1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Cool Zone Media. 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 2: Book Club book Club book Club. Welcome to the Cools 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 2: Owned Media book Club, your book club that you don't 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 2: have to do the reading for this week. I'm going 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 2: to finish the story of the Trial of Three Wins 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 2: by shiv Ramdas and it won't make any sense if 7 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 2: you don't listen to the first part. I think, who knows, 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 2: maybe it don't make more sense. What do I know 9 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 2: about anything? I'm your host, Margaret Kiljoy. Did I already 10 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 2: say that this is the cool Most Zone Media Club 11 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 2: for books? I think I told you that. You know, 12 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 2: if this was at nineteenth century, it would have been 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 2: a league. It would have been the Cool Zone Media 14 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 2: Book League, or the League for Cool Zone Media Books, 15 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: the League for Cool Zone Media Books. So this isn't 16 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: a nineteenth century story. I just like when everything was 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: named leagues. That's n't related to anything. What is related 18 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: is this story where we last left our hero Hanni. 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: He was on the path and then he faced one 20 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: of his trials and he got his head cut off, 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: but he didn't die because he managed to drink some 22 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 2: immortality juice. Before that. Part two, he reached up forgetting 23 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: he had no body and a hand obeyed his own. 24 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 2: This time he touched his neck. No wound there, although 25 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: it felt a bit sore. All there, said a voice, 26 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: and he turned his head to see a pair of 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 2: legs and tiger print. Looking up, he found the woman's 28 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: eyes glaring down at him. Our trial, Eh thought, you'd 29 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: never stopped shouting. Huh, how long has it been, asked Hanny, 30 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 2: two days? What I'm closer to three? Really? How did 31 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 2: you find me? 32 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: Oh? 33 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: That was the easy part, just followed the noise. Not 34 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 2: that I had very far to go, only about a 35 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: quarter yo, Jona, impossible, It's been hundreds at the very least. 36 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 2: Her eyes twinkled. Oh, the path gets a lot shorter 37 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: when you don't want to reward for walking it. Hani stood, 38 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: his knee still throbbed where Rakka had struck him. It 39 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 2: seems I once again owe you my thanks. But I 40 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: should be going because I'm running out of time, and 41 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: it appears this path keeps growing longer. Still pretty short 42 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: if you want to turn around, said the woman, But 43 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 2: not the direction I need to go. And with that, 44 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 2: on the third to the last day of heaven, Hani, 45 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 2: lord of the Wind, resumed his climb. This time he 46 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 2: made slower progress than earlier, For each step his leg 47 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: ailed him a little more. At first, Hani paid it 48 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: no mind, for he was grateful to have a leg 49 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: at all. But as the pain grew, so did his gratitude. Ebb, 50 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 2: was this what it was like to be mortal? This 51 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: constant journey from one ache to another. Still he persevered 52 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: hour after hour, yojana after yojana, until the pain was 53 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 2: so great that he could no longer lift his leg, 54 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 2: but had to drag it along the ground as the 55 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 2: trees grew closer and closer over the path, until finally 56 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 2: he knew that without rest, his good leg would also 57 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 2: give out. He settled on a tree stump by the path, 58 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: feeling the welcome relief in his joints, enjoying the cool 59 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: air on his hot cheeks. As he sat, he saw 60 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 2: a single gulmaher break free from its green home, floating downwards. 61 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 2: He leaned back to follow its fluttering progress. Then he 62 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: felt the embrace of soft folds of satin enveloping him. 63 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: He was in another hall, this when even larger and 64 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: more richly decorated than the last. Gone was the tree stump. Instead, 65 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: he sat on a throne, and yet another asura body 66 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: bejeweled and elegantly clothed. A massive crowd of people stood around, 67 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 2: staring up at him with adoring eyes. This time he 68 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: couldn't move or speak. He could merely be feeling what 69 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: that body felt. Looking whose eyes looked? They looked down 70 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: at the foot of the throne at a dwarf, his 71 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 2: head shaved smooth. The dwarf spoke, what say you, King, Bahaka, 72 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: will you grant my humble plea? A voice spoke, and 73 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: it came from the body Hani, now resided in three 74 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 2: steps is nothing, shappala, ask for a yojana of land 75 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 2: