Chapter 16: The Funeral at Girgandale
Autumn was drawing near and planting was completed in Girgandale. It was very tranquil in the town after Kleos had left, but it wasn't a quietness like a brisk walk down a path or the stillness of a lake that had not been disturbed. It was more of eeriness like not knowing what's around the corner or walking down a dark alley. No one spoke of Kleos since that day he gave his home to the head farmer, Aesop. Despite the news of his popularity, and the testimony of the great miracles; but in Girgandale Kleos was just the farmer upon the hill and nothing more.
On this autumn morn there was a great gathering around a certain house that sat near the main road. Nearly everyone was there; some crowded inside while others stood outside awaiting the news. Some of the villagers gave their predictions of the final outcome on this monumental event. This nonsense fell short of placing bets, but what was this news that brought the whole town to this single home along the road? Inside laid Aesop in bed with a horrible fever, no one was really sure how he got it. Most believed it was from working too hard, others said that it was his wife‘s cooking to brought on the fever, but this was all speculation of course.
It was thought that his fever was contagious; but after a week of false alarms, it was decided that this was a single case of infection. By his side sat his wife, Amber. Around the bed was the doctor and the other farmers. The doctor went through his procedure of checking the bear's temperature and his overall state of mind. Aesop was in bad shape: he had the sweats, the shakes during the night, and his throat was swollen to the point of suffocation. Amber quickly found a remedy for this: hot water mixed with honey, which Aesop received once every three hours. The doctor let out a deep sigh. He looked at Amber who was crying, and then he looked at the other farmers.
"Out with it doc," said one of the farmers, "Out with it." The doctor ran his fingers through his fur and spoke.
"I have never seen anything like this. I–I would like to tell the wife in private if you please."
"Stop stalling, you'll tell me now!" she yelled.
A symptom of fright came over the doctor. He had seen the emotions of many creatures throughout his several years of practice, but the rage of a bear was more than his nerves could handle. He quickly gathered himself together and spoke softly.
"So be it. There is nothing I have that can cure this. You husband will die." Amber began to weep bitterly. The farmers that stood by were brought to tears. "There's got to be something doc, anything." replied one farmer.
"I‘m sorry, but there is nothing. This is something I‘ve never seen before."
To their surprise Aesop started to moan, he was trying to say something, but he struggled to get it out. Amber caressed her husband's head. The bear opened his watery eyes, scanned the occupants in the room and said,
"K--L--E--O--S."
Then he drifted off back into stillness. Everyone in room knew what it meant. "He can't mean what I think he means," said one farmer.
"He's obviously delirious," replied another.
As stated before, none of them believed in Kleos, but Amber was desperate. She rose from the bed, walked over to the farmers, and gave them the tongue lashing of a lifetime. "Let me tell all of you something right now– I don't care whether or not you believe Kleos– you're going to find him. You're going to tell him of Aesop's condition and you will bring him here. If you don't I'll maul all of you so badly that God will have to look twice just to recognize you!"
Her voice was clear and calm, which told the farmers she was serious. "But Amber," said a farmer sheepishly, "Why should he come?"
Amber rose to her full height as a brown bear. Her teeth were bared, her fur stood straight, and her growl made the farmers weak in the knees. The silent ire sent the farmers running out of the house with their tails between their legs. Amber not only managed to scare away the farmers, but all the visitors inside and outside of the home.
It took the farmers two days to find Kleos. He was teaching the eleven as the farmers approached. Being told of Aesop‘s condition, Kleos made no effort to move speedily.
"He specifically asked for you," said one farmer, "He‘s dying and you must come today!" But Kleos did not make haste to move, which infuriated the farmers. After they left Ricco spoke up,
"Lord, I don‘t understand. You going to let someone die when you can save them?"
"I glad I did not go for your sakes, that you may believe." and then Kleos said,
"Good," said Cryus, "Sometimes resting is a good way to get rid of a fever."
But Kleos was not talking about physical sleep, but death. Since the eleven did not understand he plainly said to them,
Kleos left for Girgandale two days later. In the village faint whimpering could be heard in the distance. As Kleos and the eleven traveled further, the sound gradually grew until the air was filled with deep mourning for the passing of Aesop. Everyone in Girgandale was standing around his grave. The body had already been buried. A heavy stone rested over the body. Amber was torn; she did not cry out loud, but just stared into space with tears in her eyes. Her expression was heart- wrenching to all of them and nothing they said or did brought her out of her state of mind.
Kleos and the eleven watched as one of the villagers gave the eulogy, after it was over Kleos went down to the grave-sight. The eleven didn‘t bother to stop him, and didn‘t bother to follow him either. The gathering stepped to the side as Kleos walked in the middle where Amber was standing.
