"Song of Momoki" -- Act III

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“Song of Momoki”
© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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ACT III

THE DESTINIES OF FRIENDS: Wherein Momoki Receives Training; Balori Makes Peace; Wu Chan Chu Wars with Herself; Many Move Towards a Great Battle

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CHAPTER 1

Within the many layers of Hell; within one of its planes resting under a staring, indifferent red eye there was an enchanted forest of silver. It glimmered crimson under the undying, unmoving sun that never set, never rose, never wavered or blinked. It was through this forest of dead trees with chrome-like bark Momoki the Marmoset ran through, chased by the crystalline baboon of purple amethyst. He ran frantically, grunting with every effort. He jumped to the side of a tree and rebounded off it into the branches of another. The amethyst baboon, however, did not give up the chase. Instead it stopped, glared up and climbed the very tree in which Momoki sought refuge.

Momoki shivered nervously. He peered at the ground, wondering if he could jump from his great height within the tree and survive the fall. Could an undead marmoset die? He once thought an immortal marmoset could not die, yet he was wrong. If her were to fail here within the dark depths of Hell, what fate would he be cursed with? Would it be worse than the Chamber of Despair? Worse than the tortures of Radiant Gui?

His mind raced with thought. So much so he did not realize the baboon approached him now.

The baboon cackled, howled, raised crystal claws and slashed at him.

Momoki’s smoky black flesh parted under the sharp crystals. He stumbled backwards upon the branch, lost his footing and fell the length of the tree to slam into the blackened, chalky ground with a small thud.

Radiant Gui roared, appeared from the beshadowed landscape and came to stand beside the tree in which Momoki and the baboon now were.

“You fool! You let him come upon you!” cried Radiant Gui.

Momoki’s wounds healed. He lifted himself off the ground. “I did not know where else to go.”

“Fool!” Radiant Gui reached down and backhanded Momoki. He twisted and turned through the air before landing some distance away. Radiant Gui followed him. “You’re supposed to be training for your fight against Yaska Selith, not falling out of trees like idiot monkeys.”

At this the baboon growled. It leapt from the tree and joined Radiat Gui, sitting near the horse-demon’s foot.

“The baboon will attack you again. Defend yourself or it will be more tortures for you!”

The baboon leapt into action, pouncing on top of Momoki.

Momoki shrieked under the weight of the crystal baboon.

The baboon’s claws dug into the ground, pinning the marmoset down. His jaws snapped at Momoki’s head, dripping hot saliva on his face.

Momoki knew he could not throw off the baboon lest he endanger himself. He thought of his fall from the tree, thought of the claws wounds that hand healed over immediately. He knew he could take the damage.

The baboon’s maw opened wide, thrust forward. His teeth snapped together again and again.

Momoki raised his arm, somewhat limited by the baboon’s hold upon his shoulders. He baited the baboon. The baboon wrapped his teeth about the marmoset’s forearm.

The baboon now caught, somewhat limited in his own motions with his claws in the ground and jaw unrelenting upon Momoki’s forearm, Momoki was able to twist his hips, pulled sideways with his arm and using leverage toppled the baboon from off him.

The baboon and the marmoset squared off.

Momoki’s forearm healed.

The baboon jumped at Momoki.

Momoki sidestepped, struck out his palm and pressed against the baboon’s face, pushing him sideways and deflecting the attack. Again and again the baboon attacked. Again and again Momoki deflected. He ducked behind trees. He defended, but he did not run. Momoki stood his ground.

Radiant Gui sat upon his laurels and silently watched, pleased with Momoki’s progress.

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CHAPTER 2

On went Balori Shongoyo the Towering Elephant and with him his three companions. On they went across the countryside. In every town, as they stopped for provisions, word of their presence spread. Soon people from every walk of life – those seeking glory, those seeking righteousness, those seeking to acquaint themselves with a Gifted One like Balori – came forth and asked if they could join the quest to the Plain of Adoration, the quest to retrieve the Jewel of Zingtai.

Balori did not enjoy the idea of further people joining them, nor did he enjoy his further impeded progress by their joining, yet he saw the wisdom of their numbers. He knew there was a chance of war against the demon and a war would require an army, so he allowed their numbers to grow. Soon his three companions grew from three to five, then ten. Now, as they rode through a countryside turning gold with Autumn, their number was nearly two dozen.

The new members of his expedition brought their own supplies and shared weapons and armor with one another. None of them could be called rich and they could not afford full suit of armor. Many of them wore no more than one or two pieces.

One such man also had a yurt, an inheritance from his grandfather, and within it they stayed. Balori refused to join them, saying he hated being within its canvas walls. But afraid he would seem unappreciative or cause hurt feelings, he ventured a peek within it once for an inspection. He gave it his seal of approval.

As the sun set in the golden country, Balori sat atop a large boulder to watch the starless night wash over the land. He hated the slow going of his companions. He desired to fly right to the Plain of Adoration. But every time he thought this, he huffed and sighed and accepted the importance of his companions. He did so now.

It was Negkendra who came to him this night, asking if he could join the Gifted One seated upon the boulder.

Balori harrumphed. He said, “I suppose you could join me.”

Negkendra sat on a much small stone that lay at the foot of the boulder. Together the two watched the blank sky grow black overhead. They sat in silent contemplation together a long time.

At last, Negkendra said, “I’m sorry for my part in the Elephant Crusade.”

Balori was shocked but this. He grunted, but said nothing.

“It was wrong of us, wrong of the Eternal Empress. Wish that I could remake our histories.”

Balori breathed deep. He thought of Negkendra’s stand against Ghalib. He wondered at the man who was once supervisor over the Elephant Crusade now a crusader for the stars. He said, “I thank you for your stand. I thank you for your companionship now, though you once stood as my overseer.”

Negkendra nodded. Guilt weighed heavily upon him. He thought a moment of things, then said, “I wonder what’s happened with Ghalib.”

“I killed him,” informed Balori. “I crushed his head under my foot.”

This frightened Negkendra. He asked, “Why have you not done the same for me?”

Balori answered, “Because you ride with me now. I have much hatred filling my new form, Negkendra, but I fight it. I do not wish to be a simple killer, a mere spirit of vengeance. If I am to task myself with anything in this life, I must do so with intellect as well as passion and not with passion alone. To act on passion alone, I suppose I would take the hides and crush the heads of every man or woman in every country I came into. While that may be the act of vengeance, and I do enjoy the vengeance I took against Ghalib, I do not wish to be vengeful alone. I would like to commit something closer to justice, if I can.

“While once your were my overseer, while once you were amongst my captors, you are now at my side. I can assume you seek the same end as I?”

Negkendra nodded. “I seek righteousness. I cannot stand by and live my life while atrocities carry on in the world, especially when I once had a hand in them.”

“Then we are the same,” said Balori. “Many who travel with us now seek glory or wish only to be at my side so they can one day claim they were once at my side. I suspect many may run from us when we reach the Plain of Adoration. But you and I and Akadia and Macia are bound by the cause of righteousness.” Balori sighed, breathing easily now. He admitted, “Where once you were my enemy, now you are my brother.”

Negkendr turned and looked up at Balori. He smiled and said, “I, Negkendra the First Mahout, am at your side to the very end.”

Balori smiled back. “I know you will be.”

Balori moved his trunk to Negkendra’s side. With it he softly patted the former mahout, caressing him as he once caressed his own beloved Tafarri. To Balori’s accord, they were family now.

The two sat, Balori’s trunk about Negkendra’s shoulders, and stared into the dark, dark sky.

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CHAPTER 3

Momoki stepped cautiously through the silver forest. He knew the silver baboon was near, but he could not find the shiny creature. He feared a surprise attack. His fears were not unwarranted.

The silver baboon appeared from the silvery hide of a tree. His body melded perfectly with the dead thing, only his eyes could be seen against the tree’s bark, until, that is, it moved. The baboon shifted his weight and Momoki saw his movement as it catapulted from the tree at him.

Momoki screeched. He stumbled backwards under the weight of the baboon as he smacked Momoki in the face before running off and disappearing, blending with yet another tree.

Momoki stood. He peered about. His nerves settled. He knew he merely had to watch for the baboon’s movement. He saw it.

The baboon jumped, appearing from a tree’s branch. Momoki was able to sidestep, but still caught a claw to the face. A scar appeared across his cheek, but immediately began to heal.

Momoki watched as the baboon disappeared into the trees.

Radiant Gui, who was watching from the shadows outside the forest, spoke. His voice was deep and growling.

“You are well exposed, marmoset. Learn from the baboon’s ways.”

Momoki considered this. He was unsure what the demon meant. He wished he could see Radiant Gui, to speak with him and ask what it was he was required to do. He hated the demon that watched from the shadows.

Then a thought came to him. The shadows. Shadows grew long and full everywhere, especially in this land.

Momoki caught sight of silver streaking movement. The baboon launched itself into the air, descending upon the marmoset.

Momoki dropped to the blackened ground. He spread himself close to the chalky black dirt. He disappeared within its dark mass. Only his hat and eyes remained, but his form was difficult to determine.

Confused, the baboon struck where he had last seen Momoki, but Momoki crawled sideways and out of the way of the silver claws.

The baboon cackled angrily and jumped into the trees, bending well there.

Momoki moved within shadows, blending well there.

In the distance, Radiant Gui laughed with approval.

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CHAPTER 4

It took many days for Comet Fox to sober up upon the foothills of Taliesin. Xiao-tep cared for him in that time, sacrificing not his work for the Mountain that Lives in the Sky, but instead sacrificing his time with his friends Aglina and Zingtai.

As Kalavata flew overhead and Xiao-tep finished his day’s work of gardening, he came to Comet Fox who was resting upon a soft, cool, moss-covered stone. He brought with him fruits from the day’s harvest, including crab apples. Comet Fox ate them voraciously.

“It’s been a long time since last we met,” spoke Xiao-tep as he ate his own meal.

Comet Fox stayed his feeding a moment, the juice of the apples dripping from his long muzzle, and said, “That it has, friend. And I am ashamed I’ve come to you in the condition I did.”

“Thought I you swore off drinking.”

Comet Fox set the apple in his hand upon his knee. He stared at it a moment and thought of the wicked, enchanted fruits the demon Ketsueki Sato once fed him. He felt greater shame in his weakness. “I’m sorry, Xiao-tep. I-I suppose I grew weak. I’ve not had a good time of things as of late.”

“Oh?” Xiao-tep asked.

Comet Fox looked to the west and wondered if that was the direction of the Peony Tea House. “I’ve had a falling out with your sister.”

“Wu Chan Chu? Is she well?”

Comet Fox smiled. “You have much to be proud of her. She is champion at the Peony Tea House.”

Xiao-tep did not like this, despite Comet Fox’s assumption he would. Xiao-tep had learned to hate fighting. It pained him greatly to ham another creature. But he supposed Champion of the Peony of indeed a great feat. He said, “That is truly an accomplishment. I take it she’s well, then?”

“Oh, yes. She has all the food she can eat and all the tea she can drink. She’s come to favor the hooka. And she has room and board at the Peony as champion, and a cut of the teahouse’s winnings concerning her fighting. She has truly set herself up.”

Xiao-tep ate his apple. “Good. You spoke of a falling out?”

Comet Fox sighed. “Indeed. There was a theft at the Peony and I was blamed for it. As champion, of course, a theft against the Peony is a personal matter. We exchanged unfriendly words.”

“Hmm,” Xiao-tep considered this. “Were you behind the theft?”

Comet Fox wanted to be offended, but then realized the question was perhaps a good one to be asked. “No, it was merely assumed I was the thief.”

“Then where’s the problem?”

“Wu Chan Chu did the assuming. She struck me in anger and would not hear the truth of my innocence. I left,” Comet Fox picked the apple from his knee and bit it. As he chewed he said, somewhat forlornly, “That is when I returned to drinking. I felt full of shame and sorrow for myself. It was a stupid thing to drink under such emotion.”

Xiao-tep only nodded in concurrence.

“Thank you for caring for me, Xiao-tep. I see you’ve started a new life here? I had heard you were here from some migrating geese. I guess I came to see a familiar and friendly face.”

