"Well, as I speak for myself, I'm sure I speak for everyone..."

Frac looked up to see Iofiel speaking these words.

"...When I say that we would like very much to fininsh hearing Frac's life proposition."

A hushed silence followed...then Haniel clapped...then Pronoia. A few claps could be heard within the gathering below, which cascaded into a full round of applause, as well as shouts of approval and whistles. The World One extended an arm to Frac, signaling for Frac to continue, then tightly folded that arm into the other. Frac walked back to the center of the summit. The crowd was thunderous. The World One's face became nearly as red as the scarlet robe. Frac felt an unusual sense of importance as if bestowed with a special honor...or duty...or...destiny.

"Thank you. Thank you all," Frac mildly said, suppressing a wide grin, "As I said, my lifelong dream is to ultimately be an artisan. Aside from that and before that there is many things that I would like to do. I'd like to help out where I can around the village and when opportunities arise, I would like very much to go on a journey, or a quest. An odyssey if it be that." Frac glanced to see if Raziel was in position. Nope. But, Frac seemed to think a dark shadow disappeared down the hall. "And from these journeys, I would recreate them into artwork. From the experiences I would tell in tale and create picture stories." Frac wondered where these words came from, actually this whole proposition, as Frac had not rehearsed it--only mildly fantasized of it.

Frac was addressing the entire gathering, but would turn to the attendees as well, so as to glance for Raziel. The World One seemed to notice this, and looked over to see what it was that was distracting Frac, but couldn't see the entrance from the position that the fancy chair was in. Raziel was still not there. Frac panicked.

"MOST of all," Frac said in a louder and slightly higher pitched voice, "I would like to thank the exalted World One for whose presence at this proceeding, I am most honored." This was enough to distract The World One back to Frac...for the moment. "It is not everyday that we are blessed with such dignity..." Frac was speaking much slower now, "and majesty..." but it didn't seem to be quite working, as The World One was pivoting between Frac and trying to bend around to see into the entrance. Raziel still wasn't there. "Oh-h, EXALTED One," The World One was evidently becoming suspicious, or so it seemed to Frac, "My sincere apologies to you," Frac said--enough to garner The World One's full attention, "For any disrespect that you feel I may have conveyed," Iofiel and Haniel seemed to be giving suspicious looks now, "On my proposal to paint other than chosen dwellings and monuments." Iofiel, then Haniel turned to look into the entrance, "AS IT WAS only my intent to present..." The World One stood up and moved toward the entrance. Raziel was still not there. "...a..new...idea." Frac felt as if dying. The World One walked into the entrance, and it appeared as if The World One stumbled, then looked down. From the darkness of the shadow a sandaled foot rose up from the floor into the light, with two hands holding the laces. It was Raziel, sitting tying the sandal laces. Whew! And smart--very smart! "So, I thank you all," Frac quickly said, and sat down beside Haniel and Pronoia.

Raziel quickly tied the laces, and followed The World One out to the center of the summit. Frac could see The World One's eyes from the seat next to Haniel. Frac could read those eyes, even from that seat. Frac had never known fear, not in thirteen years, but now Frac feared...feared that a terrible enemy had been made. Frac felt as if coming upon a fork in the path and taking the path that leads straight into the open jaws of the ancient gator--too late to back away--the only choice--step on the bottom jaw and hold the top jaw propped. But, sooner or later...sooner or later, the patience of the ancient gator wins out over vigor.

Raziel gave speech, stating the desire to ultimately be a Nuemerican scholar, to learn the knowledge of Nuemerica and of the world, and then to write scrolls recording the unfolding history of Nuemerican society. But like Frac, Raziel wanted to serve the village, experience as much as one could, and even venture a journey. Raziel received a thunderous round of accepting applause, except for a few heckles from the back. Frac seen that it was Resh, Tau and...Forneus. Frac looked over at The World One--sitting in that fancy chair with arms folded tight, eyes narrow, face slightly flushed. Haniel's arm wrapped around Frac and squeezed three times (meaning, "I love you"). A tear came to Frac's eye--another set of arms to keep that ancient gator's jaws propped open.

Continue.




© 2001 John Gnotek