| The Sabbath Chapter Seven In the holy shrine, of the Insectorr and Crabytese the eldest sage had closed the book of the first apostle. He looked around and saw that fewer and fewer people came to the sermons. It was not hard to understand why. Many believed that the occupation was a form of divine punishment for not obeying the apostles� decrees. Others formed tiny terrorist sects and tried to fight against those that sought to enslave them. Others still were too weak to believe in anything after the world was washed in the apostles� tears. And yet despite all the hardships � some always came. Some desired and yearned to hear of how life was and how through faith � it one day might be. �Thus ends today�s service. Go now with the blessing of the apostles.� The sage requested with a smile. The congregation began to filter out � all except one. He was still praying. The sage noticed this and slowly approached him. �What is it you seek?� he asked. The young Insectorr looked up at the sage. �Peace. But I know not how to find it.� He replied. �Peace comes from within. To find it � you must search within yourself.� He stated rationally. The youth sighed and nodded. �I know. But I can not see it with all of the suffering around me. This is not what the apostles wanted for Quagmiria. In their grand design � in their infinite wisdom � it could not be.� he stated emotionally. �You do not believe this is penance for straying away from the true path � and the will of the apostles?� the sage asked curiously. �I can not believe that. Anyone that would give the gift of life to a lifeless world would not be so shallow as to take it away because the children have strayed. This occupation is no divine punishment � it is just a nightmare.� The youth stated seriously. �I see. But what can we do? These enemies are stronger � faster.� The sage commented. The youth got up and looked at the picture that depicted the three apostles when they first visited the world. �I don�t know. I have prayed for guidance � but still this doubt plagues me.� he answered. The sage listened to the youth and sat down beside him. �You say you seek peace � do you seek peace for yourself � Quagmiria � or all?� he asked. The youth looked over at the sage and tried to understand the question. �I-I don�t understand.� He replied. �Do you seek to bring peace to yourself. By doing so what you see around you would not bring you pain � but understanding. Do you seek to bring peace to Quagmiria? By doing this � all of the children would possess the same level of understanding. Do you seek to bring peace to all? By doing this � you bring understanding to all.� The sage explained. �To all? Is such a thing truly possible? Such a statement would include C�an and those that serve him. They do not seek peace � they seek to hurt, to scare, to terrorize.� He stated. He looked over and saw that the sage had a calm look about him. �I am confused holiness. Is such a thing possible?� he asked. �Who is to say what is possible and what is not? You? Me? C�an and his servants? No � only the apostles can judge that. All we can do is follow their teachings and try to ensure that Quagmiria endures.� The sage replied. �Perhaps holiness � perhaps there is one who can help. In your sermons you spoke of a prophet � a creature that served the will of the apostles. Perhaps he can give me the answers I need.� He suggested. �The prophet Parisitica has not been seen or heard from in over a hundred years. Not since the rain of tears flooded the land. How is it that you will find he who has vowed never to return?� the sage asked. �I � I don�t know. But if he truly desires to follow the will of the apostles � how can he in good conscience do so if he ignores the pleas of the faithful? Ever since I was old enough I have followed the decrees. I have devoted myself to the service to my people and sought nothing in return save the quiet praise of the apostles.� He stated emotionally. �But � you haven�t answered my initial question have you? Do you seek peace for all?� he asked. The youth sighed and shook his head. �I can not lie � I have hate in my heart. I can forgive the sins of the Desorns and even those of the Parisauns � but all around me I can see nothing but pain caused by C�an and his evil servants. I want to free Quagmiria from his evil grasp.� He confessed. The sage smiled and slowly got up. �You remind me much of another Insectorr I knew when I was young.� He said. �Who?� the youth asked. �Myself. I once stood where you do now � but my hate kept me here.� He said. �You hate?� he asked in disbelief. �Just because I am a sage does not mean I can not feel. When I see my people suffer I am angered. But my anger was not just at C�an � it was at the Desorns the Parisauns and at us for leaving our world. Through prayer and penance � I was able to empty the hate from my heart � but it took a great deal of time. If you at your youthful age can make peace with the Desorns and Parisauns � peace is not as far away as you might believe.� He said rationally. �But � it doesn�t put me any closer to helping my people.� He commented. �All must serve the will of the apostles in our own ways. Perhaps � just perhaps, you will be the one that will be destined to find the missing prophet Parisitica. If you are able to do that � not much will be beyond your grasp. Before you go � what is your name?� he asked. �I am known as Sie.