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Fractured Paradise (Volume III)
Story: Arrival of Muhammad at Innismilova Fractured Paradise: A Novel In Progress by Oliver Smith OliverSmith@CyberPoet.com < Addewid < Fractured Paradise Outline < Volume III Outline Synopsis : Story |
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"For now we see through a glass, darkly." From a Christian Memory of Apostle Paul's Writing "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." From the Canon of Truth: Thessalonians, Christian Memory When the angels said: O Marium, surely Nerth gives you good news with a Word from Him (of one) whose name is the '. Messiah, Isa son of Marium, worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and of those who are made near (to Allah). And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and (he shall be) one of the good ones. She said: My Lord! when shall there be a son (born) to I me, and man has not touched me? He said: Even so, Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is. From the Canon of Truth: The Family of Imran, Muslim Memory A shadow fluttered across the aflon covered road, descending. Saul watched scaled wings flap silently in the Addewidian air, coming to rest a few arm lengths away, in front of a long row of felast cages closed up with Gwialen rods. Human forms could be seen partially moving from within each one. Visitors to Saul's menagerie, peered curiously into each cage as an guide explained who lived within each enclosure, "Those of you who were followers of the One God on earth will probably remember Moses. You may have wondered how tall he was, how he carried himself and what his faced looked like." Several people moved closer to take into view the presence of Moses, who sat resolutely in a corner of the cage, pulling pieces of flesh from a Meithrin fruit, ignoring the on-lookers. "Most of the residents here in Saul's Menagerie are less than cooperative," said the guide. "Some of them are so depressed by the nature of Addewid that they gave no resistence to Saul's Rogue Ceidwadaid when they were hunted down. Others were members or leaders of coalitions, such as the Alliance of Truth. They were the most difficult to find and capture, but Saul's Ceidwadaid are some of the strongest and best trained." Moses pulled his Meithrin fruit skin blanket over his head to hide from the visitors. A Guardmarth training stepped up to the Gwialen rods in front of the on-lookers and stuck a long Gwialen rood into the cage, knocking the blanket of Moses, who was wearing the standard Milodfa robe assigned to each resident when the arrive. "Moses has not successfully completed his training here at the Menagerie, so he needs to be reminded of his responsibilities here at Saul's Menagerie. Eventually, he'll learn to pose respectfully for each and every visitor who wishes to see him." Moses turned his back on the viewers only to received a sharp jab from the trainer's rod. "You need not worry during your stay here at Saul's Garden of Spiritual History," said the guide reassuringly, each and every residential cell here has trainer watching every move of the residents in order to ensure that your visit here is safe and kept intact for future visitors." The guide moves down the road to the next cage, saying, "you may notice that the residential cell next to Moses is empty." Several people turned their attention away from Moses, following the guide, listening and taking notice of the empty cage indicated by the guide. "This residential cell," continued the guide, "has been reserved for Aaron, Moses's companion on the way to the 'Promised Land'." Several people nodded in recognition. "Saul has several Rogue Ceidwad's assigned to the task of tracking down and capturing Aaron. If all goes as planned, Saul will be able to display both Moses and Aaron for your viewing pleasure on future visits that you may make to Milodfa. As the guide moved down the road to other cages, his voice drifted off, as did the chattering of those who followed. Saul turned his attention in the direction of the Rogue Ceidwad which had just landed. In its talons, a dark man with fierce struggles in vain. "Well, Inchranthion, you have done quite well!" exclaimed Saul. "You actually found Muhommad!" The Ceidwad's stoic face did not respond, but Saul knew that the creature anxiously awaiting its reward. "I was sure that it would take several Droolyn breaths before you found this one." "The only reason that this filthy creature caught me, Saul," said Muhommad, was because I was coming to talk to you about the capture of Ellyn." "And talk we will," said Saul, "but first I have made a place for you." "I need some trainers over here," yelled Saul. Several men ran to Saul's side, dropping their various tasks at different cages. "We have a new resident! A prized one at that," said Saul. The trainers, wearing the trainer tunics that Saul requires them use, approached Inchranthion, each grabbing a different part of Muhommad's body before the Ceidwad released him. "Saul!" yelled Muhommad, "you cannot do this! I came here on official business from the Island of One God, representing the Alliance of Truth." "I'm sure that you have something important to talk about," said Saul, "but we'll to wait until you are secured within your residence and I have paid off Inchranthion." The trainers lead Muhammad down the road, disappearing