Serpent of the Sun: When Poor Die in the Business of War Games, It Is Hard to Keep Silence

By Kamal Khalessi-Rad

"In a land not far, when people are enslaved by cool handed savages of the underground, three travelers are captured to be dehumanized, but their struggle for freedom continues.
This novel is about journey of a man in search of identity, earning what makes him a true human."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Nov 10, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453583166

Kamal Khalessi-Rad

Kamal Khalessi-Rad is an Australian citizen, has taught science and social sciences in schools and universities since 1983. He is the author of a numbers of books and articles including 'The Door to the Missing Link" and Serpent of the Sun"

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by Kamal Khalessi-Rad.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2010914298

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4535-7968-8

ISBN: Softcover     978-1-4535-7967-1

ISBN: Ebook          978-1-4535-8316-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-800-618-969

www.xlibris.com.au

[e-mail]

500313

Contents

1: Gold Mine

2: Genders

3: The Mystery

4: Money Honey

5: Billabong

6: Captivity

7: The Serpent

8: The Enemy

9: Down Under

10: City of Big Smoke

11: Kings Cross

12: The Nerd

13: Purple Mountain

14: The Bush

15: The Wise Man

16: The Crystal Ball

17: The Show

18: Causes

19: Victims

20: The Core

21: Dehumanisation

22: Victory

23: New World

This book is dedicated to those who often suffer for their vision of a world system of justice

Awakening the world demands informing social and economic disasters that destroy innocents and make faulty more powerful. This novel intends to amuse by telling a story hoping to reduce intoxicating abuses of money.

"Let your vision be world embracing’ Baha’u’llah

1

Gold Mine

THE CAR SLOWED down on a gravel road. Three travelers with a dog were heading for a country town. They had planned their trip weeks ago to camp on the way, going to a job. Javid was driving, and Ebony had a road map on her lap. Goldie was reading a book, and Asterix was barking out the window.

Ebony’s dark skin shined under the light. She combed her black hair with fingers and said, ‘What behold in our job?’

Goldie’s golden hair was wafted by the wind and she said, ‘Wait and see.’

Javid’s face got tense and he remarked, ‘Most city kids are unteachable.’

Ebony hoped and said, ‘Country people are better.’

Javid changed gear, ‘Kids are getting wilder everywhere.’

Ebony commented, ‘Blame hyper consumerism.’

He answered, ‘These days, people have market values.’

They had heard that city life has much pressure. Teachers may give up their job before having a nervous breakdown.

Goldie said, ‘We live in an uneasy time.’

He shook his head and remarked, ‘Fast food and addictive games make kids wild.’

Ebony said, ‘People have been fed and entertained since old times.’

‘Old age has gone – so are coliseums,’ he said resenting.

Ebony frowned and exclaimed, ‘Have they?’

The road was rough, but the breeze was pleasing. Nature gives the calm feeling to retreat the mind into tranquility. The young fellows were old friends. They had left home to experience the world on their own. On the way, they saw a sign pointing to a gold mine. A century ago that mine had brought wealth to nearby towns. They had mixed feelings, tempted by gold. In all ages, gold mines had excited people, so had caused scary crimes in search of gains. Despite knowing risks, temptations were strong.

Asterix barked for attention. Goldie said, ‘Asterix is an ancient god.’

He answered, ‘Its name was Dare.’

‘Why change of name?’ she asked.

‘Because it is not daring as it was young,’ he said.

‘Find the torch,’ Javid yelled with laughter. ‘We may find gold.’

Goldie asked, ‘Do you mean it?’

‘Why not?’ he said and accelerated the car. The engine was reviving fast, and he seemed enjoying the noise.

Goldie complained, ‘If you heat up the engine, we all have to walk.’ He slowed down, but yet was arrogant in heart.

Girls were worried. They knew prospecting is a shortcut to fortunes, but has risks.

When money comes in between, even family and friends may end up in conflicts.

