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The Lamenter: An excerpt from Josprel's novel "Kanfal."
by
Josprel
Chapter ------
Shemacan
The mass of people filled the vast Shinian plain, over-flowing up the
surrounding hillsides. Waiting expectantly, they had gathered to hear
the words of the tall, white-robed full-bearded priest sitting on the
knoll. This was Shemacan, Chief Priest of the Most High God. One of The
Eight who, more than four centuries ago, had gone through The Great
Deluge, he was the only one of them still living, and was deeply revered
by the people. But, those in authority feared him. He denounced them as
apostates and traitors. To them Shemacan was a thorn, whom they sought
to ridicule as “The Lamenter.” They considered him an anachronism, one
who preached the ways of The Old Ones who had passed through the Deluge.
He was an impediment to the progress of their purposes.
Cusha and his son, Ninus, especially hated the Chief Priest. Long ago
Cusha, on the death of his father, Hamath, had become chief of his
tribe. At the same time, he announced himself to be the prophet of the
god, Lucifin, who had brought knowledge to The First Parents in The
Garden Reserve. When Ninus was born, Cusha proclaimed him to be the
anointed of Lucifin, destined to unite all tribes under his leadership.
He even dispatched messengers to the other tribes with those tidings.
They returned reporting that, while they were not harmed, their message
was despised.
On his son's twentieth birthday, Cusha made another proclamation:
Lucifin, his god, willed that all tribes unite under Ninus, who was to
lead them in the building of a great city. This was necessary, he
stated, to prevent the race from scattering throughout Terra. The city
would foster unity among the tribes and give purpose to the people.
Ninus, even in his youth, possessed superb organizational abilities. At
the instigation of his father, combining this talent with his already
fabled skills as a huntsman, he trained hundreds of his comrades to the
hunt. Then, with promises of power and status, he had formed them into a
disciplined army.
Initially, as expected, there had been much opposition against the
leadership of Ninus. The tribes - especially the chiefs - refused to
surrender their autonomy. But after Ninus launched attacks on several
neighboring tribes and subdued them, the rest, unskilled in warfare,
meekly acquiesced to his chiefdom.
Now, Ninus was past his fiftieth year. The city was well into
construction and most of the major buildings either completed or nearly
so. Already in use, though not finished, its centerpiece was a wonder.
Facing due east, it was a temple-tower oriented so that one morning each
year, at the spring equinox, a marvel would occur in its inner sanctum.
Coinciding with the spring flood stages of the Euphrates and the Tigris
rivers, the first rays of the sun entered a precisely positioned
aperture, the purpose of which was known only to the initiated.
Breaching the darkness of the sanctuary, the light fell on an image of
Lucifin, The Illuminator. It created a magnificent halo that
authenticated the supernatural quality the Lucifinian priests desired to
convey. As they chanted in the darkness, the worshipers - permitted in
those precincts only at that season - seeing their god suddenly
resplendent in glory, always experienced raptures of ecstasy.
Gravely ill now, almost to the point of death, Cusha continued his
accusations against Shemacan. “The cursed Lamenter’s apposition to the
god, Lucifin is divisive and detrimental to the unity of the race,” he
ranted, “We must silence him!”
However, no one dared provoke a confrontation against the venerable
patriarch. Shemacan was the last of The Old Ones, considered almost a
god by the masses, despite the fact that he discouraged this view of
himself.
Although the people were passive under the yoke imposed by Ninus, Cusha
understood that anyone audacious enough to harm the Chief Priest would
certainly suffer a most horrible death - status and rank not
withstanding. Even Ninus and his wife, Semiramis, could hope for no
reprieve should Shemacan be harmed at the instigation of Cusha or
themselves. More than likely, such an act would provoke a bloody revolt
resulting in their overthrow. Moreover, Shemacan was the brother of
Cusha's long deceased father, Hamath. Together, the two had passed
through The Great Deluge. If Cusha or his kin were to harm the Chief
Priest, the people would view it as the worst of crimes – fratricide.
There was nothing Cusha could do to have his nemesis silenced.
Shemacan understood the immunity he enjoyed. But, even if he had none,
it would not have changed his conduct. The Most High God was being
betrayed. For this very reason The Three had sent The Great Deluge on
The Old Ones. It was against such apostasy as that practiced by Cusha
and his followers that Father Noeman and his family had taken their
stand in their generation, and for it, they were persecuted.
