Reiach awoke on a fine summer day in Shavron with the intent of carrying out one thing and one thing only: terror. He was dressed within the hour and after a short breakfast, he meet with his two colleagues: Seth and Nasson. The hyena and sloth bowed reverently, although it was only to the crest they paid their respect. Filtering out of the keeper's temple with a grand procession, they looked for any sight of Kleos's disciples. After the grand fire, a plot devised by the Judges themselves, the eleven (For Angus was dead) had been going about Shavron proclaiming “good news” that was “bad news” for Reiach. In recent months they has burned a home where Aesop was preaching; for he was seen as the leader of the bunch and drew the greatest crowds to hear about the saving grace of Kleos. The other ten did the same, leading many Shavronites to God and away from the delusion that keeping the one thousand rules would get them to Heaven.
Reiach led his procession through the streets with a slow and morbid stroll that all the Shavronites knew. There were no great crowds that day around town, save one rooster who sung about Kleos so loudly that the whole country could have heard the praise. “Should we jail this one,” said one of the students of the temple.
“Leave him be,” said Rieach with little concern, “A fool's song is still a song. Besides it's quiet today. Not like the others. No crowds, no preaching, no---”
The otter stopped suddenly.
“What's wrong?” said Seth. “ Everything looks fine to me.”
“It's not fine,” Rieach replied with a snarl. “Those eleven misfits wouldn't stop preaching just like that. Despite all my threats they continued to preach about that deceiver: dying for sins--rising again!---a lie!
“But if he said he would rise again in three days and he did its not a lie,” said one of the students in the procession.
Reiach verbally attacked the student ferociously.
“Are you deceived too? Are you just as weak? ANWSER ME!” he yelled, and he continued without giving the student a chance to respond. “We know the truth because we are of God not that farmer!”
Reiach breathing was heavy; he nostrils were flared to the extreme: he looked like he was about to explode. No one dared to respond to him after that; and after regaining his composure, he paced through the procession as if they were pillars of a great pantheon. “I know there up to something, “ he said abridging his walk at Nasson, “Those believers are quite tricky.”
“There's no one here Reiach,” said Nasson wearily due to the day, “Let's just head back and wait until tomorrow. I hate these converted Shavronites as much, I dare say, more than you. But invisible ones cannot be threatened, beaten, killed or jailed. Tomorrow, my leader, wait until tomorrow.”
Taking the advice Reiach returned to the temple saddened that he could not imprison any Shavronite who believed in Kleos, but his melancholy day would soon turn into a bright one, for one of his hired spies came rushing into the temple. His hands were open for his pay, which he received upon divulging any pertinent information.
“Where are the eleven and where are the crowds?” asked Reiach. “Pay me first and I'll tell you everything!”
The spy's hand shook with such a twitter that he could have been mistaken for having a bad case of the shakes, but one the medicine of money was laid securely in his hand his disease was cured.
“Talk, were are they?”
“Where the farmer was born.” said the spy counting the coins, “The lot of them are all in Girgandale, the biggest crowd yet. I saw Aesop, Ricco, Poe, and” said the spy drawing out the last part, “ Paskalo was there too.”
“He'll be the first to die.” said the otter with a hint of disgust.
“Hey,” said the spy finishing up his count, “You owe me ten gold coins, pay up.”
“I have no further use of you, get out.”
“But my money.” cried the spy.
“I SAID GET OUT!” shouted the otter; and once he ordering the other keepers to kindly toss him out, Reiach called for Seth and Naasson.
“I want to head to Giragandale to arrest Aesop. We'll make a public spectacle of him.” The judge of instruction, Naasson, Seth, and a host of soldiers made haste down a beaten path to the appointed city . There was no conversation between Reiach and the other keepers. However the soldiers were speaking in low tones about the events of Kleos's death. Reiach, although perceiving the conversation, forced himself to focus on the task at hand. The otter's mind took him back to that day at the tearing post. The memory was still fresh and potent. Why didn't the farmer run when given the opportunity? How could he forgive such treacherous deeds with such a love that Reiach had never seen nor could understand? It was of no matter of course, for the otter hated him and any who followed him: he was glad that the farmer was gone.
“A few more miles and Aesop will answer to me.” said Reiach to himself, “All those believers will return to keeping the rules someday.”
Suddenly a burst of light filled the area and the sky was parted. It was as if the sun had exploded into a million particles. All fell to the ground as if dead, no could move. The otter cried out for Naasson and Seth, but they could not answer. On his back, Reiach heard a voice.
The voice was familiar.
It was a very familiar voice.
“Kleos!,” said Reiach beginning to shake with fear, “Don't destroy me--please--I beg you!”
Now the keepers and the soldiers were not able to see this , but they heard the voice, and once everything was said and done, they were so fearful that he left Reiach alone on his back in the middle of the road. The otter did not move from that spot. He could not contemplate the reason Kleos came to him after setting up the murder. He was left turning this and many other thoughts in his mind. Five miles away was Paskalo eating at his home in Girgandale. The greyhound has fled to the city from the Reiach wave of terror. He rarely traveled beyond the city borders and found refuge there. However during his meal God, that had changed his life from a menacing judge to a kind leader, interrupted his lunch.
