![\"\"](\"https:\/\/english.illinoisstate.edu\/euphemism\/17-1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/11\/Picture1-158x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\u201cI was born for something greater than I was \u2013 and greater I would become.\u201d<\/p>\n
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– Mary Shelley<\/p>\n
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March 8th 2000.<\/p>\n
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The man sat with his eyes closed, reclining on his rocking chair, as if he had sat the same way all his life. The assemblage talked in muffled voices, stopped now and then as the chilly wind wafted in through the window. The crackling light from the fireplace flickered golden. It made the house warm, warm enough to arouse excitement, covering the room in a dull golden hue.<\/p>\n
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The young researchers in the assembly from all across the world perspired at the anticipation of what was to follow. Things at hand were out of ordinary, and such out of ordinary things did not happen every day.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou see, we don\u2019t really want to go over what has happened \u2013 you already know the consequence. You already know what happened, I can\u2019t fathom what bliss you might extract from \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cHow do we know if you at all completed the job that was asked of you?\u201d<\/p>\n
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James Rutherford was cut in the middle of the speech by one of the younger researchers. He turned sharply at him, and in a moment, his eyes flashed in fury.<\/p>\n
\u201cHad you been there you wouldn\u201ft have dared \u2013 you wouldn\u201ft have dared had you been there!\u201d It was Kurt. His voice broke from the passion that steeps the throat of a man who had been struck, who has looked terror right in the eyes and had not flinched.<\/p>\n
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\u201cKurt,\u201d sighed Rutherford, \u201cIt\u201fs of no use. Let them know, let them \u2013 well, as I have been saying, we had unearthed an ancient scroll from one of the peat bogs in Northern Ireland. We had found it in the hands of a mutilated dead body, well preserved, thanks to the bog. That\u201fs where our story begins\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
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*****<\/p>\n
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March 8th. 1997<\/p>\n
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\u201cJESUS CHRIST!!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhat? Haven\u201ft you seen an ancient scroll before?\u201d James asked, critical of the childish excitement bubbling in the eyes of the young scholar.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-huh. No. Have you noticed the writing over here? It\u201fs \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cGaelic. Ancient Gaelic.\u201d The two men looked up. They were accompanied by a blond, bespectacled man. His demeanor spoke of scholarly wit.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name\u201fs Kurt. And you are?\u201d \u201cArya.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJames Rutherford,\u201d added James quickly in fear of being left out.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou are a letter less than Germany\u201fs miscalculated tragedy.\u201d A smirk played across Kurt\u201fs face. Arya laughed as James looked on, bluntly confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway,\u201d said James, \u201cthis ancient Gaelic text is somewhat weird. I don\u201ft think this has anything to do with our field of research.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you decipher this?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cKurt, what even is there to decipher?\u201dJames showed the scroll. On a parchment of the yesteryears, the text of the ancient spoke to the trio:<\/p>\n
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Fada san taobh an ear Gheibheadh tu an tabartair, Am beathaiche, an slayer.<\/p>\n
An fh\u00ecrinn.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSimply talks about an ancient Irish recipe. A recipe to make, say, by the look of it, something of a wine. \u201eFada\u201f means an alcoholic drug, that tasted really good I guess, hence the name \u201eFada\u201f, that is, \u201etouched by the fairies.\u201d<\/p>\n
James could not help feel proud of himself as Kurt\u201fs jaw slightly dropped. \u201cI don\u201ft think this scroll is worth wasting our time for.\u201d<\/p>\n
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As they went out of the room, they noticed Arya, still bent over the scroll, pensive. Kurt chuckled. \u201cHey kiddo! Good ol\u201f James here has solved the mystery. Mind joining us over a cup of tea?\u201d Arya kept on peering at the scroll. \u201cAre you sure that this is just an Irish recipe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else d\u201fyou reckon it can be?\u201d James asked, rather impatient.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIrish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic, even though they sound same, mean totally different at times. What if this scroll contains Scottish Gaelic?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would Ireland house a Scottish scroll?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo wait, kid\u201fs got a point. There were atleast fifteen wars fought between the two from 1350 to 1380. This bogged body we got is approximately 600 years old. Kind of makes sense.\u201d said Kurt, his eyebrows jutting together.<\/p>\n
James coughed. \u201cBut this scroll\u201fs atleast 5000 years old.\u201d \u201cExactly,\u201d said Arya, \u201cthat\u201fs exactly what\u201fs fishy.\u201d \u201cWhat\u201fs fishy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat this scroll says. The man probably found this age-old scroll, and it might be that this very scroll what provoked his tribesmen to kill him. A mutilated body of this sort doesn\u201ft go up for sacrifices.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what do you decipher of this text?\u201d James asked, still in doubt.<\/p>\n