� The young Insectorr replied as he made his way out of the small temple. The sage looked solemnly at the door the young Insectorr had exited through. In his years he had seen many speaking of finding the prophet � but something told him that this one was different. �Sor � San. Attend me.� he called out. Two Crabytese flew out from the back and knelt down before the sage. �There is an Insectorr named Sie. He is on a quest to find Parisitica. Go now and aid him in this endeavor. I believe he is the chosen one � the one that may be able to free our world from the menace of C�an.� He said solemnly. �The chosen one? Are you sure?� Sor asked. �I have spoken with him. I have no doubt.� He replied. �We will gather our things and leave immediately.� San added. The two flew away. The sage knelt down at an altar and began to pray to the apostles that Sie be successful on his quest. *** Sie stood for a moment outside of the small temple. From there he could see the refinery that pumped pollutants into the air. He looked up at the sky � it was the same purplish color it always was due to the pollutants. �I can only hope that Parisitica can help me.� he said to himself. �He will.� A voice commented. He turned around and saw San and Sor, two Crabytese battle monks. �What are you two doing?� he asked curiously. �The great sage has instructed us to aid you in your quest.� Sor replied. �But why?� he replied curiously. �The great sage sees in you something big. Perhaps big enough to find the legendary prophet and acquire his wisdom. It is our duty to aid you.� San added. Sie looked at the two Crabytese monks and sighed. �The sage really believes in me?� he asked hesitantly. �Let me put it to you this way � others have sought the prophet � you are the only one that he sent people to aid. In fact, the great sage even believes that you are the chosen one � the one that can deliver our fragile Quagmiria from the influence of C�an.� Sor added. Sie shook his head and stepped away from the two monks. �Uh-uh. I�m just one of many children � I�m no chosen one.� He replied. �If such is what you desire to believe � we won�t mention it again. But be that as it may � we will still aid you in your noble quest and we will do everything in our power to see that you remain unharmed.� San said respectfully. �Well, thanks I guess. Let�s go.� Sie stated dryly. The three flew up from the temple and began their flight down to the swampy surface of Quagmiria. *** On the lower branches in the tree below the temple, the three questers stopped. Down below were a small legion of C�antoras that were doing their dark master�s work. The three moved away from the edge and looked around. �There are even more of them here than there was before.� Sie stated calmly. �Don�t lose heart yet. The journey has just begun.� San replied. �The great sage said that C�an is planning something big. He doesn�t know what � but he knows that it will happen soon. More ships come and go � more of our brothers and sisters are taken away � more C�antoras appear � all of these point to a bigger design.� Sor commented. �When I went on a pilgrimage towards the Great Life Tree a few days back � I saw many of my brothers and sisters on the lower branches. All they wanted to do was pray by the tree. The C�antora turned them away. When they refused to go � they killed them. I don�t know what upset me more � the fact that all of those poor souls were murdered � or that I did nothing to stop it.� Sie continued. �There was nothing that you could have done. Those that journey to pray by the tree have no fight in them. Had you intervened or tried to � you would have perished with them. All we can do is pray for those who have perished and hope that they sit with the apostles and the first children.� San commented. �I suppose.� He replied. �If I may. I have a story. About ten days ago � I was on my way to the village where Pollyne and Ecoseed resided. I understood that their views on the words from the apostles differed from those of mine � but I wanted to share my beliefs with them � if they would do the same for me. I was turned away by one of their monks. He said that ours was a way of peace � and that it would not serve them. I honored his wishes and left. I set up camp on the branches above the village. That night � I heard that monk inciting others. They were all going to go to the tree and take it back by force. Minutes later � a dozen or so objects fell through the branches. One fell through my campsite. The objects were C�antaris. Everyone was slaughtered and the village was up in flames. I tell you this not to discourage you Sie � I do so to enlighten you. You are seeking to free your people � to do so there will be much peril.� Sor concluded. �But how could C�an have known they were plotting?� Sie asked. �Perhaps the black seed helped him � perhaps someone told him � I suppose it doesn�t matter as the end result was the same. Let us wait here and meditate. If our quest is to be successful � our minds must be clear.� San answered. Sie nodded. The three sat down and did several silent prayers to their apostles. *** Sometime later, the three stopped. They got up and looked down below. All of the C�antora that were down below had disappeared. The three looked around to be sure that the coast was indeed clear. �All of them have vanished. Sie, I forgot to ask this before we left � but exactly where are we going? I mean we are seeking the water prophet Parisitica and the entire planet is covered in water.