The Lamenter: An excerpt from Josprel's novel "Kanfal."

By: Josprel

An excerpt from Josprel’s upcoming novel, “Kanfal.”

The Lamenter
by
Josprel

Chapter XXXX

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 XXXX

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 the 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

© Joseph Perrello (Josprel)
Josprel@verizon.net

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

Josprel is an ordained minister, who resides with his wife, Maria, in Western New York, across the Niagara River from Canada. Though brought up by devout parents, at an early age, he abandoned the Church and religion in general, not returning to them until several years later. He served three years in the Far East as a sergeant of operating engineers 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. During his years of ministry, Josprel pastored three churches, including one in Attica, New York, the location of America's bloodiest prison riot. The Attica Prison administration requested Josprel to conduct weekly, three-hour-long Bible studies for the inmates. Josprel did so for some four years, before turning them over to another pastor, due to heavy demands on his time. Josprel ministers with the evangelical denomination of his youth. He is a prolific writer, whose stories and articles have appeared in print and on the Internet. He is authoring two novels: “Beloved Apostate” and “Kanfal.”

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