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That night Reiach thought over what God has said to him: “You will be my teach to the nations abroad.”
Reach had no idea of how to find the time or the money to accomplish such a task. It was already a month since he had seen the keeper's temple. Indeed he had a great sum of money saved for himself, but how would he acquire it without raising suspicions or even a greater question: would God allow him to use money that was frankly stolen?
The next morning he had breakfast with Aesop. The bear was overjoyed that this enemy of God had changed, it was true what Kleos taught: He did come for the sick and to heal them. After breakfast Paskalo joined them and all three went into the streets. Needless to say it wasn't difficult to engage in conversation about the death and resurrection of Kleos for it was a popular subject around Shavron. There were many misconceptions about the events. Paskalo and Aesop articulated clearly the truth of the matter, even Reiach himself witnessed about the truth of God's salvation. This was the greatest evidence of all of Kleos; for if a murderous villain like Reiach could be changed then truly there is a living God. Who has a Son.
It must be explained that most of the witnessing was done in Shavron. It was by the command of Kleos that the eleven should stay in cities until he would send the Comforter to them all. This Comforter was the Spirit that dwelt among the Holy One and Kleos himself, He is also known as the Holy Spirit. Whenever a believer needed help, encouragement, discipline and strength in times of trouble, peace, joy, hope, and any other virtue, the Comforter was there. So two weeks later the Comforter, the Helper of the believer's soul, came giving boldness and power. In that power came a gift to speak in a languages that no Shavronite knew. There was a reason for this: Shavron had become a metropolis over time allowing many foreigners to live in its borders. There were at least eighteen different nations trading and working in the cities. Since God's call was to have all nations to know of his Son's death and gift of salvation it would only make sense to tell it in the language a creature could understand, hence Paskalo, Aesop, Revel, and the other believers( about a hundred and twenty)went about with the language they were given from God to tell the joy of salvation through the Holy One's son.
Now with all the dialects many came to assume that the believers were tipsy from liquor, but Aesop spoke boldly.
“We are not drunk, but have been given the power to proclaim the good news of Kleos to you, without fear.”
That day many creatures became believers in the name of Kleos. The keepers had seen the whole escapade; and calling Reiach over, demanded an explanation.
“The explanation is God,” said the otter. “The farmer was--I mean-- is everything he said he was. I was wrong--Kleos is God.”
The otters demeanor had changed drastically. Naasson and Seth were dumbfounded. “With all due respect,” said hyena giving him an askance, “ Why are you with these believers? Are you sipping some special wine we don't know about?”
“Stop with the jokes--this is real. God has revealed himself, he has walked among us, died for our sins and ---
“Stop!” said Naasson clinching his fist. “I think when you fell on your back you bumped you head a little too hard. Enough with the charade, come back to the temple you need to rest.”
“I have no intentions on doing so.”
“Then you have no intentions of being the judge of instruction,” said Seth. “Off with the crest.”
“God has not told me to give it up and you're not making me take it off.”
“Then I'll cut you down right here you traitor!” said Naasson, grabbing the otter by the cloak.
Suddenly Aesop emerged. His very presence forced the hyena to step away. After a brief stare- down Seth and Naasson thought it wise to retreat, but not before a menacing threat to Reach's life.
“A death threat.” said Aesop confidently to the otter, “You'll get use to them.”
“I might as well,” Reiach said, “ I've gave them out for years.”
Over the next few weeks Reiach hardly went outdoors and when he did it was only within the town of Girgandale. Many times the keeper's spies were seen , but none made any attempts of causing an uproar. It was very hard for Reiach to hide; he did like it. God had given him a desire to tell the nations abroad about Kleos, but with the threat on his life his fear was getting the best of him. Paskalo saw this and took his friend on a much need walk. The greyhound believed that there was something that could help him.
“I've been praying, but I still afraid.” said Reiach. “I've never been afraid of death threats before.”