� San asked. �I know it will sound foolish � but I was going to pray at the tree. I know it is dangerous � but if anyone could aid me � it would be the first children.� Sie stated hesitantly. �It doesn�t sound foolish to me � a little dangerous perhaps � but not foolish. Have you a plan to get passed the C�antora? Our sources have informed us that there are many that operate near there.� Sor asked. �I � I haven�t thought that far ahead.� Sie admitted. �Then � if you don�t object, could we offer you our ideas on this issue. I mean, if you are the chosen one as the great sage believes � we don�t want you walking into a dangerous situation unprepared.� San offered. �I�m curious � you say the sage believes I�m the chosen one � do you?� he asked curiously. Sor and San looked at each other for a moment and sighed. �Truthfully � I don�t know. The great sage has been waiting for his chosen one for a great deal of time. You could be the one � but I don�t know.� Sor replied honestly. Sie looked over at Sor and could tell that he shared San�s views on that. �Good to know that I�m not the only one with doubts about that. I believe you were about to mention a plan?� Sie asked in a friendly manner. The three sat down and began to discuss all that was going on near and around the Great Life Tree and how they would get through all of it. *** Half a day later, the three were hidden in the bushes on a branch several meters above ground level. From there they could see the odd looking temples that were situated around the Great Life Tree. True to what the two monks had heard � there were hundreds of C�antoras moving from temple to temple. �Whatever happens � may the blessing of the apostles sustain us.� Sor whispered. The three lowered their heads and did a silent prayer. When they were done, they looked around and then quickly flew from their hiding place and landed on a branch of the Great Life Tree. �Sie � you go on. San and I will keep watch here. Should trouble arise � Sor will aid you. I will do what I can to buy your escape.� San instructed. Sie nodded and carefully began to climb up the tree. The two monks watched as he climbed to make sure that no branches or leaves were knocked out of place. When the Insectorr vanished into a knothole higher up � the two sighed and resumed their watch. *** Up above, Sie looked around the old chamber. The wood within the hole was rotted and deformed due to the massive pollutants in the waters and in the air. Just by standing there � he could feel the pain the tree was feeling. �How could everything have gone so wrong?� he quietly asked. He forced back the emotions and slowly made his way to the center of the chamber. With each step he took � he began to hear voices. He stopped and looked around � there was nothing in the room save himself. He continued into the dark chamber. The voices were there again. �Who�s there?� he whispered. There was no answer � but he heard the sound of a young child singing. He looked over to the right and saw a young Insectorr happily singing the apostles� decrees. �What�s your name?� Sie asked. The child stopped singing and looked over at him. Just then � all happiness drained from his face. Sie was going to ask what was wrong when something seemed to emerge from the shadows behind the Insectorr � it was a C�antora. Sie tried to scream out for the child to run � but no sound came out. He watched petrified as the C�antora led the child away into the darkness. Sie could feel his hands shaking. �What is happening?� he asked himself. �You are not the one.� A voice from the darkness whispered. �Who said that? Who are you?� Sie asked. �You are wasting your time.� another voice added. �The prophet will not see you. You are wasting your time.� a third voice stated. �You are as impure as the rest.� A fourth voice commented. �I never said I was pure.� Sie retorted. �Look at the young pup. Chosen one indeed.� A fifth voice added. �I never said I was the chosen one! Who are you?� he shouted. �Accept the darkness. There is nothing you can do about it.� A sixth voice suggested. Sie was getting ready to argue with the voices when he stopped. He was seeking to bring peace to his world and end the fighting with the Desorns and the Parisauns. If he was to do this � he would have to remove the pain and hate from his heart. He closed his eyes and sat down. The voices continued to taunt him and dissuade him, but he blocked them out and quietly chanted the apostles� decrees. Within moments � the voices slowly faded back into the darkness from whence they came. "Come with us.� a voice whispered. Sie felt as though he was hit by a tree branch in a windstorm. He slowly began to open his eyes. As he did � he felt as though he had gone blind. He quickly covered his eyes and fell to the ground. He then slowly opened his eyes again. This time, his eyes adjusted to the brightness around him. he slowly got up and looked in awe at the landscape around him. the fields were lush and green � the rivers were small and pure � the sky was beautiful shade of green and blue. In the distance he could see a large tree. �The Great Life Tree.