Chapter 19: The Whip and The Prayer
The keeper's temple was busy on a sunny day. The air had a slight chill to it, but this would not stop the proceedings that had waited for well over a year. Tables were being brought out into the large courtyard as well as the book of a thousand rules. None of this was done ceremoniously, for none of the commoners were there to watch, and it seemed silly to do it without spectators. There were ten tables which would serve as stations.
Each station held a book that contain one hundred of the one thousand rules, although the one thousandth and first rule was not among them. Crates were placed beside each table to collect money, and keepers who would sit behind these tables wore their fine robes with many tassels.
Inside, Reiach was preparing himself for the day‘s events. He had always enjoyed this day more than all the others. "Pass" day, as if was formally known, had always brought in most of the revenue to sustain the keeper's ways. It was also a day when a grand feast was held in order to celebrate the prosperity of the temple. The otter could hear some of the students rejoicing over the day as if a yearly holiday was coming upon them. Outside Reiach took his place behind one of the tables. Naasson and Seth had a table as well, both shared the same feelings as the new judge of instruction. The order was given to open the gates to the courtyard. As the gates became ajar, the large crowd outside started to push themselves through the small opening until it got bigger; it was like watching a group of insects scurrying into a crack to seek shelter from the elements. With that illustration, "Pass" day had begun.
The keepers called out the titles that were placed on their tables to give the citizens direction.
"Table for rules one through ninety-nine." said Naasson.
"Table for rules one hundred to one hundred ninety nine." announced Reiach. The citizens took off to their respective tables and began the bargaining on this contemptible day. One bystander made his way over to Naasson.
"My good citizen, how is the day?"
"Good—I hope." said the citizen. "How can I make your day sure?"
"I would like to purchase a pass for rules seven, nineteen, and forty nine for six months."
"Oh I see," said Naasson, " you want to have the pleasure of son of the greedy kind for these six months."
The keeper took out a slender book that contained all the prices for each rule. He added them up and gave the citizen the price.
"Fifty silver coins."
The citizen placed the money on the table and the keeper took out a small copper tablet. On it the keeper wrote: "Excused from rules seven, nineteen, and forty nine for the duration of six months." with a special etching pen. On the back of the tablet the temple's seal was drawn. Afterwards, the citizen received the pass with joy and the keeper seductively waved the next costumer in. Down the row, Reiach was speaking to a young Shavronite who was unsure of the judge's bargaining strategy. The otter was a master at the lying arts: he had learned it from Paskalo many years ago. His lying lips and his taming tongue could sway any doubtful citizen to his side of the argument. His words came quickly as the young Shavronite explained his dilemma.
"I'm not sure about this, does this really keep me right with God? Buying a pass to do wrong doesn't seem right."
Reiach had heard this line many times before and was quick to thwart it.
"My good Shavronite, you are still young, but I will explain this: The keepers are doing you a great service. By giving you a pass, for a fee of course, you are made right under the book of a thousand rules. The Holy One understands these things and knows that by paying money he overlooks that particular wrong in your life. It‘s very simple to understand," Reiach said with a sleazy smile.
The young Shavronite still had doubts over the judges reasoning, but the look he was receiving from Reiach put fear in his heart. So, with a faint voice he complied. "Good," said Reiach, " Now which rules do you want a pass for?"
"Well, I want to be right– so shouldn't I purchase all the rules?"
Reiach smiled with such a sinister twist of the face that it took the young citizen by surprise. It was exactly what Reiach wanted to hear. The very words seeped into the judge's blackened heart with such severity that it could have burst to reveal the rotten core inside. The otter took a glimpse of the small money bag the young Shavronite was carrying; he would do his best to get every ounce of gold or silver that sat in the pouch.
"You're very wise, not like most other citizens who buy five rules here or seven rules there. I can work with a Shavronite like you."
The otter bent down and retrieved a small wooden box that was heavily decorated with a metallic design. He took a key, opened it, and took out a gold platted tablet.
"As you can see it says that this pass if good for an entire year. All the rules fall under this pass. It will only cost you one hundred fifty gold coins."
The young Shavronite opened his bag and began to count his money. Reiach took the liberty of watching the counting process. In the end, however, the young Shavronite only had eighty gold coins and fifty silver coins. He looked at Reiach and said the dreaded words.
"I–I don't have enough."
"Shame," the keeper said, putting the gold tablet back in the box, " 'It‘s a true shame."
"Please, I'll give you the gold and silver. I want to be right with God!"
"Only gold for the pass," the otter said unconcerned by the young Shavronite‘s plea. "The Holy One expects the best and nothing less. You'll just have to get a pass for a few rules."