Xiao-tep looked to Comet Fox and smiled. He patted Comet Fox upon the knee where once the apple had been. “You’re always welcome here, old friend. Taliesin has been good to me. I care for her and she gives me plentiful fruits to eat. When I came here, the old caretaker had tragically gone. I am happy here.”

Comet Fox smiled and bit his apple, juice flowing from his mouth as he spoke, “Good. I am happy you’ve found a good home.”

“What of you?” Xiao-tep asked. “What have you done when last we met?”

Comet Fox finished his apple. “A great many things, including further training. But the largest event is my falling out with Wu Chan Chu. How I wish I could make matters better between us.”

They sat watching the world far below Taliesin.

After a while, after talking and reminiscing, they wondered up the mountain where Xiao-tep introduced Comet Fox to Aglina and Zingtai.

“She once was the stars,” explained Xiao-tep of Zingtai.

This jarred some memory within Comet Fox, the memory of a kind man who had cared for him while he was drinking and drunk and roaming the world. He said, “I believe I met a man in my travels, though truthfully I cannot recall if it is a memory or the memory of a dream. I believe he told me he was traveling to some plain…” Comet Fox’s face strained with consternation and thought. He said, “I believe it was the Plain of Adoration. They sought a demon and wanted to restore the stars. I seem to remember a Gifted One with them, a rather discourteous elephant.”

Xiao-tep’s eyes widened. “An elephant? Di he walk and talk as a man like we do?”

Comet Fox nodded.

“Balori!” he turned to Zingtai. “Zingtai! Balori remains on his quest for your jewel.”

At this Zingtai smiled and fluttered her wings happily. “If anyone can do this,” said she, “I begin to believe it will be him.”

“Know you this elephant?” asked Comet Fox.

Xiao-tep said they did, “He came to us some time ago seeking the matter with the night sky. He said he was sent forth by an empress to return the stars. When he came here, he learned of the theft of Zingtai’s jewel and the reason for her disappearance from the night. He must still be looking for her stolen jewel.”

Comet Fox said, “They appeared rather determined.” He wondered a moment. Curiousity infected him, as it always does, and he said, “Perhaps we should go find this Balori, go see this Plain of Adoration. I would bet the demon has Zingtai’s jewel.”

Xiao-tep shook his head vigorously. “No. This is Balori’s matter, not ours.”

“What matters whose matter it is? I didn’t ask to join his quest. I simply wish to see this demon they spoke up upon the Plain of Adoration. What harm could come by merely looking?”

Xiao-tep could not answer this. He could find no harm in it, yet he did not wish to be involved. He did not wish to be caught in a fight against yet another demon. He shook his head vigorously.

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CHAPTER 5

Momoki screeched in fear as the golden baboon chased him through the silver forest. He hid within the forest’s shadows, which work to some extent, but the baboon was far larger and stronger. He tried to parry and deflect the gold baboon’s assaults, some of which worked but many of the blows the gold baboon threw landed upon Momoki, knocking him backwards further and further.

Frustration welled within Momoki. If he were to take the fisted blows of the golden baboon, he wanted to give the creature a taste of the assaults. Momoki took a punch to the face, balled his fist and threw a punch of his own. It was weak and bounced harmlessly off the baboon’s neck.

The baboon paused his assault. He peered at Momoki, then cackled hysterically with laughter at his weak attack.

Radiant Gui sighed and stepped from the shadows. Said he, “Damn your hide, marmoset! If you are to defend yourself you must know how to deflect an attack or hide. But if you are to topple a demon, you must know also how to fight. That was no attack. That was pathetic. We must equalize the gold baboon’s strength with your own.

“Now think, marmoset. Think of some thing that you used in your day-to-day life, something you know well and are familiar with, something you can use as a weapon.”

Momoki thought on this. He searched his memory of his life on Taliesin. In his hand appeared a small, black version of his smoking pipe.

“What is this?” raged Radiant Gui. “A pipe? Of all the things you must have used you think of a pipe?”

Momoki, ashamed, lowered his head and said, “It was there during my happiest times. I would smoke it when my friends and I would picnic under the trees.”

“Bah! What a fool! A pipe is no weapon!” Radiant Gui sighed. He shook his head in disgust. “Very well, carry on with your training.” Radiant Gui melted again into the shadows.

At this the gold baboon struck. He pounced atop Momoki, slamming him to the ground. Momoki struggled to get away from him, beating the baboon about the head with the pipe. This did nothing to the baboon but further anger him.

At last Momoki thought of his first fight, with the amethyst baboon, and how he allowed that baboon to close in so he may wrestle it off himself. Momoki stopped defending, stopped fighting the gold baboon and let his muzzle come close to Momoki’s face with its snarling, saliva-cover teeth. The teeth snapped at Momoki and as they came so close Momoki thought he might be bitten, he lifted his pipe, turned it round and used the pointed mouthpiece as a small spear.

The pipe entered the gold baboon’s temple.

The baboon screamed in horror. He let go of Momoki, stumbled backward, then toppled.

Momoki lifted himself off the ground. He had fought before coming to Hell, but never before had he taken the life of another creature. He stared at the gold baboon with his mouth ajar as Radiant Gui laughed in the background. Momoki felt as though everything within his form suddenly sank, leaving him incredibly empty.

Radiant Gui stepped out of the shadows once more. He said, “I suppose your pipe is a good weapon after all.”

The horse-demon grabbed the pipe with the tips of his massive claws. He pulled it free from the dead baboon’s temple. He handed it back to Momoki.

“Your training is now complete. You should be proud. You’ll ride against Yaska Selith in the name of all demons. But now you must train your own band of warriors to ride with you. I will hand-pick these warriors and I will chose those who have fallen in some way to Yaska Selith. Such warriors, ones with some investment in the outcome, are most likely to succeed, and succeed you must.”

The horse-demon looked into the distance, as if thinking. Momoki thought as if he were worried.

“Y-you’re afraid?” he said.

Radiant Gui looked to Momoki. His face twisted with anger.

“Me? Afraid? Bah! I fear nothing!” the demon lied. “But know this: the one who cursed all demons did so due to Yaska Selith. Though she is a mere demi-goddess, she could cause all the layers of Hell some problems should she decide to fulfill her curse. This is why I train you, to avoid that minor complication. But if we can rid the world of this pseudo-demon, this false demon that causes peril for all demons, she will most likely forget her curse.”

Momoki nodded in understanding.

“Know this, too, marmoset: I know I’ve proven myself a liar, but should you succeed, I will promise never to harm your friends. Have we a deal?”

Momoki nodded. “I will do this.”

Radiant Gui left Momoki.

Momoki returned to the massive doors of the Chamber of Despair. He opened them and entered. The doors shut behind him.

His friends sat in the hut, chatting idly. Gogi, seeing Momoki had returned, ran to his side, saying, “Momoki! Momoki! Look!”

Gogi lead him to a corner of the courtyard that had obviously been worked. Gogi said, “I brought with me a few seeds, so today while you were out I worked the ground here and planted them. I’m uncertain that they’ll grow. The soil here doesn’t look particularly fertile and while you and Twila don’t need to eat, Szu Ri and I still do and so I planted this garden.”

Gogi looked up at Momoki, seeking approval. “Is this okay with you, Momoki.”

Momoki smiled down at his friend, though his smile went unseen. Momoki nodded, saying, “It is, indeed, old friend. I’m proud of you.”

Hearing this, Gogi swelled with pride in himself. He looked at his garden before returning to the hut with Momoki.

Szu Ri and Twila welcomed him back.

“Are you well, Momoki?” Twila asked.

Momoki nodded and stroked her head with a loving finger. He then said to his friends, “I’ll soon have to leave this Chamber. I hope it will only be for a short time. But I’d like the three of you to go with me. I do not trust you under the care of Radiant Gui.”

His friends knew what he was asked to do, knew he was to fight a demon with others. They feared going with him. But they also feared Radiant Gui.

At last Twila said, “As long as we’re with you, we know we’ll be okay.”

Szu Ri and Gogi nodded in agreement.

They chatted on other things for a time before, tired, Szu Ri and Gogi fell asleep. Twila cuddled up next to Momoki as he watched over them.

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CHAPTER 6

Wu Chan Chu kicked the doors of the Peony Tea House open, nearly kicking them both from the hinges. She pulled the mule and its cart into the teahouse until, at last, he stopped them in the center of the fighting floor. He called out for Sal Igo and the owner of the teahouse came. He recognized the coffers immediately.

“The coffers!” cried Sal Igo. “you’ve returned them to the teahouse! Our hero is Wu Chan Chu!”

Great applause was sent up for the frog demi-goddess.

Sal Igo pulled her aside. “Where did you find them, my friend?”

“I discovered the real thieves, one being Roku whom I turned into you. The other escaped me, but I was able to retrieve the coffers for you. Know this: Comet Fox had no dealings in the theft.”

Sal Igo nodded. “Very well. Now let us discuss your return as our champion. We’ll have to redecorate your room, but we’ll put it back the way it was before, or make it better if you’d like.”

Wu Chan Chu considered this. Guilt filled her for having blamed Comet Fox without evidence as the thief. She said, “No, I’ll not be your champion.”

“But why? Do you wish a larger cut in the winnings? If so, then it is done.”

Wu Cha Chu shook her head. “No. I’ve got to find the other thief and bring him to justice. It’s the least I can do since…” she wanted to say she wanted to do more than clear Comet Fox’s name, but to bring the real thief to justice in the name of her friend. She could not bring herself to do this, however. She said, “I’ll take my brass knuckles and a reward and I’ll go.”

“Go? Feh! You’ll go nowhere and I’ll pay you no reward! I offered no reward!”

Wu Chan Chu grabbed the man by his throat. “I believe a reward is nonetheless appropriate.”

Sal Igo nodded. “Okay, okay. You’ll receive a small reward.”

Wu Chan Chu let him go.

And so the frog demi-goddess gather provisions and left the Peony Tea House, heading east, searching for the Immortal called Black Tentacle.

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CHAPTER 7

Rain fell hard upon the lands as thunderstorm after thunderstorm rolled over the farmlands.

Shabar packed a small sack and saddlebags with preserved fruits and a bedroll, items he would need while traveling.

“You cannot do this to me,” said Alai. “You cannot do it to your children. By the gods, Shabar, you have an unborn child!”

Shabar did not look at her as he continued packing. “I called on Old Man Arnas again. I did so yesterday. He knows I’m leaving. In two days’ time he’ll send his daughter here or when the rains let up. She had three children. She’ll be able to help with the birth.”

Alia filled with anger. She slapped Shabar hard along the length of his cheek. He did not turn to her. He did not respond except a brief pause in his packing.

He began packing again.

“I don’t understand why you go. There are others to go forth like this, others without families and without children. I’m certain they are on their way to make things right.”

Shabar stopped his packing. He finally looked at his wife. “I’m certain there are others, too. But I cannot allow this to carry on, especially since I had a hand in matters. Even if I had no part in things, I could not stand by. I cannot help but think those who watch atrocities committed by others are much involved in their continuance. I cannot watch.” He returned to his packing. “I have to go.”

“You are a damned fool! Don’t you care for your family? Why would you leave us?”

Shabar’s son, frightened at his arguing parents, scrambled from under the table where they ate to hide under his wooden bed beside the stove and its warming fire. He could not understand the things happening in his home, but he knew his father was leaving. He didn’t want his father to leave, but was unsure how to keep him home.

She followed him outside where he placed a saddle upon his mule. She stood under the overhanging eave of their home Shabar had built himself. She watched him.

Shabar came to her side. “Kiss me a last time before I go.”

Again Alia slapped him across the face.

“Don’t let me leave like this,” he begged.

“I won’t kiss you!” screamed Alia. “I won’t love a man that will not stay and provide for his family! I cannot love you! I hate you!”

She slapped him again.

Shabar glowered at her. He turned and mounted his mule.

Alia ran out into the rain. Thunder broke high overhead as she cried out, “If you leave, don’t ever come back! Don’t ever show your face here again! I hate you! I hate you! Don’t you dare come back!”

She collapsed into mud. Her chest heaved with sobs. Her hands surrounded her belly as she tried to hug her unborn child. “Shabar!” she screamed. “Shabar! Don’t leave me! No! No! Don’t! Shabaaar!”

Thunder roared. Rains pounded the lands around her, staining her clothes with thick mud. She screamed and screamed as Shabar left her.