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Arya looked up. His voice quivering with boyish excitement, he said, \u201cFar in the East would you find the Creator, the Nourisher, the Slayer. The Truth. The Truth of Existence. Far in the East, beyond the Calm Seas.\u201d<\/p>\n
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March 8th. 1998<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
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A year had passed since the trio, Kurt, James and Arya had begun their journey towards the \u201cFar East.\u201d They had had a heated argument over those two words. Kurt had asked \u201cHow far?\u201d to which James had said, \u201cIt says \u201ebeyond the calm seas.\u201f\u201d to which Kurt looked on hopelessly until Arya said, \u201cMust be beyond the Pacific, which means America,\u201d to which James burst out, \u201cIt a huge damn continent,\u201d to which Kurt realized, \u201cSince everything we are dealing with is of the ancient era, our destination should be the Mayan Civilisation,\u201d to which Arya skipped in delight, \u201cLet\u2019s head to Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n
And there rested the matter.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The Temple of Xmucane dated back to 1000 BC. Situated in the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal, the temple was built in honour of the Mayan Goddess of day and night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey also call it \u201eTemplo le Invocaci\u00f3n I\u00e9ddula\u201f.\u201d said James as he fiddled with the entry ticket. \u201cTemple of Untimed Invocation?\u201d asked Arya, looking once at Kurt, next at the steps infront of him that led to the ancient Mayan sanctorum.<\/p>\n
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Inside the temple the temperature seemed to lower down. A cool air presided over the looming darkness. Within the comfort of the temple, the three scholars gaped at the Pagan Goddess of Light, ornate with intricate designs, a fine example of Mayan expertise of architecture. The walls of the temple were lined with carvings of animals, birds, human hands among few other indiscernible yet intricate designs.<\/p>\n
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\u201cLadies and Gentleman, here stands before you the Goddess of Day and Night, Xmucane.\u201d A stout man of forty addressed the congregation of tourists. \u201cIt\u201fs believed that Xmucane, wife of King Eadrich, had caught her husband with his mistress Sacniete Xoc, Goddess of White Flowers on a Black Stone. In a fit of fury, she had cursed Eadrich, and herself turned into a statue of stone. This!\u201d The man pointed towards the stone sculpture.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Sacniete?\u201d asked Kurt.<\/p>\n
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\u201cShe is said to have forever metamorphosed herself into white flowers, and out of guilt, had decided to be of service to Xmucane, awaiting her forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite a cute story, helps us in no way with our research.\u201d said James, disappointed.<\/p>\n
The three of them did not speak much on the way back to the hotel. Night sparkled with stars in a clear sky.<\/p>\n
\u201cJames,\u201d said Kurt, his eyes beyond the window. \u201cKid hasn\u2019t said a word since morning.\u201d \u201cArya? What\u2019s worrying you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you guys think something is missing in the folklore?\u201d said Arya, speaking for the first time in eight hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know something\u2019s missing. I can\u2019t quite place it, though.\u201d said Kurt, turning to look back at Arya, who kept on scratching on his notebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guide never said what Xmucane\u201fs curse was about, is that what you\u2019re referring to?\u201d James asked, visibly concerned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guide never said a word about the curse. Infact, no books tell us about the Curse of Xmucane. Yet it\u201fs there right infront of us, for everyone to see.\u201d said Arya. \u201cDid you notice the carving on the temple walls?\u201d he added, as the trio now sat together, two of them with their usual excitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe temple walls had carvings of animals, birds among various other distinctive marks.\u201d said Arya, almost whispering. \u201cThere is only one language that speaks in pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cH-Hieroglyphics?\u201d Kurt asked, his eyes widening with surprise. James gaped.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe carvings in the temple aren\u2019t just carvings. They are messages. The same message again and again. The curse of Xmucane.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that, Arya showed his notebook. The designs of the walls of the temple were drawn with a half-chewed off pencil.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhat does it say?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Arya breathed. \u201c\u201eZa lyt salst inhe fas, und ris inhe had;\u201f which means, \u201eThe light of my face shall set for you, and rise opposite to where you belong\u201f.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three fell silent.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhy couldn\u2019t these people be a wee-bit less ridiculous and talk in complete sentences and not make a riddle of every damn word that comes out of their heavenly mouth?\u201d Kurt kicked the chair in front of him in frustration.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatience, mate. Patience.\u201d Arya said, a childish smile playing on his lips. \u201cDecode the curse, can you? If you do we\u2019ll know of our final destination.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can you be so sure of its decoding?