The Redmadafa
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Now your head he shall smite!”
Weakness turned to strength; despair to hope. Temple ser-
vants climbed anything still standing, to see The White Wooly.
Around the mountain ridge, glory and honor appeared, lead-
ing captives in his train—an army too numerous to count: the
souls of those that had died in the valley, now free, paid for by an Eternal Fee.
“Traegor, what do you want us to do?” asked the mushroom
clinging atop his shoulder.”
He searched his thoughts and replied, “This is a new story.
The old is gone and the new unfolds. With The White Wooly for
us, how can anyone stand against us?” He turned and scowled at
the enemy, while giving his final orders with a raised voice. “We wait. The White Wooly is not what you think it is.”
Slithler’s blood shot to the top of his head. “Impossible!” he
shouted, screaming at Legion. “I thought you killed all of them!”
Legion stood speechless. He moved away from Slithler fear-
ing his wrath. “Secure the East Gate. Man the wal s. Don’t let him step one foot back into this town!”
Slithler’s army panicked. Swords turned on each other, cut-
ting and slashing anything around them. Beasts, delirious at
his site, tore through town fighting and destroying themselves.
Slithler ascended into the air, trying to gain control of his forces.
Confused, he flew to the East Gate and landed in front of The
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White Wooly. Legion sounded the dragon’s horn, stopping the
frenzy and re-establishing order. They quickly maneuvered
through the streets and scattered across the wal . Both man and
beast, watched and listened.
Slithler kept his distance. Years of injustice, debts, pain and
sorrow swept before him. A small bloodstain soaked The Wooly’s
side. A voice…a voice that sounded like the rushing of a mighty
river, resounded from his sharp double-edged tongue:
“It is finished, the fee has been paid.” He looked straight into Slithler’s eyes and with full authority he triumphantly said, “You are trespassing on my land. You are standing on Holy Ground.
Remove thy self at once or you and all your forces will suffer the full extent of my wrath.”
“Legion!” shouted Slithler. “Cut to pieces anyone that leaves
his post. The fee has not been paid. It will never be paid until I am standing atop the fiery stones, with the head of His Majesty
in my hands.”
Slithler shook violently, his serpent skin boiled and bub-
bled, col apsing-in on itself until only a pile of ashes remained, while his army gaped and hissed. From the ashes, a small red
creature stretched and grew. Growing and growing, the puppet
master emerged revealing his true identity. Mageddon, the sev-
en-headed red dragon, formed from the black ash.
“I am the heir to His Majesty’s throne. I was anointed and
ordained to sit on the fiery stones. You! You cast me from his presence. You blocked my way and took away my place of authority.”
His heads twisted toward the wall and the Northern Celestial
Guard, “The Augur stands before you. Kill him! Kill him now!
Take back what is rightful y ours.”
All seven heads erupted, bathing The White Wooly in a mol-
ten flame of fire. Mageddon’s forces attacked. Thousands of them 332
THE REDMADAFA
flew over the wall toward The Augur. Miaphas raised the ram’s
horn to his lips and blew, signaling Atrokus, who was waiting
with the Southern Celestial Guard in the broken remains of the
temple. He flanked Mageddon and his army.
Gogs, thunder beasts, crawlers, trol s and every dark beast of
Mageddon’s army pleaded for their lives, running blindly for the mountains, groveling back to the murky holes from which they
had crawled. The White Wooly’s seven horns reached through
the fire and grabbed each of Mageddon’s heads rendering him
powerless. Galamus, Atrokus and the rest of the Southern army
surrounded his remaining forces, blocking all means of escape.
Surrounded with nowhere to run or hide, the battle belonged to
The Augur.
The White Wooly walked toward Mageddon, and as he did,
his wool peeled off, revealing an Almighty Warrior Eagle. Miaphas landed beside The Augur, and taking a large silver chain, silver made from the dross of every coin that had ever been deposited
in the stone, he bound Mageddon.
With all authority in heaven and on earth, The Augur
exclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to His Majesty, but by me. If you would have known me, you would
have known His Majesty: For, I Am His Majesty!”
Mageddon’s army cowered before His Majesty begging for
mercy. “Miaphas,” said His Majesty, “Take Mageddon and his
army and cast them into the Abyss.”
“Yes your Majesty.”
“Seal it and place Cherub and a flaming sword over it. Justice
has returned and filled his cup. My peace will inhabit this land once again.
* * * * * * *
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Traegor, still atop the tree, watched the battle from afar. Behind him, the temple lay in ruin. Majestic towers that once reached
into the sky, sparkling light and filled with splendor, now lay in shambles, destroyed by pride, bowing with the weight of disbelief. Mounds of rubble covered the sanctuary, trapping the temple members in the tunnels below.