or a kush and it will be yours. No, replied 76 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: the dwarf. Three steps of land at a place of 77 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 2: my choosing is all I want? And vamana thanks you 78 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: for your generosity. Then Hani remembered and strove to cry 79 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 2: out to warn the king to beware that it was 80 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 2: all a trick. This was no ordinary visitor. There was 81 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 2: no shippala. It was my Tar himself, in the fifth Avatar, 82 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: here to write the balance once more. But he could not. 83 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 2: He was powerless to do anything but wait for Bahaka 84 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 2: to reply. Certainly, shappala, if that is what you wish 85 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 2: you may have your three steps of land anywhere you want. 86 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 2: Shappala bowed, straightened up, and began to grow, as has 87 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 2: been written, larger and larger, until he blocked out the sky. 88 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: And still he grew until his foot covered all the earth. 89 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 2: My first step, said Shappala. Then he lifted a leg 90 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: and with his other foot he covered the heavens. My 91 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: second step. Tell me, o king, now that your kingdom 92 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 2: belongs to me, how will you keep your promise? Where 93 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 2: should I place my third step? And Hani found himself 94 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 2: looking up as Bahaka tilted his head to regard vamana. 95 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: Place it on my head, my tar, he said proudly, 96 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 2: and Bahaka will have kept his word. Hani screamed again, 97 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 2: with no sound or success, as that great foot bore 98 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 2: down with all the weight of heaven behind it, slamming 99 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: into his head with a force that made Raka's Vodra 100 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: seem a mere inconvenience. His backbone twisted, snapped, and still 101 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 2: the great foot bore down, driving his head down into 102 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: his body and further down, deep into the earth itself, 103 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: and still it pressed down with no respite at all. 104 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 2: Hani screamed until he could scream no more, And yet 105 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 2: the foot stayed where it was, pushing down unabated. He 106 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: counted the seconds as they turned to minutes, which turned 107 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: to weeks, and still the terrible force pressed down against 108 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: his skull. Hani had long since given up on escape, 109 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 2: on scaling Bahada, on finding Acnos. One hundred years went 110 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: by a hundred more, and still it bore down, sometimes shifting, 111 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: ever so often, replaced by a different foot, but always there. 112 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,119 Speaker 2: Two hundred and fifty years, with a heel to his head, 113 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 2: Paradise Racca Acnos all faded to faint shadows, nebulous strands 114 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 2: of a forgotten cobweb in a dark corner of history 115 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 2: that he forgot them no longer irked him. All was 116 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 2: futile anyway. The only reality that of the foot, and 117 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: in time Honey came to love the foot, to draw 118 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 2: comfort in knowing it would always be there. But no 119 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 2: matter what happened, the foot would never abandon him, never 120 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: leave him to float out into an uncertain future without 121 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: its anchoring restraint. Until suddenly it was gone, and he 122 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: was lying curled on the path, head leaning brokenly against 123 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 2: the stump, watching as the Gomaha leaf continued its slow 124 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: spiral down to the forest. Floor. He tried to get up, 125 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 2: but his legs would not obey. There was a heaviness 126 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: in them, seeping through all of him, a weight, but 127 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: one very different from that of the foot, one that 128 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 2: told him that it was finished. He had taken the 129 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: second trial and it had broken him. He would not 130 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: even meet with the third. All he needed to do 131 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: now was to rest, to give into the darkness that 132 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 2: spread across his mind. And given he did, gave into 133 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 2: these sweet, sweet deals. Am I right? You can get 134 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: all your foot needs from all our foot vendors at 135 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 2: cool Zone Media where we put at brakes and things. 136 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 2: Here we go, and we're back on the next to 137 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: last day of heaven, Hani, Lord of the Wind, lay 138 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: where he had fallen and did not stir Hani opened 139 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: his eyes and the first thing he discovered was that 140 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 2: his neck was broken. His head lolled to one side, 141 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: and try as he might, he could not move it. 142 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 2: He could feel the pain spreading through his frame in deep, 143 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 2: widening circles, beginning at the base of his neck all 144 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,079 Speaker 2: the way down to his knees, where all feeling stopped completely. 