� He exclaimed. He flew through the open fields towards the symbol of prosperity on Quagmiria. As he got closer � he noticed that the tree was much smaller than it should have been � in fact � all of the trees were. But everything was so alive that nothing seemed to matter. �I � I can hardly believe that this beautiful place is actually Quagmiria.� He stated happily. Within what seemed to be minutes of flying, the Insectorr found himself at the base of The Great Life Tree. Just by touching it he could feel how alive the tree was. �We have been waiting for you.� A familiar voice stated. Sie instantly recognized it as one of those that were trying to turn him away from his quest. He turned and was about to reply when he saw who was talking to him. Six beings that stood twice as tall as him and that were ghostlike. He backed away � he knew that he was before the first children. �You � you were the ones that were trying to turn me away?� he asked timidly. �Many come to the tree Sie. Only the worthy may pray with us.� Ecoseed said. �What do you mean by worthy?� Sie asked. �We do not mean to sound elitist. But many come here with hate in their hearts. Those that do are turned away.� Pollyne answered calmly. Sie looked at the first children and tried to think of everything he wanted to ask � but no one question could be singled out. �Calm yourself. You have much to ask � we will aid you in whatever way you can.� Insectorr stated calmly. Sie looked up as his ancestor and sighed. �You must know why I am here.� He began. �You seek the prophet Parisitica. The one who aided our children.� Swamplop answered quietly. Sie looked over at him in amazement. He had seen many of his children and none sounded anything like him. �Yes. I seek the prophet. I know that many of the children have strayed from the true path � myself included � but the time has come to bring everyone back. Even if I am the chosen one that the sage believes me to be � I can not do this without help.� Sie commented sincerely. �The chosen one you say? Humility is the path the chosen one must travel. Others have tried to use the title and have paid the ultimate price for their folly. Do you claim this title?� Krokos asked seriously. Sie studied the first children and shook his head. �I do not pretend to be a savior � I just do what I must for my people. If my honest efforts make another child smile � that in itself is the reward. In my past, I have done much for people to ease their burdens and sufferings. I have been told that there was greatness in me by many � but I do not seek their praise.� He answered. �A pretty answer Sie � but you evaded the question.� Ecoseed commented. �If you were to ask � I would say no.� he replied. �I see. I agree with what those others said. There is greatness in you.� Pollyne commented sincerely. �Indeed. But we are getting off the topic. You seek the prophet. We will help you. We will give you four holy signs that will lead you to a place where you might be able to converse with Parisitica. The reason I say might � is because he may not grant you an audience. He felt deeply betrayed when the rain of tears washed Quagmiria. But lift your heart and know that we will talk with him and try to get him to talk with you. Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be.� Krokos stated sincerely. �Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be.� Pollyne quietly chanted. Sie began to feel sleepy. �Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be.� Insectorr quietly chanted. Sie slowly fell to the ground. �Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be.� Swamplop quietly chanted. Sie struggled to remain conscious. �Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be.� Crabytese quietly chanted. Sie began to fall back into the darkness. �Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be.� Ecoseed quietly chanted. The darkness was completely around him. Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be. They all whispered in head. Sie woke up and found himself back in the rotted knothole of the Great Life Tree. �Be true to the teachings of the apostles. Be true to others. Be true to yourself. Do this and the true path will always lead you to where you must be.� Sie said to himself. He quietly made his way towards the exit to the room. Once there he looked down and saw both Sor and San waiting. He quietly climbed out of the knothole and made his way down to where they were waiting. �Was your pilgrimage successful?� Sor asked curiously. �I believe so. I saw the first children.� He answered. �You did?� San asked. �Yes. They were living in the forests that the sages describe in the scriptures.� He replied. The two were going to ask more when dozens of C�antoras filtered out from the temples below and gathered. �If they notice us�� San whispered. �Shh.� Sie replied. one of them was about to look up and notice them when a bubble of water burst and threw slime on him. the three heard what could only be described as C�antora laughter. The crowd dispersed and went back into the temples. �That was too close.� Sor whispered. �Let�s get away from here before someone else just happens to look up.� Sie suggested. The three quickly flew away from the tree. They hovered a safe distance away and looked at the old dying tree. �If we can find the prophet � he might be able to tell us of a way to heal it.� Sor commented. The three smiled at the thought of restoring the Great Life Tree back to its former glory. On that thought the three flew away to find the lost prophet Parisitica. |