Chapter One
Now, in The 42nd Year From The Beginning, I, Shy Fox, son of
Bold Fox and nephew of The Old Fox, pick up my pen and dip it in
ink to put down those things that happened to my beloved Uncle
and The Founder Of Our Faith. May The Lords guide my hand, that I
put down all as it was spoken to me, and as it did occur.
2 Now, in the third year of the reign of the assassin of our good
king Gray Cat, there lived in the city of the water god, Tr, a
merchant of rugs, pillows, and fine bedding, who was known by all
as The Old Fox. For he was the eldest of his clan and the leader
of his family.
3 Now each year, with the coming of winter, it was his custom to
journey across the desert to Muk, pick up the weaving he had
ordered the year before, pay his weavers, and arrange for the
work of the following season.
4 Now, as he prepared his caravan many friends came to warn him.
"You must take exxtra guards," they said, "your
company is too small. Each year crossing the desert becomes more
dangerous because of the fierce bandits roaming the
wilderness."
5 But The Old Fox was set in his ways. "Thirty years I have
made this journey," he said, "thirty years I have had
no trouble. I will make it again, without problem." So it
was, his caravan left Lo and began their trek down the desert
road. Passing the last outpost they were three days into the
desert, when they made camp by a large heap of rocks. Barely had
The Old Fox laid down, when a great commotion erupted in the
camp.
6 As The Old Fox emerged from his tent, he was struck a vicious
blow on the back of the head, and he fell to the ground. How long
he lay there, he did not know, but he heard many voices speaking.
7 "He is the one," a young, pleasant voice was saying.
"I tell you, he is the one! We have waited a long time. He
will bear our message to the people."
8 "He is old," another voice said, "The work will
be hard. It should be another man."
9 "He is strong," the pleasing voice argued, "and
he is good and trusted. Can you find a fault with him? Has he
ever cheated anyone? Has he ever lied? Does he not treat his
wives with the greatest respect? And many of his family already
work with us. They will teach him."
10 The Old Fox heard much murmuring, then the stronger voice
agreed, saying "Very well. He is the one. Take him."
11 The Old Fox felt someone touching him, and he opened his eyes.
There was much shouting in the camp, and screaming. But the
sounds of battle had passed. He looked up, and a young girl of
perhaps thirteen seasons was tugging his shoulder.
12 "Get up," she ordered, "move! You must hide!
They are killing the survivors. If they find you, they will kill
you."
13 Struggling, The Old Fox gained his feet, and the girl led him
from the camp. "We had no children with us, or, women,"
he asked. "Who are you? Where did you come from?"
14 "I am a Servant of The Light," the girl explained,
"a follower of Truth. Come! Here, in the rocks there is a
hiding place. Crawl in here, and go to sleep. I will return for
you and guide you."
15 The Old Fox wearily obeyed. Crawling into the rocks, he
concealed himself and barely had he laid down his head, then he
was asleep. And he dreamed strange dreams. The girl came to him,
holding out her hand. "Come," she said, "I must
take you to your father." 1
6 "My father," The Old Fox answered, "has been
dead for thirty years! Unless I am dead, how can you take me to
him?"
17 The girl took his hand and led him through the fog, and they
emerged into a beautiful countryside. The Old Fox asked
"Where are we?"
18 The girl stopped and looked at him. "This is The Spirit
World," she answered, "the Abode of The Dead. This is
The Land of The Blessed. All of us here are dead and have been
for a long time. But do not be afraid. You are only sleeping. You
have been brought here to see things, to learn things. You will
be returned to your body and taken home. Right now, come. There
are important things to be done, and our time is short."
19 They walked up a path to a pleasant looking house, and as they
entered the gate, The Old Fox's mother came to greet him.
"My eldest!" she cried, "Age has only sharpened
your good looks!"
20 "You are as much a liar, mother, as you ever were!"
The Old Fox answered. "I am the unfairest of men."
21 The girl laughed. "None can lie here," she said,
"but a mother can say what is in her heart. Is not beauty in
the eye of the one seeing?"
22 "Enough of this discussion," scolded The Old Fox's
mother. She warmly embraced her son. "Come," she
commanded, "your father has been told of your coming. He is
pleased that you are The Chosen One. That The Honor falls upon
our family gives us the greatest of all joys!"
23 "What honor?" asked The Old Fox. A voice from behind
them said "The honor of bringing down the gods; of revealing
The Truth of them to all men, and raising your people form
ignorance."
24 The Old Fox turned and saw his father. He went forward and
seized his shoulders in the manner of men's greeting, and his
father seized his shoulders in return. Then The Old Fox noticed
his father's youthful appearance and remembered how weak and old
he had been when he died. And he realized also, that his mother
was young and fair.
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