The Redmadafa
Page 23
* * * * * * *
Brook walked in the house and stood speechless. The luster
in her eyes and the smile on her face faded. Baskets lined the
hal way. Clothes draped the furniture. Her mother had already
packed most of the house and was ready to load the cart. Brook
looked completely different. She glowed. She had and extra
bounce in her step, joy stretched across her face and her eyes
sparkled with delight.
“Mom, what are you doing?” asked Brook, shocked to see
her mother packing for the new land.
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Her mother emerged from the kitchen and disappeared
down the hal . “Hurry and pack your things, we’re leaving.”
Brook followed. “What do you mean we’re leaving? We can’t
leave Thunder Juice Town.”
“Brook, don’t argue with me. Your brothers are already
packed and it’s almost time to assemble at the gate.”
Brook grabbed a shirt out of her mother’s hand and threw it
back in the drawer. “You can’t do this. You can’t do this. Mom,
it’s a lie. I knew his voice the moment he spoke. He is the one I told you about. Lucky, the strange man I met at The Scorpion
Pass Gate.”
“Impossible,” replied her mother picking the shirt back up
and stuffing it in a basket. “He’s an eagle and a beautiful one at that—the most magnificent creature I have ever seen or heard.
Didn’t you see and hear what he said? The serpent is coming. He
is going to destroy Thunder Juice Town and all that stay behind.”
“Mother,” Brook only said ‘mother’ when she was real y
angry or wanted her undivided attention. “You and everyone
else have been deceived. He is the serpent.”
Brook’s mother swung, slapping her in the face. Stunned,
they both stood there, staring at each other in disbelief.
Brook grabbed her cheek and cried. “The Augur rescued
me from the garden and the fal s. What that eagle described the
other day is exactly what I was trapped in. I saw who he real y
was and I saw The Augur, and he is not The Augur!”
“Why are you doing this to me?” cried her mother plopping
down on the bed. “I am a single mother Brook, trying to raise
three children. We barely get by on what I make. I am so tired of living payday to payday. This is a great opportunity for us and I don’t want to miss it.”
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Brook sat down beside her mother and took hold of her hand.
“No matter how good a lie may sound, it is still a lie and no lie comes from the truth. Just stop and think about what is happening.
If he is so powerful and strong, and can take us to a new land and protect us from the serpent, then why can’t he defend us here?”
Her mother searched her thoughts, running that question
over and over through her mind. She began to wonder—What if
she’s right? What if he is the serpent? Why can’t he defend us here?
She put her hand on top and squeezed but didn’t say anything.
“If we don’t go, what are we going to do? This sounded so
good—maybe…too good to be true.”
Through the window Brook saw Tack running down the
street. He jumped over the hedge clearing several toys in a single bound and dashed across the yard and onto the porch. Brook
jumped up and ran down the hal way opening the door right
before he knocked it down. Not anticipating the welcome, he fel
face first right on the floor.
“Hey, why did you do that?” he said, gesturing at Brook com-
pletely out of breath. “Mom. You won’t believe what’s happening
at the gates and in the square. Everyone’s yelling and fighting
with the elders from the temple.”
“What? Are you sure?” asked Brook.
“Yeah. Rinox said the eagle was the serpent and he wants to
lure everyone away from Thunder Juice Town to kill them. He
said the new land is a lie and…”
“Hang on there tiger. Slow down, I can hardly understand
you,” said his mother now standing in the front room.
Tack stood up and wiped himself off. He walked to the ice
crate to get something to drink. He opened it and noticed the
ice was almost melted. “The temple servants are saying the eagle is the serpent. Rinox called him the ‘Father of Lies.’ Boy, you
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should see how mad the people are at him and the other servants
of the temple.”
“Mom, Rinox was the one who came for me when The
Augur left me at The Redmadafa just outside of town. Now do
you believe me?”
“Get Timmy.”
“Where are we going?”
“I want to hear what Rinox and the others are saying for
myself.”
* * * * * * *
High thick wal s protected Thunder Juice Town. Eight gates
ushered people in and out during the day and were tightly shut
up at night. Numerous attacks were waged against Old Juicy in
the past, but the wal s always held. Zion, Dung, Golden, Lion,
Flower, North, New, and Jaffa gates where conveniently spread
out around the wal s allowing people to come and go in every
direction. The servants of the temple stood at each gate pro-
claiming the truth about the eagle, deciphering his lies and
unfolding his malicious scheme. Brook and her mother and
brothers arrived at Lion’s gate just as Rinox shouted:
“That’s not what I’m saying. I know you have the right to
believe what you want. But, whether or not you want to admit
it, this town was created and established on the principles of the ancient scrol s of the temple—Scrol s that were written by those inspired by the Great Spirit of The Augur. It is because of his
Word this town has flourished the way it has. If you step outside of those boundaries...”
