1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: Cool Zone Media book Club book Club book Club. Hello 2 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: and welcome to the Cool Zone Media book Club, which 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: is your weekly book club that you don't have to 4 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: do the reading for because I do the reading for you. 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:25,159 Speaker 1: I'm Margaret Kiljoy, your host today, and today I have 6 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: a short story I'm really excited about. This is a 7 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: story I was pretty sure I was going to do 8 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: ever since I first took on this here book club. 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: It's a story by an author named Shiv Ramdas. And 10 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: I first read this story a couple of years ago 11 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: because my friend Shiv, who you might have heard on 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: cool People who did cool stuff. He was a reverse guest. 13 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: He told me the story of the Great Gama and 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: you all should go listen to that. But that one's real. 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: This one's fiction. Is there a different U who knows? 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: I mean there's a difference, but you know, reality is mutable. Anyway, 17 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: she was like, Hey, of this story, I think you 18 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: might like it. I wrote a sort of anarchist interrogation 19 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: of Hindu mythology. You want to read it, dear listener. 20 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: The answer was yes, I did want. 21 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: To read it. 22 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: In fact, years later, I want to read it to you. 23 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: But first this isn't an ad transition. It's a bio 24 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: transition in which I now read you Shiv's bio. Shiv 25 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: Ramdas is a multi award nominated author of speculative fiction, 26 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: short stories, and novels. He lives and writes in Seattle, 27 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,639 Speaker 1: Washington with his wife in Three Cats. In twenty twenty, 28 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: he became one of only two Indian writers to ever 29 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: be nominated for a Hugo, a Nebula and an Ignite 30 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: Award in the same year. He also gained Twitter fame 31 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty for live tweeting the saga of his 32 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: brother in law's Rice Mishap. His first novel, Dome Child, 33 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: was India's first mainstream cyberpunk novel. His short fiction has 34 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: appeared in Slate, Strange Horizons, Fireside Fiction, Podcastle and other publications. 35 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: This story, which is called The Three Trials of the Wind, 36 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: has actually only been published previously to this on his Patreon, 37 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: which he has one in case you want more of 38 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: the Patreon only content. And yeah, this is an interrogation 39 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: of Hindu mythology. A lot of the names have been changed, 40 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: but I think to people who understand Hindu mythology better 41 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: than I do, it'll probably be obvious who I'm talking about. 42 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: The Three Trials of the Wind by shiv Ramdas. On 43 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: the last day of heaven, the great god Raka sent 44 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: for his Guru and bade him to prepare for the end. 45 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: Then he shaded his eyes, looking out his window once more, 46 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: all the way to the horizon, the red tinged ocean raged, 47 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: although no longer did it rise through the water. The 48 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: tips of golden roofs peeped out, twisted by the currents, 49 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: yet standing proud against the swell. Far below, under the 50 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: depths lay the broken pillars and scattered stones, all that 51 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: remained of the ivory towers. Overhead, an angry, purple sky loomed, 52 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: the only light coming from a glimmering sea under the 53 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: ghostly glow of a ragged, fading moon. A flash of 54 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: movement caught the corner of Roka's eye, and he turned 55 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: his attention to the countless little dots battling violent, ever 56 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: reddening waves, each one a ship swarming with asaurus. He 57 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: reached for his thunderbolt, which was never far from his side. 58 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: The temptation to strike those distant dots with a few 59 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: blasts from his vadra was both great and easily indulged, 60 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: For Raca never missed it would be the easiest thing 61 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: in all three worlds to blow a few of them 62 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: to atoms, also the most futile, For every ship he saw, 63 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: another thousand from the swarm lurked hidden, and so Raka 64 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: of the Evil Eye instead turned his gaze over the 65 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: Visceraa of Heaven threw the spray from the roaring waves 66 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,679 Speaker 1: crashing down all around him, beyond the rubble and ruin 67 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: of his kingdom, sweeping past in the tide, to the 68 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: farthest edge of the horizon, where blinked the tiniest point 69 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: of light, so faint even he could scarce make it out, 70 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: and he smiled the smile of victory. On the seventh 71 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: to last day of Heaven, Hani lowered of the wind, 72 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: alighted at the foot of Pahadra. There it stood greatest 73 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: peak in creation, the mountain between worlds, the holy abode 74 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: of Acnos himself. Hani looked up at the rocky expanse, 75 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: and it was as Acnos's brow frowning back down at him, 76 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: craggy and forbidding, hard and black, rising all the way 77 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 1: into the clouds, where the greater part of it lay hidden. 