Prologue
Once upon a
time there was a world of magic and secrets. The twins Zesna and Smírtel
decided the fates of all living creatures, written in stone and stored for
eternity in the netherworld of the god of death, Dasek.
It was Dasek
who brought chaos and sorrow to the humans and other beings of this time. Dasek
recreated the titans of the ancient era. He moulded the titans out of the black
tar of souls and breathed pure hatred into them. Then one day with the aid of
his magical power Dasek was able to stem against the grids of his prison. A
long time ago Dasek had been banned to the Underworld by Varo because of his
evil deeds. Varo was a benevolent god. He had granted the humans the feelings
of sympathy and gratefulness. Not only did Varo protect the humans, but also
the magical beings. Varo was depicted as a shining and gorgeous god riding on a
chimera across the sky.
The humans
worshipped him. For the magical creatures of the forgotten era Varo was the
first and most powerful god among the four gods. The lovely followers of Saturn
and the warlike followers of Diana with their shimmering skin of diamonds were
among those who prayed to Varo in the worst time of the past era. It was the
time before the humans were the only beings that were allowed to wander in the
light of the rising sun.
On that day
the outbreak of the war between the four gods and the titans of Dasek had
begun.
Now, our story begins in chaos and will end in chaos.
Now, our story begins in chaos and will end in chaos.
The spear
Pan turned around and looked down the cliff. There was nothing to see. No goat, no reproachful ‘mäh’ from Bini. Wondering Pan crouched down and scanned the other rocks. But there still was no goat. He frowned, jumped down from the rock and returned to where he had left his crook and his bag.
The old shepherd’s crook was still at its place. Two days ago Pan had scraped off the bark of a branch and then slathered with olive oil. Now the crook reflected the rays of the sun. At this moment the crook looked like a scepter of a god. Quickly Pan grabbed the crook and searched for his bag.
That bag was important to him because it contained all his food and water. He didn’t want anyone else to enjoy his lunch. He had to think of the yummy dried bacon and the black olives.
‘Oh no, the black olives’, he whispered
and scanned the whole place again. He already had a suspicion who could have
stolen his bag. Smirking he jumped down the cliff calling out for Bini. ‘Bini,
Bini! Come out!’
Soon Pan reached the herd. From afar he had already heard the typical bleating of the goat and now he hoped to find his bag near there. He called out Bini’s name again and again, but there was no bleating anymore. Pan knew Bini’s call and soon he had to realize that she wasn’t here anymore.
‘Where on earth is she?’, he wondered and moved in a circle. Everywhere goats grazed. White, black, brown, speckled and whiskered ones, but no little black Bini. ‘BINI!’, he yelled again and finally he heard her answer. Her shrill call seemed to come from far away. The wind had brought her call, revealed her whereabouts. His heart racing and sweat dropping down his face Pan dashed uphill, towards the highest spot of the island. Back to the rock where he had stood a few minutes ago. Somehow Pan was afraid. Maybe because of the fear he had heard in Bini’s call. He tightened the grip on his shepherd’s crook that seemed to glow in the sunlight and jumped over smaller rocks. Soon he ran out of breath and he had to take a rest. He brushed droplets of sweat away and there it was again! Bini’s anxious cry, saying Help me! Help me!
Pan clenched his teeth together and continued running. For the first time he had to think of the old Zulu and how mad he would be if something happened to Bini. Pan hoped Bini hadn’t broken a leg and now was stuck in a narrow gap between two huge rocks. Panting he finally reached the top of the hill...
Soon Pan reached the herd. From afar he had already heard the typical bleating of the goat and now he hoped to find his bag near there. He called out Bini’s name again and again, but there was no bleating anymore. Pan knew Bini’s call and soon he had to realize that she wasn’t here anymore.
‘Where on earth is she?’, he wondered and moved in a circle. Everywhere goats grazed. White, black, brown, speckled and whiskered ones, but no little black Bini. ‘BINI!’, he yelled again and finally he heard her answer. Her shrill call seemed to come from far away. The wind had brought her call, revealed her whereabouts. His heart racing and sweat dropping down his face Pan dashed uphill, towards the highest spot of the island. Back to the rock where he had stood a few minutes ago. Somehow Pan was afraid. Maybe because of the fear he had heard in Bini’s call. He tightened the grip on his shepherd’s crook that seemed to glow in the sunlight and jumped over smaller rocks. Soon he ran out of breath and he had to take a rest. He brushed droplets of sweat away and there it was again! Bini’s anxious cry, saying Help me! Help me!
