The Hero's Conundrum/Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

- The Monk’s Alternative -

“Don’t play games with me Bansao”

“What are you talking about? I am a monk of the church.”

“Ok I’ll bite. . .talk.”

I started crying. I remembered again the massacre of my people and with tears in my eyes I told him;

“I don’t know who Bansao is, I’m Job, a monk, my village was destroyed and everyone I know died. I have been hiding anytime I hear footsteps, I eat what I can when I can.” They looked at each other in disbelief, and Joseph asked me;

“What were you doing behind those bushes covered in blood?”

“I was hiding when I felt someone hit me in the head then I woke up here.”

“Good show Bansao, but I’m not stupid. Put him in the cell”.

“I am not Bansao, that’s not my name, what is happening?”

They dint listen and they put me in a cell, I started praying, this must be happening for a purpose, God must have something planned for me. But why did he let my people die and let me live? I am in no position to question God. I have been here a week, no one talks to me but they are feeding me three times a day. Today Joseph came to my cell and started asking me questions;

“I’ll start by saying that you look exactly like our biggest enemy, Bansao. But this week we have been observing you and we may have been mistaken. Either that or you are making one hell of a show. Either way we will keep you here for a while with a limited freedom and constant observation.”

“I assure you that I am not that man, but I gladly accept your terms.”

“You’ll be staying here but with the door open for now and if you want, you can go to that house over there. That’s where we perform religious services, I turned it into a church.”

“Thanks”

My purpose now is with this people, I was given another chance to prove my faith in God. The people here are nice, it has been a year now that I have been here and now I live in the house were we perform the service. Joseph now trust me completely and we even joke on how he thought I was his enemy we are very good friends. I served the camp well and now I am in charge of receiving everyone that wants to enter our camp, be allies or enemies. I started taking care of the church, the elders everyone was very helpful. The only thing bothering me is that I can’t sleep much, every time I close my eyes I start dreaming about the war between heaven and hell, and in the dream, I am Lucifer. I feel unclean after those dreams, but at the same time I feel like I was really him. I do as much as I can to help people, is what I want. As I walk around the camp I see a group of people with guns with intentions to attack. All men here are in defensive positions and I know my job is to receive them but I’m afraid.

I can’t be afraid I’m a man of God, they should be afraid of him. I went to the gate as the enemy prepare to attack, I took my hood off and shouted “In the name of GOD leave at once” there was a sudden silence and when the enemy looked at me, they turned around. My faith was tested and I passed, everyone is applauding, and as much as I want the glory, it is not mine, so I must stay humble. I told them it was not me, it was God, who did it and Joseph looked at me and smiled. I went back to the church and the Joseph followed me:

“Job you really did a great job today. You single handedly prevented and attack on our village.”

“Thanks Joseph, but it was not me, I don’t have that kind of power I’m just an instrument of God and He is the one you should thank. Not me.”

“Well than thank God and your faith, you know that you are my friend and we are closer than I ever expected to be with you. If there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thanks, now that you mentioned it, the ceiling in the church is pretty bad and is leaking everywhere.”

“Say no more, before the end of the day, that ceiling will be repaired.”

“Thanks”

“Anytime”

He left and now I understand why my people died, God didn’t let it happen, is was me, I didn’t have faith then, that’s why I dream of being Lucifer, I’m being punished.

Another year has passed and with the help of God, every time I confront someone who is trying to attack us, I take off my hood, showing them that I’m not afraid, and exhort them to leave in the name of God, they all get scared and leave. God have made peace possible here without violence, using me as his instrument of peace. I teach the Bible at the camp but not many come, they are more interested in me keeping them safe than in God. With the power of God I have scared away countless enemies, and helped the camp grow receiving allies from other invaded camps.

This year got me upset, I’m trying to plan a festival but is really hard when there are thirteen full mons in the year. Everything is wrong, this is bad luck. Joseph came to me and asked what happened and I explained him about the thirteen full moons.

“Don’t worry Job, it will be just fine.”

“I don’t know, everything is going wrong, I’m telling you, this thirteen full moons thing is bad luck.”

“But you are a man of God, shouldn’t your faith be stronger than luck?”

“You know? You are absolutely right, everything will go according to God’s plan. Thanks Joseph”

Joseph and I are very good friends, he is always there for me, I continued with the preparations for the festival thanks to Joseph’s motivation, it will be fine. The next day a man came to the camp and when I was going to receive him, but Joseph told me;

“Is ok Job, I will take care of him, please stay away this time, I’ll explain later.”

“Ok no problem, but if you need anything just call”

“Ok”

They walked around and talked for a while, while I was teaching the children, but he kept looking at me. There is something odd about him, I can’t see him very well but I think I have seen him before. I finished teaching the kids and went to drink some water

I took off my hood and the man came running to me like a lightning and grabbed me by the neck and I can’t break free, he is too strong and too fast. Joseph came running to help me and grabbed the man shoulder, bur the man grabbed Joseph’s hand and twisted his arm. The man asked;

“What is the meaning of this Joseph?” He was really angry, I was trying to breathe and Joseph was in pain.

“Stop Marduk, I’ll explain” That name . . . Marduk . . . I have heard that name before, but where? Joseph’s men started pointing their guns at Marduk, he released Joseph but stayed with me.

“Why do you have Bansao here?” He also thinks I’m Bansao, but Joseph told him;

“I can explain, let him go, I assure you it’s safe” Marduk let me go and I fell on the floor unconscious.

When I regained consciousness, I saw Joseph talking to Marduk about me, Marduk still thinks I’m this Bansao guy and I said;

“Joseph I told you this thirteen full moons thing was bad luck”

Marduk looked at me with anger, then pulled out his knife and stabbed me in the heart, saying.

“I’m sorry Joseph, I can’t allow this and this is for your own good. Let him die on his unlucky full moon.”

As I die, I remember it all, I remember this day perfectly, the day that I as Marduk killed Bansao dressed as a Monk. I am not Job, I really am Bansao my mind was playing a trick on me. It was nice to live this couple of years in peace, it was good while it lasted and I needed it.