\u201d Asked James, still overwhelmed with the monstrosity of discovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I already have.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Both James and Kurt looked at Arya, half-smiling, half-questioning. \u201cYou have?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cXmucane, the Goddess of Light, thus controlling day and night, shall set in Uxmal, and rise opposite to where Eadrich, her husband and the king of Uxmal stays. That\u2019s the curse. Think again. The light over here shall set, and rise opposite to this place. The light shall rise in the opposite face of the earth. The light shall rise in India.\u201d Arya smiled.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBLIMEY!!!\u201d screamed Kurt so suddenly it made both James and Arya jumped where they sat. \u201cKid, kid I get you! If you draw a line from here exactly through the globe, the exact opposite is India!\u201d Kurt jumped up and down on the floor. \u201cOWW!\u201d came the sound of his leg hitting the chair.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTo be more precise, a line drawn from Uxmal would lead directly to,\u201d said James, peering over a map of the world, as his forefinger glided across the map in a straight line towards the Indian subcontinent. \u201cHere,\u201d his finger stopped at Mushtang, a district in Nepal. \u201cHere,\u201d he repeated, beating the map with his finger.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u201fs so important about this district?\u201d asked Kurt.<\/p>\n
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\u201cGeographically, Mushtang is the source of the river Gandaki that carves a gorge on the Himalayas. Historically, the last king of the Mushtang Dynasty was called King Chitravake, never<\/p>\n
fought a single war all his life. Anthropologically, it is home to Muktinath, even a temple of that name is situated there in Mushtang. Geologically, it is home to the remnants of the Jurassic Age, where there is a plenty of Ammonite Shells fossilized. These black fossils, called \u2018Shalgram Shila\u201f are even worshipped as the \u2018Nourisher\u201f \u2013 Narayana. According to Prakriti Khand of Brahma Puran :<\/p>\n
\u201eAhancha shailarupi cha Gandakiteer sannidhhau, Adhishthanang karishyami Bharate tava shapatah.\u201f<\/p>\n
Politically – \u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cThat\u201fll do.\u201d said Kurt as he yawned and fell headlong on his bed.<\/p>\n
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James chuckled. \u201cWhy would we even need an encyclopedia when you got a genius like Arya with you?\u201d<\/p>\n
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*****<\/p>\n
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March 8th. 1999<\/p>\n
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A year had gone by in search for \u201eThe Creator, the Nourisher, the Slayer.The Truth.\u201f of the Gaelic scroll. It\u2019s often funny to what extremes desperation can lead to.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey kid! Want some biscuits?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Arya smiled. Taking a biscuit, he said, \u201cGuess I\u201fve been wrong all this while.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cDon\u2019t be silly. If clues are squeezed down in various corners of the earth there has to be a reason for men to put them up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you guys think why would some random Egyptian notch down curses on a Mayan temple?\u201d Kurt said, biscuit in his mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cReason one: Mayans Knew Hieroglyphics. Reason two: Religion and culture from all across the world began as one unit from one place.\u201d Arya let out a prolonged breath. \u201cAnd reason three, they were the ancients. They knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess the text books always lied didn\u2019t they?\u201d James looked at the sky, a strange expression on his face.<\/p>\n
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Next day was a day of celebration in Mushtang. It was the celebration of Chitravake, the birthday of the last king of Mushtang. The king was worshipped as a deity in the village.<\/p>\n
\u201cCool guy, this Chitravake. Suddenly dreams that their worshipped God is captivated in a stone, legit pulls up an entire gorge to find that stone, finds a random stone out of nowhere and deifies it. Happy guy, happy people, happy God.\u201d Kurt smirked.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI was thinking, we\u2019ve searched through every single temple of this district with zero results. I think we should start searching other places out.\u201d said James.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat places?\u201d Kurt stared at him, as James opened his mouth and spontaneously closed it shut lacking suitable words to form an answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cChitravake began worshipping that stone before it was the annual time for worship isn\u201ft it?\u201d Arya looked at Kurt.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, something of that sort. I reckon we should check in that main temple of Muktinath before we think of searching elsewhere. A last check never hurt anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess Kurt\u201fs right Arya. What do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Arya nodded. \u201cSounds like a plan. Do you remember the exact words told to Chitravake in his dream?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFolklores say that Chitravake heard a prophecy in his dream. \u201eWhoever finds out the Truth of the Trinity shall be destroyed. The curse of the stone shall befall the bull-eyed intruder of Truth.\u201d said James.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy bull-eyed though?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhat he meant was probably red-eyed, Kurt. I guess that\u2019s the curse \u2013 the one whom the \u2018curse\u201f befalls would apparently have a change in their eye colour. Red, like that of a fiery bull.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis prophecy\u2026 this prophecy\u2026rings a bell does it not?\u201d said Arya, out of breath. James and Kurt looked on, waiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cTHE SCROLLLLL!\u201d Arya leaped on his feet. \u201cThe Gaelic Scroll! \u2018Far in the East would you find the Creator, the Nourisher, the Slayer.\u2019 Remember now? The Trinity! The Truth of the Trinity.\u201d Arya clapped his hands in glee. \u201cWe are still on the right track,\u201d he added, smiling at the bewildered two.<\/p>\n
