A SPELL, A PRAYER, & A WISH
Copyright © 2015 by Parker Hennegan
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author at the email address below.
[email protected] Printed in the United States of America
First Edition, 2015
ISBN: 9781310358746
ISBN-13: 978-1508590040
ISBN-10: 1508590044
THE END OF FATE
A SPELL, A PRAYER, & A WISH
PREQUEL
PARKER HENNEGAN
PREQUEL | A SPELL, A PRAYER, & A WISH
It is 4993 B.C.E., in a valley called Mesopotamia…
“Making him look weaker does not make you look any stronger—not to anyone else. Instead, it makes you seem lost inside. Are you?”
Marwan blinked slowly, deliberately, and crossed his arms. He sighed and wanted to say, no, but couldn’t seem to vocalize the word. He sighed again and looked at his mother, wishing she would hurry up with her lecture.
“You need to treat Tyre better, even if he doesn’t have the same respect for you. Everybody sees how big you are and knows you’re strong. Everybody knows how good you are at throwing the copper knives. Your physical appearance is obvious without you having to say a thing. But humiliating Tyre makes you look weak. Since you’re the bigger person physically—and, I hope, mentally—you need to start acting like it. I hope someday you find the kindness and gentleness I see in your soul,” Marwan’s mother, Maji, said in a gentle tone.
Marwan replied, “Ma, he can just be so arrogant, untrustworthy, wasteful and sometimes I think he’s barely fit for life in our gracious land. If it were up to him, he would destroy everything in his path and leave burnt fields in his wake.”
Maji never turned her gaze as she narrowed her eyes at her son and said, “To me, you sound like the arrogant one. If you are to be ensi someday when your father travels to the Afterlife, you should know that it’s not up to you to find good people and champion them, but to find the good in all people and champion that. Tyre’s a soul in human form like the rest of us and he’s here for a reason.”
“Ma, his soul is rotten. He’s a bad person, pure and simple.”
“Nonsense. There is no such thing as pure anything unless you take into account the entire Universe as a singular thing. Tyre is not bad, Marwan. He just has a lack of love in his life—but there is still love deep inside him, even if it is hidden away from the world. Love exists everywhere, in all things, even if your perception can’t tune in to it. You have it in you to be more aware of this fundamental aspect of the Universe—I can see it in you—even if you can’t find it in yourself right now.
“Enough of my lecture. You have things to do before I leave. These water jugs need to be filled. Unless you’re not going to be thirsty tomorrow?”
Marwan was glad the lecture was over and started to say, “Okay…”
But Maji just kept talking as though she had more to say and not enough time to say it. “And make sure to give thanks to the river as you are filling the vessels. Also, please remember to bring water while I’m gone, too. At seventeen years of age, you are far too old to have your mother reminding you of everything. You’ll need to take care of a woman someday and most people your age have already found a partner.”
Marwan rolled his eyes and awkwardly, nervously, grinned for a moment. Then he turned serious and earnestly said, “I want to find a woman who captures my heart the way you captured father’s. You two have a love—a connection—that no other couple has. It is truly something special. As your son, I know it. People in the village speak about it. I hope someday I find the perfect someone waiting for me out there.” Marwan pointed at the wall like he was gesturing outside.
Then Marwan grinned again and playfully said, “Aren’t you the one who told me that time and space aren’t an issue as long as I’m in the right time and the right place?”
Marwan cocked his head like a know-it-all, while Maji arched her left eyebrow and spied him like a detective, but in a loving way only a mother could.
She said, “Go get water and while you’re at it, think about how the river is in many places at once and yet all places are the right places and the right times. You have to want to find love, Marwan, instead of being so distracted with always being right and strong. I don’t want my young man to grow up into a hardheaded ensi.
“The ‘right place’ and ‘right time’ are the real moments of life—they are the moments when you first visualize an idea or experience. This reality comes before you start trying to think so hard about it. All your smart ideas just muddy up the clarity.”
Marwan said, “Okay. I think I’ve heard enough lessons for the day—no, actually I’ve heard enough to last me forever. I’ll see you later, Ma.”
Maji was the one who rolled her eyes this time as Marwan left their clay brick abode with two large, copper water jugs, one in either hand. Marwan’s family was part of an old tradition that stretched back as far as anyone could remember. There in Mesopotamia, many tribes had gathered their resources together for economic and military benefits. There had been talk for many years about unifying the tribes with some sort of central government, but for now, each tribe still had their own priest-leader, called an ensi, and they each practiced their own customs. As far back in time as anyone could remember or any story was told, this was the first and largest village ever.