As he rode away, Shabar’s tears disappeared into the rain.

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CHAPTER 8

As Balori’s army grew and marched from the west; as Wu Chan Chu came from the far, far northwest; as Shabar left his heartbroken wife and traveled south; as Momoki the Marmoset was training in Hell; so came Comet Fox to the Black Mountains that bordered the western edge of the Plain of Adoration and with him, at the urging of his friends Aglina and Zingtai, came Xiao-tep the Ankh-fish. They came, flying from the beautiful mountain Taliesin and lighted upon one small mountain within the Black Mountains range. They peered down into the valley and onto the Plain of Adoration.

There they saw the horrors of the Bone Warrior army. There they saw the vile orgies and wicked fighting the followers of the demon-dog dearly loved. There they saw the Weasel King Raiju Yu as he raped small boys. There they saw Neboshazzar feasting upon the flesh of the weak and the dead. There they saw the Brothers Jackal howling with laughter at the mention of the torment of others. And there, lastly, they saw the gigantic demon-dog known as Yaska Selith.

“By the gods,” gasped Comet Fox, “he is far larger than even Ketsueki Sato.”

Xiao-tep nodded in concurrence.

“Could it mean he is also stronger?” Comet Fox asked.

Xiao-tep did not answer for he did not know.

Within the Ankh-fish waged a war of emotions. Never did he want to fight again. Never did he want to take up arms against another creature, even one most evil. He loved his life within the fields and gardens of Taliesin. He loved his friends Aglina and Zingtai and Otti. He did not want to fight, yet he knew this blight upon the land needed expunging. He, at last, made his decision.

“I must return to Taliesin to retrieve my Spear of Sorrows,” said he. “And we will need help.”

Comet Fox cocked his head curiously. He thought a moment. He then asked and suggested both at once, “Wu Chan Chu?”

Xiao-tep merely nodded, saying, “And perhaps many more.”

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That's it folks! I hope you've enjoyed "Song of Momoki". Come back next week to read Act I of "Warriors of the Midnight Sun", the final tale within this storyline set in the wuxia world of The Children of Gods.

Song of Momoki - Act II

Here's Act 2 of "Song of Momoki". It's a long one! Enjoy!

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“Song of Momoki”
© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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ACT II: Momoki the Marmoset in Hell

THUS SANG THE GRASSHOPPER: Wherein Many Gather at the Peony Tea House; Gogi the Grasshopper Speaks with the Ghost of Momoki; Wu Chan Chu Curses All Demons; Rdiant Gui Enlists the Aide of Momoki

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CHAPTER 1

With veritable swiftness did a plague of rumors, of words and knowledge spread across every country in every land; whispers so feared they passed over lips softly, faintly only after Kalavata had come nigh and night had swept over the land; knowledge so chilling adults swore never to speak it in the presence of innocence; so horrid were these that they rivaled the tales coming from the Plain of Adoration about the demon-dog Yaska Selith.

Some claimed the one they spoke of was a demon, others demanding him a mere mortal, a man possessed. Few denied, however, that he was a man of insanity, a man of no morals. And though his legacy, as it came to be, in every land he came to he was never noticed until it was far too late. This lead to fevered debates about his mortality, about his purpose, about whether or not he could bend night around him so as to slip in to any village or town or tiny hamlet all across the world to take his next victim.

His victims were the only trace he ever left. And he never left them whole. He left, instead, only their skinned bodies. A creature that could conduct such a matter as skin another was surely a monster and it was the passion for a monster that allowed Renorio – the true monster, the young man with little affectation to his person, the young man that mingled with crowds of men at any hour, the young man whose only discernable difference from all others was, perhaps, on the moment of rare occasions when he would grow quiet and watching as if waiting for something.

Renorio came into any land he pleased. He clumsily made friends, but made friends nonetheless and his stammering ways were often seen as some small shyness that was, for those that met him, charming. He would sleep in the beds of others, eating their food and living the life of a beggar of alms. Then, inevitably, he would grow very quiet. He would stand and stare as night swept over the land. Soon thereafter he would find an opportune moment – either when his host or hosts were sleeping or had their trusting backs turned to him with work – that he would take their life. he preferred sneaking up on his prey. He did not enjoy a good struggle. Rather, he enjoyed his victim to be supple and yielding under his knife.

He would skin them all immediately. On one occasion, while staying with a country farmer who had been widowed and childless and welcomed Renorio’s company, as he skinned the man with increasing skill his mind wandered and his stomach growled with hunger and Renorio found himself eating the flesh of the dead farmer.

With each new kill he tanned some of the skin and added it with awkward stitches to that of his brother’s. He soon found himself in possession of a long, tanned, malleable cloak with attached cowl that lifted over his head hung before his face to a point just below his nose and with crude eyeholes. As soon as his killing was complete he would go forth under this murder-cloak in heavy rains or deep in the country and far from others. He would never allow himself to be seen with it by others.

At last, whether by design from the Cosmos or by chance, Renorio found himself standing before the vast and elaborately decorated Peony Tea House. In his pack was his stitched skin. He stood and wondered at the teahouse’s features and at the creatures that passed through its doors. Of all the places he had ever been, this place more than any other he felt he could melt into and never be noticed.

He watched as some Gifted Ones passed around him to enter the teahouse. Renorio secretly hated these creatures, fearing them and his inability to command them. He wondered if a mortal like himself could ever kill and skin a Gifted One, but knew that could never be. Only another Gifted One or a god could kill a Gifted One, so he had been told all his life.

He suddenly wanted to leave, but the desire to peek within the walls before him was too great.

Renorio entered the Peony Tea House.

******************************

CHAPTER 2

Wu Chan Chu pivoted her shoulders, swinging her arm wide and delivering a backhanded blow to Comet Fox, sending him crashing into a wall of the Peony Tea House.

“Where is it?” demanded Wu Chan Chu.

Standing nearby was Sal Igo, the owner of the Peony, and three of his servants. Sal Igo watched intently.

Comet Fox, fur ruffled and jaw sore from the blow, picked himself from off the floor and stared at his frog companion. “I had nothing to do with the theft,” said he.

“Liar!” again Wu Chan Chu struck Comet Fox with such a blow that the fox god stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. “You are the only trickster god here!”

Once more Comet Fox lifted himself from the floor, this time furious. He raged, “The Peony attracts sordid folk and breeds treachery! Gambling and prostitution reign here and you accuse only me?”

“This is my home!” cried Wu Chan Chu. “This is my livelihood and you foul it with your filthy, filching paws!”

“I did nothing!” defended Comet Fox.

One of the servants bent Sal Igo’s ear, saying, “Master, the time nears for our champion to prove her worth again.”

Sal Igo nodded. “Come, my champion. You’ve fights to fight.”

Wu Chan Chu started towards the main portion of the teahouse, glowering at Comet Fox. “We’ll deal later.”

Comet Fox retorted, cursing, “To the Hells with you, old friend.”

He lifted into the air and streaked like as a glittering comet through the interior of the teahouse, leaving it at once.

“I am happy he is gone,” said Sal Igo as he led Wu Chan Chu to the fighting floor.

Wu Chan Chu only grunted.

Challenger after challenger stepped forth from the crowd in hopes of proving themselves against the frog demi-goddess who was quickly growing her legacy within the teahouse. Challenger after challenger was put down by Wu Chan Chu. Her strong, long legs and powerful elbows crushed her opponents. In the end, no one stood before her and she was once more claimed Peony Champion and given the right to room at the teahouse and take a portion of all bets in her favor.

As Sal Igo called for the end of the fights for the night, one more challenger stepped from the crowd. Unlike most others, he was a Gifted One. He was a man and bird at once with long, colorful wings and a kestrel head with a cracked beak. About his arms ropes had been wrapped and tied. He was Motharus, son of Stork and the mortal and now dead Drae and vassal to the demon Adonai Ku-jal.

“I would fight your champion,” said Motharus.

“No,” Sal Igo shook his head vehemently. “Our champion is tired. She must rest.”

Intrigued by this new challenger, Wu Chan Chu said, “Stand aside. I’ll let him try my Muay Thai.”

Demi-goddess and demi-god squared off. The crowd, sensing the energy of the fight, gathered around the wooden floor, betting and braying in loud tones. As bets were placed and attentions turned to the two fighters, the people began to chant, “Ku-mi-te! Ku-mi-te! Ku-mi-te!”

Wu Chan Chu and Motharus circled one another, passing around the outer edge of the wooden floor. The fight was begun.

Fresh incense filled the air as Motharus struck first, lunging forward, wings stretching to glide him across the floor at Wu Chan Chu. The odd flying charge was a feign and Wu Chan Chu read it well. Motharus had plunged forward, his fists out but with little force behind them. Wu Chan Chu sidestepped the attack, lifting a knee towards her opponent’s chest.

Motharus planted his feet and grabbed the knee with one arm while delivering an elbow to her chest.

Wu Chan Chu stumbled backwards. She righted herself and jumped, her knees outstretched and targeting.

Motharus flapped his wings and lifted himself above the assault. He flew up to the second level of the teahouse. People scattered in ever direction, making room for him. He quickly eyed the god Hanuman who sat in a plush chair nearby, watching the fight as he was fed fresh fruits from a polished oak bowl.

Wu Chan Chu, with a strong leap, joined Motharus on the second floor.

Some on the first floor, people who had pushed and shoved their way to stand at the edge of the fighting floor, protested this shift in the fight. All others, however, cheered this new development.

“Don’t try to escape me,” Wu Chan Chu warned.

“I don’t run from you,” said Motharus as he gestured towards Hanuman, “I merely bring the show closer to our honored guest.”

Wu Chan Chu attacked with a hard punch aimed for Motharus’ head.

Motharus parried the punch and sent forth a short jab of his own.

Wu Chan Chu parried this jab, stepped towards Motharus, grabbed an arm and brought a knee up and into his gut.

Motharus gasped loudly before bending all the way forward and using his cracked beak to peck rather painfully at Wu Chan Chu’s chest.

Wu Chan Chu let go the kestrel demi-god and placed a hand on her wounded breast. He hand came away speckled with blood. She grunted and clenched her fist.

Motharus pressed the fight with a pair of punches.

Wu Chan Chu blocked both, but found the second punch buckling as Motharus bent his arm and sent his elbow around her blocking hand into her shoulder, knocking her backwards into several members of the crowd who pushed her towards Motharus.

Wu Chan Chu let them and while Motharus was ready with another punch, he was not ready for Wu Chan Chu to duck low under his fist and tackle him, her shoulder slamming into his waist. Afraid she might push her opponent all the way into the seated god Hanuman, she instead pulled up. She reached up Motharus’ shoulder, her arm wrapped around his torso, twisted her shoulders and throwing Motharus through the wood railing. Motharus crashed through the wood, splinters digging into his back. So fast was his descent he couldn’t flap hard enough to keep himself from falling to the wood floor far below.

The crowd cried out wildly as Wu Chan Chu leapt once more, her legs folded so her knees stuck out beneath her, driving down to the first floor, but Motharus rolled sideways and out of the way. Wu Chan Chu’s knees dug into the floor, cracking the planks. Splinters ate their way into her knees.

She struggled to get up, her knees weak with wounds, and fell on her butt.

Motharus was the first to stand. He turned on his prey. With two quick steps he lifted a knee into the seated Wu Chan Chu’s temple. Her head snapped sideways, blood spraying from her mouth and nose. Motharus did not give up the pursuit. He stepped into her and punched downward into the back of her head. Blood sprayed from her nose and her eyes rolled up. One last time he kicked her, bringing his foot up under her chin, making her lower jaw snap loudly against her upper jaw. Blood flooded from Wu Chan Chu’s mouth. She toppled.

Sal Igo ran over, waving his hands frantically. “It’s over!” he cried. “The kestrel-headed man is our new champion!”

The crowd roared. Many, those who had been great fans of Wu Chan Chu and placed bets in her favor, sent up cries of dissent.

Wu Chan Chu blinked. The crowd was drowned out by a high-pitched ringing in her head. She placed her hands under herself and lifted her head and body off the wood floor. She glared, weary-eyed, at the teahouse’s new champion. She wanted to continue the fight, but her blurry vision told her she had been defeated.