78 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: A single, narrow worn path curled its silvery way around 79 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: the mass of expanse a worm clinging to an elephant's toe. 80 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: Honey paid it no heed, for he intended to fly 81 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: straight up to the summit. You'll want to take the path, 82 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: Honey whirled around to find her jogging on the spot, 83 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: a middle aged woman in wrap around sunglasses, hair tied 84 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: in a topknot, wearing a tiger print track suit and 85 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: red sneakers. Holding a bottle of water. She smiled a 86 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: broad and brilliant flash of white, quite unblemished by the 87 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 1: fact that she was missing a tooth. Unless you've got 88 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: lots of time and nothing to do, of course, I 89 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 1: suppose gods have more time than most. Honey raised an eyebrow. 90 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 2: Who might you be? 91 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: The woman sighed, Why don't I ever get the bright ones? No, 92 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: don't answer that. It's a trick question. The bright ones 93 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: don't come here now. I'll be honest, I do somewhat 94 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: resent the fact that I had to interrupt my breathing 95 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: exercises and run to you with my chakras still all 96 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: tangled up. So let's just pretend you're bright enough to 97 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: take what you're getting for free, even if it is 98 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: just advice. Lord Hani, here's what all the pilgrims are 99 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: supposed to know. Three things. Count them if you don't 100 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: believe me. First, if you intend to go to Acnose, 101 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: and of course you do. But what you see there 102 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: is the path of three trials. Long story short, Take 103 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: the path. Want to hear the official version. It's all 104 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: grand and wordy about how the path to Aknos has 105 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 1: opened all who would brave the three trials? Blah blah 106 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: que drum roll. But I'm you get it, I'm sure. Second, 107 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: and this one's my favorite. Once you take the path, 108 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: you will not be irked by beast, or weather or foe. 109 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: It's supposed to just be the trials between you and 110 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: your goal. 111 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: See what's that? 112 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: Got something to say? Only that I get this one too, 113 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 1: answered Hanni. She grinned again. See that's why it's my favorite. 114 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 1: Nobody ever argues with that one. Mortals, gods, asuras. Everyone 115 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: likes hearing nice things. Anyway, Where were we? 116 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 2: Ah? 117 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,559 Speaker 1: Yes, the third This isn't really one of the official ones. 118 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: I just added it on so that there'd be three 119 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: trials and three rules, and it's all a lot more symmetrical. 120 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: It's the one where I tell you that you won't 121 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: succeed and you should go back now. No shame in 122 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: not being the first. Just a thought, said honey. If 123 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: indeed you give all this advice to everyone and nobody 124 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: ever succeeds, isn't that a good reason to not listen 125 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: to you and just fly straight up? 126 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: Good? 127 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: You're trying to be bright, replied the woman, nodding approvingly. 128 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: Although I'd have thought that someone who's actually in the 129 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: scriptures would know them. Forgotten what happened when Mytar and 130 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: Oton had their bet to see who could find the 131 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: beginning or the end of Acnos. First, Oton flew up 132 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: into the sky for an eternity before realizing he could 133 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: never get there. No, if you want to find Acnos, 134 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: you must approach him as any mortal would. Didn't you 135 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: say you'd understood the rules? Certainly, I remember the scriptures, 136 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: replied Hani. And the story you speak of told of 137 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: a pillar of fire, not Mount Pahata. The woman waved 138 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: her hand, fiery pillar, black mountain. What's the difference. It's 139 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: all Acnos, and there's nothing in the scriptures about approaching 140 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: Aknos as a mortal would She sniffed, Well, not everything 141 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: is in the scriptures, Lord Hani. For instance, there's nothing 142 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: in them about your contrarian personality either. If that's how 143 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 1: you're going to be, I'll merely say good luck to 144 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: you in happy travels, whichever direction you choose. One moment, 145 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: said Hani, holding up a hand before you go. Is 146 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: there anything you can tell me about these trials? Anything 147 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: that will help? It's vital that I reached Aknos immediately. 