These days, Marwan’s tribe, the Sumerians, and the other tribes in the valley were mostly a peaceful farming and fishing community. The wonder of such large-scale cooperation between the people living together in the valley was truly spectacular and prosperous enough for everyone to want to further a peaceful existence together.
When Marwan was just a baby, there had been one small battle between his village and a neighboring tribe, the Akkadians, but miraculously Marwan’s mother was able to secure peace between the two with her wise, diplomatic words. Captives were exchanged and there had been no skirmishes since. And for all of Marwan’s memory, they had maintained peace. In fact, the Akkadians had recently settled nearby to Marwan’s village and there was talk that they would now peacefully join the community as well. These were good, prosperous years in Mesopotamia.
While many of the tribes in the village had workers to help with their ensi’s daily and mundane tasks, Marwan’s family insisted on doing their own chores. Marwan’s father, who was referred to as Ensi Pa, declared that his tribe would follow the natural order, or ‘the way’, of life above all else. Pa claimed that the daily tasks were to be celebrated and not to be looked down upon. They were a reminder of the stewardship each and every human being had with the Earth. Without complaining, Marwan brought his family’s water from the river every few days or so. He actually enjoyed doing so as he prided himself on being one of the strongest men in the tribe, and even in the entire valley. He always carried large copper jugs that he had made himself years ago when learning the art of copper smelting from Pa.
While walking to the river, Marwan’s thoughts drifted as he pondered life and love. Marwan was told that many of his fellow Sumerians had come to Earth from a world far away in the Orion constellation. They were souls reincarnated on a mission to help propel the Earth’s crea
tive, synergistic energies through a transformation. Pa had explained that it was like a phase transition for the entire Earth, as though the planet was being reborn. Human beings were a key element to this transition.
Marwan was told that one of a few reasons the Orion soul group had decided to incarnate here were because Earth was also the home of a different, primitive soul group called the Reptilians. They had found the Earth thousands and thousands of years ago, bringing selfish and destructive energies to the planet. However, now was a critical time when selfless and constructive energies were needed. If the Reptilians proliferated, the new phase transition might never be realized and Earth could be lost from a living planet to a cold rock.
Besides the Orion and Reptilian souls, there were other soul groups incarnating on Earth—as well as a particular soul group that was entirely native to the planet. The souls native to the Earth were specially attuned to creativity, yet young and innocent—like Marwan—and required a bit of help at this time period against the Reptilians in order to achieve the energy frequencies they were destined for.
Marwan remembered that once, while working together under the light of a bright, hot sun a handful of years back as he stood smelting copper from rock, Pa had told him that he was not a soul from Orion, but rather a unique, native soul from Earth. He was to rejoice in the strength and individuality that he possessed, distinct from any other Orion soul. Sometimes, Marwan felt like he had something to prove to his family, since he was the only one of them that was a native Earth soul throughout all his lifetimes.
Marwan looked down at the empty water jugs he was carrying and lifted them above his head in a silent demonstration to himself that he was strong. He was proud to be a coppersmith like his father, learning the sacred knowledge that few knew. Marwan hoped he would be a great ensi someday too. He saw the familiar trees up ahead that signaled to him he was close to the river. Another minute more and he would be saying the prayers of gratitude as he lifted the clear water from its natural source.
Not to Marwan’s surprise, his sister Benyamina was at the river already. Marwan always went to the same spot to collect water; it had been the spot where many of his and Benyamina’s childhood memories were made, playing and splashing in the pureness of the river with friends.
She was sitting on the edge of a small boulder, dangling her feet below the crystalline surface and watching the sun begin to set over the horizon. The slant of the sun’s rays bounced off the waters, making it appear like a wavy mirror reflecting all that grew along its banks. As Marwan looked at his only sibling, he swore he could see a golden hue around her, as though the sun was shining on her and making her glow. He could tell she would someday be a medicine woman and healer like their ma.
“Benny!” Marwan called to her from a dozen or so yards away. She turned her head and looked at him with a peaceful smile on her face. She waved and then turned to face the river again as Marwan approached.