Pan clenched his teeth together and continued running. For the first time he had to think of the old Zulu and how mad he would be if something happened to Bini. Pan hoped Bini hadn’t broken a leg and now was stuck in a narrow gap between two huge rocks. Panting he finally reached the top of the hill...
(Update: 04/21/2013)
... What he saw there made his blood run cold. The golden morning sun was high enough to lighten up the place where Pan had gazed at the sunrise. The bright light made the creature up there only appear as a black silhouette. Suddenly Pan didn’t dare to call out for Bini. And he hadn’t heard a horrified outcry from her either. He had to fear the worst but he refused to believe it.
What if that thing up there had killed Bini? His Bini? Mad about that thought and about his own cowardice Pan bit his lips. But still he didn’t dare to take one step forward. And he hoped the shadow didn’t turn around. Then all of a sudden the thing moved and Pan could see it.
The worst he could have imagined. Bini! The black shadow held her up to the sun. The little goat hung there, lifeless, soundless. She didn’t fight against the tight grip around her body.
Pan had to force himself to look at the goat while tears filled his eyes. Bini had been just so small. The smallest and dearest one of them all. She didn’t deserve this! The sorrow turned to anger. A wild enragement overwhelmed him. Pan gripped his crook so hard that his knuckles turned white. He gnashed his teeth in anger, his eyes fixed on the black creature. But the rage and the hate towards Bini’s murderer disappeared from his heart and fear took possession of his body the moment he saw something absolutely unbelievable.
Of course
Pan
had already seen some of the mystical creatures. He had talked to a centaur; he
had bargained over some dates with a nymph and had pulled out a splinter of a
satyr’s hand. As a shepherd Pan had seen a lot, but still this sight was
unbearable.
The black creature had let go of Bini, but she still floated in the air as if by an invisible hand. Poor Bini hovered six inches away from the evil creature’s face. The shadow lifted one hand and Pan saw its abnormal white glow.
His heart skipped a beat. Pan stood there in front of the rock glued to the spot, unable to move an inch. Up there was no less a figure than Dasek, god of black tar. The god with the poisoned heart. No, god of death. Bini had died by the mere touch of his skin.
But Dasek . . .
‘ . . . is imprisoned. Locked up in the Underworld. With the twins Zesna and Smìrtel. They sculpt the stones of fate’, Pan murmured, hardly audible. The old Zulu had told him a lot about Dasek and the four gods who had created this world. Dasek’s skin was as white as the milk of a nanny goat. It was said his eyes were darker than the night. And his heart was small and wrinkled because of the pure hatred living within. ‘Just like an old raisin’, Zulu had said that night when both of them had sat in front of a big fire. ‘The moment he touches you with his bare fingers your heart stops beating.’
It’s just not possible, Pan thought. He was near the death itself and watched Bini floating in the aid with the aid of a dark spell. But that wasn’t the end yet, Pan knew it.
It seemed like the warlock waited for Pan to come to his senses before he stroke Bini’s belly. Dark red liquid contrasted from the light as the drops of blood dripped onto the ground. Slowly a red pool of blood spread out. Pan couldn’t watch anymore. He wanted to avert his eyes. He wanted to attack Dasek from behind. Just do something but he couldn’t. As if Dasekd had cast a spell over him, Pan stood dead in his tracks and watched Bini melt into thin air. Thick snowflakes circled around Dasek, they turned black and circled faster and faster until the sight of the god of death was blurred...
(Update: 05/05/2013)
‘I know you don’t understand one single word I’m saying but I just have to tell you!’, Pan began hastily. He choked back his tears. ‘Bini is dead! Yeah, little Bini is dead and you know who killed her? Who? None other than Dasek himself. And Dasek is still up there’, Pan said and pointed to the top of the hill. ‘He casted an evil spell and now tar is crawling down the hill. And a bolt destroyed the bars to the Underworld. And the titans are free. Oh, good God, they’re free!’ The goats didn’t care about that horrible fact at all. Some continued grazing while others licked their fur. It was enough to drive one to despair.