145 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 2: When he attempted to shift his legs, like his neck, 146 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 2: they refused to respond. While lying there helpless, he saw it. 147 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 2: There It lay at the very end of the path, 148 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: at most half a yojana away, a massive black outcropping 149 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: of rock, like a great lingam that had fallen over, 150 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 2: upon which shone a large, luminous semicircle of light, the 151 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 2: first light he'd seen since he stepped on this accursed path. 152 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 2: Around it grew flowers, also, the first he had seen, 153 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 2: row upon row of them, curving around the light. In 154 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: the middle. At the center of the flowers sat a 155 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,959 Speaker 2: woman in her tiger skin tracksuit. She was smiling, beckoning 156 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 2: him to come to her. Then Hani knew knew it 157 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 2: as surely as he knew himself that his ordeals were over. 158 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: Everything would be all right now. All he needed to 159 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 2: do was to reach her, even if the only part 160 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 2: of him that was working was his arms. And so Hani, 161 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 2: god of the Wind, began dragging himself on his belly 162 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 2: towards the light inch by agonizing inch, minute after tortuous minute, 163 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: past several times he lost consciousness. Each time he woke 164 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 2: up and resumed pulling himself forward once more. His forearms 165 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 2: were a raw mass of flesh, his fingernails long since 166 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 2: ripped out dusty fingers encrusted with dried black blood, eyes 167 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 2: watering from the combination of sweat and dirt. Then he 168 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: was there, finally, mercifully, at the rock with a semicircle 169 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 2: of light on which she sat. Only she was gone, 170 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: and it was no rock. It was a toe, a 171 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: colossal toe. And what had appeared to be light was 172 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 2: in fact the nail. A haze stretched its web over 173 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 2: his mind. The darkness was returning stronger. Come with me, 174 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 2: it said, and Hani was almost ready to acquiesce. Almost 175 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 2: with the very last of his strength, Hani gripped at 176 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 2: what he thought was a rock with fingers of bloody meat, 177 00:10:55,160 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: and swung himself up. On the last day of Heaving 178 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 2: the Broken God, Hani laid his forehead on Ocnos's toe. 179 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:07,839 Speaker 2: All around Hani, the earth and the grass and the 180 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: rocks in the air armed and vibrated together, and the 181 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 2: sound they made was the voice of Acnos, little wind, God, 182 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 2: you have come a long way. Hani lay there, unable 183 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 2: to speak, for there was nothing left in him but 184 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 2: the faintest spark, watching itself blink out of existence. From 185 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 2: somewhere far above, a great hand came down. A finger 186 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 2: touched Hani's head and he felt the golden glow of 187 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 2: life burn within him again, muscle and sinew knitting back 188 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 2: into place. He still lacked the strength to do anything 189 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 2: but stand. But stand he did, as befits a god. 190 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 2: Forgive me, my Lord, he said, for I failed to 191 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 2: take the third trial. The earth and rocks, in grass 192 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 2: and air all around shimmered once more, and Acnos was gone, 193 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: and in his place once again sat the woman in 194 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 2: the tiger print track suit. Yet here you are all 195 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 2: the same. Speak, Are you here to claim your boon? 196 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 2: He bowed his head in assent. What was it again? 197 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: Anything in my power? Was it not? I really must 198 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 2: stop making that promise? All right? What will it be? 199 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: And in that moment, with the task he had suffered 200 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 2: so much for finally at an end, with fulfillment of 201 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 2: his purpose, with one sentence away, all he had to 202 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 2: do now was utter the words. He opened his mouth 203 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 2: to answer, and he found he could not. They would 204 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: not emerge, even as he searched himself in vain for 205 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 2: his dharma, his duty to his king. It was in 206 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 2: there somewhere, yet it eluded him, like golden drops of 207 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: rasa From a time. Both eons passed and yesterday tantalizingly 208 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 2: out of reach. He opened his mouth and shut it again, 209 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: opened it once more, then shook his head. I'm not 210 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 2: hearing a request. The Apanas have no answer to the 211 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 2: Asora advance. They have tried to the last of them, 212 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: and they have failed. They shouldn't you be saying. He 213 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 2: opened his mouth and shut it again. We aren't you 214 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 2: an apana. It had been so very long since he'd 215 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 2: set out home, so very far away and long ago, 216 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 2: that it now felt like just another stop on the journey. 