The Parables of Ancient Earth: The Second Scroll: the Cyclops of Calidron

By H. D. Anyone

PURSUING FORTUNE, and the heart of the Noble Girl, the young scribe, Archippus, arrives in a city overflowing with opportunity but seething in prejudice. By wagering his companion's life in the fight arena against a Cyclops, Archippus amasses wealth while ignoring the insistence from his Airborne Counselor, that he is being called to a quest of immeasurable magnitude.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496909053

H. D. Anyone

As a lover of Literature and fantasy fiction, if I had to choose any store to be locked in overnight, it would be Barnes and Noble.  If I amass wealth as an author, I will open an orphanage and a cat sanctuary. If I amass no wealth but remain a struggling artist, my deepest desire it that the books I have penned will entertain and encourage others.

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© 2014 H. D. Anyone. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/19/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-0813-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-0905-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014907733

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New

International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International

Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible,

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Contents

PARCHMENT IX

PARCHMENT X

PARCHMENT XI

PARCHMENT XII

PARCHMENT XIII

PARCHMENT XIV

PARCHMENT XV

WORKS CITED

ENDNOTES

PARCHMENT IX

"The struggles of ancient earth foreshadowed

the strife of the final millennium . . ."

TRANSPORTING A SIX thousand pound eegwuhnuh across a swift running river seemed no small chore to Archippus. He eyed the raft-master with skepticism and then watched Raimi try to force the rear leg of the giant lizard onto the deck. The raft was large, but Archippus figured he would wait for the second trip in case it sank from the weight of the lizard.

I’ll have to ride him aboard, said Raimi. She climbed up into the leather saddle between the two front spikes and drove a heel into the eegwuhnuh’s ribcage. The massive reptile placed a scaly-toed foot onto the wooden raft. Water flowed over the deck and splashed between the lashed together tree trunks.

Don’t worry, said the raft-master, I transport eegwuhnuhs all the time.

Raimi spurred the eegwuhnuh again, and the huge lizard leaped onto the raft. The breath was knocked from Raimi’s lungs and her long blonde braids flipped backward. The reptile balanced himself in the center of the deck as the raft bobbed up and down on the current.

Come on now with the rest of you, said the raft-master.

Gershom and Emoticas climbed aboard, but Archippus shook his head.

"If you don’t get on now, we’ll have to pay for a second crossing!" Raimi yelled above the rush of the river current.

Archippus shrugged and shook his head again. He did not want to pay for a second crossing, but an eegwuhnuh had tail-whacked him too many times. He did not trust the creatures and would not lose his life over a lizard or any other creature on the continent.

His three companions glared at him from the raft. Finally, Raimi motioned they should proceed. The raft-master started the raft across the river by pulling it along hand over hand on a thick rope stretched between large trees rooted in the jungle-covered banks.

As Archippus watched the crossing, he understood why this raging river had kept all reptiles from reaching Calidron—even the fearsome two-leggeds. He stood there squinting at the bobbing raft, and suddenly the tiny airborne annoyance that claimed to be his counselor, landed on his shoulder. Archippus glanced between brown dreadlocks at the little redheaded bird with blackened eye-mask, gray belly, and black and white wing tips.

What? asked Archippus defensively.

I see you’re starting this journey by nurturing friendships, said Hodos, the bird, sarcastically.

It wouldn’t do me any good to be drowned with the lot of them. I have all the coinage here. Archippus lifted the tightly clutched sack. I could go on with the crop commerce myself.

The five-inch tall Olive Warbler heaved a heavy sigh. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?i

What’s that suppose to mean?

Exactly what I said, you are more concerned for your coinage than your companions. You have greed on your heart throne.

Look bird, you realize I don’t like you. I am on my way to make a fortune, and I don’t need you. Why don’t you go join the other warblers and do warbley things in the olive grove outside the Citadel by the Sea and leave me be?

Why don’t you let me instruct you on your quest? countered the bird.

"Aaarrgghhh! Let me repeat. I don’t like you!" Archippus shoved Hodos from his shoulder.

The bird flitted upward, hovering, and eyed him intently. You may dislike me, but it’s good for you. And with that, he took off across the river.

A half an hourglass later, Archippus completed his solo crossing to the far bank and sifted through the sack to pay the raft-master double coinage for both trips.

Raimi glared while Gershom, who was a foot taller than Archippus, stared coldly down at him. Emoticas simply refused to look at him. He covered his large blue eyes by tilting his head so that his straight black hair covered his face.