‘We need to go home immediately. The old Zulu will definitely know what to do.’ Pan talked more to himself than to the herd. ‘To the old Zulu, quick!’, Pan yelled and knew by doing this that it was the right thing to do. It was almost a miracle that all of the goats moved forward promptly. They ran and jumped all the way down into the valley where the old Zulu was awaiting them. Pan sincerely hoped that Zulu knew what had to be done right now.
Some people were already on the streets when
Pan reached the valley. They gazed up to the hill where terrible things
happened. First there had come a bolt out of nowhere and now the titan made of
lava. It spat lava fountains down the hillside setting everything on fire.
But Pan couldn’t care about the titan right now. He kept his herd together and finally reached the crooked hut of the old Zulu...
(Update: 06/11/2013)
‘Zulu! Zulu!’, Pan shouted and pushed open the door. There was nobody. But the fire still burnt and a soup in the kettle bubbled. ‘ZULU!’, Pan yelled and ran to the back door of the house. He stumbled outside and found himself on a meadow. But no Zulu. Where on earth was he?
Confused Pan looked around and then he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Dasek’s figure came to his mind, but when Pan looked over his shoulder he stared into the silvery eyes of a god. He calmly stood beside Pan and returned his look. White hair framed the beautiful face. Pan knew who he was.
Varo, god of sympathy, hugged him and whispered soothing words to him. Slowly Pan’s fast beating heart calmed down and he could breathe again. He wondered how Varo had gotten here and why he had come to him of all people, but he didn’t dare asking.
‘Pan?’ Varo said with a steady voice. He sounded calm and powerful. It felt so good to know someone by your side helping you. Pan couldn’t deceive himself: Hard times awaited them. Times of chaos and misery.
‘Yes, almighty Varo?’ Pan answered with a trembling voice. He gazed into the god’s silvery eyes.
‘You know why I’m here?’
At first Pan wanted to say no, but then a thought occurred to him. ‘Because Dasek has escaped from his prison?’
‘Yes, Pan, because Dasek has escaped. He accomplished to get past the bars and then he even brought the titans with him’, Varo explained and glanced at the beautiful meadow. ‘Dasek won’t stop until he has wreaked revenge on me’, the god added and hugged Pan
more
tightly. Suddenly a mad idea came to Pan’s mind. Maybe Varo was afraid? But he
was a god!
‘You’re right, Pan, I am a god. But even I am allowed to be afraid, don’t you think so too?’ With big eyes Pan looked down. Of course Varo was right. ‘I came to you, Pan, because I need your help.’
‘My help?’ Pan didn’t know what the god wanted to say.
‘My two brothers, my sister Dua and I have to take on Dasek. He may never be allowed to plunge the world into another era of chaos. That would be the end’, Varo said. Pan nodded. He understood what Varo meant. Chaos meant fights to the death, which meant war. And war meant death. ‘That is the mission: We have to stop Dasek and his titans before they can do any more harm. My siblings and I, we will fight. And that’s why we can’t worry about all the living creatures on earth. We have to bring them into another world if we want to protect them. Just as long as it will take to avert the danger.’ Suddenly Varo fell down on his knees so both of them were on the same eye level. Varo’s golden clothing rustled softly.
‘The four of us have discussed this for a long time. But when you brought your herd to safety we saw that you had the strongest heart for this task.’
‘But Bini. I . . .’ He couldn’t continue talking. Tears filled his eyes. That was just so unfair. Why did Bini have to die and why did he have to take over such heavy responsibility? He was only twelve years old...
‘Pan’, Varo suddenly said and knelt before him. ‘I hold the spear which will protect you and your herd from any danger. You mustn’t show any fear and use the spear only in extreme hardships. Understood?’ Pan nodded, not able to avert his eyes from the spear.
‚The moment you touch that spear, you won’t be a mortal boy anymore, Pan’, Miz added. Pan nodded again. He never imagined staying in front of the Great Four one day. Let alone get a present from them.
His heart skipped a beat when he touched the spear for the first time, trembling. Earlier it had been a mere shepherd’s crook and now it had turned into a lethal weapon. But not only did his shepherd’s crook change.