behind a cage. "Welbiod," called Saul, to a man standing off to the side, silently, "give Inchranthion his reward." Welbiod pulled a pouch from the folds of his Milodfaian tunic, handing it over to Inchranthion, who quickly took the pouch into its talons and leaped into the air, its large wings expanding in flight. Saul looked over to the Welbiod and asked, "how is the supply of Anesh? Do we need to make another trip to Ynyscread?" "We are getting low in our supplies," said the Welbiod. "Get the ship ready for launch in two feedings," commanded Saul. Welbiod nodded and walked away, leaving Saul to walk in the direction that the trainers had taken Muhammad. The trainers were just putting in place the Gwialen rods of the entrance to the cage and sealing them with the Sanbor Felast mortar that was used throughout Addewid on prisons and cages. "This is an outrage, Saul," complained Muhammad, "the Alliance will be very unhappy with this action." "They may be very unhappy, but they are helpless to do anything about this. You know that my Ceidwadaid are the strongest available on Addewid, outside of Ynyscread itself. Now what exactly did you want to talk about?" "The Alliance wants to use Diawl's Chain to immobilize Ellyn during their invasion of Ynyscread." "The Alliance wants to invade Ynyscread?" asked Saul, surprised. "Yes. We feel that we have the necessary forces, but we need to disable Ellyn, and Diawl is the only one with the means of doing that, with his Chain." "And why should I help you capture Ellyn?" asked Saul. "Because we know how badly you want Hian for your little menagerie here." "You have Hian?" Saul asked, curious. "It is my understanding that they are close to capturing him." "'Close to capturing' and 'having possession of' are not the same," said Saul, mocking Muhammad, "after all, I also have Ceidwadaid looking for him as well." "...but you don't know where he is and we do. One of our scouting Ceidwadaid sighted him and his myrth headed towards the small island of a new arrival. The Grendale had just left a man there. Saul thought for a moment as he looked into the cage at Muhammad. Then, turning away, Saul Looked in the direction that Welbiod had walked. Signaling one of the trainers to him, Saul told the trainer that Muhammad was to receive the usual training of a resident Milodfa. Turning back to face Muhammad, Saul said, "I appreciate the timeliness of your information. With any luck I'll beat the Alliance Ceidwadaid Hian. I'm sure you will be comfortable here." Saul turns around, walking away from Muhammad. "Saul! You cannot do this! You will not be able to fight Ellyn on your own. You will need us!" Saul continued to walk, ignoring the protests of Muhammad. He didn't even take notice of the many faces behind the Gwialen bars of his cages, nor did he bother to greet the people who were moving from cage to cage, seeking their spiritual and religious leader from earth, curious to see how they compared to their earthly imagining of them. Saul could only think of Hian. For too many Droolyn breaths has he contemplated this moment, when Hian would be in one of his cages. "This 'fisher of men'", mumbled Saul. "This 'son of man'", he continued, "how could he have mislead us all!" Saul ground the fist of one hand into the open palm of the other. "Right next to Muhammad," he growled, "that is where I'll put him." Saul approached the shore of the Malyan sea and noticed Welbiod walking across the floor of Saul's largest ship. Quickly he stepped across the plank made of Rhaff vines and Gwialen rods. Welbiod walked over to where Saul stepped onto the ship. "Saul, why are you here? We weren't expecting you so soon." "Muhammad has informed me that Hian has been sighted at one of the new islands where Ellyn's Grendial have been putting those arriving from Cyfanfyd. If we leave now we may be able to catch them. Make sure your bring one of our Grendial, it will know where the new islands are. Is the Phrington ready?" Saul's statements flew quickly into Welbiod's face, but Welbiod understood Saul clearly, nodding as Saul spoke. "Trickion and Vlandist are both ready," said Welbiod, "and Vlandist will be playing his flute as soon as I give the order. The Meithrin fruit is being loaded right now." "Let's not waste time," said Saul, anxiously, "this is something I have waited many Droolyn breaths for." Before long music from Vlandist's flute rose above the ship. The six Ceffylmor in front of the ship swelled up on the surface of the Malyan sea, water dripping from their sides with the vibrant glaze of life that flowed throughout Addewid. As the melody hurled itself into the efforts of the Ceffylmor, a drummer's sticks picked up the rolling beat of the Caller playing the flute, the Ceffylmor plying thrust into the Malyan currents, and the slap and breath of Saul's servants and slaves organizing Meithrin fruits and other supplies needed for the journey. As many times as he had seen it, it still fascinated Saul how Trickion the Walker can sense the location of new arrivals from the Grendial they brought with them and how the Trickion can pass that information to Vlandist, who then plays the music to control the Ceffylmor. He didn't understand it, but he knew that his ship would be within Hian's before long. Islands passed by in a blur of Addewidian light and Saul sat down to eat the Meithrin fruit handed to him by a servant. |