148 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: You think you're the first to come here. No, I look, 149 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,199 Speaker 1: I don't care why you came. That's not my job. 150 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: Everyone's got problems, Lord Hani. That's why they come here. 151 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: That's why we have a system. And the system is 152 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: I give you the rules, and you take the path. 153 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: If you have an issue, I suggest you take it 154 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: up at the top. There was a terrible silence, during 155 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: which even Hani knew not whether he would respond with 156 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: passion or patience. For the wind blows gales both hot 157 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: and cold. But in the end calm prevailed and he 158 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: satisfied himself with a formal bow and a frosty manner. 159 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for your advice, he said. She looked at him. 160 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: You know you took that better than most. You're not 161 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: a bad sort. 162 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 2: Really, I like you. 163 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: I'm sorry you only had two temples. I appreciate the thought, 164 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: said Hani. But now I must go, for I have 165 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: no time to lose, and the sun has long since risen. 166 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: Hani set off on the narrow, winding path to the summit. 167 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: At first he tried flying, but in vain there was 168 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: some force preventing him from taking to the air. Whatever 169 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: it was, it was evident only on the path itself, 170 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: or Hani found he could fly alongside it quite comfortably. 171 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: It was only when he attempted to cross over it 172 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: to avoid a particularly nasty outcropping of rock, and found 173 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,599 Speaker 1: himself unable to re enter the trail's narrow confines that 174 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: he realized what had happened that he would have to 175 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: go back to the beginning and start again on foot. 176 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: This time, so he descended, wondering if she would still 177 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: be there. Sure enough, she was flashing her gap toothed 178 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: grin at him from a distance. You can't cheat, aknos, lord, Hani, 179 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: she called out, one foot in front of the other. 180 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: That's how you do it, Honey, ignored her, concentrating on 181 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: making up for lost time by running up the path 182 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: as swiftly as he could, which was very swift. Indeed, 183 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: that the lord of the wind had given up his 184 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: power of flight, but little else. Onward and upward he sped, 185 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,319 Speaker 1: light of foot, but heavy of heart. In his mind 186 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: he relived it again what had transpired when a god 187 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: had been asked the unthinkable by king. My Lord, I 188 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: cannot do this. You can, and it must be you, 189 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: for no other would reach him in time. I cannot 190 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: ask this Acanus would smite me ere I finished speaking, nay, 191 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: for he has promised you a boon and will not 192 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: break his word. But even if true, you have sworn 193 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: obedience unto death to your king. And this is what 194 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: I command. But my King, what you command me to 195 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: ask of him is the nritya. This is wrong. Rakus 196 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: stood tall, and the thunderclouds gathered and darkened on his brow. 197 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 1: More wrong than your refusal to stop the darkness, than 198 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: seeing Paradise overrun by the invaders and their children, then 199 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: standing against your own kind in order to aid the usurpers. 200 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: Is this your honor? And Dharma? And Hani felt his 201 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 1: will weaken under Raka's relentless gaze. For the wind may 202 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: sometimes scatter the clouds but they always return, bringing with 203 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: them ever more of the storm. He bowed his head. 204 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: I do as you bid, my King. Then the vision 205 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 1: was gone, and Hani, messenger of Racca, was still running 206 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: up the path to the summit of Bahada, faster, higher, 207 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: until he had long since ceased to be able to 208 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: see the ground, billowing clouds forming a thick, soupy fog 209 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: everywhere but the path he was on, the unmistakable smell 210 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: of green meeting water all around, and the bidding that 211 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: I have to do to my king. King. Capitalism is 212 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: interrupt stories with ad transitions like this one. 213 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 2: And we're back. 214 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 1: On the last day of heaven. Raka, lord of Paradise, 215 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: still stood motionless at his window. There was a footstep 216 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: at the threshold and swept into the royal bedchamber, pulling 217 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: fast the curtains of solitude behind him, and the war 218 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: drums finally fell silent, although the stench of burning flesh 219 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: and dead hope still lingered. Raka turned palms folded garadev. 