When he was only a few feet away, she turned and said, “I just love the water. Every time I put my feet into the river—in the same spot—it is changed water and a new magic to behold. I could swim in this same spot like we did a million times as children, and each time it feels a little different.
“And the golden rays of the sun are filled with warmth that comes and goes on the water. It makes me wonder if our souls are not like the river and the time in the day like the rays of the sun?
“I was just thinking the same thing.” Marwan crinkled his brow and smiled at the same time.
He continued, “Well, I mean about souls in general—and the different worlds our parents say we are all from.”
Benyamina said, “You wonder about traveling from one place to another place often, brother. But what I mean is one place or another traveling through us—right here, right now. Maybe the soul is like the water in this river and the river itself is like the body. From afar, the body looks like it is staying the same while in reality the new water, or energies of the soul, are constantly flowing through it and refreshing every moment—in the same places. Maybe the soul is not static in any way, but fluid. Maybe it’s not substance but a process, a flowing spring of this and that like the current.”
“That sounds deep—no pun intended.” Marwan grinned as he knelt down to the river to fill the jugs.
Benyamina grinned too and kicked her feet in the golden water, splashing a little. She sat and gazed upon the river while Marwan started to fill the water jugs. He began to recite the simple prayer of gratitude for the river’s water.
“The path that I take is one of thanks
To follow you, river, and kneel at your banks
With life you bestow, infinite and whole
A strength you provide resides in my soul”
Benyamina joined in the prayer that they both had learned as small children. Their voices harmonized and lifted their spirits up as the dusk of the evening crept over the land.
“Each drop holds a spirit of force I respect
Entangled as one even when separate
I bless this purity with love and allow it to nourish
Connected through Earth and together we flourish”
When Marwan was done filling the jugs with water, they stopped reciting and each took a deep breath of peace. Marwan looked at the sun as its last golden, fiery brightness dipped below the horizon. Marwan felt content and safe as he stood there at the riverbank. He remembered the talking-to he had gotten earlier about Trye and decided to bring it up to Benyamina.
“This afternoon, I was at the main game spot in the center of the village.”
Benyamina replied, “Were you practicing throwing the copper knives?”
“Yes, I had just finished practicing for the day. And I must say, I did pretty good—always on target.” Marwan stood up tall and puffed out his chest a little. He thought of himself as a skilled warrior, even if he had never faced a real battle yet.
Then he rolled his eyes at himself, exhaled and let down his guard. He remembered who he was talking to. He wasn’t hiding anything from his sister and didn’t want to look more foolish than he probably already did. Benyamina smiled slightly as though she knew what he was thinking and sat waiting for the story that was to ensue.
“Well, anyway, I saw a couple kids trying to read some of the merchant symbols that the traders use. They were drawing them in the dirt in different orders, in a succession and joining the meanings together in new ways. It was actually very interesting and creative. For instance, they drew the fishermen’s symbol and after it drew the rope-maker’s symbol—who, you know, actually makes some nets for fishing. Then they would laugh and say to each other ‘fishing nets.’ It made sense in an odd way.
“But then here comes Trye, done with playing a game of ball he had probably just lost or been ejected from. He walked up to the kids and started to scold them for wasting their time drawing in the dirt. He was just being a bully, as usual. I can’t stand bullying so I motioned to Darius…”
Benyamina interrupted, “Is Darius that fisherman’s son from the Sharrukin tribe that you just met a couple weeks ago?”
“Yes. He’s a nice guy and looks up to me. I knew he would do what I suggested without being loud about it.”
Then Marwan frowned and looked down. He said, “Maybe I feel bad now for getting him involved with Tyre. But, well, that’s not my point.
“Anyway, I motioned for Darius to go behind Tyre and get down on his hands and knees like a bench just behind him, which he did. Then I walked up to Tyre and said something like, ‘Mind your own business, loser.’ I pushed him backwards and his little, skinny body fell backwards, right over Darius.”
Marwan chuckled nervously and looked at Benyamina. She was not smiling but kept a straight face.
Marwan continued, “He hit his head in the dirt and was obviously embarrassed. I felt pretty good about knocking him over—you know, teaching the bully a lesson—but you know how news travels around here. By the time I got home, somehow Ma
had already heard about it and scolded me. She didn’t think it was the right thing to do.”
Thoughtfully, Marwan said, “The kids around laughed, but I did notice some of the young guys across the way look at me suspiciously. But I was just trying to be the good guy and stick up for the innocent kids.”
