Serpent Time

The beast’s long antelope legs stretched from one side of the cove to the other. This impressive feat conjured into mind the Colossus bridging the harbour of Rhodes …  but that wonder of antiquity was not half as curious – or friendly – as this thing. Its calf like head curved down towards the ferry men as they steered their raft home. A placid look of intrigue writ large on its alien features.

Nestled on her knees Beth met its eyes and let out a small whimper.

“You thought the Habitat side of the lake weird,” Ming leaned over and patted her reassuringly on the knee. “Wait until you cop a load of Edenist Central!” He swept open his arms in an expansive gesture that set the raft rocking.

Beth tried desperately to ride on the coat tails of Ming’s enthusiasm. The water on this side of the lake shimmered in perfect transparency. The gentle sweep of hillside felted with grasses in many hues of green … as well as others of not such a conventional colour. Outbreaks of indecent pink coral grew on the land and splayed softly in the wind like the flowering insides of sexual organs. It was indeed a vision; but Beth could not muster any excitement at the prospect of her new life in this pastel painted paradise.

Since coming to Moult World Beth’s life had warped into something hideously different to the one promised to her on her wedding day. Weirdness and lewd behaviour were everywhere she turned. In this strange alien world she craved something familiar to cling to less she drowned. But her husband was insane with the Shock Syndrome … and seemingly more loyal to his friends in the Habitat than to her.

When the Ferry Men arrived one consistent from the Olde World had at last won out … God! She reasoned, only he could have trumped her wedding vows. One day she would be reunited with the Ralph she knew; but for now, she needed something tangible  to rely upon. She hoped and prayed that He … that They … understood.

“Hey, they’ve sent out a welcome party,” Errol observed. He was now so weak from paddling all day that Ming had to row in double time to keep the raft on course.

The strange leggy creature elegantly withdrew its four shamefully long limbs as they sailed beneath it. The Edenist community gathered on the encroaching shore. A cheering crowd with a catalogue of raised arms waving in joyful greeting to the ferry men and their first ever passenger.

“Oh shit,” muttered Ming his trademark playfulness suddenly absent. “Lotty and Fergus will be there.” His tone dropped to a conspiratorial whisper even though there was no chance of anyone hearing him on the shore. “Anticipate Hosannas and much gnashing of teeth, dear friends.”

There was splashing as two bare chested men ran into the water.  Their spectacularly white smiles flashing as they broke into competitive butterfly strokes.

“Ming, please don’t go antagonising anyone,” Errol pleaded with his friend. “You don’t know how lucky you were last time.”

“Errol I do solemnly promise,” Ming placed one paw over his heart. “That as the good Lord is my witness on this day …. I shall not antagonise one solitary, single good Christian.” Errol glowered at his friend suspicious as always of his choice of words.

The swimmers were almost to the raft.

“Praise Be Brothers!” Ming suddenly called out his booming voice a fog horn shattering the tranquility of the bay. “And Oh Lordy Lord do we have a treat for you? Oh yes and indeed!” He lobbed the oar over his shoulder causing Errol to duck and the raft to rock precariously. “See here!” and he gestured grandly towards Beth. “We got us an honest-to-goodness atheist Convert. And let me tell you boys she just can’t wait to have her belly stuffed full of apple pie and her head crammed to the point of splintering with the name of Hey-Zeus!”

The swimmers beamed uncomprehendingly out of the water. They gripped the sides of the raft and with strong legs started to kick for the shore.

Ming turned to Errol

“So how was that?”

Errol shrugged.

“Another victory for Christian patience I suppose.”

~ by hedgemonkey on September 24, 2009.