220 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: He said, Thatha raised his hand in the customary blessing 221 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: tathas do my king, at last you send for me. 222 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: I've been trying to speak with you for days It's 223 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,679 Speaker 1: finally time, Gurudev. There was a heavy silence, and then 224 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: Raka turned a look out of the window again. Atha 225 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 1: came to stand beside him. Outside, the waves were even 226 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: larger than before, crashing down ever more furiously. Lord Jalastoe 227 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 1: fights bravely, said Thotha. Even the ocean has its limits, 228 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: said Raka, And there are too many of them. Fatha squinted. 229 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: It's so very dark I can hardly make out anything. 230 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: And it'll grow darker still. Sojon fell yesterday. The sun 231 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: shall not rise again. Soon the blackness will cover Paradise. 232 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: How did it come to this? What of the other gods? 233 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: What of them? You've been shut away offering prayers for 234 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: our victory for too long? Growuedeve. Paradise will fall, probably 235 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: within hours. Where is my tar? It is the Preserver's 236 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: duty to intervene when the balance is threatened and aid 237 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: the forces of light. You must send for him at once. 238 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: Do you think I don't know that? When the tide 239 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: first began to turn in this war, I immediately sent 240 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: word to him. Nobody can find him. We've searched all 241 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: three worlds again and again. In vain Tatha's shoulders drooped 242 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: His voice was a hoarse whisper. 243 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 2: So it's over. 244 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: I won't permit darkness to prevail, no matter the cost. 245 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: Listen to me, Raka, as your guru and adviser. My 246 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: duty is always to speak my truth to you, and 247 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: my advice is that you should sue for peace with 248 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: the Assurus. And never Raka had drawn himself up very straight. 249 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: The lightning flashed in his eyes. You ask the impossible. 250 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: This clash of civilizations began too many yugas ago, and 251 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: too much blood has been spilled. It was the Assurus 252 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: who broke our treaty, not I. It was they who 253 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: turned on us after the churning. Forget your ideas of 254 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: surrender and compromise. None of it will happen, not while 255 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: I am king. Do you really think that I would 256 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: see paradise to face with their grotesque domes and twisted minarets. No, 257 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: now we must no longer look to Otan, but to Aknos. Aknos. 258 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: You say, Paradise is but ours left, and Bahada lies 259 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: at the far edge of creation. Even Hani would take 260 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: weeks he stopped. When did you send him? Maybe just 261 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: in time? Have faith in Hani? I do faith? Is 262 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: it the best we can do. Faith is what makes 263 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: gods of us all guradeve. There was a long, cold 264 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: silence in the bedchamber. Together they stared out of the 265 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: window outside. The ocean had gone completely still, nary a 266 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: ripple on the deep Crimson crimson water. Lord Jalla has fallen, 267 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: said Thafa. In a way, it no longer matters. It's 268 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: all up to Hani. Now you really think we can 269 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: depend on Acnos. There is none more capricious than the destroyer. 270 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: He he broke off, his eyes wide the Nritya, He 271 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: whispered exactly. Hani will not ask Aknos to intervene. Instead, 272 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: he will ask the destroyer for a boon. He cannot 273 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: refuse to perform his own dharma, to break his meditation, 274 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: to do his dance of destruction and end creation now, 275 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: before the forces of darkness ever taste victory from the 276 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: ashes of this universe, Otan will breathe life into another 277 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: and perhaps the Raca, and that creation will succeed at 278 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: quelling the Assaurus once in all. Fatha shook his head rapidly. 279 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: No Rakkan, no destroy all that is and will be extinguished, 280 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: all of creation before it's time. What has come over you? 281 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 1: You cannot but I have Hani agreed to this madness. 282 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: His agreement is unnecessary. I am his king, obeying me 283 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 1: as his dharma. He walks the path I charged him to. 284 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: If this is the path you have chosen, we have 285 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 1: already lost it is Make your peace with it, Gurudave, 286 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: there is no peace in what you ask, only damnation. 