Episode 17 : Ragon Arises - Part 3

"You are ...."

 It was the wise Kaa who opened his mouth in a slow, dreamy tone.

"Who are you?"

 His voice was thick and shrill, and his eyes, beneath their bushy white brows, shone with a certain clarity.

 Guin, who had been gazing at the mighty bulk of the brave Dodo as if trying to gauge his strength, looked down at one of the longshots of this lagon. The eyes of Kerr the Wise are fixed on Guin with a light of deep concern.

"I'm not--"

 When Guin opened his mouth, there was a sudden buzz of excitement in the crowd of ragons. They had heard of this monster before, but when they heard it speak human languages in front of them, it seemed to them that they were struck with great astonishment.

 The brave Dodo's eyes also glittered with astonishment under his protruding eyebrows. Only Kerr, the wise man, listened to Guin's words slowly, as if he did not feel the slightest surprise or astonishment.

"I am Guin. I'm a warrior who doesn't know where he comes from, doesn't even know his country of birth."

"Guin? Why do you not know where you come from? Who are you?"

 Kerr repeated softly. Guin searched for the right words to say. Then,

"He knows not where he is born. That's because he's an evil spirit. He must be an evil spirit from the land of the dead who's come to avenge Ragon."

 A thick voice was heard.

 They all looked back in shock. The voice came from Dodo, the hero, sitting next to Kerr.

 There was a murmur of agreement with the words of the brave man from everywhere. Some of them not only agreed with him, but also said, "Kill him, kill him, there is no need for such judgments against evil spirits.

 Sage Kaa slowly raised his right hand. Immediately, the lagoons fell silent.

"I'll tell you what. "Who the hell are you?"

 Patiently, he repeated. Guin's answer had already been prepared.

"I am Guin. I'm the one who was ordered to set Ragon on the right path."

"To whom?"

 Carr's question was quick.

"To heaven."

"What do you mean by heaven?"

"The destiny of Janus, the two-faced god who rules this world."

"Janus--Janus, I know no such god."

 The chief of Lagon said.

"So who made Ragon what he is? Who decides how long the people will live and what their sins will be? Who sets things in motion... protects the people of Ragon... and makes sure Kaa makes the right decision? Alfetu."

"Alfetu!"

 Kerr's voice had a strong tone of sorrow in it.

"Alfetu! It's the god of the Shemites. A worm that wanders the land of the dead... a maggot on a corpse. Ragon will not benefit from Alfetu."

"Then what? What does Ragon call the thing that does Ragon favors?"

"You mean Accra."

 Kerr said solemnly. As soon as Kerr had said the name with such reverence, to Guin's utter horror, all the lagoons around him bowed their heads in supplication.

"Akula made Lagon, and Akula protected Lagon. Akula is the beginning of all things. The earth is full of gods. But there is only one Akula who makes Ragon. Akula is for Raggon alone."

 Carr chanted in a monotone voice,

"Akula is made only of lagon . Ragon is made by Akula."

 They all chanted in a low voice.

"So, this is Accra. Think of Akula as Janus in our language. It was through him that I came to life."

"Accra is Accra. Akula has no other name. The only one who knows Akula is Ragon, who was made Ragon by Akula."

 Carr said stubbornly. Guin was secretly annoyed. There's no time for religious debate. He glanced up at the night sky. The white Iris was already high in the sky.

"I'm from Accra, you know."

 Guin puffed out his chest and raised his voice.

"I am an emissary of Accra."

"Acra's--!"

 The ragons are buzzing again. The brave Dodo sprang to his feet. Then he was almost as big as a cloud.

"Shut him up. Cut out his tongue and salt it. She has desecrated the sacred Akula. They say she was trying to steal the precious white salt of Ragon. A messenger of Akula... she's nothing but a thief and a demon. Kill him.

 There was an explosion of shouts of "Yes, yes! Ragon and the others raised their shaggy arms and waved them in the air, shouting kill, kill.

 is ,

"Be quiet."