“That's because you were giving threats not receiving them,” said Paskalo taking him down a lane. “Stand here and look.”
About fifty yards from them was an apple tree. Under that apple tree was the strangest creature Reiach had ever seen. To begin with, the creature was about the otter's height with a bushy tail as long as its body. The fur was wild and gangly looking to be in need of a good grooming. The face was supplied with a small mouth, small snot, and two eyeballs as large as sauce plates. One eye, the right one, was crooked which made this attraction stranger than it already was. Finally the hands were comprised of clawed finger with two longer than the others. It looked like a lemur, but if Reiach had to guess the exact animal, he would have missed it completely.
“Who and what is that?”
“That is Phigaro,” said Paskalo pointing. “He needs a friend. Phigaro is a new believer: very bold, but very rude as well. Most around Girgandale think he's a little obnoxious.”
Reaich gave the greyhound a long glaring look “And you're introducing me to him because--”
“I figure that your grumpiness would go well with his obnoxiousness. You two will help one another grow in God, you know, iron sharpening iron.” Paskalo said walking away.
“I'd like to hit you with an iron,” Reiach said under his breath. “I heard that!” said Paskalo from afar.
The weirdo, the name the otter gave the creature under the tree, didn't look dangerous nor obnoxious as Paskalo had said. The creature, an aye-aye to put your imaginations to rest, was eating heartily his apple when Reiach came near him. An immediate askance was given to the otter; for Phigaro did not want to be interrupted while eating. Reiach noticed that the aye-aye right eye was crooked, which produced a smile on his face. He was the only creature, Reiach thought, that could see himself coming and going at the same time. “You eyeing me!?” said Phigaro.
“Look, I just came over to say hello.” said Reiach. “Hello and good-bye,” said Phigaro rudely. “You're making this difficult.”
“Paskalo has been trying to buddy me up with any creature in this town. The only friend I need is Kleos. I don't need another, so good day to you sir.”
“But---”
“Good day!”
Now Reiach did something that he shouldn't have done. As he was turning away he spoke under his breath again. His curt and direct comment of calling Phigaro a “knuckle-heard” was not taken lightly; it was the highest insult to Phigaro. The aye-aye tossed his apple to the side with a vicious throw. All the fury that a three foot five inch animal could muster was boiling inside the aye-aye.
“What did you call me?” said Phigaro gritting his teeth.
“If you must know,” replied Revel unaware that he was about to get attacked, “ I called you a knuckle-head.”
“Nobody and mean nobody talks to me that way!”
Before Reiach could respond he found himself tumbling down the hill in a ball of dirt in the clutches of this mad creature. They fought like two unruly school children in need of a good spanking. A multitude came from their homes to see what the commotion was all about. Paskalo and Aesop were among them. Aesop grabbed Reiach in one hand and Phigaro in the other, lifting them both off the ground.
“What's the meaning of this?”
“He started it,” said Phigaro. “He called me a knuckle-head.”
“That's because you are one.”
They began to bicker again, but a good shake from Aesop put all argument to rest. “Ouch!” replied Phigaro grabbing his neck, “ I think you gave me whiplash!”
“Quiet the both of you. This is nonsense--no its ungodly--to be fighting another believer. Would Kleos approve of this?”
Reiach and Phigaro were silent.
“I'll ask point blank: are both of you believers or not?”
“I am.” said Phigaro.
“Me too.” said Revel.
Aesop place them both back on the ground. “Then act like it.”
The crowd dispersed back to their respective homes, leaving the two alone in the street. “Who does he think he is, talking to us like that?”
“He thinks he's bigger and stronger than us,” replied Reiach, “and he is.” After dusting himself off he said, “I'm sorry for calling you a knuckle-head.”
“Yeah, and I'm sorry for--you know--smacking you around.”