Pan felt it. It was a tingling and pinching sensation as if thousands of ants crawled across his skin. He felt himself growing and getting stronger. In the glimpse of an eye Pan had grown into a strong, muscular faun.
After Pan had tested out his new legs by jumping across the meadow, his glance fell on the mountain. With an uneasy feeling he watched the second titan crawl out of the hole. Now – as a god – he could make out every detail even from miles away. Dasek stood next to the hole in the ground and watched the first titan bring chaos over to isle Ilha-Nú. Hot lava crawled down the hillside, right towards the little village where chaos dominated and everyone was atwitter. Perverse delight was imprinted on the face of the death god. Suddenly Bini came into Pan’s mind. The small Bini that had followed him anywhere. Anger disfigured his face and he raised the spear.
Pan knew he could hit from this distance, but Varo already was by his side. He laid his hand on Pan’s shoulder again.
‘That’s right. And now go and fulfill your fate. Take those on your journey who will follow you voluntarily. Those who will stay behind will defend their land and their home.’
Pan nodded and made his way towards to village.
The black creature had let go of Bini, but she still floated in the air as if by an invisible hand. Poor Bini hovered six inches away from the evil creature’s face. The shadow lifted one hand and Pan saw its abnormal white glow.
His heart skipped a beat. Pan stood there in front of the rock glued to the spot, unable to move an inch. Up there was no less a figure than Dasek, god of black tar. The god with the poisoned heart. No, god of death. Bini had died by the mere touch of his skin.
But Dasek . . .
‘ . . . is imprisoned. Locked up in the Underworld. With the twins Zesna and Smìrtel. They sculpt the stones of fate’, Pan murmured, hardly audible. The old Zulu had told him a lot about Dasek and the four gods who had created this world. Dasek’s skin was as white as the milk of a nanny goat. It was said his eyes were darker than the night. And his heart was small and wrinkled because of the pure hatred living within. ‘Just like an old raisin’, Zulu had said that night when both of them had sat in front of a big fire. ‘The moment he touches you with his bare fingers your heart stops beating.’
It’s just not possible, Pan thought. He was near the death itself and watched Bini floating in the aid with the aid of a dark spell. But that wasn’t the end yet, Pan knew it.
It seemed like the warlock waited for Pan to come to his senses before he stroke Bini’s belly. Dark red liquid contrasted from the light as the drops of blood dripped onto the ground. Slowly a red pool of blood spread out. Pan couldn’t watch anymore. He wanted to avert his eyes. He wanted to attack Dasek from behind. Just do something but he couldn’t. As if Dasekd had cast a spell over him, Pan stood dead in his tracks and watched Bini melt into thin air. Thick snowflakes circled around Dasek, they turned black and circled faster and faster until the sight of the god of death was blurred...
(Update: 05/05/2013)
Dasek knelt
down and dipped his long white finger into the pool of blood. Suddenly a
deafening thunder broke loose and the earth started quaking. Birds raised into
the air, looking for shelter. But Pan didn’t pay attention to them; he stared
at Dasek who was surrounded by black snowflakes.
The shaking reached the climax. A crackling and crashing sound resonated and Pan fell on his back. Then the earth stopped moving and Pan had to scrape together all of his remaining courage to get up again. The rock broke into two pieces. Dasek stood above the gap with his legs apart and stretched his hands in the air. The dark spell was not over yet. All of a sudden a dazzlingly white bolt crackled through the cloudless sky, stroke Dasek and hit the two rocks. The black snow scattered away. Where the flakes fell down the grass and the stones turned black. Bubbling a black carpet spread out on the hill. There was no way to stop it.
Pan knew that Dasek had brought his deathly tar from the Underworld, as a present to all the beautiful and living things. They died under the tar, but there was more to it than that.
From the deep gap a tremendous hand emerged. Pan had to look twice to make sure that the hand really consisted of liquid lava. It grabbed one of the halved rocks and Pan became an eyewitness to the rise of the first titan from the Underworld. The titan broke free of the chains and entered the world of humans and mystical creatures.
The moment Pan stared into the blazing red eyes of the titan, terrible fear made him finally run away. Still gripping the shepherd’s crook he saw black spots spread all over the place. Pan didn’t waist more time. He ran to the herd and mustered the goats. Some still chewed unaffectedly on their culms; others looked at him with their big round eyes.
