The Secret of the Dragon - The Revelations of the Sacred Papyruses

by Carl Cupper

  “You cannot give up now! I assure you that we will find the Chalice soon.” optimistically, he assured Califax.

  It did not take long to restore Califax’s enthusiasm for continuing in his quest. After all, Filox and the king had chosen him from among many other candidates. He could not fail them. The hopes of the Court of Dragonia had been placed on his shoulders, and he had already reached the point of no return. He determined to continue until the end, and confront the future with the same strength of character and commitment that his ancestors had shown in the past.

  They flew towards the city of Athens, where they hoped to decipher the mysterious words which the Oracle at Delphi, and Dee, the magician, had uttered.

  “We should find out what the fish is the fishermanmeans.” asserted Califax.

  “Not only that, but what the inscriptions on the medallion mean.” reminded Hayex.

  In the woods near the Athenian market, Hayex devised a plan to gather the information they needed. First, he would steal a cape from a villager who lay, placidly in the arms of Morpheus, at the foot of a great tree. Once he had the cape in his possession, he would place it on his back and over his head in order to disguise himself. After this, he would go to the town and inquire about what the inscriptions on the medallion mean to some merchant.

  Hayex stealthily approached the innocent man to snatch his cape. However, the man embraced his cape as if it was his beautiful fiancée, and it would take somewhat more than a simple tug on the cape to take it from the man. Hayex had an idea. He asked Califax to blow a few small flames close to the tree where the man slept, but to be careful neither to burn him nor to wake him. The ruse worked perfectly. After a few warm blazes, the man drew back the thick cape that covered him. Hayex did not waste any time snatching up the cape, and both the friends then fled.

  Califax could not keep from laughing upon seeing the humorous figure of Hayex wearing in the cape. Hayex, being only 38 inches tall, could scarcely pass as a ‘warmly dressed gnome’ according to the sarcastic words of the dragon that he professed while trying to stop the tears that the outbursts of laughter had caused him.

  “Very funny!” with his hands on his hips, Hayex glared at the dragon. “I will just pass myself off as a boy!” he said.

  “Really? Then tell me, boy,” Califax replied, still choking with laughter, “how do you think you are going to hide those dreadful feet from the eyes of the men?” he asked while laughing out loud and pointing to the claws on Hayex’s feet that could be seen under the cape.

  “Stop laughing!” demanded the gargoyle furiously. “You will take the shoes off the man so I can wear them!” he ordered, pointing at him with the index finger of his claw.

  “What?” Califax exclaimed, cutting abruptly his outbursts of laughter.

  The adventurers returned to the place where the man still dozed, peacefully. With extreme caution, the dragon approached the man from behind the tree to warm up his feet, softly. After repeating the operation two or three times, the villager once began to feel discomfort in his feet hence he moved them constantly.

  After a short while, the man chose to take off his shoes, all the while keeping his eyes closed so as not to disturb his slumber. After the operation was complete, the man curled up in his improvised bed without realizing that his shoes had been taken with impunity.

  Hayex engaged in a fierce battle to introduce his large feet into the Greek’s shoes. The gargoyle tried to arch his enormous toes, but they seemed to refuse to such a painful procedure. Meanwhile, Califax tried very hard to disguise the attacks of laughter that the grotesque spectacle invoked. Several rings of smoke escaped from his snout as he covered his it with his claws to muffle his laughter. After a few minutes, Hayex was able to get the shoes on, but not without complaining about how small the man’s feet were. He took a few steps and his walk proved even more comical than his appearance. Califax could no longer contain his laughter: Hayex walked like a duck that suffered from severe arthritis. Hayex covered himself with the cape so that you could only see his large eyes. He was ready to undertake his difficult task.

  “We should copy the inscriptions of the medallion on to a piece of wood.” suggested the gargoyle.

  “That’s an excellent idea. That way, we can keep the Key safe.” agreed Califax.

  Disguised and armed with a copy of the medallion, the gargoyle crept into the uncertain and dangerous world of men.

