To the west of Amaru’s village was a large city. Amaru had heard of the fascinations to be found there, and one day he decided to go and see for himself.
When Amaru arrived in the city, there was of course so much to see that he could barely take it all in. He soon became tired and wandered into a large building. There in the foyer, it was cool and rather dim, especially after the blinding sunlight outside.
Near the entrance there was another door that seemed to be very popular. Hoping it would lead to a place where he could rest, Amaru entered.
But to his astonishment he found himself in a tiny room that immediately began to move! Suddenly aware of a weakness in the knees, Amaru put his palms against the treacherous wall behind him. He darted looks at the others in the room, but no one seemed to be concerned. Then the doors opened, and some of the people went out, and some new people came in. Before Amaru could escape, however, the door closed again.
Since no injury seemed imminent, Amaru settled back, and presently began to enjoy the sensation. The elevator (for such it was) again stopped and discharged passengers, and this time Amaru made no move to leave. Then, the room began to descend, but Amaru was unaware of this; he only knew he felt a different sensation, not unpleasant.
Amaru just sat back on his heels in the back of the elevator, enjoying his ride. After a while, he began to wonder why the others rode for such a short time and then went out, instead of having a proper ride, as he was. What was there to see and do on the other side of that door?
Finally Amaru decided to find out. The next time the door opened, he accompanied the others who were leaving and found himself in an enormous place of wonder!
Music poured from the walls, the floors, the ceilings. Sometimes everything was bathed in an orange light, then it changed to blue, and then to green. The hundreds of milling, colourfully dressed people seemed to have nothing to do; they just strolled about, chatting, or thinking, or looking at the many beautiful plants that were set about everywhere. He could smell food. A huge fountain splashed somewhere, for he could hear it between the pauses in the music.
He stayed there for a very long time, and, finally satisfied, he decided to go home. But now a problem arose. For there were many doors like the one he came from. Which was the right one?
He asked a young man nearby, and the fellow said, blankly, “Home?” and walked away. He next went up to an old woman who was contentedly munching sweets, and she said, “Home?” and popped another candy into her mouth.
So Amaru chose a door at random, and when it opened he went in, and when it opened again, he went out.
He now found himself in a new place of fascination. Again, music, food, lights, hundreds of people. In this place there were cages containing fierce tigers, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Amaru stayed even longer, here. He had never seen such exotic animals. But eventually he began to think about going home, and again asked, and again they said, with a blank expression, “Home?”
So, wearily, he chose another door, went in, went out, and found himself in another place. But fascinating and different as it was from the other places, now all Amaru could think about was getting back home again. So right away he tried another door, and again found himself in a different place. He was about to leave again when his eye fell on a small child who was regarding him calmly and with an intelligent eye. On an impulse Amaru went over to her and asked his question.
“Oh, yes,” she replied gravely, “I can show you.” She took Amaru’s hand and went to one of the doors. Once inside the elevator, she stood on tiptoe and pushed one of the many buttons on the wall. The elevator stopped almost at once, and Amaru moved to the door, but the child said, “No, not yet!” Then the elevator stopped again, and she led him from the little room.
They stepped out into the foyer of the building Amaru had entered so long ago. He could see the door he had come in by, and as soon as he had exited, he
could see the road that led home. He turned to thank the little girl, but she was no longer there.