What? demanded Archippus, aware of the cool reception of his companions after relinquishing the coins to the raft-master.

Gershom said nothing due to an oath of silence taken until the Airborne Monarch took the throne. The other two remained silent as well. They shook their heads in disapproval as they climbed back into their individual saddles nestled between the plated spikes along the eegwuhnuh’s back. Archippus shrugged and climbed into his saddle, the last of four, and positioned just before the tail.

Raimi spurred Hemi into a run that always started with a severe left-right swagger felt most by Archippus near the tail. The motion smoothed as the lizard gained speed. They were soon rocketing along at sixty miles per hourglass headed westward toward Calidron on a road maintained by command of the high ruler. The road was known as the High-Way. The jungle soon fell away to shrubs and then grassland. Archippus noticed that a distant tributary of the Great River flowed parallel with the road.

They passed occasional travelers and often overtook cartloads of eegwuhnuh dung—fertilizer for the snock fields—pulled by striped equines. They also passed eegwuhnuhs led at a walk, laden with bamboo poles harvested from the jungles of Rephidim. The poles dangled from straps slung between the spikes on the eegwuhnuhs’ back. The same number of poles in each bundle assured balance of opposite loads. Eegwuhnuhs could transport a large number of bamboo shoots in this manner.

Occasionally, the road passed a watchtower. The forty-foot tall structures, constructed of thick wooden braces that crisscrossed upward to a plank floor covered by a pitched roof, allowed for sightings to prevent Barbirian attacks. Several gunners operated each tower. A bell that hung beneath the roof warned others of an attack.

After having traveled all day, halting only to camp at night and to feed Hemi his ration of snock leaves, the travelers came upon what they presumed was the first of many snock fields.

Raimi slowed Hemi to a walk. Archippus panned his eyes across acres of level soil. Pale-skinned workers were removing rocks and an occasional weed in preparation for planting. This was the first month of no growth before the ten agricultural months. It appeared to Archippus that his competitors were already well along in clearing the ground. He panicked inwardly. He knew nothing of farming, yet he must succeed in growing snock with the grant coinage from the high council. It was the only way he could become wealthy enough to wed Jazelle.

His heart felt wounded at the thought of Jazelle. It would be a long time before he saw her again. How strange it was that each time he thought about her, his chest ached. He did not understand how a mere thought could result in such pain. No apothecary could diagnose what he felt, but he knew the pain to be real, much like a hunger pain gnawing at him incessantly. Moreover, the more he thought about Jazelle, the more the pain worsened. As a result, he forced himself to focus on the scene before him.

They’re already preparing the soil, Raimi said with tension in her voice.

I can see that, snapped Archippus. He did not need reminding of the pressure they faced. As far as he could see, the land was a flat, rich, brown color and probably good for farming. Raimi spurred the big lizard gently, and Hemi walked along the dusty road for some time. Finally, a structure appeared in the distance. Raimi spurred Hemi back into a run to hasten their approach to the structure.

Archippus gawked when Raimi finally slowed the eegwuhnuh again. A side road, lined by dark green, spiky trees, meandered through the plowed fields and then widened in front of a light gold edifice. The edifice was square and large with rows of cut bamboo steps that shined as if polished and led to a veranda. The veranda had a low railing in front made of crisscrossed bamboo in various striking designs. Ten evenly spaced poles about ten feet apart, supported the front of the roof indicating the structure to be at least one hundred feet long. The roof that sloped upward from the poles was made of dried palm fronds that created a large and looming image. The bright yellow of the bamboo building shined like a splotch of sunlight striking a shaded lake. The structure shouted out in stark contrast to the dark surrounding soil.

Archippus could not imagine who could be wealthy enough to live in such affluence. He had heard stories of these wealthy farmers and had a strong urge to know who lived there. He hollered at a slave tilling the soil by the roadside.

Whose latifundia is that? he asked in reference to the large estate.

The slave stopped tilling and shielded his eyes to look up at Archippus. Why, the great Malchiel Merari, of course.

Of course, thought Archippus. He had heard that the famous painter lived in Calidron. He stared again at the ostentatious edifice. I must see the inside, he deliberated, or better yet—I must live like that—build my own latifundia for Jazelle—and soon.