The young Shavronite planted his head on the table in anguish. Reiach looked on with indifference and waited for the right moment to jump in. This was his forte, it had always worked when trying to get a citizen to buy a yearly pass: lie about the price, and then give them the pass for any amount whatsoever. The otter took the box key and reopen the box. He touched the young Shavronite on the shoulder. The action seemed to bring the young Shavronite back to joy when he saw that the judge was holding the golden tablet.
"Do not fret, I'm sure you and I can work something out. The Holy One has touched my heart. Now don't tell anyone I've do this for you, but I‘ll give you the year pass for all your money even though there some silver in there. How about it?"
The offer was too posh to be denied. Before another word was exchanged, Reiach was holding the money and the citizen had the tablet. This pernicious process continued at each table; however, little did any of the keepers know that the series of events would soon end.
Kleos and the twelve were passing along a road near the keepers‘ temple when a citizen came running pass them.
"For five months I can be lazy, and I can do as I please!" he said shaking the copper pass at Kleos as he passed by. "Who needs God when I‘ve got money in hand?"
Kleos went to the keeper's temple. As the group stood outside the open courtyard, they saw the bargaining, they heard the diabolic reasoning, the misuse of the Holy One's name, and the false hope that was given to the Sharvonites. Money was flowing into larger crates; it was a waterfall of currency that was no short of ending soon. Kleos taking a cord, that was placed to the side, fashioned skillfully into a whip.
The twelve were dubious about their master's inner workings, but they knew one thing for sure: a great zeal had taken hold of him, and he was very serious. The panda popped a Shavronite on the backside to move him out of the way. Kleos spotted Naasson pulling out a tablet. The exchange for money was about to take place. Kleos slung the whip around him to generate the force he wanted, it was like a whirlwind as it gained momentum. Everything moved in slow motion: the keeper's hand slowly reaching for the money while the other extended the tablet; and then the whip flew.
The keeper' hand that held the tablet was broken by the whip's contact. The pain brought the keeper to his knees causing him to smack his jaw against the table. He fell backwards holding his hand. Kleos came over, flipped the table on its side, and made his way into the crowd. He drove them out by cracking the whip on the ground with such a sound that the thunder in the sky could not have rivaled it. He broke vases, sending coins into the air. Whenever a few citizens lingered behind, the panda gave them a tap on the bottom to get them moving. One of the keepers there decided to fight Kleos; but upon the presentation of the whip, the keeper thought twice and ran in the opposite direction.
Reiach watched as Kleos continued to disrupt the bargaining deals. The panda drove out the last of the citizens, save one: the young Shavronite who had purchased the year pass. He watched in fear and was surprised that the panda did not come in his direction. Reiach saw his moment and called the panda out.
"Farmer, you dare to disturb the work of God?"
The words were a catalyst for a reaction that Reiach did not expect. If the wrath of God could be kindled in such a short time, Reiach had done it. Kleos ran under the last standing table, propped it up, and threw it at the judge. The otter jumped out of the way as the table broke into pieces.
A group of keepers came from the temple to Reiach's side. Naason and Seth coward behind Reiach, throwing insults to cover their fear. However, once the rest of the keepers took their spot around the judge, a spark of confidence energized the group. Reiach sought to take the farmer now, forgetting the meeting he had the many days before.
The group slowly advanced to take Kleos, the twelve ran out of the courtyard to save themselves. Suddenly, Kleos gave the keepers a look that held them fast. None of them dared to move another step: it was as if their muscles had stopped working; as if a great hand was holding them in place. The keepers were afraid of him. Reiach was in inches of grabbing the panda, but he couldn‘t— nor could the others. Kleos cracked the whip once more and the group was able to move again. Naasson and Seth thought that it would be wise to go inside before the whip manage to crack some skin, Reiach agreed.
"Everyone back into the temple," cried the otter, " but grab as much money as you can, hurry!"
The coins were spread over the ground from the commotion. The keepers scurried along like roaches to retrieve any coinage they could, but Kleos kept them at bay. He continued to swing that whip as the keepers ran for the nearest door. They pushed and knocked each other over in order to fit through the door. Reiach was on the last of the group, Kleos kept him in his sights. Reiach was terrified.
"Hurry up you fools! He's coming after me, get inside, hurry up!"
Just before the doors were shut, Kleos popped the judge on his bottom with the whip. Reiach jumped, grabbed his bottom, and ran inside cursing his students for not moving fast enough. For the time being, "Pass" day was done. There would be no more dealings over money to gain the Lord's favor today.
The young Shavronite stood with his golden tablet in hand. Broken tables, money, and the overall sense of a great feat hung about the large courtyard. It was as if an army had pillaged the area. Kleos came over to the young Shavronite, who was now regretting his decision to stay. He could have ran out with the others, but he was not forced to and could not understand why. He turned his face away from Kleos as the panda looked at him.