******************************

CHAPTER 3

The heat of day had surprised the grasshopper. The evenings had been going through a cooling trend. Gogi hated the humidity, but knew he had to work nonetheless.

Szu Ri had asked him not to work this day, instead suggesting they spend the hours lounging in the cool mound of mud they called a home. Gogi had said he would not do this. “There is work to do,” said he and with a timid smile added, “and I’ve a home to feed.”

Szu Ri could only smile in return. She could not bring herself to taking away her love’s work and worth.

So as Gogi worked, throwing out the line he used to capture bugs and wrangle them in off the water or to catch minnows from out the creak, Szu Ri sat in the shade of a nearby tuffet, weaving together a new bowl with a lid in which she planned on preserve and saving some manner of food.

Gogi had retrieved his thatched grass hat from the muddy banks of the creak and brushed it off, but had not completely cleaned it. As such the mud had dried and stained its brim here and there. He liked it thus, thinking it made him look a bit dashing and work-laden.

As Gogi and Szu RI worked, fighting the heat with their will more than anything, Gogi hummed.

Soon, though, he began to sing aloud:

“‘Tis a rough, tough life
We mortal ones always know
Yet each day we work
On and on we must go

But we won’t shed a tear
An’ we’ll stay our fears
For ‘tis the only life we need
An’ we’ll plant our seeds
An’ we’ll smoke our leaves
S’long as we’ve friends like Momoki”

Gogi looked at Szu Ri, somewhat timidly and from the corner of his eye.

Szu Ri smiled. She said, “I think he’d like that.”

Gogi smiled a big, bright smile and said, “It’s not great, but I think it would make him laugh.”

He threw his line out into the water.

******************************

CHAPTER 4

The sun was setting when Shabar returned home. He was greeted by his family full of smiles. His son jumped about at his feet and Shabar handed him a small handcrafted wooden toy elephant. His wife kissed him and held him. She asked, “How did it go?”

Shabar pulled forth a leather pouch full of coins and handed it to her with a smile.

She took the pouch and peered into it. She set it on a table and said, “That’s a good sum, but we’ve little use for money here.”

“I can return and buy more supplies for us. Winter approaches and our children could use new blankets.”

Alia looked at her husband. She had hoped his trip to the city of the Bizo would quash his desires, to temper his guilt for his part in the Elephant Crusade. But with his mention of returning, with the way he seemed afraid to look at her, she knew his trip did no good. It perhaps strengthened his desires.

“I had hoped you’d come home ready to be a father,” she said.

Shabar rubber her belly and bent low to kiss her there, to kiss the child that grew within her. “But I am ready to be a father again.”

He stood and finally looked her in the eyes.

“How was it?” she asked.

Shabar, hesitant, said, “Worse than ever.”

They stood staring at one another moment.

“The things they do,” said Shabar. “The things they do to those beasts, they are ugly things.”

Alia shook her head. “No. You can’t. Whatever you’re thinking, you can’t.”

Shabar sighed. “I can’t help but think it started with me.”

“No, it didn’t. It started with the Empress. If anyone is to blame it’s her.”

“But I could have done something.”

“But you can’t now. Now you are a father and your place is here by the side of your wife to be a father to your children. If anyone is to do something about what is happening, let someone else do it.”

Again they were quiet. Shabar’s head was lowered with thought.

Alia asked, “What about our dear friend Albert?”

“What we heard was true. The Empress herself greeted me into her palace and I asked her of the matter. She said Albert had turned traitor and the matter ended with him spitting upon her and her aid – the fish creature known as Fei Li Mi – ending Albert’s life in her defense.”

Alia squinted. “That doesn’t sound like Albert.”

“I know, but I asked a few others and no one contested her tale.”

“What in the Heavens would possess Albert to spit upon the Empress?”

Shabar shook his head. “Whatever it may be, we can be assured his actions were just. He was a good man, a decent man.”

Alia nodded in agreement.

“And once more,” added Shabar, “I learned one of the elephants I herded – a young one named Balori – was made into a Gifted One by Albert. This elephant confronted the Empress about the atrocities against his kind and she sent him on a quest. If he succeeds, she will release all the elephants.”

Alia shook her headed first slowly, then fiercely. “No. No no no no no. No! You can’t!”

She plunged herself into his arms. “You can’t! I won’t let you leave me. you can’t join him. I won’t let you. I won’t let you.”

Alia sobbed deeply into her husband’s chest.

They stood in an embrace, their son playing at their feet, as the sun speared rays through their house and across their forms before finally dipping beyond the horizon.

Kalavata overtook the world.

******************************

CHAPTER 5

Though dark of night flew over the land, their forms could be spotted upon the edge of the horizon. Negkendra, Akadia Dorn and Macia Thrace were riding hourseback while Balori sat atop his mystic cloud floating nearby and some small distance ahead. Their journey had been long and the three men showed signs of having lost some weight. They each were sore with riding and tired with the days’ recent heat. They had decided to ride early in the morning and only after dusk, saving the rest of the day for sleep.

Balori had been silent for two days. It was Akadia who approached him now.

“Balori,” said he, “you’ve gone quiet. Your eyes look to things far beyond the horizon and you barely eat when we stop to do so. Know I how your mind must roil with pain for your kind–”

“You know nothing,” Balori interrupted. Balori huffed, “We proceed far too slowly. I could have flown the length of the many countries by now and made my first imprints upon the Plain of Adoration. And we do not truly know if the gem we chase, the gem you saw, was the very Jewel of Zingtai. And with each day that passes over us more of my people perish. The futility of it all weighs on me.”

Akadia nodded. “Why not go on ahead of us?” he suggested. “We will ride onward and meet up with you there.”

Again Balori huffed. “I fear then the gem we seek is genuine, that it is the Jewel of Zingtai after all and I would have troubles taking it alone. As much as I hate you three by my side now, I admit the logic of our union. Though,” Balori finally took his eyes from the horizon to peer at Negkendra, “I trust not that mahout.”

Akadia also looked to Negkendra, who was still behind them and did not hear any of their conversation. He said, “He is here with good reason. It was he that sent me to see the atrocities of the Elephant Crusade. It was he that first left it. I merely followed his footsteps. His heart, like mine, could not house enough shame for our previous actions so now he and I follow you to right the wrongs we had a hand in creating.”

Balori harrumphed. “Bah! Shame. What know you of shame? Shame is watching your mother die while you stand near unable to save her.”

Akadia nodded. “Shame is also the hand that killed your mother. And though not my hand committed the murder, my hands are as stained with blood.”

Again Balori harrumphed, though he saw Akadia’s point. He flapped his star-filled ears in irritation, making it appear as though a galaxy swirled about his head.

That night they stopped to sleep under an huge oak tree. Their sleep was broken by restlessness. Early the next morning odd, drunken singing came to them and peeled away any last bit of sleep that was in them.

As they rose they saw Comet Fox, filled with fruit wines and rice wines and every other kind of wine that had found its way into his paws. He staggered, almost falling with every step. An empty clay jug, each once filled with corn whiskey, filled each of his hands.

“It’s a Gifted One,” said Macia upon seeing Comet Fox, “just like you.”

Balori harrumped at this. “He’s nothing like me. I can control myself.”

Comet Fox stumbled toward them. He was sick and barely conscious. His words slurred and his song was an old drinking shanty. His blurred vision cleared long enough to notice the three men and the gigantic Balori he had almost run into.

“G’day, gents,” said Comet Fox before he fell on the ground.

“By the gods,” professed Akadia, “he’s more drunk than anyone I’ve ever seen!”

Negkendra, without thought, went to Comet Fox’s side and lifted him to a seated position.

Comet Fox laughed and winked at him. The clay jars dropped from his hands. He patted Negkendra on one shoulder and said, “Thassa grassaa boo… haha, what I mean to say is year good boy.”

“He smells worse than a distillery,” Negkendra said as he backed away.

“What could cause a Gifted One to get like this?” asked Macia.

Akadia answered, “His heart must be heavy. I doubt any of us have lived without at least a week of drunkenness due to an unrequited love or some other such matter.”

The men nodded.

Balori shook his head in disgust. He said, “Let’s get our things together and head out.”

“What about breakfast?” asked Akadia. “We’ll need our first meal to strengthen us against this morning’s ride.”

Balori sighed. “Very well. But let’s make it a quick meal. I wish to spend as little time on our laurels as possible.”

So breakfast was fixed and Negkendra attempted to feed the drunk Comet Fox as he slipped in and out of consciousness.

“Don’t feed him,” Balori warned.

“He’ll need to eat to stave off the alcohol,” said Negkendra, ignoring Balori and feeding Comet Fox a small bit of oats.

Comet Fox shook his head at the taste, making gagging sounds.

“He doesn’t like it. Leave him be,” said Balori and this time Negkendra followed his instructions.

Comet Fox sobered enough to speak with them a little as the men gathered their provisions.

“We go to find the Jewel of Zingtai,” explained Negkendra.

Comet Fox nodded, accepting some hot tea from the man and sipping it slowly. “Oh? A quest! Adventurers on a quest!”

“Yes, I suppose we are.” Negkendra smiled. He then added in a lower tone so no one else could hear. “Though I confess I fear this quest in a small way.”

“Oh! A quest!” Comet Fox sipped again. He whispered, “Why fear? Fear is ugly. Don’t let fear into you.”

Negkendra confessed, “From the rumors we follow, we seek a demon. I am a mere mortal, not a Gifted One like you. If I did not feel so strongly in the matter, if I were not so invested, I would not go.”

“Oh-ho! Demon! Haha! Hoo-hoo! I once fought a demon,” said Comet Fox. “It was wary times for me. But I made good friends. Good, good friends.” Comet Fox sobbed.

Balori approached. “We must go now. Come.”

Negkendra asked, “What about the fox? Surely we cannot leave him.”

“He’ll be fine,” said Balori. He blew the cloud from his nose and mounted it.

“He may die if we leave him here,” said Negkendra.

“A Gifted One? Die from whiskey? I doubt it. And if he does, that is a matter for the Cosmos. Our matter is the stars. Come.”

Wondering if a Gifted One could die from alcohol. He doubted it. He mounted his horse along with the others. Balori and the three men rode away.

Comet Fox, having been gifted a warm cup of tea, drank from it deeply before he rolled from his seated position sideways to lying on the ground. The remainder of his tea spilled out, soaking into the dirt near one of the oak’s massive roots. As sleep overcame him, he mumbled, “I’m sorry… but I didn’t… no… no, no, no… made good, good friends…”

******************************

CHAPTER 6

Every privacy booth was full except one and Renorio took it. Someone came to him and took his order of tea. He wasn’t sure what else to order. It seemed only right to him to order tea in a teahouse. The tea was brought to him and he paid with the few coins he had taken from his last victim. The tea was hot with flowery taste of jasmine. He let it cool some before enjoying it.

He could not believe the bustle of the teahouse. He knew right off tea was not the only matter important in the Peony. As he wondered what other dealings went on within the Peony, the floor was cleared in its center. People crushed in near his booth. He could barely see the fighters, but could hear them and saw bets being placed and he understood perfectly.

He did not like the people crowding near his booth, but of course said nothing of it.

Then one man turned, cursed about not being able to see the fighter nor push his way through the crowd, then asked Renorio if he could stand on the seat across the table from him so he could see the fight.

Renorio did not like this idea, but allowed it because he feared angering the man and causing a scene. Renorio enjoyed more than anything his ability to blend into the crowd and to be relatively invisible.

The man thanked Renorio and stood on the seat, watching the fight. He watched many fights from there. So many fights did he watch, in fact, that Renorio thought to leave the booth to the man and find another small hovel within which to hide and relax. But the crowd around the booth was so thick he knew he would not be able to move through it.

The man stood, watching. Unlike the rest of the crowd, this man did not cheer or hoot or make other such noise to or for the fight or the fighters. He instead watched intently, as if studying.

A final fight was fought. The crowd roared – half with glee, half with sorrow – and Renorio could make out from the nearby conversations the house champion had been defeated. The crowd thinned, backing away from his booth. At last Renorio was once more at ease.

The man jumped down from the seat. He sat across from Renorio and looked at him. “Thank, kind sir. I needed to watch those fights. Let me buy you more tea as a sign of my gratitude.”

Renorio said that was not necessary, but the man ordered more tea anyway.

“My name is Sinverguenza,” said the man. “What is yours?”