287 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 1: May oton grant as salvation. Don't waste time praying to Otan. 288 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:47,120 Speaker 1: Gurudave answered, Raka, pray instead for Hani. He turned back 289 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: to the window. If there's salvation to be had, it 290 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: shall come to us on the wind. On the sixths, 291 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: the last day of heaven, Hani of the Terrible Purpose, 292 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: was now walking and beginning to despair that he'd ever 293 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:07,239 Speaker 1: got anywhere. Hundreds of yojanas he had traveled, and it 294 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: was somehow always the same, narrow and winding, criss crossed 295 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 1: by rivulets, although the stones underfoot held firm and true. 296 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: It was not hard going or even easy going. It 297 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: was just going on and on, one step after another, 298 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 1: each one heavier than the last, with the burden of 299 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: what would happen if he failed or succeeded. He was 300 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: finally beginning to tire when he turned yet another bend 301 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 1: and came to get another stream across the path. Honey 302 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: knelt down and drank, splashing the cold, clear water on 303 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: his face, looking into the stream as the droplets splashed 304 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: back down, forming ripples and tides of their own before 305 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: slowly fading away. But the face that looked back at 306 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: him from the stream was no longer his. It was 307 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: dark and fierce, with a large, bristling mustache, the face 308 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: of an asura. Honey reached up to touch his face 309 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: that wasn't and recoiled as he realized that neither was. 310 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: The hand broad and hairy, with thick fingers wearing gold rings. 311 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: Hani leaped to his feet, and that was when he 312 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: realized he was no longer on the path. It was 313 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: in a huge, richly bedecked hall with tapestries and weapons 314 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: on the walls. It was a place he had never 315 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: seen before, resplendent in gold and deep burgundy. The roof 316 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: was gold too, and at his feet ran the stream, 317 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 1: one of many that laced the engraved floor, sending wafts 318 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: of coolness into the humid air. Hani noticed that he 319 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: wasn't alone. Indeed, the hall was filled with people, and 320 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: they all looked like him, dressed in fine clothes adorned 321 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: with flowers and jewels alike. And they were all looking 322 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: straight ahead to the massive gold throne at the front 323 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: of the hall, and the richly dressed king on it. 324 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: And before the throne stood another man, traveler or tramp. 325 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 1: It was hard to say. His clothes had once been fine, 326 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 1: but were now more tatter than cloth. The king spoke, well, Malla, 327 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: what say you shall we accept this treaty? A woman 328 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: stepped forward, a tall asura with long, thick hair adorned 329 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: with white jasmines. My lord, I've heard whispers among the 330 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: court that say we should imprison these visitors who enter 331 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: our borders uninvited. I say that this is an unworthy response. 332 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: The Uponas have traveled far to come to our land. 333 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: At the very least, we should receive them with the 334 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: courtesy do visitors, and even help them if we can. 335 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 1: If what Raca says is indeed true, that the Preserver 336 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: himself has agreed to aid us in this quest, it 337 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: certainly merits careful consideration. And Hani looked again, and the 338 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: beggar was indeed Raca, a younger frailer Raca, but unmistakably him. 339 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: Every word is true, said Raca. Otan himself suggested it. 340 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 1: At the bottom of the cosmic ocean of milk lies Rasa, 341 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: the nectar of divinity, And the only way any of 342 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: us will ever taste any is if we work together. Nay, 343 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 1: said the other Asura. Even if we work together, how 344 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: could we find the Rasa and the ocean of milk? 345 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: There is no power in any of the three worlds 346 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: that could possibly scour its depths by churning the ocean 347 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: until Rossuf rises to the surface. A ripple of laughter 348 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: ran through the hall. Where would you find the churning 349 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: rod for such a task, Which is why we this 350 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: show are sponsored by big churning rod. Get your churning 351 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 1: rod today or all your churning. 352 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:44,120 Speaker 2: Needs, and we're back. 353 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 1: Lord Oton has thought of this Mount Blenna shall be 354 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: our churning rod. And where do we get a churning 355 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: rope large enough to girdle the mountain? At Oton's request, Erius, 356 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: the celestial serpent has agreed to be our churn rope. Nonsense. 