Underneath the ruins, dusty eyes and eager ears opened,
listening for any sounds of hope. Onuka, with the strength of
others, pushed with all their might to open the tunnel door, but it wouldn’t budge. Broken windows and ceiling, cried out beneath
the rubble echoing up and down the tunnels.
“Mommy, are we going to die in here?” asked a little round
face with long eye lashes filled with dust.”
Her mother, scared and uncertain, brushed her battered
fingers through her hair and squeezed her tight, “I don’t know
sweetheart. I don’t know.”
Caboose was exhausted. He sat by his mother and sister, too
tired to think. Too tired to worry about what was going to hap-
pen. Frail whispers bounced from side-to-side. A small howler
peaked out from a blanket, secure in a calm quietness that
seemed to sooth hearts and minds. Faint sounds muffled out-
side. Stone’s shattered and broke against each other. Traegor and all the others dug through the night trying to clear the massive mound of debris. But, their efforts were to no end. There was
too much. The crumbled temple remains smothered the tunnels,
holding the people hostage. Even with the help of the men and
equipment from the mines, they were only able to clear a small
amount of the mountain before them.
At dawn, a dark crimson, scarlet rose, candy apple, ruby red
sun peaked over the eastern mountain-tops and slowly danced
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THE REDMADAFA
across the town. The stars dimmed as soft puffy clouds, floating just above the mountain ridge, lit-up in various shades of Purple Mountain Majesty. Brilliant shiny rays of life dawned upon long, drawn faces covered in black-soot and mud. At the temple, shovels, picks, and movers paused, thankful to be alive, thankful to have witnessed the redemption of the circle and to have fought
on the sid
e of justice.
Off in the distance, cutting through the clouds, a small figure
appeared in the sky. An Almighty Warrior Eagle with powerful
wings, long feathers and a full plumage of varied colors soared on the wings of justice. He circled the town along with the scattered remains of the temple, and then gently landed in the outer courts.
Everyone bowed in his presence and worshipped him. He walked
out into The Redmadafa at the base of the temple where the stairs once circled. Mangled stones and timbers covered the cleft rock
from which headwaters had once flowed. He looked at the people
and said:
“Whoever drinks of this water, will never thirst; it will be
in them a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Unless a kernel of wheat fal s into the ground and dies, it
remains alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He
that loves his life will lose it; and he that hates his life in
this world will keep it for all eternity.”
After he finished, he blew a mighty breath across the temple.
Stone and timber, glass and marble all brushed away leaving the
cleft and the altar. The cleft opened pouring living water down
The Redmadafa, bringing life and hope once more. Traegor ran
across the slab, past the altar and down the stairs to the tunnel.
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Inside, they heard the commotion. Men and beast drew their
swords ready for battle. Onuka, concerned it was Slithler’s army, pushed everyone further into the tunnels. The door swung open
as silver blades greeted Traegor with trembles of delight.
“It’s me, don’t be alarmed,” said Traegor noticing the fear in
their eyes. “It’s over; it’s all over.” Onuka looked back and joyful y shouted down the tunnels. It’s over. We’ve won!”
Shouts of praise and thanksgiving permeated throughout the
tunnels. Little children whirled in the air, spun by their parents, who quickly pulled them in their arms squeezing them tight.
“It’s over. The hand of The Augur has delivered us. He’s
defeated the great serpent,” said Rooter, tossing Jambles up in
the air.
“Come. Come quickly. For your redemption is near. He
awaits you now,” said Traegor greeting every face that emerged
from the door.
Weary, war-torn faces filtered from the tunnel and up the
steps to the altar. Sprightly eyes squinted as heads swept the
town. Fires still lingered across town. Smal , dark plumes of
smoke drifted up from the ashes of several businesses and homes.
Onuka lifted his head in disbelief. Where was everything? Where
was the temple? he wondered. He walked across the altar and
col apsed at his feet. The Augur stood atop the altar, counting
each face, calling out each name. One-by-one the people came
and bowed before him, marveling at his majestic splendor. With
a stil , calm voice he said:
“I am the true vine and His Majesty is the gardener. Every
branch that does not bear fruit will be cut: and every
branch that bears fruit he will prune, so it will produce
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an abundance. I am the vine, you are the branches: He
that remains in me will do Great Things.
You are now clean. For without me you can do noth-
ing. If you remain in me and I in you, ask what you wil ,
and it will be done. As His Majesty has loved me, so have
I loved you; continue to love one another. These things
I have spoken, that my joy might remain in you, and
be full.”
Onuka listened, quietly observing the crowd. He rose from
the ground. “Your Majesty, we will build it back, brick for brick, stone for stone.”