“I am Renorio,” the skin-eater timidly said.

“Well met, Renorio. The is quite the establishment, is it not?”

Renorio, head down and unwilling to make eye contact, merely nodded.

New tea was brought to them and set upon the table.

“It’s been a long time since I last was here,” said Sinverguenza. “I’ve come here looking for fighters. It would seem I was correct to come here. At first I thought to hire that frog. So powerful and indomitable she seemed. Then that kestrel-headed one really gave her a fight! I think I should speak with him.”

Renorio poured himself tea and said, “I did not watch the fights. I sat here with my tea.”

Sinverguenza chuckled. “It’s a bloody business, fighting, but sometimes I would think it’s the only business to be involved with.”

Renorio only nodded in agreement. He wasn’t certain he truly agreed, but wanted to appear agreeable.

“You wouldn’t be a fighter, would you?” asked Siinverguenza.

“Me? Oh, no no no. I am but a farmer’s son.”

They chuckled together.

“I suppose you’ve not killed much more than chicken, eh?”

Renorio lifted his head and looked at Sinverguenza. He smiled a friendly, plain smile. He nodded. “Yes, not much more than chickens.” His mind went to the skins, the cloak he had made now hidden within his pack lying on the seat beside him.

Renorio thought a moment, wanting to switch the subject from off himself. “Why do you seek fighters?”

“For my master. He’s a powerful thing. He needs more fighters for his army.”

“An army? Is he a king?”

Sinverguenza smiled. “More powerful than a king.”

Renorio thought more on the matter. He thought of all the tales he had heard about the horrors of war, the blood spilled by warriors of armies. For a moment he wanted to ask if he could join, if he could lend his particular skills to whatever cause this Sinverguenza’s master sought. Then he thought of soldiers fighting against soldiers. He didn’t like the idea of others fighting against him. He said nothing of his thoughts.

Sinverguenza said, “Should you ever want to be more than a farmer’s son lopping off the heads of chickens, I’d say try your hand at the fights.”

Renorio shook his head. “Oh, no. I don’t much like it when they fight.”

Sinverguenza laughed. “Then you are certainly in the wrong place.”

Renorio looked around and said, “I suppose I am. I just came in for a bit of tea.”

Sinvergunza smiled. He drank down two cupfuls of tea, saying, “I’ve business to attend to. Thank you for the seat. May you fare well, Renorio.”

Renorio said, “Thank you.” He thought to wish Sinverguenza luck in his business, but Sinverguenza was already gone.

Renorio sat in his small booth, quietly finishing his tea. No one noticed him.

Sinverguenza left him. He walked through the teahouse, determined and searching. He found Motharus, but the kestrel-headed man was being swept away by Sal Igo, the teahouse’s owner, and his many servants. He watched as Sal Igo gave instructions to redecorate what he called the “Champion’s Room” for their new house champion. Many people tried to crush In on them to get near Motharus, to make friends with the new champion.

Sinverguenza thought to wait out the bustle around the new champion. He sat around, watching and waiting. All that time, so concentrated an effort had he made to spy out Motharus he did not realize he himself was being watched by Renorio.

At last, later that night, Motharus emerged from his new room to stretch his muscles. Sinverguenza approached.

“That was a good fight,” said he.

Motharus eyed him. “Thanks,” was all he gave.

“You know, my master looks for new fighters. I would have liked to offer a position in my master’s army to that frog demi-goddess, but then he fought you. Why not, thought I, recruit the one that defeated the master fighter Wu Chan Chu?”

Motharus’ eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

“I am Sinverguenza, trusted servant to Yaska Selith. I have to ask you to join the ranks of his Bone Warrior army.”

Within Motharus’ head came the demonic voice of Adonai Ku-jal. “Yes, take this opportunity.”

“Will he lead me into greatness?” thought Motharus, this conversation going on within his head without anyone’s knowledge.

“Yaska Selith is powerful. His very existence defies the Cosmos. You must aide the one upon the Plain of Adoration. Do this.” And Adonai Ku-jal was gone.

Motharus studied Sinverguenza. At last he said, “I will join the ranks of your master.”

Sinverguenza smiled.

Sal Igo approached, saying, “Come, my champion. We must ready you for your first title defense.”

“I am no longer your champion,” said Motharus.

“How’s that?” asked Sal Igo.

“I’ve other matters elsewhere to tend to. I am through with your teahouse fights.”

“No! But you can’t! We need a champion!” Sal Igo protested.

“Find another. I’ve got other things to do.” Motharus nodded to Sinverguenza. “Lead the way.”

Sal Igo grabbed Sinverguenza by the arm. “What do you do with my champion?”

“I merely offer him greatness. I cannot help that my master’s offerings are superior to your free room and board.” Sinverguenza laughed and led Mothaurs toward the door of the Peony.

“No! No! We need a champion!” cried Sal Igo.

As Sinverguenza and Motharus neared the door, Sinverguenza felt a light finger tap upon his shoulder. He turned, thinking it to be Sal Igo again, but there found Renorio.

Sinverguenza squinted, looked at Renorio curiously.

“Yes?” he asked.

Renorio stammered a bit before he said, “I would like to join you.”

Sinverguenza considered denying Renorio’s request. He knew his master’s army needed more than farmer’s sons. But then he thought better of it, thinking the army of Bone Warriors could use some padding, some bolstered numbers. He smiled, saying, “Sure, my friend. Come with us. I’m certain my master will gladly take you.”

******************************

CHAPTER 7

The day had dragged on and on. Kalavata was flying slowly, so slowly that Gogi wondered if he was tiring of his chase.

Gogi sat atop a large stone near the creak’s edge. He had dipped his hat in the water and put it on. It was now drying atop his head, cooling him. He looked at his calloused hands. He smiled.

Night at last came to him. The moon rose high. its light bounced off the creak’s surface and projected a glittering, glassy image in the distance.

“Momoki!” cried out Gogi.

He jumped from the stone and ran along the creak, chasing the spectral image. When at last he drew near, Gogi said, “Momoki? Is that you?”

The silvery, shining image of Momoki turned briefly too look at Gogi. It shook its head and mouthed the word “No” before disappearing.

The air grew cold around Gogi. He shook with nerves and chill. He walked quickly home.

Inside his mound-home, where Szu Ri was busily preparing their evening’s meal, Gogi sat in a small chair by the fire.

Seeing something had disturbed Gogi, Szu Ri asked, “What is it, Gogi?”

Gogi shook his head. “I thought I saw him again tonight.”

“Oh, Gogi,” she hugged him. “You can’t let your grief pester you. We’ve a new life. it’s one thing to sing praises about your old friend, but to imagine him nearby when he’s not will only hurt you. Please, Gogi, don’t do this to yourself.”

Gogi sighed. He hugged Szu Ri back.

They ate dinner together and went to bed together.

As they were falling asleep, Gogi felt the immensity of the world around him. He said to Szu Ri, “It’s a difficult thing to be a small creature in the enormous world.”

Szu Ri kissed him and said, “But we can still make our way.”

The next day, after all his work was once again done, Gogi lighted upon the very stone he had been sitting on the night before. Szu Ri came out of their mound-home to sit with him, worried for him. They held hands as they watched the night overtake the world and the moon’s glow dance on the surface of the creak. Once more the silvery image of their lost friend Momoki came to them. Szu Ri gave a gasp, “Oh!”

Gogi gave chase with Szu Ri flying after. As he neared the image, Momoki turned to him.

“Momoki! Please! Speak with me!” cried Gogi.

Momoki sighed.

Szu Ri landed at Gogi’s side.

“Please, Momoki! Say something!” Gogi beseeched.

Momoki nodded and said, “Hello, old friend.” As he spoke, his voice was as an echoing form of his old voice, as though he were standing deep within a cavern.

Timidly Gogi asked, “A-are you… dead?”

Momoki nodded.

“A-are you… a ghost?” Gogi winced at this, afraid of the answer.

Momoki said, “Something like a ghost.”

Szu Ri, whose voice wavered with fear, asked, “Have you come to haunt us?”

Momoki shook his head, “No.”

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“I wanted to see if you two were well. And I miss you both very much.”

“I have a garden!” blurted Gogi, wanting desperately to please his old friend. He was not disappointed as Momoki smiled.

“That’s good, Gogi. Have you planted your seeds well? Are they deep enough? If you don’t plant them deep enough they’ll wash away in the first rain.”

“He been doing well with the garden,” Szu Ri exclaimed proudly. Then she asked, “Are you well, Momoki?”

Gogi nodded at this, wanting to know.

Momoki’s shoulders lifted then descended again with a sigh. “We are well enough.”

“We?” asked Szu Ri. “Is Twila with you?”

“Yes.”

“Can she visit, too?”

“I don’t know. I can’t entirely explain how I’m here. I’m not really here, you see. What you see is a misty form much like my old body. I have… a new skin within which I dwell. Each night after, well, after each day I curl up next to Twila and think of you two. Then I find myself here. It’s as if I ride my desires to your new home.”

This confused Gogi. He felt very foolish not knowing about important things such as death. At least he felt death was important since it seemed to affect everyone, even Gifted Ones and Gods. And it seemed far too final not to be important. But he mused whether or not death was truly final since, after all, he was looking upon the ghostly visage of his friend now.

At last Gogi said, “I-I miss you, Momoki. We both miss you. And Twila.”

“We miss you, too,” said Momoki.

“I-I wish there was a way we could remain together. Is there a way, Momoki? Is there a way?”

Momoki shook his head. “That I do not know. Perhaps. But the only knowledge I have is in death.” At this Momoki stammered, he feared his words may affect and influence Gogi. “But, but death is not the answer, either. I was sent to, well, where I was sent I because I am being punished by the Cosmos for the desires I had that conflicted with my purpose.”

“Punishment?” Szu Ri asked. She feared her next question. “Are you and Twila in Hell?”

Momoki took his time to answer. He did not want to tell them the truth, but he did not wish to lie to his friends. He told them the truth, “Yes, I’m afraid we are.”

“No!” cried Gogi.

Szu Ri began to cry. She hated the thought her old friend Twila may be suffering at the hands of some demon.

Gogi then asked a question he could not believe he had the courage to ask, but he so desperately wanted to know, to see his friend was truly well. “M-may we visit you?”

“No!” Momoki’s eyes were wide with horror. “No no no! You cannot! I won’t allow it!”

Gogi apologized.

The three were silent a moment.

Momoki said, “I should go.”

Szu Ri wiped her eyes and said, “Will you come again? Tomorrow? And will you bring Twila?”

Momoki thought a moment. He said only, “Perhaps.” He then disappeared.

Gogi and Szu Ri both shivered as the air about them grew cold.

On the third night Gogi and Szu Ri once more sat upon the stone. Momoki appeared before them. At his side, in glittering silvery whites, appeared the departed Twila. Old friends cried, pined to be able to hug one another, and generally held a great reunion. Old friends talked. Twila followed Szu Ri on a tour of their mound-home. when they finally settled, ghostly Momoki and ghostly Twila sat by the creak’s edge with their friends Gogi and Szu Ri.

They spoke.

“I wish there was a way we could again live together,” said Gogi.

“We are here and we are together,” reminded Momoki. “We can always visit.”

“We miss our old friends,” said Szu Ri.

“You know where we are. You know we are in Hell. There is no reason for you to want to live there. We certainly do not wish to be there.”

They were silent a moment.

It was Gogi who gave voice to reason, though he was uncertain of his words for his thoughts seemed so much larger than he. He spoke slowly, “Momoki, old friend. My dearest and oldest friend, I-I do not know the workings of the world. In my little life I have learned, however, that some appear to have paths set before them that will lead them unto greatness, while others are destined to be their friends.”

Again the four were silent a moment.

Gogi said, “We are friends, Momoki. We belong together.”

Twila crawled to Momoki’s side. She said, “Momoki, I do not know what I did to suffer in Hell. I don’t know that I agree with the reasons you are there. But as I said when we first were reunited: as long as I am with you, I can never truly suffer. Hell has no power over me. Perhaps it is the same for our dear friends.”

Momoki sighed. “Dear Twila, you are not in Hell to suffer. You are in Hell so that I may suffer all the more with the knowledge I have brought you there with me. It is no life to live. There is no place in Hell for the living. I fear our friends’ safety and well-being”

Gogi again spoke the words that welled in his heart. He repeated, “Some have paths set before them that will lead them unto greatness, while others are destined to be their friends.”