357 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: The mountain will just sink like a stone in a 358 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:08,640 Speaker 1: pond if it does. Lord Otan has vowed to take 359 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: the avatar of Kurma, the tortoise and place the mountain 360 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: on his back, so we can keep churning until we 361 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: have the rasa and the nectar. We share half for 362 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: the upon Us, half for the Asuras, restoring equality to 363 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: both our peoples and ensuring this alliance prevails till the 364 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 1: end of time. You certainly seem to have all the answers, Raka, 365 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: said the king, What say you la her Teku? And 366 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: Hani realized they were all looking at him, and he 367 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 1: stood in silence, for he knew the scriptures, and so 368 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: he knew what would happen. There would be no rasa 369 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 1: for the Asuras. 370 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:42,360 Speaker 2: And yet what. 371 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: Could all of this be but a test of his honor, 372 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,239 Speaker 1: for he was Hani, not Lahr Taku, and surely the 373 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: path to ask Aknos a boon for his king lay 374 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 1: and not betraying that king. And so he assented in 375 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: a voice to match his new body, heavy and rumbling. 376 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: My adviser agree, said the king, as do I very well, Raka, 377 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 1: you will have your alliance. I do have one request, Maharaj, 378 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: since it is us upon Us who brought this proposition 379 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: to you, we only ask that we be allowed to 380 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: choose which end of the celestial serpent we shall churn 381 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: with and we ask that we get to hold it 382 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 1: by the tail while the assurus take the head. I 383 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: agree to your terms, said the king, and together we'll 384 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 1: churn the ocean. A cheer went up, and by the 385 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: time it ceased, Hani found Raka standing before him. Thank 386 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: you for your assistance, said Raka, extending his hand. I 387 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: look forward to this alliance between our people. Hani clasped 388 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: the hand with both of his and then realized it 389 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,879 Speaker 1: was no longer a hand, but a thick, green, black scale, 390 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 1: one of the quadrillions, all along, a gargantuan serpent that 391 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:56,199 Speaker 1: stretched all the way across all there was. He stood 392 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,399 Speaker 1: under the open, starless black sky, stripped to the waist, 393 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: the taste of sweat in his mouth, heaving and yanking 394 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: at the scale, thousands of other asuras around him, all 395 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: striving to do the same thing. He heard a squelching 396 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: underfoot and looked down. He was knee deep in white, 397 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: sweet smelling liquid milk. He felt his muscles ripping and 398 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,479 Speaker 1: burning as a loud voice shouted at him to pull harder. 399 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 1: Then the air was filled with a thick green mist 400 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: that reached out with malevolent fingers, wafting up his nose 401 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: and throat, and he was sputtering, choking, fighting for air 402 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: as tears streamed down his cheeks into the milk below. 403 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,680 Speaker 1: Through bleary vision, he could see the other assurus coughing too. 404 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: Several had fallen overcome by fumes. Break time next shift 405 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: up roared the voice, and a young assor ran in 406 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: to grab the scale Hani was pulling at, already beginning 407 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: to cough. Hani somehow made his way out of the 408 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:00,160 Speaker 1: noxious green air and fell to the ground stole, coughing. 409 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 1: Someone clapped him on the shoulder and he looked up 410 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: as best he could at another asura. Almost there. He grinned, 411 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: wiping his own eyes, first the poison, then the rasa. 412 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: A third asura came up, tears streaming down his cheeks. 413 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: Where is the stuff coming from? Erius answered the other. 414 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:25,439 Speaker 1: The poison streams into him as we churn the ocean, 415 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:29,199 Speaker 1: and he breathes it out. Meanwhile, the Apanas have the 416 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: tail and no trouble at all. Why our king agreed 417 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: to this? I have no idea. What's done is done. 418 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: Focus on what we can achieve together instead. Hani listened 419 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 1: to this exchange, still feeling light headed. Should he tell 420 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 1: them the truth. No, why should he Hani work against 421 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,640 Speaker 1: his own people? Although in truth, the longer he spent 422 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: in this body, the less he felt like Hani or 423 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: anything he recognized as though he was, but he wasn't. 424 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,159 Speaker 1: That everyone looked at him, but none saw him. It's 425 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: here a great shout went up, followed by an even 426 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: louder cheer. The next moment, Raka stood near by, holding 427 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: aloft large golden pot as one. They all crowded around him, 428 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: eager hands reaching out all but Hani lahr Teku, who, 429 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:20,199 Speaker 1: knowing what came next, stood far