  Walking on the crowded streets, close to the market in Athens, Hayex dragged, besides the cape, the fear of to be discovered by the humans. The people, however, seemed to care more about their own personal businesses than the small, discrete figure of one of many visitors.

  The throngs of people made it difficult for the gargoyle to orientate himself. He had never been so close to that many humans. He rambled among the vast number of stalls that offered diverse products from all over the world: silks from China, perfumes from Egypt, spices from India and Africa, imposing weapons from Turkey, olive oil from Iberia, and even exotic animals among many other choices of merchandise. Hayex was fascinated by all the different kinds of merchandise and took extra time to satisfy his curiosity.

  The aroma of the barbecued lamb from one of the stalls, which the retailer cooked in large clay pots, drew Hayex. Hypnotized by that aroma, he stopped before the crisp and juicy meat that the merchant proudly displayed to the passers-by in the market. To the gargoyle, the meat seemed as wonderful as the most expensive fantasy of a shipwrecked sailor.

  A large number of villagers were crowded around the stall, burying Hayex in an ocean of togas, gowns, and shoes of diverse color and design. In spite of his fear, the gargoyle was patient and waited for some scraps of meat to fall from the hands of the humans. After a short wait, he collected a goodly amount of meat that the people had wasted.

  When he tried to escape from that press of hungry people, he found that one of the villagers was standing on his cape. He tried to free himself by tugging and pulling, but the great weight of the fat man made his attempts to escape, useless.

  Remembering the words of Califax in the labyrinth of Lugh, he kept his calm. Hayex had an idea that would help him get out of the jam. He pinched the leg of the man with one of his claws. The villager, screaming and wincing from the pain of the gargoyle’s pinch, jumped, releasing the cape.

  “Sir, if you do not like my food, you do not have to announce it in that manner!” the merchant protested, while the fat man leaped and jumped in pain.That large, jumping man caused an opening in the crowd, as he threatened to squash any and all that obstructed his path, and Hayex took advantage of this time to abandon the stall, with the food hidden under his cape. Once out of danger, on an abandoned street, he eagerly devoured that delicious lamb.

  After that bittersweet experience, the gargoyle continued on the mission that had been entrusted to him. He returned to the market and began looking for the person who could help him decipher the strange inscriptions on the medallion.

  Behind walking around the plaza for a few minutes, he approached one of the stalls where a solitary sleepy merchant was seated in the shade of an improvised roof. The gargoyle approached the stall cautiously and, hiding his claws under the cape, he sliding the piece of wood on to the counter. The merchant rose quickly to his feet, upon hearing that noise.

  “Come in, come in young man! What can I do for you? I have a great variety of fish from the Corinth, from the Aegean, the Ionian, and the Mediterranean Seas!” he announced in a loud voice in flawless Greek.

  Hayex did not understand one word the merchant said, and only managed to point out the piece of wood that he had placed on the counter.

  “Ichthus?” said the merchant, after reading the sign on the wood.

  Meanwhile, Califax, nervous from the long absence of his companion, walked circles around a tree. It had now been several hours. After a few minutes more, the gargoyle appeared with a cold and unexpected cargo.

  “But… What is all this?” inquired Califax. />
  “I showed the inscription to a man at one of the market stalls and this was his answer.” he replied, dumping a pile of fish at Califax’s feet.

  “But, why have you brought all this fish?”

  “They are cheap and of very good quality.” Hayex said, waving a large fish beneath the dragon’s snout. “Besides, he sold them to me on credit!” He announced.

  “Are you crazy?” the dragon snapped. “You did not go to buy fish, but to find out what the inscription on the Key means.” he scolded.

  “The merchant said Ichthus and then gave me all these fish. I had to come back here to unload the merchandise.” Hayex explained, felling a little bit ashamed. “I could not resist the offer!” he admitted.

  “Ichthus? That means that he could read the inscription.” the dragon reflected while pacing back and forth. “Do you know where the merchant is from?”

  “I did not understand a word he said, but I think he was Greek.” Hayex mused. “I am not very sure,” he emphasized while he took off his disguise.