 The voice of the wise man Kerr rang out, and his right hand went up again, and the noise died down at once. At that moment, Guin suddenly realized. In the hand of the Sage Kaur, which was held up with its palm facing him gravely, there were six fingers, no matter how many times he counted them again.

(Incorrect: ...)

 Perhaps that is also a qualification of a wise man, Guin thought suddenly, forgetting the urgency of the situation. His thoughts were interrupted by the gentle voice of Kaa.

"Guin the Beast's Head, you have been charged by the brave Dodo with a grave charge. One is that you are an evil spirit from the land of the dead who has come to avenge Lagon. The other is that you have stolen the salt of the Sacred Valley. And you call yourself an emissary of Akula. This is a terrible thing if it's true... that Ragon acts on Akula's orders. But if it's not true, you've committed a crime even greater than being a demon. Claiming the name of Akula is a greater sin to Ragon than stealing salt or killing a sleeping man.

 "Canst thou make mention of the two sins before me, Kaur the Wise and Dodo the Brave? And can you testify to what you have said?"

"I can--"

 Guin looked straight back into the other's eyes.

"And, I think."

"Then make an offer. The laws of Ragon are just. If you're right, there's nothing for you to fear."

"Let's make an offer."

 Guin took a slow step forward. The three lagoons surrounding him startled, but seeing that he had no intention of doing anything, they returned to their original statuesque postures.

 The moon was bright and shone down on the stone village. The mythical figure of the leopard-headed warrior, standing in the midst of the village square like the bottom of a bowl, with his legs spread wide, his hands clasped behind his back, his wrists lightly nuzzled, and his chest outstretched, was also bathed in the glow of the blue iris, and his glossy leopard head and splendid physique as if wet.

"I can make an offer."

 Guin begins to talk loudly. Kerr leans back in his chair and listens attentively. Without waiting for the signal of silence, the warriors, women and children of Ragon also quieted down and listened to the story of what was probably the first camellia in Ragon's history, trying not to miss a word.

"Listen carefully to my words. And decide if you'll judge me. But Ragon must be just... at least not so barbaric as to instantly demonize a man who speaks Ragon's language and has Ragon's body just because he happens to have the head of a beast and is different from everyone else. I believe in Ragon."

 Yes, Ragon is fair," came a voice from many places. It soon died down again, like water being sucked into the sand.

"The first accusation - that I, Guin, am an evil spirit from the land of the dead, come to avenge Ragon - I know I'm not, and I don't even know why Ragon would think that. I'm alive. As you can see, I'm alive and I'm moving and I have red blood on my body and I'm thirsty and I'm hungry. I can speak and walk with my two legs and fight with my two arms. Isn't that what the living are? And the dead lie cold and motionless and have no need of food or drink when they move about. They do not take up swords to fight, but instead blow the winds of disease into the mouths of the living or breathe the breath of death into the mouths of the dead. In Ragon's eyes, I look like an evil spirit, or some such nasty thing. But I can wield a sword and cut down my enemies. I don't need the curse of an evil spirit to make me rot and die.

 And though I have come across the desert, I was not born there, nor is it the land of the dead. Why would a tribe as wise as Lagon call it the Land of the Dead when he knows that Shem lives there, and the wolf lives there, and all sorts of other life goes on as usual in these mountains? I do not understand..."

"Car."

 A lone lagon stood up.

 A young warrior, almost as big as Guin. He said it as if he were trying to hold back his rage.

"This man calls Ragon's precious words false. The desert is the land of the dead and Shem, the id and the leeches are evil spirits that roam in the land of the dead, as even a three-year-old boy like Ragon knows. Rather, we were told that the very fact that such impure things dwelled there was proof that it was none other than the Land of the Dead. We will not listen any longer to words that denigrate Accra. I call upon you to pass judgment and put the sinner to the spear."

