Window Shopping: Kingdom Without a King- Part 4

I knew our alliance would be a temporary one, even as we had shook hands only mere minutes prior. Even still, I hoped I could trust him to help get us free of this place before that alliance dissolved. Praesus towered over me, looking even larger than he had the first time we had a fought. He would most certainly bludgeon me. The possibility existed I might be killed. As I contemplated this, I was not afraid. I would not be backing down.

That’s when Praesus charged. The man flew at me, teeth grimaced, a unfamiliar battle cry escaping them. I readied my fists, and prepared myself for the losing end of combat. Then something unexpected happened.

Footsteps echoed towards us from downstairs. Without looking I thought it to be the excrement-covered guard, finally recovered from his ordeal. But the truth was more incredible. Motionless, with an ash-gray tone about his skin, the portly guard peered up from the last step. His posture was slouched, his arms hung at his sides. However, all those things were overshadowed by the dull green glow that emanated from his eyes.

Praesus, in the midst of his charge, did not seem to notice when the guard shambled forward, effectively cutting Praesus off from reaching me.

When this happened I could see two things; one Praesus couldn’t fathom what he himself was seeing, and two; the back of the guard’s head was completely caved in. It was like an eggshell, dented heavily in the center, the trauma spidering outwards. Only the guard’s head was uneven flesh, littered with clumps of brain matter and sections of blood-soaked hair. And yet he was standing between me and Praesus.  

How was the guard standing exactly?

Praesus halted mid-stride to take in what was before him. His mouth fell open, and when this happened, he dropped the club. It clunked to the stone floor, echoing slightly in the chamber. Praesus was now unarmed and transfixed. It seemed he was caught by the eyes of the portly guard. They glowed like embers in a dying fire, the only difference was their shade of emerald green as opposed to deep orange.

“What sorcery is this?” he mumbled.

I began laughing uncontrollably, to the point where I could barely catch my breath. “Even given the seriousness of this situation, it's a shame no one else heard that. I mean could you have used a more cliché line?”

Praesus was most certainly distracted as he stared into the eyes of a man he had murdered moments ago. I knelt to pick up the club. As I did this the portly guard mimicked my actions exactly.

I looked at the guard, Praesus looked at me, and I back at him. We both held the expressions of shock. I waved the club back and forth, the guard’s right arm did the same.

“What the-” Praesus began.

“You were going to say ‘fuck’ right? Eh, probably not, more my kinda word than yours. I dunno, but this is definitely an interesting development.”

Then it dawned on me.

“You are going to help me.” Even as I began to speak, I could see the resistance in Praesus’ eyes. “Now listen, I have the only weapon between us, and I have…” I looked to the guard, “whatever this is.”

The confidence in his own size and strength left Praesus. It seemed he was not inclined to tangle with forces he did not understand. Fleetingly, I wondered the prudence of doing so myself. In spite of this, I was seized by a strange optimism,

“Crack open that door, make sure that’s Old Rufus they have in the courtyard.” Praesus didn’t need to know it, but even if it wasn’t Rufus yelping, whatever was going on out there we were about to put a stop to it, regardless. “Well?”

“They have him, chained to a pole in the courtyard. They appear to be throwing stones at him.”

“We’ve wasted so much time already,” I walked to Praesus and began to hand over the club. “Look, I am giving this back to you because I know those people out there are armed.”

Praesus reached for the club. I drew it from his reach.

“But, if you try anything- anything- I will make sure this guard gets his vengeance upon you.” Saying this statement had a sense of righteousness to it, I felt justified in threatening Praesus with it, though I had no idea why. To accentuate this the guard let out a moan, and extended his hands towards Praesus’ throat.

“Down boy.” I grinned. “Can we work together to escape from here and get Rufus back?”

Praesus nodded, I gave him the club. “What’s the strategy squire?”

“You go out there and clobber as many as you can with this blunt object. And me and,” I cocked my thumb at the guard whose eyes still held that eerie green glow. The guard also cocked the same thumb to nobody in particular, “this guy will...do stuff.”

If Praesus had any doubts (which he should’ve) he did not voice them.

I flung open the doors that led to the courtyard.

Combating Terror

 First off, I am no expert. What I offer in the below is what I believe to be a bipartisan solution to the terror attacks that have unfortunately become all too common across the globe and here at home within the U.S.

We may see eye-to-eye on these points, or we may differ on all counts but in order to solve for this horrific epidemic we need a multipronged approach that addresses more than a single religion or race as the antagonist or a single populace as the victim.

                In the aftermath of the Orlando shootings that occurred in the early hours of June 12^th I am still wondering how we can live in a world where violence is becoming less predictable by the second. How it seems, as people we can let one of our own drift so far astray that they could not only justify, but then visit, the most heinous acts upon another human being. The concept is beyond me.

                Those of you that read this page regularly are aware that I try to approach my ramblings with a clumsy sort of humor in order to lighten the subject matter at times to provide levity. This subject however, being one of the most grim I have written on, will not fit that mold. I intend to stay focused and solemn out of respect for the victims and their families and friends, as I collect my thoughts on what is no doubt a serious and real subject.

                Item #1 – What are we dealing with?

                Recall that this isn’t solely a “gay” issue, this isn’t even a “Muslim” issue, and it ceased being a local, or even American problem years ago. We need to understand that trying to label and assign generalizations to those who have been attacked, or those that do the attacking is presumptive, and generally a waste of time. It’s futile as rationale human beings to try and assign meaning to the meaningless.

                Terrorism, foreign or domestic is (and has been) a global issue. Both its perpetrators and targets are faceless, and yet known to us- because they are us.

                Item #2 – What’s the diagnosis?

                No one can argue that any person; man or women, black, white, brown or orange that conspires to carry out atrocities against innocent strangers cannot be deemed mentally stable. We as people need to take responsibility and increase our own awareness for our fellow person. We need to ensure that no soul falls through the cracks of society and thus is never in a position to be retrieved by a group like ISIS, or otherwise allow dark thoughts to begin to take root.

                We need to take ownership of the mental stability of our society, make a better effort to engage people where they are at, and act like we care instead of only saying we do.

                Who knows, in time maybe we can add resources and outreach programs at a national level, but it starts in our communities.

                Item #3 – Action speaks louder than inaction

                Around the world our leaders need to come to a consensus with groups that would commit acts of terror, or claim responsibility, that doing so puts a target on the backs of its members.

                Those with the authority to do so then must seek out those targets, and simply put make examples of them, whether that be financially, materialistically, or more *final* measures.

                Send the message that we may not have struck the first blow, but we will strike the last.

                I know that in a lot of ways the above is general, its level of hopefulness possibly only dwarfed by its abstract assembly, but it beats the buzz word filled blame game approach (“gun control”, “gun free zones” etc.) and ham-fisted rhetoric (“radicalized Muslim”, “refugees”) of those politicos who seem to only use these sad events to elevate their level of publicity instead of actually presenting a course of action to combat them. In closing, if you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

                Its in that vein where I’ll wrap up, if you don’t like my ideas, rather than lampoon them; I encourage you to formulate some of your own. Then try to act upon them (form a community group, write your elected officials). Who knows your inventiveness just might save lives.