On this bright morning - the day of the spring equinox - the Chief
Priest of the Most High God stood and lifted his hand for silence. An
immediate hush descended over the plain. As he spoke, his voice
resonated from the lofty hills behind him; his words were picked up and
shouted in relays by his white-robed assistants, who were dispersed
throughout the throng. The process insured that the entire throng
received the words of the Chief Priest of The Most High God.
"I alone am left of all those who lived on the other side of The Great
Deluge!" the Lamenter began, "You know why The Old Ones were destroyed!
They refused to follow the way of The Three. They would not heed the
warnings given to them by Lord Logos through Noeman, my father. For this
reason, the waters came, and The Old Ones perished! Only The Eight were
saved. Because we believed the words of Lord Logos, He delivered us from
the judgment of The Three!
"Once again rebellion rises against The Three. Cusha, son of my brother
Hamath, declares that he is a prophet, but he is false! Those who follow
him shal be led to destruction! Lord Logos has spoken to me! He has
ordered me to establish a band of faithful and righteous men to proclaim
His words to the people. Lord Logos, himself shall send these men to me,
that I may anoint them for the task He shall entrust to them. They shall
be known as “The Proclaimers.”
Chapter ------
The Chosen Ones
Five years had passed since the first class of Lucifin’s demon possessed
Subverters penetrated Odoma; since then, others had joined them. Emperor
Kan's communities now dotted the frontier border that separated his
Logos-hating empire of Kanland from Odoma, the land ruled by his the
First Couple, his parents Odom and Gwen. Despite his fanatical hatred
for Lord Logos, who had driven him into exile for murdering Hebel, his
brother, Kan loved the First Couple. Though Odom and Gwen still clung to
the ways of The Three, Kan had decided to make no move against their
nation during their lifetime. Nonetheless, in anticipation of such a
move, BuJiard his advisor from the stars, counseled him to erect
numerous border communities, inhabited by conscripted Kanites,
indoctrinated on how to comport themselves in their new posts.
“You must cause these border towns to appear prosperous, Kan,” BuJiard
cautioned, “They shall be seen by the Odomites who dwell along Odoma’s
border towns. You must conscript artisans, farmers, herdsmen with large
herds of well-fatted kineoxen, shepherds with thickly fleeced flocks,
even lowly laboring workers who must not be treated as slaves,
instructors for children . . .”
“And who shall bear the cost of such a mission?” Kan yelped.
BuJiard gave Kan a shrewd glance. “Who is it among those in Kanland who
enjoys the privileges you bestow on them?” he inquired.
Kan mulled over the question. After his exile by Logos, he crept back
under cover of darkness and kidnapped Theesa, the sister he had planned
to take as a spouse before being driven away by Logos. Over the
centuries their progeny had mushroomed into the millions of mostly
miserable, enslaved minions of the royal family and those upon whom Kan
chose to bestow privileges. Essentially, Kan had enslaved his own
descendents. The privileged classes, such as the priests and priestess,
high military officers, those upon whom Kan had bestowed noble status,
among others, ruled over the ordinary Kanites with an iron hand,
assigning to them their various rolls in life – farmers, cattle and
sheep herders, tanners, tailors, seamstresses, hunters, builders,
house-slaves, miners, fishermen, craftsmen in precious metals, etc, all
for the benefit of the privileged classes.
“Those upon whom I have bestowed privileges – the aristocracy, the
landed gentry,” Kan responded.
“Does anything they possess not belong to you?” BuJiard asked.
“No, all in the empire belongs to me. I am their Abba. They all sprang
from my loins. I am the father of their race,” Emperor Kan acknowledged.
“Then impose a heavy tax on them to pay for the border mission. Send
your militia to collect the tax from each of those who enjoy your
privileges,” BuJiard advised.
“And if they refuse to pay such a tax?” Though he asked the questioned,
Kan already knew the answer.
“They would never dare refuse you, Kan!” BuJiard reminded him.
End of Excerpt
© Josprel (Joseph Perrello)
josprel@verizon.net
About the Author:
Josprel is an ordained minister, who resides with his wife, Maria, in Western New York.
Though brought up by devout parents, he abandoned both the Church and religion at an early age,
not returning to them until several years later. He served three years in the Far East with the U.S. Air Force.
He then was separated from active duty and placed on a ten-year reserve status.
He studied for the ministry under the G.I Bill of Rights, and holds a Master of Theology degree.
He currently is authoring two novels, "Beloved Apostate" and "Kanfal."
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