“We’ve heard all of this before Rinox. We don’t want any
more of your visions about what is right. If you would have told 223
Dr. Gary Warren Foshee
us pleasant things, or prophesied il usions, maybe we would’ve
listened to you. But no, it’s always, ‘Leave this way, get off this path.’ Wel , we’re tired of being confronted with your temple
rules,” resounded a large distinguished thunder beast from the
crowd.
“Yeah! If the Augur loves us so much, then where is he?”
echoed another.
“He’s abandoned us, that’s where. He’s probably afraid of the
serpent.”
Many people turned and started to walk away casting their
hands at Rinox, shaking their heads in disbelief.
“The Augur is always at work,” said Rinox. “Every human,
creature, and beast of this town has ties to The Augur. He flew
day and night to save your mothers and fathers, your aunts and
uncles, your sisters and brothers, and your great, great, greats.
If you leave these wal s and The Redmadafa, you will not thrive.
You will be uprooted and stripped of everything you’ve ever
known. All your new growth will waste away. It will not take a
strong hand or many fingers to pluck up your new roots. Even if
you are transplanted, will you bloom? No! You will waste away
completely when the East wind st
rikes you. You will wither away
in the furrows where you were planted? Lucifer is a liar. He is
the serpent!”
The crowd moved in to seize him. Others picked up stones
to stone him. Their anger and frustration were clearly palpable.
“How do we know you’re not the serpent, Rinox?”
“You and your teachings are the Serpent.”
Rinox had said all he could say. He dusted his feet off
and replied, “If that’s what you think, then you’ve…been
Bamboozled!”
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C H A P T E R 1 1
The Sea Throne
You are a man, not a god, though you
think you are as wise as one.
Dust stirred in the warm afternoon air outside of Lion’s Gate.
Golden rays of sunlight streaked the skyline as the excite-
ment of the unknown, the mysterious, the thrill of adventure,
twinkled from eye to eye. In town, the sound of chains fettered to cattle and cart, clanged down alleyways and crossroads; stamp-ing hooves and rumbling wheels carried through wal s and doors
to those sitting inside—those who had decided to stay. Silence
hovered inside homes as people listened, wondering if they had
made the right decision.
Outside the wal s, voices resonated across the open meadow
and carried down the trail toward the mountain pass. People
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Dr. Gary Warren Foshee
from all over town and outlying vil ages filtered out the gates
into the mountains. Light-brown grass-woven baskets, tied shut
with long strands of sawgrass, balanced atop heads while oth-
ers dangled from backs and shoulders as the crowd jostled to get underway pushing and shoving each other with anxious anticipation. Herds of cattle, flocks, beasts, wagons and carts piled high with baskets, trunks and other garments, merged into the mountain paths leaving long grooves cut into them.
Mack and his mother were in the first group that left for
the garden. They covered their mouths and looked down at the
trail, blindly following through the flurry of dust lingering over the mob.
Large trol s (Serpent slayers, proclaimed Lucifer) dauntlessly
led them to their doom. The trol s led them into the mountains
over the rolling hil s and around the bends. Arriving at the fork days later, talk spread of riches, fame, and fortune and how it
would all be divided. The trol s turned right on the broad path
and continued until reaching the switchback. They followed it
through the canyon and proceeded through the thick black fog,
until final y reaching the gate several days later.
Emerging from the fog, eyes raised, hearts pounded and feet
danced in anticipation. The garden was amazing—better than the
eagle had described. Waterfal s poured purple mountain majesty
from high aloft. Jewels hung from the gate and glittered brightly in the sunlight.
Upon entering the gate, a golden mosaic path invited curi-
ous spectators to Lucky’s caricature carnival, where he waited
with arms full of amazing prizes, games and fantastical y fla-
vored food. Gog clowns juggled; moogles swung from trapeze;
thunder beast rides for little children; ragooles dazzled from the 226
THE REDMADAFA
air. Little caricature creatures riding large honey buzzers passed out delicious treats: Blossom Berry cotton candy, Mushy Mart
cream pies, Blue Tongue Sickle licky-sticks and Brumpel Melon
slushies. Lucky stood in the center with a sea horn to his mouth.
Proudly, he announced:
“Step right up, to the game of luck;
‘Two in wins,’ he said with a grin.
Don’t worry about the fee, it’s all free.
Just a little toss, to col ect your dross.
Step inside the old oak, to undue his yoke.
Col ect your prize, with a spectacular surprise.
Deposit the ransom, for a brand new mansion,
One at a time…no cutting in line.”
He danced and he jumped and he beat his chest, this time he
would final y fulfill his soul quest. So he took the children and the little babies, and he bounced them and bounced them on his
beastly red knees.