 There's a buzz of agreement and disagreement. Guin knew he had failed. He had unknowingly violated some kind of lagoon-specific taboo. But he showed no sign of moving, and raised his voice.

"Wait. My speech was interrupted. The justice of Ragon's code would dictate that you not make a decision until you've made your final offer, Kaa."

"Guin the Beast's head is right."

 The six-fingered old sage raised his deformed hand slowly and said in a voice that did not raise it in the least.

"Keep your counsel. The orchid must not interfere with the offer until the offer is made."

 Guin bobbed his head in thanks to the old sage. Then, more carefully than before, he went on with each word as if he were treading on thin ice.

"It's true I've crossed the desert. But that's because there's no other way to get to Ragon's village than by crossing the desert. I fought many creatures of the desert and came this far. The fact that I made it through the land of the dead alive is proof that I'm not a demon. I know that's why Ragon looked at me and said I was a demon from the desert. Ragon thinks so because I have the head of a beast. But just as I came through the desert but wasn't born in the desert, I have this head but haven't been this way since I was born. I can't tell you why yet, but I was cursed by a wizard to look like this... underneath this beast's head lies a man's head, just like Ragon's.

 And the other matter - the salt thief - is also easy to explain. This is the first time I've been to Ragon's mountain. I came here on business to see Ragon. I heard he was in this direction... and I set out to find him... across the desert. I didn't know where his village was... or what kind of life he led. I didn't know white salt was important to Ragon... and no one told me it was a sin to pack it in my sack. If I had known, of course, I would never have raped what was sacred to Ragon. In fact, as soon as Ragon told me, I opened a sack of salt into the salt ravine. The fact that I didn't even try to escape with it is obvious to the warrior who captured me. I'm truly sorry and I'm sorry for unknowingly violating Ragon's taboo. But I did it without knowing. If it's a sin to have violated the taboo without knowing it, then I'll make amends, but it will be different from a knowing sin.

 And again, if I were really an evil spirit, it would have been easy for me to convince the ragons who seized me that I did not steal the salt, and to steal all the salt from the Salt Valley. But instead I laid down my weapons, brought the salt back to the valley, and was brought to Ragon's village and thrown into prison. Because I had no desire to fight Ragon - I did not dare to hide my appearance and came through the desert against all odds to make friends with Ragon and ask him for a favor.

 And how will Ragon treat me-- will he treat me as fairly as he speaks? Or will he put me to the spear and kill me without even letting me know what kind of a request it is, let alone consulting with the clan to see if I'll grant it? I'll leave that to Ragon's justice and fairness. That's because I'm a man who believes in Ragon and wants to be his friend with all my heart.

 All I have to say is this. Wise Kaa and fair Lagon's people."

 Guin kept his mouth shut.

 And quietly look around. --at least, it seems certain that his speech made quite an impression on Ragon and the others.

 The ragons looked to the side, murmuring and buzzing, as if they were gauging the reactions and impressions of their brethren beside them. The young warrior who had earlier insisted that Guin should be killed seemed to have realized that he had behaved badly when he was rebuked by the clan leaders, and was now leaving it to the judgment of the older men.

 Carr didn't say a word. For a long time, so long that even Guin was worried, he looked at Guin from beneath his furrowed brow, and silently held his six-fingered hand - for, as he saw with interest, the old sage had six fingers on his left hand, and twelve fingers on both. In the end, he had twelve fingers on both hands.

 When Guin opened his mouth to say something, it was as if he had been waiting for the right moment,

"Judgment shall be after you have heard everything."

 Wise man Carr said.

"So, Guin the Beast's Head, how do you testify to the great words you have called yourself - words that say you have been sent by Akula, the protector of Ragon, to lead him aright? "

"It's--"

 Guin choked up.

"You can't answer that?"

 Carr came in, folded.

"You said you were an emissary of Accra. Now I ask you. What is Akula? Where is it? What does it look like? Have you ever seen an akula? Show me proof that you are the messenger of Akula."

