The First Book of Samuel - SAREJESS (chrysanthemum read aloud TXT) 📗

fire at the edge of a mangrove swamp. The frogs called loudly in the night air. The subject of religion came up. Samuel sat during all this time listening, sometimes translating between various people and the locals who had joined the caravan. "Lord Buddha said that it is wrong to kill even an insect for all life is sacred” said a follower of the Buddha. Another traveler who was from the hundstany region said “our gods tell us that the cow is a sacred animal and should in no way be hurt". “The path to enlightenment is a simple one” said another of the group, “we are born, live and die only to be reborn to live again many times until we have reached enlightenment so said Lord Buddha."

As Samuel listened it seemed to him that these people had some rather odd beliefs. How could they ever reach a place of enlightenment if they varied in so many of their beliefs?

Retiring to his spot beside the fire, Samuel fell quickly asleep. He slept for some hours, his mind turning over the strange conversation that he had heard that evening, before falling into an even deeper sleep.
He began to dream that he stood on the banks of the Yellow River and before him stood a temple into which he walked. Sitting under a tree in the garden of the temple was the living Lord Buddha who appeared to be in deep meditation.

Softly he approached the demi-god. “Stop” said the voice of the Buddha. Standing still, Samuel beheld a faint green light surrounding the head of Buddha. “You are the fly killer and accursed are you not?” asked the Buddha, in a not unkind voice.

“I did not mean to kill the fly, it was an irritating little beast” said Samuel. “All life is sacred” said the Buddha. “I know” said Samuel, “I have heard this often." "So you seek the answer to your problems from me stranger" said the living image of Buddha. "I can only tell you of the quest to the emperor Wu, but of your curse I do not have the power to lift it nor to change it. “It is an ancient and eternal curse placed upon you for your own wrongdoing" said the image of Buddha. They sat a while, the image of Buddha and the accursed Jew who was bound to wander the earth until redemption was found.

"What will happen at the court of the wise emperor Wu?” Samuel asked eventually. "Do you want the truth or a happy story?” said the Buddha. "I want the truth” said Samuel.

“You will be heard. Your request will be granted after many hindrances but their will be a heavy price to pay” said the Buddha. “Will my people be happy with the remission of the missive?" asked Samuel. “Yes, for a time they will be happy but as time goes by, the burden placed upon them by this remission will begin to tell and there will be no one in China more unhappy than you. You will feel you have failed them and will leave China but their contribution to China will be felt for many, many years” said the Buddha. “And the curse, can you offer no answer or clue to me?” asked Samuel. "No, Accursed One, that is some thing you will have to work out for yourself, but in China you will not find that answer. But hearken, the dawn grows near and I must away from this place" said the image of the living Lord Buddha. "However know this Samuel Ben Ezra the contribution that your small group will bring to China and the Chinese people will be of enduring worth." Thus saying the Buddha faded from sight and the temple was no more. The last image in the mind of Samuel as he once more awoke in the predawn light was of the endless Yellow River, next to the mangrove swamp.
221AD Samuel meets the Emperor Wu
It had taken many weeks for Samuel to reach the capital but he had finally reached it. He, like any other visitor who had never seen the jeweled city of China was amazed at the beauty, which surrounded him. The city was laid out on a broad plain with forests on the rising hills, which surround the plan. The great lake upon which the city was built reflected the sunlight from its depths. The city itself was laid out in a well ordered way with streets running north to south and east to west. Of a great market square there was no sign, although there were many lesser markets and it was at the edge of one of these markets that Samuel found a place to stay.

