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“Even your grandfather, my dear Chaplainix, as a proper Celt, knew that there are some threats to our existence,” said chieftain Conquiscadorix to the young field druid, with sorrow in his voice. “He also said that even if pagan fetishes are only pseudophillosophy, when we are on a visit, be it conquering or not, we must respect their traditions. Truth be told, he was one of those who pulled beards of Roman’s Elderly, but there was no danger there.”
Conquiscadorix stopped for a moment and remembered old times when battles were more victorious, conquered towns richer and their women more compliant. He knew why. He was young then.
Everything went right at the start of a current expedition of a Celtic clan to Africa. They passed Hispania, sailed between the Pillars of Hercules, and landed at the base of a mountain. Spacious Sahara was the only thing that stood in their way. And in the distance – Carthage!
But they were stuck here, next to the hunched giant. His existence was a pain for a young priest, who was their connection to Belenos, Taranis, and other honored gods. As every missionary would do, he wanted to convert natives to the right religion. Fake fetishes, infidels, stories of lunatics, nonsenses, and delusions, these words and many others were spewed in choleric rage and found their way to the ears somewhere in the clouds. The giant’s forehead was wrinkled as he thought.
Conquiscadorix, who was worried over the absence of the priest, had the strength only to say one resigned comment.
“If we, for all gods' sake, believe, that Heaven can fall on our head, it is unwise to persuade the man who is obviously physically holding it on his shoulders, that he is only a mere creation of superstitious people. Is it that hard to understand?”
It was not.
But it was too late.
Titan Atlas, once the leader of the defeated army of Kronos in the battle of the throne of Greek gods, now sentenced to support the weight of Heaven, was moved by what Chaplainix said, thus he decided to not believe in himself.
The first thing he did was lay aside his burden on the ground.
© 2016
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"Things just happen. What the hell."
Didaktylos*
* Terry Pratchett. Hogfather
Welcome to my world.
For the longest time I couldn’t think of right name for this place, so I left it without one. Amongst things you can find here are attempts of science fiction and fantasy stories, my collection of gods, bogeymen and monsters and also articles about things that had me interested, be it for a while or for years.
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