"Show me the proof. Show me the proof."

 All at once, the lagoons chanted.

 Guin felt a cold sweat running down his armpit. He had never expected to find himself here, in the light of the moon, asking religious questions. His miraculous knowledge did not inform him of the nature of the religion of Ragon. He shook his head. I'll have to answer somehow.

"Accra is universal."

 He decided to take a chance and row a small boat into the stormy sea.

"Akula is also known by a different name. What Ragon knows as Akula is known to me by a different name. No one knows where Akula is, because Akula is everywhere and nowhere. No one has ever seen Akula. For no living man can stand face to face with him."

"That's right."

 Unexpectedly, Guin was a little surprised when the wise man, Kaa, said as if he had understood him.

"Go on."

"No one can tell the form of Akhla, because no one can see him. But he is above all - he is the Creator of all."

"Enough!"

 This time it was the brave Dodo who shouted.

 There was something in his voice, a grim anger and refusal. Guin snapped out of it. He had tried to be as vague as possible, to say whatever he wanted, but perhaps he had slipped up too easily.

 The brave Dodo stood on a stone chair. His great face was wet with the moonlight, twisted with rage, and his ears were covered with blasphemy.

"Enough. This man is not an emissary of Akula. He knows nothing of Accra. All he's said is blasphemy out of his mouth. Akula is not him. Akula has a visible form. Akula is not everywhere and nowhere. Akula is in Akula. When it's lost, lagoons fall... this man said he knew Akula by a different name. Akula is only Akula because no one knows Akula but Ragon. This man said... He said he knew something he didn't. He said he came to tell you of Akula's life. And yet this man does not know Akula. He was only guessing when he told us that Akula would never approach a living man. We will not listen to such blasphemy any longer. I'll kill this man. I'll kill him. I'll kill him! Does Kaa the Wise disagree with the decision of Dodo the Brave?"

"I can't stand up, I can't stand up, I can't stand up."

"Carr blesses the dodo."

"Kill the beast-headed sinner."

"Kill him!"

 The cries of the crowd that filled the square seemed to loosen the rocky mountains and drown out the howls of the wolves.

"Kill him!"

 Dodo barked.

 Oh no - that was the faint thought that went through Guin's head. Akula was not a person, not a god, but rather a thing. Something clawed fiercely at Guin's heart. But he could not allow himself to be distracted by it.

"Kill, kill, kill, kill!"

"Kill the evil spirits!"

 The giants with manes up to two tars in length stand in a circle around the square, clasping their hands and shouting in the air.

 Guin knew he was doomed. But he looked at the wise man Kerr, hoping for a ray of hope.

 Carr isn't chanting in a whisper. But he showed no sign of trying to stop it, either. His eyes are narrowed to the extent that you might think he has closed them for a moment, and with his hands clasped together, he seems to be absorbed in meditation.

"The eight. It's an eight-pack."

 The crowd was beginning to get excited at the prospect of seeing blood.

"Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill."

 No," Guin said, giving up on Kerr's intercession. He looks around, wondering if he'll have to use force to get through this. But Lagon's crowd was probably at least a thousand strong. And unlike Shem, each and every one of these giants boasts a stature no less than Guin's.

Yeah. He took the wise man's car hostage.

 It was when Guin made up his mind and tightened every muscle in his body to jump to the chair in front of him, dodging the spears of the guards behind him at once.

"He says he's going to defeat the brave Dodo."

 A young voice, high for a ragon, pierced through the din and rang out in the air.

 And you're rushing to stop him,

"Lana. Shut up. What are you talking about, girl?

 Again, unmolested by motherly voices,

"He said he was stronger than the Dodo. He said he came to tell everyone that and show them that he's the real hero. Hey, won't he fight the dodo?"

 By now, everything was quiet.

 But it was a stark contrast to the silence that had been commanded by the wise man Kerr earlier. It was a silence of clarity, fear, and trembling.