As they continued on, more palatial structures began to dot the landscape though none as stately as the one owned by Malchiel Merari. The fields along the road began to shrink is acreage, and the structures transitioned from well designed to crude, becoming more and more humble. Soon, simple ten foot by ten-foot shacks of bamboo walls and thatched grass roofs appeared, the humble structures packed together along busy streets. Archippus surmised the meek dwellings to be the slave quarters at the outskirts of town. He watched thin, pale-skinned people hustling about, cooking over pots in open streets, and tossing food waste to hungry swine in makeshift stalls. The slave streets carried a foul stench. Archippus shuddered, and hated for the millionth time that his own skin was as pale as that of these wretched people.

The stench began to dissipate as they passed what appeared to be the last of the thatched hut slave streets. But on the corner of the final street, stood a boy who had murky white pupils surrounded by light blue irises and his skin was silt-brown. His hair was black with thin, short, wiry dreadlocks shooting outward in all directions, and he had a very pronounced dimple centered in his chin. The boy held a wooden bowl. Archippus wondered why this boy was standing in the pale-skin district.

The boy’s head tilted up as the eegwuhnuh passed, but his eyes remained level. He lifted the bowl.

A coin, kind passers? asked the boy.

Raimi pulled Hemi to a halt and swiveled her upper torso to look at Archippus. Give him a coin, Archippus, he must be blind.

What? asked Archippus with an impatient squint.

You heard me, give the boy a coin—a denarii.

A days wages for lifting a bowl? asked Archippus, an incredulous tone to his voice.

Yes!

You’ve got to be joking!

No!

Well, I won’t give a coin. The boy should do something for his coinage like wash the eegwuhnuh or something.

He’s blind, Archippus!

But pity won’t help him. He needs to do something for himself.

You’re impossible. The coinage is half mine. You wasted some already on a second trip across the river! Give the boy a coin.

Saved the coinage from potentially sinking is what I did! countered Archippus.

Gershom dismounted and walked to the rear of the eegwuhnuh. He slid Archippus’ sandaled foot from the stirrup and stuck his own into it. He stepped up and reached to wrench the bag of coinage from Archippus’ rigid grip.

Fine—I’ll give it to him then! yelled Archippus directly in Gershom’s face.

Gershom smiled and stepped down.

Archippus opened the bag, selected a coin, and leaned right holding the coin at arms length in the air.

Beggar boy, he said.

The boy ambled in the direction of his voice and held the bowl high.

Archippus dropped the coin in the empty wooden bowl.

Thank you, said the boy. His smile whitened and brightened his entire face. We’ve been so hungry.

The ‘We’ve been so hungry’ made Archippus’ throat choke up. He could remember being hungry. He almost regreted having hesitated in giving Bowl Boy a coin but still regreted having been forced.

How can we succeed if you three don’t follow my lead? asked Archippus heatedly.

Gershom made motions to Emoticas to interpret.

What did he say? asked Archippus. Did he say ‘to the grave with me’? Because if he did, he’s not welcome as part of my snock venture.

No, answered Emoticas. He said we will follow your lead as you earn it.

Archippus seethed with anger. The coinage was not even Gershom’s to take. It was half his and half Raimi’s.

Raimi spurred Hemi, and the eegwuhnuh moved forward. Archippus turned and yelled at the blind boy, "You should still get a job you know! Stop begging—and get a job! He turned back and saw his three riding companions shaking their heads. What?" he demanded at their backs.

None of them responded except the bird.

Give and it comes back to you sevenfold, said the tiny creature affirmatively.

Where does he come up with this nonsense? wondered Archippus. Give senselessly and I’ll become poor—that’s for certain.

Hemi plodded on into the center of the city passing Judgment Hall with its cold columns and white stone steps. Everything in Calidron was constructed from bamboo except Judgment Hall and the mind-sculpting center, which was also white stone with a bell hanging in an entrance arch. Archippus surmised the stone quarry might be along the outskirts of town and would be constructed of stone as mandated by the high council.

Archippus had never seen streets so wide or filled with such commotion. There was enough room for eegwuhnuhs to pass with tails swinging. The sides of the streets were lined with bamboo commerce huts that faced the street beneath thatched roofs. Goods of all kinds were offered for trade. Citizens scurried in every direction carrying baskets on their heads, or fruit in their hands, or bamboo on their shoulders, or pigs on a rope, or small equines pulling carts laden with dried snock leaves and rounded snock shells.