The shaking reached the climax. A crackling and crashing sound resonated and Pan fell on his back. Then the earth stopped moving and Pan had to scrape together all of his remaining courage to get up again. The rock broke into two pieces. Dasek stood above the gap with his legs apart and stretched his hands in the air. The dark spell was not over yet. All of a sudden a dazzlingly white bolt crackled through the cloudless sky, stroke Dasek and hit the two rocks. The black snow scattered away. Where the flakes fell down the grass and the stones turned black. Bubbling a black carpet spread out on the hill. There was no way to stop it.
Pan knew that Dasek had brought his deathly tar from the Underworld, as a present to all the beautiful and living things. They died under the tar, but there was more to it than that.
From the deep gap a tremendous hand emerged. Pan had to look twice to make sure that the hand really consisted of liquid lava. It grabbed one of the halved rocks and Pan became an eyewitness to the rise of the first titan from the Underworld. The titan broke free of the chains and entered the world of humans and mystical creatures.
The moment Pan stared into the blazing red eyes of the titan, terrible fear made him finally run away. Still gripping the shepherd’s crook he saw black spots spread all over the place. Pan didn’t waist more time. He ran to the herd and mustered the goats. Some still chewed unaffectedly on their culms; others looked at him with their big round eyes.
‘I know you don’t understand one single word I’m saying but I just have to tell you!’, Pan began hastily. He choked back his tears. ‘Bini is dead! Yeah, little Bini is dead and you know who killed her? Who? None other than Dasek himself. And Dasek is still up there’, Pan said and pointed to the top of the hill. ‘He casted an evil spell and now tar is crawling down the hill. And a bolt destroyed the bars to the Underworld. And the titans are free. Oh, good God, they’re free!’ The goats didn’t care about that horrible fact at all. Some continued grazing while others licked their fur. It was enough to drive one to despair.
‘We need to go home immediately. The old Zulu will definitely know what to do.’ Pan talked more to himself than to the herd. ‘To the old Zulu, quick!’, Pan yelled and knew by doing this that it was the right thing to do. It was almost a miracle that all of the goats moved forward promptly. They ran and jumped all the way down into the valley where the old Zulu was awaiting them. Pan sincerely hoped that Zulu knew what had to be done right now.
But Pan couldn’t care about the titan right now. He kept his herd together and finally reached the crooked hut of the old Zulu...
(Update: 06/11/2013)
‘Zulu! Zulu!’, Pan shouted and pushed open the door. There was nobody. But the fire still burnt and a soup in the kettle bubbled. ‘ZULU!’, Pan yelled and ran to the back door of the house. He stumbled outside and found himself on a meadow. But no Zulu. Where on earth was he?
Confused Pan looked around and then he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Dasek’s figure came to his mind, but when Pan looked over his shoulder he stared into the silvery eyes of a god. He calmly stood beside Pan and returned his look. White hair framed the beautiful face. Pan knew who he was.
Varo, god of sympathy, hugged him and whispered soothing words to him. Slowly Pan’s fast beating heart calmed down and he could breathe again. He wondered how Varo had gotten here and why he had come to him of all people, but he didn’t dare asking.
‘Pan?’ Varo said with a steady voice. He sounded calm and powerful. It felt so good to know someone by your side helping you. Pan couldn’t deceive himself: Hard times awaited them. Times of chaos and misery.
‘Yes, almighty Varo?’ Pan answered with a trembling voice. He gazed into the god’s silvery eyes.
‘You know why I’m here?’
At first Pan wanted to say no, but then a thought occurred to him. ‘Because Dasek has escaped from his prison?’
‘Yes, Pan, because Dasek has escaped. He accomplished to get past the bars and then he even brought the titans with him’, Varo explained and glanced at the beautiful meadow. ‘Dasek won’t stop until he has wreaked revenge on me’, the god added and hugged Pan
‘You’re right, Pan, I am a god. But even I am allowed to be afraid, don’t you think so too?’ With big eyes Pan looked down. Of course Varo was right. ‘I came to you, Pan, because I need your help.’
‘My help?’ Pan didn’t know what the god wanted to say.