217 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:29,559 Speaker 2: Here to this moment. Well, and under that gaze, Hanni 218 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 2: found himself giving voice to the dark shadow nestling in 219 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: his heart, to the thoughts he feared to utter, even 220 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 2: to himself ever since the churning. When I set out, 221 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 2: I was, and now he hesitated. I know not what 222 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 2: I am, only that it is not what I would be. 223 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 2: Does this person not want me to destroy all creation 224 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 2: for Raka's glory? Or did you think your task a 225 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 2: secret from me? Hanni said nothing. He dared not, even 226 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 2: as reality shimmered again and the mighty form of the 227 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 2: destroyer loomed over him once more. A silence pressed down, 228 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 2: hard and cold, a silence to last an eternity or 229 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 2: a moment, no telling if either was any different. Akno 230 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 2: spoke again, and Pahada itself trembled at that terrible voice 231 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 2: speak Hannie, does Raka wish me to end all creation 232 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 2: so that he may feel victorious? Or will the extinction 233 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 2: of merely all the Asa race suffice? And that's not 234 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 2: something we sell, but we do sell other stuff like 235 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: these ads. We don't actually sell you the products of 236 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 2: the ads. We actually sell the advertising space, which we 237 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 2: have no control over what they sell. Yah, I'll probably 238 00:14:49,040 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 2: figured that out a while ago. Here's the ads and 239 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 2: we're back. Hani hung his head, staring down at his toes. 240 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 2: Neither a great one. They've done nothing but engages per 241 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 2: the rules and means that Raka himself demanded. When Raka wins, 242 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 2: then all means are just. When he does not, it 243 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 2: is called a dharma. Are you saying you no longer 244 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 2: wish me to save paradise? Hani? Hanni hesitated, feeling the 245 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 2: words build up, smashing against the inside of his lips, 246 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 2: yearning to be free, until they would be held back 247 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 2: no longer but burst forth, and as each one emerged, 248 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 2: Honey knew it to be true. No great one, because 249 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 2: paradise requires no saving. Once again a silence that lasted forever, 250 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 2: or a moment unbreakable save. But by the voice of Acnos, finally, yes, 251 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 2: it is not paradise that you were sent here to save. 252 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 2: But Rakka Raka, who calls himself King of Heaven, yet 253 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: flees to the Preserver in the name of balance every 254 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 2: time his strength is tested. He sent you to me 255 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 2: so that he and his ilk will not lose what 256 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 2: was first stolen and then squandered. But my Lord said Hani, 257 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: and his voice quavered as he spoke. Would the Preserver 258 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 2: ever be unjust? 259 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: Just? 260 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: The Preserver is not concerned with justice, only with keeping 261 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: things as they are. Justice does not come from above, Hani, 262 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 2: It comes from those who would seek it and hear. 263 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 2: And now Racu searched for the Preserver time and time again, 264 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 2: and knew not why he could not find him, because 265 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 2: he has been here all along. The great hand ascended again, 266 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 2: colossal fingers unfurled, and in its palm lay a thin, 267 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 2: worn figure, curled up with skin of unmistakable blue. My 268 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 2: Lord cried, Hani, can it be? How is this come 269 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 2: to pass? And the voice of Acnus was heard again 270 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 2: because Each time Raka invoked the balance, it weakened the 271 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 2: preserver a little more, until the day came when he 272 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 2: had no power left, until even the illusion of balance 273 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 2: was gone, and all that was left was Racca's desires. 274 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 2: And when that day came, Raca ceased to seek balance 275 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 2: and instead sent you here seeking destruction. He has drunk 276 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 2: so deeply of the chalice of his hubris that he 277 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 2: sought to use not just God's but creation himself, just 278 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 2: to have his way. I no longer believe in his way? 279 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 2: Why not? I do not know? You do? Do you 280 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 2: remember as you called it the foot? Hani didn't answer, 281 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 2: He had no need to. They both knew he remembered 282 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 2: it very well, or to give it the name by 283 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 2: which Creation knows it. Raka's balance a balance you felt 284 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 2: for what it truly was a scale where he and 285 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: his kind sit born aloft on one end, while all 286 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 2: the weight rests on the other. But how, my Lord, 287 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 2: the scriptures and songs and stories they all say something else? 288 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 2: Whose scriptures are those who tells those stories? But my Lord, 289 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 2: the things of which you speak have been since creation itself? 