Fiction

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Chapter I                        The Herald's Message       

      Felix, sixteen, lived in Siloh. All his life, the city was all he knew. He couldn't imagine life beyond its lovely borders. But he was not alone because few people had ever left the city.

     However, strange heralds of a king from beyond the city's borders and the sea, who, according to the heralds, was responsible for building the city, were telling the people of Siloh that the king was angry, angry that people were using his city who did not acknowledge him, angry that his son, who supposedly visited Siloh, had been rejected. Nevertheless, Felix had only heard rumors of these heralds. He had never seen or heard any of them himself, his father and mother had, but not him. And from what his parents said, these men were fools, heralding incredible fairy-tales not worth listening to. Still, despite what they said, Felix had not been at ease ever since this was brought to his attention. Maybe this king and his son were only fairy tales, not deserving of any merit, but what if it was true and they did exist, and really were angry? Was he ready to take such risk? He wasn't so sure anymore.

     While walking through the busy market place, at the town square he saw a man on a white horse with a scroll in his hand at the heart of an enormous crowd. Felix cut through the people and came within hearing range: "Oh people of Siloh!" he heard. "The king can no longer put up with your disobedience and wickedness! His majesty has sent many of his servants to you, but instead of listening and obeying the orders of his majesty, which he sends through his servants, you mistreat and murder them!"

     "Why should we obey a king we have never seen?" someone from the crowd shouted.        

     "Why? I will tell you why fool! Because this is his city-"

     "Prove it!" another man cried. "How do we know he built the city?-Assuming he does exist."

     "A foolish question. The intricacies of the city testify to his lordship. Look at the great stone buildings or bridges or even the well-designed cement floors in the market place, which you take for granted! Which of your builders could accomplish such awesome works of art?"

     No one said anything for a while, but, all of a sudden, a man spoke out. Felix immediately recognized him as one of the city's top philosopher, respected by all. "You claim that these works were built by your invisible king," he said, "but there is another explanation." Everyone suddenly became silent, listening attentively to the man speak, because, as was mentioned already, he was a well-respected philosopher. "My brethren," he shouted, "this man has come among us proclaiming a king foreign to us, to our parents and to their parents. Furthermore, he claims that his king carved these structures, when, in fact, they are obviously the result of millions of years of erosion and other natural causes. The oldest people among us will tell you that they can't even remember a time when this city and its buildings weren't around. Even their parents would have attested to this. Do not hearken unto him, brethren!"

     Felix stood there amazed by the man's explanation, wondering how the herald would respond, but the herald sat on his horse undaunted. "As I made my way through the streets of Siloh," he said, "I saw some remarkable homes. It is obvious that this city contains some of the greatest architects that ever lived among common man." The people clapped and cheered at his statement. The herald waited until they stopped then he continued. "But as great as your architectural work might appear, when compared to the stone halls along with the buildings and bridges the king designed, your works appear to be nothing more than atrocious accidents!

     "Would you have believed me if I told you that these beautiful buildings you built were built by animals? No, and yet you are willing to believe that my king's creations, which surpasses your creations by so much, are merely accidents? You close-minded and ignorant people!

     "Behold people of Siloh!" he shouted with all his might. "My lord the king has declared judgment upon you, and the only escape is a refuge built by his son, prince Diamond, on mount Kabab. For the brave and honorable who take this journey, I warn you, it will not be easy. There will be all sorts of obstacles in your way to prevent you from reaching the Sanctuary. There will be bloodthirsty wolves, giants, thieves, and others too horrible to even mention, and, unfortunately, only a few will reach the Sanctuary.

     "But for those who reach it, they will be made governors and magistrates, judges and kings in the new kingdom to come, ruling with our lord prince Diamond for the rest of their days. But for the cowardly and the unlawful, the king will come and lay waste to your precious city, and throw every single one of you in his dungeon to suffer and die in darkness among rats and creeping things. Even your kings and magistrates who rule over you from the high places, whom you are so ignorant of, will be judged. They will be brought down like common thieves, and then your eyes will be opened, but it will be too late."

     The people were all convinced, but they did not want to take the journey to the sanctuary on mount Kabab. They enjoyed their ways of life too much, a life free from any authority or king, and so they convinced themselves that the herald was not representing a king, but rather he was trying to change their ways of life.

     A man all in black slipped among them unnoticed and whispered in the ring-leader's ears, "Away with this man! He is nothing but trouble."

     "Yeah," the man said, "Away with that trouble-maker!"

     They all started breathing murder and hatred against the herald, and shouted as one, "Away with him...!"

     They pulled the herald violently down from his horse and dragged him to the place of execution. When Felix saw what was happening, he ran toward the herald. No longer was it a question to him of whether or not the king existed: he saw clearly for the first time; he has heard it, not from others, but with his own ears. "Sir," he cried, "I do not wish to face the king's wrath."

     "Your only escape is mount Kabab, my boy. Make haste. The king might arrive at any moment with his army to destroy Siloh." 

     "But I do not know the way."

     "Reach your hand into my robe-pocket and you will find a roll with the directions." Felix did as he was told and found it. "Go now son!"

     "But what about you?"

     "What about me? There's no greater honor than to die for my lord." They dragged him to the executioner and bound him to the guillotine. Before the blade fell, he cried a terrible cry: "I regret I couldn't have done more for you my king!"

     Felix turned his back from the dreadful sight and fled: he could only assume they had done it; they took off the herald's head. Running home, the herald's death confirmed for him the importance of the matter.

                                                      

     Felix burst through the front-door and hurried to the kitchen where he found his parents eating dinner. "Mother, father...we have to go! The king...prince Diamond...they're real...and they're coming to destroy the city! We have to find refuge in the sanctuary!"

     There was a moment of silence then his father rose slowly. "You arrive here two hours late talking none-sense, Boy? Sit down and eat your dinner! I'll decide what to do with you later." He sat back down. "Disobedient child..."                                                                            

     "You do not understand," Felix said. "We don't have time to eat. We need to leave now."

     "Sit down and stop talking foolishness, Felix! I won't tell you again. If there was a king, you don't think, throughout all these years, he would have made an effort to communicate with us? You're just trying to be rebellious. I'm two seconds away from slapping you across this kitchen. Now sit down!"

     Felix was convinced his father could not be persuaded, so he turned to his mother, but she would not even look at him.  "Please listen to me," he said to them, "just this once. I could not bear to live with myself if I were safe in the sanctuary while your lives were in danger."

     "You're not going any where," his father said, coming between him and the path to the door.

     "Father, it is clear that you and mother do not care about your safety...but please do not try to hinder me." 

     "No...it is clear that you have lost your wits, boy. You speak of a sanctuary that has never been seen by mortal eyes, and I do not know what to make of your king."

     "I care not what you have to say," Felix replied, surprising himself with this sudden boldness. "I do know this: I will not allow you, anyone, or anything to stand in my way. In the judgment day, I will have to give an account for myself, not you."

     It surprised his father to see him standing up for his convictions. But he leapt at Felix, nevertheless, because he wouldn't be bested by a child. Felix dove out of the way, however, and ran for the door, taking nothing with him. His father chased him pretty far but he was determined to take the pilgrimage to the sanctuary and, to his advantage, the man eventually gave up and returned home. 

                                             

     Arriving back home, he walked into the house sweating. 

     "Where's the boy?" his wife asked.

     "He got away. But he'll be back when he realizes the mistake he's making."

     She got up and walked toward the window, pondering on the reason for such determination.