Marwan looked at his sister straight in her eyes and asked, “What do you think, Benny?”
Benyamina looked over where the sun had been minutes before but now had been replaced with pink and orange hues lighting up the fluffy clouds overhead. It wasn’t completely dark yet, but it would be pretty soon.
“It’s too bad the sun’s rays of warmth aren’t still shining, Marwan. You could use some of that golden power to warm your heart and leave those cold thoughts behind.” Benyamina turned her gaze toward the bright hues reflected by the river.
Marwan protested, “But what about those kids? If I just stood there and did nothing, they would have been victimized more—and probably again. Maybe Tyre will think twice before picking on some kids again.” Marwan folded his arms in front of him as though he’d just made a great point.
“There were infinite ways to respond to the situation, Marwan. Remember that old saying, ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right?’ You could have responded with love towards the kids or thought of something clever and imaginative to say to Tyre; I know you could have. Instead, you amplified the negative energy of Tyre by responding the way you did—and violently, at that. You reinforced that being violent is the way to accomplish a means to an end in Tyre’s mind, and suggested that same notion, albeit unconsciously, to the boys you were defending. Forgiveness would have been a better start and love would have been a better approach.
“Also, don’t forget that what you send out comes back to you threefold. That is the karmic cycle until you remember how to forgive and remove yourself from the endless spinning of the wheels you continue to roll along your life’s path.”
“How did you get so smart, Benny? If anyone heard you talk like that, they would think you were as old as mother instead of a year younger than me. Am I the dense one because I’m the only family soul from Earth, instead of Orion’s Belt like all of you?”
Benyamina said, “When a small chick is ready to hatch from its egg, it will do so at the perfect time, not a moment too soon or a moment too late. You are simply waiting for your chance to hatch, Marwan. We souls from Orion have come here to help assist the hatching of millions and eventually billions of souls on this wonderful green and blue planet. I just hope we can remember who we are when the real battle starts thousands of years from now, and our memories get all murky.”
Marwan was now staring at the river, too. The light had vanished now. He said, “So I’m just a hatching chicken. Great. I wish I knew what my purpose in life was.”
Benyamina smiled but didn’t say anything. They stood there in silence for a few minutes longer until Marwan reluctantly said, “Well, I should be getting back home with the water.” Marwan picked up the jugs.
Benyamina replied, “I’m going to stay behind, to be alone with my thoughts for a few minutes longer. The moonlight on the water is as beautiful as the sun’s rays.”
They said their good-byes and soon Marwan was walking the dusty path back home. After a few minutes, the river was out of sight and the darkness of the night was taking over.
Marwan had been lost in thoughts of his own when suddenly the hairs on his neck seemed to stand up. He had the feeling someone was watching him and he nervously glanced from side to side, looking for a prowler. Nobody was in sight but unconsciously he started walking a little quicker. Marwan was well built and wasn’t really afraid of any one person, but the darkness always made him a little uneasy.
After taking a dozen or two steps and not being able to shake the feeling, Marwan stopped and turned around to face behind him. He could now see the whites of a pair of eyes looking at him from a handful of yards away. They looked like they were almost glowing in the blackness of the night.
Marwan called out, “Who goes there? Show yourself to me!” He set the jugs down and started to mentally prepare for a fight.
The intruder walked a little closer before deciding to announce herself. She seemed to shuffle her feet in the dirt as she walked and Marwan could tell almost immediately that it was a reluctant walk; perhaps the intruder had been following but wanted to remain unseen.
“Don’t worry, Marwan. It is only me, Kübra. I was just taking a walk in this crisp evening air.”
“Kübra? I didn’t expect to see you; you startled me. Did you need to speak with me about something—does Án send for me?”
Kübra answered, “Oh, no, no he doesn’t. I really didn’t know you were out here, too; I thought I could walk alone for a minute. But here we are, so we may as well walk together.”
Marwan was cordial with Kübra, who was Án’s apprentice and rumored partner. Marwan liked Kübra even though he didn’t really know her that well. She was always nice to Marwan and always said the right thing at the right time.
Kübra was an immigrant from the Dur tribe and had just moved to the village a year ago, right after Án had gone to visit his mother’s relatives. Kübra had told Marwan she always wanted to live in the famed communities of Mesopotamia. Án’s mother was a medicine woman, also from the Dur tribe, who married into the Sumerian tribe. Marwan figured Kübra was attracted to Án because of their shared heritage, but he could tell she was mostly enthralled with the enormous village the tribes were creating in the Mesopotamia valley.
