooking the world famous caldera. Molten lava festered far
below, rising steam clouds drifting south, up and over the far rim.
Diane leaned against the green colored pipe railing, her
azure eyes flashing in the blush of nature’s aura. Jack joined
her, both silent as the roiling earthblood below mezmerized them.
“Did you ever hear the legend of the fire orchid?” Jack
asked, his low, soft voice mingling poetically with the echoing hiss
of Pele.
“No,” Diane whispered, the surroundings demanding quiet
reverence. “I never have...” She raised her gaze and smiled at
Jack. “Perfect time and place to hear about it though.”
“Indeed,” Jack agreed, returning her sweet grin. “Wanna
hear?”
She nodded slowly, her long golden hair on fire in the glow of
the molten sea below.
Jack leaned against the stomach-high railing, his brown
eyes fixed on the orange flow safely roiling in the huge crater.
“More than a thousand years ago,” he began. “When this
land was ruled by magic and blood. There were those who vied
for eternal dominion over the length and breath of Hawaii.”
He moved closer to Diane, the warmth of her body so
tender next to his.
“The legend originated based on a need. That need was for
protection. Protection for the maidens used to ferry messages
between the Ali’i, or royalty, of the ancient ones.”
Jack arched his brows playfully as he smiled at Diane’s
wide-eyed interest.
“Are you sufficiently intrigued yet?” he inquired, staring into her
indigo eyes.
“Oh please go on great master storyteller,” she gushed, her
lips stretching into the most enchanting smile.
Jack leaned toward her and kissed the sweet grin.
“Anything you say milady...” And he continued the tale.
“The gods were fighting for control of the land. But more
importantly, for the control of minds. For if the mortals followed
one god, his battle would be won.”
He touched her blushing face tenderly, the warmth of the
surroundings softly coating her face with a natural sheen.
“But as with our modern need for communications, all the
gods realized that without an avenue for vital information to flow
between the warriors and their chieftains, no single clan would
ever be victorious, thusly leaving the power scattered. So in their
infinite wisdom, and singular zeal for individual control of the
entire land, the gods agreed that the maidens would be used, for
the simple reason that the men were all used-up in the fighting.
Each god concluded that in order that the contest not be mired
down in endless fighting with no hope of any one clan rising to
victory, that the channels of communications for each clan needed
to be protected, so in the end a single victor could be crowned.
And so the gamble began. The gods agreed that the maidens
should be protected against the marauding bands of warriors that
scoured the land engaging in fierce battles. Each separate clan
scheming to block the other’s communications. The warriors
fought for the gods in essence, but the immortals could hardly
control their bloodlust. And so it was decided. The maidens
would be protected.”
“So what does an orchid have to do with any of this...?”
Diane pressed anxiously.
“If you’d just be still,” Jack assured her. “I’d tell you...”
He smiled at her again. She returned the warm gesture.
“The gods knew that they needed to protect the very souls
of the maidens in order that their lives be spared. But mortal souls
were incapable of eternal existence. Therefore immortality needed
to be imbued upon the maidens without making them truly
immortal.”
“I still don’t get the connection to the fire orchid,” Diane
frowned, pursing her lips into a pout, which was becoming a habit
with her. Mostly because she knew how sexy it made her look.
“Keep your clothes on,” Jack quipped with a smile.
“Awww, do i have too?” Diane pouted yet somemore.
Jack laughed. “You better let me go on,” he warned.
“Before we both get into more trouble then we can handle.”
“Okay,” Diane agreed. “I’ll keep my clothes on than.” She
pouted one last time.
“Good,” Jack chuckled. “Now, on with the legend.” He
paused for a moment. “Where was I?” he frowned.
“The imbuing of the maidens,” Diane informed him, a wry
smirk seductively twisting her lips.
“Right,” Jack nodded, ignoring the telling grin. “So,” he
continued. “The gods needed to find some entity with an immortal
essence, which they could than tranfer, or imbue, upon the
maidens for the expressed purpose of protecting them when they
were on their communication carrying journies.”
“And how did the gods do that?” Diane prodded, the soft
smirk still dressing her handsome countenance.
Jack shrugged. “Hey, their gods. They can do anything
they want.”
