THON
Hear me, hear these words: Thon does not search for answers;
his answers
are his demons. No, what Thon searches for is his source…that out of which
he comes…even now emerging as the elephant from the forest with it’s
heavy,
slow footsteps…. Somewhere in the forest Thon lies broken with his
people…his comrades…somewhere in the forest he lies, and if someone
were to
find him and raise his broken body to the heavens, and say a prayer over
it…if someone were to find him and do that…then somehow he would revive
and
rise up. He knows this…and he looks to the dead to do this…just as
we do in
our prayers. But I must tell you something that perhaps you will not
understand: Thon sleeps under a comforter of leaves, just as you sleep under
a blanket, but when he awakes, unlike when you awake, he is borne away…borne
away by the great ocean of birth and death …borne away by the elephants
of
his people…the strategists who plan campaigns of terror…and the people
who
huddle in fear from it. I will tell you what to do: when you approach Thon,
do so respectfully…as you would an elephant and ask for his permission
to
sell water by the river. I know this doesn’t make too much sense to you,
but
you must understand that neither does it all make sense to Thon. The lions
and tigers in the forest approach him…and eat out of his hand, for the
most
part…while you wait in the shadows for an opportunity to approach his music,
which is mostly soft. Hear me, hear these words: Thon has begun the world
and if you wish him to survive you must take your weapons and put them in a
pit and bury them…cover them over…quickly, for time wastes; then you
must go
to the sacrificial lamb (which we all are) and ask for
forgiveness…forgiveness for your people which have done him such
harm…forgiveness for yourself…and for even the gods who have abandoned.
Then,
forehead held high, you must approach the temple of dreams and ask
forgiveness…again for all the destruction…havoc wreaked. And finally
you
must approach Thon himself and say to him: forgive me for my people…for
all
the harm done.
Now set off on a new course and join the thousands of pilgrims already
moving toward that way…that way we all go eventually…and stroke yourself
for
deeds done in secret…sometimes and often in the night…when you were
sleeping…that brought you to this place. I’ll tell you one more thing
of use
perhaps: To approach the tiger, place one hand in his mouth…the other keep
to yourself. These two wisdoms will inform you and keep you safe. . .