"Lana!"

 Her mother shouted, trying to get her out of the way. Guin had finally found where her little friend was. It was in the pack just to the left of the brave dodo. Lana's round eyes stared at Guin without blinking. Then she said again.

"Hey, he's that small. And he's stronger than Dodo? Why doesn't Dodo fight him when he's smaller than him?"

"That's because the dodo is afraid of me!"

 Guin seized the opportunity like a bolt of lightning.

"Ragon, brave men of Ragon! Dodo the Brave is trying to tear me to pieces without letting me make an offer or fight him properly!"

"What are you talking about, demon?"

 Furious - and not unreasonably so - the brave Dodo leapt from his chair, his face turning red as he shouted back.

"Who would fear a boy like you? Ragon is just. You're a sinner. You were brought here to make an offer. Not to fight. Ragon does not fight demons!

"It's not Ragon. It's the dodo that won't fight."

 Guin pointed out shrewdly.

"Ragon is a brave and righteous man. But Dodo, his chieftain, is a coward. He's afraid to fight me. Why? Because if Dodo fights me, it'll show he's not the strongest man in Ragon!"

 A gasping sound filled the air. This time the silence smelled distinctly of the sweat of fear.

 Dodo stepped forward slowly. He wasn't ranting anymore. His mouth was tied tight as if he was forcibly suppressing his rage. The sight of the three-tall giant standing there, furious with rage, was far more frightening than his ranting and raving.

"You've embarrassed me, beast-headed lagon."

 The dodo said in a quiet voice, like a blunt, premonitory explosion.

"You dare not challenge me and yet you humiliate me. Then I have the right to kill you. Or will you challenge me the right way and fight me to prove your words are right?"

"I'll challenge the brave dodo."

 Quickly, Guin answers. Ragon and the others gasped. They must have thought that Guin was insane to challenge an opponent who was two times bigger than he was - and that was the bravest of the brave, Dodo. Guin continued unconcerned.

"However, I don't know the proper way for a tribe to challenge a dodo, and I need you to tell me. I want to challenge the dodo."

"Good friends!"

 Dodo barked.

"I accept your challenge! On the honor of the brave Dodo, I will tear you to pieces!"

 However, after saying that much, he suddenly looked back at the wise man Kerr as if in a panic. From the way he seemed to inquire about his intentions, it appeared that the wise man was above the brave among the two elders of Lagon.

 Then he opened his eyes and opened his mouth in front of the crowd, which was breathing hard not to hear a word of his voice.

"Very well. That's another story. Dodo the brave will fight Guin the beast's head. If Dodo wins, Guin dies. And if Guin should win, let his words be deemed right and let him be recognized as the messenger of Akula as he says he is."

 Quite a feat, said Guin, secretly feeling like praising the old wise man. With a single word, Kaa the Wise had created a situation where no matter who won, Dodo the Brave would not be harmed and there would be no loss for Ragon.

"I'm sure you have no objection."

 Slowly he reminded them. The hero and Guin nodded silently.

 Quickly, the rage and excitement of the lagoons from earlier had subsided like a tide, and instead, the anticipation of a spectacle and something uniquely interesting was beginning to build up. Clearly, watching battles was the greatest entertainment for Ragon and his friends, and even their only value.

"Be ready."

 Kaa the Wise commanded. The brave Dodo stood up and glanced at the challenger as he was leaving to get ready. His eyes were full of scorn and anger, and he threw Guin a look of blatant contempt and brutal joy, as if to say, "How dare you challenge the brave Dodo with such a small body?

 Guin stared back silently. Anyway, things are going as he had hoped. All he had to do was defeat the brave Dodo and let Ragon hear his words.

 Over my head, the moonlight shone brightly, illuminating the cold stone-built structures and the half-naked, half-haired giants that crowded the spaces between them. There seemed to be only three or four more hours until dawn.