Ebony questioned him, ‘Are you searching for material wealth?’

Again, he speeded up and said, ‘Isn’t it normal?’

Silence prevailed – as no one could challenge his claim. At their prime, they couldn’t avoid ambitions embedded in survival games, and curiosity too was adding up.

Young often do not mind loots. At old age, fear may lurk in the elderly to accumulate, unless reasoning enlightens them with the golden sunrise of mind. Goldie moved closer and squeezed his shoulder, ‘Listen, this is not El Dorado.’

‘I didn’t say it is!’ he said and sounded bored, and fossicking was only an excuse. In fossicking, nature hides and seekers find. In the gain of fame and fortune, people may explore far and wide or climb the vertical heights marking their names. Search is a never-ending tale that gives direction to life.

Comfort demands and social respect motivates. Passion for gain may blind logical senses, ignoring other things in life. Whatever the truth might be, Javid was excited for fossicking.

He murmured, ‘I need excitements.’

Goldie resented and said, ‘You are asking for trouble.’

Ebony supported and declared, ‘Better circle your desires.’

Javid laughed and said. ‘I don’t have a compass.’

And she said to improve silence, ‘We have enough.’

Treasures are gained in mindset struggles. Some collect material wealth and others earn intellect. One may desire hedonic pleasure and another fable a sweetheart. Struggles and finding something to love seem natural.

Javid persisted and said, ‘Imagine how happy we become if we find treasure.’

‘You imagine too much,’ Ebony protested, ‘Rich people are hardly happy with themselves.’

Goldie was under pressure and said, ‘We need toilet break.’

Javid said, ‘You have to wait longer.’

In ways, some aim to better the world overnight, and another search for wisdom of gentle change. Some terrorise and others write. Whatever truth might be, relief from pressure pleases everyone. In the contrasts of life, joy is gained when pain is removed, and stress is minimised in the direction to the realisation of an aim.

Goldie looked through the window and said, ‘I think loots ground the freedom of mind.’

Javid murmured, ‘I don’t mind to be free by riches.’ He slowed down and turned the radio on. Being in the bush, radio wasn’t in tune. It had a rumbling sound, and the music was disturbed. He wanted to listen to news, but the voice was confused. When he saw the mine track, his decision was reaffirmed. He stopped the car, asking his friends to go for a walk. They stepped down to look about, and Asterix was happier than all. In fresh air, physical movements reduced their stress – so joyful was the relief after urinating.

Goldie said, ‘Gaining wealth with honesty is OK.’

Javid doubted and replied, ‘I doubt the honesty of easy money.’

Goldie said, ‘Making big money is fishy.’

Ebony changed the subject and said, ‘Health is better than wealth.’

‘And a bit more,’ he said and resented, ‘passion of some sort should drive your life.’

Goldie said, ‘Passion is a double-edged sword.’

Ebony complemented and announced, ‘So is every effort.’

He said, ‘Money is a friend to trust.’

She stated, ‘Some say it enroots evil.’

Goldie added, ‘I prefer understanding.’

Ebony said, ‘So good are justice and compassion.’

He jeered. ‘I am not a saint.’

Breeze wafted over youthful dreams in sensation of lightness and density. Clay drowns, but flowers crown water top – as the designed information of life in petals elevates over gravitational ground for survival.

On walking further, their blood heated up, and they forgot hair-raising tales of those who died for gold. They recalled the evolutionary modes that the predatory brain has kept us at the top of food chain, but now global survival is becoming the new trend.

Javid had ambitions. He thought so far out of the wild or by call from unknown side, ambition of fame and fortune made us expand in supremacy, ignoring the fact that in good relationships with others constitute happiness.

Like other youths, he too had a growing to do. Before that trip, service was his aim. Now wealth had attraction and curiosity was stimulating. Girls hesitated, knowing that abandoned mines may become snakes’ nest and are bad omens. Asterix seemed nervous, biting its tail.