The Augur pointed to the stone—the cleft stone standing in
the mist of the outer court:
“The stone that the builders rejected has now become
the chief corner stone. I will no longer dwell in build-
ings built by the hands of men. My Spirit will now enter
your hearts and will write my commandments within.
For creation itself, bears witness of my glory and my chil-
dren will forever sing my praise. Ask of me and I will give
the nations on your behalf. For wherever two or three are
gathered together, there will I be.”
After he finished, he breathed on the crowd.
Pepper clutched her mother’s hand, her eyes beholding a
wondrous site. Standing beside the wal , looking over the crowd, Chesty, her Papa, searched for them. Pepper stood up and with
tears streaming down her face cried out, “Papa! It’s Papa!”
Mrs. Puller stood in shock as Pepper pushed her way through
the crowd overcome with a flood of emotion and thanksgiving.
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She ran and fell into his arms. One-by-one, shouts rung out from the crowd as loved ones returned to their families, saved by the sacrifice of The Augur—The Augur wept.
Caboose walked across the stones of the remaining foun-
dation to the altar and bowed before The Augur. He had many
questions, many unanswered puzzles still floating around in his
mind, but now he had a peace that strengthened him, allowing
him to trust in a divine power far greater than anything he had
ever known before.
“Forgive me your Majesty. I was mad at you for making me
different. I didn’t understand that that was your plan for my life; your plan to help me find the truth and final y solve the False
Triad. I didn’t realize that your love is greater than my pain and your wisdom beyond my understanding.”
The Augur laughed. “My strength is made perfect in weak-
ness, young grunter.” With Onuka standing beside Caboose, The
Augur reached out and touched Caboose. In front of the whole
assembly, he proclaimed:
“That which is short will now be the same;
you wise grunter will no longer live in shame.
For from this day forth, ‘Petra’ they will exhale;
And upon this rock I will build my church,
And the gates of hell will not prevail.”
Caboose felt a strange tingle flush through his body; it ran
from his head all the way down to his feet, stretching his leg, healing him completely. Caboose jumped from side-to-side and then
ran around the altar shouting, “I’m healed. I’ve been healed!” He ran and tackled Onuka who was standing beside the altar with
tears of joy streaming down his broad, black face. Caboose knelt 338
THE REDMADAFA
down on the ground and with his arms raised up to the sky he
shouted, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” to the Ancient of Days.
The Ancient of Days:
When darkness comes, I shall not fear,
Because I know that he is near.
He’s waiting for me to proclaim,
That name which is above all other names.
Because in that moment and in that hour,
He shall deliver me by his power;
And forever will I give him praise,
The One: The Only: The Ancient of Days.
The crowd, with one voice and as one people, raised their
voice and sang, “Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah.”
The remnant watched The Augur ascend into the sky�
��his
plumage in full color: his wings brushing the horizon. Caboose
stood confused. He did not understand what The Augur meant.
Onuka walked over to him, and with a face smiling bigger than a
rainbow, despite the destruction of his beautiful temple, he rested his arm on his shoulder—which stood a little taller.
Caboose looked at Onuka and then turned his head back
high. He watched The Augur fade into the big blue sky and asked,
“What just happened, Onuka? What did that mean?”
Onuka, with great excitement in his voice replied, “From this
day forth, your name will no longer be Koby or ‘Caboose.’ You
will now be known as ‘Petra,’ and you will take my place as High 339
Dr. Gary Warren Foshee
Priest and lead this remnant into its future. Generation upon
generation will look back to you, Petra, as the founding Father
of a new covenant. A covenant bought and paid for by the blood
of The Augur.”
Petra stood speechless. He didn’t know how to respond. He
couldn’t believe The Augur would choose him to carry his Word
to all nations. “Does this mean my dreams of becoming a racer
and winning ‘The Little Round About,’ are over?”
Onuka, lifted his eyes toward the sky and said, “Can you see
where the blue ends?”
Petra looked into the air and into the beyond. “It’s impossible
to see that far,” he answered.
“So are his plans for you Petra. There are no limits to what he
has planned for you.”
Onuka turned toward Petra and took him by the hands, “I
am here to help you in any way I can. All that I have,” he paused and looked around at the crumbled remains and laughed, “Or
did have, is now yours. The ancient scrol s, the sacred objects, all of them are now in your charge. Great Things you will now go
and do.”
Chesty stood behind them listening. He dropped to his knees
and with tears trickling down his face, he said, “Thank you Great Augur. Thank you for allowing me to see this day. I love you. I…
love…you.”
Petra, recognizing his Papa’s voice, spun around and fell into
his arms. They embraced each other, while Chesty kissed him
over and over and over on his head.
Later that night, Petra walked into the front room. His Papa sat beside Pepper watching her draw a picture of The Augur while
his mother quietly cleaned around the house. Petra looked at his 340