24 The Second Day Part 5 (1/2)
When the two reached the marketplace the number of demons following them plateaued. A qualitative change occurred within the group of demons. They began to whisper amongst themselves within the black smog surrounding their hideous bodies.
A voice said, ”Look! Listen! Their conversation.”
”Yes, yes, a conversation,” another said, ”But what will they do, just walk around all day?”
A horde of voices said, ”Yes, walk. Yes, around. Destroy them!”
”We can't. Not now. Ahab's orders,” a voice said.
”Ahab this. Ahab that. We all know He can't really control us.”
”But who else is there to control us until Lord Beelzebub takes control again?”
”Who's to say he hasn't taken full control already?”
”I vote yes!”
”I vote no!”
”I vote maybe so!”
The horde said, ”No, not yet, but soon. But soon, but soon...”
_______
Meanwhile, Leo and Elizabeth returned to Raynark's inn. Elizabeth waved goodbye and left for her house down the road.
Leo watched Elizabeth enter her house. She approached the door with a pitter patter of feet, then opened the door gently and closed it after entering. The house was small, a small clay house with a straw roof. The darkening clouds surprised Leo. He wondered what would happen next to this city. He wondered what would happen to Elizabeth when she grew up... Maybe she would live out her life in poverty as well. 'Most likely,' he thought.
A bitter feeling swelled inside of him, once he realized he was once in a position to help people like her...
Children like her!
'But how could I help people in those circumstances,' he thought, 'The methods... They were wrong!”
So, Leo, with a blaze in his eyes, turned towards Raynark's shop. He wondered what would become of him. 'Surely Solomon has a plan. He wouldn't let Raynark die like that!' But they seemed to be in agreement on something. Leo needed to confirm.
Raynark was leaning over a table. He sat on a chair with his palm on his chin and his elbow on the table. He looked disinterested. He appeared disinterested to Leo. He had a disinterested look.
leo walked slowly, then stopped before Raynark's table, staring at him, unsur of what to say next.
Raynark said with a sigh, ”What do you need?”
”Nothing,” Leo said, but came to say eventually, ”Not nothing. Surely you don't believe Solomon will destroy the city in three days?”
”Why won't he?”
”Because! He's only one man! An old man!”
”...”
”Shouldn't... Shouldn't we we rescue him?”
”Tomorrow.”
”Really!”
”Tomorrow, I'll tell you what Solomon did to this city, and why he must atone for his crimes,” Raynark said, ”Today, I'll tell you a story. You'll listen, and listen, and go to your room once I'm finished. Understand.”
Leo said, ”But-”
”Understand!”
Leo nodded his head.
Raynark began. He talked like he was singing, yet he was speaking words without notes. Leo heard a rythmn to his story, a wistful dance upn what seemed to be ashes to Leo.
”The story is called, 'Dancing in the Ashes.'”
Leo stayed silent, and Raynark began.
”Once upon a time,
there was a young prince.
The God of this world,
the one who cursed the