Mack’s face looked like a rainbow. Red cotton candy, green
melon slushy, yellow mushy mart cream pie and blue tongue
sickle covered his face. He handed his mother a bag of cotton
candy and with his mouth full said, “Try this, it’s good.”
She pulled off a handful, “Ummm. That is good.”
Mack ran through the garden his mind filled with dreams of
riches and wealth. He searched through the trees and rolled in
the long green grass. Mack was just like other boys. He longed to do something great. Now that his Dad was gone, he felt responsible for his mother and wanted to show her that he could provide
for them and make her proud.
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He walked over and got in line. He constantly looked to
the side and over shoulders waiting for his turn at the ‘Game of Luck.’ The girl in front of him walked up to the line, picked up the first bag and landed it dead center. She picked up the next
one, squeezed in it her hand and did the same. The clown handed
her a shiny silver coin and pointed toward the Titan across the
stream.
Mack stepped up and grabbed the first bag. He jiggled it
around in his hands a couple of times and then focused before
letting it go.
It missed.
His stomach coiled-up in knots.
He took a deep breath before reaching over and grabbing the
second bag. He threw it right in the middle of the round crate.
He grabbed the last one. He breathed in slowly and then exhaled.
He leaned over the line as far as he could and tossed the bag. The bag spun through the air, hit the edge of the crate, seesawed, and then fell in. The clown handed him and his mother a silver coin.
“Son, that’s the best right hand I think I ever did see,” said the ugliest clown he had ever seen.
With a sigh of relief on his face he turned toward his mom
and replied, “Mom, now we can collect our mansion. See, every-
thing’s going to be alright. I bet we’ll have the biggest one with the biggest yard. Boy, if Dad could only see us now.”
They followed the path through the garden and crossed
the rock bridge making their way to the Titan. Mack’s tongue
was bluish green from all the delirious treats. In line, they both dreamt of the new house and life they would now have.
One by one, the clown let them in;
waiting for the knock he heard within.
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“Next” he said, as he raised his stick;
listening for the sound of the terrible trick.
Mack eager to provide for his mother, and to prove to himself
that he was not afraid, stepped forward and waited for the door
to open.
“I’ll be right back. Mom, we’re final y going to be somebody,”
he said with confidence. “Everything is going to be okay. Trust
me. I know what I’m doing.”
The door opened and closed. Inside, hundreds of shiny things
filled the wal s and ledges—more than were there before. Mack
paused, his eyes spel bound by all the glitter. Sitting on top of the stone was a beautiful girl with a long white lace draped over her head; gentle folds of ornate patterns flowed over the sto
ne and
ended with red tassels. Their eyes locked as he strutted over and introduced himself.
“Here,” she said softly. “Place the ransom here to collect your
mansion.”
Filled with confidence, he proudly took the silver coin out of
his pocket, twirled it through his fingers and flipped it into the air—it spun and spun, and spun and spun, and fell right into the hole—Click!
* * * * * * *
Leviathan descended to the bottom of the sea with Caboose. The
Augur had prepared a place in Leviathan’s bel y especial y for the journey. He took the long route and traveled for days until reaching the treacherous shores of The Sea Throne.
High jagged wal s protected the island. Watchtowers and
terraced battlements overlooked the sea from all directions.
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Ragooles patrolled the sky, while gogs and Grike Trol s—riding
Magondreas—searched the grounds. In the middle of the Island
was a large crystal fortress with hundreds of peaks rising into
the clouds—Mageddon’s throne. It was surrounded by crawler
perimeter defenses. Dark red lava flowed over its sides, hissing into a boiling moat below. Black onyx lined the entrance leading up to The Fire Gate. Pit Trol s stood guard at the gate and
gogs kept watch from the towers. Once inside, serpents lined the streets policing captives to the colosseum.
Leviathan made his approach from the West. The waters
around it teamed with all kinds of deadly creatures. Although
none compared to the gargantuan size of Leviathan, collectively
they could destroy him. A cave ran underneath the island all the way to the colosseum; this was where all bodies emptied of souls were loaded for transport back to the valley, to be strewn across its dry floor. Although heavily guarded, Leviathan had the advantage; his body was so large that once inside the cave, nothing else could fit.
A guard atop the Western wall casual y threw small pebbles
into the water below. He watched small rings ripple and then fade and then noticed a dark shadow slowly rising from the murky
depths. Realizing it was the creature his captain had warned him about, he jostled from his position and sounded the alarm, catching most of the guards in a half-hearted slumber. In the water,
hundreds of sea monsters rammed him from the side, biting him
with iron teeth, but his body armor was thick, impenetrable. He
plowed through them like an ox plowing a clay field after the