Then began one of the longest times of frustration for Samuel; for to gain access to the court of the emperor one had to request an interview with one of the minor officials in the great court. The great wooden palace, which dominated the East Side of the city with thousands of people flooding through the streets at all times of the day. Samuel found himself repeatedly making his way to the gatehouse of the palace to inquire if there was yet any word of his request and permission to see the emperor. Always the scribe would cross to the great roll upon which the names of those destined to see the court officials were inscribed. Upon always he would return and shake his head, his cheerful face displaying a perverse pleasure at the failure of the strange foreigner to achieve his request. This was to continue for more then six months before any headway was made. One day when he again appeared at the gate house the cleric made the regular trip to scrutinize the roll of parchment and this time he returned and said, "You pay now three pennies for the stamp duty". Samuel for a moment did not understand what this minor official was saying. Finally when the man grew angry Samuel realized and hurriedly took from his purse the required coins. "You wait here" said the man pointing at a bench where a number of other people waited their turn. “Now we are getting some where” thought Samuel, as he began to think what he would say to convince the emperor to change the order demanding the Jews virgins for the teahouses. The day grew longer; occasionally one of the men waiting to see the emperor would be called away, but seldom returned via the gatehouse. It was a long day and Samuel grew hungry. He had been there since early morning. He waited in the oppressive heat as the sun climbed to its zenith then began making its journey to the end of day. Still the line of men seemed to grow no shorter. As night fell a number of guards closed the gates of the palace. Lights were brought and placed about the gate house. Men began bedding down for the night. It looked like it would be a long night and a hungry one for Samuel. Shortly before nine in the evening a cook brought round to the gatehouse a large pot of noodles which were dished out to all that were there. Samuel gave thanks to JHWH for this small mercy. Thus he found himself spending the night within the sacred precincts of the Forbidden palace of China. Falling asleep a short while later, Samuel slept until he was rudely shaken awake by one of the men. It was very early in the morning. It must have been just after four AM when he was summoned. Following a foot man he was first searched for weapons by the guard. He was then taken to a chamber where a number of court officials stood round where he would stay until he was admitted to the presence of the emperor. While Samuel waited, a court official came closer and began to instruct him on the etiquette of the court. He was told that when he entered the empirical presence he was to bow low and advance on his knees. When told to stop, he would place his head on the ground and remain thus prostrated until such time as told to continue. He was also instructed on how he was to address the imperial presence. He was not to speak first, he was to wait for the imperial presence to address him. He was to raise his head and speak but he was on no account to rise to his feet. Samuel nodded to all these instructions. Then the court official said "that will cost you 10 pieces of silver" as he held out his hand. Samuel, having become accustomed to the methods of bribery in the court, handed over the coins.

"Samuel the foreigner" came the call after seven hours, which had past quite quickly having spent this time viewing the people around him. He was amazed to see the wonder of the paintings and tapestries upon the walls. They were of the finest silks and it was obvious that much care had been taking in the making of these items. On some of the walls there were paintings of the Emperor and his ancestors of glorious memory.

Approaching the inner chamber, Samuel fell to his knees and began moving along towards a raised podium. It was good that he had been instructed. For had he not when he stepped across the threshold guards stood ready to strike him down with sharpened spears and to drag him off for the sacred imperial presence was not to be violated by the spilling of blood. Although it had been known for the emperor to become violent and strike some one down who angered him.

"Stop" came a voice upon which Samuel stopped and bowed with his face to the ground and waited 'Well?' said a voice from behind a yellow silk screen.

"Oh great Emperor may you live forever. May your children be as the grains of the sea sands. May your enemies be struck down and may their offspring be decimated. I bring you greetings and praise from your subjects the Jews of qua" said Samuel. “I am glad that you have come” said the voice. Samuel wondered if it was customary for one to speak to the emperor through a silk screen. "What is it that you seek?" asked the voice of the imperial presence. “I would beg most great emperor for a remission of quota on behalf of my fellow Jews" said Samuel, “for great leader we have no problem in submitting our men to service in your armies but our women carry the seed of our race and may not be defiled. Our Lord JHWH has forbidden it." There was a gasp from the assembled courtiers who stood around. Never had any one made so bold a request. “What will you give me in return?” asked the voice of the emperor.
“We will submit to any request. We will double our quota of men to serve in your armies. We will give more rice and silk in exchange" Samuel said. "I see” said the emperor. “I will think on this and give you my answer shortly. Leave me now that I might meditate on this question."

221AD China the emperor
The court messenger handed the silk bag to Samuel then he turned his horse and was gone before Samuel had a chance to thank him. In the distance a gong chimed. Samuel opened the bag and drew out the wooden block on which a message had been carved. Present yourself at the imperial palace as soon as possible, was all it said. Dropping the block back into the bag, he hurried inside and called for the widow woman to ready his bath. The Grey