The Ulangar: Book III, Part 13

This continues Book III of the epic I wrote between 1991 and 1996.

The sun did sprawl her tentacles onto the soiled earth

and slowly did vanquished shadow give way

and slower still did the champions rise

All save Creusa the Hawk toes

The remaining seven gathered about her

and waited for her to rise

and they waited waited waited

Nergal lifted his head and did thus speak 'O my brothers

perhaps this sleeping one is suffering from ills and terrors

perhaps Ulangar here stole her waking hours

or perhaps she enjoys Tuoni's game

a silent secluded one this Sea'

and they waited waited waited

Painex rose her shield to the clouds

and smote the earth with her mighty spear point

'Curséd be thy name O Painex

thy fury and anger hath made ruin to this lovely maiden's id

thy stubbornness to refuse ideas maketh her lay in self-destruction

Tunonetar is thy name O Painex and rightfully is it chosen

Then fall, Painex!   [Dies     '

and they waited waited waited

Inan V closed her eyes and lowered her jaw

[

'Straight forward, strong speech

no big words, everything means

something (no lace on words)'

]

Thunder rang its deep trumpet through the brooding maroon satin

and they waited waited waited

Ulangar stood among his Arkaians and whispered such sounds

'I fear the worst my friends and kin

She failed Tuoni's wind

just as Re'u Raduti and Oudun

and now rests upon his mantle piece

a trophy to flaunt at his peers

and a tool for his pride

Let us bury this shell in the mountain side

and let the rain beat long upon its shape'

None rose their voice in objection