Momoki’s face drew downward, looking long and forlorn.

“Is there no way?” asked Twila.

“At least for a visit?” added Szu Ri.

Momoki thought. He said, “Perhaps there is a way, though it is not easy.”

And so it was agreed Gogi and Szu Ri would follow Momoki’s instructions. Well past midnight they set out from their home, diving deep into the dark forests nearby. Owls and nocturnal predators hooted and howled at the two small creatures. They ducked and weaved between blades of grass, under twigs and through mushy, leafy bedding.

At last they came to a part of the forest so dark they could bare see one another as they stood side-by-side. As per Momoki’s instructions, they closed their eyes. Momoki had said, “No matter what, no matter if you think you hear my voice calling out your name, do not open your eyes and look upon what is around you. Open your eyes only when I touch you upon the shoulders. You will know it is me for I alone will be able to touch you. Whatever is there cannot touch you or harm you unless you gaze upon their forms. This is most important, do not open your eyes. Do you understand me?”

Szu Ri and Gogi had said they understood.

As a final act before their first steps forward, Szu Ri and Gogi reached out to one another and clasped hands. They stepped forward.

Cries and screams, laughter and sobbing filled their ears. Voices ancient and new, alien and familiar called out to them. Szu Ri wanted desperately to say something to Gogi but was afraid he may get confused at the sound of her voice and answer another. She remained silent, content with merely squeezing his hand.

Gogi called out, “I love you, Szu Ri!” but his voice was lost amongst the screams and howls and whipping winds. The air shifted from freezing cold to oppressively hot.

On they walked.

Gogi thought he could hear sharp, angry teeth chattering beside his head. He winced, his eyes remaining closed, and his steps quickened. He then feared outrunning Szu Ri, but felt the tension in their arms slacken and he knew then she was keeping up with him.

Lapping, ugly sounds abounded. The ground beneath them shook. Gogi and Szu Ri stumbled about, so afraid. So very afraid were they that they nearly froze in their places, but a surge of desperation pushed them forward.

At last a voice came to Gogi’s head. It was calm and said matter-of-factly, “We have your love. We have Szu Ri. She opened her eyes and we took her from you. Her hand slipped away and we replaced it with a slug. We are busily raping her now.” At this terrible shrieks lifted onto the air.

“Hear that?” said the voice. “We’ve torn her wings from her body. Now we will eat her.”

Gogi cried out, “Szu Ri!” but no answer came. He wanted to open his eyes to see, to look at the love of his life and make sure she was still there. But Momoki’s warnings returned to him. “I don’t believe you!” he yelled at the voice.

The same voice came to Szu Ri. It said, “Death is upon you. Gogi has opened his eyes. We have slipped his hand from yours and replaced it with a snake. Open you eyes and join your lover. open your eyes as he has.”

“No!” cried out Szu Ri.

“Open your eyes. Gogi opened his eyes because he is so weak. Now he is dead.”

At this Szu Ri knew the voice was a liar for she knew Gogi was far from weak. She smiled contentedly and squeezed Gogi’s hand.

Gogi panted. His breath was escaping him with gasping fear.

At last the winds died. The voices grew silent. The ground stopped shaking.

A soft finger, a light touch fell upon Gogi’s shoulder. Another fell on Szu Ri’s shoulder.

They opened their eyes.

Before them stood Momoki is his ghastly, black, smoky form with crimson eyes and hat. Despite his horrendous form, Gogi and Szu Ri recognized him and were filled with cheer.

“D-did we do it? Did we really do it?” asked Gogi.

Momoki smiled an unseen smile. He nodded, “You did it, Gogi.”

They stood before the massive doors of the Chamber of Despair. Momoki leaned against them and they swung wide.

Together they walked into the courtyard to find Twila waiting for them.

Old friends rejoiced in their reunion.

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CHAPTER 8

Wu Chan Chu was given a chance to gather what few items she could call her own before she was officially removed from her room. Not knowing what else to do, she sidled up to the lone bar in the Peony and ordered rice wine for herself. She drank it quickly and deeply. A few of the Peony regulars bought her a few more drinks, sad to see her finally lose her title as champion of the teahouse. She accepted these gratefully.

At the far end of the bar, a wicked send up of elation was going on. She spied the member of a small group of people as being the benevolent host of the party. She wondered at him. She knew him as a regular and as a poor thief and a coward. She wondered why he was suddenly buying everyone around him, mostly women, when he was usually poor.

Wu Chan Chu approached him.

“Hey! Wu Chan Chu! The froggy fighter! Ha-ha!” cried Roku. His words were slurred with his drunkenness.

“How are you, Roku?”

“Oh! I’m great! Let me buy you a drink!”

“Thank you.” She ordered another rice wine and drank it down. “Tell me, Roku, was is it that a no-good thief like yourself is suddenly buying everyone drinks?”

“Ha-ha! ‘cuz I bet, I bet… Ha-Ha! I bet on you in yer last fight!” Roku lied.

“Oh?” asked Wu Chan Chu. “That strikes me as very odd seeing as I lost my last fight?”

“Ha-Ha!” said Roku. “Wait, what?” Roku’s eyes blinked stupidly.

“I said I lost my last fight. I am no longer the champion of the Peony Tea House.”

“Oh?” Roku grew suddenly nervous. “Wait, what?”

Wu Chan Chu, frustrated and angry, grabbed Roku by the neck and lifted him off his seat at the bar. He brought Roku’s face close to her own. “Where did you get the money, Roku?”

Roku blinked. He knew he was found out. He almost broke into tears as he said, “It wasn’t me! I swear! I was made to do it! I was tricked! You know me, I’m stupid! I don’t know how to read, write or do math. That’s why I’m such a horrible thief. I’m as shocked as you are that I was able to steal the coffers, but Sal Igo made it so damned easy. All I had to do was disguise myself as one of the guards. I don’t even know how I was able to do that much! I don’t like one of those hulks. I’m tiny! I’m an idiot!”

“Where’s the money?”

“The other guy took most of it. He threatened to kill me if I didn’t let him have it all. I’m such a coward I didn’t know if I could fight a Gifted One.”

“Gifted One?”

Roku nodded as best he could as he was being held by the neck. “He’s as a man, but with black tentacles where his feet should be. In fact, that was his name! Black Tentacle!”

Wu Chan Chu set Roku down. She mocked him by brushing him off, as if she cared about his well-being. She lifted his chin up, then brought her hand before his face and clenched it into a fist. Her knuckles popped as she did this.

She said, “Where is he?”

Shaking with fear, Roku said, “He owed some king, I think someone named Aniabas, a great deal of money. He was going to use the money to get Aniabas off his trail. I can only he guess he went to that kingdom.”

Wu Chan Chu smiled. She grabbed Roku by the shoulder and led him to Sal Igo.

Said Wu Chan Chu, “Here’s your real thief. I go to find his partner.”

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CHAPTER 9

Zom Loa raced across the country with a stolen mule and a cart he purchased with the money from the stolen coffers. He did not pause for night nor heat of day. He barely paused to eat. He rode on and on until, at last, he came across a band of soldiers formerly dispatched by King Aniabas.

He dared approach them. “I’ve come with the monies your king claims against me,” said Zom Loa.

The four soldiers peered at him curiously. Their captain said, “Have you not heard? Our king has been deposed.”

“Deposed?”

“Yes, by a Gifted One called the Weasel King. He is the charge of a demon that has settled upon the Plain of Adoration north of our former kingdom.”

“Then my debt?” asked Zom Loa.

“For all purposes your debt is no longer owed,” answered the captain.

“But what of the new rumors?” asked one of the other soldiers of his captain.

Curious, Zom Loa asked, “What new rumors?”

“We have heard our king is once more seated upon his throne,” answered the captain.

“Then we’ll go to him and give him the monies,” said Zom Loa.

The captain shook his head. “When we received word he had been dethroned, we essentially became mercenaries. We did not remain loyal. I doubt he’ll have us, if he truly is once more the king.”

“I need to make sure I am free from his demands,” said Zom Loa.

The captain smiled. “That’s much too bad. We’re afraid you won’t succeed in that.”

“Why not?” asked Zom Loa.

The captain and his men drew their weapons against Zom Loa.

“Wha-what is this?” Zom Loa exclaimed.

“Don’t fight, Gifted One, or we’ll find a way to kill you.”

And so Zom Loa the Black Tentacle was captured. A cage of bamboo was lifted onto the very cart Zom Loa had purchased and he was placed within. The soldiers took turns guarding him and spending the money within the coffers in nearby towns.

One night, when three soldiers were asleep after filling themselves with hardy ales, Zom Loa caught the captain within his tentacles as he passed too near the cage. The black tentacles tightened quickly about the neck of the captain. Air escaped his throat. He could not breath. He could not shout for help. Zom Loa held him fast and high against the cage, a nearby campfire silhouetting their forms as shadows cast upon the ground. The captain’s face turned purple, then blue. At last it turned pale gray.

Zom Loa released the captain. His tentacles searched the dead body and found keys to the lock and chain that had been placed upon the door. As he stepped out, one of the soldiers awoke, needing to pee. He saw Zom Loa and raised an alarm.

The other soldiers jumped from their slumber and armed themselves.

Zom Loa seethed at them. He said through clenched teeth, “I am prepared to kill you, all three. I doubt I can make my escape with the coffers, but should I leave them I can hope you’ll accept them as payment for my freedom. If not, I will follow the path to the demon that now pesters your king and command him to bring Hell’s fury down upon you.

“Now, let me pass.”

The three soldiers let Zom Loa pass. He escaped into the night.

Wu Chan Chu chased rumor after rumor. She found it easy to follow the black-tentacled Zom Loa as all who saw him took note of him. At last she came upon the soldiers and their small encampment. She recognized immediately the coffers they guarded.

“Those are the coffers of the Peony Tea House. I’ve come for them.”

The soldiers armed themselves. “We’ll not let you have them,” said one.

Wu Chan Chu deftly caught the man who had spoken thus and pulled him close. She lifted a knee and slammed it into his face, cracking his skull. He fell dead in a spray of blood and gore.

The other two soldiers dropped their weapons, saying, “Take the coffers! They’re yours!”

“Good,” said Wu Chan Chu, “now tell me this: where has the thief gotten to?”

The soldiers shook their heads. “We stole these from someone, but you can take them. Please, don’t kill us.”

Wu Chan Chu drew close to them. “Tell me where the one called Balck Tentacle has gone and you may yet live.”

The soldiers looked at each other in confusion. One said, “We stole these from a Gifted One who did indeed have black tentacles instead of feet, but we never learned his name. It must be the same one you seek, though.”

Wu Chan Chu was losing her patience. She spoke slowly as she cracked her knuckles. “Where is he?”

“He left! He said he may seek out a demon rumored to be living upon the Plain of Adoration. That is all we know. Please, spare our worthless lives!”

At this the two soldiers prostrated themselves before Wu Chan Chu.

“A demon, eh?” asked Wu Chan Chu.

“Yes,” said one of the soldiers, his face shoved into the dirt beneath him, “that is all we know.”

Wu Chan Chu thought of her battle with the demon Ketsueki Sato. She thought of this new demon the soldiers spoke of. She cursed, “I should like to raid every layer of Hell and murder each demon with my own bare hands.”

Wu Chan Chu said no more. She knocked the cage from the cart and loaded the cart with the coffers before grabbing the reigns of the mule and leading him away, heading back towards the Peony Tea House.

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CHAPTER 10

Wu Chan Chu’s cursed lifted onto the air and was spread across the world. It soon filled every ear of every demon in every land. It caused a great stir among some demons. At last, it woke the very Yama Kings from their slumber. They whispered softly within the head of every demon, “We must not allow this. The creature known as Yaska Selith stirs embers of a fire that could leave us reeling. He must be dealt with.”

This left many thinking. At last, only one demon could think of a solution.

The horse-demon Radiant Gui closed his eyes. He grunted, opened his eyes and peered at the Midnight Sun blazing red high overhead. His baboons cackled nervously near him.

“Shut up!” he shouted them down. The baboons grew silent.