Despite resentment, they pursued the track leading to the mine, following the sign pointing ahead to the right. Further on, they arrived at the bottom of a hill, seeing the opening of a cave. That cave was part of the local history. To the left, there was a dried stony creek and opposite was a path leading to excavation.

‘Better avoid this freaky place,’ Ebony persisted. ‘Lifeless gold often thirsts for blood.’ She was right. Mining pollutes waters, contaminates lands, and cause crimes, but people worship in blind, because gold idol is embedded in mental trends.

Goldie reminded, ‘Let’s find a campsite. A good night’s sleep prepares us for tomorrow.’

Javid wasn’t going to give up. His curiosity was demanding, convincing the girls to follow. He whinged, ‘In life’s tunnel, we are in and out!’ Girls ignored his saying. Freaky tales were rising before their eyes. They approached the cave cautiously. The resurrection of dramas feared their mind. Javid stepped in. Asterix howled and resented entering, but didn’t want to abandon his friends. The reluctant girls entered the twilight.

Goldie warned, ‘I think Asterix knows something.’

In entering the darkening deem, they saw the shaft reinforced with a structure. Inner walls were supported by rotten timbers, seemed collapsing. Fearfully they walked and the torch was turned on. They saw names carved on supporting timbers and spider webs covered edges. Damp air had taste of dust with revolting smells.

Light revised the history of a distant past. In memories of gleeful gains or painful loss, they saw a bygone world under flickering shadows. Hearts were beating fast, recalling stories of those dug that hole, and old tales told for passion of gold. Asterix growled in warning.

Goldie complained, ‘Your ambitions are risky.’

Javid responded, ‘Can’t have success without risks.’

Goldie yelled, ‘You don’t find success in this hellhole!’

Ebony couldn’t breathe complaining. Ideas went through her mind that fresh air is the homecoming of nature and contended life is the richest success. Then she thought that by assessing right or wrong, material gains may be natural.

People wake up every day struggling to survive or for controlling others lives. Questions remain, Why greed and what power is for? These should be asked before obsessions take powerful to grave.

While many are desperate, some are saturated in wealth that simple pleasures don’t please them anymore. In the search to escape a boring life, they may become psychopaths, ending their life or hurting desperate ones.

‘My throat is funny,’ Goldie whispered.

‘Me too,’ Ebony said, ‘A glass of water would be nice.’

Thirst overwhelmed along with the concern that people waste in abundance. Taken for a ride by the imitational oblige, they ignore essentialities – that land, water, and air should be dealt with respect. Javid encouraged them to go further.

In the old shaft, they entered the deeper part. Darkness increased, so did humidity. Suddenly, the dog barked and a creepy move was heard. A creature was running along the wall. Confused by panic, he tumbled over a rock and the torch dropped. The torch rolled and then stopped. He picked it up and pointed to the direction of the sound. Unknown sound was freaky, and regrets warned that curiosity is risky. Out of ordinaries, the mystic of memory awaked the transient blossoms of life passing.

As the noise approached, senses were at work to avoid harm. They moved close to defend each other. In risky situations or at experiences of near death, hot wire enters blood stream revising fear. They were fortunate. That freaky sound wasn’t dangerous at all. Likely, the creature was a wombat trying to get into its burrow at the other side of the wall. These travellers were maturing their senses, unaware of the upcoming danger.

From the vibration of noises, cracking sounds were heard. Soil poured from the rooftop and dust popped out of the wall. It was a frightening time as the cave was about to collapse. At the edge of death, the time capsule of life was experienced. Asterix was frightened and barking out.

‘Get out before we are entombed,’ said one, and another demanded, ‘Leave this place for wombats, curiosity isn’t worth dying for.’

Yelling with fear, they all run out of the cave. Fortunately, it ended up without drama. Their heads were covered with dirt, coughing hard. Their eyes were watery and dusts had masked fear in their faces.

Coming out of certain death was a feeling of relief and joy from releasing adrenaline into bloodstream. This is what the