back. And as it 430 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: was written, so did it happen. The Apanas drank their share, 431 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 1: and no sooner was it time for the asaurus to 432 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: have theirs than Otan changed form. And there stood Mohini, 433 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: deity of distraction, casting her spell of diversion, whispering in 434 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: the ear of every asir at, once sowing her seas 435 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:42,719 Speaker 1: of suspicion and anger. As the asor a host turned 436 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: on itself in blood lust. As the Apanas drank everyone's share, 437 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: Hani Lahurteku stood there, shielding his ears and his mind, 438 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,679 Speaker 1: refusing to listen to the sweet voice calling him to arms. 439 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: With hands clapped to his ears and jaw clenched. He 440 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: looked at the apanas there was EMUs drinking his fill, 441 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,639 Speaker 1: and there was Ashi laughing happily, her mouth stained with nectar. 442 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: One and all. The only one Hani could not see 443 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,719 Speaker 1: was himself, and his memories, growing ever more confused, yielded 444 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: him nothing. Had he in fact been there, or had 445 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: he drunk of the rasa later, his mind was silent 446 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: upon the point, as are the scriptures to this very day. 447 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 1: A growing unease clasped at Hani laher teku, the cold 448 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 1: touch of dread creeping up his spine. Could it be 449 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 1: that the reason he could not see himself among his 450 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:39,639 Speaker 1: brethren was that he was trapped here in the Assura body. 451 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: Was this to be his fate? Lost and forgotten, never 452 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: to attain the divinity, never to fly again. He looked 453 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: again at his fellow upon us, and in their pleasure, 454 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: he took no solace as they sat there, now glowing 455 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: with celestial power, the golden pot lying unbidden in the 456 00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: milky swell, a last few drops still kissing its surface. 457 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: Without thinking, he moved, pounding forward on thick muscular legs, 458 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 1: closer He was almost there. Then his foot caught in 459 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: something and over. He splashed, landing next to the golden 460 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 1: pot as he watched a drop of nectar weld on 461 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 1: its lip, repairing to obey gravity's bidding. Reaching out, he 462 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: caught it, bringing up his hand to his mouth. He 463 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: felt it touch his tongue, surely the sweetest, most delightful 464 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: taste in all the cosmos, light and airy, with a 465 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: hint of eternity about it. As he swallowed, he felt 466 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 1: a terrible blow to the knee, pain such as he 467 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 1: had never felt before. The akward fumes of flame filled 468 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: his nostrils. Hani collapsed, leg buckling uselessly and on fire. 469 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: Before him stood Raka Vodra, raised and pointing at him. 470 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: Now Otan shouted Raka, and from the corner of his eye, 471 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: Hani caught the most fleeting glimpse of whirling gold and 472 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,479 Speaker 1: then struck him on the neck. Otin's discus with all 473 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 1: its awesome force. For the second time in just a 474 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: few moments. He felt the most intense agony he'd ever experienced. 475 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: Not even Raca's thunderbolt had cut like this, cleaving bone 476 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 1: from body, ripping flesh from frame, and all he could 477 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: do was scream, scream, as loudly as he could in 478 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: that low rumbling voice, as his newly divine head was 479 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 1: severed from his body, just as the scriptures told, now 480 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: immortal Laher from lifeless Teku. He landed with another loud splash, 481 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 1: watching what had been his body thrash around, turning the 482 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 1: milk of the ocean a pale rose pink. The salty, 483 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: sweet milk pulled him under, filling his mouth, nose, eyes, everything, 484 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 1: And still he screamed to any who would listen, that 485 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: he had been cheated of his godhood, that it was 486 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 1: all a mistake, that it was not he whom they 487 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: should strike, that there was rasa enough for everyone. Then 488 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 1: the milk was gone, and he lay screaming into the 489 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: stream on the path, and the face that screamed back 490 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: from the water was his once more. And that's the 491 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 1: end of part one. When we come back with part two, 492 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 1: we will continue with the Trials of the Wind by 493 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 1: shiv Ramdas it. 494 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 2: Could happen here as a production of cool Zone Media. 495 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 2: For more podcasts from cool Zone Media, visit our website 496 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 2: coolzonemedia dot com, or check us out on the iHeartRadio app, 497 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts you can 498 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 2: find sources for It could happen here. 499 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 1: Updated monthly at coolzonemedia dot com slash sources. Thanks for listening,