  “Wait a moment! If the man is Greek and he could read the inscription, then Ichthusmeans fish in Greek. That is why he gave you the fish.” Califax deducted.

  “…Perhaps.” agreed Hayex, munching on a fish.

  “Do you remember what Dee the magician said? “The fish is the fisherman and his dwelling is in the East Sea, where the cross came from to join with the sun.”

  “Yes, I remember.” Hayex answered indifferently, as he continued eating.“Let’s see; if the fish is the fisherman and the fish is Ichthus, then Ichthus has to be the fisherman.” Califax reasoned, reassuming his march from one side to the other, once more.

  “It is possible.” agreed the gargoyle.

  “We do not know who the fisherman is, but according to Dee the magician, he lives in the same place where the cross comes from, in the east sea. The pythoness said something similar.”

  “Then, perhaps we can find it in Judah, the place indicated on the Roman map.” said Hayex.

  Thus, the intrepid adventurers headed off for the biblical region of Palestine, crossing the archipelago of the Aegean Sea. Flying over the islands, they reached Naxos and the famous island of Patmos, where Saint John wrote the mysterious Book of Revelations.[62] When approaching the island of Rhodes, Hayex, quoting his wise grandfather, told of an enormous bronze statue that once greeted the ships that passed by that way. He also said that it crashed to the ground in a great earthquake.[63] In the Mediterranean, the adventurers reached the south coast of the island of Kypros,[64] where they could make out the Palestine shoreline. In those legendary lands, the dragon and the gargoyle would begin a new and exciting phase of their bold passage.

  It is hard to be certain at this point of the story, but as time passed, things became more difficult for the adventurers to obtain their objectives in this dangerous mission. The entire Region of Fire and the lives of its inhabitants depended on the boldness and intelligence of the young dragon.

  ***

  5

  The Fish and the Fisherman

  In the region of fire, the dragons continued to breath flames on each other, mercilessly. Operation “Defense Wall” had not prevented the Selenex raids on Dragonia’s soil. The suspicions that there was a traitor in the Court of Helenex, led the King to designate Tradux as the Head of the Intelligence Agency in order to discover, as soon as possible, such a disloyal courtier.

  Meanwhile, in the comfort and safety of her cave, Darta read another one of the letters that Califax had written before leaving on his mission.

  Even though Novax had fought to ease her fears, she could not stop worrying over what might befall her beloved son.

  “I sense that my little one is distressed, Novax.” she said, with pleading eyes.

  “I do not see why. Read his letters again. He is learning a lot and having fun in Amerux.” said Novax.

  “I know, my love, but something tells me he feels lonely and confused.” she explained, worriedly.

  “Do not worry, my dear.” he said, embracing her lovingly. “He will soon return to us.” he assured her.

  “It is what I want most, my love.” said Darta, curling up lovingly in Novax’s strong arms.

  Califax and Hayex flew on a southeastern course to the Phoenician beaches of A-Jumhuriya al-Loubnaniya, dominated by the frightful Persian Empire. Entering from the extensive Syrian Desert, through the beautiful city of Tarabulus, the brave travelers turned towards the south following the slopes of the mountains of Jabal Loubnan. The mound founded in this immense oasis was covered with imposing cedars 120 feet high, which made up a vast forest that seemed as beautiful as the Persian carpet that inspired Scheherazade to weave a story to her sister Dinarzade.

  They crossed the Litani River, close to the city of Sidon, until they reached the rocky Tiro, and then continued eastward towards the Sea of Galilee.

  Once they could see a distant reflection of the Galilean Sea, and the adventurers decided to rest in a desert area close to the city of Tiberias.

  Hayex decided to quench the thirst that had been plaguing him for quite a while. Spying a nearby spring, he greedily drank from its water.

  “Yuck! This water tastes horrible!” exclaimed the gargoyle, grimacing.

  “These waters also contain sulfur.” Califax informed him after taking a swig. “Drink a little. I told you, it is good for your health.” he chided.

