Kirk
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30 September 2013
22 October 2008
Feeling Gravity's Pull
"Do you want to keep pushing on?" I asked The Bishop.
Undecided, he remained silent in front of us, looking off of the main road and down the slope to the valley below and the mountains beyond.
The Lizard was due back in the citadel, her ascension ceremony and appointment as Ambassador for The Order being imminent. Thus, after a continued silence, I turned to her, expecting the usual nod for me to continue forward down the path, but she simply stared at our friend, a pained look in her eyes.
It had been a rough journey. The Master had worked his arcane art to restore the power of The Bishop's visions. The results were mixed, prompting a long recovery of my friend's body and mind.
But it was his spirit that was most in need of rebirth. The Order had refused The Bishop leave to see The Master, and I sensed an infinitesimal weight had tipped unseen scales.
"It's ok." The Lizard broke the silence. "I now know it's the right thing for you to do."
The Bishop nodded, embraced her and said, "Send me word of your final decision on accepting the post, and I'll let you know how I fair. Our paths may run parallel and allow us to ride together."
Grasping my hand, he instructed, "Make sure she reaches the citadel," and then he turned down the slope.
We watched him, moving away from us, into the valley toward the sun.
The Lizard started to cry.
"Are you sad because you are afraid of what events he has started in motion?"
"No Genghis, I'm happy for him. By bravely letting that slope carry him away from his closest friends, he is deciding to end a long cycle of abuse."
I contemplated this, offering "When you are safely back at the citadel, I will set out to accompany him."
"Good," The Lizard approved. "He'll benefit from your strength."
"Certainly, but I'm curious to see what occurs in that valley and over those mountains!"
Undecided, he remained silent in front of us, looking off of the main road and down the slope to the valley below and the mountains beyond.
The Lizard was due back in the citadel, her ascension ceremony and appointment as Ambassador for The Order being imminent. Thus, after a continued silence, I turned to her, expecting the usual nod for me to continue forward down the path, but she simply stared at our friend, a pained look in her eyes.
It had been a rough journey. The Master had worked his arcane art to restore the power of The Bishop's visions. The results were mixed, prompting a long recovery of my friend's body and mind.
But it was his spirit that was most in need of rebirth. The Order had refused The Bishop leave to see The Master, and I sensed an infinitesimal weight had tipped unseen scales.
"It's ok." The Lizard broke the silence. "I now know it's the right thing for you to do."
The Bishop nodded, embraced her and said, "Send me word of your final decision on accepting the post, and I'll let you know how I fair. Our paths may run parallel and allow us to ride together."
Grasping my hand, he instructed, "Make sure she reaches the citadel," and then he turned down the slope.
We watched him, moving away from us, into the valley toward the sun.
The Lizard started to cry.
"Are you sad because you are afraid of what events he has started in motion?"
"No Genghis, I'm happy for him. By bravely letting that slope carry him away from his closest friends, he is deciding to end a long cycle of abuse."
I contemplated this, offering "When you are safely back at the citadel, I will set out to accompany him."
"Good," The Lizard approved. "He'll benefit from your strength."
"Certainly, but I'm curious to see what occurs in that valley and over those mountains!"
18 October 2008
The Karma of Coffee
It had been a good morning ride - bright and cool, steeds swift and sure. The aroma of my beverage filled my senses as I watched The Lizard consume porridge outside the roadside cafe, while simultaneously keeping conversation with a two other, obviously bewildered, patrons.
A tara approached with her driver. She was voluptuous, and atypically clad, but exuding pleasant compassion. They entered the cafe, and we continued relaxing with our second-breakfast.
As the tara exited the cafe, her servant carried her meal and his beverage to their conveyance. Helping her up, he laid his beverage upon the cab of their carriage. Forgetting his drink, he entered after her and prepared to disembark.
"Your coffee!" The Lizard projected, unheard by either the tara or her driver.
In typical form, The Bishop had already moved forward, clumsily covering the space between our table and the carriage. The driver looked concerned at first, The Bishop focused on arresting any movement of the carriage.
The tara simply looked puzzled, seeming to understand The Bishop meant no harm. Her visage transformed into a smile, as The Bishop reached up above the carriage, grasped the driver's cup, and carefully placed it in the owner's hand. The Bishop turned as quickly as he had started and returned to our table, his duty fulfilled.
The tara called after him, "You've earned yourself much coffee-karma, my good ecclesiastic."
The Bishop appeared to politely acknowledge the tara's blessing, but I could see his hue change perceptibly.
"He deserves good karma," The Lizard whispered, "after all he has been through these many months."
"These many years." I corrected, and took another draught of my coffee.
It was a fine morning indeed.
A tara approached with her driver. She was voluptuous, and atypically clad, but exuding pleasant compassion. They entered the cafe, and we continued relaxing with our second-breakfast.
As the tara exited the cafe, her servant carried her meal and his beverage to their conveyance. Helping her up, he laid his beverage upon the cab of their carriage. Forgetting his drink, he entered after her and prepared to disembark.
"Your coffee!" The Lizard projected, unheard by either the tara or her driver.
In typical form, The Bishop had already moved forward, clumsily covering the space between our table and the carriage. The driver looked concerned at first, The Bishop focused on arresting any movement of the carriage.
The tara simply looked puzzled, seeming to understand The Bishop meant no harm. Her visage transformed into a smile, as The Bishop reached up above the carriage, grasped the driver's cup, and carefully placed it in the owner's hand. The Bishop turned as quickly as he had started and returned to our table, his duty fulfilled.