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Arya could not sleep that night. He tossed and turned in his bed. Something was not right. They were missing out on something. It was this thought that kept him awake until 3 o\u201f clock in the morning when he exclaimed, \u201cChitravake\u201fs untimed worship. Templo le Invocaci\u00f3n I\u00e9ddula. Temple of Untimed Invocation!\u201d<\/p>\n
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The clock struck 3:30 am. Arya headed out.<\/p>\n
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*****<\/p>\n
March 8th. 2000<\/p>\n
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James drew a long breath. \u201cIn the morning, Arya said that the famous temple of Muktinath wasn\u2019t the place we had been searching for.<\/p>\n
\u201eWe need to head to the temple of Chitravake. There is the place the truth or whatever it is, is hidden.\u201f That\u201fs what Arya told us. When we asked him how he knew, Arya said that the story of Chitravake gave him the idea of \u2018Untimed Worship,\u201f much like the Temple of Untimed Invocation we saw in Mexico. We headed towards that temple.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Kurt continued, \u201cUpon reaching, we found an ancient mound on which was situated a temple, on the left bank of the Kali Gandaki. Arya was right. The temple was built on black stones, on which bloomed white fragarias. These are flowers found only in those regions of the Himalayas. Arya had it figured out : Xmucane had cursed that she would rise in the opposite face of the earth, and Sacniete Xoc, the Goddess of White Flowers on a Black Stone, would, out of guilt, accept Xmucane\u201fs servitude. Those flowers, black stones, and the temple said we were right.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe had heard that the temple was cursed.\u201d said James. \u201cThere were no guards or priests in the temple. Arya walked straight up to the altar. \u2018There,\u201f he said, \u201ethere, in the eye of the deity\u201fs idol, lies the truth. Yatha Salagrame Harihe. Here, resides the God.\u2019 Kurt and I were confused. Arya said, \u2018I too was. Xmucane cleared my doubts. Untimed Invocation. The deity shall reveal the truth with Untimed Invocation \u2013 Akal Bodhan . If we remove the eye of the idol, the truth shall be revealed, the same manner in which, Rama tried removing his eye, and the truth of the 108th lotus was revealed to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe removed the eye. We removed it and\u2026\u201d Kurt paused, \u201cand there was a little palm leaf. It definitely had some inscriptions, but\u2026\u201d Kurt stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut? But what?\u201d One of the researchers in the room almost shouted. The excitement had reached its very climax when \u2013<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone had been there before us. The Inscription was destroyed.\u201d James answered. A veil of silence engulfed the congregation.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe were disheartened. While returning, Arya had an accident.\u201d James paused, regaining his strength to continue. \u201cHe slipped down the gorge, and hurt his head rather badly. Doctors said the case was hopeless, but he survived. Reports said Arya had received an injury in the left inferior frontal cortex of the brain, rendering him mute for life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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*****<\/p>\n
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With muffled voices and soft goodnights, the assembly of scholars slowly dissolved. They no longer wondered to challenge the researchers with accusations of alleged falsity. Even if they did, they did not have the heart to confess. They departed one by one, muttering sweet nothings to the man on the rocking chair.<\/p>\n
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James sighed. \u201cTell him I\u201fll come meet him again, Kurt. Tomorrow evening.\u201d and he went out.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHey kid,\u201d Kurt knelt down beside the man, \u201cEverything\u2019s going to be okay. You\u2019ll talk again. I promise. We are trying, aren\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n
Arya nodded, eyes still closed, as a smile spread on his youthful lips. His soft curls fell on his bandaged forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoodnight, Arya.\u201d Kurt squeezed his shoulders, and left the house in silence, wondering if Arya would spend the night in silent tears, whether of acceptance, or hatred for the unjust unknown.<\/p>\n
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The fire flamed an amazing red. Slowly, Arya opened his eyes. The light from the fireplace blazed bright on his eyes, dark red, like that of a bull.<\/p>\n
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The opening of the front door broke the constant silence, broken otherwise by the soft falling embers.<\/p>\n
The blazing fire died down. Arya smiled. \u201cWelcome back, my old friend.\u201d He said.<\/p>\n
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*******<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Somoshree Palit \u201cI was born for something greater than I was \u2013 and greater I would become.\u201d – Mary Shelley March 8th 2000. The man sat with his eyes closed, reclining on his rocking chair, as if he had sat the same way all his life. The assemblage talked in… <\/p>\n