The dog stood immediately from his chair, placing his warm soup to the side. “Lord!” he said.
God responded.
The greyhound was apprehensive from carrying out the command. He and Reiach had always been at odds. It was hard for Paskalo to forget the attempt on his life; and furthermore, why was God dealing with a murderous animal anyway?
“My Lord and my God,” said Paskalo calmly, “That otter has jailed, beaten, killed and mocked your followers. He murdered you---why are you sending me to him?”
Paskalo, obeying, hurried down the northern road as instructed. Exactly five miles from the town was Reiach sitting down in the middle of the road.
“Hello, there,” said Paskalo, “You look lonely.”
“Paskalo is that you?” the otter said turning his head from side to side, “What do you want?”
“What I want to do is not important.” replied the dog pushing away a bad thought, “ God wants you.”
“Kleos?”
“Yes, Kleos.”
“Go figure.” said Reiach scoffing, “He would send someone I don't like to assist me.”
“Well, I not fond of you either.”
“Fine!” said otter shouting.
“FINE TO YOU TOO!” returned Paskalo.
After the verbal squabble, Paskalo made the first attempt of reconciliation between the two.
“Here we go again acting like two children.”
“Yeah, I guess,” said Reiach, “I'm tired of disliking you. How about we try something different.”
Paskalo walked forward and helped Reaich to his feet.
“Sure.”
“So, what did God say to you?”
“God will give you back your sight,” said Paskalo.
“ From there I guess I have a roommate until further notice.”
“Go figure,” said Reiach frowning, “God would set me up to be a roommate with someone I used to hate.”
At Paskalo's home, Reiach received his sight as the Lord has commanded. He knew that he was different since the moment along the Girgandale road, but would the Shavronites, especially the other ten disciples find favor with him. His time with Paskalo proved to be a rough road. No one in Giragandale trusted him, and he of course, did not blame them for their reactions. On this account, Reiach found himself to be somewhat of a hermit and refused to travel away from the house unless it was absolutely necessary. He found that private prayer had become a disciple for him, nearly refusing to eat or drink. After a months time, Paskalo thought that it was time to have the otter to met the ten over a homemade meal. The ten disciples arrived apprehensive of the gathering, but once the smell of hot bread, stewed fish, crisp vegetables, and cake for dessert filled the air they quickly forgot the gravity of the meeting. Reiach was already seated at the table, under the guise of blank faces. Ricco wouldn't even look at him, knowing the many attempts on his life from the otter's hand. However, the otter found a gracious gesture from Theafan the fennec fox, who sat by him, shook his hand in greeting, and talked kindly to him. It was an example to all of how to treat a repentant soul--it is what God would do.
Ten minutes into the meal, Reiach felt it necessary to ask for forgiveness from all of them, with Paskalo's permission he stopped the meal.
“Before we go on,” the otter said clearing his throat, “I am honored to have all of you to show up. I not only have wrong all of you in someway, but our Lord as well by persecution those that have trusted him. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
There was a deafening silence that was telling the otter that he move was too premature. No one knew what to say, until Pottermer the platypus spoke.
“Ah, I forgive you. I was an enemy of God myself. If God can forgive you then he'll help me to do the same.”
The others followed suit, except Ricco the ringtail. He was firm like stone; jaw clinched not once looking at the pleading eyes of Reiach. Paskalo called his name as to persuade a favorable response, but the ringtail simple said:
“A bunch of fools--all of you.” he replied leaving the table. Aesop cracked his knuckles rising quickly to go after him. “I take care of this.” the bear said.
“No need for a beat down, Aesop.” said Paskalo. “Please tell me you weren't serious.”
“I'm not,” said Aesop, “ but I was thinking about throwing him in the lake.”
“I'll handle this. I don't think the lake approach will help.” said the greyhound. He found Ricco just outside the front door.
“Planning on coming back in?”
“When he is gone,” Ricco replied looking over his back.
“What's your problem?”
“You have a murderer in your house and you want to know what's my problem?”
“He's changed, Ricco.” said Paskalo. “He not the same. God has changed him just like with us.”
“He's lying like he always does. You should know that better than anyone else.” Paskalo shook his head in bewilderment.
“I thought I would never take you as one who forgot that Kleos forgives, not just us---but anyone who repents of their sins and swears loyalty to him. God extended forgiveness to you; you should do the same.”
“Don't school me, I'm not a child!” shouted Ricco pointing up to the greyhound, “I know what our Lord said.”
“Amazing!” said Paskalo, “You know truth yet refuse to follow it when its an inconvenience to you.”
Paskalo turned away, slowly closing the door behind him. “Oh, so your going to lock me out now, eh?”
“No, the door is open. You're the one keeping yourself out.”
The door closed leaving Ricco outside alone. Two hours later after the other nine were leaving, Ricco came inside and asked to speak to Reiach alone. In the side room, Paskalo saw the ringtail lower his posture almost ashamed to look up, but the otter extended his hand in friendship, which was kindly taken.
“That's the way, Ricco,” said Paskalo to himself, “that's the way.”