Archippus realized that in addition to nobles with neck rings, as expected, there were many dark-skinned citizens. He had heard of almond-eyed Landlings with the magical skin that browned in the sun, and Calidron appeared to house many of these also. Known as Changelings, this ability implied inherent nobility, which made it illegal to own them as slaves. They passed many a black-haired Changeling along the road, and Archippus envied each one of them.

Dust wafted upward from the dirt streets. Rows after row of palmed roof buildings disappeared into the horizon. Even atop the eegwuhnuh, the end of the sprawling city was not visible.

Finally, the street they traveled, t-boned at a large, ornately designed square bamboo edifice with a palm branch roof that Archippus surmised to be forty feet in height at the center. The structure seemed at the center of the city, for all roads connected to the great highway that encircled it, like spokes of a wheel. The building had verandas on each side with the entrance door facing south where a great deal of hustle and bustle occurred as Landlings bartered and exchanged coinage. A great deal of crowd noise emanated from inside.

The ostentation of the edifice indicated it might be a place of information, so the four travelers dismounted. Raimi chained Hemi’s leg to a street stake shared by two other eegwuhnuhs tethered in front of a watering trough.

There is no risk of anybody stealing a staked eegwuhnuh, said Raimi. They’ve been known to whack strangers with their tails and cause severe injury.

The four travelers climbed the steps of the bamboo building, traversed the veranda, and entered a huge room through ornate swinging doors.

Archippus noted that a stage occupied the north end of the building. Vendor booths lined the outer walls and the center of the room consisted of rows of wooden tables and benches. It appeared there were negotiations for land purchase taking place at the booth nearest him. He could hear the conversation between seller and buyer. Other booths seemed to sell fruit or meat. A long line of buyers waited at booths selling snock by the acorn or half shell. He watched a vendor hand a sack of snock leaves across the booth partition in exchange for coinage. At another booth, he heard the vendor instruct an assistant to take the customer out to the bamboo lot. Perches dangled from the ceiling for small pterodactyls of varying colors—black, gray, sliver, orange, and green—overseeing their wingmon.

Archippus scanned the crowd and confirmed several firstborns of nobility in attendance as was apparent by their golden neck rings. There appeared to be as many males as females in the room.

Archippus noticed that the room was growing quieter. It took only a moment to realize the cause of the hushed voices and turning heads was himself, Raimi, and Emoticas, for they were the only pale skins in the edifice. It pained Archippus to realize that the only identifying factors separating them from slaves was that he, Raimi, and Emoticas, wore no metal neck clamps.

We’re here to carry bamboo for Gershom. Archippus motioned toward his dark-skinned companion.

It appeared this explanation pacified the occupants of the crowded room. They nodded, grunted, and commented until the noise level reached the same uproar that they had noticed upon first entering.

Archippus led his companions to the bamboo booth.

What are we supposed to do with bamboo? asked Emoticas.

I don’t know—I had to say something! snapped Archippus. Besides, we have to live somewhere. We’ll need to build a hut.

And put it where? asked Raimi. Don’t you think we need land first?

An emptied snock shell slammed on a nearby table. Archippus jumped. He felt edgy. The offender swayed sloppily reminding him of Lordess Lourdes. He wondered why any Landling would need to consume an entire half shell of snock. As a boy, he had never seen his father consume more than one or two acorn shells, and never, not even once, saw him snockered.

How much bamboo do you want? asked a nearby vendor of Gershom.

He doesn’t speak, answered Archippus.

Why doesn’t he speak?

You don’t want to know, said Archippus. He had spoken quickly to prevent Emoticas from giving an ill-thought-out explanation that might incriminate all of them as treasonous—namely, that Gershom was waiting for the Airborne Monarch to take the throne.

"What if I do want to know?" demanded the skinny, cocky vendor, raising his nose in the air to indicate a superiority.

What if it’s none of your business, said Archippus with growing anger.

"What if you’re nothing but a pale-skinned plebian?" The vendor squinted, drawing down the corners of his mouth in disgust.

Archippus felt as if he had been stabbed. No one had ever called him a plebian. He thought to whack the vendor upside the head and must have unconsciously stepped forward to do so, but felt Gershom’s grip on his arm. In all his days, he had never had that derogatory term directed at him. It was the ultimate insult. Inadvertently, as a wordsmith, he played seven synonyms in his mind: banal, coarse, common, ignoble, lowly, uncultivated, and vulgar.

Come, said Raimi. Let’s trade elsewhere.