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For
many years and many years before that the country
of Iraand had been subject to the maurading band of
foreigners who plundered the coasts of those weaker
than themselves. They would stampede over the native
people, raping and pillaging all before them. The
people lived in destitution and fear.
Gali
Beaarda, known to his family and close friends as
"The Big Lad-en", had grown up in Belfad
and had dreamed one day of setting his people free
and of tumblong down the big white house of the Sultana,
a dark and shrunken tyrant. The Sultana was loyal
to one even more powerful than himself, one who had
violated many countries, the Great Impeeraa.
Gali
was too poor to learn at the feet of the wise men
and as a dutiful son he soon found employment at one
of the many houses of refreshment at the bazaar in
downtown Belfad.
With
the passage of time, and between pulling caraffs,
he soon gathered around him a group of others, who,
like himself, had grown disgruntled and angry to see
their people live in slavery with all the best women
being taken to the harems of the invaders.
"Gali,
we must fuck these bastards out," cried Galiella
one day as he watched another poor woman, a close
friend of his, being dragged off to be stoned to death
for her infidelity. Galiella had been a hot blooded
youth but was growing cute and learning which side
his naan was buttered on.
"If
you do not learn to keep your one eyed snake in its
basket, Galiella, then this custom will never cease
in our land!" Gali Beaarda spoke sharply because
he was wise and cunning and heard tales from many
tongues.
Galiella
was bewildered. Never before had Gali Beaarda spoken
to him with such anger. What could the Big Lad-en
mean, Galiella did not even own a snake!
"Leader,
leader, they are searching the Kashma and taking many
men away!" Bibiskeaali fell at the feet of Gali
Beaarda.
"Who
dares use the accursed and offensive 'L' word in my
presence!" roared Gali the Great.
"Shit,
Gali, a hundred thousand pardons, I beg forgiveness
for my foolish ramblings, I have spent too long on
the Archilogical work, dust has inflitrated my brain,
I will cut out my own tongue if ever the accursed
and untrue word crosses my lips again," Bibi
lifted the foot of the Big Lad-en and placed it on
his head in supplication.
"We
will forgive this time," Beaarda was feeling
benevolent. He smiled his frozen smile and his white
teeth, purchased in a far off land, glinted in the
sunlight.
Bibi
wished one day to own such teeth, for his own had
become black and worn by the need to constantly carry
his knife between them. One day he hoped too that
he might be able to carry a steak knife, for those
with such a weapon seemed to prosper.
Bibi
spoke from the floor where The Big Lad-en's foot remained
on his head.
"A
hundred thousand humble pardons for speaking, Gali
Beaarda, but perhaps in your bountiful mercy you will
permit me to rise to my knees, the camel dung plays
havoc with my allergies."
Gali
glanced towards the forgotten one.
"Ah,
yes, Bibi, I am much relieved that it is only you
causing the apparent foreshortening of my right leg,
there is an ancient curse on my family saying that
one day there will be a reckoning and we shall be
cut down to size. I feared the dreadful curse was
to begin. Rise up, rise up, lick that piece of lizard
dung from my foot on your way up," Gali Beaarda
was all merciful.
"Oh
generous and all thoughtful one.....if need be I would
cut my own granny's throat at your command,"
Bibi had never really learnt when to keep it shut.
"Command,
command!! I do not command! I advise, suggest, counsel.
With the granny it may become necessary. I hear she
speaks sedition against me at the bazaar. I do not
own many houses as she claims. I own sufficient unto
my needs.....is this not the socialism we speak of?"
Bibi
wished to placate the Big Lad-en. "She is old
and has grown weary, she has lost sight of the great
revolt we plot," he answered.
"Haven't
we all," whispered one of the forty. No one sniggered,
no one dared.
"Call
the people together. I would speak with them."
Beaarda spoke, thoughts flickering behind his magnified
eyes.
"Which
people, Gali?" asked Galiella.
"The
ones who always say 'yes, you illiterate son of a
dung shoveller'!" Gali Beaarda left, picking
up his crombi blanket on the way out. "I go to
my trees, see that I am not disturbed."
"Does
Gali Beaarda not have a harem?" asked one of
the Gali Gardi.
"I
have seen beneath the burkas in his harem. Babzilla
is such a one the burka was invented for, and the
little short red one who bobs like a cork on the seas
- many a man's sight has been saved by the yashmakk,
even the new edition to the harem already begins to
run to fat. Let him stick with his trees!"
The
moon was full and reflected down upon the figure of
Gali Beaarda, arms spread tightly about the tree to
which his camel was tethered.
"Fuck
off animal and fart elsewhere!" he yelled as
the trumpet of expelled wind played music on the air.
Gali needed comfort and to think.....
TO BE CONTINUED
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