  “These waters taste as foul as the ones in Italy.” Hayex complained.

  “Oh, do not be so sensitive, my friend, unless you choose to die of thirst.” replied the dragon, authoritatively.

  Night fell and the adventurers decided to look for a refuge where they could spend the night. The desert landscape did not offer many options. After a few hours of searching, they found a narrow cave in the slope of a mountain.

  In spite of bitter experiences in the dark places where destiny had brought them, they went cautiously into that cold cavity. The fate that was in store for them required all their strength and intelligence, and even though they had to endure the discomfort that the hide- out offered, Califax and Hayex slept like little newborn babies.

  When the new day dawned, the dragon and the gargoyle concocted a new plan, which they needed in order to follow through with the next stage of the mission. They would have to be more careful, since the panorama in Galilee did not offer many places to hide from men’s wrath and fear. After discussing it for quite a long time, the adventurers devised a scheme that would allow them to approach men without feeling threatened by them. Califax would disguise himself as a camel, and Hayex as his driver. In order to achieve this, Califax would drape himself in fabrics, which would mimic the way that the royalty decorated their camels. He would hide himself under a blanket that covered his face and body, walking on his four feet and being very careful conceal his long tail, while Hayex would do his thing, just as he had done at the market in Athens. The gargoyle then went out to search a blanket large enough to cover the dragon and a new pair of shoes for himself.

  In a grove filled with olive trees, Hayex found a Roman soldier who slept barefoot under the shade of one of those prized trees. What would be difficult, this time, was the fact that the soldier lay upon the blanket using it as a sort of mattress. Then, the gargoyle used his great performing skills. He approached that loafer and, in a soft and mysterious tone, he whispered in his ear: “Get up; your time has come.” Upon hearing the gargoyle’s voice, the man woke up disturbed. Afterwards, Hayex immediately jumped in front of him with crazed eyes, sticking out his tongue, and terrifying the man. The Roman soldier shot out of there like an arrow, screaming incessantly: “Satan! Satan!”

  “Satan? Who might that be…?” the gargoyle wondered to himself.

  Watching how the man comically fled the scene, Hayex hurried to grab the Roman’s blanket, boots and belt. He returned to the cave where the dragon was waiting.

  The blanket’s design was not to Califax’s taste; however, given the difficulties they
would have to go through to obtain another one, he agreed to wear it. Unfortunately, the blanket was not long enough to cover his enormous body, so they employed the saurian’s royal cape as well.

  “But, it is the cape that I wore when Rasux swore me in as the Grand Dragon of the Chalice.” he protested.

  “If we do not find the Chalice soon, you will be the Grand Dragon of the Fools.” Hayex replied sarcastically.

  Califax hid his tail by placing it along his back and tying it to his body with the Roman’s belt and, once he was covered with the cloth and cape, which luckily covered his claws, the dragon resembled a huge camel with one large hump. Hayex covered himself with the cape he had obtained in the Athens market and he wore the pair of Caligae which he had recently acquired.

  Hidden under their disguises, the daring travelers entered the Biblical region of Judea. Shaking in fear, they approached the beach on the Sea of Galilee to ask for the man which they were looking for.

  “Excuse me, sir. I am seeking a man called Ichthus. Do you know where I can find him?” Hayex asked, rubbing his claws together nervously under the cape that covered him.

  “Ichthus? Who could have such a ridiculous name?” inquired the man.

  “Is the fish the fisherman?” Hayex inquired timidly.

  “What kind of dull joke is this? I have never seen a fish with a net, boy.” responded the man, walking away, laughing.

  Without losing spirit, they continued their search all along the shore of the lake. After several hours, they found a man close to Capharnaum who told them, “The fisherman, who walked on these waters, is no longer among us. The fish was sacrificed in Jerusalem.”

  They returned their refuge to wait for nightfall before flying towards Jerusalem to track the last clue that that man had given them. With the moon lighting up the desert, they followed the Jordan River until arriving on the north coast of Lake Asphaltites, where they drank from its waters.