Radiant Gui sighed. “How wicked the Cosmos’ love for irony.”

He arched his back and cursed the Cosmos. He then turned and walked toward the doors of the Chamber of Despair. He kicked them open.

Momoki jumped, scrambling about. He shouted, “Hide! Hide! Hide!”

Gogi, Szu Ri and Twila, afraid, did not know what to do. They headed for the hut in the center of the courtyard.

Radiant Gui caught sight of the new creatures. He roared with anger, “What is this? Who are these?”

Momoki ran toward Radiant Gui, placing himself between the horse-demon and his friends. He fell to his knees, lowered his head and extended his hands clasped together in front of him.

“Please!” cried Momoki. “Spare them!”

“You defy the Hells by bringing living things into our realm?” Radiant Gui’s voice shook the ground.

Twila, Szu Ri and Gogi hid. They could not believe the horrid nature of the horse-demon. They found him quite ugly, especially as he belched fire while speaking.

“I’ll kill them! I’ll destroy you all!” Radiant Gui stepped towards the hut.

Momoki ran again and placed himself between the demon and his friends. Again Momoki bowed to the master of the Land of the Midnight Sun.

“Please!” Momoki yelled. “Do not harm them! I will do whatever you say!”

At this Radiant Gui remembered why he entered the Chamber of Despair. He glowered at Momoki, eyed the three cowering friends, and looked at Momoki again.

The baboons howled wickedly at the door, salivating from the fear the smelled on the air.

Radiant Gui bent low. He said, “I will not harm your friends on one condition.”

“Anything,” said Momoki. “Please name it. I will not fail you.”

Radiant Gui sighed. He sat on his laurels. He spoke, “There is a demon in the world. He not truly a demon, however. He is a pseudo-demon.”

Momoki looked up at him. “Pseudo-demon?”

Radiant Gui nodded. “He is a dog that has eaten a mystic bug. He is no real demon at all. Yet his presence in the world threatens all demons. He must be destroyed.”

“I will do it,” said Momoki. He feared the fate of his friends. He quietly cursed himself for allowing them to come here, to see these things that was now his new life, his afterlife. “I will do this for the safety of my friends. Simply tell me what I must do.”

Radiant Gui said, “You will gather together a band of warriors and ride with them against this Yaska Selith.”

Momoki thought of something. He was confused. He said, “I thought training warriors was not to be my purpose?”

Radiant Gui bellow incoherently with rage. He backhanded Momoki and sent him rolling across the full length of the courtyard. He then spat molten saliva at the marmoset.

The molten saliva struck Momoki, burning away part of his flesh. He cried out in pain.

Gogi started towards his friend, but Szu Ri caught him and forbade him to go.

Momoki wept as his black flesh grew back.

Radiant Gui left the Chamber of Despair, cursing the Cosmos once more as he went.

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CHAPTER 11

Comet Fox, drunk, followed rumors across the world until he at last came to Taliesin, the Mountain That Lived in the Sky.

He fell into one of the many vast fields.

Word spread through Taliesin about this newcomer. Bugs and birds and bees passed by Xiao-tep, who was picnicking with Aglina and Zingtain, telling him of a fox that flew into the land and now lay unconscious. Xiao-tep knew immediately the identity of this creature.

Xiao-tep flew to Comet Fox’s side. He lifted him out of the full grass. Comet Fox came awake a moment. His words were slurred as he spoke, “Heya, Shoh-tep. Shao-tip. Teppy, tippy, tap. Haha!”

“What has gotten into you, Comet Fox?” asked Xiao-tep. He lifted the drunk fox upon his shoulder and carried him towards a small cave.

“Me? Haha! I, uh, I thaw, um…” again Comet Fox fell unconscious.

Xiao-tep sighed. “I thought you’d given up drinking.”

Comet Fox remained unconscious.

Xiao-tep rested him against a cool stone made soft by green, fresh moss. He tended to his old friend.


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That's it! I hope you enjoyed Act 2! Be sure to check back Friday, September 5th to read the third and final act of "Song of Momoki!"

"Song of Momoki" - Act I

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“Song of Momoki”
© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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ACT I: Momoki the Marmoset in Hell

UNDER AN INDIFFERENT EYE: Wherein Momoki the Marmoset is Tortured for His Sins; A Deception is Revealed; Gogi and Szu Ri Begin a New Life; Shabar Leaves for the Land of the Bizo

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CHAPTER 1

On the bank of a creak so small it had no name came the grasshopper Gogi and his faithful love Szu Ri the Silk Moth. There they settled. Gogi went to work right off hollowing out a mound of mud. He cleared it of all grass, letting the sun’s face touch upon the mound and bake it until it hardened as clay. He dug out a two small holes in the mound’s side. In the smallest he placed a thin crystal Szu Ri had found just below the surface of the waters of the flowing creak. In the other hole he place bamboo that Szu Ri had thatched with a stick on one end. The stick served as a hinge and the thatched bamboo a door. Together the smallest creatures in all the world built for themselves a one-room home from the gifts of the land.

Gogi then set about clearing the land near their new home using skills he had once learned from a friend, a friend now departed and far gone yet far from forgotten. In this small patch of land he placed seeds he had harvested from plants growing wild nearby.

Day after day he tended to his land, humming in his garden, growing for himself and his Szu Ri food to be stored and eaten all throughout the year. Day after day, as the sun was setting on the far horizon, Gogi would come into his home, hug Szu Ri and complaining of the sun’s unrelenting stare.

Szu Ri set about making two things: one a thick blanket of silk to warm them in the cold months to come; the other a hat for Gogi made of thatched, dried grass to help block out the sun.

As the garden grew and the work lessened, Gogi began collecting pebbles to bring into the home and build a fireplace, all the while humming. It took him many months, but at the end of his work he had made a wonderful stone hearth with a chimney extending out a third small hole he had burrowed to let the smoke escape. It was a fine piece of craftsmanship and Szu Ri was quite proud of him.

The hat Szu Ri had made was finished in time for the garden to be harvested. She presented it to Gogi and he smiled.

“It’s beautiful,” said Gogi. “Thank you, Szu Ri.” And he grabbed her and held her in his arms.

Gogi wore the hat with pride the next day as he harvested from his garden, the white brim of the airy thatched had shading his face and eyes.

Soon the garden was bare and, wanting to be certain they would have food enough for the cold months, asked Szu Ri for a small strand of her silk. She gladly granted him this wish.

Gogi then made a hook from a dead, dried vine and lashed it to the end of the silk thread. As the shadows of the sun grew long and a chill entered the air, Gogi would spend his days by the creak fishing with the thread and hook. He spent his days happily fishing, humming lightly, smiling.

Szu Ri stored foods and constructed a bed and a few chairs she placed around the hearth.

One night, long after Gogi came in carrying two bugs he had caught using the hook and silk, as the two sat around a warming fire, drinking freshly brewed tea, Gogi once more began to hum as he smiled with contentment.

“Gogi,” asked Szu Ri, “what is that you hum?”

“Hmm?” For the first time he realized he was indeed humming. For a moment he feared appearing as a fool, but looked at Szu Ri and knew she could not think such things of him. “I-I guess I never realized I was ever humming. Now I know.”

“What song is that you hum?”

Gogi thought a moment, again never having thought on the matter before. “I suppose it’s a song of my own. I-I even have some words to go with it.”

“Oh?”

Gogi shook his head. “I-I’d feel so very foolish.”

“Please, Gogi. Please share your song with me?” asked Szu Ri.

Gogi sighed. “N-not now Szu Ri, please. It’s a foolish thing.”

Szu Ri allowed the conversation to shift onto other matters and Gogi’s humming was all but forgotten.

As they lay in bed together that night, Gogi with his back to Szu Ri while she held him from behind, she said softly, gently, “Gogi, dear Gogi, making songs is not foolish. It is life in words.”
Gogi sighed.

“Has your song words?” she asked.

Gogi’s eyes opened. “Yes. But… it’s about… ” Gogi sighed again. Szu Ri could feel a great shock of nerves and fear go through his body as he said, “I-it’s about Momoki.”

Szu Ri’s heart welled with sadness for the loss of Momoki, especially for Gogi who had made such good friends with the marmoset. She said, “That’s a beautiful thing, Gogi, to honor him with a song.”

They lay together a long time in the silent, dark home they had built together. Before sleep drifted into them Gogi said, “I miss him, Szu Ri.”

Szu Ri kissed his cheek gently and they cuddled closer. Soon they were asleep.

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CHAPTER 2

Momoki screamed in terror and pain. Radiant Gui pressed forward with one long claw as the three baboons held the marmoset upside down. The claw sank into Momoki’s skin, slicing it finely as a butcher’s blade from the navel to the neck. Excruciating pain turned fire as the horse-demon slowly, intently peeled the skin from off Momoki’s form. Flesh and fur came free from bloody muscle. Momoki’s voice cracked with strain. He wanted desperately to close his eyes, to shut out the pain, but found no relief as his red eyes remained wide and glowing red.

High above, behind and over the shoulder of Radiant Gui, the Midnight Sun glowed back in crimson indifference. It watched. Momoki stared at it, wishing it would blink, wishing it would cringe at the sight of his agony. It remained staring. It remained unmoving. It stared on and Momoki found hatred in heart heart, welling up from his belly, gushing from his throat. For the first time Momoki could remember, he felt the power of anger, the lust of hatred. His eyes shifted to the semi-hidden face of Radiant Gui.

The horse-demon sniffed at the freshly peeled skin, looked at Momoki and belched whinny laughter. He tossed the flesh aside, saying, “Feast!”

The baboons let go of Momoki and he fell to the charcoal ground. They fought and tore at each other, struggling for a bite, a bit of the flesh. They ate it voraciously, fur and all, howling with banshee desire.

Momoki could not move. He remained lying on the ground, skinless. The charcoal of the ground clung to his moist, slick, bloody muscles. He remained staring at the horse-demon, seething.

“Good,” Radiant Gui said with laughter. “Hate me. That makes my task all the more enticing.”

The horse-demon laughed.

The baboons smacked their bloody lips. The flesh was gone, devoured completely and resting in their gold, silver and amethyst bellies.

Soon the soothing feeling of flesh returning to Momoki’s form came to him. He was able to move. He struggled to lift himself. His form was once more that of black, billowing smoke. Only the red glow of his eyes and hat stood out as features. He did not understand how a creature dead as he was could be stripped of flesh he did not have, but decided that the tortures of Hell could create its own possibilities.

He sighed with relief as his flesh form swelled complete.

The three baboons approached.

Momoki knew what was coming. He had experienced it perhaps a dozens time already. He wondered if he was meant to experience it for eternity.

The baboons pounced.

Momoki, under the guide of instinct, tried to escape though he knew he could not, would never be able to. But for a moment, just before the baboons had attained a firm hold, he felt the touch of hope before it fled in the face of terror as their paws held him.

The baboons turned Momoki upside down and held him up towards Radiant Gui.

The horse-demon’s claw pierced the darkness of the land. His face came near Momoki. Hot breath smelling of burning sulfur roiled out his nose and blasted Momoki’s form. The claw sank into him, under his skin, and sliced it like a butcher’s knife.

Momoki wished he could close his eyes. He stared at the Midnight Sun staring back, distant, indifferent.

Like the many times before, the horse-demon tore the mystic flesh from Momoki’s form and fed it to the howling baboons.

Again the flesh returned and soothed Momoki.

Again the baboons pounced.

Again, as he was suspended upside down before Radiant Gui, he stared at the Midnight Sun.

But now Radiant Gui stopped. He had heard something, a small voice. He leaned in to listen. He asked, “Marmoset, what is that you say?”

Momoki’s eyes shifted onto the horse-demon. Between pants he said, “At least… this is… for something…”

“What mean you by that?” asked Radiant Gui.

“My… new path… at least… I’ve that…”

Radiant Gui smirked, smiled, then burst forth with incredible laughter. The baboons, upset their feeding was interrupted, squeezed at Momoki though they joined their master by sending up howls of joy.

“You are but a fool,” Radiant Gui said. “A damned fool. A fool damned to Hell for his foolishness.”

Momoki said, “I do not understand.”

Radiant Gui laughed, saying, “No one is so blessed as to have a second chance and a second path! You have no purpose here beyond my plaything! You fool! You believed me? I’m a demon! I lie! Oh! How I love my purpose!”

