A Wind From The East

‘When does the Lord Master come about?’

‘Usually before mid morning, he walks the market place then sits at the forum until noon’ is the reply. After a pause the vendor questions ‘do you have business with him?’

‘Just a message’ says John.

The vendor nods and Jerson and the Loways proceed to do business trading for supplies.

At about mid morning comes an entourage through the market place with Marcus at its head. John, seeing this, speaks out.

‘Lord Master Marcus, it is I, John of the Loways requesting your attention to a message I have been sent to give you.’

‘Well John, if you’re not trying to save me like your predecessors did’ jokes Marcus ‘you may meet me in the forum, I’m going there now’.

Jerson follows in the shadows and crouches at the door to hear what is said inside.

‘Now what is your message John?’ asks Marcus.

‘It is a message from the god of the Salvation prepared with an option, a warning of impending doom…’ starts John.

‘Ha…. I should have known it, what other kind of messages do you people give to us?’ interrupts Marcus laughingly. Then he inquires of a Covenant priest.

‘Have you heard any doomsday prophesies lately Benjamin?’

‘No Lord Master, none whatsoever. This city and your government have supported our people well, we live and trade here in peace. Why would our God want doom for us too?’

‘Your God wants doom for no one, that is why He always leaves an option to repent…’ says John.

‘Oh, oh…. Hahaha…… this is classic, I love it…Repent or be damned… we must have slipped back a few hundred years to the old days… are you now the fiery prophet John?’ chides Marcus.

John becomes very serious and replies in a low voice and solemnly.

‘Just a messenger is all… and the message is this’ begins John.

‘This city has become like a boil on the face of the earth, with a rotting iniquity at the core. The inhabitants freely practice vile things of all kinds that I abhor. There is no justice here or there. There is no backbone for righteousness or civility. There is the appearance of godliness at the temples but all have turned to self-esteem or profit. Even for all this I will not destroy you. But there is one whose heart is set against your ways. He reigns in righteousness but is not one of mine, for he sheds much blood and shows no mercy and humbles himself to no one. It is he that will come up against you with his army, exceedingly fierce and swift. His intent is to clean the land and purify the earth from your stench. He will do this by killing every living soul in the city, man woman and child and every beast or living thing that belongs to you.’

John pauses a moment then continues:

‘If you would repent of your ways and cleanse this city yourselves, I would give you victory in the field. But if you do not, all that I said of his intentions will come to pass.’

‘Very good’ replies Marcus, ‘as I would expect from a prophet. Why don’t you go and scare some school children with this tale of woe? I didn’t hear your God in the last battle or before. We earned our victory in the field; it was not given to us. If someone attacks we will earn it again. It comes from skill and determination, not hocus pocus magical notions from gods. We have prepared and worked and studied war to be victorious. Like you always say how God does this and that and gives us rain and whatever…. It is we that plant and till the soil to make things grow. It is through knowledge and education that we prosper and conquer. This is why we have become rich and powerful. And even among us some still hold the old ways, like the Covenant who give to their God in this manner: ‘we take gold coins and throw them up to heaven, what God wants he keeps and the rest falls back down.’ In truth they have some gold reinvested in their synagogue which is themselves and their way. We tolerate the religions only to help keep order, it is when they meddle in our affairs or threaten harm like your prophecy that we reject them. So be on your way, and if I hear of you frightening the people with this gibberish I’ll have your head’.

‘Very good’ replies John, ‘as I would expect from a ruler with deaf ears’.

Jerson scurries to get out of the way as the men leave the forum. Then he runs out to Tien straight away. Breathing heavily he starts to spurt out his news:

‘Tien, Tien…. What I’ve heard! Listen to this…. John gave a prophecy to Marcus about an army to come and destroy the city, everyone and everything living! Marcus didn’t believe it though, and dismissed the whole thing. What if it’s true? You know John doesn’t make these things up’.

‘What did you say about the city to this Chin, boy?’ asks a vendor.

‘Nothing at all’ says Jerson trying to squeeze out of the question.

‘Sure you did, you said the city will be destroyed!’ continues the vendor.

‘No, no I didn’t say that… just some other stuff I overheard some men talking about’ Jerson snaps back.

‘There’s word the city will be destroyed!’ says the vendor to another, and the rumors begin.

‘Come on Jerson’ says Tien ‘I see John riding up to the hills. Let’s go there and stay with the Loways awhile’.

As they’re riding out of the city Jerson says to Tien: ‘Do people always think you’re a Chin?’

‘Yes’ he replies ‘because of my eyes, and not many know of the Mongs. Do people always call you “boy”?’

‘Yes’ says Jerson ‘I guess I have a baby face and I’m not very tall’. Indeed Jerson is not a boy but a strong young man.