290 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 2: And does that mean they must be true? Tradition does 291 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 2: not bestow virtue or truth. Only age, and Hani of 292 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 2: the woken mind knew that this was true too. Every 293 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 2: word Akno said was true. He shivered as though an 294 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 2: invisible cloak had worn out, without ever realizing it had 295 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 2: now been cast off, leaving him cold, defenseless, and vulnerable 296 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 2: for the first time. So the answer to Raka's request 297 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 2: is no, as it would have been even if you 298 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 2: had asked it of me. I offered you a boon, 299 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 2: not Raka. Hani hung his head. That leaves but one thing, 300 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 2: the boon I promised you, For all who journey to 301 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 2: me shall ask me of what they desire. Another silence, 302 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:10,880 Speaker 2: one that stretched across eternity. What is yours? Hani fell 303 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 2: to his knees, trembling. Finally, he spoke, to make right, Lord, nay, 304 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: not right, for Yugas of wrongdoing can never be made right. 305 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 2: But grant me the strength to do what I must, 306 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 2: to make what reparation I can. And if I do, 307 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: what of you that is also no longer part of 308 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 2: this story? My lord? An Aknos smiled a smile very 309 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 2: different from the one Hani had grown accustomed to ceiling. 310 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 2: It was warm, gentle, and the very sight of it 311 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 2: sent new strength flooding through his limbs. Now you have 312 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 2: passed the final trial, So be it. I grant your boon, 313 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 2: little wind God. Now do what Raka asks you to 314 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 2: fly to him, My Lord, for too long has the 315 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 2: balance been waited on one side alone? Heaven will not 316 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 2: cease to be heaven if there is no Raka. It 317 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 2: is merely Raka who will cease to be Raka without Heaven. 318 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 2: So it shall be you shall return home to Paradise. 319 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 2: But you will not return alone. Let it guide you 320 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 2: and fly you back over the fallen walls of Paradise, 321 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 2: so that you may plant it hilt deep in the 322 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,199 Speaker 2: chest of Raka and give him the destruction he so 323 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 2: deeply craves. And without him and his vision of heaven, 324 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: perhaps they'll be a better one. Rise Hani, instrument of 325 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 2: my will, and hold out your hand. Hani obeyed, saw 326 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:42,120 Speaker 2: the trident falling into his outstretched hand. He felt it pulse, 327 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 2: power coursing through him, power as he had never imagined, 328 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 2: enclosing them both in a shimmering white glow in the 329 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 2: last hour of heaven. Hani, servant of Aknos, breaker of 330 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: the Balance, sword up into the sky trishol in hand. 331 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 2: Although we no longer knew which was him and which 332 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 2: was the tree show they were one, an incandescent, white 333 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 2: hot ray of will, racing towards paradise and the heart 334 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 2: of a king until the last moment of heaven. The 335 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 2: great god Raka, waiting for the end, never saw it coming. 336 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 2: But the end of the story came just now, because 337 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 2: the story is now over. So I really like this story, 338 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 2: and I like it more each time I read it, 339 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 2: partly because I understand it a little bit more each 340 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 2: time I read it because it's not a mythology that 341 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 2: I was previously familiar with. But I asked Shiv what 342 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 2: he wanted to say about it to you all, and 343 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 2: this is what Schiff told me. The story is a 344 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 2: sort of interrogation of mythology as well as an exploration 345 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 2: of how it changes with shifts in perspective. To that end, 346 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 2: it takes two well known stories about two separate avatars 347 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 2: of Vishnu and sort of recontextualizes them and examines what 348 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 2: happens to the foundations of what they say when we 349 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 2: do that, and as a result, it ends up being 350 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 2: a commentary on a fair few things, from the importance 351 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 2: of isolating viewpoint from vantage point to various other sociological 352 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 2: and maybe even psychological aspects of how that plays across 353 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 2: the human condition. But the whys and what's and how's 354 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 2: of those are perhaps best left for a reader to 355 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 2: interpret within their own frameworks, because isn't that the whole 356 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 2: point of telling a story? Okay, and Shiv that makes 357 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 2: a lot of sense to me, But I'm not the writer. 