The tara called after him, "You've earned yourself much coffee-karma, my good ecclesiastic."
The Bishop appeared to politely acknowledge the tara's blessing, but I could see his hue change perceptibly.
"He deserves good karma," The Lizard whispered, "after all he has been through these many months."
"These many years." I corrected, and took another draught of my coffee.
It was a fine morning indeed.
20 September 2008
The Tree Pirates
"It's as if she were bleeding her last."
"I prefer to think she is crying." The Lizard corrected, as we both looked at the stump, siphoning groundwater to the surface. I did not offer an argument, sensing Lizard's loss.
What the storm had started, the motley troupe of tree pirates had finished off. Regardless if their fervor was based in euthanasia, or entrepreneurial motives, they made quick work of the laced bark.
Sunshine now took collateral damage on the ferns that had once sheltered beneath a majestic canopy.
"I prefer to think she is crying." The Lizard corrected, as we both looked at the stump, siphoning groundwater to the surface. I did not offer an argument, sensing Lizard's loss.
What the storm had started, the motley troupe of tree pirates had finished off. Regardless if their fervor was based in euthanasia, or entrepreneurial motives, they made quick work of the laced bark.
Sunshine now took collateral damage on the ferns that had once sheltered beneath a majestic canopy.
13 September 2008
Two Flags, Red and Black
The cyclone had given us a rough ride, but The Bishop had labored long, directing our efforts in preparation these last few days to fortify our dwelling. He had stood watch overnight, shoring up the defenses where necessary.
He looked tired, and I was surprised when he said, "We'll have our work cut out, clearing debris, once the gale subsides."
I nodded, and asked, "What do you think the worst part of last night's experience was? The high winds rocking our quarters? Or perhaps the rain seeping through unseen cracks?"
"Well, if I were to be pressed," The Bishop answered, his eyebrow raised knowingly in my direction, "I'd have to say The Lizard's snoring."
24 August 2008
AKC CGC
The Bishop and The Private came sprinting out of the training grounds, relief on the face of the latter, a proud smile lighting the former's visage. They raced past me at full speed, bounding on the trail near the woods.
The Lizard also exited, and seemed happy, but tired. I walked over to her, and asked, "I trust it went well?"
"It was amazing. The Private was the only student in her class to pass all the tests."
"Splendid!" I replied, "You led her well, then."
"That's the amazing thing, Genghis." She said, watching our compatriots celebrate near the trees. "When things seemed to be breaking apart, and I was getting nervous and frustrated, The Bishop suddenly took the lead, making course corrections as necessary. The Private took to his commands and executed... almost flawlessly!"
"The Bishop has been known to rise to the occasion when the chips are down, but I'd be willing to bet neither of them would have been successful if you hadn't provided your special recipe of hard work and communication." My comment made her astonishment turn to a full, and satisfied smile.
We continued to watch The Bishop and The Private gambol about, with a word of praise every now and then being tossed by The Lizard in their direction. It was good to see them happy, especially The Bishop, since so many days of recent past had been sorrowful for him.
"It's hard to comprehend that The Private will get promoted." I contemplated aloud.
"Comprehending won't be the problem. Putting up with The Bishop's pride in his protege' may be the issue, " she correctly noted.
The Lizard also exited, and seemed happy, but tired. I walked over to her, and asked, "I trust it went well?"
"It was amazing. The Private was the only student in her class to pass all the tests."
"Splendid!" I replied, "You led her well, then."
"That's the amazing thing, Genghis." She said, watching our compatriots celebrate near the trees. "When things seemed to be breaking apart, and I was getting nervous and frustrated, The Bishop suddenly took the lead, making course corrections as necessary. The Private took to his commands and executed... almost flawlessly!"
"The Bishop has been known to rise to the occasion when the chips are down, but I'd be willing to bet neither of them would have been successful if you hadn't provided your special recipe of hard work and communication." My comment made her astonishment turn to a full, and satisfied smile.
We continued to watch The Bishop and The Private gambol about, with a word of praise every now and then being tossed by The Lizard in their direction. It was good to see them happy, especially The Bishop, since so many days of recent past had been sorrowful for him.
"It's hard to comprehend that The Private will get promoted." I contemplated aloud.
"Comprehending won't be the problem. Putting up with The Bishop's pride in his protege' may be the issue, " she correctly noted.
18 August 2008
Please Bathe Regularly
I was enjoying myself, certainly, but I felt a bit out of my element. In fact, at times, a bit uncomfortable. The Bishop and Incan seemed to revel in the strange and unique air at the conference, and I'm sure part of their happiness lay in the fact they were able to see one another - old friends sharing conversation.
I was beginning to feel less out of place, but then came across a "ground rule" request, posted prominently in the conference schedule. Reading over the statement several times to be sure I hadn't imagined it, I turned to Incan and asked, "Are they joking? Having a little fun with a stereotype, right?"
Incan tilted her head to look at what I was reading. Her shoulders slumped in slight embarrassment. "Unfortunately, no." She admitted, letting it out slow, resigned breath.
I was beginning to feel less out of place, but then came across a "ground rule" request, posted prominently in the conference schedule. Reading over the statement several times to be sure I hadn't imagined it, I turned to Incan and asked, "Are they joking? Having a little fun with a stereotype, right?"
Incan tilted her head to look at what I was reading. Her shoulders slumped in slight embarrassment. "Unfortunately, no." She admitted, letting it out slow, resigned breath.
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