Án was supposedly a medicine man, kind of like Marwan’s mother. Marwan knew he was important to his fellow Sumerians because of his so-called natural born intuitive skills. He was next in line to be ensi if anything ever happened to Pa or Maji. Apparently, his gift was helping people find insight into themselves and what they wanted out of life. Marwan was skeptical, however, and was never comfortable that Án was next in line to be ensi.
The Sumerian customs dictated that an ensi had to be at least eighteen years of age so if anything happened to Pa or Maji during the next year, Án would be temporary ensi until Marwan was of age. Marwan thought that whereas Kübra always said the right thing at the right time, Án always said the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Marwan didn’t like Án in the slightest. It seemed like Án always had something to say to him and Marwan didn’t want to hear his opinions on everything. Án could never let Marwan just do what he wanted and Marwan figured it was because Án was jealous that Marwan would be ensi someday while Án would always just be second best. In fact, Marwan hated being around Án—but at least Kübra was nice.
After Kübra caught up with Marwan and they started walking together, Marwan amiably said, “I’m heading back to my home with the water jugs. I don’t mind the company.”
“Oh, good. I don’t think we see enough of each other anyway, Marwan.” Kübra proceeded to walk with Marwan for a short distance, making small talk along the way. She complimented him on how strong he was getting as he was growing up.
After a short pause in the conversation, Kübra said, “So Ensi Pa’s wife, Maji, is going away for a week’s time, leaving tomorrow?”
“My ma, you mean? —Yes, she will be gone for a short time to give counsel to the Akkadian tribe on the west side of the valley. Why?”
“Oh, I just heard about it and thought the travel sounded interesting. Being Ensi Pa’s wife and all—that must be very tiring work for such a beautiful woman. She should feel lucky to be so beautiful. Only few are gifted with her amazing, natural looks. If I had her features, I would…well, never mind. She’s quite the character, though…” Kübra paused and cleared her throat.
She continued, “People say she’s a wise woman, don’t they?”
“Yeah, people say that. Although, sometimes it seems like she knows too much.” Marwan half-grinned, half-smirked as he thought about the lecture he’d gotten regarding Tyre earlier. Kübra remained silent as though she was hoping Marwan wou
ld tell her more. But Marwan decided not to say anything further; he didn’t feel like rehashing the incident about Tyre with Kübra. Marwan had talked enough about Tyre for the day.
After a few moments had passed, Kübra spoke again. “You know, if Án were the ensi instead of your father, I would be the one making that trip tomorrow, wouldn’t I? Oh, but better Maji than me. Good for you and your family.”
Then Kübra turned and looked directly at Marwan. “He wishes that he had a chance to be ensi. He tells me things like that. He’s a great merchant, too, not just a medicine man. He would bring economic prosperity to all of the Sumerians.”
Marwan decided not to answer and kept quiet. His temperature was warming and he was becoming angry inside. Just one more year left and I don’t have to worry about him anymore, Marwan thought. But he didn’t want to insult Kübra by lashing out at Án. Luckily, his home was near and he would be there soon. He was hoping that Kübra wouldn’t want to come inside; he had already heard enough about Án and what Án wanted.
“My home is just ahead,” Marwan finally said, with irritation in his voice.
“And so it is. It has been my pleasure talking with you, Marwan. I’ll be seeing you.” Kübra smiled courteously and walked away.
Marwan was very happy to be back inside the peace of his home. Maji was there and had prepared a meal while he was gone. Benyamina soon returned as well, but Pa would not be coming home until late. Maji had said that Pa told her he would be talking with elders of their tribe by firelight about important matters until late that night.
Marwan fell asleep that night while staring at his dreamcatcher, swinging slightly above his head. Even in the dark, it was oddly striking, hanging there, gently swaying in the fresh air wafting through the home. Maji had made it for him when he was very young and he never slept without it. He had never had a nightmare since she made it, and he knew it brought him luck and foresight. Sometimes, he would wake up in the morning with a solution to a problem he had had the day before. Maji said it was the magic of the dreamcatcher and the wisdom of Marwan’s soul traveling through the Spirit World while he slept.
While he slept that night, he had a vivid dream…