358 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:36,439 Speaker 2: I'm one of the readers, and so I'm gonna offer 359 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: my frameworks and not my own contextualizations, but like my 360 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 2: own thoughts on it, right, because it's a book club, 361 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 2: and that's what we do here at book club is 362 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 2: sometimes I tell you how I think about things, and 363 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 2: oh god, I mean it's so hard to say things 364 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 2: besides just like, well, I like it, but I also 365 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 2: I find it to be just this amazing commentary on 366 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 2: what's happening India right now, where you have this Hindu 367 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 2: nationalism that is almost like beyond Islamophobic, right like it's 368 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 2: basically Nazis. They're really into Hitler, the people who just 369 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,400 Speaker 2: lost a little bit of power compared to what they 370 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 2: have had for the past what eight years or something. 371 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 2: I don't have my notes in front of me, but 372 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 2: you know, it's been a while India's went far right, 373 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 2: and honestly, in general, I think the West would do 374 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 2: well to pay attention to India because two of the 375 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 2: things that are most pressing in our lifetimes is the 376 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 2: rise of nationalism and fascism, right and also climate change, 377 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 2: and probably the place with the highest population density where 378 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 2: those things are hitting really hard right now is India. 379 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 2: And things are real bad. But I really like how 380 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 2: this story takes all this mythology and it turns it 381 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 2: on his head without stopping being mythology. It's not like 382 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 2: ha ha, gods are dumb, fuck you, but instead it's like, hey, 383 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 2: all of these stories, all of these traditions. First of all, 384 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 2: tradition doesn't mean anything except that it's old. What can 385 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 2: they say instead instead of like ha ha, we tricked 386 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 2: those people because we're clever and good and children of 387 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 2: light and everyone else is bad, you know, and we're 388 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 2: like dealing with this thing right now. Obviously I don't 389 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 2: know whether this is what she was thinking about or 390 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 2: not during it, but you know, obviously the sort of 391 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:27,239 Speaker 2: fear of the other and the fear of Islam is 392 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 2: like huge right now in India and hear these stories 393 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,199 Speaker 2: about how actually we could all work together. All you 394 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 2: got to do is like not be a dick and 395 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 2: don't trick people the whole time, but instead, like, together, 396 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 2: we can churn the sea and bring up the nectar 397 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,400 Speaker 2: of divinity and all become gods if we just work together. 398 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 2: And that's pretty cool. I don't know if I need 399 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 2: to be a god personally, but like metaphorically, fuck yeah, 400 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 2: let's work together. And also I like how the recontextualization. 401 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 2: It's just like, well, what if you were was like 402 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 2: literally on the other side of this, you know, what 403 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,639 Speaker 2: if you were on the other team, how would that seem? 404 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 2: So I like this story. And here at the end 405 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,639 Speaker 2: of it, I want to plug a few things. I 406 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:17,640 Speaker 2: want to plug a short story that I haven't read yet. 407 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 2: I basically was like, hey, Shav, what should I plug 408 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 2: at the end of this? And there's a short story 409 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 2: called Batiya Pi b a h Tia like and then 410 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 2: Pi isn't like Private Investigator, And it's in a light 411 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 2: speed magazine and it's kind of a prequel to Shiv's 412 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 2: current work in progress novel, So y'all should check that out. 413 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: I will also also I want to plug that. If 414 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 2: you're listening to this on one of the two podcast feeds, 415 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 2: it's on, and you should check out the other one. 416 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 2: If you're listening to this on It could Happen Here, 417 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 2: you should try listening to Cool People did Cool Stuff. 418 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 2: I tell history stories every week twice a week, Monday 419 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 2: and Wednesdays. Well, it's one story, it split over two 420 00:25:56,359 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 2: parts because it's so good. And then also, if you're 421 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 2: listening to this on Cool People, It's cool Stuff, you 422 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 2: should check out It could Happen Here, which keeps up 423 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 2: with current events. But I obviously really like fiction too, 424 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 2: and you probably do too, unless you listen to this 425 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 2: by accident, in which case, how'd you make it this far? 426 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 2: Proud of you? Good job, buddy, good job. 427 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:28,360 Speaker 1: It could Happen Here as a production of cool Zone Media. 428 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from cool Zone Media, visit our website 429 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: cool zonemedia dot com, or check us out on the 430 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 431 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 1: You can find sources for It Could Happen Here, updated 432 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:43,640 Speaker 1: monthly at cool zonemedia dot com slash sources. Thanks for listening,