Chapter 20: Wanted
The streets of Upper Shavron were quiet, which was an unusual occurrence; since it was the most busiest of the three provinces in Shavron. There was much to do about nothing on the sunny morn and the news about the farmer seemed to fill the breeze as much as the fragrance of cinnamon from the woods nearby. Along the streets came a hedgehog, walking sluggardly as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders, but it wasn‘t the worries of his life that weighted him down, it was a stack of papers with a bag of nails and a hammer tied together in a neat little bundle. He stopped momentarily by a building and took a nail, the hammer, and tacked a sheet of paper to the lower part of the door. He didn‘t bother to place the paper higher for larger creatures; they would, as he thought, would just have to take the time to bend down and read it. He did this liberally all around town until he was sure that no eye, no matter how high it was, and could miss the message. The hedgehog nailed the last piece of paper to a gift shop. Immediately, as if the paper had a hypnotic call, a great crowd gathered to read what was written. Most were annoyed that the hedgehog nailed it so low, but every eye got the opportunity to read the ordinance.
Official Ordinance:
Under the impending circumstances over the past year, a troublemaker has been causing turmoil within Shavron. There is no reason to mention his name, for we all know who he is. He draws large crowds and in doing so, he talks badly about your leaders, and above all he has broken one of the most important rules in the book. I have been told, by reliable sources, that he has written on the Tribless Stone. This horrendous act seems to place him in equality with the Holy One–do not believe it! With this evidence I, Reiach the judge of instruction, and high chief keeper, have been forced to demand that this criminal be brought to justice for the sake of Shavron. Will you join me? There is a hefty price to any citizen that can give me the whereabouts or bring the criminal to me. I want him alive. Thank you all, and long live Shavron.
Your favorite Judge, Reiach
At the lake, where Kleos gave his first teaching, a question arose of who would be the greatest among them.
"I am wise," said Paskalo. "Wisdom is the greatest virtue therefore I will be the head follower in heaven."
"You?" shouted Ricco with a grunt. " God values boldness, of which I have in great supply."
"More like buffoonery." said Priscilla rolling her eyes, " I think I am qualified to be the leader of our small group---don‘t worry in heaven I let you all pamper me."
"And me my dear?" said Jaq.
"Oh---uh---you‘ll be around--somewhere."
The argument between them went on. Sudden Ricco addressed Kleos.
"Lord settle this for us. Tell us that, I Ricco, will be the greatest among us."
The twelve looked at one another.
"Not exactly what I was looking for." said Ricco.
Weeks went by and the official ordinance received little if any response. Reiach sat like a defeated foe in his bedroom. Not even the good weather was able to lift his spirits. He looked out his window into the empty courtyard as if the tables were still there, turned over and broken from the past confrontation. This only heighten his anxiety, giving way to even deeper, darker thoughts against Kleos. Suddenly there was a knock from his bedroom door that took him by surprise. He had told every student in the temple that he wanted to be alone during the day. Reiach made his way to the door with a scolding speech ready for the student who dared to intrude on his solitude, but the open door reveal Naasson.
"Oh, what do you want? I told you I didn‘t want to be disturb."
"Look, moping all day long won‘t get you the panda any faster. Its been three weeks and no one has responded to the ordinance."
"Tell me something I don‘t know," Reiach said pushing the hyena out the door.
"Well, what are we going to do?"
After some thinking, Reiach thought that it would be wise to begin phase one of his plan.
"I‘m glad you asked," the otter said rubbing his hands together, "First and foremost we‘re going to have a public reading of the rules and I‘ll mention the new one. Once the word is out, it won‘t take long before its on every citizens lips. Secondly, I want you to make a list for me. It will consist of punishments with prices. I‘ll give you the punishments later. Just get ready for the ceremony tomorrow."
By Reiach‘s command, the reading of the one thousand rules took place. The citizens were gathered like chicks into a pen as the keepers read off each rule on the tassels of their cloaks. When the reading was over, Reiach cleared his throat to make the announcement of the one thousandth first rule. Immediately every citizen there began to talk amongst themselves, but doubt began to overtake the crowd. So Reiach quickly came up with a lie to further his goal.
"If any of you doubt this rule, I want to say that the Holy One Himself spoke to me in a dream and revealed this rule to me. He also told me that not following this rule would make his very angry indeed. So, I suggest you all make this known to friends and family."
That settled the matter completely. Like ants, the citizens ran through the streets spreading the news of that rule, and by the time night fell, every creature knew of the pernicious dictum written. It was amazing, if one could see it, how quickly the lie began to shred the truth that was there. Even creature that genuinely believed Kleos were beginning to doubt who he was, yet all of this was fulfilled in prophecy in the annals of Shavron.
The next day a student came running to the judge‘s room. He told him that there were one hundred citizen ready to answer the ordinance. The otter nearly fainted, but with the shake of his head, he quickly prepared himself for the tedious task ahead. The one hundred citizens were let into the main hall of the temple. Reiach received their names prior to their entrance. He called the first citizen forward. A ragged old wolf limped steadily toward the judge with a cane to support his walk. He took a bow to pay his respects to Reiach.
"Now to the matter," said the judge, " I need some good evidence that will help me to convict the farmer. Has he offended you in anyway?"
"Of course he has. I tell you he‘s a nasty little bugger!"
"So you spoke to him face to face."
"I did."
"What did he tell you?"
"Who?" said the wolf.
The otter gave the old wolf a long, hard look.
"The farmer!"
"Oh, yeah. He‘s a great creature, the best I‘ve known."
"You just told me you didn‘t like him!"
"If I did, I take it back."
The otter, coming to point of frustration, lashed out at the wolf.
"Get away from me you absent minded simpleton!"
The interviews went on in the same way, but none of the citizens seemed to carry that certain deceitful flare Reiach was looking for. It finally occurred to him that he would have to get Kleos from the inside. One of his followers were sure to betray him, for there was always a bad apple in the bunch according to Reiach‘s thinking.