‘My two brothers, my sister Dua and I have to take on Dasek. He may never be allowed to plunge the world into another era of chaos. That would be the end’, Varo said. Pan nodded. He understood what Varo meant. Chaos meant fights to the death, which meant war. And war meant death. ‘That is the mission: We have to stop Dasek and his titans before they can do any more harm. My siblings and I, we will fight. And that’s why we can’t worry about all the living creatures on earth. We have to bring them into another world if we want to protect them. Just as long as it will take to avert the danger.’ Suddenly Varo fell down on his knees so both of them were on the same eye level. Varo’s golden clothing rustled softly.
‘The four of us have discussed this for a long time. But when you brought your herd to safety we saw that you had the strongest heart for this task.’
‘But Bini. I . . .’ He couldn’t continue talking. Tears filled his eyes. That was just so unfair. Why did Bini have to die and why did he have to take over such heavy responsibility? He was only twelve years old...
‘Because
you’re the bravest one of both of us, Pan. Please understand, we
don’t have much time to save this world. I can’t force you to go
down the path fate has prepared for you. But I request you to do it.’
The silvery eyes were locked with Pan’s.
‘What do I have to do?’, Pan asked. He had made up his mind. He would do Varo this favour and fulfill his fate that the twins Zesna and Smírtel had engraved for him.
‘I’m glad. As I already said we need a leader who takes away the weaker ones. You are going to bring them into the other world and wait for me to take you back.’
‘That’s it?’, Pan wanted to know, skeptical.
‘Yes, that’s it. I will give you a present you are only allowed to use in great danger. Please give me your shepherd’s crook’, the god demanded and stretched out his hand. Pan gave him the branch reluctantly. What was he going to do?
‘My present to you consists of three parts’, Varo said with a severe look on his face. He drew himself up to his full height and went to the centre of the meadow. Wildflowers, sunflowers, wild ivy and buzzing bees surrounded him when he abruptly rammed the crook into the ground. A soft quake ran through the earth and disappeared again.
Pan felt an air draught and he turned around. What he saw filled him with deep respect. One after another the other three gods stepped out of the hut. They resembled gorgeous nymphs or elves. With sublime glances and friendly smiles they nodded to Pan when they passed him and joined their brother to circle Varo and the crook. Pan noticed that he had stopped breathing. They contributed to the present Varo had promised Pan.
Miz, god of copper, purified the shepherd’s crook so the crook held a mirror to the sun.
Dua, the goddess of prayer, kissed the crook which began growing.
Nasib, god of fate, stroked the crook on which strange signs flared up on the surface.
‘What do I have to do?’, Pan asked. He had made up his mind. He would do Varo this favour and fulfill his fate that the twins Zesna and Smírtel had engraved for him.
‘I’m glad. As I already said we need a leader who takes away the weaker ones. You are going to bring them into the other world and wait for me to take you back.’
‘That’s it?’, Pan wanted to know, skeptical.
‘Yes, that’s it. I will give you a present you are only allowed to use in great danger. Please give me your shepherd’s crook’, the god demanded and stretched out his hand. Pan gave him the branch reluctantly. What was he going to do?
‘My present to you consists of three parts’, Varo said with a severe look on his face. He drew himself up to his full height and went to the centre of the meadow. Wildflowers, sunflowers, wild ivy and buzzing bees surrounded him when he abruptly rammed the crook into the ground. A soft quake ran through the earth and disappeared again.
Pan felt an air draught and he turned around. What he saw filled him with deep respect. One after another the other three gods stepped out of the hut. They resembled gorgeous nymphs or elves. With sublime glances and friendly smiles they nodded to Pan when they passed him and joined their brother to circle Varo and the crook. Pan noticed that he had stopped breathing. They contributed to the present Varo had promised Pan.
Miz, god of copper, purified the shepherd’s crook so the crook held a mirror to the sun.
Dua, the goddess of prayer, kissed the crook which began growing.
Nasib, god of fate, stroked the crook on which strange signs flared up on the surface.
Last but not least Varo stepped up and breathed life
into the crook, so the sun’s light throbbed on the copper.
Then Varo grabbed the crook and drew it out of the ground. But what
Pan saw was no shepherd’s crook anymore. No, it didn’t even look
like a branch.