"I hate you," she said in a faint voice. "I hate you. Why didn't you come when the others told you of my husband‘s condition? He was your friend. You have the never to torture me now by showing your face! If you would have been here, he would be alive." Amber wept and Kleos wept.
"W--what?" Amber said.
No one knows what came over Amber, but she gave permission to do so.
Four villagers pulled the heavy stone away from the grave. Aesop was below wrapped in two decorative cloaks.
"This is foolish," said Amber placing her hands over her face. "My husband will not rise, not today. Maybe in the future when the Holy One sends the resurrection of the ----"
"I am the resurrection," replied Kleos cutting her short. "And I am the life. Kleos looked up to heaven, thanking his father and said to the grave.
Invisible to anyone's eyes, the voice resonate along the ground. It traveled down the open grave, pierced the threading of the cloak and passed into Aesop's ear. The voice was like the key to an ignition of a engine; once it was turned, the cold, dead machine came to life. His brain began to function again, the blood, that had dried, became fluid; the heart started pumping; the muscle fibers that were showing signs of atrophy, were becoming strong again. All the bodily systems from digestive to circulatory went back into action. Aesop was alive again!
Amber jumped into the grave and tore the cloak from Aesop‘s face. He smiled and Amber kissed him. Later that day after all the celebration, Amber was cooking for her husband at home. She would frequently leave the kitchen, run over to him, and give him a kiss on the cheek. She did this so many times that Aesop began to wonder if she had gone mad. After his dinner was prepared, she placed it in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I so glad to see my little teddy bear again," she said squeezing his neck tightly. "Thank you, my love," said Aesop, " but your little teddy bear needs air."
She let go of his neck and sat down beside him. Aesop went to eat his dinner which consisted of his favorite meal: twelve salmon cooked in seasoned oil, with a side dish of potatoes, and for dessert was a bucket of blue-berries. As he ate, Amber watched his every move.
"What are you doing?" he said stopping in the middle of his feast, "You‘re making me nervous."
"Oh, nothing," she said smiling.
Aesop finished his dinner and before he could thank her, she wiped his mouth for him, took the dishes and hugged his neck once again.
"My love, I'm glad to see you too, but all of this is too much. You should be giving the same treatment to the Kleos. He‘s the reason I‘m alive."
At the mention of Kleos, Amber released her grip and stood back. "What about him?" she said.
"We could at least invite him and his friends inside for a bite to ate. The villagers have been ignoring them."
"They've been outside for days," said Amber irritated by the thought, " they'll dirty up the floor. I‘ll have none of it! What's the sudden change over the Kleos?"
Aesop didn‘t say anything. Amber rolled her eyes and with a nonchalant attitude avoided her husband‘s glance.
"Well I expect that you wouldn't be your old self being dead and all for four days."
"What is that suppose to mean?" he said sternly.
"Nothing, I didn't mean to offend. It's not like you going to follow him like those other eleven fools out there," she said in retort.
She went over, kissed him on the head, and went to bed. Aesop sat silently at the dinner table. The fact of the matter was that he was thinking of doing just that. His faith was small, but all he knew was that he was dead and now was alive. He tried to reason out all the possibilities, but it only frustrated him further. Finally after another hour of thinking, Aesop made up his mind. He would let Amber know tomorrow of his plans, hoping she wouldn‘t have a fit about it.
The next day Kleos and the eleven were preparing to leave. They slept on the ground, which was common for them, but it never got easier and they always were rubbing aching joints to start the morning.
"Can we leave now?" said Jaq, cracking his back, "My back can‘t take another night like that."
"In a few moments." said Kleos, "Aesop is on his way."
Suddenly, Aesop came running up the road with his wife chasing and screaming at him. She was caring two frying pans, a pot and a host of cooking utensils. Whenever she got a good aim, she wielded one of utensils and threw at Aesop.
"YOU DARE TO LEAVE ME!," she said grabbing a wooden spoon, " I'LL KILL YOU!"
She chucked the wooden spoon at him; it bounced off his head and came to rest on the ground. Aesop continued to evade his wife‘s pitching arm. Up ahead he saw the others, he yelled to give them warning.
"RUN, MY WIFE IS OUT OF CONTROL. I CAN'T STOP HER!"
"Kleos, what should we do?" said Akim. "Running would be wise."
Amber threw one of the frying pans and it just went over Aesop's head before shattering a group of flower vases sitting near the side of the road. Utensil after utensil was thrown until she was left with just a pot. She took her stance like an athlete, aimed the pot at Aesop, and launched the it into the air. It flew like a disc and made its final resting spot on his head. The brown bear rubbed his noggin and ran out of Girgandale, and that's how the eleven followers became twelve.