" Fear not, I am not angry always." he said, eyeing tablet" Why have you brought that tablet?"
The young citizen could hardly find the words. He slowly placed the tablet behind his back to hide the wrong that had all ready done.
"I just wanted to be right before God," said the Shavronite, " With all the rules its pretty hard to serve Him."
Kleos came over and asked for the tablet; the young citizen gave it to him.
"What's that?" said the young citizen.
The panda threw the tablet to the ground without care and returned to the twelve. The young Shavronite was stunned. The words were taken well and brought and engendered faith in his heart.”
“I believe in you. Let me walk with you, just like the twelve there!”
“You can do this for me," he said placing his hands on the Shavronites shoulders, " go and tell your family and friends what I have said to you, and how I have forgiven you of your sins."
The young Shavronite left the courtyard and did as Kleos had said. As the day went on, the twelve could not contain their uneasiness about the day's events. It was quiet over the camp fire as Kleos and the twelve ate. Each eyed the other hoping one of them had the courage to speak up. Finally the silence was broken by Kleos himself.
"What do the Shavronites believe about me?"
"Some think you're a friend of Dranus." said Priscilla.
"Others– others say you‘re a teacher and nothing more," Akim said shortly after the rabbit.
"A warrior who will overthrow the aristocratic system." said Angus. "A cheater." replied Aesop.
"A loon." said Cyrus dropping his head.
"One of the great judges from the past that has come back to life." remarked Ricco. Kleos took the time to finish his meal. Everyone thought the conversation was over. The farmer had heard some of the things that were reported of him, but Kleos had not heard the true answer from any of them. He wiped his mouth with his cloak and addressed a question to all of them.
No one spoke, and it seemed like ages before anyone did. Kleos looked each of them in the eye. None, not one, said a word.
The panda went to turn away, but suddenly one of the twelve stood.
"Wait, don‘t leave so quickly," Ricco said. "I‘ve watched with my own eyes a power that can be only God. You are the Begotten--you are the Son of God! You are the same one who was there at the beginning, you are the same one who came in the world of night, and you are the same one this very night."
Kleos walked over to Ricco and placed his hand on his shoulder.
Another new and bright shining morning had arrived in Middle Shavron, there was much buzzing of the events that took place at the keeper's courtyard to keep any gossiper busy for weeks. Another busy work day was about to beginning, which left little time for chitchat or the occasional shamming to be late for work. Many were forgetting last night's worries and had taken on the burden of new ones. Burdens, however, were the least of the citizens‘ pains for the day. A loud and boisterous noise came from the town square in Middle Shavron. It was a noise that grabbed the ear of every bystander, and it also caused some to grab their ears from the torturous bellowing of the keepers there.
Five keepers gave fervent prayers to the sky; and despite the incessant uproar they were causing, they managed to gather a crowd to watch the spectacle. The keepers would speak loudly so all who were in earshot could hear the repetition of words and flamboyant phrases spoken with such potency that one thought a wall could crumble under the verbal magnitude. This spiritual practice was a wolf in sheep's clothing if one was a judge of hearts. Such a display was nothing more than to draw attention. A group of five keepers were sent to every main city in Shavron to duplicate this performance for all to see. The keepers could out pray any creature in Shavron, no one could match them; and they were, to their credit, very good at it. Citizens would pass by them on their way to work and would comment on the keepers‘ zealous display saying that God truly would hear such prayers, although there were many who preferred to muzzle them.
The five keepers took a break and returned for a second performance that afternoon. It was about this time that Kleos and the twelve came through the town square. Kleos went inside one of the public buildings and the twelve followed. Up on the third floor was a balcony that gave a clear view of the performance below. Kleos rested his arms on the railing as the twelve surrounded him.
"Glory, why are we up here?" said Aesop.
The twelve looked and listened to the keepers for a moment and then one of them answered.
"I see five creatures giving great prayers to the Holy One, with power and diligence." said Cyrus.
"Yes, the keepers pray for the entire day," said Paskalo, " It is the one thing we take seriously. Kleos, I think you can agree with me that even though the keepers are hypocrites, they pray with a fervor that the Holy One likes."
There was an odd silence as if Kleos had not heard the greyhound. Paskalo was about to repeat what he said when the panda replied,
A gasp, which was louder than it was intended to be, came from the twelve. Kleos calmed them saying,
"Fine, so how should we pray then?" replied Jaq.
Such words only needed one response to sum up the mastery. "Wow!" said Theafan.
The panda continued to watch the play before him with a smile on his face and a chuckle in his belly. By this time most of the citizens had already made their way to their respective trades; and the keepers, when none came to watch, ended the play with little concern for the abrupt stop and left the square until tomorrow‘s show.