It was a spear.
The deathly peak twinkled
in the sun.
When the Great Four stood in front of Pan, he
immediately wanted to fall on his knees to speak a prayer, but Dua
pulled him up again. She was so unbelievably beautiful with her
golden curly hair and the sea blue eyes.
‘Not today, my dear
Pan’, Dua commanded and kissed his forehead.
‘You were born
to do great deeds. The day will come when others will bow before you
and pray to you’,
Nasib predicted and gave him a solemnly nod.‘Pan’, Varo suddenly said and knelt before him. ‘I hold the spear which will protect you and your herd from any danger. You mustn’t show any fear and use the spear only in extreme hardships. Understood?’ Pan nodded, not able to avert his eyes from the spear.
‚The moment you touch that spear, you won’t be a mortal boy anymore, Pan’, Miz added. Pan nodded again. He never imagined staying in front of the Great Four one day. Let alone get a present from them.
His heart skipped a beat when he touched the spear for the first time, trembling. Earlier it had been a mere shepherd’s crook and now it had turned into a lethal weapon. But not only did his shepherd’s crook change.
Pan felt it. It was a tingling and pinching sensation as if thousands of ants crawled across his skin. He felt himself growing and getting stronger. In the glimpse of an eye Pan had grown into a strong, muscular faun.
During
Pan’s transformation Varo had consorted with his siblings and all
four of them indicated a bow when Pan looked over them one by one
with his new eyes. Everything was so sharp. So unbelievably bright.
It seemed as if everything was embedded in a throbbing light. Pan
wasn’t surprised to see two muscular legs of a goat when he looked
down it inspect himself. From now on he was a faun. The god of
shepherds for the weak.
After Pan had tested out his new legs by jumping across the meadow, his glance fell on the mountain. With an uneasy feeling he watched the second titan crawl out of the hole. Now – as a god – he could make out every detail even from miles away. Dasek stood next to the hole in the ground and watched the first titan bring chaos over to isle Ilha-Nú. Hot lava crawled down the hillside, right towards the little village where chaos dominated and everyone was atwitter. Perverse delight was imprinted on the face of the death god. Suddenly Bini came into Pan’s mind. The small Bini that had followed him anywhere. Anger disfigured his face and he raised the spear.
Pan knew he could hit from this distance, but Varo already was by his side. He laid his hand on Pan’s shoulder again.
‘That’s not your battle, my son’, Varo said and
smiled sympathetically. ‘I can feel the anger in your heart. The
silent outcry for revenge. But remember your mission, Pan. You will
damage Dasek even more if you rescue as many people as possible. He
will bestow monsters and nightmares on you. Be on your guard! And
believe in the force within you’, Varo insistently advised. ‘The
spear in your hands doesn’t carry its full power yet. Do you
remember that I said your present would consist of three parts?’
Of course Pan remembered that. He nodded and it was not easy to avert his eyes from the frosty titan climbing out of the earth.
‘This spear is the first part. During your journey to the other world two tests will await you which you will have to pass in order to get the other two parts. If you accomplish this task, you will be worth holding a weapon that is both a spear and a shepherd’s crook.’
‘I understand. My journey will be long and hard until I reach my goal, almighty Varo?’
Of course Pan remembered that. He nodded and it was not easy to avert his eyes from the frosty titan climbing out of the earth.
‘This spear is the first part. During your journey to the other world two tests will await you which you will have to pass in order to get the other two parts. If you accomplish this task, you will be worth holding a weapon that is both a spear and a shepherd’s crook.’
‘I understand. My journey will be long and hard until I reach my goal, almighty Varo?’
‘That’s right. And now go and fulfill your fate. Take those on your journey who will follow you voluntarily. Those who will stay behind will defend their land and their home.’
Pan nodded and made his way towards to village.
... to be continued
(UPDATE I: an walkout of the short story: The spear, the silvery tear and the first word) UPDATE II: Please remember Illustrations (c) by Toby Allen and the story 'The Spear, The Silvery Tear And The First Word' are based on (c) Tony Camehl. UPDATE III: It's not allowed to use the story or illustrations in one or another form without permission. Do not allowed to alter the story or illustrations. UPDATE IV: Translation by Sandra Camehl and Marlies Grasse)
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