Captain Rainbrain and the Tanglevine: Part Three

By: Josprel

Part Three

Troubled, Emperor BenKan sat on his jewel-studded throne. Next to him, but a step lower, the empress sat on a throne of equal grandeur. Both thrones - fashioned from a rare, precious black metal called, “lufite,” in honor of Lucifin, the empire’s official god - rested on a high dais draped by a canopy of costly, gold-tasseled purple cloth. By an imperial decree issued in a century long past, both the purple fabric and lufite could be used only by the royal family. BenKan’s royal weavers spun the cloth from which the family’s garments were made. And lufite was found in only in deep caves. To keep secret the location of such a cavern, each successive emperor immediately executed any person known to have discovered one. In a gruesome take on such executions and on the metal’s jet-black color, the populace took to calling it, “the black death.” Understandably, to keep head and shoulders together, anyone making such a discovery no longer told of it. And so, with each century, lufite became more highly valued.

At attention, Benkan’s nobles stood on each side of the thrones according to their ranks. He had summoned each to this special session. Also on the dais, standing at BenKan’s right hand, was Prince Ludani, one of BenKan’s younger brothers, his Minister of State in name only.

BenKan leaned his head toward Ludani. “Say to them that they have our permission to sit,” he whispered.

“Yes, my great lord, BanKan,” Ludani replied. He descended a few steps lower that the queen’s throne, and shouted, “Here the words of our mighty lord, emperor BenKan!” Immediate silence ensued.

“Our mighty emperor, in his profound liberality, grants to you, his nobles, permission to sit before him. But you may no longer speak without his permission,” Prince Ludani announced.

There was a brief hustle and bustle, as the noblemen complied. Then the prince returned to his former position.

“There is a traitorous gadfly within our empire,” BenKan shouted to the assemblage, “This traitor dwells in the region of Larsa. The administer of this region has our permission to stand and speak.”

Again there was a bustle as a dignified looking representative with snow-white hair, and attired in expensive robes, stood.

“I am the royal administrator of region of Larsa, mighty lord, Emperor BanKan, he shouted.

“You may approach closer, so that we need not shout so loudly,” said BanKan.
After the Larsian complied, BanKan stated, “Yes, no need to shout now. And we now can see your face clearly. You are called Prince Uris, are you not, Larsian?”

“I am called Uris, mighty lord, Emperor BanKan,” the Larsian admitted.
“You have always been loyal to us, Prince Uris,” BanKan observed.
“I thank my mighty lord, Emperor BanKan for his words,” Uris replied.
“Tell us, Prince Uris. What know you of this Noiman, who resides in your region?” the emperor asked.

Uris now hesitated, as though forming his thoughts for a reply.
“Have you no answer to our question, Prince Uris?” BanKan asked in a tone hinting of danger.

“Noiman is of the household of Methusha and Lamech, my mighty lord Emperor BanKan. Methusha was his grandfather and Lamech was his father. Methusha’s years were so many that he knew and spoke to the First Parents. He and Lamech are now dead. Noiman says that Logos, who he claims is of The Three, appeared to him to warn that The Three shall destroy all life on Terra with a great flood. He says that this Logos commanded him to build a great ship, so that all who believe the warning and repent of their evil ways and serve The Three, may escape the flood by entering into the ship. Even now, this Noiman is constructing such a vessel in one of his vineyards; of which he has many.

“His own kinfolk thing him to be insane, my mighty lord Emperor BanKan. But when they attempted to stop him, it is rumored that a stranger riding a white horse appeared and . . .”

“Yes! Yes! We have heard that story,” BenKan shouted impatiently, "What are you doing about this lunatic, Prince Uris? We want to know what you are doing about this traitorous gadfly called Noiman!”

Silenced by the emperor’s tirade, Uris did not know how to respond.
“Well, administrator, answer our question. What are you doing to stop your Larsian lunatic’s shipbuilding? Speak!” BanKan again roared.

“I shall do whatever you command me to do about it, my mighty lord Emperor BanKan. I would do nothing, but at your command,” Uris responded, his voice quavering.

The response seemed to somewhat mollify the emperor. His rage moderated, he said in a somewhat restrained tone, “Now you have our permission to destroy the vessel, but do nothing to harm the lunatic or his family. After the ship is destroyed, bring the entire family here before us. Go now. Fulfill your commission from us.”

“Yes, my mighty lord Emperor BanKan. I shall obey your command,” Uris said, backing away with multiple genuflects.

Continued in Part Four

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

Josprel has been an ordained minister for some fifty years. He is a prolific writer, whose stories and articles have appeared in print and the web. He currently is authoring two novels, "Beloved Apostate" and "Kanfal." During his many years of ministry, Josprel has pastored three churches, including one in Attica, New York, the location of America's most bloody prison riot. Josprel was pastoring in Attica during that time and, as did other pastors in the town, he counseled the families of the prison security officers that were being held hostage by the inmates. Afterward, at the request of the Attica Prison administration, Josprel conducted weekly three-hour Bible studies. The studies lasted for four years, when Josprel turned them over to another pastor, due to demands on his time - a five-time weekly radio program, a large congregation, new members classes, church administration, a building program during which the congregation constructed a large new sanctuary and an education wi

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