The horse-demon and baboons laughed at the joke they had played upon the fool marmoset.

The betrayal well further hatred within Momoki. He cried out, “You bastard! I’ll kill you!”

The horse-demon and his baboons laughed louder, taking joy from Momoki’s anguish.

Radiant Gui said, “Good, marmoset. Hate me. Let the desire to murder me percolate, bubbling forth. Hatred is the strongest of all things.”

Momoki felt suddenly hollow. Only the hatred and anger remained. He stared at the Midnight Sun as Radiant Gui continued in his task of torturing him and feeding the baboons.

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CHAPTER 3

Zom Loa came into the legendary Peony Tea House. He watched as the house champion – some frog demi-goddess – fought twice and won both matches, including a fight against a Gifted One that was a fox.

The tea house bustled with activity. Zom Loa had heard the god Hanuman was present to watch the fights. Sweat and ales and wines and teas and incense hung on the air. It was hot in the tea house, but not many seemed to care. Not many took notice of his appearance. It appeared to Zom Loa that the Peony Tea House was a congregating place for many different peoples – including Gifted Ones and Gods.

He then huddled in a private booth at the back of the tea house, asking a passerby or two if they knew of anyone interested in making money as a hired guardian.

One such passerby sat down to listen to Zom Loa’s tale, of how he escaped from the mad King Aniabas, how he later heard rumors that the king had been dethroned, and how he was uncertain of the rumor’s truth.

“I am no fighter,” said the young man that sat across from him. He was barely out of his teen years and his face struggled to grow hair on his chin. His hair was sandy-blonde; his eyes wide, wild and green; he wore a light tunic of green and brown leather chaps. At his waist were crossed two daggers. Zom Loa wondered if the young man knew how to properly use the blades or – due to their prominence on his person – perhaps they were simple trappings of one that desired a rough life but had yet to live it.

“But,” said the young man, “you said this king demanded of you the tributes his father had placed in your hands to journey to the north, am I correct?”

Zom Loa nodded.

“Then perhaps paying him back would be the best matter,” said the young man.

Just then three large men, guards heavily laden with weapons and armor and each with a large chest in their arms, passed by their booth before disappearing behind a door at the back of the tea house. The young man watched. Zom Loa watched him, curious.

When he turned back round, Zom Loa asked, “What have you in mind?”

“This tea house makes much money. Most of it is stolen. The fights and games within this tea house are rigged.”

“How know you this?”

“Every place that hosts gambling is crooked, that is well-known,” explained the young man.

Zom Loa wondered at this. E said in a low voice, “Do you suggest we steal money from this tea house?”

The young man smiled, nodding.

Zom Loa looked to the back of the tea house at the door through which the three armed men had gone. He then looked at the young man. “What is your name?”

The young man smiled. “I am Roku and I am a Procurer of Things.”

Zom Loa wondered if the name was real, but Roku’s idea of paying the debt Aniabas claimed was strong. He said, “Roku, I am Zom Loa the Storyteller, but I have also been called Black Tentacle. Let us discuss our future together.”

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CHAPTER 4

In a land unmarked by history’s pen, in a land unscathed by woes of men, a land of farmers and free men was born a boy named Renorio. His life, like the land he was born into, was quite unremarkable. He had a mother. He had a father. He had two brothers – both older and wiser.

Renorio learned to crawl then walk as most children do, then learned to talk at a proper age. He had bright blonde hair and green eyes, as all of his people did. He loved the changes of the seasons, he loved to learn, he worked his father’s field when he was old enough. He was in every way a boy of the land and in no way stood out from the other children of the area.

So plain was he that nothing of note could be discerned other than, perhaps, on rare occasions he would grow quiet and watching as if waiting for something. This happened most often when the Summer became Fall or when a particularly strong storm approached or, as one of his brothers noticed on the occasion of their grandmother’s passing, at the hour of death. A few wispy gossiping murmurs were floated about that he could sense death, but was the rumor wasn’t strong and soon faded.

One day, while playing by an old oak – his brothers swimming in the nearby river and he wanting simply to lounge in the shade – Renorio found the carcass of a small bird beneath a wide branch extended parallel to the ground high above. He closed in on the dead bird, examining it. The small bird had not only fallen, but had fallen sharply upon the edge of a jagged stone and its breast had been broken wide with some of its flesh hanging loosely.

Renorio, filled with curiosity, picked up the carcass and began peeling the feathers and flesh from the bone. He wanted desperately to know what was inside – if anything.

His brothers, finished with their swim, came upon him and reprimanded him for playing with the dead bird.

Once home, his parents reprimanded Renorio, as well.

Rumors began again about the boy and his sense of death. He was not ostracized, though many an eye looked at him from out of its corner thereafter.

The boy grew into a young man. The incident was all but forgotten.

Then Renorio’s father died. He and his brothers were left to farm the land and tend to their mother.

More time passed and the mother died.

The brothers began to argue over the operation of the farm. The arguments escalated and regularly became fisticuffs. During once such fight, Renorio brought forth and brandished a knife, stabbing and killing one of his brothers.

The other brother fled and was never heard from again.

Renorio – as he had the day he had found the bird – obsessed over his brother’s dead body. Slowly he peeled the skin free from the carcass. Unknowing what else to do, the next day he treated, stretched and tanned his brother’s skin. He wove its pieces together and stored it in a small knapsack hidden within the log box outside his house.

He buried his brother and carried on with the farm, but soon word spread and fear finally ostracized him from the people of the region. Not knowing what else to do, he packed a sack of provisions in readiness to leave the farm behind. As he left, he turned to look at the only home he had ever known one last time. He stood, staring, until his eyes came to rest upon the log box. He went to it. Digging to the bottom he found the knapsack with his brother’s tanned skin. With it in his hand, he left his homelands forever.

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CHAPTER 5

Radiant Gui’s long claw pierced the form of Momoki, digging into it and causing him excruciating pain. The horse-demon peel back the flesh and tossed it to the side. The baboons dropped Momoki and ran to feast.

Radiant Gui sighed as the flesh began to reappear on Momoki. The horse-demon said, “I tire of this.”

He picked up Momoki with two claws and walked away. A set of double doors, crimson as the Midnight Sun and taller than the demon, appeared. Radiant Gui threw Momoki down before the doors. “There’s you chamber.”

Momoki picked himself up. “Is this where I live?”

Radiant Gui laughed. “You don’t live. But yes, it’s a chamber of your own. It’s the Chamber of Despair. That part of the lie was very true. I’ll return when I want to torture you some more.” Radiant Gui hesitated, then said, “And you won’t be alone.” He said this as though he regretted it, as though he had no choice over the matter and detested it.

Radiant Gui walked away.

Momoki pressed his black paws against the two red doors. They opened with some difficulty as they were so immense over his demure size. He stepped into the chamber and the doors closed behind him.

The chamber was bright and appeared as a courtyard. The ground was light tan like sand and three large weeping cherries were growing strongly. In the center was a wooden hut raised on stilts. The hut was open and airy and a cool breeze blew through it at all hours. In its center was a small tatami mat.

Momoki, eyeing the chamber, headed towards the mat. He then saw some creature, black as night with small bits of roiling smoke – akin to his own form – crawling across the courtyard. It was the form of a turtle and it was black with bright red, glowing streaks at the sides of its head.

“Twila?” Momoki asked.

Twila turned her head, searching, finding, crying out, “Momoki!”

Momoki ran to her side. He lay beside her, holding her close. They lay together in the center of the courtyard, cherry blossoms falling all about them, enjoying their closeness.

“Momoki, where have you been? Some demonic creature said you’d come, but when you didn’t I suspected he had lied.”

“I’m here, Twila. I’m here. And I wont ever leave your side again.”

She smiled and it went unseen through her new dark form.

Momoki held her.

“Is this Hell, Momoki?”

Momoki answered sadly, “Yes.”

Twila sighed. “I’ve waited here a long time for you.”

“I’m sorry, Twila, but I’m here now.”

“Where were you?”

Momoki thought of his tortures, of his purpose in Hell. He knew he could not tell her of his pain. “Please, Twila… please don’t ask.”

Twila nuzzled her head under Momoki’s chin. He kissed her lightly upon the head and she, had she been able, would have blushed as her head receded a small ways into her shell before it came back out and nuzzled his chin once more.

A horrifying thought came to Momoki. He asked, “Are Gogi and Szu Ri here?”

Twila shook her head. “No. I can only hope they are still alive and living a good life.”

Momoki sighed with relief. “I hope a good life for them as well, though I wish I could see Gogi once more. He was such a good friend. I miss him.”

As he lay with Twila, he felt his anger and hatred lift from his heart. He swelled with worth. He felt healed. He felt strong. He smiled an unseen smile and said, “Radiant Gui was wrong. Love is stronger.”

As they lay in the courtyard, Momoki could almost imagine himself in a beautiful field chasing after and playing with his old friend.

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CHAPTER 6

It was late in the day. Kalavata’s head came over the horizon as Gogi finished fishing. As darkness over came the world, the moon’s light dancing off the water as Gogi pulled in his line, he caught a glimpse of a glimmering shape down the creak’s bank some ways. Gogi turned to look and gasped.

There, in the thin light of night, Gogi could see a shimmering, silvery visage that appeared much like Momoki.

“Momoki!” cried Gogi. He ran excitedly down the bank, dropping his line. His hat flew from his head and landed on the muddy bank.

Szu Ri heard Gogi cry out. She came out of the house looking for him, but she could not find him. She heard him, however, crying out into the night. She lifted onto the air, wings flapping, searching for Gogi. She found him by the banks of the creak. She flew to his side.

“Gogi! What’s wrong?” Szu Ri asked.

Gogi, in hysterics, looked around. “Szu Ri! He was here! He was here!”

“Who was here?” she asked as she grabbed his trembling hand.

He held her. “Momoki! I saw Momoki! Though, he was as silver, thin and… like a mist.”

Szu Ri looked at Gogi with concern. “But Gogi, Momoki has died.”

Gogi began to tremble more, but now with fright as dreadful thoughts entered his head. “D-do you think I-I saw a g-ghost?”

Szu Ri held Gogi close. “Let’s get back to the house, Gogi.” She patted his hand.

As they walked back, Szu Ri’s concern grew. She knew Gogi was not one with a wild imagination, but she wondered if his heartbreak for his lost friend had driven him to seeing mirages.

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CHAPTER 7

Shabar placed his pack of provisions on the back of his mule. He had already outfitted the mule with a small carriage and placed some of his harvest on it.

He turned to Alia and she handed him a flask.

“I’ll be back in a few days, after I’ve sold our extra crops and traded for a few things.”

Alia sighed. “I know why you go, Shabar. Do not insult me with lies.”

Shabar sighed. “I have to know what happened to Albert, what’s happening with the Elephant Crusade.”

Alia nodded. “I’d like to know, as well, but I do not wish to lose you. I’m hoping this little trading trip will quell your desires. But come back to me.” At this she pointed a finger at him, adding emphasis on her words.

“I’ll come back,” he kissed her on the cheek. He then bent and hugged his son and kissed her belly where his second son was growing.

Before he left he told her, “Old Man Arnas knows I’m going. If you need help, go to him just beyond the hills in the next fields.”

Alia nodded.

Shabar pulled forth a crop and started his mule walking.

Alia watched him until Kalavata’s darkness overcame the land.

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CHAPTER 8

Sal Igo ran through the great, decorated halls of the Peony Tea House. He had been owner of the tea house for three decades and not once had there been such a large affront against him. People chased after him as he yelled, commanding them to aide him in discovering the whereabouts of the lost coffers. “Whoever did this,” he cried, “must be a master thief!”

The great commotion of he and his followers caused Wu Chan Chu to flick forth her tongue and pull back the door to her room. She stood and approached Sal Igo.

"What is it? What's the problem?" she asked.

"Oh, my champion!" he cried. "The coffers! The Peony's coffers have gone missing! We are broke! Someone has stolen all our money!"

Wu Chan Chu grunted, sighed, then looked at Comet Fox.

Comet Fox was aghast at the accusatory glare Wu Chan Chu gave him. He demanded, "What? Why are you looking at me?"

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I hope you enjoyed Act I. Be sure to check back next Friday, the 28th, for Act II!