Apologies were accepted with a hand-shake. After talking both came to understand one another quiet well. Phigaro told his story of how he was once a pick-pocket around Eldos, the major city in Shavron. One day he was caught by the authorities and jailed for one year. It was in jail that he met Paskalo who told him of the life of Kleos and his death for sins. Reiach knew the reason Paskalo was in jail; for he had sent him there out of spite.
Even when evil seemed to show its vicious head, the otter thought, God still used it for good.
“After telling me, I accepted God's salvation.” replied Phigaro, “It nice knowing that you don't have to go to Hell because of God's mercy---it's a wonderful feeling.”
From that day forward the two seemed to be inseparable. Wherever Phigaro went Reiach went and if Reiach went out, Phigaro was sure to follow. Most of the outings were aimed at telling any Shavronite about God. However the keepers were relentless in challenging Reiach and Phigaro publicly. One day they were at odds with the keepers, zealously debating the truth of their Lord. The words were heated with crowds gathering to see the judge of instruction; a once vile creature, becoming a advocate for the God he hated with a deep disdain. After the dispute, the keepers were the outright losers and many more Shavronites came to salvation, but some still refused to believe.
News of this victory came quickly to Naasson and Seth's ear.
“The longer he lives the worst it is for us,” said Seth, “If he lives he'll have every Shavronite a believer. We'll be poor; we'll have no control; we'll---”
“Be quiet.” said Naasson, “Don't worry.”
“Don't worry?“ Seth said eyeing him. “When Reiach is gone ,I'll stop worrying. How long will you let your threat linger?”
The hyena smiled. The threat was still fresh in his mind.
“Tonight when the moon is at its full height in the sky. The Judge of Instruction will die.
And,” he said holding up a finger, “the town of Girgandale will be burned to the ground just for spite.”
There are many instances when God steps in to protect us, even if it comes from the most unlikely sources. Oblivious to Naasson or Seth was a young keeper listening around the corner. He had become a believer, but secretly hid it out of fear; for it was a rule that if any keeper was found to confess Kleos they would be publicly beaten. Nevertheless this young keeper left the temple in haste to relay the message to the town of Giragandale.
The young keeper was already having doubts of how his presence would be received. His doubts were realized when a group of Shavronites approached him. He would have been easily escorted off the premises if it was not for Ricco's careful eye. The ringtail wasted no words nor did the young keeper as he told every wicked endeavor that had been contrived by the head keepers.
“When?” said Ricco.
“Tonight,” the young keeper said, “The whole town and anyone left in it will be burned.”
“The keepers wouldn't dare. They're foul, but not that disgraceful.”
“I've have heard and seen worst,” said the young keeper giving warning, “The keepers will keep their word no matter what.”
“Point noted,” said Ricco. “ Come we must tell Aesop everything.”
The message was relayed once again. A solemn expression came over the bear's face. Calling a town meeting, he gave his most prudent advice for all to leave the town. The murmuring and complaining came quickly; it wasn't until Aesop explained further that all disagreement abated.
“I believe that despite the circumstance that God will show His good through this. When we gave Kleos lordship over our lives, we understood the trials that would come upon us---He wasn't making that up. I ask every creature here to pray with what little time we have. God will show you what do to. That is all.”
A final prayer was the closing and all returned to their homes. As the moon rose to its peak in the night sky, a group of keepers marched forcible to Girgandale. They were armed with torches, axes, clubs, and swords. If they had armor as well you would have mistaken them for a small army. But no war would happen, nor would any die on this night; for the entire town of Girgandale was disserted. Every home, every field, and every shop was left abandoned. Naasson and Seth led the band through the town setting fire to all the homes and crops. The flames reached like an arm towards the stars signaling this act in all its vulgarity. To God this was no loss, in fact, it was a great gain. With the threat being carried out to its full extent, the Holy One sent the believers, who would have been content to stay in Shavron, abroad. The eleven (to include other believers) went to different regions to preach of Kleos. To God the fire was no threat at all, but a perfectly timed event for His will to be done.