... and now for the muse

An un-edited novelette by Case.

"We must continue fighting. We have come this far and yet lost many friends but if we work together we will succeed." "Yes king Leonard is right grab your swords and begin the battle." Everyone in the army charged forward towards the crowd of soldiers from the other team. Their heads held up high, their eyes burnt by the sun and their courage pushing them on. The hot sand bellow their boots caught in the wind and blew against the soldiers faces. The army kept marching until they came face to face with their enemies. "Fight!" screamed the men in black suits as they ran of to take cover. Gun bullets started pouring down like rain. King Leonard was in trouble, he tried to stand up and walk away but his old legs would carry him no longer. Finally he fell on to the rough dirt bellow him. "Help" shouted his assistant as she came back in her red high heels. "King Leonard has fallen." It was at that moment when I heard the word king that I ran up to the hut and bent down on my knees. "You are right my lady I shell take care of him, just leave it to me." Then I realised what I had brought upon myself. I carried King Leonard off on my donkey. It was a tough journey and my army suit was sticky and sweaty inside. I imagined being a bear and having layers of fur lying on my back. I imagined the heat beating down on by brown body and at the thought of that I took the rope that was tied around the donkeys neck and kept walking. After a while a village was in sight, King Leonard had woken and was feeling unconscious so the donkey and I stopped outside the town. I lifted King Leonard and helped him along the path. "Stop." Came a voice "Drop your gun and tell us what you are doing here." I didn't even touch my gun I just let go of King Leonard and stared in astonishment, standing in front of me was a group of young monkeys. When I was ready to begin I told them how I was fighting for peace and they stopped me and said "what find peace in death how do you do that?" Now that was one question I could not answer so with out replying I told them what had happened to my king. "Leave your king with us." They croaked. "We will take care of them until you return." The lifted up King Leonard and before I could open my mouth they had disappear into the long dark streets of their village. "Come on donkey." I said as I reached where I had left him. "we've got a lot of travelling to do." So we set off back to the Irena. My brown boots were squeezed around my feet and I was in pain but the little critters I had just met had taught me a thing or to. Late at night as I was cuddled up in bed my mind dozed of and I began to dream.¹ When I woke up I thought about my dream, rubbed my eyes and then shouted "That's it that's what the monkeys meant.²

I ran out on to the battle fields (then ran back.) It would b better to have some pants on I thought. After changing I walked out again and began to speak. As I opened my mouth some men took me and locked me up. "this ust be a mistake." I convinced "I have done nothing and I have important news." The guards just laughed and closed the door behind them. I looked around all the venting systems were barred up their was no escape I just had to wait. Sooner or later the judge walked in. "If you promise to not talk in the battle grounds I will let you go, but if you open your smart mouth again you will stay here forever. Understand." "Yes sir." I said. Now I must go out and tell the army to stop. "but, but." I said "But I am a leader, I can shout if I have to. "yes sirrrrrrr." I followed him out and walked over to the soldiers. When he opened his smart mouth and told all the men to stop I opened my smart mouth and yelled "For ever you see w… figh… for pea…" the strong man released his hand and took it of my mouth "You were saying." he said. "I was saying why fight for peace, peace is not blood nor death peace is love." Every one in the crowd dropped their guns.

That was my dream but the end of my story. My mind was right even though it was half asleep it still knew that love was found in life not death.

___________________________
1 I can not tell you what I dreamt of of course cause that will ruin the whole story.
2 I can not tell you what it meant either that is a surprise.