“I see,” Diane nodded. “How convenient.”
“Indeed,” Jack winked. ‘Anyway, the gods imbued the
maidens with the immortal essence of the fire orchid, essentially
bestowing a defacto immortality upon them. Making them impervious
to the rampaging warriors, or anyone else for that matter.” He
couldn’t help laughing.
“I know what your thinking Di,” he chuckled. It was her turn
to wink now. He continued.
“Over the centuries, the need for communication maidens
waned. And the fire orchid passed into legend. And today, in our
modern times, it is said that if a person seeks-out and acquires a
fire orchid, and hikes that orchid to the summit of Mauna Loa
mountain. And presents that orchid, in the name of a friend, to
the gods. That that friend shall be forever protected on any
journey they might make in this world.”
“But why do they call it a fire orchid, and what is the
significance of immortality that it carries?” Diane persisted.
“Oh yeah,” Jack grinned. “I did neglect to mention that
part of it, didn’t I?”
“Yes you did sweetheart,” Diane nodded, the sheen on her
lovely face lending an almost spectral glow to her presence.
“Ok, let me think,” Jack offered. “Because you know,” he
pointed out. “I’m making this up as I go.” He laughed. “Just
kidding love.” He pondered for a moment. “Now let me see. Oh
yeah,” he finally remembered. “The orchid is called a fire orchid
because it is the only thing that can grow upon the desolate
expanses of the ancient, barren fire fields. Or as they are known
today, lava fields.” He cleared his throat, the rising sulphur fumes
inflaming his palate. “And even the orchid,” he continued, “is a
rarity upon the forlorn landscapes of the once molten terrain. But
when the gods see fit, they allow an orchid to take root upon the
jagged, wretched lands. It grows not of fertive means, but instead
by the means of immortal essence. And not even the deadness of
the fire fields can dissuade it from rising like a flame of flickering
red upon the black of the fire fields.”
“I take it the orchid is red?” Diane injected, her expression
claiming a hint of skepticism in the whole of Jack’s outlandish
though entertaining little tale.
“White actually,” he qualified. “With blood red edges.
And when the wind blows across the fields, the orchids seem to be
alive with a flickering flame.” He winked again. “And for those
reasons, they are called the fire orchids.”
“And if I wanted to find one?” Diane probed. “Where
would I go?”
“To an ancient lava field silly,” he answered. “Of course
the odds of finding one are almost zero. Unless you know exactly
where and when to look.”
“And I’ll just bet that you do, don’t you Jack?”
“But of course,” he quipped. “I’ve hiked a total of three
fire orchids to Mauna Loa’s summit in my forty years.”
“Really?” Diane exhorted. “For whom?” she queried.
“I could tell you,” Jack nodded. “But than I’d have to kill
you...” He laughed as he turned away from the crater and leaned
his back against the hard green railing. “Part of the requirement of
the legend is that you not impart the name of the person
protected.” He shrugged. “Hey, I don’t make the rules.” He threw
his hands up in submission.
“Indeed,” Diane smiled. She moved close to him. “I think
that the legend is kinda sexy, if you think about it. I mean, I don’t
know much about lava fields and all, but I do know that they can
be very dangerous places. And for someone, a man let’s say, too
risk his life upon the potentially deadly fields. What with lava
tubes that can shred a person to ribbons. If a man did that for me,
I’d think it very sexy indeed.” She raised her face to Jack’s,
awaiting his response.
“Your exactly right,” he agreed. “But that is all part of the
formula. One needs to be extremely committed to the person in
order to risk personal peril in the pursuit of the fire orchid. And
the gods appreciate such commitment.”
“Indeed,” Diane repeated. She held his gaze,
communicating without words.
Jack held her cerulean brilliance for a long moment.
“Yes Diane,” he finally acknowledged. “I would trek a fire
orchid for you. And it would be the honor of my life to do so...”
She smiled slowly. “And I’d do the same for you sweet
friend.”
He nodded. “I know love,” he intoned slowly, each word
filled with the knowledge of her pledge.
They both turned back toward the roiling caldera, feasting
on the fiery display of nature. Content with the love of friendship
that existed between them...
The End
Unpublished Works © 1997 GJB
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